Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
More About Alaska - The Little Details I Don't Want to Forget
Did I tell you about how in the evening Heidi got the pitcher of water and cups, and stood outside the girls' tents so that they could all brush their teeth? I was just thinking about that the other day. The little things that happened during the day.
"Brother Billy" was always holding a cup, unless he was helping Pastor Terry with the boat. It was sort of like his signature!
More to add as I remember...
"Brother Billy" was always holding a cup, unless he was helping Pastor Terry with the boat. It was sort of like his signature!
More to add as I remember...
Monday, October 12, 2009
My Autobiography (Written in 1999)
My mom sent me an autobiography I wrote in 1999 for one of my college classes. Lots has happened since then... but I would like to share it with you (well part of it). My next blog will hopefully be 1999 to the present. I think family history is interesting. I am currently working on a extended family tree. Disclaimer: Please remember as you read that is this is coming for my point of view and the actual reality can be slightly scewed given my life experiences up until now. If written today I might have definately reworded some things...
Note: On 10.13.09 I edited it so that the privacy of my family is not jepordized.
Thursday, December 02, 1999 8:51 PM
My Autobiography
I am Abby Moore. I am nineteen years old and just experiencing the ending years of adolescence. The sources I have used were a conversation with my mother and by using my own memories.
I was born at 3:20 a.m. on Sunday (Mother’s Day), May 11, 1980 in Monroe, Michigan. My mother had planned on marrying my biological father, but had separated with him while she was still pregnant with me. Some other unusual circumstances concerning my birth was that my original due date happened to be April 30th. But my mom was glad that I waited because I made her a mother on Mother’s Day, and that would always be very special to her. She did not even know she was in labor when she went to the hospital. She felt like she had butterfly’s flittering in her stomach. When my mom told my Aunt Sue how she was feeling my aunt said that she could be in labor so they went to the hospital around midnight and 3 hours later God blessed her with me, in her eyes the “prettiest little baby girl in the world.” She said she hardly had any pain. Another unusual thing that happened was that her amniotic sac didn’t break inside of her. It started coming out of her before bursting on the table. Then out I came! My mother said, “Praise the Lord a million times!!!!!!!!”
General information about where I have lived especially during adolescence would be first 902 East Eighth St., Monroe, MI - this was my grandpa’s house. We lived there until I was about 2 months old. Second place was in an apartment on Front St., Monroe, MI - my mom was working for Wismer & Becker Electrical Contractors at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant in Newport, MI. We moved to this place when my mom went back to work after having me, we only stayed here about 2 months, during this time my mom met my dad, who is not my biological father. The third place was 1762 Steiner Rd., Monroe, MI - my dad, my mom, and I shared a home with a friend of my dad’s who built a very nice home and then his wife left him. As time went on and I was about 1 year old my parents decided that the environment was not too good for a child to be raised in, and decided to find a place closer to work. My dad and mom both worked at the Fermi. The fourth place was a very nice, quaint little place on a canal in Newport, MI. We only lived here until my dad got laid-off. The Fermi was almost completed and a lot of the contractors were leaving so my mom knew she was not too far behind him at getting laid-off also. That is when my dad moved up to the U.P (around November 1, 1981).
The fifth place was State Rd., Vulcan, MI - This was a log cabin house we rented from Dr. Mellon while he was in Florida for the winter. My dad moved out because by this time my parents both became Christians and knew it was not pleasing to God for them to live together until they were married (that was not going to happen until they got some things straightened out in their relationship. She said that she did not know if they had ever straightened everything out, but then she found out that she was pregnant with Sarah). My mom and I moved out in April 1982 when Doc Mellon came back to town. He was a very nice man and this was a great little house except this was when my mom learned what a wood tick is and would not go outside with me anymore. Sixth place was 713 Maple St., Norway, MI - this was a little apartment in a big white house. This is where we lived until my dad and mom got married on August 28th 1982. Seventh place was U.S. 2, Spread Eagle, WI -where I also eventually went to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, until we had our house set up in Randville. I was in first grade when I moved to the eighth place: Randville/Iron Mountain -established in 1987 until present, where I spent all of my adolescents until college at Evangel University.
Living in my home in Michigan is my mom and dad, the man who raised me just like his own, and my sister and brother-who biologically are my half-siblings, but to me are a whole part of me. I am the oldest child in my home. My sister is seventeen and my brother is fifteen.
During my adolescents my dad was in his later 40s and early 50s. He has worked hard as being a mechanic and truck driver. He is not much of a “family” man and does not have a strong bond with my other siblings or me. Him and my mother have not always been happy together, but have continued their marriage because they know as Christians that God does not like divorce. This situation has also had considerable affect on my family. My mom, after finishing her babysitting career, went into working in the human resources department at the same company as my dad and also worked hard-leaving us children home with more responsibilities. This is when I developed more “motherly” instincts towards my sister and brother. I am close to my mother and have seen ways that we lean on each other for comfort in times that we were struggling through emotional difficulties.
My sister and I are very different in our personalities, which made us often clash. She is defensive and stronger willed than I am. We have also been able to compromise, though, in some areas, and she has been a good counselor when I needed a realistic answer, not an idealistic one.
My brother, who is four years younger than me, and I have had some bonding times, but I have to find areas that he can relate. My brother has had some problems with his behavior and A. D. D., which has affected his relationship with our family. Because I was more sensitive and less demanding I was easy prey to be picked on and yet I was considered the “perfect” child, even when my sister was always doing more around the house for the family in the area of chores. With our sheltered life in a small community and strict discipline we have had hard times and good times that have caused us to grow maturely and together.
I approximately entered biological puberty when I was eleven years old. This was earlier than most of my classmates my age. The experience was scary and a mark of growing up, but both my family and I handled it well; my mother helped me through it. I think I was more maturely ready for it compared to some others, although it probably had a negative effect to my self-esteem.
Any serious illnesses or injuries other than breaking my collar bone when I was six, my wrist in second grade, chicken pox, spinal meningitis, and febrile seizures until I was 10 years old I was pretty healthy. I have also had a lot of respiratory problems such as sinuses aching, headaches, sore throats, hard breathing, and coughing. I got my tonsils our in twelfth grade -two weeks before I graduated. The older I get the more some of the problems get better.
I did not like my image as I grew up during adolescents. I have always been heavier than most of the other people my age and that I hung around or I was not happy with myself. I have been shorter than I wish and I would like to be taller so that I could look older and mature. These areas have always been difficult for me. My adolescent years were a very hard time for me. My self-esteem was very low and I was often depressed because of it. Looking back, even if high school is not that far back, I should have spent more time enjoying life instead of wasting it in trying to make my life better.
Intellectually I was always average in my class. I made a 3.86 on my final report card and was sixth in my class of forty-eight. I was not naturally smart, but had to work hard at my grades in harder situations. I was always considered to have wisdom in life applications and did not always have stimulating ideas in the world of academics, although I did well in Algebra and other math areas. I liked math the most, because I could understand it and follow the procedures. I did not like Chemistry, because some of the aspects were too confusing for me. I have participated in Missionettes at church, a girls Bible program, Student Council at school, a team of leaders to make a difference in my school, and Band that have aided me intellectually. I always wanted to finish high school in the upper rank of my class and go to college. I have wanted to finish college with a high interest and knowledge of my career choice. I wanted to know how to be successful in life on earth and as a Christian in ministry.
My school was K-12 grade, 500 students, class D in rank, and only provided the basic needs and had a lack of college preparatory classes. It was a rural low income/middle class (predominantly) area with not much racial differences; white was the majority, a few Hispanic, Asian, Indian, and less than a couple of African American origins. Due to the size of my school, intellectually I was not always challenged very much, which has caused some difficulties in college now. I got my intellectual growth mostly from my family, friends, and church. I was influenced only as much as they expected me to think more intellectually.
I was brought up as a perfectionist and so I always tried to do well at all that I did. My disposition during adolescence was a perfectionist and very passive with people. I always had to try to please people and had to act the best ways I knew how. I did not have much of a temper. I did not yell when I was mad. I was relaxed, but yet cautious in life. I did not like to take risks. I always tried to be the peace -maker in the house. I was always considered to have a good attitude about life and enjoyed smiling and laughing. Mostly friendly and easily able to laugh at situations, some things bothered me more than other things and easily detected. My family always thought I was too nice to people and too sensitive about how others felt about me. My dad thought I was selfish and a brat. My whole family is different from each other, not as sensitive as me, but also perfectionist in some areas. My dad has a temper and very strong-willed, but also a perfectionist. My mom is a perfectionist and strong-willed, but also more sensitive about things. My sister has a temper and strong -willed, and easy going, but puts up guards with people and often keeps things inside. My brother has a hard time with people and often has to be the center of attention; he is also easy going, but puts up a guard and is hard to reach.
Activities such as the National Honor Society, Band, Student Council, S. A. D. D., church youth group and leadership in some of the classes, playing piano, and any of my other hobbies all contributed to my sense of self. Since Junior High I believe I have been more relaxed and strong -willed. I have become stronger in my self-worth and can take more responsibility, and have more leadership qualities. It has also been easier for me to become more stressed out, and I have more fears than I did then, but in other areas more relaxed.
Major growth issues for me psychologically/emotionally were meeting my biological father when I was in ninth grade, dealing with losses of loved ones either through death or moving away, and dealing with church growth and declining situations that effect the whole congregation. Other issues were responsibilities at home, my relationship with friends and family, and some other normal teen issues. My parents used an authoritarian style of parenting, but the older we got the more it became authoritative-a mix of both authoritarian and permissive. My relationship with my parents is not always good. My dad and I have often conflicted. My mother and I are close, but have had disagreements sometimes. My siblings have been hard on me, but are my friends, too. I love my family, even when we go through trials. I am also close to some of my aunts on my mother’s side. My Aunt Sherry, my mother’s younger sister, said “[Do not forget to mention] living with you all and how she used to sleep on my stomach at night or how I had to sleep holding a pillow for six months after you left, because I was so used to her sleeping with me, or how you couldn’t put pictures of me out at your new house in the UP, because it used to upset her because she missed me!” Recently I have become closer to my biological dad’s family and am constantly trying to build the relationship with them that I did not know growing up.
