CHRISTMAS BREAK!

FROM SARAH

Goodmorning! We are out of school for a week. I’m so excited. It is -20* this morning. Not so excited about that! The wind came up yesterday and started blowing all our copious amounts of fresh snow off the trees. I never did get a fresh picture of our winter wonderland. It has been beautiful out.

Here’s a link to Sarah's caroling album: 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150447991986569.351964.674561568&type=1&l=e7709d74dc

For her Thanksgiving album click here: 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150429081256569.348667.674561568&type=1&l=db4e42232c

Here is a link to my photos for Christmas caroliong

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2694265807613.129972.1585591801&type=1&l=01d1f4f1d4


I’m sure there’s more news but I need to go clean my house while no one’s around.

I DO need to say that…. We will NOT be having a service next Sunday. We ARE having our Sunday dinner on Saturday night followed by potluck dessert and “tab” fun (no ice rink this year) until we reach midnight when we will have our traditional fireworks show. Sunday will be a family day, and it’ll be back to school on Monday, the second of January 2012.

Have a great day.

CAROLING AT THE LAND, DRY CREEK ALASKA 2011

THIS FROM SARAH JEPSEN

Hello,

LOTS of snow, a little bit cold (-10*), lots of company, lots of extra food lying around…. And it’s time for church.

We had a great, coldy time caroling.  The kids are wonderful.  The Williams set up the horses and sleighs and lights and prepared a warm snack for afterwards.

More another day.  Continue to have a great weekend.  Sarah

>>

We both took photos so I am posting links to both Sarah's and my album on Facebook. Take a peek and enjoy!

Wishing you all the BEST CHRISTMAS SEASON EVER...PEACEFUL AND BLESSED IN EVERY WAY.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150447991986569.351964.674561568&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2694265807613.129972.1585591801&type=1&l=01d1f4f1d4

I'M DREAMIN' OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS...

HAVE A BLESSED, PEACEFUL AND JOYOUS, CHRISTMAS AND REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!...

Tomorrow is the shortest day of daylight!  I’m sooooo excited.  I might have to go out hiking to celebrate. The Hilliker trail was opened by the Kohler boys in their snomachine, so now we have another trail to snowshoe in…really nice! Takes about 30' from the main trail, so it's a nice workout! Can't wait for the days to get lighter, if I'm not on the trail by 2.45 I always get caught in the dusk and have to take my headlamp with me.

We had a sharing service tonight – Miss JoAn, Jarred, Tommy, Jeni, Bro Rus, Bro Garth all shared.  The theme I heard was trust and wait on the Lord because He does have a good plan for us.  Of course, Jeni mentioned super heros (spiderman) and Bro Garth mentioned T-bow (?) so that helped everyone stay awake.  We had an extra special treat in that Griselda led worship – a treat we haven’t enjoyed for some time.  This is Sarah saying this...ha!

Last Sunday Bro Rus and Bro Andy preached and Bonnie led worship.  Bro Rus shared on us being called to be kings and priests who minister to the Lord and Bro Andy shared on traditions, although good, cannot replace the Spirit of the Lord.  (BTW, SJeps crew made Caribbean Jerked Pork with corn, salad, cornbread, and pumpkin pie.)...hard to diet with food like that!

Last night we had a visit from Paul and Mary Trotzke.  A few people came over to visit; a delightful time was had by all. 

Sis Betty Hilliker has been very sick with a chest and head cold.  She has been down for a couple of weeks.  I sure hope she is improving.  I hate to call and check in case she might be resting. 

We’ve continued to have mild and slightly snowy weather.  It was  22* this morning, but I notice that it has dropped to -0* (that’s what my digital thermometer says). 

Kathryn had some of her wisdom teeth taken out over the weekend.  Wonder if she feels less smart?  Jonnie Mac has recently had braces put on his teeth. 

Cathy’s one knee has been giving her a lot of trouble for a year or so, but recently it seemed much worse.  She went to see the doctor and found that she had sprained the ligaments surrounding her knee.  She has to wear a brace and is laid up at home for a little while.

The last we heard from Judy McCaffery is that there are move delays concerning her trip to Ethiopia to pick up her adopted daughter(s).  The delays are frustrating, I imagine.

