The Roberts' Home

We went up to Moose Mountain as a family to grill hotdogs with the Roberts family. Chris wanted to show us the cabin where he works, and we wanted to meet Sachi, Evan and their children. It was so much fun watching all the children play together, climbing the mountain, jumping on the trampoline and eating marshmallows.

As we drove up, John-James exclaimed, "Look, Mom, a playground!"

Church BBQ

My New 'Do

Many of you have asked for pics of my new hairdo. Brennan took these. I really don't like them very well, but they do give you an idea of how fun my new 'do is!

Stephen and Joe from Nitengale

Nitengale, a local band on their way to the forefront of Christian music, launched out from the House of Prayer up here is Fairbanks. These two gentlemen, Joe and Stephen (the bass and lead guitarists) actually used to live in our home! Gabriella's room was their recording studio. They are excessively talented and more importantly annointed!

They were in town for about 3 weeks for several concerts and to spend time with their families. We enjoyed getting to know them, especially Brennan and David. They were like miniature shadows. Stephen dropped in to visit with us several times. He shared his vision for ministry and how he was also called out of engineering to the music ministry. He uses his tech training to set up their system and with the recording.

These pictures are of the guys at our church BBQ, playing Frisbee. Below is Stephen and Chris B. (Ronni's beau).

Whenever they would drive up to practice at the church, the children would run to the door, "Nitengale is here! Stephen is here! Mom can we go over!!" We sure do miss them. As they practiced in the church sanctuary, our walls would vibrate with the bass! It was such fun!

They have a new album releasing this summer. I can't wait to hear it. Of course Brennan and David will probably hog it for a while!

Introducing...The LaBeans

One of the most amazing families we have ever met are the LaBeans; John, Missi, Ronni and Jessi. John grills the most excellent everything. Missi is Gabriella's special friend and Jessi makes the most amazing cookies! (Pictured below>) Ronni is Jessi's older sister. She sings on the worship team and has watched our children many times.

This family has truly made us feel welcome here. Missi treated me to a special Mom's night at Wolf Run. They have had us over to their home and spread a feast many times. Introduced us to bratwurst, sausage with spinach, terriyaki salmon, and John's special seasoned steak, pork chops, and chicken. They took us snowmachining, ice fishing, and took my children kayaking in the mud puddle! Whew! And we have only known them 2 1/2 months!

Notice the matching dresses from Aunt Janice.

Below is Jessi, Alicia, Ronni, Lulu, and John-James all five piled on our couch.

Little Angel Bella

Land of the Midnight Sun

Here is our home tonight at midnight.

A Quick Peek

If we had been there at William's wedding yesterday, we would have doubled the size of this picture!
More pics later...

FYI

Here is fun informative website about Summer Solstice celebrations here in Fairbanks:

http://fairbanks-alaska.com/midnight-sun-events.htm

Summer Solstice (Redone)

I am redoing this post because actually June 21 is June Solstice (Summer solstice). Some of the celebrations were on Saturday, June 20, 2009.

To celebrate this longest day of the year, there are festivals, side walk sales, midnight sales, all-night baseball games (the Midnight Sons), a Midnight Sun Fun Run (5K?), etc. I am not sure what we will decide to do. I will post later with pictures. At least I will try to take some pictures at midnight so you can see how bright the sun is.

Addendum: It rained so we didn't stay to see the Fun Run. Maybe next year.

Lulu's Birthday Party

Elysiana turned 2 on March 31, the day we flew to AK. Sooooo, it was weeks later we were actually able to celebrate. Happy Birthday, baby girl!

Being "For Real"

I am not "for real" very often. Not that that is a good thing. I am working on being more honest with myself about how I feel. And being honest with others about how I feel. So today is a start.
Confession: I am feeling heart-broken and left out today. That is the cost I pay to be in a mission field 4000 miles from home -my home home.

Tomorrow my youngest brother, William, gets married to a beautiful young woman named Talitha. I met her and feel in love with her myself this past Christmas. I am grieving (and feeling sorry for myself) the fact that I cannot be there in Kentucky tomorrow. This is a once in a lifetime moment for them and I cannot see it or take pictures. I cannot laugh and cry with my family, teasing about about how we can't believe William got such a beautiful woman. (Actually he is very handsome himself. I will post pics later.) I can't drink too much punch. I can't tell my children not to drink too much punch. I can't tell John-James to be still and watch Uncle William kiss his new bride. I can't tell David not to throw bird seed at their faces!

