TUESDAY

Hi.  I realized on Sunday morning, that I had spoken too soon.  It was not a still day.  The wind was still happily whipping away, just not quite as bad as it had been during the night.  Monday was a slight bit quieter, but today, the cold, whipping wind was back.  L  Every time we clean the paths and roads, the wind just blows them away again.  The temperature this morning was 9° with blowing; tonight it is 14° and breezy.

Andy and Sarah Jane with Chloe and Katie took Katie’s mom, Jeannie, to the airport today.  Katie is a right jolly girl who I think will fit in nicely here.

We are enjoying Mike and Clara Buerge and their four children.  Their oldest has been going to school with our first graders while the four younger ones attend Carolyn’s classes.  The kids are sweet and have enjoyed other children to play with.  Tonight one of them ran up behind me and grabbed my legs and shouted “boo”.  I wondered if he thought I was someone else or if he knew it was me.  He had a big grin on his face, though, and didn’t appear to have thought I was someone else. 

Peter and Stacey are here for convention. Peter must be here for his job at Ft.Greely.  They will be here for the convention.

Pat, Beth and the girls will be spending convention with us and stay on for a bit longer...fun times for this gramaw...can't wait for cuddles. Hope to get some nice pics this time.

Just saw John Basalyga so I know he's coming!

Ali, Jo, Wendy et all, have been doing a ton of food prep and the first breakfasts of granola and sweet breads have been passed out.

Bonnie is madly doing all the stragglers last minute hair doos...I got into her maxed out lineup...just barely...under the wire...for my signature "spike" look which has become the preferred and easiest style for this ole dame...

The loggers received the piece needed to fix the pellet making machine.  Today Rich cranked out pellets to supply all the pellet stoves on the farm.  Those with pellet stoves were getting pretty close to running out. 

May and Seth went to Whitestone convention and didn’t return till today.  I was beginning to worry if they had been kidnapped.  (not really!)

Our convention begins on Friday morning.  All morning services will begin at 9:30 am while the afternoon services (on Friday and Saturday) will start at 4 pm. We look forward to seeing everyone.  It would be nice if you could call Rus (323-4192) or contact me to let us know what days you’ll attend so we have a head count for the cooks. 

May came back singing Whitestone convention praises, she liked the word, she liked the worship, she liked her hole in the wall sleeping arrangements...hope she won't move there...

Finally went out on the sawmill trail, it actually is behind the sawmill...I guess somebody opened it up...it was late and the light was going so I got kinda spooked its so quiet and deserted, so I turned back half way, but I now know its gonna be ok and I'll start using it besides Pat's a nice change.

The weather is holding steady and we've had some nice covering of snow, but it is rather deep in parts and now that Christ Toby is down in Oklahoma at the terriers course, we don't get the trails cleared as much as we would like...seems I'm always stepping into deep snow somewhere...especially around the school entrances...where the drifts are deeper.

Well, no more for now...convention is just around the corner.

Have a good day and remaining of the week...

SUNDAY 19TH. FARM NOOS

Some week end noos...

Hello,

It is presently -1° and quiet and gray.  All of yesterday and all of last night, a cold wind howled.  It was an especially dreadful wind for the guys that had work to do outside.

We’ve had a busy week due to convention preparations that were put on hold for a week or so.  Food is being cooked and prepared, the tab is being cleaned, roads are being “scraped” but now they will have to be done again, homes are being cleaned.  Everyone is in a sorta controlled frenzy. 

Whitestone’s convention started yesterday.  I haven’t heard any reports but I heard that Wasilla’s and Sapa’s conventions were great.  Mark Coy took over some people yesterday to the Whitestone convention – Seth, May, Claire Wilkerson, Kerri, and Maddie.  Seth and May are staying for the whole convention.  Since Amaris flew in from Boston a day or so ago, might be part of Seth’s anxiety to attend that convention.  (He’s not really anxious, just …. You know)

Garth was gone for a week helping to chauffer the Ministry.  He arrived home on Friday night in time for our tab cleaning party.

I did want to mention that Donna and Dave Austin were recently visiting Whitestone.  They made time to come over here to visit and perform a small concert for us. I was looking for some links to share with you all, but I need to get going to service this morning so I’d better not look too hard.

