MOOSINGS FROM THE LAST FRONTIER...

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.