The Next Step

Well, the only logical thing to get after cross country skis are water skis. These were the last pair Harold's size at L&M the other day. We can't wait to get him behind the boat but for now the lakes in Minnesota are still pretty cold.

Side Note: We will be leaving for Guatemala on Saturday and will be returning in three weeks. We plan to leave our computers in Minnesota and will not be blogging or in contact via e-mail or facebook. We’ll post a bit about our trip when we get back. Adios mis amigos!

~AnnMarie 

One Big Small Town -- Love is All Around

There’s about 600,000 people in Alaska and over the past nine years, we have gotten to know quite a few of these people. No matter where we go throughout the state and beyond, we run into people we know making Alaska feel like one (big) small town. 

We left Brevig on Saturday night in pursuit of summer vacation and once again drove our 4-wheeler the 80 miles into Nome. There we met my brother John and good friend and college roommate Mollie for dinner at Airport Pizza.

The restaurant in Nome and the flight to Anchorage was filled with friends and acquaintances. During the flight, Harold drew a picture and delivered it to his Uncle John. Our friends a few rows back let Harold play games on their iPad. From Anchorage to Seattle we sat across from the kindergarten teacher in Teller. From Seattle to Minneapolis we sat in front of Dana, my roommate my first year in Brevig. These stories are not uncommon as we travel within and out of Alaska.

All that just to say, we live in a unique place, have come to know and love the people around us. We have even convinced some loved ones from our past life to join us on this crazy adventure. I just realized Harold is growing up thinking that knowing half the people in the restaurant and on the airplane is normal, but it’s just not for most people. But in our small (big) town love is all around.

~AnnMarie

Harold's Preschool Graduation

 

Tonight we celebrated Harold's graduation from the Head Start program in Brevig Mission. Harold has learned so much at school this year: academically, behaviorally and socially. We are very thankful for his teachers and all the hard work they put into his class throughout this school year.

Harold is technically not old enough to enter kindergarten next year but since he has passed all of the academic standards associated with preschool and has done quite well on his state tests, he has been exited from the program. One of two things will happen next school year, he will either enter kindergarten early (with his mom as his teacher) or he'll begin his first year of mechanic's apprenticeship schooling at Rudstrom Repair (his dad being the instructor). The paperwork for early entrance into kindergarten hasn't been officially approved and won't be looked at until Fall. He's definitely ready so we're hoping that everything will work out in that respect.

I shot a little footage as the graduates were taking the stage. Harold's the sixth one in line, acting shy as he buries his chin into his chest.

Head Start Graduation 2011 from AnnMarie Rudstrom on Vimeo.

Cute, cute, cuteness.

I Blinked and Nine Years Went By

My very first group of students graduated from high school this evening. I had them as fourth grade students in 2002 as a first year teacher back when I didn't really know what I was doing. Those were tough days of immense growing pains. But it turns out, they survived, thrived and made it through . . . and so did I.

~AnnMarie

A Beautiful Day For Kupshuk(ing)

Many Thanks

The principal at Brevig Mission School, Robin Gray, has been with us for six years now. Next fall she will be moving on to her next job in education working as a director of special education in another part of the state.

Because of her years of service and the positive impact she has had on the school and students, we wanted to say, "thanks" with a surprise party.

For the past month or so, the ladies on staff have been working together to make a t-shirt quilt for Robin using various Brevig Mission School t-shirts. 

We think it will be a wonderful way for her to remember her time here in Brevig Mission.

She was also given some beaded earrings, a sweatshirt picturing dry fish and an angel wall hanging made of seal skin. All ring with the culture and talent of Brevig Mission.

We all wish you the best in the future Robin!

Happy Graduation! (aka Mother's Day)

Harold woke up this morning and yelled, "Happy Graduation Mom!!!!!!"  He has his special occasions a little mixed up but he sure is exuberant about the whole thing. 

He also informed me that he loves me thiiiiiiis much.

So I say, Happy Graduation to all you mother's out there.

Ptarmigan Hunting

Harold and I decided to go ptarmigan hunting.  But first we needed to put a new chain and sprocket on his snowmobile.  Here he is tightening the bolts on the exhaust.

When we finished working on the machine we went out cruising on the tundra and shot one bird. 

C.O.

Gus Brown

I traveled to the village of St. Michael recently.  While I was there I borrowed a friends ATV and went out exploring.  Out on the tundra near the edge of town I spotted this marble monument. 

I don't know anything about Gus Brown but I do know a little bit about St Michael's history.  Back in the gold rush days (around 1900) St Michael Alaska was a busy town with as many as 10,000 people.  Prospectors coming up to Alaska to look for gold would take a sailing ship up from the west coast of the USA, then to travel into the interior of Alaska they would get on a paddle wheel type steamboat and head up the Yukon river.  St Michael was the place where everyone changed boats.   It has a natural harbour to provide protection from the ocean and it is close to the mouth of the Yukon.

C.O.

Happy Easter!

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, 

but in every leaf in spring-time. ~Martin Luther

 

Just the Highlights

I normally don't like to do a multi-topic blog posts but life has just been that way lately. A little of this and a little of that has made for some pretty full days.

More Handwork

I finished the hat and mitten set I have been working on for Harold. I thought they turned out pretty sharp looking. He has to grow into the mitts but at the rate he's going . . .

A New Addition

My coworkers, Steve and Angie, adopted a beautiful little girl from here in Brevig Mission. Some of the ladies from work threw a shower for her over the weekend. We are very happy for them and their baby girl.

Johnny's Musical Debut

As you may or may not know my brother John has quite the musical talent. Lately he's been writing some of his own music and recently made a recording of his work. Last week his first album, "Movin' On" which includes traditional and original music was released on iTunes. He's got a Bluegrass/ New Grass kind of sound. I think it's great but I'm a bit biased. Why don't you go ahead and get your own copy and see what you think. Psst!--> Click here to purchase.