Linda Samuel has recently started a business called the Jewels of Sheba.  I went to check out her site.  Very pretty things there; if you’d like to check that out, go to:  jewelsofsheba.com

Also, Kathy Casey has started sewing like a mad woman.  She’s been sewing quilted articles to sell on her Etsy site:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlasKase?ref=top_trail   check it out! I understand she is doing quite well with it and has customers call her from all over the nation! Wow!

We don't hear much from Pat & Beth- being new double parents is very time consuming. We get to see the girls on Skype now and then, they are growing so fast! Can't wait to squeeze them! I mailed their surprise Christmas package and the occasion was made into a short video, where Ella's reaction to the package was captured for ever…so cute…she kept hugging it and tapping it, wanting to know what was inside. It's a secret until it gets open on CHRISTMAS DAY! Love you girlies so much…my darlings…GOD BLESS YOU!

Rob is really enjoying his new reading/phonics software program. READING HORIZONS. An amazing product that actually teaches adults and ESL students how to read and write the english language. Wish I had known about it earlier. Once he was done with the excellent EDMARK READING PROGRAM, I was at a loss on what to do since he is not a phonics kid, more of a sight word person. The AGSD came to the rescue and presented me with this option which is more phonics oriented, but amazingly enough Rob is getting it! If the system does not let him go ahead owing to his "mud mouth" approach to sounding out words, I can override this and let him continue without getting frustrated and losing interest. Very comprehensive and thorough. I think he will do well with it. It teaches, grammar, punctuation, usage, etc. and has video clips showing how words and sounds are produced. We try and do that every day for about 30'....for Math the district again came to the rescue and  hooked Rob up to an online Houghton MIfflin program called Discovery Math. Rob enjoys it and we are now working on PLACE VALUE. In a few weeks Rob will be getting a new iPad from the district which comes pre loaded with all sorts of educational programs...a bonus. PTL! I LOVE AGSD! Thanks guys don't know what I would do without ya!

During my HS Spanish class, Rob has his own version of Rosetta Stone Spanish and does quite well, all considering. Rather funny at times, the system just cannot understand his responses (Mr. Mud mouth) and so keeps beeping at him and saying "excuse me"...haha...one of my students pipes up and speaks it out for him...and he's on his way! too funny...he's starting to say things in Spanish and using his newly learned greetings with different ones in the community...gets a laugh.!

January will be a busy month for us since we are taking Rob in to get his tonsils out. Trying to see if this procedure will help with lessening his snoring and sleep apnea. Glitch is that one must stay in Fairbanks in a hotel for 10 days, since doc wants him close at hand just in case...will have to find things to do cooped up in a hotel...pray all goes well and we come home soon.

A cold front coming in from Siberia is threatening to make our Christmas caroling rather cold I think. We will be out in the cold regardless…A nice ham meal is planned for the actual day by Ali Squires crew and kids are getting excited and wanting to be out of school….TOMORROW IS FRIDAY!

I need my beauty sleep.  Talk to you later.  Have a great rest of the week.  

WINTRY AND WINDY

We’ve had mild weather for a whole week, I think.  Right now it is snowing big fluffy flakes, as it has been all day, and it is 22*.  Yesterday it was 26* with a cool wind. 

Did anyone see the eclipse on Saturday morning?  I mean to see it but overslept, Pat did get up at 4am. and saw some of it. Some say it was  spectacular, but probably not as much as the solar we had earlier. 

Last night, Tom and Brad, took all the teens and young adults out sledding on Johnson Hill.  Brad brought a generator, and Seth brought lights.  They had a bonfire, marshmallows, sleds, and lots of snow.  A good time was had by all. 

We will be cutting up cows and pigs instead of service on Wednesday night. 

  

Jannis spent the weekend at Whitestone.  Then John and Donna Hasz and Jack Fredricks brought her home and stayed for Sunday supper. 

Kevin and Tommy moved a bunch of the cows around on Saturday, separating the moms from the babies.  Now we have mom’s bellowing for their babies at all hours of the day and night. 

