Meeting the Buyse Family

About five years ago we received a call from our adoption agency, Christian World Adoption. They told us about another family in Alaska that was in the process of adopting a child from Guatemala and that they had a few questions for us. C.O. and Montey had talked briefly at that time but we had not kept in touch. Harold came in October, their daughter came the following January. 

We got another call last winter from CWA that the Buyses were considering adopting again. This time from Ethiopia! They are planning to adopt a sibling set in fact. As we were passing through Anchorage during our bush living days, we were never quite able to connect. But now that we live within a reasonable driving distance, we planned a date to meet for lunch.

Over Labor Day, our two little miracles were introduced. They were so busy being five year olds, I don't think they realized how cool it was to meet each other.

The Buyses are a lovely family with a big heart for adoption. I hope that we will continue to see them over the years as our children grow. It will be valuable for our children to know there are others out there growing up in similar situations. I'm pretty sure we will be the only two families in Alaska with Guatemalan and Ethiopian children calling eachother brother and sister. =) We pray for a smooth adoption process, that the paperwork will go through as quickly as possible and that God will prepare the Buyses for their children and the two future Buyses for their new family.

~AnnMarie

Our New Home That Doesn't Quite Belong to Us

We have finally moved into our new house in our new location of Soldotna. We put a bid in on this three story, three bedroom, two and a half bath place sight unseen while we were still vacationing at the cabin in Minnesota. Fortunately, when we met the house in person we were just as happy with it as we were with the pictures.

We don't have much in the house right now. Our worldly possessions are still in Brevig Mission in our container van waiting for the barge to pick it up. The kids have been keeping themselves busy learning how to do hand stands and making paper airplanes since all their toys are packed away.

The new Rudstrom dwelling is nestled in the woods on a two acre lot on a gravel road less than ten minutes from the business of Soldotna. It's a complete turn around from our 600 square foot house on the sea without a tree in sight for miles and miles.

We have already met one of our neighbors. Iris and family live across the road and invited us over to meet their little goats. They have all kinds of cool stuff at their house, kids and dirt bikes and 4-wheelers and tractors. They seem like great people to know.

There have been some complications along the way of becoming home owners. The bank has not been willing to give us a loan until I produce my first pay stub at my new job. I've started work, I'm under contract for the school year, we have excellent credit, very little debt but they still aren't sure if we are trustworthy enough. Fortunately, the seller was understanding enough to let us move in, rent the place and wait for my pay check at the end of September so we can close in early October. What a relief!

Stay tuned. I've been very busy living, blogging very little, experiencing a lot and I can't wait to share little snippets our life here on the Alaskan road system with you all!

~AnnMarie



How to Make Your Own Golf Course

This summer, Harold decided he loves to play golf. His swing wasn't too bad to be honest. He can hit the golf balls farther and more consistently than I can, not that that is saying much but hey I was still pretty impressed.

A few years ago we bought a little piece of property, less than an acre, across the road from the cabin in Minnesota. Someday we hope to build a large shop there but we have been looking for a way to use the property in the meantime.

And that's when we got a genius idea . . . let's build a golf course.

As you will see, Harold did a large amount of the work with just a little guidance from dad.

Here's step by step how to build your own golf course:

Start by mowing down a field of grass on a piece of land you are otherwise not sure how to use.

Next cut a few pieces of PVC pipe. A larger one for the golf ball hole and a smaller one to hold the flag poles.

Zip tie the small pipe inside of the larger pipe.

Cut out flags. For this project we used a brightly colored shower curtain.

Dig a hole.

Place pipe in the hole and pack the dirt around the pipe.



Stick that flag in the ground.

And you're all set to play a round of golf at your leisure.

My Friend Mollie: A Love Story

This is me and my friend Mollie. We were roommates our freshman year of college.

We became pretty good friends.

We had many adventures and even spent some time traveling in England and Ireland together. We made many good memories.

But as these things go, our careers took us in different directions. Mollie started work as a nurse in Arizona and I moved to rural Alaska. One January, C.O. and I traveled to Tuscon for a midwinter trip to catch up with Mollie and to thaw out for a while.

Mollie then made the journey to Brevig Mission to visit us and to feel some cooler temperatures.

And we made many good memories.

Turns out, Mollie kind of liked the Seward Peninsula so a year and a half later, she pursued a job in Nome.

Mollie settled easily into Nome life. She met many new people, made many new friends but one of those friends was extra special. His name was Steve.

Together Mollie and Steve experienced all that bush life had to offer. As they picked berries, shot guns and took in the awesome beauty of the tundra . . .

they fell in love.

It didn't take long for Steve to ask Mollie to marry him.

Of course she said yes.

Just two weeks ago, our family drove down to Mollie's home town of Ankeny, Iowa to help celebrate Mollie and Steve's wedding day.

And we made many good memories.

The End

Mary Crockett Was Here

This past two weeks we had a special visitor spend a few days with our family. Mary Crockett, a former student of mine who grew up in Brevig Mission, has been attending camp Widgiwagan north of Ely for the past few years. Three of those years we picked her up after camp so she could spend some time experiencing Minnesota cabin life. We love her, our kids love her and we are so fortunate to be able to spend time with her each year.

So what did we do to keep our gal Mary busy?

We did some road trippin'. Last year we journeyed to Missouri for a wedding this year it was Iowa.

She got some water skiing lessons.

Mary was always willing to help out with the kids. For a little while we get to feel what it's like to have a nanny and let me tell you, it's a beautiful thing.

 

We put her to work doing chores . . .

and helping with some projects as well.

And of course we had a whole lot of fun.

We loved having you Mary, come and stay any time!

~AnnMarie

The Reunion Tour

Last week we were able to spend quite a lot of time with our extended family members. Two family reunions were planned within a few days of each other. The first reunion was on my mother's side of the family in rural South Dakota. The Fischer Family Reunion was an event to say the least. It lasted for three days and included shooting clay pigeons, swimming, bowling, German food, bon fires, squirt gun fights and some good old fashioned fun on the farm.

We then traveled north of Bemidji, Minnesota for the Wynne Reunion on C.O.'s side of the family. We came a day early so we were able to spend time with some of the Wynnes before the crowds arrived. The reunion day involved water balloons, golfing, a big bouncy house, great food, a fish fry and swimming in the lake.

So, what's so great about attending a family reunion? Here's what I think makes them special.

First, second, and third cousins get to know each other.

There may be a chance to shoot clay pigeons, shoot the breeze or shoot whatever it is that needs shootin'.

Getting to experience new things.

 

Creating bonds that span the generations.



Making sweet memories.

And of course sharing lots of delicious food.

A big thank you to the hosts of the reunions: Jim & Zelda, Jeannette & Dave and Tom & June. We hope that one day we can return the favor.

~AnnMarie

Native Pride

We still have a few of these floating around our inventory of plastic bags. It makes me smile and think of shopping at the store in Brevig Mission.

~AnnMarie

Harold in Boats

As I was looking through old photos, I noticed that Harold has had quite a few boating opportunities in his five short years. He has been in many kinds of boats in many different waters.

San Francisco, California


Chena River, Fairbanks


Lake Nabagamon, Wisconson


Brevig Lagoon, Alaska


Chilkat River, Haines, Alaska


Ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway


Picking up the "Fast Brick" in South Park, Colorado


West Two Rivers, Minnesota

On Board Las Sirenas, Belize Barriar Reef

Big Sturgeon, Side Lake, Minnesota


Lake Tana, Ethiopia

~AnnMarie