things i've learned this week

I cannot, in all honesty, say that this week without Ronnie has been a stress-free week, but I do think that I can say that I have learned a few things about myself.

First, I have learned that I can do things that I didn't think I could do.  Case in point, I can use Ronnie's new plunger that isn't shaped the same as the one I was used to ... up to now, I have been unable to make the thing work, but I just couldn't see calling my Daddy to come fix my problem, so I did it myself!

Second, I have learned that, while it is very hard for me to make myself go to bed at night (or in the early morning hours) when Ronnie isn't here, I actually like sleeping sprawled out over the bed.  I can't tell you if I like sleeping alone or not since Daniel slept with me at least part of every night, he just doesn't take up too much of my space!

Third, I have learned that Ronnie's more relaxed, laid back nature is a good balance to my not so laid back nature.  I tend to get very intense about things (okay, I know some of you already knew that!) and Ronnie is the one who keeps me from running off half-cocked most of the time.  He also balances out my parenting, which brings me to the next point.

Fourth, I have learned how incredibly thankful I am not to be a single parent or the wife of someone who travels on a regular basis.  I know that God provides the grace and strength we need for any situation, but I can't help but thank Him that this is not my "normal" situation.

Fifth, and finally, I have learned how much I take for granted all the little things that Ronnie does around the house, not to mention how much I take for granted our daily conversations.  And, honestly, it is the conversations I have missed the most.  I will be so happy to have a conversation with him that doesn't involve a cell phone!

For now, it is less than twelve hours from when we are supposed to pick Ronnie up from the airport and I think I can hold it together until then ... if I can just get these crazy kids to go to sleep!!!

keeping up with the guys in Alaska

Ronnie and Brad made it to Kotzebue late last night (our time anyway) and so far my only conversation with him was something like the can you hear me now commercials.  All I was able to find out last night was that they had made it safely, but Ronnie's bag hadn't ... thankfully, they did know where the bag was and that it was on its way, just a few flights behind!

Anyway, since I have very little information to share, I am going to link you over to my friend Amy's blog where her hubby (Ronnie's traveling companion) Brad will be guest blogging from Kotzebue.  I would be happy to let Ronnie do the same here, but I doubt that I could talk him into it ... we'll see, but for now, head on over to Life Sentences and see what they are up to.

on their way

The kids are finally all awake ... again. 

It is only 2:00 in the afternoon here, but it has already been a full day for us.  This morning, we left home just before 4:30 to take Ronnie to the airport to begin his long awaited trip to Alaska.  Ironically, it was almost exactly a year to the day from when he found out about this trip to today when he and Brad set out for their all-day flight that will end inside the Arctic Circle in the city of Kotzebue. 

I'm excited for him to get this opportunity, though I must admit to a little jealousy since he's getting to do the fun stuff and I am here with the kids who are already missing their Daddy.  I know that he and Brad will have a wonderful week, even if they don't know yet exactly what they will be doing.  They do know that they are flying into the Land of the Midnight Sun ... right now in Kotzebue they have about 23 hours of daylight every day.  One of the kids at church asked Ronnie when (and how) they would sleep if it doesn't get dark, but he doesn't know Ronnie well enough to know that it really won't bother him ... he can sleep anywhere!

For us, I just plan to try to keep the kids busy.  We never really quit school work this summer and Monday I plan to pick up the pace even more by adding our new read aloud and science to the math and history we have already been doing.  I am looking forward to beginning Around the World in 80 Days with the kids.  I read it for the first time last summer and loved it, besides, a book about travel seems appropriate, don't you think? 

I'd like to say that he will be keeping us up to date with all that they are doing, but we just don't know what kind of cell phone service he will have there and he didn't take the laptop.  His last text said that they were boarding the plane for the flight from Seattle to Anchorage ... one step closer to the final destination.

something special

This is a really special time in the life of our church. Right now, for the first time in the nearly 25 year history of the church, we have a mission team gearing up for a week of sharing God's love in Alaska.

Our church has always been mission minded. We have done local missions and we are great at giving money to missions, but we have never sent out a mission team from our church. Up to now, our biggest mission project has been Operation Christmas Child. This is a project that I love and will be blogging a lot about later in the year, but, as wonderful as it is, I don't think it is the same as sending out a mission team. I am so excited for the 4 people who have taken on this challenge to step outside of their comfort zone and do something they have never done before.

We have already seen God's hand in getting them to Alaska in the first place. I have to admit to a bit of skepticism at first. We first met the missionaries that our team will be working with in January ... not even four months ago. When Brad first began talking about going to Alaska for Crab Fest, I assumed that they were talking about Memorial Day 2010. But they felt so strongly that they needed to do this NOW, this year, that they couldn't imagine waiting a full year. So they forged ahead, making plans and trusting God to provide exactly what they needed to make this work.

And, God has provided. As I am typing this, the first two members of the team, Brad and our pastor, Bro. Don, have arrived in Anchorage and will be going on to Kodiak Island today. The other two members of the team should arrive in Anchorage late tonight and will head out to Kodiak tomorrow. I am so thankful for these four people. I believe that God is going to lead our church to a new level of missions because of their willingness to step out on faith and serve Him. I pray that God will show us, as individuals and as a church family, where and how He wants us to continue doing missions. Whether it be in our own backyard or in some remote land, we want to be open to His calling.

Our real life friends, Brad and Amy, have a blog that Brad will be updating from Alaska. I hope that you will visit them and perhaps even offer a few words of encouragement.

And to Bro. Don, Brad, Alicia and Hunter ... we love y'all and will be praying that God will guide every step and every word as you share His love with those you meet this week.