Lord, thank You, Thank You, THANK YOU!

They experienced the first half of the storm, praying their roof would stay attached. They live in a three story concrete home. My brother’s comment just before the storm really started – when he thought he was headed to bed – was how thankful he was to have a concrete home. Then the storm hit. Then she posted when all was quiet and they were then anticipating the second half of the storm. My dad said the second half was worse than the first. I can’t imagine.

At 5:30am for them she posted how it was almost daylight and she was afraid of what they’d find. Can you imagine – the whole horrifying ordeal, in the dead of night?! After the 5:30 post, cell service was lost.

The damage and pain is immense … but God is so good!

HUGE PRAISE #2: Another NTMA pilot wife provided updates throughout the day for the rest of us. It was many, many hours before all missionaries were able to check-in from the tribes – obviously, no cell or electricity. But all of the NTM missionaries are safe – Praise the Lord!

In the end, a portion of my brothers roof was ripped off and pinned under trees in their yard. Their washing machine, stove, and a large, full, storage cabinet of supplies was ripped to shreds, all the contents were tossed & dumped around the corner of their home. She posted it took them most of the day to cut down the trees & rebar blocking the gate into their house.

This is not what any of this looks like today – and it was all much more grown up since I took this photo – it has had 3.5 more years of growing. I guess the trees had grown up so much on the empty property in-between my brother’s home and the place behind the blue gate (where we stayed when we were there), you couldn’t see that home from my brothers. Now, it’s all been ripped bare, and the carport they had attached was down on top of the vehicle under it. But they were thankful it hadn’t blown away!

HUGE PRAISE #3: The helicopter was untouched! The hangar was damaged – inside & out – but it looks as if God Himself cupped His great big hands around the heli. The picture I saw looks like a large, shredded tree landed right next to the heli (inside the hangar) – Praise the Lord! It looks as if my brother will once again have the opportunity to fly this heli in relief effort. This will make the third year in a row he has flown relief in this helicopter in the Philippines. The first time was three years ago for Typhoon Haiyan, and almost exactly a year ago for Typhoon Kopp. In 2010 he flew a different helicopter for relief in Haiti. It is SO awesome seeing him be used by God, doing what he loves to be doing.

The above photo is when we went to the coastal tribe where Haima made landfall. I know this is NOT what this space looks like today. I haven’t heard anything more than the missionaries on the coast are all alive. As expected there were roofs and homes lost there as well. I know one of the missionary homes was a concern if it would make it through the storm – I’ve not heard. Reports will come in the days ahead. But their lives were spared.

Please continue to pray for the people of northern Luzon. This is far from over, the damage is so great. the pictures so heartbreaking. I’ve seen the damage to solid buildings, my heart aches for those who didn’t have solid walls or roof over their head in the first place. There are news reports saying 100% of the homes in Tuguegarao have been damaged by Typhoon Haima.

If you want to help financially, you can do so here: http://go.ntm.org/relief-fund.

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I really, really, really, really, REALLY dislike Algebra. This is now my 4th round with it…have to say, I think I’m finally starting to understand a couple elements <- seriously? DEPRESSING!

• Round #1: me in high school.
• Round #2: me in college.
• Round #3: my son in high school.
• Round #4: my daughter in high school.

As my brother & I discuss how to do a specific type of problem (with the answer book open and completed steps done – each of us wondering, why did they do it that way?). The age-old question always surfaces so quickly – really, do we use this in “normal”, practical, real life? Nope.

I would consider both of my brothers intelligent. One is an Alaskan bush pilot – he flies a Super Cub & 185; the other flies an R44 helicopter. Both of them use math every.single.day. every.hour. in.so.many.ways to be safe in the air, and it isn’t Algebra as taught to high schoolers… enough said.

So, tonight as one of my brothers helped my children with Algebra 1 (9th grader) and Algebra 2 (11th grader) – when my brain shut down due to overwhelm (my defense: we did work on Algebra for over an hour earlier today & honestly, I couldn’t figure out any other ways to try to explain it). I came back to my house, ate a yummy treat, sat in front of my computer and did a bazillion other things (after getting the internet working again).

I am blessed.

**Photo of my brothers was not taken by me, and I don’t know who took it. I believe it was taken back in 2005 or 2006. It’s just one of my favorite :-D.

Day 7 of 31 Days

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Trust me when I say, it really may seem like no big deal as you read, but what I can’t explain in words is the emotional passage each of these events brings. Separated out over time we would have learned from, and moved on – with lots of time in between. Bumps in the roap, but not earth shattering. However, we haven’t had the privilege of time between events, we’ve had a matter of days between each event. The month has been intense enough that even my mom & sister-in-law who aren’t normally bothered/shaken by life events  have had a few shaky breaths lately {they process things quickly and are able to move on – I am not blessed with this gift, I am a slow processor whether big or small}. However, I want to repeat something my sister-in-law said – something beautiful, I really don’t want to forget.

This month, our family has just had multiple opportunities to see how much the Lord is protecting our family, each one of us. We’ve seen so much tangible evidence of how much worse it could have been and wasn’t. Just think, each instance. It could have been so much worse. Each time.

Isn’t she wise?

Let me ‘re-cap’ our month of January 2013:

Thursday, January 3rd – 11pm, mom & dad returned home safely from 3 weeks in the Philippines

Friday, January 4th – we did not have to plan a funeral in the USA.

a little later the same week – there was not a funeral associated with our family in the Philippines.

Friday, January 11th – our family was notified of a certain life altering, forever-changing event that will make itself felt in every future family gathering and extended family friend gathering for the rest of our lives. The ripple effect fall out has yet to begin. There is a whole new ‘normal’ for our family, there will NEVER be the thought of the previous normal, ever being present or happening again. Ever. This also triggered 30 years of emotional baggage I had no idea was still attached to me and waiting to be unpacked. It didn’t just unpack nicely onto the bed – it exploded. All consuming explosion.

