Our Adventures.......

I'm Still Here!!!!

How can it possibly be so long since I have written?  Well, for one thing, my life is NOT all that exciting! 

I am working at the Kenai Watershed Forum, and that is going great.  The people I work with are wonderful, and I am enjoying what I do.  Crunching numbers for non-profits appears to be my niche! 

We have been painting and redecorating our house.  Trying to get settled in and make our house a home again.  Madison loves her "flag" room and I am enjoying seeing my house take on a new personality.  Claire Rowley has been a life-saver in the painting department - I can not thank her enough!  She and have made a habit of sharing a meal at St. Elias before we hit the paint brushes....

I just returned from counting boats on the river at Pillars.  It's part of an intensive 3 day study of hydrocarbons on the river.  I really like that I get to work "out in the field" occassionally.  However, after sitting  on the floating dock for over an hour....my head thinks it's floating for the rest of the day.  Luckily I don't get nauseous ---- just "float" for a while. 

Oscar is just as happy as always...he's loving being able to fetch a ball/toy that's thrown more than 6 feet! 

Our summer has been TERRIBLE weather "wise", but the past 2 days have been nice and sunny and I was able to be a sun worshiper for the first time this summer!  Got a bit of a sunburn, but nothing serious. 

That's all the update for now....I told you my life's not THAT exciting!  We did go camping last weekend with my sister-in-law, and the kids had a ball.  I should try to post some pictures of that -- but have to reload my camera/picture program onto my laptop again...and I have no clue where it is.....somewhere in the garage in a box.....with ALL the other stuff! 

Thanks for checking in...............Rhonda

Bad, Bad Blogger!!

Cirque Jungle Dreams

This past weekend we ventured up to Anchorage to see Cirque Jungle.  It was a fun-filled trip!  We went with my sister-in-law (Lauri), my nephew Spencer, and the Jackson's kids Sullivan and Celina.  All of us in my brother's Durango.  It was comfortable but cozy.  THEN Lauri decided to buy some MONGO-HUGE planters for my brother's office - about 2 1/2 feet diameter!  The kids had to hug them in their seats for 2 full days - in and out every time.  They were troopers about it - I kept thinking we were going to meet up with my friends, the Birds and pass off some of our packages to them....and so I kept saying, "This is the last time you have to hold those planters", and then we'd get in and I'd say it again!  Finally, we really did pass them off right before we left Anchorage to head home!

We stayed at a hotel with a pool, ordered pizza and ate the hotel's fresh cooked chocolate chip cookies.  The kids had a ball, and they all thoroughly enjoyed Cirque Jungle, even Spencer who slept through a very short portion (he played too hard in the pool the night before).  Madison like the contortionists the best and wants to learn how!  She is rather flexible, but I don't think a career of contortioning is in her future! 

We are wrapping up the homeschooling for this year - it has been a great year of learning for both of us.  My favorite was History, hers was Math - gotta love that kid! :)

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping buy...feel free to say "hello" while you're here!  Rhonda 

Moose Pass

Madison's Yellow Poem

Madison's latest language assignment...it was based on a book called "Hailstones and Halibut Bones".  She was to describe a color as if she were telling a blind person.  She, of course, picked her favorite color:

Yellow is a BANANA freshly picked,

 in your mouth.

Yellow is the giant cracked BELL

ringing on Sunday morning.

Yellow is the JOY you have

when you win the first basketball game.

Yellow is the warm POPCORN on your hand

right from the microwave.

Yellow is the homade LEMON PIE you have

going into your mouth.

Yellow is the SUN on a hot

 Alaskan morning.

Yellow is the grainy SAND from Idaho

going through your fingers.

Yellow is the zest of a LEMON

in your Pepsi.

Yellow is the scent of a LILLY

from the big green field.

Yellow is the HAPPINESS of being alive.

Didn't she do a good job?!?!  I'm really proud of her!  She wrote it all by herself.  From a proud mom...Rhonda

Happy Easter!!!!

Praise the Lord!!!!

He IS Risen!!!

Basketball, basketball and more basketball!

