I'm Lost in the Snow!

Hi,

No we haven't dropped off the face of the earth. Maybe just lost in the snow! Sorry I haven't been more faithful to keeping this Blog more updated. Let's see, where to start...

Last time I wrote was in June. Camp was a blur this summer. I was really busy with in town stuff like buying groceries ( I bought at least a million gallons of milk, 27 tons of sugar, enough bagels to circle the earth, enough eggs to fry an omelot the size of China, and enough canned peaches to make every person in Georgia smile. ) Yeah well maybe I have exaggerated some of my measurements, but you get the idea. I was busy! I also did all of the airport and ferry pickups of people as well as answer a million telephone calls. (That might not be too much of an exaggeration!) Through it all I liked it and look forward to next camping season.

Jess was busy with registrations as well as taking care of all of the bookkeeping stuff. She also had Elijah a lot as I was out doing my running of errands. Mothers are awesome right!


Elijah has grown from the last time you saw him as you will notice in these pictures. He is a great little boy. It is so much fun to watch him grow and learn stuff every day. Things he is fond of include: Elmo videos, asparagus, baths, a nice cup of warm bath water to drink, jambalaya and pickles. Dislikes: shots (he got 3 yesterday), being denied his wishes, icycles, time away from mommie.

Since camp ended I have kept busy working on one of our in town camp houses. It has been good for me as it gets me out of the house each day. Jess still has to do bookkeeping even in the off season.

The biggest thing that has happened this fall is the snow. We have had almost 4 feet of the fluffy stuff in the last 2 weeks. We are supposed to get another 20 inches tonight. I hope not. I have shoveled more snow than any Georgia boy should ever hsve to shovel.


We leave here on Dec. 4 to go to OH/GA for a month. We can't wait to get away from the snow for awhile. Hope to see some of y'all while we are there!! Merry Christmas!!

A New Summer of Camps

The summer camping season has taken off like a horse out of the starting gate. Whew! We are now into our third week of camping at Echo Ranch. Man, has it been busy. I am writing this at 5:25AM because I had to go to the ferry terminal to pick up 6 kids who arrived at 4:45AM this morning! That is how this day will begin for me! I have enjoyed the this new town job of mine because it keeps me really busy and the time just flies by the wind. The week ahead will be filled with grocery runs where I get to buy several thousand dollars worth of food for the camp. It's a little weird spending all of that money. I'm just glad it's not my money!! I will run many errands for camp, answer hundreds of phone calls, mow the grass, clean the dormitory, probably pick up a person or two at the airport, make several runs to the end of the road or camp. Oh did I mention I have a wife and almost 10 month old kids to play with too???? So life is busy here these days and I like it!

Jessica is a big help with my work. She catches a lot of the phone calls and obviously watches Eli while I run my errands. I take him when I can, but getting in and out of the car makes him a little grumpy after awhile. Jess is also very busy with her bookkeeping and registrations which take up quite a bit of time. Oh yeah, she still has to keep me in line too, that might be her hardest chore!

We have a great bunch of counselors this summer. They come from all over the states and from Canada and England. It is fun to watch them grow in confidence as they counsel. It is the thing I miss most about not being out at camp, the counselors and the kids. Please pray for them this summer.

Eli is doing well. He is standing now with the assistance of a couch, etc. Occasionally, he will stand by himself, unassisted. He's full of energy each day, sapping ours as he goes about his merry way. He is a joy for sure!

Fire at the ERBC Horse Barn

Well, today we recieved some bad news, the horse barn at Echo Ranch was destroyed in a fire during the wee hours of the night. This building housed all of the saddles and other tack used by the horses as well as all of the other tools and equipment used to take of the herd. Our four pigs were also lost in the fire. It is a big loss to us all. The building and loading dock seen in the above photo will have to be replaced and even more important, all of the saddles and gear will need to be replaced as soon as possible so we can use the horses this season. Our camp has 17 horses that are used for trailrides and for kiddie rides. It is a major attraction for the camp. I believe we have the largest herd of horses in Southeast Alaska. Please pray that we will be able to find the funds to replace everything. God will provide!

Piggies in the House!

This has been the quietest week since Eli was born. He and Jessica have gone south to Ohio for ten days and it's just plain deafening, the quiet I am have here! I like the peace, yet I miss the noise if that makes any sense whatsoever to you. I have talked to Jess several times and they are doing well in sunny Ohio. He is getting to wear short pants for the first time and I bet he is as cute as the proverbial button! Yeah I miss him...

Tonight I have to go and pick up the piggies at long last. I think there are three of them coming by Alaska Airlines. Imagine...flying pigs!!! The ones you see here are from last year. They were good ones. I mean they tasted good!

Our camping season really begins in earnest this week and will not slow down until mid-September. Please pray that we have a safe and successful year.

