Due to the long line of cars, the Swansons had to hike quite a ways to get to the work site:

This kind of work is for the Birds!

What an incredibly helpful flock of the Bird Family showed up, proving that no one is too small to haul a big load.

We are encouraged by the help of so many talented families. Young and old all have done their part:

Sean worked with his Dad, Rob, on constructing one of the two covered shelters:

Short, shameless guys Micah, Steve, and Rob labor hard to group pose as poor, tall guy Rick struggles alone. Why work on a ladder when some towering soul will do the job without one?

Though April showers bring May flowers in many places of the world, April in Alaska brings mostly just more light and "milder" temperatures.

Here, we jump for joy on the lake because we have so much for which to celebrate! God gave us all life and health, friends abundant, His immeasurable peace, and a bright hope for the future. We wish Seth Brennan could have been here to join us, but he is jumping for joy in Hawaii with TeenPact Staff and students:

The Spencer Display Setup & Photography Team took hundreds of inventory photos and yet still managed to smile for a picture of their own before heading home:

God gave us a beautiful sunny and windless day. Some of our friends created displays of items for photographing while others built two covered shelters for protection from the rainy days sure to come:

God continues to encourage us during the cleanup.

We are reminded of Isaiah 61:3

"To appoint unto them that mourn,...to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for

mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...."

Strange treasures still show up in the ruble. Wynn intuitively knows that even a part of a dollar is still a dollar:

Chain gang Rick, Steve, Kirt, and Mike stood around most of the day posing for photographs--except when they were hard at work. Steve's wife Roxanne baked a loaf of delicious bread that was nearly gone just a few hours after this photo was taken:

Micah climbed a nearby Mt. Ash tree to capture the first bird's eye photo of the site. Unbelievable devastation of three levels to just one:

Abby and Anna cheer us with their smiles. Abby just had a birthday... and so did her sister :)

Wendy and Pauline enjoy the pizza provided by our friend Rick:

Some of the work crew that showed up today took a much needed lunch break. More than 53 people came to help!! We praise God for each one! Many pitched in to provide food and drink for the royal court:

Kenton blessed us once again with beautiful music! Micah, Psalm, and Wynn have also.

The Barnes' A-OKay'd our request to move a piano into their home after purchasing it from a good friend.

Part of the recovery process for our family has involved a slow, step-by-step return to somewhat of a normal lifestyle.

During the fire, we lost all three pianos we depended on.

Thanks to the extremely generous gifts of family & friends, we were able to purchase the Yamaha Grand:

Larry, Doug, and John take a mandatory union break after hauling trash to the dumpster:

Friends Larry and John find treasures in the trash. Lydia was a little gun-shy after hearing all the shooting:

Fred DeRu got dirty with the rest of us:

The Kroeker family along with their friend Nick (center) drove from Eagle River to help:

Our southern view from the Barnes' porch looking across the lake toward the beautiful Chugach Mountain Range:

Happy Easter! He is risen!

We pray for God's peace for you and thank Him for your involvement in our lives. We appreciate every prayer you lift up on our behalf, knowing that He hears the prayers of the righteous and will indeed answer them. We need wisdom, patience, and humility as we go step-by-step through the process ahead.