Well, we are rolling along into September. Hard to believe it, but here it is! We've got some pretty big events in our family this month, starting off with Marina's 1st birthday on Friday. AACK! I can't believe my sweet baby is going to be one. Seems like just yesterday I was as big as a house, waiting for her to pop out. Number two big birthday this month is Dn. John's--The big 3-0. Also, we have Megan's first tumbling class on the 11th. Going to be lots of fun.
On a more sober note, I went to visit my friend Danielle and her new baby, Seraphima, today. What a beautiful child. You would never know that she wasn't the most healthy baby on the planet. 7 1/2 pounds with a perfectly round head full of black hair. I was able to hold her for a few minutes, and it took every ounce of reserve I had not to burst into tears. She is doing better than the doctors predicted, which means we may be blessed with two weeks of her presence before she goes Home to Jesus, instead of just the couple days as originally predicted. Danielle and Sasha (her husband) are doing well. They both have their moments of sadness, of course, but for the most part are upbeat and thankful. Their three other active kids help, I'm sure!
I have to remind myself over and over these days that God's ways are not our ways. I wish--so much--that Seraphima's family would have a lifetime with her, instead of just a couple short weeks. May God grant that everyone who loves this precious child pulls through with faith. Please pray for their whole family.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Prayers
Yesterday, my good friend Danielle gave birth to a little girl, Seraphima Rose. The baby was born with only three heart chambers, as well as some other heart defects, and is not expected to live longer than a few days. Please keep Seraphima, her parents, and her siblings in your fervent prayers.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Entryway Pictures
Megan horsing around with Uncle Breandan.
Sorry that this has taken me forever. I'll have more to post later, since Dn. John is installing the door and window today.
Fairbanks Pictures
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Megan herding ducks.
On the little train at Alaska Land
Marina riding the Merry-Go-Round....which she loved until it started to move.
Marina eating the Merry-Go-Round. I took this picture (and you can see me sitting behind her), and I had no idea she was chewing on it until I looked at my camera. Thank goodness for immunizations.
All the softball pictures are out of order, since Blogger doesn't want to let me rearrange them. Sorry....
STATE CHAMPIONS!!
The trophy that is taller than Megan (and Breandan, some people said...haha).
Dn. John makes the final out of the tournament!
Scoring a run
On first base, Eric on deck, and Joe base coaching.
Go Geico!
Kastle was the other Geico cheerleader. She helped me out so much with the girls! Marina was passed out on her lap for over an hour.
At McKinley
This picture really doesn't do it justice. It was beautiful!
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Megan herding ducks.
On the little train at Alaska Land
Marina riding the Merry-Go-Round....which she loved until it started to move.
Marina eating the Merry-Go-Round. I took this picture (and you can see me sitting behind her), and I had no idea she was chewing on it until I looked at my camera. Thank goodness for immunizations.
All the softball pictures are out of order, since Blogger doesn't want to let me rearrange them. Sorry....
STATE CHAMPIONS!!
The trophy that is taller than Megan (and Breandan, some people said...haha).
Dn. John makes the final out of the tournament!
Scoring a run
On first base, Eric on deck, and Joe base coaching.
Go Geico!
Kastle was the other Geico cheerleader. She helped me out so much with the girls! Marina was passed out on her lap for over an hour.
At McKinley
This picture really doesn't do it justice. It was beautiful!
Hello Fairbanks!
Well, we are home from our three day excursion to Fairbanks. It will be hard to go over all the details, so I have decided to write them in sequential order.