It's Easter and the Bunny Took my Babies!

Actually it was Easter, now it's just plain old Monday. Yesterday Jess and Eli flew home for a surprise visit with her parents. I think they were shocked to see her. So much so that at first they did not recognize Eli! I know they are thrilled to see them and we are happy we were able to provide them with this special Easter present. They do so much for us.

After taking them to the airport yesterday morning at 5:30, I went to a sunrise Easter service at the glacier. What an awesome place to have the service. The morning was cold and crisp. The birds were chattering in their trees. It was really peaceful and a great way to celebrate Christ's resurrection.

Sometime this week I think I will be picking up 3 little piggies at the airport. We keep the pigs at camp and feed them our slop or leftovers from the dining hall. In the fall we butcher the pigs for the pork and divide the meat up amongst the missionaries at camp. It will be fun to see what the kids name the pigs this year. Salt and Pepper, Bacon, Ham and Eggs are some names from the past...

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your families and friends. I spent yesterday with the Shaners and Diggins, two missionary families from camp. We went out to eat and then they all came over and we watched Shrek and just hung out. It was nice for me since Jess and Bam Bam weren't here.

Camping Season Begins

This week Echo Ranch is opening doors for the spring retreat season by hosting the 2006 Alaska Sectional of the Christian Camping and Convention of America. Camps from all over the state as well as a few from the lesser-48 have sent people to our camp this week. Believe me, because I know! I picked most of them up at either the ferry terminal or the airport. It has been fun to meet others who do the same things we do and share notes, so to speak. From this point on we will be running full speed until October.

To prepare for this retreat I spent about $2000 on groceries for the camp! That's a lot of eggs and milk! I'm just glad it's not my money I'm spending! It always makes me a little uncomfortable to spend so much money, especially camp's. Just part of the job! The job has been a busy one this week. Lots of phone calls to answer, errands to run and trips to camp. For those of you who don't know, that's about 50 miles or so round trip. I love it!!

Eli is doing well as always. We have really been blessed that he has enjoyed good health so far. He had a little bronchitis when we were in Ohio, otherwise, he has been great. Tonight he was introduced to the joy of creamed beef. It's the first time we've given him meat and lets just say he was less than impressed! He ate it without trouble, but gagged a few times as he did it. You don't guess he's a vegetarian do you?? He loves his sweet potatoes and carrots! They are great for you!!!!

Spring In Alaska!

Okay, maybe it just feels like spring today since it is so nice outside. In Alaska, we live for sunny, warm days! I guess that is true of everywhere except maybe for Phoenix, AZ!

March Madness is almost over and my picks were pretty weak this year. Oh well, there's always next year. Duke let me down, but I still love those Devils!

Camp staff are beginning to arrive back into Juneau for the new camping season. We are hosting the CCCA Sectional Convention next week so things will be heating up here soon. CCCA is the Christian Camp and Conference Association. Those attending will be from other camps around Alaska. It rotates from camp to camp each year. As far as I know, this is the first time we have hosted it. There should be about 50 people. This is early in the year for us to be having a camp, so please pray that things go well.

Eli is.... well he's Eli! He is everywhere these days. He spends most of the awakened day exploring his environment and looking for his mommy! He's a little on the clingy side right now. His front, bottom teeth can be seen through his gums now and we are hoping to see them break through sometime soon. He should be really cute when that happens. He's already cute!!!

Cold weather and Doctor's visit

Hi again,
We went out to camp yesterday and spent the afternoon there. It was so beautiful. A lot of times after you've been here for so long you forget how beautiful it really is. A day like yesterday reminds you of how blessed we are. It was a cold, windy day, but very clear skies. Camp in the winter is a peaceful, wonderful place. I was the winter caretaker out there in 2001, by myself and loved it while I was there.

Today's big event was Eli's check-up at the doctor's office. He is doing very well. He is now up to 22lb 8oz and is 28 1/2 inches tall. His weight gain has slowed since he is now rolling all over and doing push-ups as he tries to get his crawling figured out. He also recieved 2 shots which he handles pretty well. He cries a little then relaxes.

The brackets are out for the NCAA tournament so now everyone is signing on for our bracket challenge at ESPN. Duke should win, but who knows? That's what makes it so much fun.

Today the high temp was about 15 with tons of wind to add to the chill. Don't like days like that!!

Living in a Big A...

Hi again,

We have now moved to a new home for us. We had been living in an apartment located about a mile and a half from what we lovingly call the Echo Ranch Village in town. Now we live in the Echo Ranch Village. We are in an a-frame style house now that offers us more room and convenience to our jobs. The camp's in town office is located in the basement of our house. We have really enjoyed living here so far. We are literally about 100 yards from the water and harbor. It has been fun to see the boats come in to dock. We also enjoy awesome views of the mountains.

