HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

(Please ignore any typos....my fingers tend to think faster than my brain, and it would be a lot to proof read) :)

Greetings from sunny Colorado!

Wow, we can't belive it's been soo long since we've been able to update our blog! Sorry for such a long delay- while we were up in Alaska we were able to check our e-mail, but for some reason whenever I (Lacey) tried to update this blog it wouldn't let me! So, now for some of you, there is LOTS to catch up on! For those of you who have facebook, you know I keep that quite updated. :) So, for the sake of time, we will get you "up to date" on our lives and post a few pics on here. But I'll also attach a couple links, so that you can look at some more pictures if you want.

Ok, let's rewind about like 7 MONTHS!

We headed up to Alaska June 1st from Washington State with 2 big suitcases each, a carry-on suitcase each, and a few small carry-ons! What a crazy nightmare trying to pack the suitcases to weigh less than 50 lbs!

Well, this is all we had for 6 months.

When we arrived, we had ONE day how to learn how to run a radio station!? Scary? yes. Impossible? Seemed so, but with God nothing is impossible! We made it through. We learned a lot while we were there at the radio station for 6 months. It was actually pretty fun once we got the hang of it. We both had never really done anything like that, and it was kind of strange hearing yourself! :)

The radio had 3 apartments in it as well! We lived in the three bedroom.

And for those of you who think we lived out in the "booneys"; here is proof that no, we didn't. :) Naknek isn't like your average Alaska village or anything. It is an town with an Ace Hardware, grocery store, Napa, etc.

Lacey at the radio!

This picture is fun! :) Working on the getting the cross down to paint. In July, we had a VBS/work come from Fergus Falls, MN. What a great group! It was so fun to have them. They stayed at the radio station, so we had 11 people there! What a party. :)

Here I am finishing up the sign for Hilltop that Mary, one of the ladies from the team started. Thank you Mary for starting it!

Another great view, this time from King Salmon; 15 miles down the road from Naknek.

And we had to post this, since you wouldn't believe us if we told you! We had a wonderful, abnormally warm summer!

Another one of Alaska's wildlife. He was pretty friendly and I should have had a carrot, but chances are he probably didn't even know what a carrot was.

Naknek's beautiful scenery.

On a 4-wheeler ride collecting rocks from the beach to use in front of the radio station for decoration. We got about 3/4th of done. I'm pretty sure it might stay that way for quite some time. :)

"Picking Fish"- Naknek is home the largest sockeye salmon run in the world and fishing in the summer is a HUGE thing there. There are 100's of fishing boats out on the water in June and July. Subsistance fishing is also big there as well, and almost every family puts a net out to catch salmon for their family. This is the Swanson's net. It was fun to go down to the beach and help every once in a while.

See all the fishing boats out there?

Our backyard- alder bushes, lots of "bouncy" tundra and some lakes or ponds. In the summer time there are wild blueberries and cranberries that grow out there.

An aerial view of one of the canneries.

The beach looking at the Naknek River and Peter Pan cannery.

And a look out how spendy things are! If you live in Naknek, chances are you wouldn't shop here for everything you need. Everyone barges food in, orders food in Anchorage and has it shipped there, flies to Anchorage, orders produce through fullcirclefarms.com, etc.........or all of the above! :)

Hilltop Christian Fellowship, the church that Jeremy had the first half of his internship at. What a great church family! I had the privelege of helping teach Sunday School. It was sad to say goodbye to "my" kids.

Besides being at the Naknek church and flying over to South Naknek, Jeremy did several trips in the Cessna, flying a Baptist pastor to a village called "Ekwok." If you think that name is strange try Egegik, Igiugik, New Stuyahok, Illiamna, Chignik..................... :)

It was really neat to see the unity in Naknek. As "visitors/new comers" it seemed that the churches really worked well together. And here Jeremy was going to a Free Lutheran Seminary, but flying a Baptist pastor around. What a blessing.

Ok. Think of the friendliest people you know. Got it? Sorry, you're wrong. Here are some of the friendliest people I know! This is half of the Sherman "tribe", a wonderful Christian family we had the privelage to meet. (left to right: Maica (pronounced like Micah), Eseta (mom), and Aniva.

And this is their coffee shop "The Heart of the Shire." We visited their a lot, for the coffee yes, but also for their wonderful fellowship! The give great hugs too! Shermans, we miss you!!!