Every truth & belief I have was stripped to, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

My life purpose is all for His glory. It is what I want. I am so thankful for His saving grace.

Thursday, January 17th – woke up from my first night of sleep in a week, with feeling & awareness of a new day. Honestly, from the 11-16th was a scary void. A place I’d rather not go again. I suspect the Lord is not done clearing out those suitcases, but He has graciously allowed me to put them aside though for a bit to get my footing again.

Saturday – phew! {deep breaths}. we made it through Friday. it’s been a week.

Tuesday, January 22nd – the last time I wrote. I got an email with the subject line of ‘here’s the bad news. I’ll call in a bit.’ It was dumb, but I really had to get over ‘losing’ my living room floor. Even now, it makes me teary. My floor is forever gone. My illusions of living in a cottage setting. Gone. {trying to come to grips & not just stuff emotion}

BUT – I did find a floor I can live with for a whoppin’ .68sf – once I got the underlayment and the transitional trim into the three rooms I was at a grand total of $1.30sf!

Wednesday, January 23rd – woke up to my 15 year old having the flu. {am I horrible mom to have relished that one day of peace between the siblings? please, tell me no.}

Thursday, January 24th – Vince was still sick. I’m bummed for him, however. Now I had to move all the furniture out on my own! just great. I did manage, with great help from Christine, to get the 4 bookcases, 3 desks, 4 computers & paraphernalia, TV & paraphernalia, millions of CDs & DVDs {yes, I might be exaggerating. a little}, all the books from those bookcases, and all the stuff from those desks – everything but the couch & lamp – into my bedroom by 3pm! I wasn’t sure when the contractor was coming to lay the floor. Christine went to bed early not feeling well, so I slept on my couch ‘cuz I didn’t want to get sick. By the end of the evening, I felt as if an elephant was sitting on my chest, I fell asleep thinking “I should take an allergy pill”. I didn’t get up to take one. {please note: the above picture shows 2 of the 4 bookcases, none of the desks, DVDs, CDs, or the TV or computers!}

Friday, January 25th – Vince & Christine both out for the count with the flu & I felt horrible. But we still needed to find a fire door & I needed to pick up the trim for the transition into the different rooms. By the time I got back I felt even more horrible. All I could think was seriously, all 3 of us – the flu – now?! I wasn’t convinced I had the flu, I don’t typically get sick. I just don’t feel well & usually can just sleep it off. I chalked it up to allergies, stress, tired… Friday night I slept with Christine in mom & dad’s king size bed, with a pillow width wall of blankets & pillows between us. I didn’t want to get sick :-D.

Saturday, January 26th – Christine makes a gallant effort to help me. She thought she felt better. The floor is finished up but by then neither of us has the energy to try to put anything back. Old door cut out, fire door installed. Dust from cutting flooring in my kitchen, cutting sheetrock, cutting out old door, installing new door, my ‘new’ entry all cleaned up. I give up. I think I am sick. We go to bed knowing none of us will be getting up to go to church. Vince was still sick, Christine was re-lapsing, and I was just starting.

Sunday, January 27th – don’t remember, I think we all just slept through it. Basically. I did muster enough energy to go to the store to get orange juice & kleenex. I remember thinking Vince must be a bit better – he was talking back to the TV. and laughing. I desperately wanted to get things put back where they belong, but couldn’t get up for more than a couple minutes at a time.

Monday, January 28th – again, I think we basically just slept through the day. Vince was still sick (all his talking back wore him out). Again, not able to get things put away. Each day my goal was just to get my bed cleared off, so I could sleep in my own bed. The house inspection was supposed to happen, about 1pm I found out it wasn’t going to. I laid down on the couch & didn’t get up again until I climbed into bed.

Tuesday, January 29th – we’re all still pretty miserable, but in different stages of getting well. Vince is finally better. I felt a bit twitchy. After all, it had been a week since the last ‘big news’ and we’ve all been sick, my house was still upside-down, I was still sleeping with Christine because I couldn’t get to my bed. I found out about 3:30 the house inspection wasn’t going to happen again. By 7:30pm I’m thinking about heading to bed. …but at 7:44pm I got a text from mom – my brother & sister-in-law’s house was broken into and they were robbed, while they slept! No one was hurt. The thief broke the window & screens and pulled what they could through the approx. 12″x18″ openings between the window bars.

purse. drivers license. ATM card. camera. cell phone. brother’s iPhone. house keys. car keys. all gone.

They don’t usually carry cash- but she’d just taken cash out earlier in the day.

He usually has the iPhone upstairs – it’s their alarm. She usually hangs her purse elsewhere. that night she didn’t.

These items were left on their kitchen table. inside their house. inside the locked gate. and a 6′ wall with barbed wire & broken glass on top.

The thief didn’t even bother to bring their own supplies – they cut the clothes line & used the wire to ‘fish’ the things from the table. even the iPhone. Thanks to the wonder of Skype, I got to talk to my sister-in-law yesterday – they have all new house locks (3 or 4 of them per door) and their car has all new locks and the remote start has even been changed. They feel very safe, secure, and fortunate. She said it is an eye-opener, a reminder. They let their guard down, but weren’t hurt. They are American. They are a target. Always will be. They are rich. Even if they aren’t rich, because they are American’s they have connections. That equates to richness. We take our ‘connection’s’ for granted.

So, today is the last day of January and other than emotionally, I can’t say I am any further ahead in life than I was on the 31st of December 2012.

