4th of July in Kodiak

This was Stephen and my first 4th of July in Kodiak ever!  The day

 started on midnight with the fireworks display.  We went out on the skiff with the Jones family and enjoyed the display from the water.  It's so different watching and listening to fireworks in Kodiak.  The echo off the mountains is incredible and I think the water absorbs a lot of the big sounds.  Anyway, Gus dislikes fireworks so much he slept right between Stephen and me all night with his head buried under the covers.  

We had a great relaxing day, we went out for breakfast with Cindy and Evan, then off for a hike to one of our favorite lakes.  It as a wonderful and relaxing day! 

The Amazing 2009 Summer Staff

I feel extremely blessed this summer!  Only the Lord could orchestrate a group of individuals to work, live and serve so well together.  This group of young adults come from all over the lower 48.  Some have just graduated from college, others are just starting that adventure, we have teachers, musicians, athletes but most importantly they all share a passionate love for Jesus Christ.  They work with the same fervor that they play with.  

Tonight Stephen and I were serenaded by a group of these amazing young people.  They wrote this song to commemorate their staff backpacking trip.  

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!  

A week in Ouzinkie

The first three weeks of summer have been a tremendous blessing.  Much of that has to do with the incredible people the Lord has brought to work along side each other.  This group is made up of some of the most incredible people who pull more than their own weight and are quick to help.  They have all grown very close and I love watching the Lord work through them to share His love with the island of Kodiak.  

After our second week of camp we all loaded into the boat and headed to the village of Ouzinkie.  It's a small village not far from Kodiak.  Norman and Joyce Smith spent their lives living and ministering to the people their.  Joyce has just past away in the past three years, leaving the Mission their to KBM.  It's an old 1930s home, but after spending just a little time their it's easy to see why Joyce and Norman loved Ouzinkie so much.  

The night we arrived the entire staff filled the home with load beautiful music, praising the Lord late in the night.  Their excitement to serve and worship together is infectious and it felt great to have such joy in the home again.  The next morning we had a Sunday service in the small chapel downstairs before loading up most the group to head back to Kodiak for the week.  A small team remained for the week to do kayaking, pottery and just live with the community for a week.  

Of course I had gotten a bad cold and was and still am a bit under the weather, but Stephen was their to pull most of the load.  He's such a wonderful guy!  We celebrating our anniversary there and it was extremely memorable.  Our staff had stayed up the night before cutting out hearts and writing on them all that love is.  Stephen and I know how blessed we are, but it's just good reminder to remain faithful to the Lord and see how He will work through us.  We also had a couple from the village make a very delicious cake to share that night.  Another man from the village brought us ice cream and everyone was so amazing!  

The week ended quickly and while I was so excited to take a normal shower and sleep in my bed it was hard leaving the kids and village, but we'll soon be back.  We plan on spending two and a half more weeks their this summer with the groups. 

June 6th 2009

June 6th 2009 I awoke to an absolutely beautiful day!  I was reminded that my birthday is actually in the summer.  The past few have been pretty chilly and damp!  For those of you who know me every year for my birthday all I wanted to do was go camping.  So the family loaded up everything and headed to Ft Kearney for the weekend.  It was always wonderful and I was so blessed to have that same opportunity on Saturday.  We loaded up the family and all the summer staff and headed over to Long Island.  It is amazing going to a different island away from life and being able to explore.  We headed over to a lake where Stephen started fishing.  He caught a beautiful trout that we cooked up right there.  It was wonderful being the great friends and while I missed my family dearly I felt a little closer to home.  

Stephen and I pitched our tent near a cliff overlooking the ocean.  Gus, Roscoe and Stephen and I all piled in for a restful sleep and enjoyed waking up to the sea lions playing in the water and the birds flying all around.  

Thanks to everyone who called to wish me a happy birthday.  I can't believe I'm already 27, but I guess I'm happy that I feel really young!  Here's for another great year! 

Old Woman Hike

Camp is in full swing and many or our summer staffers have arrived.  They are incredible with the kids and have taken so much stress.  There are a group of people that carry more than their load and make for great days.  There pictures are from our hike up Old Woman.  It was a lot of fun getting to know everyone a little more and enjoying our Lords AMAZING creation!  

Nussbaum Foreman Outing

Kodiak is known for its rain, but May was beautiful.  We had so much wonderful weather and were able to get out a lot.  This particular day we headed out for an adventure with our wonderful friends the Nussbaums.  We went to Spruce island visited the chapels there and also went to Ouzinkie.  Of course we ate wonderful Salmon burgers and watermelon, sooooo good!  There were lots of bees that decided to visit us on the island so we had to get in the boat and head out on the water to actually eat the watermelon.  

Stephen and I love to sing with Ted and Kathy so I added one of our little videos of this.  Enjoy! 

wyldlife 2009

So it's been a year already and Stephen and I found ourselves back on Woody Island for wyldlife.  We loaded a boat with 100 other 7th and 8th graders and adults for 30 crazy hours.  We did a little bit of everything and overall had a wonderful time.  I got 4 hours of sleep that night much more than Stephen's 45 minutes.  Praise the Lord for His sustaining strength!  I hope you enjoy all the pictures! wyldlife 2009