And worst of all, I can't watch William's eyes as they glisten with love for his Lady. And I can't see Talitha's smile light up the entire sanctuary as she looks up at the man she loves.

So tomorrow I will blog about fun stuff, but for today, I must cry my pain. I love them so much and can't stand the thought of not seeing their wedding.

You see, I couldn't attend Jonathan and Rebekah's wedding either. I had just given birth to John-James. They were married in San Jose, CA. So really I am grieving about missing a significant part of my family's heritage.

But this is the cost I will gladly pay to reach the hurting souls in Fairbanks, AK. Just yesterday, in a bookstore, a young woman approached me with questions about parenting and her concerns. I must be here to be His voice. But I do wish that I could be in Kentucky tomorrow with this voice.

I may have the great wilds of Alaska at my feet, but for a moment I have to remind myself, "How beautiful are the feet of those who carry the Good News!"

Isaiah 52:7 "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Moose Mountain

This is where Chris works. At Evan Roberts' place. Terrible isn't it? Such an ugly drive and an awful view from his "office" log cabin. It is a wonder he gets anything done!

Farewell to Greenville First

Thank you Pastor Owen and our church family at Greenville First. You are our strength when we are weak, our comfort when we are mourning and our family forever!

Lulu

From the mouth of children...

“The world is a speck to Him.” said David. We watched Horton Hears a Who yesterday.

What revelation!

Saturday we were washing dinner dishes and David said, "Mom, how do you pray in that other language? I want to hear it. Do it now." Talk about being instant in season and out! He was refering to my prayer language, because I am not fluent in anything else but English!

So I prayed in my heavenly language and he was fascinated. "I want that, too, Mom!" So we prayed that God would gift him with that and He did! "How do I know what to say?" "You will feel it in your heart. Funny sounds and phrases at first, then it will just bubble out!" "Is this it?...." And David grinned real big and started praying with the speech of heaven! Little syllables at first. He would speak a few and then look up at me with wonder and excitement. "I'm doing it!"

Of course, Gabriella was standing there rinsing dishes and she was taking all this in. "I want it, too, Mom!" So we prayed again, "Lord, please give Gabriella the fullness of Your Spirit and give her the ability to pray in her heavenly language." Voila! Then she did too!

How fun is serving a God that lives in the now! He descended in power upon our little home in our dirty kitchen and us with our drippy wet hands doing our work. Wow!

Say it with me, "How cool is that?"

Backyard

This is our backyard. I found this clip from 2 months ago when the giant puddle was still there! This is where the children went kayaking!

At the Park, Part 2

Watch my guys run!

At the Park

Our youth love to play Ultimate Frisbee! So after one of our summer house meetings we went to the park. My younger children played on the playground and the older ones all played frisbee.

Good Night

Oh, this is ridiculous! Children come up with the most excuses to get out of bed. I have watered them, emptied them, loved them, prayed for them and they still get out!!!! Why, you ask?

"Oh, Mommy, we felt an earthquake!" Oh, for heaven's sake, come up with something more original, kids!

But then, maybe I should double check the recent earthquake website...

Nope! False alarm. Good night, and don't let the giant mosquitos bite.

Sunrise and Sunset

The sunrise and sunset times are amazing! Even when the sun dips below the horizon, you could still play outside it is so light. So technically, I guess we have 24 hours of light...

I added a second set of blackout curtains in our room! And we put cardboard in the girls window (because you can't see it from the outside real well) to black out their room. The boys don't have a window. And that is the ONLY way we can sleep with all this beautiful energizing sunshine!!!

Church Alaska-Style!

Extracted from an email to a friend:

Interestingly enough, the church here has no timelines—that is, zero concern for the clock!!! Sunday School is at 10:00. We start service around 11:00-11:15 and we worship until the Spirit is finished, hear the Word until the speaker is finished, and continue worship around the altar until we are totally saturated! Usually the service ends around 2:00pm and we hang around fellowshipping until 3:00ish. And then lunch… usually no pm service unless something special.

