the latest.

Been a night dweller of late. Mostly it has been slow--with hours filled with busying tasks, pacing the hallways, answering the occasional phone call, restocking, studying, moose burgers, and blinking away eye dryness.

I did have a couple patients the last few nights I've worked and let me tell you, when you don't have patients very often, you really learn to cherish the interactions you do have with them, grateful to be entrusted with someone's care. Had a sweet gent with CHF. His heart struggles to perform its pumping duty with each beat. Blood backs up, stressing, filling the lungs. Breathing has become a taxing chore. The heart stretches as it weakens. Cooked him a small portion of our dehydrated camping food for dinner. Life is fragile and fleeting, friends.

I'm ACLS certified now. Yay!

Spent the weekend in Anchorage with Cynthia's family. For those of ya that may need a quick recap: Cynthia is a student here in Glennallen at Alaska Bible College. She's Eskimo and from the western side of this massive state. Please pray with me for her brother's family. Brother is in some trouble and Cynthia's sister-in-law has a house full of energetic children to care for, including a two week old newborn.

This is Honey, Cynthia's niece.

There are two other boys too. I love these kids. I had so much fun with them these past couple days! They are a handful, and crazy! Please pray for Sophie, the mother. Pray for healing, comfort, Christ's presence, encouragement, strength. Sophie's friend, Bert, who is also going through a hard time was there most of the weekend with her seven-month old too. Pray for Bert as well. Pray that I will have more opportunities to get to know and care for these children...that I might be a sort of adopted auntie. It was such a sweet, beautiful, exhausting weekend.
Blessed by lots of baby-time, too. Something about babies...

Here's another baby.

Here's the Chistochina chapel...about an hour away from Glennallen.

I'm getting involved here with Sunday school when I can. Getting to know twin sisters and their younger lil' sis. Doreen (8?), Sierra (8?) & Cheyenne (5?). It is difficult because I can't be there every week because of work, but I'm excited to be part of this small congregation. The church used to be bigger than it is now, but many of those who used to attend have now either moved away or passed on. There is a new pastor now, and the church will likely grow and reach the community primarily through the children. Please pray for the few children that do come to know the Lord. Pray that the families of the children would come to church too. Pray for a free weekend for myself, that I might be able to plan a Saturday event and maybe sleep over at the church, to build relationship with these girls, to invest in their lives...and to get them excited about church-time. I really want this to happen!

Though the amber leaves are all gone...snow is coming! Rivers and lakes are freezing over. The mountain peaks that line the Glenn Highway are wearing their glistening new snow outfits. It is actually spitting snow flakes outside right now!

This was the sunset last night... the night I saw my first Alaskan moose! Finally!