You Are Never Too Young... To MUSH

"The path to our destination is not always a straight one, Ed. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark."
- Leonard to Ed, Northern Exposure

As I mentioned before I've been wrestling with my decision to leave Alaska and return to Wisconsin or stay. Our contracts are out up here and we have until March 31st. No pressure, right. I've picked everyone's brain, I've argued one point and debated for the other (thank you to my poor friends and family who have so patiently listened to me try to convince myself of both). I've tried to imagine one scenerio then dream up the other. The problem is that one can't imagine the unimaginable. I asked Gram (who will be getting out of rehab tomorrow) what she thought I should do since she is so much of the reason I would return 'down states' to Wisconsin. "Well, Rachel no one can make that decision but you. I'll pray you'll figure it out. Stop worrying about it. You'll know. God will show you."

It's strange those Alaskas in our lives...for as long as I can remember I've wanted to move to this Last Frontier. Like so many dreams it kind of became one of those 'things you always hope to do but know realistically it will never happen' something like, someday I'll climb Mount Everest or go to the moon etc.... But suddenly like God unlocking a secret passage way I knew nothing about, the door opened and with equal amounts of fear and anticipation I ventured in. Then God met me here, so now...do I turn and try to go back where I came from or do I see what more He might have for me in this place He set in my heart from before the beginning. Right or wrong turns, which way do I go...

Or maybe I should just scrap the whole thing and have a try at professional basketball;)

It has been very springful these last few days again. Sherry and I took the dogs and went for a jor out on the Bering (smooth sailing).







Today Sherry harnessed up their dog Comet (a pup they got from one of Martin Buser's dogs) and Einer made his village mushing debut in the tundra behind teacher housing. You can see him talking to his fans just like a pro. It was quite a sight, Sherry running along with Comet who was harnessed to the Einer-sized sled that Principal Eric built him. Einer proudly standing on his sled hollering out commands followed by 3 or 4 neighbor kids running along to get in on the action and finally Addy snuggled into her jogging stroller being pushed by another one of the kids. And we call it the mushing caravan. Sherry was laughing, and said that earlier today it was the same scenario except she was carrying Addy!!!






Took the fifth graders skiing again. What a beautiful day!

Ani and I just emerged from our quarterly bathing match successfully. He surfaces squeaky clean and I sopping wet. The bathroom looks like someone hosed it down and the drain is full of fur.

Here is Jerilyn's dog, Snuggles, lounging around.
Just like the rest of us,
she decided to take advantage of the ever increasing evening sun.

Shout out to: BrookE and Tanya on the 23rd!!! Happiest Birthdays to both of you chicas! I miss ya soooooo much.

"This is the way God put it: They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them! God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!" Jeremiah 31:2-3

Birds Of A Feather

"I haven't been able to slam-dunk the basketball (Rachel aside: or play at all for that matter) for the past five years. Or, for the thirty-eight years (ahem: 27 years) before that, either."
~Dave Barry

"Spring Forward Everybody!" That put our championship basketball game finishing at 1:30 am this morning. The gym was packed (it wasn't like that our last game), the pressure was on. I tightened my worn out road running Asics. Took my hard earned position on the bench and cheered as loud as possible (that is the one thing I was certain I could do!) and quietly prayed for supernatural energy for my teammates so there would be no reason for anyone to have to take a break causing me to have to play. By the second half it was 11 to 43. Sadly for Mudville we had no choice but to send me in, a substitution was needed. I stepped out onto the foreign gym floor, into the maze of enemy colored lines that had no meaning to me whatsoever but surely would entrap me at some point when I least expected it, when my ignorant feet crossed over some obscure boundary. It was seriously as though I was blind, I had to listen for my teammates to tell me what to do, where to run. My greatest fear? That I should ever have to attempt an actual basket, so I pass the ball away from myself, to the side, forward, backward, and in times of desperation even to the other team, just so I don't have to try to make a basket. Trying to make a shot to me feels as awkward as trying to tie your shoe with only your left hand. My brain just can't grasp it. I believe I hold the record for most consecutively missed shots under true effort. We ended up getting 2nd and the score was somewhere around 4o something to 90 something. It was a hilariously entertaining game for everyone involved (and took everyone involved to try to coach me through it, thankfully I kept hearing people like Steph yell," Rachel 3 seconds stay off the line"). Ironically word made it back to me late last night when the men's game finished that they gave me an MVP award. Haven't actually seen it, but Jerilyn, as shocked as me, texted the odd information in the wee hours and I laughed myself to sleep. I guess everyone felt as sorry for me as I did. LOL So by group effort, I am a MVP in a basketball tournament...don't you know what that means my friends????

