Enjoying the Morning

 Someone once said that most things in our lives are the dreams of others:

-The meals we eat every day are the dreams of someone who is hungry.

-The house that seems messy to you is the dream of someone who is homeless.

-The time we spend together is the dream of someone who has lost.

The quiet morning is all I can ask for as our spring break begins.  The daily things we do...school, work, early mornings, meals, lessons, etc....our whole house has been working so hard.  It will be nice to slow down and just be for a few days.

It has been nice to see some friends lately, and also to see our own children forming and developing relationships with friends and being social.  Children are a true wonder, and it is amazing to see how far each of our three have come.  Pride is a word that doesn't seem grand enough when it comes to how I feel about their accomplishments in school and their talents in music and arts and athletics.  However, I am most amazed at their kindness and wanting to just be good towards others in general.  

The rest of spring break has no real outline other than cleaning and really trying to attach projects around the house.  With Disney in our rear view mirror and Juneau ahead on the summer horizon, we all felt like just being home and resting.  The final push towards summer break will be a long one in some ways, and recharging seems to be on the menu for the week!  How lucky we are!

-a

A Whatever Day

 A quiet little Saturday morning in February.  The day hasn't made up its mind yet as far as where it will take us all.  Maybe errands...maybe somewhere just for the sake of getting out of the house....whatever.  It is a "whatever" day.  

But I still enjoy the stillness of the house.  There is a peace and deep contentment knowing that my whole family is sleeping and safe.  There is a lot to be thankful for.  

Geese honk in the distance outside as they fly over the grey morning clouds.  Dogs snore quietly at my feet.  Kids (and wife) snuggled under their blankets.  There is no hurry right now, and that is wonderful.  So let the day arrive whenever.  Whatever.

-a  

Quiet Beginnings

Violet in the snow!

 

Often my favorite moments of a day are the quiet ones before everyone else is awake.  Whether it is on a normal work day, while in the pitch black...just siting awake waiting for the sun to rise...or whether it is like today:  a grey, dreary Sunday morning where the snow is melting and the world is still really asleep for just a little while longer.  I savor the short time I have to just sit with my thoughts and the possibilities of the day.

It got pretty chilly for a little while around here!

This January has been a good start to the year, with time for our family to transition back from Winter Break, and get our house in fairly good working condition.  There are always plans and such with a house....always something that needs cleaning or fixing...and it is this part of the "house zen" that I am trying daily to accept with more and more patience:  it will never be done!  Homeowners often say this with a grin...but it really is true.  There is always something that needs attention or that is next-up on the list of things to do.  There is something about accepting this that brings a sense of peace...giving up the pursuit of perfection can sometimes be uplifting.

Audrey during her first drive through experience as a driver!

So as the days pass and February lurks around the corner next week, it is fun to begin glancing to the horizon of spring and then summer.  Adventures await beyond our daily routines of school and work and responsibility!  Trips and drives and exploration are our there for us when we have taken care of the things we say we will do!  This past trip to Disney helped me even more to appreciate how smart and independent my children have become.  They no longer need me for nearly as many things...which I guess is the goal.  It is truly a wonder to see them think and operate and learn independently. 

From our travels to Disney!

  

So while I sit here quietly enjoying the still and quiet, I also keep one eye on the future where we are always moving.  How lucky I am to be here now....and also to be able to see our path forward.  

-a

The dogs never leave me alone!

Violet and Sam in the front yard!  Remember these moments!

A New Year

 It is a new year.

This blog has been slowly decaying and falling further into the recesses of my mind, but I need to try and bring it back to the forefront.  

The original purpose of this blog was to communicate about our lives to the rest of my family around the country, especially those living in Alaska...but over the last three years so many people so close to us have left this life.  The people who I have been writing for are gone, and it has drained so much of the passion and motivation to continue. 

But there is a saying that it is never too late to start over, and, while this is not technically "starting over", I am hopeful that this next year will bring about a sort of personal renaissance or rebirth of desire to put thoughts to screen and publish.  If not for them, then for my own children who are now starting to find this blog and read about their own history through my eyes.

And so we begin 2024 with a sense of calm and peace, along with shadows and memories of those that are no longer here...but I cast my eyes on the horizon while remaining aware of each single step that is in front of me that I must take.  Where this journey leads, I cannot say for sure...but I remain hopeful and grateful to have this day and any others ahead.

-a

Falling Into Stillness

 And here we are back on the page....a beautiful fall morning greets us and daylight savings "gives" us an extra hour to enjoy.  Family is visiting from Indiana and a flurry of activity surrounds and is omnipresent.  Laughter, chatter, yells, scampering footsteps...sounds of merriment and togetherness.  

It has been a while, and more people have left this realm of life and have moved on to whatever is after this mortal coil.  Grandpa Ted passed in August from a few complications, all stemming from stomach cancer.  Eden and I were fortunate enough to be able to fly and get to him in time to say goodbye and spend a few final hours together.  He will be missed terribly by his entire family and many friends...words still cannot really do much justice when attempting to capture Ted and all that he means to us.  I will do my best moving forward to share more stories and memories of Ted.