I have a hard time getting close to people besides my immediate family. I am friendly and do not have a hard time meeting new people, but I have a hard time with trust. I have a lot of friends, but very few are my “closest” friends. My “closest” friends have a heart for God and are willing to listen to my life issues. They also have shown strong trust in me and have given me encouragement to be who God wants me to be. I was only influenced negatively with my attitude when I spent a lot of time with them. Sometimes I needed just to be alone when we struggled with our personality differences. Positive influence came with our gifts rubbing off of each of us onto another. Many of my peers had respect for me because I returned to respect to them. I was often looked to for advice and got positive encouragement from those I helped.
Since I was little I always had this image of a perfect family and a fairy tale romance when I got older. I liked many guys who were nice, with a great personality, and sense of humor. It did not matter to me as much as other girls my age what they looked like on the outside. It all had to do with their heart. All my friends were in to dating, but I was not. I had male friends but that was all it was. I wanted to find the perfect man for me when God was ready for me and I did not want to go through all the dating hardships. When I was younger I was kind of shy around guys anyway. Guys did not start really being attracted to me until the summer after I graduated. Those guys were not my types, but were still my friends. I was satisfied with trying to make to college and to grow closer to God. I had a lot of hurts from my family and felt rejection by a lot of my peers, which made me hesitate in trying to pursue other “kinds” of relationships.
I was about one and a half years old when my parents became Christians. I continued to stay in the church they were converted in until now. I spent a lot of time at church. I became a true Christian when I was eight years old. I was water baptized when I was ten. I really found out how the Holy Spirit lives in me when I was fifteen. The church was like my second home. When I was old enough I taught many Sunday School classes for the younger children and helped out wherever needed. My family has always been in church whenever the doors where open. My parents made sure we were always at church no matter how hard it was at home. This influence has led me to want to become a Junior High Youth Pastor. I now help out with Youth Group whenever I am home. My strong stand on the truth of Jesus Christ is what leads me and keeps me going. Everything I have done growing up has influenced me in some way or another.
I have had a low self-esteem by the way my family has treated me, but I also have leadership skills because of their strong stands. I can give mature advice when needed, because of what my life was, and from observing other people and their lives. Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development explained my life well in his stages. During the stages of school age, adolescence, and young adult my life was similar. I would probably use the psychoanalytic theory the least, because I believe that everyone thinks differently and it is hard to measure me in some of the common defense mechanisms and the constructs of the personality. I would have probably used Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory, because it is interesting to know the results of observation of me and how my personality has developed similar to other models. Erikson studied other cultures and historical human figures. He saw human development as the interaction between genes and the environment surrounding in which we live (Dacey and Kenny. Adolescent Development. 51). Each of his eight stages marked a crisis that needed to be resolved before the person could go on. He believed the stages overlapped. It was said that his stages were a picture of the ideal, and that no one ever completed the stages perfectly (52). The school age stage between the ages of five and twelve was the stage of the industry versus inferiority crisis. Here the elementary children expanded from their family to their neighborhood. They try to please others and do not understand why things are necessary for their own good. During this stage it was hard for me to adventure out and meet new people, because I lived in a very small area and also I was close to my family. I was one to try to please the teacher and did not realize that being good was good for my own self, not just to receive the teacher’s appreciation. Some of this stage did overlap with the next stage of adolescence. The adolescence stage of Erikson’s theory, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, showed identity and repudiation versus identity confusion. The identity crisis usually was what caused adolescence to make major decisions about their identity, “a state in which one strives.”
I had a lot of trouble finding out who I really was. I had other people’s image of me, but I did not know my identity personally or what I was supposed to do in my life after high school. I had a hard time making decisions sometimes without someone’s help, which effected my actions in college. It was a big maturing time for me and was also carried on to my young adult years. Although I am in my beginning young adult years I am beginning to feel the stages of intimacy and solidarity versus isolation. I am have to learn how to relate to others, eventually my future mate, with my deepest hopes and fears in life and to accept another person’s need for intimacy in turn. This is hard when I am use to being alone and I have to learn to give up myself. To conclude, I would not like to go back to my adolescent years, but would have like to change them. I can only go on with my “stages” of life, only to build up who I am. My physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and spiritual development is normal and is unique to any other person my age. As Abigail Moore I am looking forward to the years ahead and happy to be able to use my past experiences to better myself and to help other adolescents go through life easier.
Note: On 10.13.09 I edited it so that the privacy of my family is not jepordized.
Thursday, December 02, 1999 8:51 PM
My Autobiography
I am Abby Moore. I am nineteen years old and just experiencing the ending years of adolescence. The sources I have used were a conversation with my mother and by using my own memories.
I was born at 3:20 a.m. on Sunday (Mother’s Day), May 11, 1980 in Monroe, Michigan. My mother had planned on marrying my biological father, but had separated with him while she was still pregnant with me. Some other unusual circumstances concerning my birth was that my original due date happened to be April 30th. But my mom was glad that I waited because I made her a mother on Mother’s Day, and that would always be very special to her. She did not even know she was in labor when she went to the hospital. She felt like she had butterfly’s flittering in her stomach. When my mom told my Aunt Sue how she was feeling my aunt said that she could be in labor so they went to the hospital around midnight and 3 hours later God blessed her with me, in her eyes the “prettiest little baby girl in the world.” She said she hardly had any pain. Another unusual thing that happened was that her amniotic sac didn’t break inside of her. It started coming out of her before bursting on the table. Then out I came! My mother said, “Praise the Lord a million times!!!!!!!!”
General information about where I have lived especially during adolescence would be first 902 East Eighth St., Monroe, MI - this was my grandpa’s house. We lived there until I was about 2 months old. Second place was in an apartment on Front St., Monroe, MI - my mom was working for Wismer & Becker Electrical Contractors at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant in Newport, MI. We moved to this place when my mom went back to work after having me, we only stayed here about 2 months, during this time my mom met my dad, who is not my biological father. The third place was 1762 Steiner Rd., Monroe, MI - my dad, my mom, and I shared a home with a friend of my dad’s who built a very nice home and then his wife left him. As time went on and I was about 1 year old my parents decided that the environment was not too good for a child to be raised in, and decided to find a place closer to work. My dad and mom both worked at the Fermi. The fourth place was a very nice, quaint little place on a canal in Newport, MI. We only lived here until my dad got laid-off. The Fermi was almost completed and a lot of the contractors were leaving so my mom knew she was not too far behind him at getting laid-off also. That is when my dad moved up to the U.P (around November 1, 1981).
The fifth place was State Rd., Vulcan, MI - This was a log cabin house we rented from Dr. Mellon while he was in Florida for the winter. My dad moved out because by this time my parents both became Christians and knew it was not pleasing to God for them to live together until they were married (that was not going to happen until they got some things straightened out in their relationship. She said that she did not know if they had ever straightened everything out, but then she found out that she was pregnant with Sarah). My mom and I moved out in April 1982 when Doc Mellon came back to town. He was a very nice man and this was a great little house except this was when my mom learned what a wood tick is and would not go outside with me anymore. Sixth place was 713 Maple St., Norway, MI - this was a little apartment in a big white house. This is where we lived until my dad and mom got married on August 28th 1982. Seventh place was U.S. 2, Spread Eagle, WI -where I also eventually went to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, until we had our house set up in Randville. I was in first grade when I moved to the eighth place: Randville/Iron Mountain -established in 1987 until present, where I spent all of my adolescents until college at Evangel University.
Living in my home in Michigan is my mom and dad, the man who raised me just like his own, and my sister and brother-who biologically are my half-siblings, but to me are a whole part of me. I am the oldest child in my home. My sister is seventeen and my brother is fifteen.
During my adolescents my dad was in his later 40s and early 50s. He has worked hard as being a mechanic and truck driver. He is not much of a “family” man and does not have a strong bond with my other siblings or me. Him and my mother have not always been happy together, but have continued their marriage because they know as Christians that God does not like divorce. This situation has also had considerable affect on my family. My mom, after finishing her babysitting career, went into working in the human resources department at the same company as my dad and also worked hard-leaving us children home with more responsibilities. This is when I developed more “motherly” instincts towards my sister and brother. I am close to my mother and have seen ways that we lean on each other for comfort in times that we were struggling through emotional difficulties.
My sister and I are very different in our personalities, which made us often clash. She is defensive and stronger willed than I am. We have also been able to compromise, though, in some areas, and she has been a good counselor when I needed a realistic answer, not an idealistic one.
My brother, who is four years younger than me, and I have had some bonding times, but I have to find areas that he can relate. My brother has had some problems with his behavior and A. D. D., which has affected his relationship with our family. Because I was more sensitive and less demanding I was easy prey to be picked on and yet I was considered the “perfect” child, even when my sister was always doing more around the house for the family in the area of chores. With our sheltered life in a small community and strict discipline we have had hard times and good times that have caused us to grow maturely and together.
I approximately entered biological puberty when I was eleven years old. This was earlier than most of my classmates my age. The experience was scary and a mark of growing up, but both my family and I handled it well; my mother helped me through it. I think I was more maturely ready for it compared to some others, although it probably had a negative effect to my self-esteem.
Any serious illnesses or injuries other than breaking my collar bone when I was six, my wrist in second grade, chicken pox, spinal meningitis, and febrile seizures until I was 10 years old I was pretty healthy. I have also had a lot of respiratory problems such as sinuses aching, headaches, sore throats, hard breathing, and coughing. I got my tonsils our in twelfth grade -two weeks before I graduated. The older I get the more some of the problems get better.
I did not like my image as I grew up during adolescents. I have always been heavier than most of the other people my age and that I hung around or I was not happy with myself. I have been shorter than I wish and I would like to be taller so that I could look older and mature. These areas have always been difficult for me. My adolescent years were a very hard time for me. My self-esteem was very low and I was often depressed because of it. Looking back, even if high school is not that far back, I should have spent more time enjoying life instead of wasting it in trying to make my life better.
Intellectually I was always average in my class. I made a 3.86 on my final report card and was sixth in my class of forty-eight. I was not naturally smart, but had to work hard at my grades in harder situations. I was always considered to have wisdom in life applications and did not always have stimulating ideas in the world of academics, although I did well in Algebra and other math areas. I liked math the most, because I could understand it and follow the procedures. I did not like Chemistry, because some of the aspects were too confusing for me. I have participated in Missionettes at church, a girls Bible program, Student Council at school, a team of leaders to make a difference in my school, and Band that have aided me intellectually. I always wanted to finish high school in the upper rank of my class and go to college. I have wanted to finish college with a high interest and knowledge of my career choice. I wanted to know how to be successful in life on earth and as a Christian in ministry.
