"May Happenings!"

Hello friends and family,
It's been quite a while since we have written to give everyone an update; but I think now it will become more frequent. Check back every once in a while and maybe even add our blog to your "favorites" :)

There has been quite a bit that I (Lacey) have written the past week or so to get everyone caught up...

The most recent thing for those who haven't heard...We're moving to Alaska for 6 months! Jeremy is on his last and final week of seminary next week! Crazy huh? He finished his last homework assignment literally 71/2 hours ago. We had a garage sale last weekend and now that we got rid of the stuff we don't want, we're trying to organize our life and pack the things we do want both for Alaska and "mystery church"!

We'll be headed "home" to Washington approx. May 18th, most likely in a car and a Uhaul to stay with my parents for a little bit until we head up to Alaska June 1st!

We will be going up to the Naknek/ King Salmon area (see star on map for location) for Jeremy's internship year in seminary. He will be working under Pastor Jeff Swanson June 1st-Nov. 31st. It should be a fun, interesting and growing experience for us! There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but we're trying to depend on the Lord in everything as He leads. We're excited to see what happens.

As far as our 2nd half of the internship, that is yet to be decided; so be praying for us as we are trying to patiently wait this next week to find out. We should know soon........ It makes things interesting for packing and such; but it will all work out in the end!

Here's a few more pictures of Naknek just to give you an idea:

Here is a aerial photo looking at Naknek. See the 15 mile highway? Long road huh? Starts at the river and ends at a gravel road that leads to a lake. :)

This is the inside of the Naknek church that we will be working with. There is also a very small church just across the river in South Naknek as well.

Alaska isn't called "Land of the Midnight Sun" for nothing...this picture was taken a little bit after midnight in July. This will be something new to get used to! We will also be experiencing the many, many hours of darkness as well. We won't get a full taste of it as we'll only be up there until November....

Naknek is a HUGE fishing town. There are several canneries and there is constant salmon fishing during the summer. In fact, the town that is normally about 300-500 people swells to over 2,000!

This is Naknek's grocery store. There is also a "Trading co" which is basically a general store. As everything has to be shipped in, barged in, or flown in it costs about twice as much for things. We'll be stopping in Anchorage on the way to go grocery shopping and most likely ship a mass amount of things up there ;)

Naknek post office...funny, all the government office were in great condition.

I don't mind seeing a bear like this, but I will never get this close to a real one! We will have several opportunities to see brown bears and we have a gun "just in case" :-/ As there are several villages in Alaska and a wierd person on this picture, the appropriate quote for this picture is "Your village called; their idiot is missing"

2009 Happenings! ( and it's April already?!)

Hello from Minnesota where it finally seems to be warming up! We have had a few "teasing" snow falls in the recent pass, but we're hoping that it is finally spring! The lake is completely thawed and the ducks are enjoying it, so that's a good sign.

AFLC Chapel on Campus- Jeremy's classes are downstairs

Spring should be here! This was taken about two weeks ago, and the grass is even getting greener :)

This is the middle seminary housing unit that we live in. We are the third one from from left to right. We have good neighbors too. :)

Winter 2009-

Is it really the last semester of seminary already? Jeremy and I wonder that every once in a while. He has told several people that when he was in Aircraft Mechanic School the two years went by quite slowly; but the three years here at the AFLTS seminary has went a lot faster than we anticipated. Still we are excited to see where God will lead. (more on that later :) )

The winter months were full of snow, cold, work, school, and spending time with friend(particularly the Boes, our next door seminary neighbors, playing Settlers of Catan)

Lacey has really loved nannying for Daakon who will be 4 in five months. He is such a good little guy and has a great family. Her boss is more like a friend rather than a boss and is really flexible on when she needs time off, etc. Daakon and Lacey have had some fun adventures too and it's been nice to get out of the house and do things. He likes Jeremy too and loves playing with him. It will be very sad when we have to say goodbye in May.

Age 3

3 1/2 years

At the Minnesota Zoo

In addition to school, Jeremy has spent some time working with Paul Nash and Lavon Bohling on building an airpane. As I understand it, it is a "kit plane" that they are putting together that will be shared by Paul and Lavon. As Jeremy has his Mechanic's license, he is kind of "overseeing" it. I guess the plane has to be 51% amatuer built and only 49% "professionally" built (meaning, since Jeremy has his license he can't do it all) It seems to keep them busy and they are making good progress so far.

Last month (March) my parents stopped by Minneapolis for five days and spent time with us. It was a lot of fun to have them here in our home and be able to show them around the area. We took a trip up to Duluth as well. That ended up being a bit chilly, but it was there first time up there, so hopefully that made it worth it. I'm not sure what there impression was, as they enjoy the sunshine and warmth. :) It had been a pretty horrible winter in WA though, so hopefully that was worth it! When we were in WA for Christmas, there was more snow there than here in Minneapolis. Go figure! :)

The end of 2008 "happenings"

Fall 2008-
Jeremy's first sememster flew by... He has enjoyed his Senior year in Seminary and the classes he has been taking. This first semester he had Greek at 6:45 in the morning two days a week, so I don't think he was too thrilled about that. Still, the time has been enjoyable. I (Lacey) have also appreciated the time spent with other seminary wives through the "Seminettes" group that meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. We have been looking at a book called "Surrender" by Nancy LeDeMoss. I also was the secretary this year which kept me on my toes with all that went on.
In September, we were able to meet up with my parents and grandparents for a weekend in IL. It was a short time, but good to see them whenever we get a chance.

In November, we were so glad that Dary and Anna Finck were able to make it up here from NC for Thanksgiving. We spent half the time here in Minneapolis, but also headed up to Roseau where Jeremy's mom and step dad are. It is great that we were able to see Cal and Lori so much this year. Dary and Anna are still located in North Carolina. They are trying to get out of the military on medical discharge, but it is such a slow process with the military. Pray for them! And for continued healing for Dary as he was badly injured in Iraq a couple years ago.

For Christmas we headed out to Washington for about a week and a half. It was a busy time with so many to visit, but it was wonderful to be home and with my parents and grandparents again. We were blessed with a gift of a very nice camera (NIKON D40) that will be of a great use in Alaska and wherever else we head to.

And that sums up our 2008 year in a nutshell! :)