Sunday Story #4

Jacob likes to refer to me as the “right hand wonder” on the piano. This isn’t totally fair anymore, as over the past year, I have graduated to playing hymns with both hands with minimal blunders…but it does require practice, especially if the song has a faster tempo than say, “Amazing Grace”. :) I awoke a little groggy this Sunday morning because we had some friends over Saturday night and ended up visiting until 2:30am. I realized I hadn’t practiced the songs this week, so I utilized my 10 free minutes before the service to run through the songs. Jacob was out of town last Sunday, so the girl who preached chose the songs for last Sunday. As I looked at the bulletin on the piano and played through the first song, I laughed and was relieved that Jacob chose one of the same songs as last week. Then I played through the second song, “How funny,” I thought. “This one’s the same too!” It wasn’t until I noticed that the last song was also the same that it occurred to me that I was looking at last week’s bulletin! Whoa! I blame the fatigue Too late…my practice time was up. As I was struggling through the songs during the service, I realized Jacob chose some of the most difficult ones in our hymnal, but still, by the second or third verse I generally added my left hand to the melody. As I was beginning the second verse of “Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” and was contemplating adding my left hand, I caught Logan out of the corner of my eye. He clearly had something that he wanted to give me. I extended my left hand; he paused, had a curious look on his face, and then placed “something from his nose” in my hand. Yuck! But, thank you Logan for giving me a legitimate excuse for only playing with my right hand!

3yr Old Conversations

As the boys grow older, their conversations become more and more entertaining! Sometimes, I find myself just standing outside the door so I can listen in on their conversations because they're so hilarious:) The first story lets you in on my current stage of life...potty training my children! Logan, just recently, figured it all out and is totally trained...finally...I hope!:) Owen, my more independently-minded and stubborn child, still refuses to "poo-poo" in the toilet. I told Logan that he should encourage his brother. He said, "Okay Mama" and then I overheard this dialogue, L-"Owen, you should poo-poo in the potty stool." O-"No, Logan. Me no like to." "Owen, you should because you get chocolate." "Mmmmm...no." And this was my favorite statement. Logan said, "I actually really love going poo poo now." I'm so glad it's such a good experience for him:)

Today, I made the boys some milkshakes to drink in our 60 degree house while they looked out the window at the -15 degree day with the -50 degree windchill! I overheard Owen say, "Logan. My milkshake is colding me up." I always wondered what was the opposite of warming:)

Starving Logan?

Owen was so excited about the meal that I placed before him tonight that he said he was going to throw it in the trash! Jacob gave him the 3-year old level lecture on being grateful and finished it off asking him if we should give his dinner to some starving children...to which Logan replied, "Yah...Give it to me."

As a side note, I posted some snow photos the other day and noticed that they posted down a ways, so scroll down if you're interested...I just posted some ivory carving ones as well...not sure where they will turn up.

Bedtime Routine

Our bedtime routine has evolved over the years. If nothing else, our family sleep journey, since August 8, 2006, seems to make people erupt into so much laughter that they are brought to tears:) I'm sure it is true that had we just left the boys in their cribs "to cry it out" in those early months, we would have been much better rested, but our nights would have missed out on so many entertaining stories to share for years to come! Up until maybe last May, the boys would fall asleep with me in the big bed and then I would transfer them to their cribs. Realizing that they were growing bigger everyday, it occured to me that it may not be so feasible to transfer them to their own beds when they reach their tenth birthday (in case you're concerned...I'm kidding!) So, I began the process of having them fall asleep in their own beds. They took to this quite well. I explained the reasons, they said, "Okay, Mama" and fell asleep while staring at their new glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling and each holding one of my hands until they had drifted off. I enjoyed this immensely, but on those nights when sleep did not overcome them for an hour or more, I tended to grow a bit restless. We added a new dimension to our routine, which brings us upto the current one. Jacob and I read and pray with the boys. They have a drink of water and then cuddle with their warm rice bags (we live in the frozen north!) in their beds. We say our goodnights and then Jacob leaves while I turn on some lullabies and sit with the boys for the first song. At this point, Owen whispers, "No hug me Mama! Goodnight." And Logan whispers, "My arms are out of my covers Mama. Me ready to hug you." (I like to ponder the two distinct personalities of children raised in the seemingly same environment!) Logan gives me a hug and a kiss, during which he says, "Hug...kiss...(and ever since New Year's Eve/7 nights now!)...Happy New Year's, Mama...Go watch the fireworks." And with this, I retreat under the covers of our big bed in the closet and read by flashlight until they are passed out. That's the part that currently gets people laughing, but my other friend, who has heard our entire sleep journey to this point, is quick to point out, "No...you don't understand. They have come so far!" I don't see what the problem is...I think reading a good book under the covers is a great way to unwind from a busy day:)

Sunday Story #3

The boys are beginning to sit in church quietly without being bribed/pacified with snacks, me reading to them, etc. For the most part, they sit there and “read” or play with stickers or a sewing card and are quite happy. I’ve noticed that they are beginning to listen as well. A few times while Jacob was telling a story during his sermon, they laughed or looked up to pay attention. They have also started following the “commands” within the service…”Please stand”, “You may be seated”, etc. While I was at the piano playing the first song, Logan and Owen were standing on the first bench “singing along” when Logan leaned forward towards me and started saying in the loudest whisper humanly possible, “Mama…Mama…Mama…You’re wearing your slippers.” A quick look down confirmed that I was in fact wearing my slippers in church…again…oops…and thank you Logan for alerting me and most of the congregation to that fact:)

Happy New Year 2010!

New Years and July 4th seem to be the biggest holidays in Savoonga. On both occasions, the community spends the entire afternoon and evening doing relay games, tug-o-war, etc. and then finishing off the event with a Native Dance. The different community organizations put the event on and most everyone in Savoonga shows up and participates. They give out monetary prizes and huge door prizes throughout the event and provide free “refreshments” (lunch) as well. Last year, Jacob won the event for his age…being the first to cross half-court while balancing a book on his head and holding a ball between his knees. We were all crying we were laughing so hard as people shouted, “Go Pastor! Pastor’s winning!” This year, the boys agreed to compete in the 3-year old foot race. Shocking for my boys! Before they began, I said, “Okay, when they say `Go’, run as fast as you can across that line.” Logan said, “Me rather walk, Mama.” And that is just what they did. Even after the other kids had dashed across the finish line, Logan and Owen took their own sweet time…but they finished! :) Ah…my independently minded children:) I just laugh because we are living in a culture where they talk about “native time” and so many people have asked me if time is really pretty relative to the people here. I find that most people are more laid back about being somewhere “on time” or even indicating a time for an event to start or end, but at the same time, those individuals who have jobs are very prompt to the clock…so, it’s not an issue of laziness, it’s just a different understanding of time. But, I laugh because those who have this concept of “native time” are constantly commenting on how my children never seem to be in a hurry. This is generally true! Ahhh…grant me patience:)

Random Events

I had some random photos that didn't really fit anywhere.


The other day the boys were fighting over the stroller. I told them to share...thinking they would take turns. I turned around to find them each holding a handle and hands with each other and pushing the stroller around the house:)


Owen was helping Steph (from YWAM) get a splinter out of her foot. (That's a flashlight he's holding.)


Somehow and for some reason, it seems that at some point during having people stay with us, Jacob ends up doing strength building exercises with them to see who's the strongest??? I don't know...but it's pretty entertaining:) This is Jacob with Melanie (YWAM).


Our flower finally bloomed! My mom sent us the seeds last spring.