Katie Crossin has arrived.  She is very refreshingly excited to be here.  Her mom, Jeannie, Andy’s sister, is here for a week. Katie will be living with Sis. Wenda Lawrence.

Seth Jepsen is back from Mexico. Not sure if he speaks any spanish or not...haha

Pat and self took Rob snowshoeing into the woods. It was windy but nice. The snow covering makes the trail smoother than it has been. The spring has been overflowing alot and getting onto the trail so it has been difficult to get out to ski and snowshoe, hoping the covering will last and the temp. will continue to stay where they are and not get unseasonably warm...

We are still searching out the reason for Rob's weight loss and high thyroid readings. Keep us in your prayers when you think of us. Keeping a balance between all his meds and supplements is always a challenge.

Well, I’d like to chat, but I better get moving.  We are doing well, Trotters and Masons are doing amazingly well.  We had a sweet sharing service on Wednesday where others that didn’t have time to share at the memorial were able to share.  Sarah Jane shared that she realized through this time that theChrist is very much alive in His people. 

Anyway, have a great week!  

A lovely musical evening with Dick & Donna Austin from Hoonah Alaska

Tony and Crockett clear our trails...

young and old help in the pre convention cleanup

SISTER REUNION IN SPRINGFIELD MO

Hi All,

With all the events and happenings here at Dry Creek, I totally forgot to post a short update on what I was up to BEFORE all these things transpired.

My brother in law, Don Burgess, passed away after a long illness and us Hanson girls decided it was probably a good idea to all converge at my sister Alexandra Hanson Burgess' family home in Springfield MO and spend some sisterly time together...

This is easier said than done since my youngest sis. Marina Hanson Alvarez lives in Buenos Aires Arg. I live in Alaska, and Karenza, our oldest sis. , lives in Texas. By a stroke of sheer good providence, miracle God workings and just plain "luck" I had enough miles (plus  some 
$$) from our Europe trip to make it and so we all converged in Springfield MO. As it happened Marina put her good standing and retiree benefits from the airlines into use, and was able to fly standby for most of the way from South America.

My trip was uneventful but for the 10 hours lay over in the Dallas airport because of the blizzard/icy conditions...I finally spoke some sweet words into an agents ear and she put me on the standby list and got me on the 10pm. plane...which got me into Springfield at midnight, rather than 4 pm as intended...but...all was well...

The best part is that I had my sister San all to myself for a couple of days...and that was nice!
Two days later we picked Marina and my niece Jessie up and then K and her friend Mary Summers arrived after driving 8 hours from Jefferson TX. K was in the throes of having just returned from our trip to Europe and then in the midst of a very busy Christmas season for the shop she manages - but was able to make it nonetheless..

We spend a lovely week or so with San and her family, a sweet time of being together as it was Christmas and New Year as well. The gift giving under the tree went on for days it seems, as somebody or something new arrived each day...San's two 5 year old grand kids, Tristan and Charlize, were happy for THAT part I am sure! There was always something xtra under the tree for them...I wonder what they made of all these older ladies - loud ones at that - milling around the house and stealing their precious gramma away from them!

As it is, Tristan kept asking us: "Are you my grammas sister?"...so cute! He would come into our bedroom and jump on the big bed and I think he enjoyed his eccentric great aunts....my niece Jessie and him got on like a house on fire, we could hear them whispering to each other over little games and cuddles, Jessie launching out into her English and conversing which was a very cool...

We were treated to a nice New Year's dinner hosted by my nephews Daniel and Benjamin and his lovely wife Jeshua. Sang songs around the coffee table and just enjoyed each other's company until it was bed time for the old timers (us gals...haha). At midnight we were duly awakened by somebody setting of a rather loud fireworks or gunshot or something...and then Dan called us to wish us HAPPY NEW 2013! Their part of the neighborhood had been clanking cow bells to bring in the year...

I was amazed at the large variety of thrift shops and antique stores and just LARGE Walmarts and other big stores which we do not have up here in Alaska...at least not in that variety. We shopped for all sorts of things. The antique store was actually like a large SAMS CLUB with bookhoodles of "stuff", statues, furniture, jewelry...an antique buff's dream...Ani would have loved it..I picked up an antique lapis-lazuli and silver pinkie ring and an original Murano glass ring for her at a good price...