Friday: We left after a brief delay of taking Megan to the doctor (ear and eye infection), but got the go ahead from the doc to head out, so we loaded our camper (the kind that sits on back of a truck) and hit the road around 1:30. A couple of stops for a gazillion dollars in gas and the like, and we were really and truly on the way. One word describes our drive: FREAKING AMAZING (I know that's two words, but "freaking" is my adjective). The weather was sunny and clear, which made the views of Mt. McKinley unbelievable. We came around a bend in Willow, and there it was, in all its majestic glory. Truly spectacular! We stopped at a scenic lookout just south of Cantwell, and hiked around with about two hundred tourists off tour buses. Thankfully, there was a lady kind enough to take a family picture of the four of us with the mountain in the background. Dn. John and I were truly in awe over the beauty of the drive. Megan and Marina slept through most of it. :) Anyway, the girls made it pretty happily until about 7 o'clock that night, then decided to come pretty much unglued. This resulted in me riding in the camper with them, and at one point in time getting pretty knocked around (me, not them). I had decided it was safe to climb down off the over the cab bed to get Marina a snack. Note to self: It was not safe. I played it up a lot with Megan, "Wow, look what happens when we don't listen to Daddy! He told us not to get down, and I didn't listen, and now I have a big owie on my arm." She was dutifully impressed that even Mommy can disobey Daddy, yet not escape the consequenses. Fast forward to 10:00 pm or so, we roll into Fairbanks, find a campground, then listen to the soothing sounds of both our kids screaming until about midnight. Finally, FINALLY, got to sleep, Dn. John in one bed with Megan, and me in the other with Mairna. Swell.
Saturday: Dawned bright and clear, with a definite bite to the air. We drove over to the ballfields to accomplish our purpose in Fairbanks: Kick some major booty in the Men's State Softball Tournament. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. We won first place in state! (Granted there were only five teams, and four of them were from Fairbanks, but the guys played amazingly, so I still feel it was a very solid win). Dn. John had a batting average of .500 which earned him an All Star T-shirt. The guys all got fancy hoodies that stay "Champions" on them, and since my girls and I made up 75% of the fan base that traveled, I weasled an extra hoodie out of Joe. They are very warm and cozy! After winning the tournament, we bummed the use of showers from some of the guys who stayed in a hotel, had a team dinner, then hit the hay. This time, Megan in her own bed, and Marina on her own until about 3 am, when she decided it would be super fun to get sick, and need to sleep with us.
Sunday: We drove to St. Herman of Alaska OCA church for Liturgy with Fr. Isaac Farha, who turns out to be an old friend of Fr. Philip (Dn. John's brother). Fr. Michael Oleska happened to be at the church on a pastoral visit, so that was pretty cool. He told us about a woman, Matushka Olga of Kwethluk, who Metropolitan Jonah is petitioning to have cannonized. The story of Matushka Olga was so touching to me that I began to cry while he told it. I can't even begin to do it justice, so Google "Matushka Olga of Kwethluk" and read for yourself. What an amazing woman. Turns out one of her daughters was even at Liturgy with us! I made some pretty instant friends with a lady named Jennifer, and we had a good time yapping away through coffee hour. After church, we decided to go to Pioneer Park (also called Alaska Land) for a fun family outing with the girls. We rode the Merry-Go-Round, ate Greek food, played on the playgound, rode a train, and in a fit of generosity (with some slight rolling of the eyes), my husband consented to take one of those old fashioned dress-up pictures with me and the girls. It is ADORABLE. I'll scan it and post it later, along with the million pictures we took. After that, we decided to scrap the last night of camping, since both girls have colds, and hit the road for home. We pulled in around midnight, which made our travel time home about two hours shorter than going up, so that was cool.
Now, today we have the ever-so-fun task of cleaning out the camper! Hooray! Now, you know why my post is so long--I'm putting it off! Anyway, once I find the camera in the pile of crapola, I'll post some pictures. In any case, we're home and we had a blast.