Madison's paper

Madison's latest school project was to research a topic and write a paper on it.  She did a great job!  Read below to see what you researched:

Have you ever read a Guiness Book of World records.  I have and I like them very much.  The Buiness Book started in 1954.  Hugh Bever was having an argument in Ireland over the fastest bird and they had no way to tell who's right.  So they decited to fix that.  They decited to make a book of records.  They called it Guiness because Guiness stout ale was sold in pubs and it was a recognizeble name.

They published ther first Book and sold 198 ocpies.  It was the best non-fiction book sold.  Now they are selling 3 million copies a year in America!  They are now published in 23 copies!  WOW.

At the end...she meant 23 languages.....  I have been really proud of her.  She has been working very hard on her schoolwork and I think I've been learning just as much as she is!  We just covered WWII in history, which I find one of the most fascinating time periods ever. 

Thanks for checking in!  Rhonda

Madison's Poetry

Madison just finished a whole unit on poetry and wrote 2 things I wanted to show off.  This first is a limerick:

There was a young man from Hawaii,

He like to eat mahi-mahi,

So one day he ate it,

He totally hated it,

So decided to move to Kauai!

Pretty good, huh?  The next is a conundrum - a play on words using homophones:

We couldn't shoot the canon through the wall of the ship because it was a hardship.

What can I say?  She's pretty darn good, huh?!  Rhonda

Alaska

White-out!

Hello everyone!  I attended a ladies retreat in Girdwood this weekend.  It was terrific.  The presentor was a wonderful lady who was very down to earth and easy to relate to.  She doesn't have a perfect life and doesn't expect us to either.  I sure fit that description! :)  We drove home in a TOTAL white-out!  For those of you non-Alaskans....that is when the snow and wind are coming down and blowing so hard that you can't see beyone your front bumper...and I'm NOT exaggerating!  It was a white knuckle trip, with 2 semi's in the ditch....one completely on it's side....but we made it home safe and sound.  Thanks to Sarah Rozak for driving!

It has come to my attention that Leah is NOT the only one who reads my blog (thanks Nathan for the comment), and I have heard people have had problems responding with a comment.  Let me assure you...you do NOT have to log in or join to leave a comment.   All you do is click on the leave a comment and then write you message in the text box, type in the numbers that you see at the bottom of the text box and post.  The option is there for other bloggers to log in and then it will print their name and stuff.  If you do an "anonymous" comment...make sure you sign with your name in the text box or I won't have any idea who it's from!  It's rewarding to get comments and know people are actually checking in on me!  By the way, the site does NOT tell me who has visited or keep track of how many or anything else like that.  So I'm TOTALLY clueless.  As usual, huh? 

For those of you that do know my friend Leah, or have read her comments.....she also has a blog on this website and her last posting was simply a picture of a positive pregnancy test!  So #5 is on the way!  I couldn't be more happy for her and Tony.  Congratulations, guys! :)

That's all for now...just wanted to share about my harrowing adventure home from Alyeska last night.... although I have to admit it wasn't my first white-out drive between Anchorage and Soldotna (by far) and I'm sure it won't be the last!  Rhonda

Crazy Weather/New Job

Hi everyone (I mean, Leah).....I can not believe I haven't updated in almost a month!  I have been pretty darn busy for someone who is unemployed!  Speaking of being unemployed....yes, it's true...I have returned to the workforce.  I have been hired at the Kenai Watershed Forum as the Accounting Manager.  They are a non-profit organization aimed at improving the watershheds on the Kenai Peninsula (rivers, streams, etc.) for salmon spawning and thereby improving fishing, tourism, the economy...etc.  You can check out their website at:  www.kenaiwatershed.org.  I am working part-time for now, with the hopes of my hours growing to full-time.  The people are incredibly nice.  I have my own little office space (VERY similar to CIA) with BIG windows.  It's a small organization in "people size" - about 10 empolyees. 

