I thought I would add some more pictures to the blog. Emme is preparing to get in training for the potty. Here she is with her new pink training pants. Keep Bridgette in your prayers and if you think of it, give her a call. Emme's potty chair makes music if she is successful.

Everything is well here. Dad's car is in the shop and will be good as new soon. He will be sporting new hubcaps. Our snow is fast melting and the snow has been out and beautiful every day now.

Keep praying for Dad/Bernie. He will be home soon, Lord willing the first week in May. Then we depart for Bernie's graduation and our trip from the east coast to the west coast. Little Bernie is doing well, although up to his neck with school and work. "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him." Nahum 1:7

Hi to everyone and Welcome to Spring. I just got home from a wonderful spring break in Boise, Idaho to visit Bridgette, Chad, and, of course, Emme. Everything went well with connections etc. and God truly blessed me. Here are some photos of the week.
We had an outing to Emmett to visit some antique stores and have lunch, went to the Boise Zoo, and had a trip to the doctor's office to meet Emme's brother or sister. What a miracle God is forming as he is knitting him/her together in Bridgette's womb. Amazing and I'm so thankful to have been there to see him/her. Thank you to Bridgette and Chad for a wonderful visit! Thank you to Bernie who made it possible to for me to go, and to Gretchen who watched Sophie!! I enjoyed every moment of playing and holding Emme! She is learning and growing each time I see her! You're doing a great job raising her.

HAPPY 49TH BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! We are missing you and thought we could update you with some pictures of what has been going on here. The mosaic salmon is your birthday gift I made. It still needs to be grouted. Check out the new carpet. Phil also put up the rest of the trim...well most of it. Tomorrow they are going to build the shelves in the bathroom, closet, and hang the closet rods. Move in date is February 1. We all wish you a Happy Birthday. The picture of Emme is just too cute not to send..It's from when they were here at Christmas.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" Isaiah 26:3

These are the pictures of our new home remodel thanks to all the kids!!! I am so grateful for the inspiration. You have no idea how I have been sorting and cleaning after this. blessing. It is long overdue. I appreciate all your hard work. Soon to be posted are the updated pictures of the apartment we have been working on too. Everything is coming together. I just told Dad that all his hard work has paid off. Please keep checking the blog and praying for Dad (Bernie). We sure do miss him!!!

The Mini-Gun is mounted outside our shop for customers that don't want to co-operate.
Bernie with the Humvee and M-249 SAW .

This is a Humvee that was hit by an IED (Improvised Exploding Devise)

The ground cannot absorb the water as fast as what it rains here resulting in small ponds every where you go. The mud is like a peanut butter consistency and just as tough to get off you boots!

This is our pods (housing). Each unit has 3 rooms approx. 10x10. Not bad and a lot better than the tents that several troops live in. There is no running water in the room so outhouses and shower trailers (shown above) are the norm. Each pod area is surrounded by T-barriers and sand bags to protect the pod from frag blast.

To the left is a few confiscated weapons from the Insurgents being prepared for destruction.
Below is my customer service tech with a 50 cal sniper rifle.

Happy New Year!! It's hard to believe it's already 2006!!! Hallelujah! Here are some recent photos of our Christmas vacation. Please continue to pray for Bernie as he is in Balad, Iraq for the next four months.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him.' Psalms 22:8" "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my saviour--from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from mine enemies". II Samuel 22:2-6

This is the new tile in the apartment bathroom. Phil and Dad laid it Wednesday night. I love the color. It is a off-white kind of marbled look to it and the grout is taupe. They did a great job! Phil is a pro. I hope it gets sealed tomorrow so we can put the vanity and medicine cabinet mirror in. Dad bought some plumbing parts yesterday to install. I have my eye on some pretty carpet at Home Depot.

Our weather has really warmed up. Last week it got up to 48 degrees. Much of the snow is melted. Weird weather for Alaska.

Hi to everyone and a blessed merry Christmas season to all. Hopefully you are enjoying the start of December. We had our Ladies Christmas Tea at church. Annie and I took a table and decorated it with a blue and snowflake theme. What fun!! She is the crafty one who made the centerpiece..a frosty white/silver tree with blue snowflakes and also the take home magnets which said.."wash me and I shall be whiter than snow". I brought the tablecloth, china, and silverware. We both made something yummy to eat. Annie made her famous scones and butter sauce and I made an apple/walnut cake. Gretchen came and we had our picture taken in front of the Christmas tree. It was lots of mothers and their young daughters so I insisted and Gretchen complied...a little reluctantly. Dad had Guard weekend so work progress stopped on the garage apartment. Tonight Phil is coming to lay the tile in th ebathroom. We will update you with pictures shortly.

Hi to everyone. Lookee here now...a new fridge, stove, dishwasher, and a microwave and hood which you cannot see. Also new baseboard heaters which were installed yesterday. We even have our thermostats set...which is great because it is very cold here. Tonight Dad and RJ are out there wiring outlets and smoke detectors. I'm inside all cozy blogging away. I hauled out Christmas decorations..not to set up yet but to look for some Christmas decorations for a Christmas Tea at church on Sat. I believe it's like the one your church had Natalie. Annie and I are in charge of decorating and we are doing it with a blue/silver snowflake theme. I'm bringing the china and glassware. We may do little favors for everyone depending on time.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!!! We are incredibly thankful for where we are and what God has done in our lives. We have had 20 inches of snow within the last 24 hours!! That is a heap! Dad has already plowed like three times and he still has one more driveway and the walkways to go. Here is the progress we have made this past week on laying the laminate floor. We only have the hallway to go. I am so excited. The electrician will hopefully show up and do some finish wiring and then we will hang our light fixtures. Little by little progress is made.

Hi Everyone. Like this color? I wanted to show the pictures of the new countertops. Dad is in the garage and working to get things arrranged on shelves. Last weekend, Gretchen and I along with the neighbor kids helped Dad move all his tools and stuff into the newly painted garage.

The color of the High Mac (like Corian) coutnertops is called Desert Sand. The cabinets are called Spice and the walls are butter colored. The flooring is laminate and it matches pretty well. We will begin on that soon. Dad is leaving in about one week for one week it may have to wait. We also have to pick out lighting fixtures as well but the finish electical comes first. We are looking at purchasing a toilet right now while Home Depot has them on sale. We have been parking in the garage all week. Hooray! The temperature has been 0. BBbbbbrrrrrr!!