Great expectation in the kiddie department for the Christmas season, not that we celebrate it per se, but we do get out of school and the routine is a bit different. Of course caroling is in the offing as usual and it is always the harbinger of NEW YEARS EVE which brings the yearly display of fireworks and staying up all night to greet the near year in. A nice christmas meal of ham has also become a tradition at The Land and various ones put up lights and other seasonal decor which give the place a festive look with the snow...Pat put up the lights on our sentinel black spruce outside our cabin and it looks rather nice all covered with snow.

Not much happening at home, we are all keeping busy with school work and schedule.

Trust all well with you all and hoping you will have a blessed season in the company of good friends, food and family.

Blessings

Hunting 2011

Seth Jepsen put this hunting slideshow together from various hunts during the season of 2011. Enjoy! May and Pat are in one of the clips I believe.

A HUNTING STORY...BY TOM GEYER

Our resident published author Thomas Geyer shared one of his hunting stories with us. Here it is:

Heavens to Betsy

          I met her in Fairbanks in 1989. There were so many others there when I first saw her, many of whom were beautiful and elegant, but she stood out amongst them like an eagle in a flock ofRhode Island reds. She was tall and slender, yet well proportioned if you know what I mean. She didn’t say a word to me, yet seemed to call my name. It was love at first sight.

          She was of old Monte Carlo stock, this much was obvious. I didn’t know her age, didn’t ask and didn’t care. She was the one for me and my heart skipped a beat the first time I held her close.

          She had traveled around Alaska and had some “experience”, something that I sadly lacked. I was just a pup then, still wet behind the ears and unsure of myself. She, on the other hand was solid and steady, confident, with nerves of steel, always the straight shooter.

          Betsy was the little pet name I gave her. Other names and old flames and experiences of the past now meant nothing. We were an inseparable pair. Nothing could ever come between us, or so I thought.

          We fished together, hunted together and hiked in the mountains. When I went a field she was right there with me, except once when I forgot and left her back at Fish Lake hunters camp. I felt a little naked when I arrived at Flat Top, in the middle of grizzly country without her by my side. I know she was deeply wounded by my thoughtlessness, but true to her character she never mentioned it.

          Years have gone by and taken their toll on the both of us. Tragedy struck in the summer of 1996. Betsy lost her sight. But I loved her even more for it. After Betsy lost her sight I had to carry her on our trips. Sometimes I would carry her on my back and at times I would cradle her in my arms like a baby as I hiked up and down the Seven Hills of Death on the way to Fish Lake. Occasionally I would even throw her over my shoulder and carry her like a sack of potatoes. But even after losing her sight, Betsy was always there for me to lean on.

          There was a dark side to Betsy, something even I could not have imagined when I first fell for her. Yes,  the little hints were there from the beginning, the possibility of a violent and bloody past, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Yet she was so powerful and explosive, I could not help but suspect what I later discovered to be reality. My Betsy was a cold-blooded killer.

          Our first few years together were uneventful years of bliss, but in the fall of 1992 I witnessed  firsthand what I suspected all along. Betsy killed a big fuzzy. I remember it like it was yesterday. I never would have believed it of her, but the gruesome spectacle unfolded before my very eyes. I think she did it to protect me, more than anything, as she knew that I generally got a case of the shakes when I encountered big fuzzies.

          I thought what occurred there might be a one-time thing, an isolated incident that Betsy and I might just sweep under the caribou moss but it happened again and again. Killing seemed to be second nature to her.

          I knew I had to lock Betsy up. She was an accident waiting to happen, too powerful for her own good. She was like a rabid wolf waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting, a lethal weapon gone rogue.

          Betsy’s in prison now for life, locked away with a dozen other hoodlums of low caliber. I visit her daily and gaze longingly through the glass, remembering the good times we had together and wishing I could hold her close once more.

...Thanks Tommy, you always surprise us with your wit and wisdom..

NOTE ON NEW CALENDARS...

Many of the photos are actually from our own home place here in Dry Creek, others from around Delta, Fairbanks and the Alaska Highway.

And that's my girl Alexandra May hanging on to the back of the sleigh...

Thanks Sarah for a lovely collection AGAIN!

IS IT COLD YET?