Friday: We left after a brief delay of taking Megan to the doctor (ear and eye infection), but got the go ahead from the doc to head out, so we loaded our camper (the kind that sits on back of a truck) and hit the road around 1:30. A couple of stops for a gazillion dollars in gas and the like, and we were really and truly on the way. One word describes our drive: FREAKING AMAZING (I know that's two words, but "freaking" is my adjective). The weather was sunny and clear, which made the views of Mt. McKinley unbelievable. We came around a bend in Willow, and there it was, in all its majestic glory. Truly spectacular! We stopped at a scenic lookout just south of Cantwell, and hiked around with about two hundred tourists off tour buses. Thankfully, there was a lady kind enough to take a family picture of the four of us with the mountain in the background. Dn. John and I were truly in awe over the beauty of the drive. Megan and Marina slept through most of it. :) Anyway, the girls made it pretty happily until about 7 o'clock that night, then decided to come pretty much unglued. This resulted in me riding in the camper with them, and at one point in time getting pretty knocked around (me, not them). I had decided it was safe to climb down off the over the cab bed to get Marina a snack. Note to self: It was not safe. I played it up a lot with Megan, "Wow, look what happens when we don't listen to Daddy! He told us not to get down, and I didn't listen, and now I have a big owie on my arm." She was dutifully impressed that even Mommy can disobey Daddy, yet not escape the consequenses. Fast forward to 10:00 pm or so, we roll into Fairbanks, find a campground, then listen to the soothing sounds of both our kids screaming until about midnight. Finally, FINALLY, got to sleep, Dn. John in one bed with Megan, and me in the other with Mairna. Swell.
Saturday: Dawned bright and clear, with a definite bite to the air. We drove over to the ballfields to accomplish our purpose in Fairbanks: Kick some major booty in the Men's State Softball Tournament. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. We won first place in state! (Granted there were only five teams, and four of them were from Fairbanks, but the guys played amazingly, so I still feel it was a very solid win). Dn. John had a batting average of .500 which earned him an All Star T-shirt. The guys all got fancy hoodies that stay "Champions" on them, and since my girls and I made up 75% of the fan base that traveled, I weasled an extra hoodie out of Joe. They are very warm and cozy! After winning the tournament, we bummed the use of showers from some of the guys who stayed in a hotel, had a team dinner, then hit the hay. This time, Megan in her own bed, and Marina on her own until about 3 am, when she decided it would be super fun to get sick, and need to sleep with us.
Sunday: We drove to St. Herman of Alaska OCA church for Liturgy with Fr. Isaac Farha, who turns out to be an old friend of Fr. Philip (Dn. John's brother). Fr. Michael Oleska happened to be at the church on a pastoral visit, so that was pretty cool. He told us about a woman, Matushka Olga of Kwethluk, who Metropolitan Jonah is petitioning to have cannonized. The story of Matushka Olga was so touching to me that I began to cry while he told it. I can't even begin to do it justice, so Google "Matushka Olga of Kwethluk" and read for yourself. What an amazing woman. Turns out one of her daughters was even at Liturgy with us! I made some pretty instant friends with a lady named Jennifer, and we had a good time yapping away through coffee hour. After church, we decided to go to Pioneer Park (also called Alaska Land) for a fun family outing with the girls. We rode the Merry-Go-Round, ate Greek food, played on the playgound, rode a train, and in a fit of generosity (with some slight rolling of the eyes), my husband consented to take one of those old fashioned dress-up pictures with me and the girls. It is ADORABLE. I'll scan it and post it later, along with the million pictures we took. After that, we decided to scrap the last night of camping, since both girls have colds, and hit the road for home. We pulled in around midnight, which made our travel time home about two hours shorter than going up, so that was cool.
Now, today we have the ever-so-fun task of cleaning out the camper! Hooray! Now, you know why my post is so long--I'm putting it off! Anyway, once I find the camera in the pile of crapola, I'll post some pictures. In any case, we're home and we had a blast.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Hasta Howells
Well, we said good-bye to our friends Matthew and Anastasia tonight, as well as our Godson Luke and his baby sister Hannah. They are back to seminary early tomorrow morning. Matthew is entering his second year at St. Tikhon's. I sniffled the whole way home. Always hate good-byes. It's been so great having them here all summer.
Please pray for them as they travel tomorrow, all the way across North America with a five month old and a sick two year old.
Bye Howells, we love you and we miss you already. Can't wait to see you at Christmas!
Please pray for them as they travel tomorrow, all the way across North America with a five month old and a sick two year old.
