November: 12 Things I'm Thankful for...

As November came to a close, 

here's 12 things I'm thankful for..

#1 - Snow arrived later than usual

I'm thankful the snow held off as long as it did. 

While I'm not particularly thankful for snow, I am thankful for the way it reflects the light which helps in our dark winters; and the snow covered trees are beautiful! 

#2  New Recipes to try.

#3 - Music

#4 - Family

We reconnected with Cory and Sarah Welch (Lonnie and Glenda Welch's son),
who were visiting in Fairbanks from Georgia.
(The last time we saw Cory he was about 12 years old)  

#5 - Time out with hubby

#6 -  Flowers

These are roses my cousin Pete grew in San Diego.

#7 - Good Books

These are the last two books I've read, which I thoroughly enjoyed:

"The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi," by Kathie Lee Gifford

"Bathed in Prayer," by Jan Karon

#8 - Hallmark Christmas Movies

#9 - Costco opened in Fairbanks

#10 - Thanksgiving with our family

Good food and a good time with the family.

This year we fried pies like Grandma Welch used to make. A fun tradition.

#11 - Decorating for Christmas

#12 - I've been blessed beyond all measure

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing

Surely every season you are good to me

("Counting Every Blessing," by Rend Collective)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Y91axwxfI

October Memories

October started off with a cute visitor in the back yard.  

Granddaughter Izzy (Izabella Grace) celebrated her 12th birthday on October 12th. 

Memories from our trip to Florida:

We visited Dave's Dad and stepmom: WL & Lyndal. Their smiles are still bright.  

Our sister-in-law, Nancy Rodman, from PA joined us for several days of fun.  

We enjoyed staying with Nancy at Ormond Beach.  

I loved the walks on the beach, hearing the surf, sitting on the balcony....the sights and sounds of the ocean were peaceful and calming.

I enjoyed shopping and eating out at places we don't have at home:

Hobby Lobby, Dollar Tree, Kohl's, IKEA,

Steak N Shake, Chick-Fil-A, Red Lobster, Applebee's, Cracker Barrel, Arby's, Krispy Kreme, Friday's, IHOP.

Love Life Joyce Meyer Women's Conference

Nancy and I drove over to Tampa for the Love Life Women's Conference.

Renee Reed from Alabama and Teresa Douglas from Washington joined us for the conference.

The conference was great and it was so fun being together with old and new friends.  

 Here's Renee and Nancy, Teresa and I on the Trolly - our free transportation during the conference.
My first time to meet Renee.  

                                 

We're checking out the sights of Tampa.
My first trip to Tampa. 

                              

We were four among thousands of women at the conference.

My first Joyce Meyer Conference. 

While at the conference I had:

my first gelato

my first Uber ride

All the Conference Speakers were excellent:  

Priscilla Shirer

Sarah Jakes Roberts 

Lisa Harper

Dave Meyer

Joyce Meyer 

Music by Elevation Worship and

Natalie Grant 

* * * * * * * * * 

Foster and Sheila Bell drove down from Georgia to visit us. There's always good laughs with our old friends, the Bells.                                   

Dinner with some of the Welch clan on our last night in Florida. 

While in Florida, I had a few other firsts:

--my first fried pickles (with Rick and Joy Walker)

--my first time to do all the driving

 I left Florida in socks and shoes...heading home to temps about 80 degrees cooler than in Florida.
Goodbye flip flops, until we meet again.  

An interesting first on our flight into Fairbanks from Seattle:

The passenger sitting next to me had too much to drink, got sick and threw up all over himself and the floor (no barf bag was used).  Soooo, it was my first time to push the flight attendant button for HELP!!  

While in flight we went through the time change arriving HOME one hour earlier....1:30 am instead of 2:30 am.  It was wonderful to be greeted at the airport by Nicole, Maddy & Izzy. 😊

There's no place like home!

September

September started with lots of rain and clouds and 

ended with lots of blue sky and sunshine!

September 1st: Daughter Jami, Matt & Izzy were in Oregon to pick up a dog and my sister-in-law, Nancy (& Bruce) was visiting in the area from PA.  How awesome that they were able to connect for a few minutes.

We met the Martinson's new dog, Ben.....our new grand dog.  

Isn't he a cutie?

Dinner with friends (the Hulien's) in Healy at the 49th State Brewing Co.  It was a beautiful 1-1/2 hour drive down with yellow and golden scenery. Very good food and great company.  On the way home, we caught a glimpse of Mt. McKinley (Denali) with the pink sunset behind it. My iPhone camera didn't do it justice but it's a good reminder of a beautiful view.  

I love the fall colors.....

Nicole and I made our annual trip up to Murphy Dome. 

Mom and Dad's ashes are spread at the top of the Dome, 

so I enjoy driving up to "remember" and to view the beautiful fall colors.

 Our D-I-L, Nicole, celebrated another birthday.  

 These flowers are still hanging on even after several frosts.  

I enjoyed the neighbors impatiens by their mailbox.  

On the last day of September, my one sunflower got bit by the frost.  

I cut it and brought it inside....only to realize it was accompanied by LOTS of little bugs.  

Now I only have this picture.  

Three months until we start gaining daylight.  

August Highlights

August 1st:  The first day of August started with a walk to the river with the girls (Izzy and Maddy, granddaughters).  62 degrees, cloudy and breezy, fireweed still blooming.  

August 12th:  Our oldest grandson, Andrew, shot a caribou.  (He and his brother are out moose hunting today, September 2nd)

August 14th:  Favorite Craft Project this month - Back to School Pencils made out of Rollo's and candy kisses.  Just in time for school to start on August 16th.

August 17th - our 41st Anniversary of moving to Fairbanks, Alaska (from Anchorage).  The reason we made the move was because Dave was appointed to pastor the Fairbanks Church of God of Prophecy.  Geoff was 15 months old and I was 3 months pregnant with Jami.  Ahh, good memories.


August 19th: After retiring from the Alaska Railroad in 1994, it was fun to take a train ride with some of the family.  All Aboard for Denali Park.

• It was a four hour trip.
• We had breakfast in the dining car where we met our lovely waitress from Bulgaria.
• Everyone enjoyed the dome car.
• Matt and Kaiden saw a moose, but that was the only wildlife spotted from the train.
• The scenery was beautiful especially when we were on the side of a mountain looking down into the canyon just before getting into Denali Park. 
• Geoff (son) and Andrew (grandson) drove down (2 hours by car) to meet us at the Depot in Deanli Park.  We all had pizza in the Park and then drove home. 
• It was a lovely lovely day spent with family.  It certainly brought back lots of memories of working on the railroad.  I started working for the railroad in 1974 in the payroll office in Anchorage.  I transferred to Fairbanks in 1977 working in the Freight House and retired as manager of the Freight House.   
• If we had waited until the second weekend in September to ride the train the fall colors would have been beautiful.  We'll remember that next time.  

                             

                       
August 31st:  It was a brisk 41 degrees when I walked down to the river.....one of my favorite places to walk.  The fireweed has all bloomed out and fall is just around the corner.

Books I read in August:

• Several more books from the Cape Light series by Thomas Kinkade
• A few quotes from these books:
• "Is this place changed in anyway, improved in any way, after I've passed through?"
• "Life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards"
• "The greatest wisdom is kindness.  Resolve simply to be kinder.  To be more forgiving, accepting."
• "Making a mistake doesn't make you a failure."
• The Atomic City Girls, Janet Beard
• The Turquoise Table, Kristin Schell   (5 stars)

Art work by Izzy Martinson and Maddy Welch