My school was K-12 grade, 500 students, class D in rank, and only provided the basic needs and had a lack of college preparatory classes. It was a rural low income/middle class (predominantly) area with not much racial differences; white was the majority, a few Hispanic, Asian, Indian, and less than a couple of African American origins. Due to the size of my school, intellectually I was not always challenged very much, which has caused some difficulties in college now. I got my intellectual growth mostly from my family, friends, and church. I was influenced only as much as they expected me to think more intellectually.
I was brought up as a perfectionist and so I always tried to do well at all that I did. My disposition during adolescence was a perfectionist and very passive with people. I always had to try to please people and had to act the best ways I knew how. I did not have much of a temper. I did not yell when I was mad. I was relaxed, but yet cautious in life. I did not like to take risks. I always tried to be the peace -maker in the house. I was always considered to have a good attitude about life and enjoyed smiling and laughing. Mostly friendly and easily able to laugh at situations, some things bothered me more than other things and easily detected. My family always thought I was too nice to people and too sensitive about how others felt about me. My dad thought I was selfish and a brat. My whole family is different from each other, not as sensitive as me, but also perfectionist in some areas. My dad has a temper and very strong-willed, but also a perfectionist. My mom is a perfectionist and strong-willed, but also more sensitive about things. My sister has a temper and strong -willed, and easy going, but puts up guards with people and often keeps things inside. My brother has a hard time with people and often has to be the center of attention; he is also easy going, but puts up a guard and is hard to reach.
Activities such as the National Honor Society, Band, Student Council, S. A. D. D., church youth group and leadership in some of the classes, playing piano, and any of my other hobbies all contributed to my sense of self. Since Junior High I believe I have been more relaxed and strong -willed. I have become stronger in my self-worth and can take more responsibility, and have more leadership qualities. It has also been easier for me to become more stressed out, and I have more fears than I did then, but in other areas more relaxed.
Major growth issues for me psychologically/emotionally were meeting my biological father when I was in ninth grade, dealing with losses of loved ones either through death or moving away, and dealing with church growth and declining situations that effect the whole congregation. Other issues were responsibilities at home, my relationship with friends and family, and some other normal teen issues. My parents used an authoritarian style of parenting, but the older we got the more it became authoritative-a mix of both authoritarian and permissive. My relationship with my parents is not always good. My dad and I have often conflicted. My mother and I are close, but have had disagreements sometimes. My siblings have been hard on me, but are my friends, too. I love my family, even when we go through trials. I am also close to some of my aunts on my mother’s side. My Aunt Sherry, my mother’s younger sister, said “[Do not forget to mention] living with you all and how she used to sleep on my stomach at night or how I had to sleep holding a pillow for six months after you left, because I was so used to her sleeping with me, or how you couldn’t put pictures of me out at your new house in the UP, because it used to upset her because she missed me!” Recently I have become closer to my biological dad’s family and am constantly trying to build the relationship with them that I did not know growing up.
I have a hard time getting close to people besides my immediate family. I am friendly and do not have a hard time meeting new people, but I have a hard time with trust. I have a lot of friends, but very few are my “closest” friends. My “closest” friends have a heart for God and are willing to listen to my life issues. They also have shown strong trust in me and have given me encouragement to be who God wants me to be. I was only influenced negatively with my attitude when I spent a lot of time with them. Sometimes I needed just to be alone when we struggled with our personality differences. Positive influence came with our gifts rubbing off of each of us onto another. Many of my peers had respect for me because I returned to respect to them. I was often looked to for advice and got positive encouragement from those I helped.
Since I was little I always had this image of a perfect family and a fairy tale romance when I got older. I liked many guys who were nice, with a great personality, and sense of humor. It did not matter to me as much as other girls my age what they looked like on the outside. It all had to do with their heart. All my friends were in to dating, but I was not. I had male friends but that was all it was. I wanted to find the perfect man for me when God was ready for me and I did not want to go through all the dating hardships. When I was younger I was kind of shy around guys anyway. Guys did not start really being attracted to me until the summer after I graduated. Those guys were not my types, but were still my friends. I was satisfied with trying to make to college and to grow closer to God. I had a lot of hurts from my family and felt rejection by a lot of my peers, which made me hesitate in trying to pursue other “kinds” of relationships.
I was about one and a half years old when my parents became Christians. I continued to stay in the church they were converted in until now. I spent a lot of time at church. I became a true Christian when I was eight years old. I was water baptized when I was ten. I really found out how the Holy Spirit lives in me when I was fifteen. The church was like my second home. When I was old enough I taught many Sunday School classes for the younger children and helped out wherever needed. My family has always been in church whenever the doors where open. My parents made sure we were always at church no matter how hard it was at home. This influence has led me to want to become a Junior High Youth Pastor. I now help out with Youth Group whenever I am home. My strong stand on the truth of Jesus Christ is what leads me and keeps me going. Everything I have done growing up has influenced me in some way or another.
I have had a low self-esteem by the way my family has treated me, but I also have leadership skills because of their strong stands. I can give mature advice when needed, because of what my life was, and from observing other people and their lives. Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development explained my life well in his stages. During the stages of school age, adolescence, and young adult my life was similar. I would probably use the psychoanalytic theory the least, because I believe that everyone thinks differently and it is hard to measure me in some of the common defense mechanisms and the constructs of the personality. I would have probably used Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory, because it is interesting to know the results of observation of me and how my personality has developed similar to other models. Erikson studied other cultures and historical human figures. He saw human development as the interaction between genes and the environment surrounding in which we live (Dacey and Kenny. Adolescent Development. 51). Each of his eight stages marked a crisis that needed to be resolved before the person could go on. He believed the stages overlapped. It was said that his stages were a picture of the ideal, and that no one ever completed the stages perfectly (52). The school age stage between the ages of five and twelve was the stage of the industry versus inferiority crisis. Here the elementary children expanded from their family to their neighborhood. They try to please others and do not understand why things are necessary for their own good. During this stage it was hard for me to adventure out and meet new people, because I lived in a very small area and also I was close to my family. I was one to try to please the teacher and did not realize that being good was good for my own self, not just to receive the teacher’s appreciation. Some of this stage did overlap with the next stage of adolescence. The adolescence stage of Erikson’s theory, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, showed identity and repudiation versus identity confusion. The identity crisis usually was what caused adolescence to make major decisions about their identity, “a state in which one strives.”
I had a lot of trouble finding out who I really was. I had other people’s image of me, but I did not know my identity personally or what I was supposed to do in my life after high school. I had a hard time making decisions sometimes without someone’s help, which effected my actions in college. It was a big maturing time for me and was also carried on to my young adult years. Although I am in my beginning young adult years I am beginning to feel the stages of intimacy and solidarity versus isolation. I am have to learn how to relate to others, eventually my future mate, with my deepest hopes and fears in life and to accept another person’s need for intimacy in turn. This is hard when I am use to being alone and I have to learn to give up myself. To conclude, I would not like to go back to my adolescent years, but would have like to change them. I can only go on with my “stages” of life, only to build up who I am. My physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and spiritual development is normal and is unique to any other person my age. As Abigail Moore I am looking forward to the years ahead and happy to be able to use my past experiences to better myself and to help other adolescents go through life easier.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
My Next Adventures and Freedom
I'm a daydreamer. I constantly think about places I would like to visit in the future, but I also know that the likelyhood of me going there would be highly unlikely. I made it to Alaska, and who knows what possibilities are ahead for me!? I always feel that there is something more I should be doing in life but I haven't figured it out (I know I want to be married and have my own family some day). Some things in life are just dreams and some things are actually all part of God's plan. We never know where He is going to take us, but we must trust Him!
My trip to Alaska was part of a dream come true and I know I will go back. (What I really want to see someday is the whales- killer whales and humpback!) God made a way for me to go. Most important are His people! When God gives you direction you have to follow Him! I've also been to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and New Orleans, Louisiana on mission trips that God has provided and asked me to go.
Some other places I would like to go are: to Sweden to visit a sweet friend from North Central University; to Norway to visit another friend from North Central University; to some of the European countries to see the beautiful countrysides and castles - places like the Westminister Abbey where William Wilberforce is buried, the home of the von Trapp family in Salzburg, the Berlin Wall, and other historical monuments; to Macedonia to visit with the gypsies; to Africa's highest mountain peak Mount Kilimanjaro (mentioned in the song "Burn for You" by Toby Mac); to Machu Picchu in Peru, built by the Incas (can even ride a train when visiting), while also visiting my Compassion Sponsor Child; and various historical sites in the U.S., including Gettysburg. I love history - especially U.S. history of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War (though it makes me so sad).
My trip to Alaska was part of a dream come true and I know I will go back. (What I really want to see someday is the whales- killer whales and humpback!) God made a way for me to go. Most important are His people! When God gives you direction you have to follow Him! I've also been to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and New Orleans, Louisiana on mission trips that God has provided and asked me to go.
Some other places I would like to go are: to Sweden to visit a sweet friend from North Central University; to Norway to visit another friend from North Central University; to some of the European countries to see the beautiful countrysides and castles - places like the Westminister Abbey where William Wilberforce is buried, the home of the von Trapp family in Salzburg, the Berlin Wall, and other historical monuments; to Macedonia to visit with the gypsies; to Africa's highest mountain peak Mount Kilimanjaro (mentioned in the song "Burn for You" by Toby Mac); to Machu Picchu in Peru, built by the Incas (can even ride a train when visiting), while also visiting my Compassion Sponsor Child; and various historical sites in the U.S., including Gettysburg. I love history - especially U.S. history of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War (though it makes me so sad).
See Killer Whales in Alaska and ride the train; go Parasailing or hang-gliding; Downhill Skiing without falling; to Moscow, Russia; to China; visit the Amazon Rain Forest. Go to American Historical Cites- like Mount Rushmore, Gettysburg, Washington, DC, etc. See the Rocky Mountains and Yellowstone Park.