IT IS OFFICIAL!!! "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!"

Woke up this morning to a massive Bald Eagle sitting down the road from teacher housing. HUGE BIRD! The kind that would cause you to usher your children inside to take cover. Wow, it was beautiful. I've seen lots of bald eagles but I'm not sure I've ever seen one that big. Anyway it sparked my memory of a story told to me while teaching at LCO regarding Eagles in the Ojibwe culture. (P.S. this is the, as remembered by Rachel version so I apologize if I'm not telling it exactly right)

According to Ojibwe legend, long ago Gichimanidoo (the Great Spirit) was disgusted with the whole lot of the human race. The way they ran around hurting one another, destroying the earth, totally ungrateful, hateful and mean. He decided it was best for the earth if he wiped them clear off. But the animals knew there was hope for the humans and took it upon themselves to convince the Great Spirit not to kill them off. They nominated the Eagle to fly up to the Great Spirit and beg for mercy for the humans. When the Eagle reached the Gichimanidoo he humbly asked that the humans be spared. Gichimanidoo was doubtful, angry and sad. He again explained that the humans were so thoughtless and selfish, never thanking Him for the blessings He showered on them always hurting one another. The Eagle asked Gichimanidoo to give him a chance to remind the humans of all that He had done and always does for them, and of the gift they have of each other. Having great mercy Gichimanidoo agreed to let the Eagle try. He spread his wings and flew around the earth declaring to the humans what had happened and that he would forever remind them to be thankful and loving. The humans heard and respected what the Eagle had done for them. Eagles are the messengers for the Great Spirit, it became their sole responsibility to remind the human race to be ever grateful and thankful to Gichimanidoo. To this day the Eagle is that sacred reminder, so when you see him flying over head or perched along some byway, he's telling you to be ever grateful for the blessings the Great Spirit has given you and to be kind and loving to each other.

This quote came from the Anchorage Daily News regarding Lance Mackey's arrival into the Unalakeet checkpoint yesterday morning along the Iditarod Trail. I had to share it cause it made me laugh out loud. Can't you just see this? Lance pulling into town is the biggest thing to happen since last year when he did. This is a great description of what we look like around these parts:)

"A throng of fans, media and volunteers -- gloved hands at their sides, watching the horizon in their hoods and parkas like a flock of penguins -- cheered his arrival."

Well as of last night's springing forward, it is now staying light up here until 9:00 pm and gaining 5 minutes more by each day! The weather on the other hand has not been so 'spring-like'...brrrr! The battle of the seasons roars on. So to all my loving family and friends down states... you just go ahead and enjoy your 60 degrees! Bah Humbug, I say!

"He was like an eagle hovering over its nest, overshadowing its young, Then spreading its wings, lifting them into the air, teaching them to fly."

Deuteronomy 32:11

Championship?!

"When late morning rolls around and you're feeling a bit out of sorts, don't worry; you're probably just a little eleven o'clockish."
Winnie the Pooh, Pooh's Little Instruction Book

So this morning I woke up late. Sherry had called to see if I'd mind watching the kids while she and Eric went mushing. Loving to visit with Einer who always has hilarious stories to tell, I quickly rolled off the couch, brushed my teeth, pulled on my fancy new Tour of Anchorage tuque and trotted across the street. Einer had me playing basketball in their living room, it appears to be the theme here this weekend...(timeout I have a headache and I'm just now realizing it is because I haven't had my coffee yet today and it's 2:00 pm!!!) No wonder I'm a 'little eleven o'clockish'. Hang on I'm going to start a pot o coffee...want some? Stop on over, I'll even let you use my new Iditarod 2010 mug. Ok so Einer and I played b-ball and watched 'Wow Wubbsy' (while entertaining I still like "Wonder Pets" best) this morning. A good way to wake up.

Got a phone call from my friend Karen informing me that 'we' (our LKSD basketball team) are in the championship playoff game sometime today! So Steph and I (being the integral parts of the team we are) can't wander too far from home, we are 'on call'. No pressure or anything. Really I can't take credit since yesterday's game which I missed was the game that put us in the championship bracket (they won that game) remember we lost the game I played in and here's the clencher, we are playing the same team that we lost too. Ugh. So I'm sitting here feeling 11 o'clockish trying to get psyched up to play a basketball game. Did I just say that? "Play a basketball game?!" lol, I still can't believe I am playing basketball, goes to show there's a first time for everything. Figures I'd have to come all the to the wilds of Alaska to embark on such a crazy endeavor as playing basketball. And to think I've been so successful at avoiding it for so long...