Wow, I didn’t realize that the temperature was dropping last night as I was running around doing errands.  It’s -40 degrees and dropping, this morning. I was supposed to take the girls into Delta, but Pat said NO!

Many of you have asked about Jason Underhill who fell from a manhaul about 20ft. while working in the Kenai.  I do know that he was able to get on a flight home to Anchorage where he saw a spine specialist.  I haven’t heard much other than he did crack three ribs and fracture those two vertebras (one lower; one upper).  He is in extreme pain and has a hard time staying in one position for long. 

Jarred and Jennifer had all the kids down last night for a game night.  They came home late and happy.

Carolyn had the sixth and seventh graders busy all afternoon yesterday making decorations for our Thanksgiving meal next week.  They were having a jolly time with that! (and eating way more candy than their mom’s would probably like  J  which is soooo much fun)

Andy, Sarah Jane, and Rachel have braved the cold temperatures to do the Thanksgiving shopping run.  I don’t envy them! Everybody is looking forward to our yearly Thanksgiving feast...wish Loui Chavez would come and make us his signature Mexican "asado"...I think he just had carpal tunnel surgery on one of his hands.

My BIL Ben Mehaffey did pretty good at his show last weekend.  He has been able to rent a little credit card machine from the bank by the month for these shows.  That has been most helpful as many people like to pay with their credit cards.  Brad and Ben have been tossing around this idea about people having an app on their ipads that allows customers to pay you when they scan their card over your ipad.  I guess it is a real and useful and secure app????  The loggers just might need to invest in an ipad for their business dealings. 

I have since gotten better details on the hunters’ breakfast biggest rack derby – Mikey Koehler was the actual winner.  Mikey is 12 or 13 yrs old.  What a cool thing.  And, it’s like the third or fourth moose that he has shot in his short lifetime!

Our 2012 calendars are hot on the griddle and will be coming out pretty soon. Our resident photographer Sarah Jepsen always does a swell job and they are so nice to send out to family and friends. If you want one get in touch with her via phone, email  (jepsensarah@gmail.com) or her website (http://www.bysarahj.com/). I think that the calendars should be $12 each. 

Saturday chores and cooking are calling.  You all have a great and safe weekend. 

The Land Nov. 2011

Good morning.  We were promised terrible weather by the forecast people due to the storm blowing in from Siberia.  It has been a little bad, but nothing like was predicted.  Fairbanks folks have been having steady -30* for several days now while we been not quite reaching -20*.  Maybe the weather is heading our way? 

Tuesday afternoon, we received a message that Jason Underhill, while in Karluck, AK working, fell 20 feet from a man lift.  It was discovered that he fractured a lower and upper vertebra.  After a lot of severe pain and some other symptoms that I’ll leave out and after he had been released from the hospital, someone re-looked at his x-rays and observed extremely bruised kidneys and several cracked ribs.  After the first diagnosis, the hospital had released Jason.  Alex and Jason went to friend’s place in Kodiak to rest.  Now, the hospital wants Jason back but he’s in too fragile a condition to move.  Lura can’t make it out there due to 50 mph winds; Alex is taking care of his dad on his own. 

Instead of church on Sunday and again last night (Wednesday), we butchered and packaged several cows and pigs. 

Hunters’ breakfast at the Trotzkes was a huge hit, AGAIN.  Kevin won the prize for giving the best moose call.  We had him demonstrate at supper for us. Koehler's did win the biggest horn derby.  Seth made a slide show that if he ever you tubes, I’ll pass along a link.  I think my favorite part of the slide show is at the end, there is a movie clip of Kevin right after he shot his first moose.  Talk about excited!  Tommy wrote a story that is really cute.  Maybe I can get a digital copy for you all. 

Pat has been rather busy with piano work all over Alaska, it seems. He gets home from one trip and then goes out on another. The last one was his Copper River, Glennallen one where he stops at SAPA and tunes their pianos and then moves on to the rest of the community at large. When home he is still wood processing firewood for the community at home and it was his week for FIREWATCH, which means stoking all the big boilers (4) to keep the public buildings going. Both schools, tack shop, blacksmithing and mechanic shops, etc. This is a job that is meant for younger men, but he still does it as do others in his age group...keeps them in shape. Pat tries to go out on his ski trail for a few miles everyday...