Madison has been home-schooling like crazy.  She has really been working hard and we have been plowing through lots and lots of material each week.  She catches on to things really fast and can work independantly.  The Watershed Forum has let me work my hours around when I do and don't have Madison a little bit...so that has been really nice.  We go swimming every other Friday -- we call it "Fun Friday" - she gets to pick what we do...and so far swimming at the Nikiski Pool is the favored activity.  She is also taking private art classes with the Spence kids (Kevin Spence was my boss at CIA) once a week.  They have done ceramics so far....and every project Madison has done so far has broke either before or in the kiln!  So we're hoping for a complete project without any mars soon!

The weather here is absolutely insane.  30 degrees below zero last week - my car wouldn't start one day....to 40 above this week - everything is melting.  It's kind of raining as I type.....which once it freezes will make everything as slick as snot.  I hate the 20-30 below (well, actually anything below 0), and love the snow.  Things aren't exactly going my way.

Have been attending Peninsula Grace Brethern Church, and have been enjoying it.  They have incredible music.....sometimes they really rock!  Thinking that's where I'm going to stay put for now.

Oscar is just as lovable as ever....the funniest thing he does is try to play fetch (his FAVORITE activity) in the cabin....you can only throw the toy about 6-8 feet.  He runs as fast as he can those few feet and then runs full speed back to do it again - takes about 4 seconds total.  It's a total crack-up.  He LOVES to go visit MeMe and Poppy more than anything - just like Madison! 

That's all the "new" news - Rhonda

Moving On

Hi all.  Well, as most of you know, I made a couple of offers to Stub's Office Supply in Soldotna to buy out their business.  I had great dreams of being my own business owner and the oppurtunities that would present themselves through such an endeavor.  But alas...it seems to not be in the cards for me now.  They rejected both of my offers and are not willing to negotiate down in my "funding arena".  So for now the dream has died....well, maybe it's just faded into the background for a piece.  Time will tell.

I wanted to let everyone know and thank you all for your support.  I have had so many kind words of encouragement and enthusiasm regarding this business offer. 

So I am pursuing some other oppurtunities now and I am curious to see what doors will open along that way......Rhonda

January 2008

Can it actually be a month since I've written anything!?!  I should be fired as the family blogger!  Let's see...what has happened in the past month.......

Madison turned 11 - can you believe it?  I can NOT.  She is getting so big...her feet are about 1 inch short of mine!  She's still as tom-boy as ever.

Christmas was VERY low-key.  We gathered at my mom's with my brother and his family.  We all attended the Christmas mass at their church where my niece was baby Jesus.  She did great by the way.

I helped with the Cook Inlet Classic basketball tournament.  It was fun and I learned how to score basketball games - I put my time in behind the scorer's table!

Madison's face had a run-in with a frozen horse poo pile....seriously....it required several hours in the emergency room and 3 stitches in her eyelid.  She has several "road rash" brushes on her face as well.  It all happened when she was out sledding with her step-sister and step-brother.  She has since had her stitches removed and is recovering well.  She will probably have a bit of a scar....but what's life without a few good stories to tell, huh?

We are finally, finally unpacked and put away at the cabin.  We measured....220 square feet.  You wouldn't believe how much stuff we have crammed in every crook and cranny.  It's the perfect set-up for the three of us.

We celebrated New Year's Eve with MeMe and Pope (pronounced Poppy).  Watched the ball fall in NYC and reminisced about our time there 2 years ago. 

We house-sat for one of friends for a bit.  Laughed at their cat, did laundry, used their oven (!), and watched Madison's present for Christmas....Planet Earth.  Highly reccomend it by the way.

I have been:  reading, crocheting, puzzling, DVD watching, and visiting with friends and family.  We have gone swimming at Nikiski pool twice (with my nephew Spencer and the Jacksons).  So I have been settling in.  We enjoy time at the cabin.  It's quiet...no tv, no telephone, no internet....back to the basics!

Have been working on a possible "new career".  I'd appreciate prayer for that!  Thanks for checking in...and I will be better about posting more frequently!  (I need to try to do pictures again!)  Rhonda

Settling In

Okay, now that I know how to post pictures...I'm sure you are all expecting a bunch of them..well....there are just not enough hours in the day!  And that's from someone who isn't even employed!  (I'm working on that.)  Anyway....I thought I would post a poem that Madison wrote when we were in Idaho for a school assignment. 