Who are you connected to? Are you connected to a Heavenly Father who loves you beyond what you can imagine or think?

Do you remember to NOT take this connection for granted?

We have to purpose to give Him the glory.

To keep our connection with Him fresh. pliable. moldable to all He wants to teach us.

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The four NTMA pilots in the Philippines are together now and flying for relief. To aid the people of the ravaged and destroyed areas. If you are wondering where you can help, NTMA is there already, ready to do the work. The funds are needed. They have been approached by different organizations and the Philippine government, they don’t know who they will be flying for – but they are there with open hearts and willing hands. Praying for God’s wisdom on who to help. Where He will be most glorified in this.

Please continue to pray and if you are able, give financially.

My heart is aching with all the hurt, pain, and overwhelming devastation so many people are having to survive in right now. Having been in the Philippines recently really makes the pictures I see, the stories I hear, and my imaginations so much more real.

My family is safe. They are not unaffected, but totally safe. Their area was not physically affected by Typhoon Haiyan, they are north of Manila. However, my brother Zach left yesterday to take the helicopter to Cebu to help out in flying relief. He had to land due to weather while he was still north of Manila, but this morning (for them the 14th) he was able to get back in the air and landed safely in Cebu a couple hours ago.

Back in 2010, Zach had the opportunity to fly relief in Haiti, so this isn’t totally unfamiliar to him. Even though this is completely different, I imagine he will experience many of the same emotions, feelings, experiences — BUT, then he was totally removed from the situation. He was in Arizona at the time for their last bit of training before heading to the Philippines. Jane and the kids were still in the States, with family or accessible by family, not this time. This time, he’s been living in the country for 3-4 years now. Jane and the kids are a long way from blood family, but they do have their missionary family connections near.

He’ll see more, pick up more, understand the culture more.

This time: I know more. I see more in the pictures. I understand more. I’ve been there.

Even though I wasn’t there-there. I was in the Philippines. I saw how those up north and a bit in Manila and along the road between the two lived life. I realize this is probably as different as seeing how we live in the north, compared how life is lived in the south. But, I heard their language even though I couldn’t understand it. I “understand” their hunger a teensy bit more than if I hadn’t been there. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t possibly really understand their hunger. I was never starving while there. There was pretty much always food around me, whether I could eat it or not might have been a question. But it wasn’t life or death hunger – I could have eaten it and just felt sick, not felt the effects of dying because I didn’t have food.

Let me tell you a piece of info you may not know – I for sure didn’t know this before going to the Philippines:

I love rice. Rice is yummy. Especially brown rice. Rice is typically a side dish here.

Since going gluten free, rice is my friend. my staple. my fall back.

BUT rice does not keep you full. and you have to eat A LOT at each meal to feel full, then when it’s gone – it’s gone and you are left so incredibly hungry it’s hard to think straight (maybe this is just me, but I don’t think so. My kids commented how tired they were of the cycle in just two months). I was shocked more than once by how hungry I was for every meal. {I’m one who is content to skip a meal or two, sometimes even in a row. Not there. No way, I was too hungry for each meal to think of just not eating because I didn’t feel like it.} I often wondered how could the Filipinos work so hard all day long eating so much rice – and in blazing hot sun. I never got an answer. I can come up with a whole bunch of ideas and theories in my head, but that isn’t the point. The point right now is the thousands of people who were crushed by this storm. They have no food. Not even rice.

Here in America we say we have no food in our house, but most often that isn’t true. We have stores/stockpiles of food in our homes.

We don’t like that food.

There’s nothing to eat with that food.

or maybe, we just don’t want that food.

(not mentioning the obvious difference in house construction)

From all I observed, Filippino’s do not buy in bulk. They buy enough food for each day. We buy groceries in big chunks. Meaning you can’t just walk out carrying all your groceries and ride in a space meant for a 10 year old – with others. maybe only you. or maybe six others. with their groceries too.

What happens when they can’t get food each day? My heart and mind cringe at the thought. All the mothers and fathers not able to feed their babies and children, or their aging parents. Those who were already weakened before the storm hit. They thought this was just going to be like every other typhoon that blows through this time of year. It wasn’t.

So. If you didn’t visit the NTMA site I linked to earlier – please take the time now. First you’ll see a page with a blog entry. At the bottom of the page you’ll see a ‘Give to Typhoon Haiyan relief’ link in dark red. They’ve noted on the site if there are more funds than the project goal of $100K, they will give it to reputable organization our NTMA pilots know something about. Your financial support will help save lives.

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{Yes, that is water on either side of the cement. In another photo you can see the other side of the heli, on the cement, is a whole bunch of people standing there looking. I don’t know anything about this photo — other than it is not a very big spot to land!}

My brother is in a position where he is the last link – he is delivering food to areas so remote they’re not expecting or looking for help. In the bigger cities it seems there were too many safety concerns and the smaller crews weren’t allowed to land.

{The above photo shows the three NTMA aircraft – two small planes able to land on smaller strips, and the helicopter. What you can’t see is the heat & humidity. I’m guessing this isn’t a cool summer day.}

I’m not sure what all has gone on, but I do know there was an NTMA helicopter and their 2 small planes ready with willing NTMA pilots – they are partnered with MAF and maybe others. Zach has flown officials around to photograph and scope out damages, road accessibility and all kinds of other things they have to check out. He is now flying in supplies. Nearly four years ago in Haiti he said:

“I love what I’m doing. … no flying will ever be the same again.”

Since the days in Haiti when he wrote those notes, he finished his training and has been basically living in the Philippines ever since. He has had the opportunity to be used by God to get many people to medical care, bringing the missionaries their food, and any number of other life essential flights. He has never tired of his “job” – he sees it as a blessing, not a job. He is loving what he is doing. He is made for this work.

