Hello! Every day we have a few more minutes of precious daylight, and we are seeing a little bit more sunshine each day too! It’s good for the spirit! Despite the extra sunlight and daylight, we still have had some temperatures plunging into the -30’s but mostly staying in the -20’s. Each day, it warms up to 0* or 6*, but drops below zero again at night. We did receive around 2 and 1/2 inches of snow last week which covered up some of the debris from that wind storm we’d had in January.
Buongiorne news: Pat continues with his Macomb Piano work and keeps busy with that, taking as many jobs as he can. Some that take him away from the farm for a few days, trying to generate funds…aren’t we all!! Especially with the soon-to-be-implemented Obama Care which sounds like a nightmare, good to know that God is in control and He will take care of us as we put our trust in HIM!
I continue to try and get my humble translation business up and running, but it is proving to be a very competitive market. I do enjoy pro Bono work with a large Gospel International outfit and audio recording for Livrivox which are quite enjoyable. Of course, most of my week is busy teaching Rob with the help of some excellent professionals from the AGSD and the REACH (Resources for teaching Alaska Children at Home) Academy who provide us with many resources for teaching a student like Rob. I am very thankful for these excellent providers.
They also include Rob and myself in their spring field trip, which usually takes us to places in Alaska I would never be able to visit on my own. So far we have been in SE Alaska, Juneau, Haines, Homer, Yukon, visited salmon hatcheries and Alaska native heritage places, travelled on ferries and small boats. Last year we went to the Seward Marine Center, which is very well done and has a state-of-the-art research facility as well as an aquarium. This April the plan is to ride the picturesque White Pass Yukon Railroad, you can find info on it here
http://www.wpyr.com/
I continue to try and get my humble translation business up and running, but it is proving to be a very competitive market. I do enjoy pro Bono work with a large Gospel International outfit and audio recording for Livrivox which are quite enjoyable. Of course, most of my week is busy teaching Rob with the help of some excellent professionals from the AGSD and the REACH (Resources for teaching Alaska Children at Home) Academy who provide us with many resources for teaching a student like Rob. I am very thankful for these excellent providers.
They also include Rob and myself in their spring field trip, which usually takes us to places in Alaska I would never be able to visit on my own. So far we have been in SE Alaska, Juneau, Haines, Homer, Yukon, visited salmon hatcheries and Alaska native heritage places, travelled on ferries and small boats. Last year we went to the Seward Marine Center, which is very well done and has a state-of-the-art research facility as well as an aquarium. This April the plan is to ride the picturesque White Pass Yukon Railroad, you can find info on it here
http://www.wpyr.com/
Recently finished recording the popular "Martin Fierro" which is considered "the" Shakespeare of Argentina. Two fellow Argentinians were doing it with me so it was fun! I got to practice my very rusty "porteño" for those who are wondering what that is, it's the type of Argentinian Spanish spoken by folks who are from Buenos Aires. The other 2 readers were from the province of Entre Rios, where my mother Stella Leeson still resides.
Rob continues with his online instruction in Math, Phonics, Science and Social Studies. He takes Art with Miss Katie Crossin and loves all of it!
Healthwise, he is still on Prozac (for focus and alertness) and thyroid meds. He seems to be doing fine and gets regular checkups with an endo who comes into Fairbanks from Anchorage's Providence hospital once every 2 months.
On weekends we try and take him out on the snow trails with his snow-shoes and Pat on his skis. He does well and although reluctant at first eventually starts singing his heart out as he trudges down the trail…gotta love that kid! :)
He enjoys working on firewood chores with the guys and tooling around the farm on his bike riding in the snow... Good exercise I guess.
Here's a clip of Rob helping out with firewood chores which is a guy thing done on Saturday mornings.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202614537076372&l=6360680868991385841
Healthwise, he is still on Prozac (for focus and alertness) and thyroid meds. He seems to be doing fine and gets regular checkups with an endo who comes into Fairbanks from Anchorage's Providence hospital once every 2 months.
On weekends we try and take him out on the snow trails with his snow-shoes and Pat on his skis. He does well and although reluctant at first eventually starts singing his heart out as he trudges down the trail…gotta love that kid! :)
He enjoys working on firewood chores with the guys and tooling around the farm on his bike riding in the snow... Good exercise I guess.