May 31, Sunday morning, Chris preached (after an incredible time of dancing and worship). I mean, at least 10 people, maybe 15, dancing with all their might before the Lord. All my children and me, too. So then Chris spoke on overflow and had me sing “Show Me Your Face” for the altar time of seeking His presence. Well, something amazing happened. I went somewhere in the stratosphere that I’ve never gone before. We started worshiping prophetically and the music was surging in and out. Then Stephen (guitarist) came up and started playing with me. He is a professional band member (Nitengale) and loves to play the sounds of heaven. Then a House of Prayer young woman came up and starting singing prophetically with me—that is, these songs have never been sung before. Then gradually the rest of the band joined us. We crescendoed and I thought “the roof is going to fly off this place!” Everyone was singing/shouting/basking in the presence of Almighty God!

OK, get ready for this, we sang this new song for an hour! This was one chord, many melodies, and counter melodies, and harmonies all flowing as one for an hour! I started playing stuff that my fingers have never played. It was so free. Truly Spirit-led. The altars were filled with standing, kneeling, crying, praying, singing on-your-face seekers.

I remember thinking in the middle of this, “what is going on?” I was looking around to see the angels. One lady had a vision of the open heaven over us. She confirmed everything Chris had taught and we had sang. And the cool thing of it is, I had prayed for confirmation that morning in my prayer time. How FUN! God is not dead; God is not boring; following Him is a ride!

Well ... I will keep an expectant heart to see you dancing with us one Sunday am! If not here in Alaska, in spirit wherever you are!

Recent News

We are all doing well and adjusting well. Alaska is beautiful! We had a few weeks of ugliness with the spring break-up, but now everything is green and we are having to cut the grass! The weather here is incredible. It is bright and sunny almost all the time and yet only a few days get hot! Lately it has been in the 70s and 80s during the day. We always keep our windows open and the children play in the back “parking lot” almost daily.


Right now they all need all haircut—the boys are looking particularly wooly!!! Well, maybe a little moose-y!

Many of you have asked what we still need for our home. Hope this answers your questions and gives you an idea of what to pray for God to supply:

Here is a rough sketch of what we need to purchase over the next bit: Gabriella a twin bed or at least, the mattress set, 4 tall bar stools, a table and chairs, 5 sets of curtains and rods, several chests of drawers, lamps, and some misc. kitchen supplies! Whew! So much has been given to us and this is what we are still praying for.

And this is my personal wish list for this year: a pot rack, a yogurt maker, a large mirror or painting, a toy trunk for boys, table linens, some area rugs, some flowers, and a partridge in a pear tree :)

...Long term projects: new stove, dryer, extend counter/bar, and new flooring.

We have been given furniture, beds, and more beds, camp chairs (currently functioning as dining room chairs), clothes, bedding, and lots of fish and moose meat! Not to mention all the baby do-dads and paraphernalia!

And a super duper THANK YOU, LORD! Chris has contracted engineering work! A few weeks ago, he had a meeting with Evan Roberts, an engineering friend of JR's. They had coffee and really got to share spiritually. Well Evan calls Chris later, says I can't get you off my mind and God has sent me all this extra work and I think it is supposed to be for you.

So it happened...Chris works with Evan when he is not working at the church. How cool is that? Anybody thinking "Sprinkles on the icing!" And get this, Chris and Evan work out of Evan's cabin up on Moose Mountain. AND God keeps sending them contracts. Evan has received more work since he met Chris than he usually does in a year.

I know you are rejoicing with us!

Favorite Quotes

Dear Friends and Loved Family,

I am reminded today that...

"..duties do not clash any more than do the stars. If we become inwardly rushed we shall feel as if they were all demanding attention at once. But if we are inwardly quiet we shall see the purposed sequence and take them one by one. An angel is never sent on more than one errand at a time." ~ Amy Carmichael

"Just do the next thing." ~ Elizabeth Elliot

More on the Rucci's

The Rucci's are moving up here!!!!! Read all about it! We are bustin' for 'em to git here!

http://theruccireport.blogspot.com/

District Council Photos

There are 2 pictures of my family getting anointed at District Council here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36685778@N06/3488403762/in/set-72157617495332778/

These are from our District's website. Judy Pristash found them and emailed us! How cool is that?!

Alaska District website: http://www.alaskaag.org/