                                          Madison

                                   funny         smart

                       running          eating           drinking

            hungry            girl              love                Christian

                      farting            burping          boring

                               good               live

                                          kid

I'ts called a diamond shaped poem..and it took her forever to get her to complete it because she "couldn't think of anything"...but I think the finished product is pretty good.  I also have one she wrote about Idaho that I will post later.

I now know how to post photos!

This is my first attempt to post a photo (with Leah the professional at my side)!  This is Madison and her horse Keniya last August.

Home Sweet Teeny Tiny Cabin

Well, I arrived in Alaska unscathed.....I slept the entire 6 1/2 hour flight from Chicago to Anchorage -- good news....I LOVE those drugs...bad news....there IS no bad news!  :)  My luggage all arrived safely and as far as I know..... no turbulence! 

Madison, my mom and Spencer were waiting for me .... and greeted me with a Chinese Yo-Yo flash...the closest they could get to a welcome home sign!  We headed for the hotel...and went to bed for the night...another 9 hours.

We have spent the past day or so getting unpacked and settled into my friend's little tiny cabin behind their house.  It has a bathroom with shower, kitchen sink, microwave, toaster, and small refridgerator.  2 beds and a dining table with 2 chairs.  We already have up a small Christmas tree, and Madison worked on schoolwork a bit today....LOTS more this afternoon.  The entire cabin is about the size of my garage!  But it is perfect size for us and Oscar for now.

Had to jump my car to get it running - battery dead, but I'm back on the road and running errands already. 

So we back in action and ready for whatever the next u-turn is that God throws at us....I keep telling Him He should let me drive......but He doesn't believe me.......Rhonda

Going Home

Well, as the saying goes.....all good things must come to an end...and my travelling adventure is about to do just that.  I go home tomorrow from Ohio to Alaska (yes, by plane - believe me....if there was a train...I'd be on it!).  Along the way I have learned a few things.....number one...I'm not as wierd as I think I am.  Other families leave unfolded laundry on the couch for a few days (or more), other kids eat dinner out of the microwave, and other people are hooked on tv shows that they tape when they can't watch them....there's many more.....

Everyone I stayed with took me in as family, which was a real treat.  I was blessed to "meld" into their family for a week or so....no wild side trips, no hoopla...just life.  I want to thank them all for that.  They took care of me and were just as happy to see me as I was to see them.  I have terrific friends and family.  They all deserve some thanks....

Garrett and "the boys" - Thanks for letting your home be our home....and being so gracious about losing a few shooting compeitions! Ha!  Shooting and hunting were certainly some of the highlights.

Melissa and Sara - It was the first time I was ever able to visit one of my students - it was a real treat!  I taught Melissa how to crochet while I was there...hopefully my grandmother's legacy will grow even further!  I had fun masquarding as a college student by day.......And by default Sara gave up her room to share with Melissa while I took Melissa's room for myself...thanks guys....you were awesome!

The Doyle Family - Fed me several times and even took me on a tour of the local attractions while Melissa was at school one day.  They and their 7 kids (yes, 7!) welcomed me into their home more than once!

Rick, Kelly, Riley, Rogan and Kaitlan - I finally got to read and nap in the warm sun in Sacramento!  They had to put up with a few days of complaining about the cold weather....but the sun finally shone (although too cold to get into their beautiful pool).  Kelly and I talked for all day long for a week straight (no surprise to those that know me well!)!  Rick and Kelly are the kind of friends you dream about....I am so blessed to call them that.  The kids were wonderful and I was able to crochet Kaitlan a few Barbie blankets which she treasures....and that truly warms my heart.

Tom and Linda Carter - My cousins who let me sleep late every day!  My time clock has been off-kilter the entire time I've been in Ohio....and they don't care!  Tom very patiently taught me some new crocheting techniques and that will truly further my grandmother's legacy!  I spent Thanksgiving with mine and Linda's family (her 2 sisters, their kids...and their kids!) at her house...and it was awesome to see everyone - they're all grown up!  I even got to spend a couple of hours with Marilyn there!  Oh, and I got to eat "low fat" while there........the scale is groaning these days!