I'm sore from riding back seat in sleigh yesterday. Hang on again, coffee is done. Yum, smells good! Thank you Amanda for the Bunn coffee pot and for the Red Bull, lol, chocolate, and mas cafe! What a treat, gracias. Ani says "Woof wuf." That's 'Quyana for the treats'. He likes 'em:)

Oh, and check out the latest edition of Fish Alaska Magazine (the annual gear guide until March 2011) Jim sent in photos of Steph, him and me fishing on the Kanetok last last summer. They published them. I think we are on page 20. Neat, eh?

Reassurance to my wonderful concerned family and friends whom I cherish. Please know that I carry a gun when I run and I have my dog with me. If the wolves decide that Ani and I are on the menu we are not going down without a fight. My heart goes out to the precious family and friends of Candice Berner, teacher who was killed by wolves this week while going for a run in a village far south of us. What an incredibly sad tragedy that is. I suspect she understood it, as we all understand it, that Alaska is a wild place. That's why we come here. This 'State' brings with it equal doses of unexplainable joyous adventure and indescribable dangerous risk. It is inherent to Alaska. Teaching/living in the bush is no exception. May our thoughts and prayers be felt by her loved ones.

Photo by none other than Jim Barthelman

The bathroom hot water pipes froze again, had to wedge the space heater in the tiny 'space' between the bathtub and wall. All is well hot water is back in progress and nothing caught fire.

"Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us."
2 Corinthians 4:11

Spring Fever

"When I was a kid, I remember thinking that nothing was real. It felt like a movie set, and if you turned your head fast enough, you'd catch God changing the scenery."
- Joel to Maggie

Above Pic taken by Jim Barthelman, Photographer Extraordinaire

The scenery... Quinhagak to Bethel, Bethel to Quinhagak. Anchorage was a welcomed reprieve as we head for the homestretch of this school year. Third quarter is coming to an end. The year has been zooming by. I'm sure if feels much the same for all of you. Now in the throes of trying to make that decision to return to Quin for another year or head home to LCO after my year of leave. Never dreamed this decision would weigh so heavy on my heart. But Quinhagak has become: my home, the village: my community, and the people: my friends and family. It is that way back home in Wisconsin too. So could I just be in both places at once???? Why must life feel so ridden with decision making? I know God will point the direction, He has all along. I'm thankful for the blessing of decisions, don't get me wrong. I just wish He'd tell me which one exactly to choose. Loud and clear. Not leave so much up to my figuring it out. Sorry, I'm whining. Meanwhile...

But what's been happening???

Well, Steph and I had our basketball playing debut, shocking, yes, its true I played my first game of basketball this weekend in our local tournament to help support the bereavement fund. It was Steph's second game (she's an old pro). The fund was set up to help families with the expenses incurred to go to Anchorage when a loved one is sick in the hospital, airfare, food, housing etc. This is definitely a need out here since we are so remote the hospitalization costs are high for the entire family. So Steph and I accepted positions (I still don't know which one I actually played) on the LKSD team along with our fellow teachers: Emma (Capt.), Emma (Center), Karen (Organizer), Kathy(3 Pointer), Kathy(Rookie like me and Steph), and Susan (ALL STAR). We almost won and in my book that counted. I couldn't make a basket to save my life but I could run so that's what I did just chased the ball and threw it to my teammates so they could sink it;) I did get in trouble for double dribbing, go figure and hanging around the net for too long...I didn't know there was a limit, lol. Anyway I was worn out, sore and kinda sick today.


Instead of playing in today's game, this afternoon Jim fired up their snow go and off we all snow goed into the tundra. Destination a-bau-luk, upriver. Jim, Steph and me, Three's Company. I got to ride in the sled behind the snowgo. What a treat! Haven't done that since I was 7 or 8 up at Gram and Grampa's farm with all the cousins. I had the best seat for sure, like a lazy boy. Steph and Jim rigged up Marley and Bela's dog beds into a comfy seat. I snuggled into my Wiggies sleeping bag and we hit the trail. 50 miles along the Kanektok toward the mountains, 100 mile round trip. Beautiful day for it besides the chilly weather. The sun made up for the cold. We even got into TREES! Pretty good sized trees at that. Felt like I was in a parade, look at me, it's like I should be waving or something, lol. Anyway, spring break has been a good.




Shout Out To: Amy Lou on the 16th! Happiest Birthday my wonderful friend:)

"God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at the last turn - Zion! God in full view!" Psalms 84:7

A Little Anchorage Action For Ya'll

Asked to explain why mushers are drawn to this sport, four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King of Denali Park, Alaska, took time to reflect before answering...

