Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Interesting Tidbits
Mystery revealed! The little place across the street is a Japanese/Sushi restaurant called AJIMI. The Grand Opening was yesterday. Probably when I run out of groceries next week, we will go try it out! They are so close, we could throw David's frisbee over the building!
One more interesting tidbit. I felt the 3.5 earthquake here yesterday evening. I was relaxing in my chair with the baby and all of a sudden I heard a low rumble and felt everything shake gently. It was weird! We have earthquakes all the time here, but I have never felt them before. There is a fault line somewhere near. But the quake yesterday, and the two today were not on a fault line. Huumm...
http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/recent/sub/index.html
The link I included is for the Geophysical Institute of University of Alaska in Fairbanks. They monitor the earthquakes in Alaska. Fascinating info.
One more interesting tidbit. I felt the 3.5 earthquake here yesterday evening. I was relaxing in my chair with the baby and all of a sudden I heard a low rumble and felt everything shake gently. It was weird! We have earthquakes all the time here, but I have never felt them before. There is a fault line somewhere near. But the quake yesterday, and the two today were not on a fault line. Huumm...
http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/recent/sub/index.html
The link I included is for the Geophysical Institute of University of Alaska in Fairbanks. They monitor the earthquakes in Alaska. Fascinating info.
Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park, aka Alaska Land, is right in the middle of Fairbanks. We have enjoyed exploring it. I'm sure you will see much more video of it. When we went with Mark Hollis, only the playground and picnic areas and the "Salmon Bake" restaurant were open.
The Hollis's
We enjoyed seeing the Hollis's during their visit to AK for the District Council here in Fairbanks. It was like being with kindred spirits. We joked about seeing them near the equator in Sri Lanka and now in AK seeing them again near the arctic circle!
I told Shelley I refuse to say good-bye anymore! It hurts too badly. So we just said 'See you later.' I really don't think our hearts benefited any from this plan. We still cried! It is terrible having another sister ripped away from me! (This is my selfish nature speaking.)
We love this family soooooo much and look forward to the next time God brings our paths together. Until then, I need a little balm of Gilead...
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
An average ordinary day...
When we have an average ordinary day, it is a blessing. Most days we have hurdles to jump, records to break, challenges to figure out, and much to learn!
We absolutely love living next to the church. How cool is it to walk to work, walk to Sunday service, walk to Rangers and M-Pact Girls Club and Youth, and walk to school!?
Today, the transporters picked up 'Ol Betsey (the Surburban) from my parents place. How exciting! After weeks of preparation, we are finally going to have our truck here with us in Alaska! It will take several weeks to arrive. Meanwhile we are borrowing the Markles black Suburban. Sean, 17, has graciously sacrificed his truck for us! Never once even mentioning it! By the way, my boys beg, literally beg, for Chris and I to go out somewhere so Sean can babysit them.
The church is right beside a little restaurant called the "Chowder House." Chris and JR had a business lunch there today and brought me home New England Clam Chowder for my lunch--how delicious! And dangerous to have that restaurant right here! They are building another restaurant across the street. It is a mystery place. I have no idea what is going there.
Chris and I are considering My Father's World curriculum for the next school year - Rome to the Reformation. Check it out! http://www.mfwbooks.com/rr.htm I am shamelessly putting in a plug for this amazing missionary family who wrote this curriculum to homeschool their own children. They were Russian Bible translators and educators who worked mainly in Siberia.
We absolutely love living next to the church. How cool is it to walk to work, walk to Sunday service, walk to Rangers and M-Pact Girls Club and Youth, and walk to school!?
Today, the transporters picked up 'Ol Betsey (the Surburban) from my parents place. How exciting! After weeks of preparation, we are finally going to have our truck here with us in Alaska! It will take several weeks to arrive. Meanwhile we are borrowing the Markles black Suburban. Sean, 17, has graciously sacrificed his truck for us! Never once even mentioning it! By the way, my boys beg, literally beg, for Chris and I to go out somewhere so Sean can babysit them.