Recently I heard a friend talk about Glacier National Park. Glacier National Park is located in the U.S. state of Montana, bordering the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia to the North and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation to the East. Glacier National Park contains two mountain ranges (sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains), which are sometimes referred to as the southern extension of the Canadian Rockies. The park encompasses over 1 million acres, with 300 lakes (130 of which are definitively named), more than 1,100 different species of vascular plants, 400 species of moss and hundreds of species of animals. Nowhere on the North American continent are the prairies of the Great Plains so proximal to the temperate rain forests of the Pacific Northwest. This vast pristine ecosystem, spread across 1,584 mi² (4,101 km²), is the centerpiece of what has been referred to as the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem", a region of protected land encompassing 16,000 mi² (44,000 km²).[1] The famed Going-to-the-Sun Road, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, traverses through the heart of the park and crosses the Continental Divide, allowing visitors breathtaking views of the rugged Lewis and Livingston mountain ranges, as well as dense forests, alpine tundra, waterfalls and two large lakes. Along with the Going-to-the-Sun Road, five historic hotels and chalets are listed as National Historic Landmarks, and a total of 350 locations are on the National Register of Historic Places.
I would like to visit Annapolis, MD for the U. S. Sailboat Show (also, location of the Naval Academy). I would love to see the coast of Maine and see the Niagara Falls. I would like to see the Red Wood Forest of Washington/California.
Maybe it is because these places represent freedom and have breathtaking views of God's beautiful creation! I discovered that I am an ISFP personality. ISFPs are found in about 6 percent of the general population. The best name for this type is free spirit, for they have an intense need for freedom. The lyric, “I was born under a wandering star…” might capture the spirit of the ISFP in this respect. The flower children of the 1960’s may have been largely ISFPs. With two hippies for parents it is no wonder I am this personality. There is a reason why the flower become the symbol for what the flower children wanted: Flowers are warm, alive, sweet, colorful, rhythmic, natural, absolute, needing no statement, no interpretation – a pure being-in-self. They are so fiercely independent and insistent that they live in and for the moment, in action, fully savoring the urges they feel and discharge, that others often find them difficult to comprehend or understand.
Funny to discover this and realize the difficulties I have had in life because I just wanted to be free and didn't know how to just be myself. At 29 years of life I'm finally getting it. Just waiting for the next adventure while I experience the GREAT ADVENTURE, and that is living a life with Heaven on my mind!! That is eternal freedom!
Note: This blog is definately does not make grammatical sense. It is just my deep thoughts... I apologize if I am all over the place. It is probably why I failed my college freshman English class - on top of the fact we had the worst English professor- his first and last year at Evangel!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Weston Karl Kramer
Visitation:Tuesday, August 11, 2009 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Community Church
2351 Ryf Road
Oshkosh, WI 54904
Service:
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:00 PM
Community Church
Above is a picture of Karl and Heather's family. Weston is the older boy with the beautiful blonde hair. Amelia, Hannah, Bethany, Weston, and baby Ian. Ian now has that beautiful blonde hair and is almost a year old. I got to hold him Thursday night at the hospital so his grandma could rest her arms. They have a beautiful family!
Weston Kramer, age 3, passed away Thursday, August 6, 2009 in Dickinson Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain, MI. On February 28, 2006 he was born in Oshkosh, the son of Karl and Heather (Palmer) Kramer. He was a member of the Community Church in Oshkosh.
His memory will be cherished by his parents: Karl and Heather Kramer; his sisters: Amelia, Hannah and Bethany; his brother: Ian all of Omro; his grandparents: Karl and Brenda Kramer of Felch, MI; Bob and Carol Palmer of Sagola, MI; his great-grandparents: Conrad and Molly Kramer of Sagola, MI and Don and Janet Lantz of Felch, MI; and his aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, August 11, 2009 in the Community Church, 2351 Ryf Road, Oshkosh, with Rev. Alan Cleveland officiating. Private committal services will be held. Friends may greet the family from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday in the church. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Weston's name to the Commmunity Church.
Fiss & Bills Funeral Home
865 S. Westhaven Dr.
920-235-1170
Thursday night, August 6, around 6pm I received a phone call to come to the hospital. It was my best friend from high school's dad. He said that Elesha and him had been in a terrible accident and that Elesha wanted me to be there. He wouldn't tell me what was going on until I got there. (This was difficult given that she had been in a terrible car accident with her father just a few years ago that left her in a wheel chair for two years! I wasn't sure what to think... I was hoping it was a joke!)
Elesha (Palmer) Freeman was home from Mount Pleasant, MI to help watch 4 of the 5 children belonging to her sister Heather and Karl Kramer at their parents' home in Sagola. Elesha brought her own three children to stay with the grandparents while her sister and her husband went on a youth group camping trip to the Porcupine Mountains.
When I got to the hospital I found out that Elesha's 3 year old nephew, Weston, had fallen from a slowly moving trailer hooked to a six wheeler and had died in-route to the hospital. They were coming down an ORV trail moving at a snail's pace, but with quite a few bumps. Elesha's father and his friend were up front on the six wheeler, and all the kids, with Elesha and the friend's wife, were sitting on the trailer in the back. Weston was sitting down and then all of a sudden he was off of the trailer. Because all the kids were tired they were laying down and didn't really see what had happened. All that Elesha knows is that he fell off the side where there was a slight railing. He hit his head really bad. (The story gets worse, but I'm not going to expand on details) Elesha and Bob rushed him as far as they could get to a phone to call 911 (they were out by Washburn Falls in Florence County with no cell reception and no land-line) and then he stopped breathing. Bob, the grandfather, did CPR until the ambulance came. He was gone by the time they got there. There was nothing anyone could have done with the injuries he had. It is so terribly sad!
I was in the hospital all night. I was glad to be there with my friends. I wouldn't want them to go through this alone. I have never experienced anything as tragic as this situation. Elesha and I have been best friends since 1rst grade. I was even in her wedding. I had just seen Weston on Tuesday and Wednesday night. He is a beautiful little boy! This was just a weird situation. Like a bad nightmare. It was like Jesus just took him away!
Please keep the family in your prayers during this difficult time. Thank you so much!
The funeral was like none other. Not a dry eye in the church that seats about 1,500. We had a time of worship and reflection on Weston's life. I miss Elesha already!
Friday, August 7, 2009
By: Aunt Sherry "My First Camping Trip"
My Aunt Sherry, my mom's second to the youngest sister, isn't the typical outdoors woman . BELIEVE ME!! She has lived in Alabama and Indiana for most of her adult life and prefers being indoors (away from thunderstorms and weird wildlife) - of course she keeps saying she wants to move up here! You have to read her story about her camping trip with her boyfriend Rick!! There are some parts you probably don't want to hear, but it is still hilarious!! She cracks me up!! I sure have a crazy family! She approved me posting this for my frequent audience.
Subject: My First Camping Trip (aka "The Moore Girls - Like It Or Not!" Ch. 1)
(WARNING: some of this is TMI (too much information))
I can't believe I actually went camping!!! How proud I am of myself.
First, we had to pick out the site. We drove around and finally picked out the perfect site. Number 74... A little secluded and far enough from the "potties" that we won't be bothered by that. They are in view but on the other side of the camping area. Perfect. I can just run across any time I want to.
We then proceeded to put up our brand new tent. At this point, I realized I am merely a woman the MAN should handle this. What made me realize this? When I asked Rick where the instructions were and he said "In my back pocket. I know how to do this. I've put up hundreds of tents". He proceeds to get out all of the equipment a man needs to put up a tent which consists of one hammer. He then hands me a little bag with tent stakes in them. They are rather bright, yellow plastic stakes. He then tells me to go around the tent and place a stake at each place there is a little round ring. Of course, I miss a couple which almost caused a paradox of the space time continuum forcing us to repack the tent and start all over again. (Wait a minute, I thought HE was supposed to do all this???)
He then proceeds to hammer in the stakes, with his brute force, he whomps them puppies with the force of Hercules! What a stud!!!
Now comes the razing of the tent. This of course is what separates the men from the boys. The mission: To get this tent up (by himself) without error, in one fail swoop that takes the strength and concentration of a real mountain man (almost sounds like an oxymoron, huh?).
So he hands ME the poles to put together. They snap together to make two very long flexible poles that criss-cross over the outside of the tent. Easy enough. Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap. Criss-cross... Okay, that part done...
Each end of the poles are supposed to slide over these little silver loopy looking things. Okay, that part done... Now the poles are being held up in the air by Mountain Man and now the hooks along the four corners of the tent need to be attached. As he is standing there holding these poles he says "Baby, can you help me here for a minute?" (uhhhh, and what have I been doing for last 1/2 hour? Hey, I thought I was just the eye-candy!!!)
So I go over and help him by holding the poles up as he starts to snap the corners of the tent to the poles. Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
He then realizes that there are some extra little things laying over there that he (we) haven't used yet and maybe he should pull out the instructions just to make sure it looks like the picture.
After a few grunts, groans and "why don't they make tents like they used to, they used to be so much easier!!!" we read the directions. WE realize that WE need to unsnap the tent from the poles (snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap) and run the poles through these big loops at the top to help hold it up. Then re-snap the tent to the poles (snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap).
So HE finally gets the tent up and the little tarp up and our little front door and it looks great. I proceed to tell him what a wonderful job he did. Now he's a PROUD Mountain Man!!!
We then proceeded to decorate our new love nest. Blow up mattress, and all... Unfortunately, we had the wrong mattress and it was a twin size. Ahhh, but ladies... Chivalry is not dead. He blew up the mattress and laid the foam pad we had also brought with us. He said he would sleep on the pad and I could have the mattress. How sweet is that. My sweet honey buns.
We decide we still have a few hours of daylight left so we get a boat and go fishing... As we are loading up the boat, some old fisherman came up and said, "Gonna go out there?" and we said "yep" and he said "Fronts coming in. Supposed to storm". Rick says, "Nah we checked the weather channel, supposed to be clear all weekend, no rain at all". We load up all our gear and get out about 1/2 way across the lake and feel rain drops. We then turn around and go back to the dock - all the while Rick is telling me not to look behind me. So trusting him as I do, I didn't look back. (Actually I thought he might be "marking his territory" in the lake and that is something I never have seen a man do and do not intend to witness for the rest of my life).
We get back to the dock and the reason he didn't want me to look back was because of this big black cloud that was coming our direction. Of course we didn't see this cloud when we first started out because it was hidden behind the tree line. The reason he told me not to turn around was he knows how scared I am of storms, he was afraid I would freak out. (Who, me? Freak out???) How sweet is that. My sweet honey buns.