As I told you last week, he is flew the helicopter down to Cebu. I’m not sure where they are actually based right now – they moved around after scoping out the damage and seeing where the needs were. Here is the note he sent out this morning:

…I got to fly into several different places that have been overlooked as far as aid. It’s really interesting to watch people’s faces, at first they can’t figure what a helicopter is doing landing on their beach and then they see me taking bags off and they start to smile. You also can see that some people are completely shocked that someone actually cares they just stand there with a look of wonder. The most satisfying experience of this whole time so far is a guy that came up to me shook my hand but would not let go and stood there looking at me while his eyes filled with tears and he just said thank you over and over. That one moment was easily worth all the work of the past week. As I flew home I realized how unfair it is that I get to experience that just because I am the last link in a incredibly long chain of people that have made this happen. I wanted to share it in hopes that it is really encouraging to all the people that are working so hard but don’t get the privilege to see the end result. I’m grateful that God is allowing us the privilege of serving this way.

May I take the liberty to dissect this as I see it for a bit?

• More than a week later and there are areas still being overlooked for getting aid. This absolutely breaks my heart. All those moms and dads trying to answer questions of their little ones. I don’t doubt many are clinging to Jesus in this time, I’m praying they will be able to find a personal relationship with Him through this catastrophe. While so many believe there is a God and “plaster” God stuff all over their vehicles/businesses – it was a mix of lots of beliefs and mostly ruled by God being a good omen, not a personal relationship with Him.
• Some of these people have probably never seen a helicopter before. I’m totally guessing here – but that is the kind of remote area some of these places are.
• These are not people expecting help. They’re used to hardship and making the best of hard situations. It isn’t until they see my brother unloading supplies they start to realize what is going on.
• Some are so shocked by the help they aren’t able to express anything. “…they just stand there with a look of wonder.”

Even with all Zach has experienced and seen he says, “The most satisfying experience of this whole time so far is a guy that came up to me shook my hand but would not let go and stood there looking at me while his eyes filled with tears and he just said thank you over and over.”  I love my brother greatly, I am constantly praying for his health, safety, and wisdom. What brought tears overflowing this morning was this:

As I flew home I realized how unfair it is that I get to experience that just because I am the last link in a incredibly long chain of people that have made this happen. I wanted to share it in hopes that it is really encouraging to all the people that are working so hard but don’t get the privilege to see the end result. I’m grateful that God is allowing us the privilege of serving this way.

In the midst of being part of these huge answers to prayer, this serving like most will never experience – he thinks about it not being fair he gets to experience all the people’s thankfulness. So few working in the relief effort will see the quieter places with few workers. He does. and he realizes it is rare.

If you have given in prayer or financially (many small gifts make a big impact) to the relief in the Philippines – then, my brother is referring to you. He is doing what God made him to do, he is making living art, helping to show Christ’s love because someone cared enough to give a donation, or is continually praying for the health, safety, and wisdom of the relief workers. Please – continue to pray. There is still so much devastation.

{my brother with Philippine hills in the background. This helmet is amazing – it is so bright and gets so hot in the R44. I am happy he has this to help him be comfortable. He spends lots of hours in the heli bubble. His funny in the note said, “My biggest problem is sunburn and keeping the white sand out of the carpet of the helicopter.” 😀 Love his sense of humor in times when you just need to embrace life and all it is throwing at you.}

Right now, today, I am embracing the wonder of time on earth. Even with its hardships. I have been reading A million little ways by Emily Freeman, with the Bloom book club. Amazing. Mind boggling good.

While I think on the wonder of time on earth, I am praying. Lots. My family is spread thin right now – I have family in two locations in the Philippines, two locations in Alaska, actually two states too. My two brothers are flying in what I would call extreme opposites – one in remote areas of the Philippines in a helicopter, and one is up the highway flying in the Alaskan bush in a super cub; my two sisters-in-law are lovingly supporting their husbands (my brothers) in their dreams/livelihood, while being on their own with the kids; then my parents are in Texas. My dad has surgery in the morning (Wed, just a few hours from now); Lord willing, he’ll be released Thurs morning; then they fly to Juneau to pick up a vehicle and drive it home. If all goes well and is uneventful, they should be here next Tuesday. We are expecting, Lord willing, to have all of us (minus Zach & Jane in the Philippines) in one location for Thanksgiving. and Lord willing, next year ALL of us will be here for Thanksgiving. The wonder of time on earth. I am working on embracing God’s goodness. All these experiences ARE His goodness, His faithfulness. His good and unique design played out in each one of us.

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1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

Fly…

START:: So, fly. I know this word well this week.

As I’ve said before [a time or two :-)], both of my brothers are pilots. One a helicopter pilot in the Philippines, currently flying relief for those who lost so much in the typhoon a couple weeks ago. My younger brother is a bush pilot and is currently up the highway flying. My parents are in Texas because my dad had surgery yesterday. They fly home on Saturday, Lord willing.

There has been a lot of flying in my family lately. I just seem to be having time fly by faster than I can keep up with. I just finished a book club read, A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman, on the {in}courage blog. What a wonderful book! I feel as if I have a new outlook on life – to focus on making living art. It may be in the form of art-type things, or just in embracing life.

I’m excited to embrace life and all the changes. Not just trying to hang on tight. I am praying lots for my family in several locations right now, but Lord willing many of us will be together next week for Thanksgiving. ::STOP

Hmmm…. a bit random, yes. But it was where my brain went in five minutes. I’ve stopped and started Five Minute Friday enough times to know this will get easier…until then, well…it’s random & choppy. Granted, my thought processes are random & choppy these days :-).

Have a blessed week before Thanksgiving! We are just one week away from Christmas music and decorations to be “legal” :-).