This is Edgar the eagle. He was very interested in the camera. The wildlife in Alaska is awesome!

Beautiful Alaska sunset- you can't beat them! This is still summer time, so this sunset was at about 11 pm. :) Strange.

In September, we were able to take a trip of a lifetime to Katmai National Park/Brooks Camp. The only way to get there is by float plane or boat (we did boat). It was a colder day, but it was a BEAUTIFUL day! The scenery there was amazing, and we say about 30 bears! Some close and personal!

Katmai National Park where they have rocks that float. (pumice stones)

This bear was chasing down a salmon that was flopping in the river. (He got it by the way) In June, the salmon are trying to go upstream, so if you ever see a pictures of a bear catching "jumping" salmon, most likely it's here at Brooks Falls. When we went all the salmon are at the send of their spawning season, so they are red colored and really mushy. The bears don't seem to mind though, as they are getting their fill before winter. It was such an adreniline rush to be so close (at one point, about 10 feet accidently) to a bear, but they are so used to people there and are just wanting to eat that they pretty much ignore you. Still, it felt like you were in a zoo......oh, but without the bars. There were some observation decks though.

KAKN radio tower on a beautiful BLUE sky day!


In November Dary and Anna came to visit us! It was a lot of fun to have friends come visit! In September we had both of our moms come visit as well! Great times :) (not sure why this pic is small and blurry)

Jeremy with the plane he flew quite a bit. He was a happy camper! He's having quite the withdrawals here in Colorado, especially when he sees planes flying on clear days (which are many)

A couple days before we left we had a Thanksgiving dinner over at South Naknek. Every Sunday there would be a service over there as well as in Naknek. It made for a fun, BUSY day! :)

Left to right: Brian Davidson (station manager), Pastor Jeff , daughter Hope, wife Jane, daughter Abby and us.

This was the sad morning of our departure. We had quite the goodbye crew! We felt so loved! It was so sad to say goodbye and we wish everyone a lot! Looking at these pictures are bittersweet.

After we left Naknek, we headed home to Washington for about two weeks to collect some more of our belongings and jumped in the Honda to head to Loveland, CO. We're going to be here for the second half of Jeremy's internship until the middle of May. We're working with a smaller church here, which is nice. We were able to meet people quickly. They are a very friendly congregation. Jeremy has been busy being in the office and doing visitation. We got here December 12th and had a great Christmas with some of Jeremy's family. The 26th my (Lacey) parents came via a longer route to California. :) They stayed for a week. It was fun to have them!



Sculpture Gardens with Lacey's parents

While we have been here we have seen a lot of wildlife as well. It's a really beautiful area, and we're happy to be around mountains once again! We're getting spoiled! We took a trip about an hour away up to Estes Park to celebrate my dad's birthday, January 2nd.


Fox in our backyard!


Bighorn Sheep in Estes Park. We also went to Rocky Mountain National Park and saw TONS of Elk, a coyote and lots of Mule Deer.

Jeremy's cousins Jeff and Renee have this awesome antique cabin in Estes we stayed in with my parent's!

We have been enjoying our time in Colorado as well. It's been a little difficult moving once again and meeting new people. But we're thankful for everyone here and those who have made us feel welcome. We are living in a very nice house owned by a couple in the congregation. It's been such a blessing to be so well cared for everywhere we've lived. We would continue to appreciate your prayers! Here's a few things you could be praying for:

*Jeremy as he continues on this time of internship. He is preaching every other Sunday, so stays busy with sermon preparation.

*Guidance on what God would like myself to do while here. I may have a possible part-time nanny job, but if that doesn't work out we'll see what God has in mind. :)

*Travel as we head to Minnesota for a week on Sunday! There will be a few interviews that the seminarians on internship go to as well as the Pastor's Conference. And it will be great to see good friends!

*Direction for the future. We really enjoyed our time in Alaska, but are trying to decide if we will head back up there in the future or what God has planned. Graduation is approaching fast!

*Alaska- the missionaries up there, people, safety, etc.

Thank you for your prayers! We appreciate it so much! Here's a few links, if you didn't get enough picture looking:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=316458&id=641840503&l=fc2747d10d

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=318650&id=641840503&l=b2f53e4c4e

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=281678&id=641840503&l=7a29b3c406

"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"