Bye Howells, we love you and we miss you already. Can't wait to see you at Christmas!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wow, it's been awile
I realize I haven't posted in a looooong time. Well, I've been crazy busy. My friends Chris and Jessica got married yesterday (not my sister Jessica), and I was in charge of all the food for their wedding. Basically, I cooked (with help) a complete meal for 350 people. It was madness, but it turned out really well. The wedding was beautiful, and the food was great, and I am really happy they're married. Wish I was off to Hawaii too, but that's a different story.
Things here are good. I am starting to really sense fall in the air. It's a bittersweet feeling, since I do really enjoy fall--the colors, and smells, and the harvest--but after fall comes winter which pretty much sucks. I suppose that's not fair, since there are good things about winter, like Christmas, and watching snow fall, plus all the cozy days inside sewing and baking. I just don't like being cold. I also don't like driving on ice. Ah well, part of the hazards of living where I live.
Our entryway is coming along, slowly but surely. I have new pictures, but I'm not sure where the camera is, so they will have to wait. Dn. John hasn't had much time lately to work on it, so he gets in a couple hours here and there. I am hoping it's done before snow flies (mid-October), but if it's not, we'll just keep plugging away until it is done!
The girls are doing great. Marina is working on her sixth tooth. She took her first steps last Saturday, and has adamantly refused to do it again since then. In the meantime, she is a lightning quick crawler! I can hardly keep up with her. Megan is also great--busy busy busy with all the little things she likes to do. We find pictures that she has drawn on scrap paper all over the place, and she is constantly "cooking" us treats in her little kitchen.
We're excited to go on a little trip this weekend--Dn. John has the state softball tournament in Fairbanks on Saturday and Sunday, so we're driving up on Friday and going to stay in our camper for the tournament, then drive home Monday. I'm really looking forward to it--we've had a busy summer, and it will be really fantastic just to have some family time. The Rogers together....oh yeah, and the whole softball team too, but I'll take what I can get!
Things here are good. I am starting to really sense fall in the air. It's a bittersweet feeling, since I do really enjoy fall--the colors, and smells, and the harvest--but after fall comes winter which pretty much sucks. I suppose that's not fair, since there are good things about winter, like Christmas, and watching snow fall, plus all the cozy days inside sewing and baking. I just don't like being cold. I also don't like driving on ice. Ah well, part of the hazards of living where I live.
Our entryway is coming along, slowly but surely. I have new pictures, but I'm not sure where the camera is, so they will have to wait. Dn. John hasn't had much time lately to work on it, so he gets in a couple hours here and there. I am hoping it's done before snow flies (mid-October), but if it's not, we'll just keep plugging away until it is done!
The girls are doing great. Marina is working on her sixth tooth. She took her first steps last Saturday, and has adamantly refused to do it again since then. In the meantime, she is a lightning quick crawler! I can hardly keep up with her. Megan is also great--busy busy busy with all the little things she likes to do. We find pictures that she has drawn on scrap paper all over the place, and she is constantly "cooking" us treats in her little kitchen.
We're excited to go on a little trip this weekend--Dn. John has the state softball tournament in Fairbanks on Saturday and Sunday, so we're driving up on Friday and going to stay in our camper for the tournament, then drive home Monday. I'm really looking forward to it--we've had a busy summer, and it will be really fantastic just to have some family time. The Rogers together....oh yeah, and the whole softball team too, but I'll take what I can get!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Rise and Walk!
MARINA TOOK HER FIRST STEPS!!!!
She took six steps in a little drunken-baby stumble before falling into my arms, and repeated it twice! She is very proud of herself, and I am so excited...and at the same time a teeny tiny bit sad, as this marks another growing-up stage for my sweet baby. She won't be a baby much longer!
She took six steps in a little drunken-baby stumble before falling into my arms, and repeated it twice! She is very proud of herself, and I am so excited...and at the same time a teeny tiny bit sad, as this marks another growing-up stage for my sweet baby. She won't be a baby much longer!
