Just in case I don’t get this printed and put in to Cards…

God’s Been Good

2011 brought this branch of the Traeger family tree a year full of blessings, adventure and excitement.

As a whole, this year has been exciting.  We’ve spent our first whole year in ALASKA!  We not only survived, but we thrived.  We are definitely growing where God planted us.  It’s been fun to check out local museums, points of history, and some of the great Alaskan outdoors.

When we first arrived in Alaska, the Lord allowed us to rent a lovely cedar sided home.  It sat on over 2 acres, and was a wonderful way to spend our first winter in Alaska.  The family was able to see moose meander through the back yard, sled down the hills, and watch horses gallop through the property behind us.  We also got a taste of the Alaskan lifestyle.  Steve chopped wood, the children hauled the wood into the house and shed.  We shoveled the long winding driveway, and we had a ton of fun playing in the snow

We started homeschooling January of 2011.  While it took a lot of adjustments, and changing of expectations, we now love being a homeschooling family!  The children love being able to work at their own pace.  Anthony and Jaycob are learning to read!  It’s so precious to be able to be the one to teach them.  Ryan, though chronologically in second grade, is doing fourth grade math, and excelling at it.  Shyanne, for the first time in her academic career, loves math, and is doing well at it.

We bought our first house as a family.  Though it has its’ quirks, we are beyond blessed. We also have a semi-permanent house guest.  Thankfully, the Lord led us to a house that was large enough to accommodate.J It has been a joy to have my sister, Phalen, living with us.  Along with an extra set of eyes to keep the children in line, it’s been nice to have some additional adult conversation in the house.

With the purchase of a house came the purchase of a puppy.  There is the saying, “kids need dogs,” but we have found the flip side to be true too, the dog needs the kids   It’s truly amazing to see them all interact. So, on moving day, we picked up Jackson, who was, at the time, a seven week old German Shepherd.   He has been both a delight, and a challenge.  He is the smartest dog we have ever owned. He learns commands within about five repetitions. That also means that he learns my weaknesses in about five reps.

Steve is still working for United Rentals.  He has gotten to experience some awesome things.  He got to fly by helicopter in to the Alaskan bush to repair some equipment. He got flown into Valdez, AK to repair a piece of equipment.  He even got to see a piece of heavy equipment owned by the owner of Porcupine Creek from the TV show Gold Rush.

As exciting as 2011 was, we have our sights set on 2012, and all the things the Lord has planned

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

We woke up to 4 inches of snow yesterday   We love the snow!  It’s so beautiful, so pristine, and so fun    The kids got their snow clothes on, the sleds out and had a blast.  This is part of why we love living in Alaska!

Well, between yesterday and this morning, we have about 4 inches on the ground I really do love the snow. As a kid growing up in southern California, I would love it when we would make a trip to the mountains and play. I love the way the flakes float to the ground, the glittery sparkle when the sun hits just right, the crunch under my boots. I do not, however, like to drive in the snow. However, I don’t have the choice today. My darling puppy, who at 70+ pounds hardly looks puppy, chewed through his leash. Thankfully, we have a lifetime guarantee on them. Unfortunately the guarantee doesn’t include delivery

At the urging, ok really it was just a mention, of my niece and sister-in-law, here it is… a new blog! Hopefully this will not be as the others, and end up forgotten, floating in cyberland. Hopefully this will be used to more effectively keep family and friends updated on what’s happening in our neck of the woods.