"Man is born for trouble as the sparks fly upward." Job 5:8

This month we were grieved to hear that our next-door neighbor Margaret lost her father, and that on November 16, another house fire occurred near us which claimed the life of an Alaska Airlines flight attendant:

"Many of you are already aware, but for those that are not, recently returned ANC based flight attendant, Julia Weber (Julia Orth when she was based here the first time in the early 1990's) died tragically in a fire at her parents' home in Willow last Tuesday. Services were held on Sunday. Julia was a single mom and is survived by her six-year-old son Jacob (and her parents.) An account has been set up for her and the information is posted below... The family lost everything in the fire. A memorial fund has been established to assist the family. Contributions can be directed to:

Julia Weber Memorial Fund

C/o Sandy Petram

1020 S. Bailey St.

Palmer, AK 99645

Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union

Account Number: 1319930TR

"Published on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 10.24 AM AKST.

Caswell – An explosion reportedly preceded a blaze that killed a 42-year-old woman Tuesday. According to a report from the Alaska State Troopers, the fire was called in at around 10:45 a.m. near Mile 87.2 of the Parks Highway. One person made it out alive with only minor injuries. That survivor, '"told investigators that one person, Julia Weber, 42, of Talkeetna, did not make it out of the home. Weber's remains were recovered from the home after the fire was contained,"' according to troopers. The family dog also died in the fire. The 3,000 sqare-foot home and its outbuildings were completely destroyed. As for what caused the blaze, troopers say that the Alaska State Fire Marshal is investigating and that '"an explosion occurred prior to the fire starting."' This is the third fire involving a fatality in the Valley in two weeks. The first was Nov. 3 when a young boy lost his life in Meadow Lakes. The second was also in Caswell, actually in the same mile of the highway as Tuesday's fire. Four people, two of them children, were found dead in that home, but troopers say not all of them died in the fire."

~Tuesday, November 16 @ 9:30 p.m.~

"Be still and know that I am God."

~Psalm 46:10~

"When you find yourself in forced stillness - waiting in line, sitting by a hospital bed, or stuck in traffic - instead of fidgeting and fuming, use such moments to practice stillness before God.

It's a crazy world and life speeds by at a blur, yet God is right in the middle of the craziness. And anywhere, at anytime, we may turn to Him, hear His voice, feel His hand, and catch the fragrance of heaven.

You can be still and know that He is God."

~from Holiness in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada~

Papa (who is visiting from Kodiak) and Wynn are staying busy taking the copper out of the discarded wires in order to recycle it.

The rooms dressed in their new coat of sheetrock

surround the recently papered floor.

Main floor views

Psalm and Doug discuss the loft railing on the third floor.

Basement level

We were all very happy for Micah on Saturday when he won the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) annual piano competition which was held in Anchorage at the University of Alaska. In January he is to represent Alaska in Idaho at the regional competition for both solo and duets. He is shown above with his talented teacher Svetlana.

Micah, Papa, Wynn, Svetlana, Psalm, Seth, Wendy, and Kenton

We sure appreciate Meghan, Elizabeth, and our landlord, Dave who drove all the way from the MatSu Valley to attend the judging and to show their support for Micah.

Malwin, the newly rescued bunny

Today three workers began the taping and mudding of the sheetrock.

Outside the temperature has dropped significantly and the bitterly cold wind is steady and biting.

Friday, November 12, 2010

"How little people know who think that holiness is dull.

When one meets the real thing...it is irresistible."

~C.S. Lewis~

"If but ten among us lead a holy life,

we shall kindle a fire which shall light up the entire city."

~St. John Chrysostom~

On Veterans Day eighteen people shared in a pizza party at the site celebrating the completion of the hanging of the drywall.

Lois, who grew up in Mexico and speaks fluent Spanish, came with her five children and father-in-law to help us get to know Alberto, Dino, Reuben, and Juan better. When we arrived the guys already had a table ready-made from scaffolding and sheetrock.

Lois and her family have spent many Thanksgivings with us in our old house.

Psalm and Tybee

Hopefully this was the first of many dinners to be shared in our new home.

Psalm, Tybee, Kiwani, and Yaquina

Alberto and Reuben were very popular with the kids...

...and could easily have competed with the Pied Piper.

Wynn spent most of his time watching Alberto.

It wasn't long until Alberto let Wynn give it a try.

Using the knowledge that Mr. Carl had taught him, he went to work with gusto.

Juan and Dino apply the glue to sheetrock

which is then placed onto the concrete block wall.

Looking into the sewing/laundry room

O Master, let me walk with Thee, In lowly paths of service free; Tell me Thy secret; help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move By some clear, winning word of love; Teach me the wayward feet to stay, And guide them in the homeward way.

O Master, let me walk with Thee, Before the taunting Pharisee; Help me to bear the sting of spite, The hate of men who hide Thy light.

Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee In closer, dearer, company, In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, In trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray Far down the future’s broadening way, In peace that only Thou canst give, With Thee, O Master, let me live.

~Lyrics: Washington Gladden, 1879~

~Music: H. Percy Smith, 1874~

We never know quite where Wynn will turn up- today he was discovered peeking out from between a rock and a hard place.

Alberto, Reuben, Dino, and Juan recently began transforming the inside of the house from uncovered/insulated walls (pictured above) to beautiful drywall (pictured below).

The loft as viewed from the boys' bedroom...

...and as seen from Psalm's bedroom

Kenton tests the scaffolding at the top of the stairs.

On the first few days the ceilings and part of the walls on the top floor were completed.

Moving to the second story of the house - Alberto and Reuben finished sheetrocking the music room and continue working on the living room/dining room/kitchen/entry room.

They make even ceiling work look easy.

Meanwhile downstairs, work progresses at an amazing rate.

Juan expertly cuts the pieces of sheetrock, carries them to Dino, and helps hold them up while Dino skillfully and speedily uses the screw gun to put them up.

Micah had not been to the site since the insulation and corner windows were installed, so things looked very different from his current perspective.

With the snow outside and the sheetrock inside,

everything is now covered in beautiful white.