The AGSD has provided Rob with some awesome school equipment. Bsides his treadmill from last year now he has a nice pair of red  REDFEATHER SNOWSHOES, a new Mac running SnowLeopard  with cutting edge technology (I love you Mr. Jobs,. RIP !)…and some awesome software for MATH, READING AND TYPING. Some of it is online so I have to stay home some of the time to do that and then go to school for the rest. He continues to get therapists come to Dry Creek a few times a year. Speech Path, OT, PT, and his beloved Sped teacher Paula….(she's the one with the 75 dogs Rob visited this summer).

I continue to take the younger generation out on the snowshoeing trails. Ages range from 6 to 14 (Rob). I do try and go out on my own with Annie on a longer trail which gives me an adequate workout then return and do some of my new found love for Yoga….can't do all the moves but am trying…does make a difference.

Since I teach high school Spanish using the Rosetta Stone software, Rob joins my class for 45' every day. He has his own laptop and his own Rosetta Stone, kindly procured by the AGSD Correspondence REACH Academy (Resources for Educating Alaska's Children at Home). He likes it and actually does very well on it, speaking Spanish into the microphone! haha...next thing I'll take him to Spain for TOTAL IMMERSION, huh?

My sis. Karenza Hanson spent 3 weeks in BA, Argentina. Looking into my stepmum's situation as well as visiting friends and family.

 my sister Marina, Karenza and cuz Cecilia

So nothing new on the home front. We are slowly being enveloped into a world of winter wonderland. Our cabins are warm and cozy, we have food on the table, kids and friends who love and complete us and we are never alone. What's not to like?

God is good.

Have a great day! and rest of the week. KEEP WARM!

Rob got invited to a youth gathering at one of the homes. He enjoys that!

WINTER NOOS UPDATE

Hello All,

Yesterday, by the time I got my emails completed, the temperature had risen to 3*; throughout the day, it came up even higher, but by nightfall, we were seeing -12* on the thermometer.  That is what the current temperature is still this morning.  I know many of you have heard about the severe weather which Alaska has predicted.  We have felt nothing here out of the ordinary, but I read in the news that up by the coast where Nome is situated (Norton Sound area) there was some extreme wind and flooding.  Places were being evacuated, debris was being washed into the streets, etc.

The moon has been simply beautiful all night and still is this morning.

On Tuesday, Kylin, Andrew, and Landin Casey arrived at noon time and stayed to visit the Casey parents for the day.  Joey arrived after supper for a few hours.  Crazy boy.  He’d worked that day and had school the next day.  I guess he was just missing home!

Meat cutting work night was great.  Uh huh!  Kevin, Tommy, and Kim worked all afternoon in the root cellar breaking the cows into workable pieces.  Then in the evening we all got together to clean the bones and package the meat.  We were done with everything including clean up by 7:30 pm.

Hunters’ breakfast is being held at Trotzke’s home this Saturday at 9 am.  A prize will go to the shooter of the largest set of antlers – so far, the speculation is that the prize will go to the Koehlers for shooting a 54”.  There also will be a prize for the person who can give the best moose call.  Now that would be a fun contest to watch/hear. Rob went with his big sis. and had a good time.

Steve, Rus, and Garth went to town the other day and brought home a new car for the farm vehicle situation.  I’m not big on car names, but I think they said it was a town and country Chrysler?  It has to be winterized before we can use it. 

Come Thursday Rob and I will be attending an adventure day in Tok with the Wildlife Refuge, for correspondence students. Should be fun, hope it is not too cold though, cause we're going to be outside mainly. Will post photos soon.

Pat's back from Copper River and now off to Fairbanks again.

We opened the ski/snowshoe trail, so now will be going to the end of the trail...if the weather holds and it doesn't get too cold too fast...lol

Have a great day!!!! 

Hi all,

Last night our temperature plummeted to -22*, but this morning it has warmed up to -9*.  The moon is two nights away from being full, so I’m expecting more cool weather.