We get back to the "love nest" just in time for the sky to turn black, the thunder boom and the lightening clash. The rain pouring down in buckets. But, the wind was pretty calm and actually it was rather soothing once I relaxed and took a deep breath. Mountain Man asked me if I wanted to pack up and leave and I said no, I am fine. He then promised he wouldn't let anything happen to me. How sweet is that. My sweet honey buns.
Then, as we are preparing to "kill some time" until the rain ends, we hear... DRIP, DRIP, DRIP... Mountain Man touches his head and says "Well crap! The tent leaks!!!". So the remainder of the night was trying to ditch the drips. The rain finally ended around midnight and it cooled off to a nice summer evening. Mountain Man fell asleep on his little egg-crate foam bed and I was all snuggled sound asleep on my air mattress. Then, in the wee hours of the morning, my poor little Mountain Man wakes me and says, honey can you scoot over and share your mattress with me? The foam bed is soaked and I'm freezing... How sweet is that. My sweet honey buns.
The next morning we were up well before the sun and man, did I have to tinkle!!! OMG!!! It is dark out and that port-a-potty thingy is all the way across the camping area and the only light is our flashlight. I don't think I can walk that far without having an accident. Mountain Man suggested I do like he did and go behind a tree. WHAT!!!! Out there???!!! Where things like spiders and ticks live!! And POISON IVY!!! Holy cow, do I really have to go that bad???? Maybe I can will it to go away. Nope, not working... The cool morning air is not making it any better!!!
Mountain Man says haven't you ever tried going standing up? I told him... Haven't you noticed that my equipment is a little different from yours. He said "I know that, but just spread your legs out real wide and go." Hmmmm... I might be able to do this. Mountain Man says, don't worry, I won't look. See? I'm turning around." Okay, Sherry, you can do this. Concentrate... Goodness, gracious me!!! So I pulled up my gown and spread my legs as far as I could (which is an amazing feat when standing on my feet!!!) The flood gates opened and all I could think was "Ahhhhhhhhhh".
After that, I knew the day couldn't get any worse. Actually it only got better. We found this neat little diner out in the middle of now-where and had a good breakfast, loaded up the boat and proceeded to catch a whole bucket full of fish.
Exhausted, sunburned and sore, I don't think there could have been a better, more romantic weekend in my life. I can't wait to do it again!!!
Subject: My First Camping Trip (aka "The Moore Girls - Like It Or Not!" Ch. 1)
(WARNING: some of this is TMI (too much information))
I can't believe I actually went camping!!! How proud I am of myself.
First, we had to pick out the site. We drove around and finally picked out the perfect site. Number 74... A little secluded and far enough from the "potties" that we won't be bothered by that. They are in view but on the other side of the camping area. Perfect. I can just run across any time I want to.
We then proceeded to put up our brand new tent. At this point, I realized I am merely a woman the MAN should handle this. What made me realize this? When I asked Rick where the instructions were and he said "In my back pocket. I know how to do this. I've put up hundreds of tents". He proceeds to get out all of the equipment a man needs to put up a tent which consists of one hammer. He then hands me a little bag with tent stakes in them. They are rather bright, yellow plastic stakes. He then tells me to go around the tent and place a stake at each place there is a little round ring. Of course, I miss a couple which almost caused a paradox of the space time continuum forcing us to repack the tent and start all over again. (Wait a minute, I thought HE was supposed to do all this???)
He then proceeds to hammer in the stakes, with his brute force, he whomps them puppies with the force of Hercules! What a stud!!!
Now comes the razing of the tent. This of course is what separates the men from the boys. The mission: To get this tent up (by himself) without error, in one fail swoop that takes the strength and concentration of a real mountain man (almost sounds like an oxymoron, huh?).
So he hands ME the poles to put together. They snap together to make two very long flexible poles that criss-cross over the outside of the tent. Easy enough. Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap. Criss-cross... Okay, that part done...
Each end of the poles are supposed to slide over these little silver loopy looking things. Okay, that part done... Now the poles are being held up in the air by Mountain Man and now the hooks along the four corners of the tent need to be attached. As he is standing there holding these poles he says "Baby, can you help me here for a minute?" (uhhhh, and what have I been doing for last 1/2 hour? Hey, I thought I was just the eye-candy!!!)
So I go over and help him by holding the poles up as he starts to snap the corners of the tent to the poles. Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
He then realizes that there are some extra little things laying over there that he (we) haven't used yet and maybe he should pull out the instructions just to make sure it looks like the picture.
After a few grunts, groans and "why don't they make tents like they used to, they used to be so much easier!!!" we read the directions. WE realize that WE need to unsnap the tent from the poles (snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap) and run the poles through these big loops at the top to help hold it up. Then re-snap the tent to the poles (snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap).
So HE finally gets the tent up and the little tarp up and our little front door and it looks great. I proceed to tell him what a wonderful job he did. Now he's a PROUD Mountain Man!!!
We then proceeded to decorate our new love nest. Blow up mattress, and all... Unfortunately, we had the wrong mattress and it was a twin size. Ahhh, but ladies... Chivalry is not dead. He blew up the mattress and laid the foam pad we had also brought with us. He said he would sleep on the pad and I could have the mattress. How sweet is that. My sweet honey buns.
We decide we still have a few hours of daylight left so we get a boat and go fishing... As we are loading up the boat, some old fisherman came up and said, "Gonna go out there?" and we said "yep" and he said "Fronts coming in. Supposed to storm". Rick says, "Nah we checked the weather channel, supposed to be clear all weekend, no rain at all". We load up all our gear and get out about 1/2 way across the lake and feel rain drops. We then turn around and go back to the dock - all the while Rick is telling me not to look behind me. So trusting him as I do, I didn't look back. (Actually I thought he might be "marking his territory" in the lake and that is something I never have seen a man do and do not intend to witness for the rest of my life).
We get back to the dock and the reason he didn't want me to look back was because of this big black cloud that was coming our direction. Of course we didn't see this cloud when we first started out because it was hidden behind the tree line. The reason he told me not to turn around was he knows how scared I am of storms, he was afraid I would freak out. (Who, me? Freak out???) How sweet is that. My sweet honey buns.
We get back to the "love nest" just in time for the sky to turn black, the thunder boom and the lightening clash. The rain pouring down in buckets. But, the wind was pretty calm and actually it was rather soothing once I relaxed and took a deep breath. Mountain Man asked me if I wanted to pack up and leave and I said no, I am fine. He then promised he wouldn't let anything happen to me. How sweet is that. My sweet honey buns.
Then, as we are preparing to "kill some time" until the rain ends, we hear... DRIP, DRIP, DRIP... Mountain Man touches his head and says "Well crap! The tent leaks!!!". So the remainder of the night was trying to ditch the drips. The rain finally ended around midnight and it cooled off to a nice summer evening. Mountain Man fell asleep on his little egg-crate foam bed and I was all snuggled sound asleep on my air mattress. Then, in the wee hours of the morning, my poor little Mountain Man wakes me and says, honey can you scoot over and share your mattress with me? The foam bed is soaked and I'm freezing... How sweet is that. My sweet honey buns.
The next morning we were up well before the sun and man, did I have to tinkle!!! OMG!!! It is dark out and that port-a-potty thingy is all the way across the camping area and the only light is our flashlight. I don't think I can walk that far without having an accident. Mountain Man suggested I do like he did and go behind a tree. WHAT!!!! Out there???!!! Where things like spiders and ticks live!! And POISON IVY!!! Holy cow, do I really have to go that bad???? Maybe I can will it to go away. Nope, not working... The cool morning air is not making it any better!!!
Mountain Man says haven't you ever tried going standing up? I told him... Haven't you noticed that my equipment is a little different from yours. He said "I know that, but just spread your legs out real wide and go." Hmmmm... I might be able to do this. Mountain Man says, don't worry, I won't look. See? I'm turning around." Okay, Sherry, you can do this. Concentrate... Goodness, gracious me!!! So I pulled up my gown and spread my legs as far as I could (which is an amazing feat when standing on my feet!!!) The flood gates opened and all I could think was "Ahhhhhhhhhh".
After that, I knew the day couldn't get any worse. Actually it only got better. We found this neat little diner out in the middle of now-where and had a good breakfast, loaded up the boat and proceeded to catch a whole bucket full of fish.
Exhausted, sunburned and sore, I don't think there could have been a better, more romantic weekend in my life. I can't wait to do it again!!!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
"Deeper than the Holler" Thoughts by Dear Abby (Me)
I was preparing to send out another Young Adult "events" email this morning and wanted to begin with a verse. Then that verse made me think about 'how much do I truly desire God in my life?' I decided to share my thoughts with all my friends. Last night I took a lonely walk with Jack (my Maltipom) at Fumee Lake about 8pm. I got about half a mile and was completely freaked out by being out there alone so I turned back. The lake was beautiful and the birds and crickets had a peaceful sound, but I still wasn't going to keep going. As I was heading back to the Eastside parking lot by Little Fumee I just started talking to God. All along He was there with me, wanting to spend time with me, and I missed it!
"Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth," (Psalm 73:25). Question for thought, have you greeted your Heavenly Father today? Have you communicated with Him? Even when it feels like He's not there, the Lord is right beside us! His love for you is far greater than any love you will experience on earth.
