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!!