Jon came home from his remote work place.  I talked to him briefly and found out that he was working as a paramedic/EMT at a copper mine somewhere near Lake Illiamma.  There is a lot of controversy about this particular mine, Pebble mine, since it is near the Bristol Bay and the mines’ waters could be spilling out into the ocean and hurting the nearby salmon spawning area. In the meantime, they still need paramedics, so Jon was there for awhile.  But… I found out from Jon that this Illiamma Lake is the 8^thlargest lake in North America.  I’ve never heard of it; now, I have.

The loggers have been erecting a shed for their waste chips.  They received a contract to supply the Delta school with semi loads of chips for their heating system.  

Seth Fouse is still working in Fbks.  He came home for the weekend.  Adrielle, Seth’s sister, who has spent any of her off time here since last March, moved into Delta and is living with Joel and Joanna Wiggins.  

Tonight (instead of church) we are cutting up some beef that Tommy and Kevin butchered a couple of weekends ago. 

This past Sunday Prins and Linda came to service here.  They just came; they didn’t preach.  Then, for the day, we had Mark Coy and Kelsey with her boyfriend, Brandon.  The preachers were Wenda, Andy, and Margaret – I won’t sum up their words since I better get going this morning.  I felt like all three of them were speaking of keeping ourselves clean so we can be useful vessels for the Lord.  (Or maybe that is my summary of a couple of weeks ago??? L )

Ben has a Christmas show in Fairbanks this weekend.  Also, concerning his back injury, he has been going to therapy about once every ten days.  The therapist said that he needs to strengthen his right side so all his exercises are geared for that.  He has been cleared to do more and more bending and lifting.  He just can’t pick up super heavy things from low places still.

Patrick B is traveling in the GlenAllen area for his many piano tuning jobs.  He will be gone for nearly a week.

I think the hunter’s breakfast at Trotzke’s home is this weekend.  The guys are all pretty excited because it’s a time for good food and swapping their never ending hunting stories.

I’m going to send out a pic that I snapped on my computer.  The other morning I was up early working and Pat Lou came on skype and wanted to chat.  I told him that my hair wasn’t combed, etc.  He didn’t care about what I looked like, he just wanted to show me his babies.  Of course, I couldn’t resist that.  The babies just melted my heart!  They are cooing already, and they looked adorable.  Pat says that he and Beth go to bed around 7 pm since they spend a lot of each night feeding and changing diapers!

Have been taking small groups of the younger students with me on the snow shoe trails. We need more snow for most of the trails since the rocks are still noticeable. Kids had a good time and I always enjoy it.

i have been trying to get into Yoga. Not in the spiritual sense, but more for balance, coordination and stamina. Pat Lou has been doing it for over a year at the fire camps. Many of the firefighters were suffering from lower back pains and other ailments which come from a wilderness fireman;s life. They brought in a certified yoga instructor and Pat says it has made a world of difference. He cam into the school one day and showed us some of the moves.

I figured it couldn;t hurt so ordered a beginners DVD. It is hard¡ but am slowly learning the sequences. Amazing how one can actually do the exercises, I need allot of practice but feel better already.

I better get ready for school.  You all have a great day! I really better get….. 

WINTER ALREADY???

Goodmorning,

♫♫

Winter is for sure here – slightly below temperatures each morning this week.  This morning it is -2 degrees.

  

Later today, Nelsen Grier will be bringing George Harris out for a visit.  George will overnight with the Millirons and preach at tomorrow’s service. 

Kevin and Tommy will be butchering some cows today.  Yeah! More meat to cut! 

Steve S with other guys (Craig, Jim, and ????) changed the batteries to the tabernacle’s heating system yesterday.  The poor ladies working in the kitchen were without heat for the majority of the morning.  It was for a good cause.  See, we turn our big farm generator off every night at 8 pm, and it doesn’t go on until 7 am.  All the buildings and homes need to have their own battery bank to take care of any electrical needs during that “off” time.  The tab’s batteries were bad so the heating system would soon quit each night when the generator was turned off. Hopefully the new battery bank (6 or 8 big golfcart things I think), will do us for another 20 years...NOT! haha...