Country singer Randy Travis sang this song (I found it as I searched for "deeper than the ocean") about the way he describes love in a way he understands coming from the country. It made me laugh, but it also can be used to describe how great God's love is for us in a way we understand! :)
My love is deeper that the holler, stronger than the rivers
Higher than the pine trees growin' tall upon the hill
My love is purer than the snowflakes that fall in late December
And honest as a robin on a springtime window sill
And longer than the song of the Whippoorwill
Whether we are surrounded by people or are alone in the woods God's love for us is so great! I am so glad I found Him!!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
My Trip to Alaska - Day 4 & 5
Saturday, June 27, 2009 and Sunday, June 28, 2009
This is the day the kids left camp. I was really sad. I just started getting to know them. Deann was quite hilarious and I didn't know what I would do without her entertaining me! (Mikayla is on the right with the yellow wig. She was a good jump roper and also very entertaining!) I was excited because a couple of them were going to try to come back for Teen Camp since they were 12 years old- Karen and Tami for sure. (I don't recommend letting them return as it is difficult on the coaches as their attitudes change, but I still love them all!) After Pastor Jimmy picked up the Kotlik group I got to take a two hour nap and get a shower after we cleaned up the camp. (Typically there is only one time of day we can take showers and it had been so cold I didn't feel like freezing to death after I got out) The shower was scorching hot, because it is all one temperature. It was still amazing!! I was so glad not to smell as bad anymore!! The weather was still cold but it was starting to warm up. We got the camp ready for the teens to come on Monday. Lots of cleaning to do. Bathrooms, Showers, etc. We had to rake the chapel and clean up all the mildew that was starting to form (seen as white dots). I also had a lot of trays to clean as we no longer had the kids to help with them. The weekends were relaxing, but short lived as Monday would soon arrive. We didn't know how many teens to expect, but we had to prepare ourselves physically, emotionally, and most importantly - spiritually. We had church on Sunday so we could get spiritually charged. The PA and FL teams came in on Saturday. It was different having new people, but we instantly became friends. I was glad that Kiki and I were the same age, because a lot of the other coaches were quite younger than me. But really age didn't matter, because we were all having fun getting to know each other and working together to reach the teens for Christ!
I will write more as time permits...
This is the day the kids left camp. I was really sad. I just started getting to know them. Deann was quite hilarious and I didn't know what I would do without her entertaining me! (Mikayla is on the right with the yellow wig. She was a good jump roper and also very entertaining!) I was excited because a couple of them were going to try to come back for Teen Camp since they were 12 years old- Karen and Tami for sure. (I don't recommend letting them return as it is difficult on the coaches as their attitudes change, but I still love them all!) After Pastor Jimmy picked up the Kotlik group I got to take a two hour nap and get a shower after we cleaned up the camp. (Typically there is only one time of day we can take showers and it had been so cold I didn't feel like freezing to death after I got out) The shower was scorching hot, because it is all one temperature. It was still amazing!! I was so glad not to smell as bad anymore!! The weather was still cold but it was starting to warm up. We got the camp ready for the teens to come on Monday. Lots of cleaning to do. Bathrooms, Showers, etc. We had to rake the chapel and clean up all the mildew that was starting to form (seen as white dots). I also had a lot of trays to clean as we no longer had the kids to help with them. The weekends were relaxing, but short lived as Monday would soon arrive. We didn't know how many teens to expect, but we had to prepare ourselves physically, emotionally, and most importantly - spiritually. We had church on Sunday so we could get spiritually charged. The PA and FL teams came in on Saturday. It was different having new people, but we instantly became friends. I was glad that Kiki and I were the same age, because a lot of the other coaches were quite younger than me. But really age didn't matter, because we were all having fun getting to know each other and working together to reach the teens for Christ!
I will write more as time permits...
Friday, July 17, 2009
The Villages Blog... My Further Alaska Research
Oh, The Places I Will Go… This stuff is so interesting to me!
"The Place of God," Camp Agaiutim Nune, established in 1996, as the name would be translated from its Yupik Eskimo origin was the name chosen by Sonny Joseph, who pastored the Yupik Assembly of God in Alakanuk, Alaska until the time of his death. The camp is remote, located 17 river miles from the nearest village of Emmonak. All supplies, including drinking water, must be hauled to camp.
The Campers came from several different villages. The camp was located off of the Akulurak River, a channel extending from the mighty Yukon River. Nunam, Alakanuk, Emmonak, Kotlik, and St. Michaels, were the areas that most of them came from by boat. The Yukon Delta Assembly of God, where Pastor Austin and Jennifer Jones minister, is in Emmonak and sort of the home base for the camp. (Note: The jail was located next to the church and there was times that Austin would be requested to take a security shift at the jail, he has built a good relationship with the law enforcement and many of the villagers)
All the following information I researched through Wikipedia about the Yukon-Delta Territory:
St. Mary's, where we first landed, is located on the north bank of the Andreafsky River, 5 miles from its confluence with the Yukon River. It lies 450 air miles west-northwest of Anchorage. The City of St. Mary's encompasses the Yup'ik villages of St. Mary's and Andreafsky. Often St. Mary’s and Bethel are stops before the plane lands in Emmonak. St. Mary's (Negeqliq in Central Yup'ik) is a city in Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 500.
Alakanuk (ah-LUCK-uh-nuck) (Alarneq in Central Yup'ik) is a 2nd-class city in the Wade Hampton Census Area of the Unorganized Borough in the western part of the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 652. Alakanuk is located at the east entrance of Alakanuk Pass, the major southern channel of the Yukon River, 15 miles (24 km) from the Bering Sea. It is part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. It lies 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Emmonak, approximately 162 air miles northwest of Bethel. It is the longest village on the lower Yukon - the development stretches over a 3-mile (4.8 km) area along the Pass. Approximately 25 homes along the bank are being threatened by erosion.
Kotlik (Qerrullik in Central Yup'ik) is a city in Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 591. Kotlik is located on the east bank of the Kotlik Slough, 35 miles northeast of Emmonak in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Emmonak (Imangaq in Central Yup'ik) is also a city in Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 767. Interesting recent news article can be found by going to the link: http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/news/story/4512.
Nunam Iqua, formerly called Sheldon Point, is a city in the Wade Hampton Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2000 census the population was 164. Nunam Iqua is a Yupik name meaning "the end of the tundra". A man named Sheldon opened a fish saltery there in the 1930s, and the city was incorporated under the name Sheldon Point in 1974. The name was changed to Nunam Iqua in a November 1999 referendum.[1]
One of the places I heard lots of talk about was Norton Sound.
Norton Sound is an inlet of the Bering Sea on the western coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, south of the Seward Peninsula. It is about 240 km (150 mi) long and 200 km (125 mi) wide. The Yukon River delta forms a portion of the south shore and water from the Yukon influences this body of water. It is ice-free from June to October. Norton Sound was explored by Captain James Cook in September of 1778. He named the body of water after Sir Fletcher Norton, then Speaker of the British House of Commons. The Norton Sound area has been home to Yupik and Inupiat for many centuries. It is the boundary between the two peoples; the Inupiat live to the north and the Yup'ik to the south. The town of Nome is along the northern edge of Norton Sound. The villages of Elim, Golovin, Stebbins, White Mountain, Koyuk, Shaktoolik, St. Michael and Unalakleet are on the shores or waterways flowing into Norton Sound. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race runs through coastal villages between Unalakleet and Nome.
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. Over half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska, with most of the other portion lying in and giving its name to Canada's Yukon Territory, and a small part of the river near the source located in British Columbia. The river is 3,700 km (2,300 mi) long and empties into the Bering Sea at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The average flow is 6,430 m³/s (227,000 ft³/s).[1] The total drainage area is 832,700 km² (321,500 mi²),[2] of which 323,800 km² (126,300 mi²) is in Canada. By comparison, the total area is more than 25% larger than Texas or Alberta.The longest river in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, it was one of the principal means of transportation during the 1896–1903 Klondike Gold Rush. Paddle-wheel riverboats continued to ply the river until the 1950s, when the Klondike Highway was completed. Yukon means "great river" in Gwich'in. The river was called Kwiguk, or "large stream", in Yupik. The Lewes River is the former name of the upper course of the Yukon, from Marsh Lake to the confluence of the Pelly River at Fort Selkirk.
Heidi, the camp lifeguard, taught in Savoonga. Savoonga is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska, one of two on St Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. As of the 2000 census, Savoonga's population was 643. Billy Welch group up in a pastoral family in Nome. His father is the current superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Alaska. Now Billy’s family lives near Anchorage.
"The Place of God," Camp Agaiutim Nune, established in 1996, as the name would be translated from its Yupik Eskimo origin was the name chosen by Sonny Joseph, who pastored the Yupik Assembly of God in Alakanuk, Alaska until the time of his death. The camp is remote, located 17 river miles from the nearest village of Emmonak. All supplies, including drinking water, must be hauled to camp.
The Campers came from several different villages. The camp was located off of the Akulurak River, a channel extending from the mighty Yukon River. Nunam, Alakanuk, Emmonak, Kotlik, and St. Michaels, were the areas that most of them came from by boat. The Yukon Delta Assembly of God, where Pastor Austin and Jennifer Jones minister, is in Emmonak and sort of the home base for the camp. (Note: The jail was located next to the church and there was times that Austin would be requested to take a security shift at the jail, he has built a good relationship with the law enforcement and many of the villagers)
All the following information I researched through Wikipedia about the Yukon-Delta Territory:
St. Mary's, where we first landed, is located on the north bank of the Andreafsky River, 5 miles from its confluence with the Yukon River. It lies 450 air miles west-northwest of Anchorage. The City of St. Mary's encompasses the Yup'ik villages of St. Mary's and Andreafsky. Often St. Mary’s and Bethel are stops before the plane lands in Emmonak. St. Mary's (Negeqliq in Central Yup'ik) is a city in Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 500.
Alakanuk (ah-LUCK-uh-nuck) (Alarneq in Central Yup'ik) is a 2nd-class city in the Wade Hampton Census Area of the Unorganized Borough in the western part of the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 652. Alakanuk is located at the east entrance of Alakanuk Pass, the major southern channel of the Yukon River, 15 miles (24 km) from the Bering Sea. It is part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. It lies 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Emmonak, approximately 162 air miles northwest of Bethel. It is the longest village on the lower Yukon - the development stretches over a 3-mile (4.8 km) area along the Pass. Approximately 25 homes along the bank are being threatened by erosion.
Kotlik (Qerrullik in Central Yup'ik) is a city in Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 591. Kotlik is located on the east bank of the Kotlik Slough, 35 miles northeast of Emmonak in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Emmonak (Imangaq in Central Yup'ik) is also a city in Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 767. Interesting recent news article can be found by going to the link: http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/news/story/4512.
Nunam Iqua, formerly called Sheldon Point, is a city in the Wade Hampton Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2000 census the population was 164. Nunam Iqua is a Yupik name meaning "the end of the tundra". A man named Sheldon opened a fish saltery there in the 1930s, and the city was incorporated under the name Sheldon Point in 1974. The name was changed to Nunam Iqua in a November 1999 referendum.[1]
One of the places I heard lots of talk about was Norton Sound.