My father, Joel, passed shortly after in early September.  While it was not completely a surprise, with his failing health, it still was devastating.  We rushed to have his body buried in Juneau, and I am thankful to my family, especially my wife, my sister, and my Uncle Fred.  They were all instrumental over the years for the care and management of my father over the last several years.  

And now we find ourselves in this new territory of life...unsupervised by my parents and elders.  It is quiet here, with glassy waters.  There are no obvious directions in which to head, and only the whispers of voices past to bring me guidance at this point.  Life is finite but at least I know this and appreciate it, and will always have this in the back of my mind, pushing me to do more with whatever time is given.  While this isn't an awakening on par with It's a Beautiful Life, I am reminded daily now just how little time we actually have to be here with our family and friends on this Earth....on this level of consciousness with one another.  

So I relish in the simple things.  The hot cups of coffee on a quiet Sunday morning.  The little hugs and giggles with my children.  The dog walks and the laughter around the dinner table.  Here are some pictures from this past period of time that will hopefully serve as a reminder of how lucky we truly are to be a family and share this time.

Luna gives zero personal space.

A visit from Davey last week!

Birthday cousins

Sam waiting to hand out candy on a blustery Halloween

Audrey not happy with how close we are sitting for her evening concert.

Audrey and her section at final band performance and celebration

Sam with a pumpkin on his head!

Family birthday celebration in Indiana.

Dad and Sam being silly at Audrey's band competition.

Sam and Dad finish building Elsa's Frozen Lego Castle over a 5 day period!  

Sam and the Band Tiger.

In Juneau for Zayde's funeral.

Rainbows in Juneau!

Rainbows in Juneau!

At Audrey's Band competition!

Cousin Jonathan visited (and Pam) for a day, and it was wonderful.  I now own a gorilla suit!

Audrey at the fall dance.

Violet the dinosaur rider!

Ted and Lisa.  

Louis and Jake in Juneau walking the Flumme after Joel's funeral.  

End of Summer

 I woke up this morning with the feeling that summer is over.  Last night we had some intense winds and storms and it all felt like the crescendo to our summer.  While there is still a little time remaining until school begins again, my time and thoughts will be dedicated to preparing for it all, rather than forgetting about it.  

The last week has been in the mid-to-high 90's, with temperatures "feeling" like 110 degrees.  This time has been spent almost completely indoors with lots and lots and LOTS of screen time and naps and ultra-low attempts at anything other than resting.  It has been nice but also sad that we lost a week in July to do much.  

Now, however, on this Saturday morn, it is raining and the birds outside my window are enjoying the bugs and a refreshing shower.  The coffee is hot and the dogs are resting near the open window, enjoying some cool(er) air and fresh scents.  Summer is over, and while we are still "on break", there is a sense of impending business that fast approaches.  School supplies and lesson plans await our attention instead of books, movies, and playtime.  Responsibilities are popping up in the back of my mind where once it was calm.  

For now, though, I am enjoying one of the final weekend mornings free, listening to the rain fall.  It reminds me of growing up in Juneau.  It is not a hard rain, but a gentle one that is constant.  A typical day, really, in Juneau.  

--Monday continue--

So now I pack my computer bag and prepare for my first trip out to school for a few hours, hoping to get some semblance of an idea of what my classroom should look like.  It is exciting and bittersweet at the same time to truly accept that summer is over.  Sigh.

-a

July Anchorage Adventure

This past winter, I made plans for a summer adventure in Anchorage.  I returned home this morning from five days in Anchorage visiting my childhood friend, Louis, and his wife and daughter.  

Getting on the airplane in Chicago, headed for Anchorage!

My best friend from childhood, Louis!

Life was GOOD in anchorage!

Dinner with friends!  Amazing peanut butter pie!  

Looking out the window on the way to Alaska!

Abel and Amy!  

Chicken and pasta!  So yummy!

Always good to see Fran!  

A visit to the Anchorage Museum.  Tourist for the day!  

I always like a good Raven!

The Feather Bears at the museum were my favorite.  Impossible not to smile!

Raven Totem

Fish Art.  

Cool mural.

Moose!

Another cool Anchorage mural.

Fun art on the side of all the trash cans in downtown Anchorage!

Blue Moose Totem

A few pictures from my hike up (most) of Flattop Mountain

Taking FULL advantage of the hot tub.

Flowers at the Zoo.

A puddle of baby moose!

I got to feed to porcupine!  

Raven sitting in the sky.

Mountain Goat

Grizzly Bear

Louis, Tamara, Evie, and Angus (dog).  Such a wonderful family!

Reindeer Hot Dog

Evie dominated the french fries

Tamara and Evie and french fries

Looking out the window on a rainy day.

Race Day Breakfast!  Skinny Raven Half Marathon...here I come!  

At the start of a VERY rainy race day!

Daddy/Daughter Giggles

Taking off back home on a rainy night.