I’ve been listening to Christmas music in the morning (until my son protests) for the last couple weeks. I have our totes out to see what decorations we have. I purged a lot the last couple years. I have four totes: one is dishes, mugs, and kitchen towels; one is wrapping stuff; one is books & movies; the other is what is left – small nativity, lights, ornaments, and the few snowmen who made the cut; two pillows are in there somewhere too.

I’m so thankful for a warm house tonight. The wind is howling outside. We’re supposed to get rain and snow tonight/early morning. Roads & driving will be treacherous tomorrow. Our power has gone out more times than I remember tonight, I have candles lit, water in jars, and we’re ready if it goes out – as long as it isn’t for too long. At the moment it’s on and I had the chance to join FMF, so I did.

As I said, random & choppy.

[photo with the two NTMA aircraft and the NTMA R44 is not my photo. I was given permission to use it by the missionary who took it. It is the helicopter my brother flies, and the planes are what two of his friends are flying. If you want to know more, I wrote about it earlier in the week.]

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In my defense, I was a senior. they were middle school boys. enough said.

However, today, 20+ years later, it is a whole different ball game. I could not be more proud of them, their choices, the way they parent, the husbands they are. <– Let this be an encouragement to all  moms with children fighting, what seems like, endlessly. day after day. In addition, I am so appreciative of the uncles are been to my children. The father role model my children don’t get to experience first hand, but they do get to see lived out as an example. they do watch. and they are learning from my brothers, their uncles.

Here are some pictures of the extremes my brothers are living right now – none of these pictures are mine. The pictures of Zach are from a MAF missionary who flew with him this week to help get supplies unloaded and given to those in need. They are covering so much ground each day. If you are looking for a place to donate money to help those devastated by the typhoon, check out NTMA’s website for more information. As I said earlier in the week, my brother is getting to be the ‘last link’ in a long chain to get the much needed supplies to people – ongoing donations are a huge blessing. These are amazing photos! The other pictures are Matt’s, you can visit his blog to see more about his amazing life – in his own words.

My brother is the one with the helmet on unloading supplies. They pay close attention to the weight distribution in the heli, so small bags makes it much easier to pack, shift, and re-pack – and makes use of every square inch of the inside. This is how food stuff is packed for the missionaries too.

I love this picture of Zach with the bubble and the beach. You see him flying, and you see the surroundings too. Look at that amazing view (and the heartbreaking devastation)!

While he roasts and has to figure out how to keep cool while flying, Matt has to make sure he has survival gear for the cold. Can’t get much more extreme flying condidtions- I suspect the temps they were flying in this week were 100* apart, at the minimum. almost the whole time. This is assuming it was at least 80* outside for Zach at all times (a pretty safe assumption I think); I know Matt said on his blog, he was flying with the temps on the ground being -25*.

I’m assuming this is looking out of the helicopter, looking at one of the NTMA planes. That’s a WHOLE lot of water!!!

Here you see some bigger bags. It looks like Zach is getting more out of the helicopter yet (I can see his legs and body leaning in on other side), or maybe he’s preparing to take off again. If you remember, he said people weren’t sure what he was doing landing on their beach. I kind of thought he meant near, or around, their beaches. I didn’t realize he meant literally landing on white sand beaches. There are some amazing photos of their smiling faces, you can see their gratitude for the help. I’m not posting those though because they’re not my photos and you can see the faces so clearly.

Jump a few thousand miles north (5,000+), and now you see Matt’s view this week. Do you see the sun hitting the top of Denali/McKinley? Brrr! it makes me cold just looking at this photo.

This is what Matt spends his days flying in. This plane is basically a member of the family. I especially like it with its bush wheels on :-). This was actually taken 3 weeks ago. Everything is very white today. We had negative temps, rain, then snow in a matter of about 24 hours. Currently it is a balmy 23* and we have about 1.5ft of fresh, white snow. Winter has arrived.

{Also, update on dad. Surgery went well. It was NOT cancerous – praise the Lord! They are currently en route – he’s even well enough to be looking forward to his favorite coffee in the Seattle airport – to pick up their new-to-them truck and drive it home. They wont’ actually be driving for a couple days yet. A little bit of work has to be done first – but he found the wheel he needed on the way to the airport in Texas. :-)}

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Thanksgiving in the Philippines. Yes, Thanksgiving is traditionally thought of as an American holiday – however, any person in any culture can enjoy thanks giving. or giving thanks. or Thanksgiving.

My sister-in-law posted this on facebook today – they’re on Thanksgiving day in the Philippines:

We are all still plugging along! With 2 planes & 1 helicopter pretty much flying all the time, we’ve flown 160+ hours & hauled almost 44,000 lbs of cargo around! Our relief efforts are still focused on small islands surrounding Palawan & helping them get food & shelter until they can get back on their feet. 

Today is Thanksgiving here in the Philippines. Zach and Dave, the hand at the end of a long arm of support, will be the ones who get to see many thankful smiling faces as they deliver food to the people of these typhoon torn islands. 
…
Our hearts prayer is that one day these same people will be thanking the One who is truly deserving of their praise and know Him as their personal Savior.

Thanksgiving is an action, it is giving thanks. Stopping to be thankful and give God praise for the harvest of blessings and food provisions for the coming winter.

In the Philippines this year there is great thanks giving in many remote and hard hit areas.

I have wondered this year – in America, do we even remember why we have Thanksgiving? It doesn’t seem so. In stores we went from Halloween to Christmas. Thanksgiving was just grouped with fall and Halloween. I saw Thanksgiving stuff on clearance and Christmas out before Halloween! Really – lets all see the Black Friday ads 2 weeks before – or forget waiting for 5am on Friday the day AFTER giving thanks…let’s shop on Thanksgiving day?! or do Black Friday shopping before Thanksgiving? I just don’t get it.