Norton Sound is an inlet of the Bering Sea on the western coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, south of the Seward Peninsula. It is about 240 km (150 mi) long and 200 km (125 mi) wide. The Yukon River delta forms a portion of the south shore and water from the Yukon influences this body of water. It is ice-free from June to October. Norton Sound was explored by Captain James Cook in September of 1778. He named the body of water after Sir Fletcher Norton, then Speaker of the British House of Commons. The Norton Sound area has been home to Yupik and Inupiat for many centuries. It is the boundary between the two peoples; the Inupiat live to the north and the Yup'ik to the south. The town of Nome is along the northern edge of Norton Sound. The villages of Elim, Golovin, Stebbins, White Mountain, Koyuk, Shaktoolik, St. Michael and Unalakleet are on the shores or waterways flowing into Norton Sound. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race runs through coastal villages between Unalakleet and Nome.
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. Over half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska, with most of the other portion lying in and giving its name to Canada's Yukon Territory, and a small part of the river near the source located in British Columbia. The river is 3,700 km (2,300 mi) long and empties into the Bering Sea at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The average flow is 6,430 m³/s (227,000 ft³/s).[1] The total drainage area is 832,700 km² (321,500 mi²),[2] of which 323,800 km² (126,300 mi²) is in Canada. By comparison, the total area is more than 25% larger than Texas or Alberta.The longest river in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, it was one of the principal means of transportation during the 1896–1903 Klondike Gold Rush. Paddle-wheel riverboats continued to ply the river until the 1950s, when the Klondike Highway was completed. Yukon means "great river" in Gwich'in. The river was called Kwiguk, or "large stream", in Yupik. The Lewes River is the former name of the upper course of the Yukon, from Marsh Lake to the confluence of the Pelly River at Fort Selkirk.
Heidi, the camp lifeguard, taught in Savoonga. Savoonga is a city in Nome Census Area, Alaska, one of two on St Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. As of the 2000 census, Savoonga's population was 643. Billy Welch group up in a pastoral family in Nome. His father is the current superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Alaska. Now Billy’s family lives near Anchorage.
My Trip to Alaska - Day 3
Friday, June 26, 2009
This was the last night before Kid's Camp was complete. The kids were to leave Saturday morning/afternoon. I don't remember a lot of what happened on this day, because most days were the same. Coach devotions, wake up (Heidi walked around with megaphone saying, "Good Morning Campers"), breakfast, dorm devotions, afternoon service, lunch, free time (Moose Canteen and swimming), dinner, evening service, free time (Moose Canteen), group games, lights out (well, not really 'lights out' because it was daylight for 24 hours). We often had to chase the girls around the tents to get them to come in! Most often it was Tami, Linnea, and Angela! :) (Teens) Heidi stood outside with a jug of water and cups so the girls could brush their teeth! Pretty smart thinking! In the morning there was always coaches who stayed back as the girls awoke each moring! It was difficult to get them out of bed because they are used to staying up late and arising late in the morning. Many of them actually have to take turns at home because there is not enough beds to sleep.
I got to get up and listen to Pastor Brian's devotion for the coaches about praising God during life's storms, using the Casting Crowns song, "Praise You In The Storm" as his point of reference. I could definately relate as I had been blessed by that song numerous times. Praise God is all circumstances!
I basically helped clean up after all the meals. The kids helped with the trays because they got extra points for their teams. I did get to twirl the heavy rope for jump roping. I was either twirling or jumping a lot with the kids and teens, but my arms got really sore.
The last night the kids wanted to sing all of the Hero songs over and over. Poor Hartley and Carl were getting very tired! Chris, the speaker, was so awesome to even give Billy and I the Super Hero bibles despite not being there all week. I can't wait to use the bible in my Sunday School class. (or, maybe I will give it to my 2 year old nephew)For an extra special treat the kids got to watch "Bolt." It was neat to be able to use the lap top and projector for things like this. I watched about half of it and then went to the tent. I never heard the kids come in-thankfully we had light sleeper Heidi with us! She always guarded the door well. She woke up to everything. Poor girl had a really sprained ankle (for almost all of camp), but she still was always doing something. So anyways... it was last night for the kids and I was tired so I knew that if I didn't go to bed now while I could I would struggle when the teens came on Monday. I never seen that movie and will have to rent it. Fred made the kids popcorn. I was so impressed- he cut the tops of microwavable popcorn and poured it into the skillet. He put another pan on top and kept shaking and shifting it till all the popcorn was popped. I will have to try that sometime. I love homemade popcorn!
The first few days I was at Kid Camp the weather is was pretty cold and rainy. Always wore my gloves and hat. I couldn't believe that the kids still swam in the cold river! The nice thing about it being cold and rainy is that it kept the mosquitoes away. Not such luck for Teen Camp! By the way, did I mention that I only found one box, out of 4, at camp when I first arrived? I was really frustrated, but thankfully it was the box with my sleeping gear and so I was so thankful. I did pack a little more in my suit case and it last another day until Pastor Terry and Danean were able to rescue my other 3 boxes from Emo. No worries!! God took care of me!! Thankfully now that I have gone I know now what to pack and what I don't need. Wool socks and an extra blanket are a necessity!! Plus, the blanket is double protection from the annoying mosquitoes!!
Interesting fact: male mosquitoes are the ones that buzz in your ear and are annoying, female mosquitoes bite!! :)
This was the last night before Kid's Camp was complete. The kids were to leave Saturday morning/afternoon. I don't remember a lot of what happened on this day, because most days were the same. Coach devotions, wake up (Heidi walked around with megaphone saying, "Good Morning Campers"), breakfast, dorm devotions, afternoon service, lunch, free time (Moose Canteen and swimming), dinner, evening service, free time (Moose Canteen), group games, lights out (well, not really 'lights out' because it was daylight for 24 hours). We often had to chase the girls around the tents to get them to come in! Most often it was Tami, Linnea, and Angela! :) (Teens) Heidi stood outside with a jug of water and cups so the girls could brush their teeth! Pretty smart thinking! In the morning there was always coaches who stayed back as the girls awoke each moring! It was difficult to get them out of bed because they are used to staying up late and arising late in the morning. Many of them actually have to take turns at home because there is not enough beds to sleep.
I got to get up and listen to Pastor Brian's devotion for the coaches about praising God during life's storms, using the Casting Crowns song, "Praise You In The Storm" as his point of reference. I could definately relate as I had been blessed by that song numerous times. Praise God is all circumstances!
I basically helped clean up after all the meals. The kids helped with the trays because they got extra points for their teams. I did get to twirl the heavy rope for jump roping. I was either twirling or jumping a lot with the kids and teens, but my arms got really sore.
The last night the kids wanted to sing all of the Hero songs over and over. Poor Hartley and Carl were getting very tired! Chris, the speaker, was so awesome to even give Billy and I the Super Hero bibles despite not being there all week. I can't wait to use the bible in my Sunday School class. (or, maybe I will give it to my 2 year old nephew)For an extra special treat the kids got to watch "Bolt." It was neat to be able to use the lap top and projector for things like this. I watched about half of it and then went to the tent. I never heard the kids come in-thankfully we had light sleeper Heidi with us! She always guarded the door well. She woke up to everything. Poor girl had a really sprained ankle (for almost all of camp), but she still was always doing something. So anyways... it was last night for the kids and I was tired so I knew that if I didn't go to bed now while I could I would struggle when the teens came on Monday. I never seen that movie and will have to rent it. Fred made the kids popcorn. I was so impressed- he cut the tops of microwavable popcorn and poured it into the skillet. He put another pan on top and kept shaking and shifting it till all the popcorn was popped. I will have to try that sometime. I love homemade popcorn!
The first few days I was at Kid Camp the weather is was pretty cold and rainy. Always wore my gloves and hat. I couldn't believe that the kids still swam in the cold river! The nice thing about it being cold and rainy is that it kept the mosquitoes away. Not such luck for Teen Camp! By the way, did I mention that I only found one box, out of 4, at camp when I first arrived? I was really frustrated, but thankfully it was the box with my sleeping gear and so I was so thankful. I did pack a little more in my suit case and it last another day until Pastor Terry and Danean were able to rescue my other 3 boxes from Emo. No worries!! God took care of me!! Thankfully now that I have gone I know now what to pack and what I don't need. Wool socks and an extra blanket are a necessity!! Plus, the blanket is double protection from the annoying mosquitoes!!
Interesting fact: male mosquitoes are the ones that buzz in your ear and are annoying, female mosquitoes bite!! :)
My Trip to Alaska - Day 2
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Jim and Linda's home is really close to the airport. There is only about 300, 000 people who live in Anchorage. Anchorage is surrounded by the Mountains. The weather is different in Anchorage then it is out in the villages. They do actually get warmer weather and some daylight during the 24 hours of darkness, but only a couple of hours. Lots of moose and brown bear roam the streets.
I rode a Beechcraft BE - 1900c to Emmonak from Anchorage. We stopped in St. Mary's before Emmonak at this little airport facility. I read the Alaskan Business Monthly on the flight. And learned about Renewable Energy Systems LLC, owned by Marvin Kuentzel, an alternative energy business on Dimond Boulevard in Anchorage. Tug and barge companies help Yukon River villages survive. The Yukon River stretches from the Bering Sea to its source in British Columbia. The Yukon has several branching tributaries or channels to which one of them the camp is located off of on the Akularak (sp?) River. More than 70 companies, including more than 40 with Alaska bases, have worked with BP on the Liberty Oil Field, located in shallow waters off the North Slope coast in Foggy Island Bay. I think Alaska history is so interesting... hopefully I will get to go back to enjoy it more!
When I arrived in Emmonak I was surprised to discover that one of the other passengers, Billy, was also coming to the camp. Billy and I were picked up by Pastor Austin and his 4-wheeler. It was so rainy and muddy that I was covered head to toe in 'silt' mud by the time we got to the Yukon Delta Assembly of God. I did learn from Billy that I have to let it dry and then it will completely wipe off, otherwise it will stain. Completely true!! By the end of the night I no longer was covered in little gray dots! We stayed in Emmonak till about 6pm so that work could be done on the new boat. Danean made an awesome dinner, including SPAM! I started to fall asleep and then we were on our way to get on the boat. I had fun playing with Aiden and Wyatt. Very cute kids! On the way to the boat I met Ronnie, Arthur, and Billie, who later were at Teen Camp.
