Saturday, January 12, 2013

We had a beautiful day here in Alaska. The skies were overcast, but the temperature was warm at about 20 degrees. The boys spent some time sledding on the hill with some children from the community here. Roger put back the brakes on the truck, but he is still waiting on the bolts to finish up the job. The bolts should be coming with the team of workers coming from Fairbanks today, Lord willing. I spent the better part of the day making chili, baking cornbread, cookies, cake, and shredding cheese. I think I have everything ready for supper tonight at the church. (Then I’ll come home and think of something to make for the church dinner tomorrow! J)

I’m looking forward to having the truck back and in working order! We all need showers, laundry is piling high, and the trash needs to go to the dump. I’m thankful that this morning Art and Damaris came over to get water for us. Roger and Art went to fill up the water jugs, and Damaris and I had a nice time visiting together. We spent some time drinking tea and eating ice cream J when Roger and Art got back from getting the water. It’s nice to have friends that help us out and that we love to share their company.

The team of workers from Fairbanks arrived at about 3:00pm. They had a load of wood from the burned area in Eureka and unloaded that at the cabin. We are having supper together at the church tonight, and they are staying for church services tomorrow. It’s a good blessing to have a large woodpile here for when we have to leave. There is probably as much wood or more here than when we arrived! Which my dad always says, “It’s a good idea to leave things in as good as shape as they were or better when you borrow something!” J

Today marks our sixth week in Manley, can you believe it?! Wow! It will also be our final week in Manley. L We’ve made so many good friends, wonderful memories, and have treasured our time here that it will be hard to leave. But we are looking forward to catching up with friends on the way back to Wisconsin as well. We are especially excited about our visit to Yellowknife, NWT. I don’t think any of us are looking forward to getting back in the car for a 60 hour car ride, but every mile is one mile closer to Wisconsin.

Roger is anxious to get back to work, and Chandler is looking forward to returning to 4K. I’m looking forward to talking to my friends and family (oh, and running water! J). Garett only wants to go back to Wisconsin to get his bike and his ice skates and then he’d like to come back to Alaska! J And Travis and Wyatt don’t seem to have an opinion either way! J We’d appreciate your prayers as we pack up the truck, say good-bye to our new friends, and begin our journey back to Wisconsin. The weather is not looking very good for this week. The forecast is for snow, then a few days without snow, and then another snow storm. So, we would appreciate your prayers for traveling mercies as well. Our love to you all, Sarah