Let’s remember Thanksgiving ISN’T about gluttony with food & Black Friday.

Amazing God note: In the last week someone named Dave, with MAF, has been flying with my brother (the same ‘Dave’ Jane referred to in the above note) – I’ve greatly appreciated the photos and being able to see Zach in action. I posted on Saturday morning about my brothers, the extreme differences they’re flying in right now, and shared pictures of both. Then on Saturday afternoon when I was finally reading emails from the day – I was reading through Grace Full Mama’s email and there was a picture I’d posted and looked at many times throughout the week…{enter several mind boggling moments as I tried to process her having the same photo I’d seen from my sister-in-law on facebook}. Get this, the “MAF guy” flying with my brother – is her husband! How crazy is that? Go read Dave’s account of Thanksgiving in the Philippines. You will get to see amazing smiles, I promise you won’t be sorry. Especially, if you have given or are able to give financially – go, see first hand pictures from those seeing the results.

All pictures taken and owned by Dave Forney. {I did get permission from Joy, once I knew whose pictures I’d “stolen”, and she assured me it was okay for me to keep them up and share these Philippine photos here.}

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, I pray you are able to see, feel, and experience even just a drop of your many blessings. If you are reading this, I trust you are at the very least warm & safe. I hope you are with family and/or friends.

If you are:

• spending this day alone,
• in family a situation less than comfortable,
• without your children for whatever reason,

please know I am praying for you today. I know I am beyond blessed, but I also know my family story is not everyone’s reality. I’ve lived through less than desirable Thanksgivings: I have faced down the heartache of the possibility of not having my children on holidays; I have not had my family around; we’ve lived through the fear of my dad in the ER very sick, if I remember correctly, more than once on Thanksgiving he’s been extremely sick. Those days are not far from my mind and my heart aches for those living through those experiences today. If you are in need of comfort and thankfullness in your heart today, please know you can ALWAYS turn to Jesus. He will comfort you. He is faithful. 

If you would like to see more information from my brothers – one brother writing about the other. The two of us here at home, with our family far away…yes, we are incredibly proud. It shows :-). Matt gives you way more information than I do – he knows more of the background and logistics.

One week ago today: my dad was discharged from the hospital in Texas, the doctor was relieved my dad had a voice; one brother was in central/southern Philippines flying helicopter while the rest of his family is in northern Philippines; my other brother flying in negative temps up the road a ways. It was just my sister-in-law, our 4 kids, and me here at the home front – this week we are in only three locations – north and south Philippines, and home. We’ve had a FULL week with many blessings and we will be spending our day together.

Be blessed.

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{Important Note} I want to make a simple statement with complex depth – I know I am incredibly blessed.Not only does my immediate family get along well and love each other incredibly; my extended family is no different.There are now 29 of us (first cousins, spouses, and children) plus our 2 sets of parents; we have an amazing family heritage that none of us take for granted.We currently live in 3 states; 6 towns/cities; and 2 countries.

(our 2011 continued…)

mid-June: We landed late Friday night the 16th, my cousin J picked us up and took us to their house. My aunt & uncle were there as well for overnight because they’d driven up from Madison, WI. Saturday morning we all (11 of us – 5 adults + 6 children) piled into two suburbans and drove to N & C’s, house 2 hours away.We spent a couple days there with all of us (18) in one house and had a blast!

A little note of explanation: I grew up with my two brothers, three boy cousins (there are two more cousins, but I didn’t grow up with them), and family friends with three boys. At the time my cousins lived just up the road from us, I have many fond memories of all our family gatherings. They were good years with many good times. Now, 25+ years later we all have children and our kids all get along very well. Eight years ago my kids and I were living in my old childhood home to help take care of my grandparents (my dad’s parents). Three weeks after we got there my grandma passed away; shortly after my grandpa started kidney dialysis three times per week. My kids and I were able to stay on and help with his adjustment of not having grandma after nearly 60 years of marriage and the effects of dialysis. At that time N & C lived across the field and we got to know each other real well; it was so much fun.It was fun to have an adult relationship with my cousin; his wife, C, and I get along real well and have similar interests.

Then we went multiple directions for the week. My aunt & uncle returned to Madison and my kids and I followed J & K back to their house, near the border of MN and WI. It was really fun to hang out with J & K and their kids. We didn’t know them as well because we hadn’t had the chance while living with Grandpa to spend time together. On Monday evening K & I, with the kids, joined J at the Science Museum in Minneapolis. WOW! We’ve never been to such a big museum – it was a ton of fun. J explained so much more to the kids and made it so much fun – Science is his thing. 🙂 The rest of the week was spent getting to know each other better, late night visits, and my first antique store visit – in general lots of just hanging out together. It was cool & rainy and so much fun to spend the time just drinking coffee, visiting, and holding baby Gregory. One day we went to walk along the river, but there was a painting class all set up along the bank and at the “mouth” of the trail we had planned to walk – because it was cold & windy we decided not to disturb them to get 6 children past, just to turn around and come back … but we got good cousin pictures by the bridge :-)!