Note to self- pack rubber boots in luggage when traveling, don't leave them in the boxes that were mailed! You will definately need them, along with rain gear! Also, if Gator gives me a hard time about my poncho being like a kite make sure to push him over the boat somewhere deep!! Ha! ('I joke!')
When I arrived at camp I felt a little weird given it was the end of the week for kid camp and many had already been there for a while, but the kids greeted me in my tent (Deann...) by piling themselves on top of me while I was in my sleeping bag trying to change into my pajamas. I set to work getting to know their names and also helping in the kitchen by doing dishes and washing trays. I always kept myself busy.
Jim and Linda's home is really close to the airport. There is only about 300, 000 people who live in Anchorage. Anchorage is surrounded by the Mountains. The weather is different in Anchorage then it is out in the villages. They do actually get warmer weather and some daylight during the 24 hours of darkness, but only a couple of hours. Lots of moose and brown bear roam the streets.
I rode a Beechcraft BE - 1900c to Emmonak from Anchorage. We stopped in St. Mary's before Emmonak at this little airport facility. I read the Alaskan Business Monthly on the flight. And learned about Renewable Energy Systems LLC, owned by Marvin Kuentzel, an alternative energy business on Dimond Boulevard in Anchorage. Tug and barge companies help Yukon River villages survive. The Yukon River stretches from the Bering Sea to its source in British Columbia. The Yukon has several branching tributaries or channels to which one of them the camp is located off of on the Akularak (sp?) River. More than 70 companies, including more than 40 with Alaska bases, have worked with BP on the Liberty Oil Field, located in shallow waters off the North Slope coast in Foggy Island Bay. I think Alaska history is so interesting... hopefully I will get to go back to enjoy it more!
When I arrived in Emmonak I was surprised to discover that one of the other passengers, Billy, was also coming to the camp. Billy and I were picked up by Pastor Austin and his 4-wheeler. It was so rainy and muddy that I was covered head to toe in 'silt' mud by the time we got to the Yukon Delta Assembly of God. I did learn from Billy that I have to let it dry and then it will completely wipe off, otherwise it will stain. Completely true!! By the end of the night I no longer was covered in little gray dots! We stayed in Emmonak till about 6pm so that work could be done on the new boat. Danean made an awesome dinner, including SPAM! I started to fall asleep and then we were on our way to get on the boat. I had fun playing with Aiden and Wyatt. Very cute kids! On the way to the boat I met Ronnie, Arthur, and Billie, who later were at Teen Camp.
Note to self- pack rubber boots in luggage when traveling, don't leave them in the boxes that were mailed! You will definately need them, along with rain gear! Also, if Gator gives me a hard time about my poncho being like a kite make sure to push him over the boat somewhere deep!! Ha! ('I joke!')
When I arrived at camp I felt a little weird given it was the end of the week for kid camp and many had already been there for a while, but the kids greeted me in my tent (Deann...) by piling themselves on top of me while I was in my sleeping bag trying to change into my pajamas. I set to work getting to know their names and also helping in the kitchen by doing dishes and washing trays. I always kept myself busy.
My Trip to Alaska - Day 1
My sister asked me to share about my trip to CAMP A. N. in Alaska. Originally posted on Facebook, I thought I would also create my own blogging website. Many of my notes are what I wrote as I traveled there. This is information and experiences I want to remember... and will hopefully experience again in the years to come.
Day 1- Wednesday, June 24, 2009
When I left Green Bay I know my mother cried. She was worried for me to go alone. But I was okay! God was with me every step of the way!
The Detroit Airport had a cool tunnel between gates A70 were I arrived and the C Terminal. There was a moving walk way with a beautiful color mural that went up the sides of the tunnel and moved with the sound waves.
On the long flight to Anchorage I met a retired Human Resources Director from the Akron, Ohio Children’s hospital and a 16 year old boy with $600 worth of Warhammer miniatures. This is a tabletop wargame set in a science fantasy universe. (Wikipedia) He proceeded to tell me that this is something his brother and him do while he is visiting him at the military base. Players assemble and paint individual 28 mm (1.1 in) scale (approximately 1:56) miniature figures that represent futuristic soldiers, creatures and vehicles of war. These figurines are collected to comprise squads in armies that can be pitted against those of other players. Each player brings a roughly equal complement of units to a tabletop battlefield with handmade or purchased terrain. The players then decide upon a scenario, ranging from simple skirmishes to complex battles involving defended objectives and reinforcements. The models are physically moved across the table (using a tape measure and the instructions from cards) and the actual distance between models plays a role in the outcome of combat. Play is turn based, with various outcomes determined by tables and the roll of dice. Battles may last anywhere from a half hour to several days, and battles may be strung together to form campaigns. This game is also a fictional book the boy was reading on the plane. Warhammer 40,000's gothic space fantasy setting spans a vast fictional universe. Its various factions and races include the Imperium of Man (the human race 38,000 years hence), the Orks (similar to Warhammer Fantasy Orcs), and the Eldar (similar to Elves in Warhammer Fantasy Battle). He had a black case full of these metal figurines as his carry on luggage. Hilarious!
Pastor Jim and Linda’s daughter Kim picked me up at the airport with a sign in the passenger seat that said, “Camp A.N.” Kim has graduated from the University of Alaska with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Public Relations and works and lives with her family, Aaron (husband) and Asa (son) in Sterling, AK. Aaron works on the North Slope of Alaska at an oil plant. He is the plant supervisor and works one week on and one week off. They have a very nice facility with dorms, a gym, a pool, and a cafeteria. Kim and Aaron live in the Kenai Peninsula, a huge retirement and tourist area. They have a animal fence about 8 feet high to keep the bear and moose out of their yard. The animals travel to get to the other side of the road where there is a river. Kim and Aaron told me a lot about Alaska. They were such sweet people! Made me feel at home! Aaron and Kim buy their food from a co-op truck that comes from Seattle, along with 150 other people from the area because everything is so expensive in local stores.
Pastor Jim and Linda own a cocker spaniel named Abby. Kim and Aaron have a part lab/chow named Meeka. And, Linda was watching Titus who belonged to Patty, a miniature pincher/Rottweiler, who was very spunky. I learned from Kim that the road system is short in Alaska. There is very few roads, flying is really the only way to get from village to village. People get stuck in Anchorage because they can’t afford the flight back to their villages. *I met a lady from Anchorage to Emmonak (E-mon-ik, or Emo) that hadn’t been home in 25 years.
This was my last day with any cell reception for a week and a half! Funny thing is that everyone I wanted to call was 3 hours ahead of me in time! I couldn't believe I had full cell reception! Totally crazy! This was the first day I experienced 24 hour daylight! And the last chance I had to take a shower for a couple days!
Note to self - good to pack a couple days worth of clothing just in case your boxes don't show up at camp. Send bedding in first box.
Note to self- pack lightly and bring everything on the plane so you don't have to worry about the boxes.
Day 1- Wednesday, June 24, 2009
When I left Green Bay I know my mother cried. She was worried for me to go alone. But I was okay! God was with me every step of the way!
The Detroit Airport had a cool tunnel between gates A70 were I arrived and the C Terminal. There was a moving walk way with a beautiful color mural that went up the sides of the tunnel and moved with the sound waves.
On the long flight to Anchorage I met a retired Human Resources Director from the Akron, Ohio Children’s hospital and a 16 year old boy with $600 worth of Warhammer miniatures. This is a tabletop wargame set in a science fantasy universe. (Wikipedia) He proceeded to tell me that this is something his brother and him do while he is visiting him at the military base. Players assemble and paint individual 28 mm (1.1 in) scale (approximately 1:56) miniature figures that represent futuristic soldiers, creatures and vehicles of war. These figurines are collected to comprise squads in armies that can be pitted against those of other players. Each player brings a roughly equal complement of units to a tabletop battlefield with handmade or purchased terrain. The players then decide upon a scenario, ranging from simple skirmishes to complex battles involving defended objectives and reinforcements. The models are physically moved across the table (using a tape measure and the instructions from cards) and the actual distance between models plays a role in the outcome of combat. Play is turn based, with various outcomes determined by tables and the roll of dice. Battles may last anywhere from a half hour to several days, and battles may be strung together to form campaigns. This game is also a fictional book the boy was reading on the plane. Warhammer 40,000's gothic space fantasy setting spans a vast fictional universe. Its various factions and races include the Imperium of Man (the human race 38,000 years hence), the Orks (similar to Warhammer Fantasy Orcs), and the Eldar (similar to Elves in Warhammer Fantasy Battle). He had a black case full of these metal figurines as his carry on luggage. Hilarious!
Pastor Jim and Linda’s daughter Kim picked me up at the airport with a sign in the passenger seat that said, “Camp A.N.” Kim has graduated from the University of Alaska with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Public Relations and works and lives with her family, Aaron (husband) and Asa (son) in Sterling, AK. Aaron works on the North Slope of Alaska at an oil plant. He is the plant supervisor and works one week on and one week off. They have a very nice facility with dorms, a gym, a pool, and a cafeteria. Kim and Aaron live in the Kenai Peninsula, a huge retirement and tourist area. They have a animal fence about 8 feet high to keep the bear and moose out of their yard. The animals travel to get to the other side of the road where there is a river. Kim and Aaron told me a lot about Alaska. They were such sweet people! Made me feel at home! Aaron and Kim buy their food from a co-op truck that comes from Seattle, along with 150 other people from the area because everything is so expensive in local stores.
Pastor Jim and Linda own a cocker spaniel named Abby. Kim and Aaron have a part lab/chow named Meeka. And, Linda was watching Titus who belonged to Patty, a miniature pincher/Rottweiler, who was very spunky. I learned from Kim that the road system is short in Alaska. There is very few roads, flying is really the only way to get from village to village. People get stuck in Anchorage because they can’t afford the flight back to their villages. *I met a lady from Anchorage to Emmonak (E-mon-ik, or Emo) that hadn’t been home in 25 years.
This was my last day with any cell reception for a week and a half! Funny thing is that everyone I wanted to call was 3 hours ahead of me in time! I couldn't believe I had full cell reception! Totally crazy! This was the first day I experienced 24 hour daylight! And the last chance I had to take a shower for a couple days!
Note to self - good to pack a couple days worth of clothing just in case your boxes don't show up at camp. Send bedding in first box.
Note to self- pack lightly and bring everything on the plane so you don't have to worry about the boxes.
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