Yum
Just for the record, this is what Megan has had to eat today:
Sourdough pancakes (thanks to the Colemans, not me)
Two glasses of orange juice
Yo-Go Bites
A Juice Box
Random Samples at Costco
Two Strawberries
Popsicle
Fruit Snack
I am such a fantastic, nutritionally conscious Mom.
Sourdough pancakes (thanks to the Colemans, not me)
Two glasses of orange juice
Yo-Go Bites
A Juice Box
Random Samples at Costco
Two Strawberries
Popsicle
Fruit Snack
I am such a fantastic, nutritionally conscious Mom.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Energy
Dr. Christopher Venamin (I know I spelled that wrong) has been at St. Johns doing the Institute, and I got a chance to sit and get to know him a little when he stopped into the bakery for lunch yesterday. Anyway, I was pulling the girls in the wagon down the street today, and he and Mike Habib drove by, and stopped to chat. Christopher hadn't seen the girls, so he was saying hi to me, and then said very sincerely, "I pray that God gives you joy and energy." I was so touched, and smiled especially at the energy part. Goodness knows my girls take a lot of energy!
Speaking of my girls, we went raspberry picking again today, cleaning out Betsy's raspberries, and doing round two of Jane's. They are downstairs soaking in a pot of cold water (my intention is to drown all the bugs). I'm going to rinse them really well, and then can some jam! I think it's fantastic that they were only be a two hour lag time from the bushes into the jelly jar. Will make some yummy yummy stuff....mmmm, raspberry jam. My favorite!
Speaking of my girls, we went raspberry picking again today, cleaning out Betsy's raspberries, and doing round two of Jane's. They are downstairs soaking in a pot of cold water (my intention is to drown all the bugs). I'm going to rinse them really well, and then can some jam! I think it's fantastic that they were only be a two hour lag time from the bushes into the jelly jar. Will make some yummy yummy stuff....mmmm, raspberry jam. My favorite!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Moments of Pride
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah was Vespers tonight at St. Johns for the Transfiguration. It was wonderful to see him, and see him serve (as much as my rambunctious kids would let me). I overheard him telling my Uncle that he loved it here, and if he had come as a young man, he never would've left. That was cool. And then, the crowning moment was when we received a blessing at the end. Marina--with her pointer finger permanently stuck up her nostril--flicked a booger on the Metropolitan.
I was filled with the same amount of pride that I felt when Megan puked on Bishop Joseph.
Our friend Corey, who we sponsored a year ago, is being tonsured a Reader tomorrow morning. Please keep him in your prayers!
I was filled with the same amount of pride that I felt when Megan puked on Bishop Joseph.
Our friend Corey, who we sponsored a year ago, is being tonsured a Reader tomorrow morning. Please keep him in your prayers!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Cool things
What a great day! Cool things that happened today:
1.) Found the stroller I've been drooling over (no joke, right brand AND color!) on Craigs List for $40! Had a heart attack, called the owner, and they hadn't sold it yet! They said it's mine, but they live on the other side of Anchorage. Turns out that one of my nephews had a soccer game out there tonight, so my sister gamely picked it up for me today. Proof that it was meant to be. I am now the proud owner of a lightly used Jeep Double Umbrella Stroller. SO EXCITED.
2.) My neighbor Jane offered me her raspberries. Megan and I went over with my friend Helen and picked about six cups of fresh raspberries...they smell so good, and the bowl was all sun warmed...it was picturesque and very Laura Ingalls Wilder-ish. I am going to go wash them off in a little while, then we're making fresh jam in the morning. PLUS Jane has about a million more that just aren't ripe yet, and I am allowed (and encouraged!!) to keep picking them. We're going back for more in a couple days. Yay!
3.) The weather was fan-freaking-tastic today. Ended up in the high seventies in the late afternoon. Megan helped me haul rocks and we worked in the flower bed for awhile...almost done with that rock border! I can only get in a few minutes at a time, but the way I'm chipping away at it, the flower bed will be done by the end of the summer. Just in time to look killer next year! Betsy is giving me some Himilayan Poppies from the church gardens (Google them if you don't know what they are--such an awesome flower!), and they'll go in the middle of this bed with my irises and wild geraniums. Also planning on planting tulip and daffodil bulbs this fall.