Galen and Nita Schwartz - My other cousins who also let me sleep late! Their son is here from Korea (Air force assignment) and his sleeping schedule is more screwed up than mine!  Galen took me shopping my first day here....which shocked the world....and they have taken me out to dinner/lunch several times.  Nita and I have played cards every night - which is a real treat for me!  And they have just let me hang out while they are at work.

Everyone I have stayed with has had wireless internet (except Tom and Linda who I told are missing out on great technological advances in the world) which has allowed me to stay in touch with all of you and email like crazy.  I have kept in touch by email more than anything else - so being able to use my laptop has been awesome.  Everyone also had unlimited long distance....saved me from using up my calling card over and over....believe me...it took a lot of phone calls to organize this trip!  But the most touching.....everyone I stayed with claimed the time went by too fast and wished I could stay longer......I thought so too.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the support I have had from home.....I know I have mentioned my mom and Reeder over and over again....but you wouldn't believe all the errands and details they have attended to for me.  My friends Debbie, Kathy and Leah who have shown the caliber of people they really are - I am blessed to claim them as my friends.  Gordon and Laurie who took in Oscar for a month without blinking an eye....and I never had one ounce of worry for Madison who loves being with her dad, other mom and brother and sister.  My brother who helped me manage funds from half way across the world....and my sister-in-law for bringing my new niece into the world (can't wait to see her!)  Finally...that girl...Madison....my "favorite" - she makes me smile and it has been so fun showing off pictures of her to everyone along the way.  She has been doing what a 10 year old girl should...playing, laughing and enjoying life...I wouldn't want it any other way.  By the way...she's only 10 for a couple of more weeks......

SO...that's the longest blog in blog history I think.  But I really needed to "put out there" what all my amazing friends and family have done in extending their hospitality to me.  Thanks for everything...oh, and for those faithful readers (even those who don't leave comments - EVER).....it has been fun telling of my adventures along the way.....don't worry.....all of you blog addicts...it's not going to end with me going "home" ... I will continue to tell about life and once I get hooked up with Leah....PICTURES! Yea!  So for now.......Love, Rhonda

TRAINS!!! :)

I LOVE riding on the train! :)  Three days of bliss!  I saw some incredible scenery...I think my favorite was the buttes in Colorado...wow.  God's imagination extends beyond what I we can imagine!  I had a window seat to myself almost the entire way....I had a guy join me in Reno, but he stayed about 45 minutes and then headed to the Lounge car.  He came back hours later and said he found a window seat and took off.  Then the next day I had a gal next to me for about 45 minutes and then she took off for the Lounge car  and I never saw her again (she was schedulled to get off a few stops later).  So I had the window seat and the seat next to me all 3 days and both nights.  I read 2 books, 2 magazines, 2 USA Todays, crocheted for hours, did some punch art, watched scenery, ate in the dining car several times, and made a few acquaintences along the way.  Stayed in Chicago Union Station for 2 1/2 hours - reminded me of Grand Central Station and Penn Station in NYC. 

God gave me a few situations to be a good Simaritan, which I took advantage of....my niece was born healthy and with all toes and fingers on Monday (yea!), and I arrived safe and sound! 

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving with my relatives - I'm spending from now till Sunday with one of my cousins (who doesn't have internet access at her house...pray for me!), and then will be back at my other cousin's house till I leave for Alaska.....It's cold and raining cats and dogs in Ohio. 

A shout out to Laurie for leaving me a message last time - even though it wasn't her I was giving a hard time about never leaving a message!  Thanks, Laurie.....and thanks AGAIN for taking in my little guy and letting him be a part of the family!  I can't wait to see Oscar again!  I really miss him...

And thanks to my mom and Reeder for all the tons of errands she has run for me.....they'll be really glad to have me home! :)  And thanks to all you others who check in and see what I'm up to....I'll have to look through my notes about my train trip and write some more later. 

Love, Rhonda