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Favorite Things 2019

Since I took a posting sabbatical for most of 2018-2019, I thought I’d dedicate a couple posts to catch y’all up.
Some highlights from 2019.Outside the Salty Dawg Saloon, Homer AK, after our kayaking trip.Playing our grown up dreidle challenge game at Hanukkah.He said he could eat the whole 5# block of cheese!My little flower.Visiting my Rickerd in the hospital after his aneurism surgery in August.Pesach.My holiday wreath at the office, Central Peninsula Advocacy Center.Mark enjoying his 2nd, or 3rd? Childhood. What a sport he is! Lil Bit and the star of Willy Wonka.Lil Bit & Lil Mister playing at Little Puffins.Me & Lil Bit. She sure is growing up.Our kayaking trip out of Homer.Lil Bit and her violin instructor at Odies Deli, for a recital.Thing 1 and her boyfriend at Pesach.Her first formal recital.Shirley Mae came to visit me! What a special treat!Yom Kippur with Mark & Laquita.Pirate’s 23rd Psalm driftwood art. Gifted to me by my fellow piratty dreadie at heart. Pesach flowers.All spiffy!Me and my girl at Salmonfest. Our violins.Thing 1’s art entry for the Nenana Ice Classic.Pretty lil butterfly at Mom’s house.He wanted to be in the picture too.Fishcamp sunset.These two…Lil Mister’s new Play-Doh set, he said look Mom, it’s you, she has dreadlocks!Glorious cheese and fruit trays made by Mo.Sukkot campfire.Thing 1’s first multimedia art project.Just us gals at our holiday party.Hanging with my chicks at their birthday party.Working on my copper salmon for the Kenai River Festival recycled art show.Thing 1 helping my on a tile job.Thing 1 with her new bunny “Francis” Franny, or bad bunny as I call her.Solstice Sister’s dinner at Princess Lodge above Cooper Landing.A glorious fire at Mo’s.Miss Jane trying to infect Lil Mister with the bug.Fun at Salmonfest.Solstice Sisters dinner at Shawna’s before Niki leaves.Wine & paint for Elaina’s birthday.Fierce ninja warrior. He cracked his head open roughhousing with his brother. This child goes not do well with blood.She wanted to try curly hair, so her sister put her up in rollers. Cute, but too much work.Passing the time before our plane arrives. Our family trip to Kansas & Georgia to see family.Epic ice unicorn. We had some killer icicles this winter.Practice makes perfect.Rock climbers out at Gray Cliffs.Truth!Dean’s siblings & Lil Mister in Georgia.Solstice Sisters Fourth of July cookout. Photo bomber Thing 2.Thing 2 learning to tape & mud. Working on the girl’s new room.Whew, what a upload of photos!

Pickin’ Apples

We picked apples today! What a great fall activity! The Park’s orchard on Robinson Loop, not far from our house.

Lil Mister was in charge of Panda Bear. She has a sweater because she gets cold.

A tree dweller.

Eating the fruits of her labor.
The Parks have these cool raised beds made from old tracks.
#alaskalife
#littleapples

Important

If nothing else, the last month has reminded me of some of the most important things in life: family, friendship, faith, fun. And why do they all begin with the let “F”?? lol

 

 

Family: I miss my family greatly, my Mom and Richie. It’s hard not being able to jump in the van and drive down for dinner or just to say “Hi”. I miss those fuzzy mustache Richie kisses. My Seester is missing from me. Her vibrant love of life, her sarcasm. Her flamboyant style, hot pink and all. 🙂 And I miss John too, and his cooking. Don’t miss his farts tho. Nope. I miss my buddy Ace too.

 

 

Friendship: Elizabeth. Yep, miss her greatly. Our weekly visits and kid’s play time. Her brownies… 😉 Her smile and gentle spirit. I miss Teresa and Greg. Our Monday night Bible studies, our “Like-mindedness” in so many areas. Miss our fellowship times and camping fun.

 

 

Faith: I haven’t lost my faith by any means, but being here sort of isolated at the moment, I feel a little lost. We have tried to keep some semblance of routine with Torah readings and blessings, but with working long hours and being gone so much, it is really hard to do. I miss our fellowship and Bible study times with our friends. And I miss having the internet so I can watch/listen to weekly lessons. I hope that’s remedied soon.

 

 

Fun: ha. All work and no play makes Brandi a dull girl instead of a “fine” girl. Hiking, fishing, camping, 4-wheeling, bike riding… all these things I’d hoped to do A LOT of, well, we’ve done a bit of it, but not near enough here lately. Gonna have to work on that! More beach trips, and hiking trails are in our future. 😉 With only about 2 ½ months until freeze-up, we’d better get a move on! Then we’ll be ready winter fun activities. Snowmobiling mostly… more trips to the cabin, lots of cabin time I hope! A toasty fire and some hot cocoa.

 

 

If you’re mentioned above, I hope you know how much I love and miss you. If you’re not mentioned above, I hope you also know how much I love and miss you in my life as well. Just had to limit it to the highlights you know? 😉

 

Good Intentions

The road to hell is paved with good intentions… or so they say.

I’ve had them in the past, felt that I was trying to be “helpful” and voiced my opinion, when what I should have done was asked “how can I pray for you?” or “can I help you in any way”… Instead of offering my thoughts on what they should or shouldn’t do.

Ever happen to you?

Yeah, it’s happening to me.

I understand why, but it’s still hard to accept.

I guess that maybe my bereavement doula training has offered me even greater insight and wisdom in this regard. No matter how much information we think we may know about a situation, if you haven’t walked in the shoes of the person experiencing it, you cannot fully understand. You can try to, you can empathize, you can be supportive, or you can say hurtful things with your good intentions. The power of life and death is in the tongue, use it wisely.