Homer the Jellyfish

Andrew was so pleased with his find of a baby jellyfish on the beach. We really thought it was dead when he found it, but scooped it up and put it in container filled with sea water, just in case. Sure enough, it was still alive-but not for long. Despite offering it a bug in its water, and even buying a guppy for it, it didn't live more than two days. Andrew was heartbroken, but managed a nice burial for it.

Trip to Homer-Beach

The kids LOVED the beach. They collected a ridiculous number of shells and special rocks, enjoyed splashing in the waves, and were fascinated by how their footprints would imbed and then disappeared in the sand. This is something we will definitely have to do more of!

Trip to Homer-Picnic

When Mark was all done with work, we took our picnic dinner and headed down to the beach. The boys ate quickly, because they were excited to check out a beach with sand-unlike the beaches in Seward!

Karis on our minds!

Trip to Homer-Conservation Center

In late September, Mark had to head to Homer for work, so we all tagged along for a family excursion!
While Mark was at his stores, the kids and I explored the Islands and Oceans Conservation Center...a fun, FREE place to learn and explore for the day!

Farm News

Faith Mountain Farm is finally, blessedly, down two in the goat department. Several months ago, we had the kids' allergy tests re-evaluated, to find that they should not even be having goat milk. After that point, my enthusiasm for being out in the barn by 6 a.m. to do the milking rapidly declined.


















We soon decided that we really could not, should not, continue to feed 4 goats when in reality, we didn't need any of them. So we tried, for a very long while, to sell two of them. We wanted to hang on to Sally because, well, she's my baby, and our top quality goat...and because if we end up needing goat milk for Karis, then we have it. But Snap, poor little wether, was of no use...and we had told the kids we would keep Snickers after the horrendous sobbing debacle of selling all of Butter's kids.



















So, it was decided that Butter and Snap were the ones to go, and we finally found a new home for them in Homer! Jacob was a little sad to part with Snap, but it was short-lived; nothing like the tears from selling Butter's kids-I think b/c we at least still have Snickers. So, we're now a 2-goat farm, and happy of it!

September's Weather

For the doubtful, for those who think it only rains here, for those who lived in Alaska for just a short time and don't remember September and all of its glory, here's the proof...

Ummm...

Jacob is delighted that now that soccer is over, I allow him to traipse his shinguards all over the house, so he can use them for what he really wanted to use them! These boys, I tell ya...

Creativity Abounds!

What do you get when you give Jacob a box, scissors, duct tape, and paint? Why, a motorcycle, of course!

A gift

A picture of my young man and me on my birthday...my children are a gift, for certain!

A-Hunting they will go

The boys LOVE going moose hunting with Mark. For the record, Mark does not ever truly expect to see or get anything while they are with him. But he does use it as time for scouting, and then gets out early or late without the boys in tow. But hey, when you own camo clothes, what else are you going to do with them? Them boys, they want to go huntin'!


















(And also for the record, Mark did not get one this year...around here, you really need a good solid week to go waaaaaay out, which *nearly* necessitates either a boat or a 4-wheeler. Nearly, but not quite).

Kids' Program

The kids all loved the Kids Own Worship program on Sunday nights this past summer! Though Anna played the shy one during the presentation, Andrew and Jacob were totally into it!

Soccer!!!

The boys had a blast playing soccer this season. This was Andrew's third season, but a first for Jacob...and it was obvious that it was pure joy for him! He almost always had a grin on his face, and always kept himself in the thick of things! After his first day of school, which included our first soccer practice, his bedtime prayer was "Dear God, thank you that I'm in Kindergarten so that I can do math and play soccer. Amen."
















There ended up being 17 kids on the team...and if I had realized there would be that many, I might not have volunteered to coach! I'm not really sure how that happened, but it was fun-for the most part. The boys are already looking forward to next year. I, however, have no plans to coach again...as I will have TWO little girls to keep track of! (This year, my friend Willow watched Anna during practice, and it worked out great)!

Moving on!

Praise the Lord, we had a successful resolution to the court date fiasco from earlier this week!
As of Friday morning, our court date for Oct. 29th was reconfirmed, and our tickets are booked...and list of what to pack is growing and growing!

So, we're now crazy busy...we leave for Ethiopia two weeks from tomorrow!  Today we're out cleaning the yard and putting away outside and mucking out the barn...all in preparation for winter.  The snow is halfway down the mountains now, next weekend is Jacob's birthday, and the weekend after that we're leaving!  So, lots of outdoor work going on, and I'm so thankful it's a gorgeous, sunny day!

But, while I'm waiting for Anna to finish her lunch to get her down from a nap, I'll try to finish blogging September!  (Yes, she's a very slow eater). :)

Lots going on...

If you haven't hopped over to our adoption blog, there's a lot going on!

We were ecstatic to receive a court date, for Oct. 29th, to go meet Karis and to legally become her parents.

I spent a whirlwind 24 hours searching for flights, confirming, and purchasing our tickets.

And now today, the court date is in question, an unprecedented move, I guess...

Check out all the details here...and please pray with us!  Thank you!