A visit to BASS PRO headquarters was a must, and my nephew Dan was sweet enough to take me for my second visit ever (the first was when I had May, Ani and Rob with me in 2009), it was very upgraded and even boasted a live alligator... many good sales on so I picked up a nice Carhartt jacket for Rob at less than half the price of what it costs up here...

In the end we all  gave each other so many gifts that I had to actually purchase a new roller bag - also at a fraction of the cost - to bring up with me...good thing I had packed light so I only had one checked piece.

We even squeezed in a short visit to nearby Branson city (where Silver Dollar City is) and rode the bumper cars...what fun! Never had done that before...

A visit to remember and cherish down through the years...at times likes these one is confronted with the fact that our lives are "but a vapor" and one must try and keep chance meetings as gifts from above...just like Ani and my trip to Europe....things like that do not happen just because....God has a plan...Thank you Lord!

Thank you girls for making the effort to cross the miles that separate us... thanks San for sharing your sweet family with us, and hosting us so generously, thanks Benj and Jeshua and sweet Charleze, Daniel and Tucker (I want him for Rob! haha...) and Fi...thanks for sharing your little Tristan with us, he is such an awesome kid and you're a good momma..

Blessings to you all and may we meet again soon somewhere on the globe...let's keep updating and connecting with each other...life is too short not to!!

Love you all

your sis, aunt and great aunt...Gri

some farm news...

Hi,

It’s been so long since I’ve written a real note that I don’t even know where to begin.  I last wrote on December 14, so that’s been exactly a month ago!  A lot has transpired. 

We’ve been having some fairly mild weather this past month, mostly the temperature hovers a little above or below the 0° line.  Today, we are scarily above that line.  I heard it is raining in Fairbanks which scares me just a wee bit since I’m on my way there right now.  

Of course you all know and have kept up to date with the happenings concerning Rachel Trotter.  So many people here on the farm have been so great – doing laundry, cleaning, providing food for the bereaved families, making the meals for the events, setting up the memorial things, making a slide show, and so much more.  I was reminded of how much we can all do for each other and how when we share the load, it is so much easier to bear. 

Seth Jepsen is home.  :) Since Amaris’ grandmother became very sick, the Ramerizes needed to come out of Mexico to go see her.  The grandmother has since passed away so now the Ramerizes have to do all the things we just did.  But, because of all that, when they all flew from Dallas to Boston, Seth flew home! 

Katie Crossin, niece of Andy and Sarah Jane, asked to move here last fall.  She and her mom are due to fly in this week sometime.  Katie will live with Wenda. She and Rachel (cousins) were so looking forward to being together...God's plans are certainly not ours sometimes...

Also coming this week will be Mike and Clara Buerge from Partridge Creek,Canada.  They will come with their four children and will stay for a couple of weeks.  They will stay with Garth and Kim Millirons. 

Garth was supposed to leave earlier in the week, but he stayed home because of the recent events.  He has now taken off to catch up to the ministry who are already in Alaska starting the convention tour. 

Jim, Cody, and Tony flew with Chris Toby to Oklahoma to get him settled in a six week ferrier class.  Those three guys stopped off in TX for a few days before returning home. Gri met them at the Seattle airport on their way to Dallas, she was about to board the same flight the opposite direction... Gri had been in Springfield MO for 10 days - with her 3 sisters for support and fellowship after her brother in law, Don Burgess passed away after a long illness. She returned to Dry Creek the day we took Rachel into the hospital...from sadness to sadness as it were...

Kerri was pretty sick this past week.  When her throat started closing up, her parents took her to the doctor.  She has a bad case of tonsillitis and was put on steroids (to open up her throat) and antibiotics (to fight infection).  Hannah Mason was sick at the same time as her sister and continued to be sick on into the new week.  She went to the doctor and found out that she had strep throat.  Once they put her antibiotics, she started feeling much better. 