4.) My sister got her dream job, and is currently on a forestry fire crew up North. She got to fly in a Black Hawk helicopter today, and will be working for the next two weeks straight putting out fires north of Fairbanks. She'll be living in a tent and eating military rations, and is completely out of communication until she gets back. It sounds like Dante's third circle of hell to me, but she is so stinking excited, and I am happy for her.
5.) Got lots of compliments on my new pants. :)
1.) Found the stroller I've been drooling over (no joke, right brand AND color!) on Craigs List for $40! Had a heart attack, called the owner, and they hadn't sold it yet! They said it's mine, but they live on the other side of Anchorage. Turns out that one of my nephews had a soccer game out there tonight, so my sister gamely picked it up for me today. Proof that it was meant to be. I am now the proud owner of a lightly used Jeep Double Umbrella Stroller. SO EXCITED.
2.) My neighbor Jane offered me her raspberries. Megan and I went over with my friend Helen and picked about six cups of fresh raspberries...they smell so good, and the bowl was all sun warmed...it was picturesque and very Laura Ingalls Wilder-ish. I am going to go wash them off in a little while, then we're making fresh jam in the morning. PLUS Jane has about a million more that just aren't ripe yet, and I am allowed (and encouraged!!) to keep picking them. We're going back for more in a couple days. Yay!
3.) The weather was fan-freaking-tastic today. Ended up in the high seventies in the late afternoon. Megan helped me haul rocks and we worked in the flower bed for awhile...almost done with that rock border! I can only get in a few minutes at a time, but the way I'm chipping away at it, the flower bed will be done by the end of the summer. Just in time to look killer next year! Betsy is giving me some Himilayan Poppies from the church gardens (Google them if you don't know what they are--such an awesome flower!), and they'll go in the middle of this bed with my irises and wild geraniums. Also planning on planting tulip and daffodil bulbs this fall.
4.) My sister got her dream job, and is currently on a forestry fire crew up North. She got to fly in a Black Hawk helicopter today, and will be working for the next two weeks straight putting out fires north of Fairbanks. She'll be living in a tent and eating military rations, and is completely out of communication until she gets back. It sounds like Dante's third circle of hell to me, but she is so stinking excited, and I am happy for her.
5.) Got lots of compliments on my new pants. :)
This week....
Well, the entryway continues to hum along! The weather has been really pretty for the last few days--sunny and sort-of warm. You can really tell that the summer is slowly drawing to a close--there was a pretty serious bite in the air Saturday morning! I haven't felt it since then, but I'm just mentally preparing myself for the winding down of this beautiful season. But anyway, the entryway has four walls and a roof! It's so exciting. I have pictures, but they will have to wait to be posted, due to the fact that the camera is downstairs and I am lazy. Dn. John got the weather barrier on the roof too, and the only framing left to do is the interior closet wall. The electrical work is the next step. We've got a couple guys in our church who are good at that kind of thing, and they've offered to help.
I went to Kohl's yesterday with my sister and bought pants that fit. They're even a size smaller! Yahtzee! I'm so excited. I called Kali from my cell phone in the dressing room practically shrieking with glee.
The next big crazy event in our life is a wedding here at the church. I am in charge of the food, so it's a pretty big project. It's on August 16, so I'm getting down to crunch time. I've got meetings this week with various people, and then next week I have a major shopping trip to do for all the food, and then actually make it! It's going to be wild, but should be great.
I went to Kohl's yesterday with my sister and bought pants that fit. They're even a size smaller! Yahtzee! I'm so excited. I called Kali from my cell phone in the dressing room practically shrieking with glee.
The next big crazy event in our life is a wedding here at the church. I am in charge of the food, so it's a pretty big project. It's on August 16, so I'm getting down to crunch time. I've got meetings this week with various people, and then next week I have a major shopping trip to do for all the food, and then actually make it! It's going to be wild, but should be great.
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