The church is right beside a little restaurant called the "Chowder House." Chris and JR had a business lunch there today and brought me home New England Clam Chowder for my lunch--how delicious! And dangerous to have that restaurant right here! They are building another restaurant across the street. It is a mystery place. I have no idea what is going there.
Chris and I are considering My Father's World curriculum for the next school year - Rome to the Reformation. Check it out! http://www.mfwbooks.com/rr.htm I am shamelessly putting in a plug for this amazing missionary family who wrote this curriculum to homeschool their own children. They were Russian Bible translators and educators who worked mainly in Siberia.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Our New Bedroom
Our new room! The youth raised money for our bed-$1100. And we found the bedding at Sam's Club and Fred Meyer. Beautiful isn't it?Chris put up the curtain rods last week. (In this picture the curtains are thumb-tacked up.) I wouldn't have bothered, but the beautiful sunshine was messing with our sleep--especially Isabella's!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Playing and Driving
I found some fun and beautiful video from the past few weeks. We lived with the Markles for 2 weeks (bless them!) and so the first part of the video is at their home with the Rucci's. The second part we are driving up to Chena Hot Springs. Beautiful trip!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Questions
I just wanted to let you know that you are welcome to ask questions. I have been answering lots of questions by email. But I realized that everyone might be interested in the answers. So leave a comment with all your questions or email me and I will post my answers. Alaska is a fascinating place to live. Every day we are discovering more and more!
Also I want you to know that if you double click the videos or photos, they will enlarge. When you are finished viewing them just click the back arrow to return to the blog.
Also I want you to know that if you double click the videos or photos, they will enlarge. When you are finished viewing them just click the back arrow to return to the blog.
Monday, May 4, 2009
From my dear friend, Sherry Hays
April 14, 2008
Hey Jeannie and Chris:
It sounds like you all are having the time of your lives! The blog is awesome! I just wanted to tell you all how great it is to hear how the Lord has provided!! It is so cool that the Rucci's were able to come, and very, very, special too.
It sounds like you all are having the time of your lives! The blog is awesome! I just wanted to tell you all how great it is to hear how the Lord has provided!! It is so cool that the Rucci's were able to come, and very, very, special too.
My family was asking if we could go too!! :o) Imagine that!! (Well..it was not possible this time, but maybe at some point???) We are getting some great geography lessons in just looking at how far Alaska really is from us. You have become missionaries to a far off land. I can imagine that there are too many homeschool lessons in all of this to even count. :o) Please give everyone our love.
I was reading a book the other day that had a quote by A.W. Tozer. It said, "I venture to suggest that the one vital quality which the great saints had in common was spiritual receptivity. They differed from the average person in that when they felt the inward longing they did something about it. They acquired the lifelong habit of spiritual response."
I really felt like that described you both very well. I was thinking of Jim Elliot and the many missionaries that have left everything. God promises us that He will reward that faith. I cannot imagine the reward He has prepared for you!!
I will never forget Chris saying at the Ranger COA, "You can trust God with total abandon." It means a lot more knowing that you all have literally been out there walking on the water (and ice) with Jesus!
God bless you. You are in our prayers daily. I am sure your family will greatly impact Alaska. We miss you all, and are so thankful for the technology that keeps us connected.
In His Strong Grip,
Sherry, Rich, Ryan, Josh and Gracie Hays
April 24, 2008
Jeannie:
Gracie was in one of the missionette rooms upstairs in the FMC and saw the Daisy bulletin board that had Gabriella on it. She is really "mourning her loss of being close by". She has asked repeatedly why Gabriella had to move so far away? This is the first time she has experienced this. She still prays every night "for God to have His angels guard around the Revells". We miss you all, and think about you all the time. Hoping that things are going well.
I did get on high speed and we all watched the videos (as a family). So wonderful to know that everyone is O.K. I know you are tired (maybe exhausted :o) )and in a transition, but I know God will help you. (((Hugs to all))) and extra prayers lifted for you as well.
Love you,
Sherry
May 5, 2008
Jeannie:
We are praying for you all daily and know God will work all things together for your good. Sometimes I wish we would have "tied you all up" and not let you go. :o) You are all missed so much. It is for a greater cause, the salvation of souls, that we reluctantly had to release you to a very distant place from us.