On Friday, my kids & I headed out to Madison on our own. It was very strange, it is landscape I recognize, remember, and love – so much farm country; yet it seemed so foreign too. We drove it several times when we were living there six years ago, but this time it was just us – without Grandpa. We went to Madison to celebrate my Uncle’s retirement. It was a wonderful weekend with many friends and family. Saturday morning a family friend (my aunts best friend) invited all of us to breakfast, then she took Christine & I to the capital for a tour. I didn’t know this was an interest of Christine’s but she LOVED it!  Then we went to Hobby Lobby (my first time ever!), we had to be quick …it was so hard. There was so much that was fun, but it wouldn’t fit in my luggage to get back to Alaska! When we got back to the house, N & C had arrived with their kids. My aunt & uncle’s landlord are very good friends of theirs; they have lived side-by-side in the duplex for nearly 20 years. Anyway, the landlord’s friends had invited us (kids and our children) to use their pool on Saturday afternoon. All of the kids loved the heated pool on a beautiful, sunny day. They played hard for a couple hours. Then we all went back and started to get everything finished up for Sunday’s party. C and I ran out to get a few more groceries and other items needed for the party. We did sneak another quick trip into Hobby Lobby, then Wal-mart, and brought back dinner. Sunday after church was the retirement party, clean up, and a late evening bonfire. So many friends and family were there, some I hadn’t seen since I was in 6^th grade. Then on Monday the guys were doing some packing and loading trucks, so we girls (16 of us) went to Olbrich Gardens. It was so much fun. My aunt, cousin, Christine & I went when we visited with Grandpa once and it was fun to go back. The rest of them had gone in different groups over the last year as well. When we got back to the house it was time for lunch and then N, C, and I with all our children (7 total) piled into the two vehicles and headed north. Only two came with C & I in the car, N took the other 5 and pulled the trailer. It was fun – so much happened in such a short amount of time!

N and C live near where I spent many happy childhood years growing up in northern Wisconsin. We spent the week hanging out, they live on a lake and the kids were wet and/or fishing most of every day. Tuesday evening C & I drove an hour to Sam’s Club in Duluth, MN, just to find they had closed a half hour before we got there. We were getting the groceries needed for the upcoming 4^th of July weekend…so we did a little other shopping and headed back home knowing we’d head back up Friday morning when the guys were going to go south to get a bunch of wheat. The weekend ahead was going to be 30 of us all staying at the same house. We spent the next couple days just relaxing and enjoying hanging out, much like the week prior – just a different family of cousins. Thursday night we had a plan and all was going well – my uncle would be coming in early AM, from Madison, and the guys, all of them even the 2 year old, were going to drive south to get the wheat. By noon, C & I and the 4 girls (ages 12, 10, 9, & 7) were going to drive north to do a girl day of shopping and get the groceries we didn’t get on Tues. The other 19 family/friends would then arrive Saturday morning.

July 1^st – 6:45am Friday morning started a bit stressful and not very fun, and the day went downhill from there – with an absolutely wonderful afternoon in the middle. So, very early in the morning N realized the water pump had gone out during the night. He was able to get a hold of a family friend who has a plumbing business, he said he’d stop by on his way to another job. He actually had the part and was able to get the pump fixed and up and running. Then we all loaded up to head out, the guys to the south and the girls to the north. We girls had a blast; I have never been on a shopping trip like that before. So much fun to just go from girly place to girly place and hear our girls’ hearts being filled with love just from hangin’ with us. We even found a few good deals and some more summer clothes (we hadn’t taken cool enough clothes for mid-west summer). When we walked out of the mall it was starting to sprinkle, one of the little ones was so excited to have a new umbrella and wanted to use it….well, the rain went from little sprinkles to DUMPING about half way to the car! She got to use her umbrella and many were taking cover with her before getting to the car. Those of us not under the umbrella were soaked, thoroughly. It continued to dump, hard. We decided to not go to a restaurant for dinner, but just head to Sam’s Club, the girls were all so content they were fine with just eating at Sam’s. We got our groceries and when we were leaving Sam’s it was raining so hard C could barely see while driving down the hill out of Duluth and across the bridge. It was about 7pm and we were headed back towards the house, but first needed to stop at Wal-mart (in Superior) to get a few more items. By the time we got to town we were aware there was really unfriendly weather all around us. Icky colored sky and dumping rain with thunder & lightening. We started hearing on the news there were tornado warnings and the wind was starting to blow like crazy….We were doing lots of praying and singing along with KLOVE to keep from going totally over the edge of being freaked. We knew Who was in control of all the circumstances and we just kept reminding ourselves & each other. C was in contact with her family who were camped at a campground near her house and found out they had just been told to leave, she told them to all go to her house even though there was no power in the area. In talking to C’s brother-in-law, who was on his way to her house (instead of the campground), he had to cut his way down the highway with his chainsaw. Okay, we were freaked. However, God had everything so orchestrated — we met up with our guys at the crossroads of the two highways – us driving south, them coming north, and we all needed to drive east. We were able to pass them some snacks and then we were off; from that point on we followed them. As they drove north they saw the mass destruction from the storm, where we came from the north and it was just rain. As we followed them, we often had to drive on the opposite side of the road because only the tops of the trees had been cut and that was just to clear one side of the road. By the time we got to the house it was 10pm. (what should have been a 30-45 min drive had been nearly 2 hours) There were three trees across the driveway that C’s BIL cut to get into the driveway. We then had to unload all the groceries in the pitch black with just headlights and flashlights to see with. All the freezer/frig food was sorted so it could all be put into the frig/freezer at once. As we drove and saw the destruction we knew the power would not be back on any time soon. The next morning the guys got us a generator and the rest of our family came. We proceeded to have a wonderful weekend! We spent the 4^th of July floating down the Namekagon River (and getting majorly sunburned!).

