MAY/JUNE

Chugiak Range

Morning!  I’m almost certain we’ve been having record highs for the month of May.  The highs have been in the 70’s, and yesterday I’m sure we reached 80 degrees with a promise of today being even hotter.  We’ll see.  The nightly lows have reached to 30 degrees but is usually closer to 32 and 34 degrees.  So far, we’ve recieved 2/10ths of an inch of rain for the month - everything seems very dry.  Forestry has a burn ban on for the entire state of AK.  If we want to burn in anything other than the boilers or our barrel stoves, we have to call Forestry for permission.  Unless there is rain, there will be no permission granted.  

Tomorrow is our high school graduation at 2 pm.  We have four graduates - Maddie Cox, Kerri Geyer, Amanda Nerbonne, and Nicolas VanderHart.  Maddie is saving money for a mission trip to Australia in late fall; Amanda is saving for a short mission trip to Indonesia in early fall; Kerri is moving away to work to collect money to begin college, and Nic is waiting for next year to begin college.  I’ve taught these kids off mainly with HS Spanish, and I have enjoyed them thoroughly. I will miss them.  

Last email I mentioned that Brad had a mass in his shoulder extending into his neck and arm.  After some appointments, surgery was scheduled for a few weeks ago.  The benign three-pound tumor was removed from his shoulder and other places; a tentacle had grown into his chest cavity!  Dr. Wade was able to get all the tumor but he might’ve gotten a major nerve and blood vessel that runs along the shoulder blade shelf as well.  Time will tell.  Brad has had the staples removed and is recovering well.  He didn’t realize it, but he’d been in a lot of pain previous to the surgery.  That pain is subsiding with only healing pain remaining.  

This past week, Ben went into Fairbanks for a routine well physical checkup.  Due to some things and fasting for various tests, he was very weak.  He went to the ER and while talking to the desk there,  he fell.  The fall caused a concussion and bleeding in two places between his skull and lining.  After MRI’s and CT’s, he was said to be okay  and has been released to Melissa’s care.  He is VERY weak and dizzy and tired.  

And Pat Sr. had another episode where he ended up in the FMH ER. May, bless her, drove her dad in since Gri had to stay with Rob and it's easier not to disrupt Rob's routine. Dr. Kohler spent some time with Pat and gave her medical advice, now time will tell, as I type May and Pat are in Fairbanks at FMH.

I don't want to say : falling like flies : oops I said it...seriously what's going on one wonders?

Gri and Rob are planning a week-long Valdez trip with the REACH Academy homeschooling branch of the Alaska Gateway School District. Hope all goes as plans, crossed fingers. The last one was missed because of a medical emergency on Gri's part, at the last minute, but life happens.

UPDATE ON THE VALDEZ TRIP: All the kids and adults that attended had a good time. Alaska was at her scenic best!
Rob had his first ocean kayak experience and he did well.

VALDEZ HARBOR

 CROSSING THE SOUND

VALDEZ MUSEUM