Here's a clip of Rob helping out with firewood chores which is a guy thing done on Saturday mornings.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202614537076372&l=6360680868991385841
After our (May and myself) visit to Ani in Jefferson TX and her aunt, my sister Karenza Hanson and the Tesis, I came home to catch up on school work for Rob and paperwork generated by having a child who is immersed in the special ed system…a lot of paperwork! One wonders how public school teachers have ANY time left for teaching…wow!
No sooner had I started to catch up than a quick trip to Palmer to visit Pat, Beth and the twins opened up for me. Wenda Lawrence, my trusty winter chauffeur - she is 75 - and a friend from Delta Lisa Stossmeister, were making a trip to visit new great grand baby and a son who is part of the speech competitions with Whitestone, anyway Rob and self hopped on the wagon and spent 4 days with the twins. Pat, Beth and girls are leaving for the UK in a few days to visit Beth’s side of the family who sorely miss her as do all her many friends. Pat will return earlier to start firefighting training and prep with the Pioneer Peak Hotshots in Palmer. So thankful he has this job! He loves it but is also hoping to land something that will keep him closer to home…prayers for that are welcome. He misses the whole summer from April to September, and spends it either in the Lower 48 or in Alaska in remote areas away from his family fighting the blazes.
My visit was great, the girls are talking up a storm and use cute words and expressions such as “that’s brilliant mummy”, fantastic, etc. very verbal!
For those who want to keep up with Ani, she is doing well but does not communicate electronically at all. You will either have to call her or write her.
IF YOU WANT TO CALL/WRITE HER LET ME KNOW AND I’LL GIVE YOU THE CONTACT INFO. DON'T WANT TO PUT IT IN A SEMI PUBLIC BLOG LIKE THIS.
She is holding down 3 jobs that I know of, hostessing, waitressing at a couple of nice eateries/hotels and an info desk clerk at a small local museum, as well as lending a hand at her aunt's antique/gift Shoppe. She is learning many life skills and seems to be enjoying life in a safe environment and for that I am thankful!
FARM/COMMUNITY NEWS:
The Northern Lights have been quite active this month so far...these were taken by a local photographer
Austin and McCall Mitchell are spending a week at the farm visiting their grandparents and cousins. It looks like during school hours Austin is helping his grandpa with some small construction jobs. I saw Austin helping some of the older ladies with their computers. McCall, during school hours, has been helping with the preschool aged children. She’s been able to attend the art, photography, and home ec classes in the afternoons.
Garth has returned home after completing his chauffeuring duties - driving the ministry from Anchorage to Whitehorse.
Lee and Mary Persinger went to the Whitehorse before stopping by here for a couple of days while on their way to Anchorage to visit their sons and their families.
….later
This morning it is a brisk -15°. The sky is pink along the edges painting the tops of the mountains with a pink sunlit glow. We’ve are still having cool nights with temps reaching a little above zero each day once the sun’s light and heat hit our frozen land!
Hannah and Craig had an excellent ten day visit with Andy and Sarah Jane. Katie stayed with Chloe and Clayton while they were gone. It seems that Bro Andy is improving. He has finally kicked the infection that has plagued him since last September. That alone makes him feel like a new person. Keep them in your prayers still, for sure! asjtrotter@gmail.com
Austin and McCall Mitchell went home yesterday.
The loggers who run heavy equipment have been working on a log site next to Whitestone since it is closer for hauling chips to the Delta school from there rather than from here.
Sis Millie is doing very well; her strength is improving each day. I’m so grateful for those who help Rus and Millie, each day with food, laundry, therapy, etc. Bro Rus is quite the example to me. His life, at 86 yrs, has been completely rearranged since last October. Not only did he have everyone all up in his house, rearranging the house to make it more comfortable for Sis Millie, but now he dresses, feeds, and cares for Sis Millie and does all the house chores and cooking (well, he mostly he heats up meals from the tab or from Jeni, but heating takes time and dishes). I think he makes brunch on Saturday. Sis Millie loves cards for anyone just wanting to write: HC 62 Box 5220, Delta Jct, AK 99737
You should’ve all received the report on Bro George from IMA.
You all have a good week!
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