The rest of our time was spent enjoying each other; coffee and diet coke with lime; lots of hanging out; visiting; coffee and diet coke; swimming; fishing; enjoying the pontoon boat, with coffee or diet coke (of course) depending on time of day – morning, afternoon, or evening. After all the other families returned to their homes and we got the house back into order after a weekend of no water or power, but LOTS of fellowship; C and I took the kids into Superior. Superior is where I spent seven wonderful years of childhood; it was so fun to see places that are familiar and things really haven’t changed much. It’s not a city. I got to go into my first ever quilt store with the intention of buying material. We let the kids watch a movie in the car while we went in – it was soooo much fun to see all the variety, choose some, and then actually purchase it! {That could be addicting!!!!} I’m used to going in to touch and feel, but not buy. I’ve typically purchased fabric from Jo-Ann’s and their selection of good feeling material is much smaller {sigh} Anyway, the next day we went to another town half way to J & K’s (we had to do some return kid swapping) and went into an antique store, another quilt store and then the three of us took all 11 children to see Cars2. In the end the three youngest didn’t do so well in the movie, so it was eight children and myself who watched it all then walked the couple blocks to the scrapbook store……oh, the fun of tons of kids and family and all being together. Love it! After that, we had just a week of hanging and being slow when it was time to pack and head to J & K’s again for the last couple days. J was gone on a business trip so C and her kids joined in staying at J & K’s. The last couple days was more hanging (with coffee and diet coke with lime), packing (with coffee and diet coke with lime), and visiting (with more coffee and diet coke with lime) – what we didn’t do was sleep. The last afternoon K took the kids & I to the airport – it was so hard to say goodbye. Is it not a most amazing blessing to spend a month with family and still have it hard to say goodbye – on both sides?! Thank you C and K for your amazing, generous, and kind hearts – I love you both so much!

Rest of July & August:We flew back to Alaska on the 15^th. Within 18 hours of landing (at 11pm) we had come home, unpacked, washed laundry, slept a couple hours, got up, re-packed, re-loaded the van and headed to our family cabin six hours away. It is a six hour drive, then a half hour boat ride, then a half mile hike up the hill…At that point, I slept. Two days later Vince turned 14! Two days after that Christine, my mom, and I headed back home.Vince stayed to work on the new cabin with my dad. Once home again I started some house projects and minimal organizing…as well as finishing unpacking and actually putting some stuff away.(Finally, just three days ago I finished putting away some things from our trip that I’d unpacked, set down, and never got back to!) I actually started my first house project I’ve wanted to do for several years. I will post more on this later, but the end of July I ripped out my living room carpet! My dad wasn’t (still isn’t) impressed. I love it! My living room is just the plywood sub-floor (now painted), but I love it, Love IT, LOVE IT!

September: Before I knew it, it was time to start school! Then an opportunity came up for Vince and I to join my dad on a trip to Washington DC. I was so excited! I have wanted to go to Washington DC and the East Coast for forever (seriously, since I was like 8). Many hours were spent deciding what we would do in our time there. September went really fast with all kinds of life – cleaning, school, the fair, work, some projects, and lots of DC planning.

October: We had four days of exploring and a day before and after for travel days. Did you know that it takes 10 hours to get from Anchorage to DC and that was with a fairly quick stop over in Seattle; the trip back took us 18 hours! (we had an added stop over in LA) Christine stayed with mom; she didn’t want to go with us – she didn’t want to do the massive walking we were going to be doing. It was really cool to go and be with Vince; he was amazing on the subway! There were times I got a bit freaked about how far below ground we were – and going under a river – ack! We never got lost- once we were a block off from where we thought we’d come up from underground, but yea for my iPhone – we were able to find our location in moments. We didn’t make it into as many of the Smithsonian’s as I would have tried to see; I let Vince be the ‘driver’ of where we went and what we saw. We went to the Air & Space Museum – twice :-D! We stood in line and went into the Capital, but once we were inside we decided we really wanted to wait for someday, with Christine. She loves seeing capital buildings. It was close to 70* each day, we didn’t bring cool enough clothes – it was October. I brought layers, but the lightest ones were more than we needed. We were warm and walked lots! By the time we returned from DC we were four weeks from my brother Zach and his wife and kids to come home from the Philippines. This was the magical month I got to get my new camera – a Nikon D3100! So excited and anxious to learn more!! Lots more house projects, organizing, and cleaning were started, but I also had an unexpected increase in my work load which really changed things up.

November & December: Zach, Jane, and their kids arrived on the 7^th of November. Since then it has been lots of family – all day, every day. Five adults, five children, three generations, three sets of parents, three sets of siblings, two spousal sets, and a set of cousins all living in the same main 1600sf house (my apartment and the cabin in the back yard are not included in that) makes for fun times. When my other brother, his wife, and their little one come here that adds another parental set, spousal set, and cousin set to the mix of our immediate family of 13. We have had an incredibly, abundantly more than we could imagine, family-full holiday season. In November I was able to get my new sewing machine – for 14 years I’ve used a 1942 Viking Husqvarna. I still love that machine greatly – however, I really needed more than straight front and back stitching. {I’m sure more will come on this later :-D} Within three weeks it will be just my brother Matt and his family and my kids and I here. We will be back to living in two countries and two towns in Alaska. Crazy how accessible the world is now. I remember when cheap communication was snail mail and that took at least a week to get from the lower 48 to Alaska…now we can instantly talk to family via video when they’re in the Philippines – for free.

And that wraps up 2011. None of what I have written even goes into all the personal growth I experienced this last year, or even so many things I learned. What I feel comfortable broadcasting on the internet will come out in bits and pieces as time goes by I’m sure. For now though this is a nutshell of the big events of our last year.

….notice none of this very long winded year in review covered anything basic like crafting, organizing, home school, and being a mom to two. :-D! I promise, I won’t have more posts that are this long winded. And, I will start putting in photos of projects that have happened around this house over the last year and new projects I’ve been working on — like the doll clothes I made last week. So fun! Thanks for reading – if you’ve actually read all of this you’ve learned more about me :-).

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