Eli has made the transition pretty well. He has been doing well. He goes for his check up next week and we think he probably weighs at least 25 pounds now. He is so big that he won't be taking any more baths in the sink from now on. Last time I gave him a bath he pooped! It looked like one of those Play-Doh extractors from the past!! Jessica was nearly in tears laughing!

I have been busy working on the next Friends of Echo Ranch newsletter. It has been fun to put it together. This one is pretty easy. Jessica has been busy with business stuff. That takes up a lot of time as she is trying to change some things in order to improve the way we do things at camp,

The weather has been nice this week. I think we have seen the worst of this season's snow, but you can never tell for sure.

It is so beautiful here. We feel blessed to live here. Where else can you see the majesty of the mountains, the vastness of the ocean and free-spiritedness of eagles soaring on high! It is awesome!!

Alaskan Winter Wonderland

Hello again,

Well, winter has come in with full force these past two weeks. We now have about a foot of snow blanketing the Alaska ground around us. It is really pretty to look at, but not much fun to shovel. I would say it is good exercise though!! I think there is still snow forecasted for the rest of the weekend as well. Maybe we will get our snow shoes out and go for a little hike! I took Eli out last week for some pictures in the snow and he really did well. I think he really likes the stuff! I guess he would though since he is a born Alaskan!

We had our winter meetings earlier this month and they went very well. We discussed planning and personnel issues amongst other things. The in-town coordinator job was up for grabs this year and I have decided to take it. The job includes being the hospitality person who will meet people at the airport and ferry terminal and make them feel comfortable. I will also be responsible for touring them around town and showing them the sights. Another job will be doing all of the grocery shopping for camp each week as well as doing other shopping errands for people out at camp. I will also act as office manager answering many of the calls that come through during the year. This will probably be my least favorite part of the job for me, but it should be a good challenge for me. I will also be in charge of maintaining the camp's in-town dormitory. I will also act as a liason to workteams, area coordinators, retreat groups and school groups. It is going to be a busy year for me. I will miss working as the Wilderness Program Director, but I am looking forward to this new challenge and I know God will give me the abilities I need to do a good job.

Jessica will continue her duties as the financial director of the camp. That will now include doing all of the bookkeeping. She will be able to do these jobs from in town. She will be giving up the Trading Post job that she has had in the past. She will miss the interaction with campers she had through that job.

We will be moving to a new house for us in late February. It is the house that also contains the camp's in-town office. That will be very convenient for our jobs and we are very excited about the move. It will be a much larger space than the place we live in now and will give Eli a little more room to run around in...when he starts to walk!!!!

Speaking of Eli, he is doing fine. He sleeps through the night and is generally a very happy baby. At his last check up he weighed in at just over 20 lbs. at just five months! He's a big one!!! We are anxiously waiting for him to roll over. He comes pretty close to it, but has a chubby arm to overcome first!!!

One of the things that were determined at our winter meetings was that the new lodge project would begin this summer. It is a very exciting project for us. It will enable to enhance our abilities to witness to the people of Southeast Alaska. You can see more at the link to the right.

We are also excited that Jess's brother and family will coming to Echo Ranch this summer as summer volunteers. He will serve as the camp pastor for the summer. He'll do a great job. His wife and kids will help around the camp wherever they can. The kids are counting the days until they get here!!

Alaska is a great place to be!!!!

My First Thanksgiving (3 Months)

Hi,

Here I am at my first Thanksgiving! In this picture I am in Georgia and looking pretty sharp in my derby aren't I?

Eli

A New Year in Alaska

Hello from Alaska! We arrived in Alaska on Wednesday after enjoying two months on the "Elijah Arrives" tour of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Washington and Mississippi! What a whirlwind it was! He was great through it all. He is quite the traveler. Having said that though, we are very happy too be back in Alaska in our own home.

Our flight home was a bit of an adventure. We flew out of Chicago where we were told we were going to be leaving late which would probably make us late for our connection in Seattle. We did leave about an hour late, but luckily the flight in Seattle was also late so we went straight from one plane to the other. We were to have a quick stop in Ketchikan before going on to Juneau. When we landed in Ketchikan we were told that our flight was terminating in Ketchikan due to "freezing fog" in Juneau. Only in Alaska!!!!! That was a pain for us since we had so much luggage. I forgot to say that there were three of our friends and co-workers on the plane too. We all stayed at our camp director's apartment for the night, so that was a good thing. We finally made it to Juneau the next day in time to start our Winter Planning meetings for the coming camp season at camp. Those three days passed quickly and here we are today relaxing for a change and unpacking! Eli is loving it as are we!!! We are happy to be here again and are looking forward to what the next year holds for us.