"Until you've ridden a dog team you've trained from puppies on a full moon with a hard trail and feel their energy and hear the panting of their tongues, the jingle of their collars, feel the surge of power that comes through the handlebar, I don't think you can appreciate what it's really like," the 54-year-old said. "But that's exactly the reason."

We touched down in Anchorage Thursday night. Kinda felt like coming home, haven't been back since last summer. It was good to be around familiar places, even though I'm still at a loss when it comes to getting from here to there. Picked up my car, that was weird after our 7 month separation. (which did not have my map in it... Josh? Sam? What happened to my map???) Evidently I haven't forgotten how to drive it. Spent the first night with my friends Ang and Brandon and kids. Skylar was getting ready for some State Hockey Games. His team would eventually go on to win second! Good Work Skylar!

Friday,we quickly adjusted to our new home, also the "Headquarters of the Iditarod", The Millennium Hotel. The parking lot was full of mush-mobiles featured left. Obviously, we immediately had to have our own impromptu meet and greet with the dogs. Of course, Steph and I were secretly sizing up our future competition;) We have now invented the co-op dog sled team. Our motto?? "Together We Mush!" We figure if we each keep collecting dogs between the two of us we'll finally have a whole team. Unless of course I can find a cute, single, christian musher man who doesn't want a cook, but rather would like help mushing, hummm, let's revisit that one another time, lol. Anyway, below are many touristy shots of us. We were supposed to hit the slopes, sadly that did not happen due to my taxes taking an incredibly long time to complete and the 'avalanche' danger at Alyeska. The mountain was closed all day. Unfortunately that was the only window we had open to take advantage of it. Oh, well, luckily we understand the tumultuous reins of Alaskan weather and its all too powerful hold on one's plans. So we did what any flexible sourdough would do, we changed gears. I had been looking forward to meeting up with Mike (remember the boys' foreman who is a friend from this summer), he was going to be part of the Alyeska extravaganza too. But was willing the revamp his itinerary as well and joined us in downtown Anchorage instead. He didn't really stand a chance, poor Mike.

Steph and I conned him into taking us shopping while the boys went back to the hotel to wax skis for the quicker than I could appreciate approaching Tour of Anchorage on Sunday. Mike was a good sport though, he led us to some rocking deals on new carhartts, lol. It obviously wasn't the typical shopping spree that might be why he hung in there with us so long. His comment? "I've never seen anyone care what they look like in carhartts until now. I believe I've seen it all." When Steph and I were trying to decide if the women's carhartts were too big in the hips.

Even gave us a tour of what was left of the ice sculptures (see picture). What is it? Your guess is as good as mine. Anyway, thanks Mike! Later we cruised out to Girdwood to eat at Chair Five, a fun restaurant with kicking pizza. Aside: Still not as good as the Moose's Tooth. Then to Alyeska Resort to listen to the bluegrass yodels of Peter Rowen. Wow, is he ever good.

Below is a pic of the whole village herd of us soaking up the Iditarod 2010 (Principal Eric w/Einer, Sherry w/Addy, Dirk, Me, Jim and Steph).

Saturday morning we headed for 4th Ave to witness the 38th Annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Ceremonial Start. Each musher is announced and mushes down the street for a pseudo send off before the actual start on Sunday in Willow. We saw them all folks, Jeff King, Dee Dee Jonrowe, Lance Mackey, Sebastian Schnuelle, and my person favorite... whom I totally made eye contact with as he mushed by (mostly because he was probably startled at all the commotion on my side of the road, I was hopping around hooting and hollering trying to get his attention, it worked) Martin Buser! I LOVE HIS VOICE!!! It captivates me, his slight swiss accent, I could listen to him talk all day long, okay enough of that. 71 mushers and teams in all, cruised by. Thousands of fans and armchair mushers (like us) stood by to cheer them on and wish them well, "Happy Trails" was the theme to be sure. It was amazing to see, all those happy pupperoos and mushers waving back and throwing dog booties full of candy (that was Lance). Couldn't believe we were really there. Some even slowed down enough for the little kiddos to give them a high five. I tried, but was promptly escorted off the road/trail by security.... Pictured top left Steph and I just happy to be there, top right Martin Buser rounding the corner, next left Dee Jonrowe, next right MARTIN BUSER!!!! (he's looking right at me, you just can't tell;) Next left Sebastian Schnuelle. Finally the racer from Jamaica. Of course we also have the guy next to me who, as Eric so eloquently put it...looks like Chubaka. He is wearing a Grizzly Bear Fur coat which his father hunted. He fits the part rather well, don't you think. I couldn't resist the obvious photo opp. By the way the same thing was happening to us right and left, random people wanted a picture with the "Elena Charles Original Parka". We were able to share where she was from and the story of how she made it with all sorts of people.