<((((><
Love you,
Sherry
I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back!
~Excerpted from Philippians 3 & 4 (The Message Bible)
"I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus.
I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision-you'll see it yet!
Stick with me, friends. My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God."
"I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus.
I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision-you'll see it yet!
Stick with me, friends. My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God."
Chapter Three
Oh, my goodness, I can't believe I haven't posted anything in almost 2 weeks! We are doing very well and have been super busy! I have a feeling I will start posting every few weeks from here out--except for special events. It is difficult to make time to do one of my favorite things-blogging & working with my photos and videos!
Alaska District Council was last week. A full week of services and business meetings, luncheons, and dinners out with friends, new and old. It was a very special week since this was our first official D.C. as Pastors. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting the ministers from around the state and the Superintendent, the DYD (District Youth Director), and their wives. We are very blessed to have such a team!
The week before, Chris went to Anchorage for a leader's summit. It was such a blessing to connect with other pastors.
Tonight we had our first Youth Leaders meeting in our home. We don't have Sunday pm services so we usually spend the evening with other families from church. But tonight we had a special group over to our home for dessert. Our first gathering in our home! The college and older high school age students are a part of the leadership team. Chris is writing a One-Page Strategic Plan for our youth group with the input of this team. They are such a blessing to us. Very special group of young people. Such a heart for the Lord. We have decided our core values are Worship and Service. Everything we do as a youth group will center around these core values and further us toward our B.H.A.G. (More on that later!)
All the children got serious haircuts! (We stopped up the vacuum cleaner even after sweeping most of the hair up!)
I am working on some really really cute videos! Keep looking for those.
My heart was broken all over again after District Council. I cannot say any more goodbyes! I can't take it! We were able to see our dear friends, the Hollis's, (well, Mark, Shelley and Amanda) last week. They were in town for D.C. It was wonderful! I love Shelley like a sister! And Mark, well, what can you say?! He is so funny and sooooo laid-back. He wooed Isabella with his Singhalese. And Amanda...she stayed with us for 2 days while Chris and her parents were at D.C. I have decided to pray for her to be our nanny!!!! She is awesome with the children. She built a bridge over a huge mud-puddle in our back parking lot. She watched movies with the children and entertained my babies for hours. What a special treat to have her here. So anyway, we had to say good-bye last Thursday evening. I cried. I love this family so much. They are so special and have such a dynamic cutting-edge ministry. It felt like I was losing my family all over again.
Speaking of such, we are all adjusting. The sadness is lifting. There are moments where we yearn to see our loved ones. But the heartache is easing. It is still hard to believe we are here--in Alaska.
Friday night, the Markles had us over for steaks! A missionary to Russia and Ukraine, Judy Ballweber, was staying with them for D.C. She is amazing. I listened to her stories for hours. Anyway, she wooed Isabella with her Russian. (Before we moved, Isabella was regularly fussed over, even sang to, by our Spanish-speaking friends. So I wonder...)
John-James had a traumatic few days. He had intense ear pain. I took him to the clinic. They could not tell if his ear drum ruptured from an infection or from a fall, but his ear was bleeding internally. He is on an oral antibiotic and I am putting antibiotic drops in his ear. The pain is all gone now, but we all remember his whimpering! One night, he did not sleep (me neither) all night. But you would never know it now. He is back to running around and wrestling everybody!
One more thing, before I go, we are battling a mystery illness. A very itchy, burning strange rash with some other unmentionable symptoms. Anyway, Chris and I took the youth to a concert last Wednesday and left the poor sick children in the capable hands of John and Missy LaBean. We return to find our kiddie-poos had been kayaking in the aforementioned mud puddle! This is no regular mud puddle. It is gigantic and very deep from the snow melt! A good 50 feet in length.But alas, the faithful sitters were watching the children carefully and did not take pictures! But can you imagine!?
Well, I must go to bed even though it is still light outside. It's 11:32pm. I love the sun! It is hard to go to sleep because we are so energized by the sun. Yesterday it was in the low 80s. All week we have kept our windows and door open. However the mosquitos here are "killer huge." The huge ones are slow and easy to squash. But we have been warned about the no-see-ums to come next. I guess I need to get some Skin-So-Soft.