Summer Plans

Summer plans are shaping up nicely. Plane tickets are purchased, reservations are made and our calendar is filling up. We will be in Minnesota the last week of May, then on to Guatemala for three weeks and back to Side Lake for July and part of August. We are looking forward to our journey and the chance to see our Minnesota friends and family again.

A Touch of Spring

Our Full Circle Farm produce boxes had daffodils for sale last week. Without hesitation, I added them to our box and enjoyed their cheery little faces for a while.

The Whole Hog

 

And last but certainly not least, we bought a hog . . . the whole hog. We've had a hankerin' for some tasty pork products around here. We finally took the leap and ordered the "Whole Hog Pack" from Mat-Valley Meats. I think we have enough to last us for a while now. 

What's the news in your life dear readers? We'd love to hear from you.

~AnnMarie

A Little Encouragement: An Adoption Update

It's been about a year and a half since we started the preliminary work on our second adoption from Ethiopia. Our paperwork is in Ethiopia now, we are in the process of being approved as adoptive parents and being matched with an orphan. The beginning phases of the process take longer for us than most people due to our remote location. And now that our case is in Ethiopia there has been a slow down in the referral process. Adoption cases do continue to move along and we are hopeful that they will pick up again soon.

One of the Christian World Adoption staff members recently traveled to Ethiopia to coordinate with the Ethiopian staff members. He came back with small gifts for each of the waiting families and a letter of encouragement. It was nice surprise to find these in our mailbox this week.

It has been and will continue to be a long journey. By the grace of God we are not anxious about our current wait but we do look forward to meeting our little girl someday soon. 

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day." Habakkuk 2:3

~AnnMarie

Alappaa! (It's Cold)

A group of junior high students in Elim, Alaska put this adorable music video together. Elim is about 150 miles southeast of Brevig and is the village where my brother John has taught for the past five years. The kids and their teacher Jon (a different John) did a great job putting this together.

And people really do use "Alappaa" around here . . . a lot . . .

it being the arctic and all.

~AnnMarie

Iditarod Craft Fair

Last week I was super excited to be a vendor at the Iditarod Craft Fair held at Old Saint Joe's Church in Nome. After years and years of dreaming about having a table and selling my fur wears, I finally did it. It was wonderful! I had an amazing few days hanging out at my table.

Being in one place all day long in a town that is over run with visitors has it's advantages. It's pretty likely that most everyone will wander through the craft fair and art displays at some point. It was wonderful to visit with people from around the region that I have met over the years. I got to reconnect with old friends and get to know some acquaintances better.  It was also very inspiring to be around other artists and crafty people. I came home with many new ideas and enthusiasm for creating new and interesting things.

Me and my load, waiting for the plane.

After paying for a plane ticket, a table at the sale, food for the week and excess baggage I'm fairly certain I didn't actually make any money. But I was very excited about the experience and hope to do it again next year.

The very best part of my trip was getting to spend time with my very good friend, Mollie, who recently moved to Nome in January to work at the hospital as a nurse. She spent three weeks with us in Brevig last October, enjoyed the area and decided to pursue work in Nome. I love that she is on this amazing adventure and that we're close together again after spending the past 12 years thousands of miles apart. It was wonderful to stay with her (sans family) and relive our college days together. She's doing great and loving life and work in Nome. I hope she stays forever. *^-^*

The craft fair took up a majority of my time in Nome so I didn't do very many of the numerous Iditarod-y activities around town. We did, however,watch a few mushers from the middle of the pack cross the finish line. A siren, loud enough to be heard all around town, goes off about 20 minutes before a musher arrives. This give people enough time to get geared up and ready at the finish line to cheer for the finishers. By the time the middle of the pack rolls around, not too many folks are rushing out there. It's a shame people's enthusiasm is dying by this point, the dogs and mushers have come so far and accomplished quite the feat. Each one of them deserves to be celebrated.

As I had mentioned earlier I was pretty inspired by other people's work at the craft fair. Saturday night, when all was said and done, I hit one of the shops that carries furs and dropped a bit of money to buy an otter and sheared beaver hide to make C.O. a new hat. His old one,"Big Red", was getting kind of shabby. I decided to make him this super DE-lux version. I came home on Sunday afternoon and had this hat finished for him by Sunday night. Inspiration does wonders for productivity!

I'll see you again next year Iditaroders, same time, same place.

~AnnMarie

Bumped Into Santa in Nome; He Gave Me His Card

Regular Mucus - OK, Green Mucus - Bad

This was posted on the door of the Head Start. 

C.O.

Snow Blower

I snapped this photo of a large snow blower when I was passing through Nome last week.  This is an amazing machine.  It was grinding up hard chunks of ice and snow and sending them flying a couple hundred feet.  The blower actually takes so much power to run that there is one engine just for the blower and another engine to make the vehicle move.  If you look close at the photo you can see that both the front and rear wheels steer.  This allows it to "crab" or drive sideways.

C.O. 

Make Your Own Fun

We do not have a lot of entertainment options in the remote area that we live. You have to find ways to make our own fun.

This past weekend I stayed with my friend Roger in Nome. He knows how to have fun. He also lives out on the edge of town where the neighbors are far apart.  

This first photo shows his 40 lb anvil with a fuse sticking out from under it.

This video shows what happens when Roger lights the fuse.

 

C.O.

How to Raise an Extreme Sports Fanatic

 

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Extreme Skiing from AnnMarie Rudstrom on Vimeo.

Afternoon Commute

Some people complain about their daily commute; mine couldn't be better. I especially love the middle part.   :-)


Commute from AnnMarie Rudstrom on Vimeo.

~AnnMarie