Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Home Is Where You Hang Your Heart

"There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee."
~Robert Service


I picked that quote/part of a poem,
The Cremation of Sam McGee, because the day before I left to come back to Alaska my Gram and I were trying to remember the way it went (from the days of 8th grade English class, thanks to Mrs. Faith). My computer savvy aunt hunted it down on the internet. It's funny, we all laughed. Read the rest of it, maybe you will too. So anyway, school starts back up tomorrow. It has been absolutely wonderful to see all my friends today in Quin (wow did I ever miss everyone) and my Animosh! Snow fell in Quinhagak this morning, guess I was able to sneak some back from Wisconsin after all. I so miss my family and friends back in that ole Dairy State but I know prayers and God's hand are tightly holding them. Gram is doing alright, we are trusting His plan and know He is working it out for His purposes. Speaking of which...His purposes, you know you meet the most interesting people in airplanes... Ever had one of those spill out your life story to a stranger and feel like you've known each other forever from take off to landing. Yep, I see some of you nodding your heads out there and then there's others of you rolling your eyes because you dread sitting by that person, "please just let me have my complementary drink and pretzels in peace". Well, I truly have noteworthy memories of my fellow flyers, like bookends on my trip to and from Quin. On the rushed and frantic trip from the village to Gram I had the honor of sitting by a sweetest kindred spirit traveling along with some of the same burdens. We shared some serious conversation, laughs and encouragement, agreeing to pray for each other as we stepped off the plane from Bethel and headed in different directions at Anchorage Int'l. Then on my anticipating, eager trip back home to Quinhagak I shared 7 hours of surprisingly refreshing talk, time and space in row 20 seats E and F between Minneapolis and Anchorage with an absolute gem of a young man who... (were I only 10 years younger) ugh....well, anyway, until again we headed off in different directions at Anc Int'l. I guess, sometimes God has a simple, precious way of reminding us that He is amazing by introducing us to some of the dynamic people (that would be you) He's created out there in this world and you just never know when you'll get rub elbows with one of them if only for long enough to be inspired. So that leaves me with the here and now, some of my kiddos stopped by tonight to catch up (oh I missed their smiles and giggles-we busted out the hot chocolate (thank you Sonya) and free wedding dress from Bethel, lol (more on that later), our bible study met and watched the movie Star Of Bethlehem (definite recommendation there), and so my life in this little corner of the Kuskukwim Delta has thankfully and gratefully resumed. I stand overwhelmed by the kindness and encouragement we have been shown by you all these last few weeks. May the blessings you have given come back to each of you beyond abundantly. I hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
From just east of the Bering Sea;) Good Night.

P.S. I missed this Quin episode but was quickly caught up to speed. So for a really good laugh read about our fellow teacher, Tim DeBilt's encounter with his... Ahem..."Flushing/Gushing Toilet"

"God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always." Psalm 121:7-8

5 comments:

  1. So good to get your news. I missed that. So close- yet so far. Here you were only an hour or so away from where I am, but not close enough especially when you are dealing with health issues. Glad you made it safely back to Alaska. Too bad, you didn't take the cold weather back. Maybe next week will warm up some.

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  2. Hi Kris, So true isn't it. I would love to have brought the cold weather back with me, we need a cool down here actually we need snow...we got a little yesterday morning but it melted yesterday. Tell your husband that as far as the stilts on which our houses stand, how and why they are engineered they way they are, his guess is as good as mine. They aren't all the same and our new housing going up has some fancy new fangled steel or some kind of piping as the frame under them. The general idea is to keep everyone from sinking into the melting tundra and from splitting in half when the winter freezes take hold. It seems to have been working for the most part. :) So good to hear from you throughout the holiday season to Wisconsin and back! Rachel

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  3. Welcome back. You and your family have been in my prayers. Missed your posting very much. You honor our Lord. So enjoy your adventures of real life!

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  4. Thanks Kathy! It is so good to be back and I'm so grateful that I am back with Gram still doing okay. Thank you for your prayers God heard and acted. Wow he's something eh? I hope you have enjoying your very own "adventures of real life"...that is a great quote;) Might have to steal it and give you credit! Thanks for posting. Rachel

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  5. Hi Rachel. Quyana for the socks! Love em! It's good to see you back!

    Deanna

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