                                                      &&&&&&&&&&&&&

Yesterday the temperature ranged between 36° and 46° all day.  In Fairbanks, the roads were sheer ice.  It started raining at some point.  On our way home we alternately went through rain and snow.  Between Fairbanks and Eielson, the roads were very bad.  The radio kept blaring out warnings to just stay home and off the roads if possible.  School in the North Star Borough was cancelled.  Once we drove past Eielson, the roads and weather were still very bad, but that was only ½ as bad as they had been before. 

In the afternoon, I met Jon and Ally and Pat and Flo in Sams so we were kinda checking in with each other on the way home.  Pat’s tires were scaring him so he and his family stayed in North Pole last night.  Wenda went to Delta in the afternoon and went off the road a smidgen.  Just enough to need help getting pulled out, but not enough to hurt her or the car. 

Now, we have 19° and snow.  It’s probably about six inches of snow.  Maybe it’ll amply cover the slick snow.  And, I heard that Tok received a lot of snow too.

More later......

RACHEL TROTTER

This, from Sarah Jepsen

&&&&&&&&&&&&

Family,

We had a sweet graveside service yesterday for Rachel Trotter.  Our time together as a family was precious.  We felt and appreciated all your love, support, and prayers. 

On Saturday, at 11 am, January 12, 2013, we will celebrate Rachel’s life.  Family and friends are welcome to attend. 

Please let us know if you plan to come.  Here is my contact information:  (or you can contact whomever you know from the Land and/or Dry Creek.)

jepsensarah@gmail.com

907-323-7487 – phone

319-895-7640 – text number

Sarah Jepsen,

For the Trotters

&&&&&&&

REMEMBERING MISS RAYRAY...

REMEMBERING MISS RAYRAY...

Rachel, dear

Sister, daughter, aunty, teacher, friend

Although you were not a mother - yet you mothered

Not a parent  - yet you nurtured and cared

Rare was the day when a child was not on your lap

Or hanging from your arm, or clinging around your neck.

No matter the age group, when in doubt about cooking - or anything else, for that matter -

"Miss Rayray, what's the best temperature for...?"..."Miss Rayray, how do you make?."

Many a time the Tab phone would be busy with you at the other end, answering, caring, suggesting, instructing.

Because, you see, Miss Rayray you were like a walking Encyclopedia ... ready with a practical explanation on how to make something, how to can something, how to knit something, how to arrange a meal, or put together a wedding, seating guests,

no matter if it was small or more involved, you had an answer or a solution for any occasion... how did you do it? I have no clue ... you just did ... it was your special gift.

Will you be knitting shawls to keep the angels' wings warm?

Will you be organizing and hosting banquets and events "up there" too?...making sure everybody has an assigned seat, the place settings are just right, the center pieces on the tables just where they should be ...the meals and their courses just so ... and while you're at it - perhaps putting an unruly cherub or two in their place...

When I needed someone to accompany May to Ireland, I thought of you because I knew you were Best Buds and I knew that May would be safe and sound with you. You irradiated stability, practicality and common sense all wrapped up in a package of just plain joy and a zest for living.

When you lived across from our cabin and my kids were not at home I knew they were probably watching movies and eating snacks at your place! They loved to hang out with you, especially when I became busy with Rob's therapy, you filled in where I could not. It came natural to you, I did not have to make any special arrangements with you, you just did it...

- because that's the kind of person you were -

Thanks so much for teaching my children at school and making my girls the accomplished cooks they are today - I could never have done it! You taught them down through the years, like so many more ... instilling strong work ethics  and putting your spark for life and love of knowledge into each one you nurtured….

Rayray, when I first heard I wanted to say: " WAAAAIT, NOOO, YOU CAN'T GO!..."

....I want to spend more time with you and chat with you some more and hear your belly laugh again...what about that elusive cup of tea we were gonna share...

Rayray, you leave us with a big hole in our hearts and lives, which cannot be filled because you were so unique…I can't explain how you became intrinsically enmeshed in the fabric of ALL our lives…

but you dId…

and you ARE

even though I know you are making the halls of heaven ring with that laughter of yours -  and that makes me smile - …still…

you gotta admit...

you played a fast one on us pal ... we were not prepared.

We will never forget you..

Your colleague and friend

Gri