Two is More Than One

Hello! We hope you are all doing well. We pray that the Easter season was a time of family and fun times as well as a time to rejoice for the gift of life Christ gave us at the cross.
We are doing well. We are in count down mode now until Jess gives birth to our second child. He/she is due April 27 and we are very excited about the new arrival. Jess has felt well the entire pregnancy. Eli says with authority that the baby will be a little sister so maybe he knows something we don't! I'm sure whatever sex the baby is he or she will be a great blessing to us. Two is definitely more than one. I'll have to find a new name for our space here!
Eli is growing and learning more each day. His vocabulary is amazing to us. He has endless energy and really keeps us on our toes. He is in his 'terrible twos" so he is sometimes a challenge, but overall he is a good little boy most of the time.
Tomorrow is April 1, 2008. That means in 24 days Echo Ranch will host its first retreat of this year's camping season. That's exciting for us! It's a little hard to imagine since there is still 2-3 feet of snow on the ground out there. This time of year is always exciting for the staff, because we know that what the Lord does here at camp changes peoples lives forever. It is feels wonderful to be a part of what He has planned for this season!
I recently had the opportunity to give my testimony at a luncheon for home school kids here in Juneau. I enjoyed this opportunity to share very much. Afterward I found out that one of the home school kids had actually recommended me for this speaking engagement! He had been one of my campers several years ago when I was in charge of the Wilderness Program at camp. It was very affirming to know that something I had done at camp had some lasting meaning in a child's life. I felt truly blessed and honored. It is awesome to know that God can use you to impact other's lives even when you don't realize it!

Winter in Juneau

When we returned from the lower-48 in January we were quickly reminded that we were back in the greta white north. Lots of snow! We've gotten used to it now and it isn't so bad. They keep the highways plowed off well, so we are always able to get out and go places to relieve our cabin fever that we sometimes feel with a 2 year-old. Alaska is a always a beautiful place, but even more so when it is iced with snow. Eli of course, loves the snow and can't really get enough of it. He especially loves to eat the foot long icycles that grow off the side of our house. He dips them into the snow for a little extra flavor! He went sledding with me recently and he would go down the hill all by himself! He's pretty fearless about most things. He's a cute one. His vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. He is also a speller. He spells out every word he sees! He knows all of his alphabet, numbers up to about 15 and shapes and loves to point them out to you. He makes us happy every day!

We are also anxiously awaiting the birth of his new sibling. We don't know what sex it will be. Jess is due in April and everything is gone fine so far. It has been a very active baby inside of her so far. Sometimes you can see Jess's belly move and it is a little like something out of an Alien movie!!!

Jess remains busy with doing business type stuff for camp and I have been busy getting brochures of camp out to just about everyone I can think of. This is a slower time of the year for us, but it less than 2 months things will start hopping again for us with camp and a new baby!!

14000 Miles, Baby News and Frankinsence

Hi and happy 2008 to all of you,

This fall Jess, Eli and I went on furlough down south to the lower-48. Jess and Eli flew down in August and I drove back in September. We ultimately drove about 14000 miles in all. Jess and Eli flew back two weeks ago and I drove back from Ohio with my father-in-law Bob. He and I drove to Seattle and caught a 2 1/2 day ferry trip up to Juneau. It was a good time for both of us. It was great to finally get back to Juneau and get back into our normal routines. We feel blessed to have had the opportunity to vosit our supporting churches, many of our supporters, friends and family.

Jess is pregnant and we are expecting this child to free itself from its warm cocoon in late April or early May. We are excited about it. Eli still isn't quite sure about what's happening, but I guess he will figure it out soon enough.

He is doing well. His vocabulary has grown in leaps and bounds. He even says frankinsence with much confidence!!!

The snow in Juneau this winter has been much less than last year. I have to admit, I kinda miss it!

We had our camp winter meetings last week. It went very well and now we all move into the planning mode for summer 2008. It'll be here before you know it!!!