Okay, I am really going now. I love and appreciate each of you! And if you are thousands of miles away...we really miss you more than you know.
Love, Jeannie
Alaska District Council was last week. A full week of services and business meetings, luncheons, and dinners out with friends, new and old. It was a very special week since this was our first official D.C. as Pastors. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting the ministers from around the state and the Superintendent, the DYD (District Youth Director), and their wives. We are very blessed to have such a team!
The week before, Chris went to Anchorage for a leader's summit. It was such a blessing to connect with other pastors.
Tonight we had our first Youth Leaders meeting in our home. We don't have Sunday pm services so we usually spend the evening with other families from church. But tonight we had a special group over to our home for dessert. Our first gathering in our home! The college and older high school age students are a part of the leadership team. Chris is writing a One-Page Strategic Plan for our youth group with the input of this team. They are such a blessing to us. Very special group of young people. Such a heart for the Lord. We have decided our core values are Worship and Service. Everything we do as a youth group will center around these core values and further us toward our B.H.A.G. (More on that later!)
All the children got serious haircuts! (We stopped up the vacuum cleaner even after sweeping most of the hair up!)
I am working on some really really cute videos! Keep looking for those.
My heart was broken all over again after District Council. I cannot say any more goodbyes! I can't take it! We were able to see our dear friends, the Hollis's, (well, Mark, Shelley and Amanda) last week. They were in town for D.C. It was wonderful! I love Shelley like a sister! And Mark, well, what can you say?! He is so funny and sooooo laid-back. He wooed Isabella with his Singhalese. And Amanda...she stayed with us for 2 days while Chris and her parents were at D.C. I have decided to pray for her to be our nanny!!!! She is awesome with the children. She built a bridge over a huge mud-puddle in our back parking lot. She watched movies with the children and entertained my babies for hours. What a special treat to have her here. So anyway, we had to say good-bye last Thursday evening. I cried. I love this family so much. They are so special and have such a dynamic cutting-edge ministry. It felt like I was losing my family all over again.
Speaking of such, we are all adjusting. The sadness is lifting. There are moments where we yearn to see our loved ones. But the heartache is easing. It is still hard to believe we are here--in Alaska.
Friday night, the Markles had us over for steaks! A missionary to Russia and Ukraine, Judy Ballweber, was staying with them for D.C. She is amazing. I listened to her stories for hours. Anyway, she wooed Isabella with her Russian. (Before we moved, Isabella was regularly fussed over, even sang to, by our Spanish-speaking friends. So I wonder...)
John-James had a traumatic few days. He had intense ear pain. I took him to the clinic. They could not tell if his ear drum ruptured from an infection or from a fall, but his ear was bleeding internally. He is on an oral antibiotic and I am putting antibiotic drops in his ear. The pain is all gone now, but we all remember his whimpering! One night, he did not sleep (me neither) all night. But you would never know it now. He is back to running around and wrestling everybody!
One more thing, before I go, we are battling a mystery illness. A very itchy, burning strange rash with some other unmentionable symptoms. Anyway, Chris and I took the youth to a concert last Wednesday and left the poor sick children in the capable hands of John and Missy LaBean. We return to find our kiddie-poos had been kayaking in the aforementioned mud puddle! This is no regular mud puddle. It is gigantic and very deep from the snow melt! A good 50 feet in length.But alas, the faithful sitters were watching the children carefully and did not take pictures! But can you imagine!?
Well, I must go to bed even though it is still light outside. It's 11:32pm. I love the sun! It is hard to go to sleep because we are so energized by the sun. Yesterday it was in the low 80s. All week we have kept our windows and door open. However the mosquitos here are "killer huge." The huge ones are slow and easy to squash. But we have been warned about the no-see-ums to come next. I guess I need to get some Skin-So-Soft.
Okay, I am really going now. I love and appreciate each of you! And if you are thousands of miles away...we really miss you more than you know.
Love, Jeannie
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