We also need to replace one of the minivans due to the demise or early retirement of our Dodge MV. As well as 3 new washing machines. So some expenses coming up which the PDF will come in handy for. I also hear that the big gennie is showing its age and a newer one is somewhere in our sights....hummmm

Jon Squires is out working remotely as an EMT or paramedic.  Somewhere on an island in the middle of frozen Alaska where there is a gold mine. He has been gone for two weeks and will be gone for another week.  Last week, Patrick went to Valdez for a week to tune pianos in that area. He still has his Glenallen trip to do.

May has recently moved into the little house behind our home, the house that used to belong to Peter and Stacey (before that it was Rachael B’s, before that it was Paul and Liz’s and before that it was the clothing bank)....haha...now you have the history of the place. P&S really used it for a while after they were married and set it up very nicely. Quite small and compact but May is happy with it and has fixed it up all nice and cozy. We miss her at home, but she probably does not miss us much! ☹

Rob has his own room now and his train set has made permanent residence on the rug...I  think he is pleased with the new arrangement.

Tomorrow Sunday dinner, I hear we are going to have Sarah's  old fashioned dinner of roast and potatoes.  Then…..  the strawberries given to us by the Haines farm to make strawberry shortcake!  Should be good. 

I have gone out with some of the young kids snowshoeing but the snow is not deep enough...am waiting for some more and then we will venture out on our old trails again.

My sister Karenza is in BA, looking out for arrangement for our aged stepmum Chi. Always an intense time, praying for a suitable arrangement for all concerned. Hard to be able to do anything when one is so far.

Have a great weekend.  Love, 

Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people

Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people                                                                                                      1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz.

I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read

the last one:


"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke.

I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall,

Dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?



I handed in my paper, leaving the last question

Blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if

The last question would count toward our quiz grade.



"Absolutely, " said the professor. "In your careers,

You will meet many people.  All are significant. They

Deserve your attention and care, even if all you do

Is smile and say "hello."



I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her

Name was Dorothy.



2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain



One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American

Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway

Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had

Broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally

Unheard of in those conflict-filled 19 60's. The man

Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and

Put her into a taxicab.



She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his

Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a

Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a

Giant console colour TV was delivered to his home. A

Special note was attached.



It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway

The other night. The rain drenched not only my

Clothes, but also my spirits.  Then you came along.

Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying

Husband's' bedside just before he passed away... God

Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving

Others."



Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.



3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those

Who serve.



In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,

A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and

Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in

Front of him.



"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress..



The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and

Studied the coins in it.



"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.



By now more people were waiting for a table and the

Waitress was growing impatient.



"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.



The little boy again counted his coins.



"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.



The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on

The table and walked away The boy finished the ice

Cream, paid the cashier and left..  When the waitress

Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the

Table.  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,

Were two nickels and five pennies..



You see,  he couldn't  have the sundae, because he had

To have enough left to leave her a tip.



4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.



In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a

Roadway..  Then he hid himself and watched to see if

Anyone would remove the huge rock.  Some of the

King's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by

And simply walked around it.  Many loudly blamed the

King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did

Anything about getting the stone out of the way.



Then a peasant came along carrying a load of

Vegetables.  Upon approaching the boulder, the

peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the

stone to the side of the road.  After much pushing

and straining, he finally succeeded. After the

peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed

a purse lying in the road where the boulder had

been.. The purse contained many gold coins and a note

from the King indicating that the gold was for the

person who removed the boulder from the roadway.  The

peasant learned what many of us never understand!



Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve

our condition.



5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts..



Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a

hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who

was suffering from a rare & serious disease.  Her only

chance of recovery appeared to be a blood

transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had

miraculously survived the same disease and had

developed the antibodies needed to combat the

illness.  The doctor explained the situation to her

little brother, and asked the little boy if he would

be willing to give his blood to his sister....



I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a

deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save

her."  As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed

next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing

the colour returning to her cheek. Then his face

grew pale and his smile faded.



He looked up at the doctor and asked with a

trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".



Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the

doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his

sister all of his blood in order to save her.



Now you have 2 choices.



1 Delete this, or

2. Forward it other people.

I hope that you will choose No. 2 and remember.



Most importantly..... "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been

hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching."



NOW more than ever - Please...     Pass It On...