Below Sherry w/Addy, Me and Steph.

Sunday... We Came to Service Highschool picked up our bibs and tried to stretch. I wondered what I thought I was doing. I felt that all too familiar sense of impending doom, when sleek skier after skier sophisticatedly discussed which waxes they prepped with and what training they had done up this or that mountain. All I could hear in my head was Principal Eric assuring me my skis would be waxed, which I appreciate immensely (and they were, but unfortunately as he had apologized and informed me only moments before...not with the good wax) you see, Dirk used all the good wax on his skis for the 25 K. Thanks a lot Dirk. Though at that point the good wax really was the least of my problems. I was about to attempt to ski 40 kilometers of uncharted territory with little to no real training (unless we count ski joring and a handful of runs). So to distract myself from that which was now out of my control I rummaged through my pockets to inventory that which was still in my control, my trusty survival kit:

*2 large handfuls of gummy candy for energy from the packages I bought at the gas station last night because I forgot to get 'Gu' "check"
*1 'has seen better days camera' to take pictures of the 'Tour' lest I forget I had no business out there trying to 'race'. "check"
*1 GCI cell phone to call people. Thankfully in Anchorage there are not as many dropped calls as in the village. In case I think of something important I need to tell people along the way for instance, oh I don't know, something like ..."Help Steph, Jim, come pick me up at such and such a place"..."check"

"Okay, I'm ready to go!" I doubted enthusiastically to myself. Then as if a gift of encouragement from God, just when I stepped onto the snow I overheard one skier say to the other...
"So you skied Birkie? How was it?"
"Yeah, I just got back it was great! Now this will be a piece of cake."
Ahh, I breathed a sigh of relief, a secret message from home. If I can finish Birkie I can finish the Tour De Anchorage. The announcer beckoned Wave 8, we staged, "Skiers take your mark, ready, BANG!" The journey of 40 K begins with one push...WHOOSH! The ol' rock skis ride again...

We Skied across the football field into some of the most stunning scenery. The first 20 kilometers wound through thick pine forests, playing hide and seek with the mountains, crossed over creeks with bridges (I'm certain were close to where mom and I were nearly trampled by that moose and calf last summer. I'm confident they were being chased by a bear which made me thankful that bears hibernate so I could 'bearfreely' enjoy my ski through the woods this morning). It was definitely Birkie-esq. My strategy was to try to think of a strategy. I started out trying to stay with Principal Eric, that didn't go as planned so I took some pictures of him before he skated out of sight and scratched that idea. Bon Voyage Boss, I can't keep that pace. Not if I want to walk tomorrow anyway. So my digital tour began... for the rest of the race I stopped to smell the roses, maybe better put is, stopped to smell the trees. Either way I breathed in the surroundings. Even bothered some spectators to take my picture as you can see. The next 15 k was across overpasses with tons of traffic zooming beneath, through tunnels with traffic zipping overhead, and along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail (whom by the way, I passed at about 30 K). Yep, Tony Knowles himself was classic skiing the whole thing. The trail was like skiing along the north shore of Lake Superior back home. Until of course, the last 5 K...






We Conquered in our own minds anyway. That last 5 kilometers was a nonnegotiable! So much that had I known what the seemingly short leg was in comparison to the other 35 ...I'd have seriously considered throwing in towel. That's right I might have just forfeited. That last 5 kilometers was insane, at best. Uphill, who finishes a race uphill???? It was tough. I managed to slog it out but it wasn't pretty. Nobody was getting any tips from my form, well maybe they were, maybe a coach could have used me as an example for a skier in training "You see that? I don't ever want to see you looking like that! You got it? That is not what skiing is supposed to look like." The deal is, I finished, enough said. It was a beautiful blue sky, sunshine day. We topped it off with Addie's first birthday party at the Moose's Tooth. A day well spent. Thank You God. Washed the car and said good bye until May.




Monday this morning we had breakfast at Gwennie's. Caught our plane back to Bethel then on to Quin.









Meanwhile back at the ranch....Justin who had been watching Animosh called with some interesting updates regarding Ani's activities while I was gone. Take a look at what Ani had been up too. Apparently he didn't want to be kept in the entry over night...so he remodeled. Justin found him curled up on the couch the next morning happy as a clam. I fixed it with cardboard and duct tape. What a dog! Welcome home, eh?

"Not a cedar in God's garden came close to it. No pine tree was anything like it. Mighty oaks looked like bushes growing alongside it. Not a tree in God's garden was in the same class of beauty." Ezekiel 31:8