When something seems bad...turn it around

Another cold day in Fairbanks, Alaska. For the most part the winter has been pretty tolerable, but today is a different story. Today the 40 below temperatures, ice fog with practically zero visablity, and short amount of sunlight got to me just a tiny weeny bit. Avery has been watching this video that has a pretty good lesson to it, and it kinda hit me when I started feeling gloomy about our current weather. "When something seems bad, turn it around and find something good". What a good life lesson. If we could always find the good in something we would live much more pleasant and peaceful lives. SO, Lucky for us we live up in the hills so we were able to drive out of the  ice fog, into warmer temperatures, and see a little more of the sun once we got out of the valley. Plus I get to spend more time with my family in these close quarters huddled together to stay warm ;)

Days like today really make me think about the people who don't have a warm place to stay, food to eat, or family to call. I was shocked at how many homeless people there are in a place as cold and unforgiving as Fairbanks. Zac and I got a small glimpse of this population this past week as we were trying to help out an individual who didn't have anywhere to go. As believers we are called to be the light of the world, spreading the love of Christ. Where there is much darkness, the light shines even brighter. I pray that the Lord gives us more and more opportunities to minister and the resources to bless the lives of those who are lost and hurting.

One year

A year ago Zac, Avery and I were getting off the ferry in Whitter, AK scared out of our minds. If I made the same trip today, I wouldn't be nearly as scared, but just as prepared. Over the past year we have learned quite a few things about life in Fairbanks, Alaska...

• 40 below can be the norm, 40 above causes people to panic
• If your windshield is not cracked, you probably haven't taken your car out all winter
• Moose are daily sightings, it would be strange if you didn't see one
• Plugging your car in is a must, or else you will be walking home in 40 below...not cool
• People leave their cars running while in the grocery store, church, movie theater, etc...air quality is BAD in the winter
• To a lot of Alaskans showers are optional, or should I say not an option. A lot of people live in dry cabins (WE SHOWER) meaning no running water...ewww
• Vit D and happy lights come in handy during the long winter months
• Driving on snow and ice is really not as scary as people in North Carolina think ;)
• Alaska despite it's extreme temperatures truly is a beautiful sight to see

Phone Photos

Just a few random photos I pulled off my phone

First picture Zac and I have of just us in a LONG time

Little man learning to read and hearing bedtime stories from his PawPaw and Gigi

My love bug

Avery lovin on his Uncle Todd

Sleep...rarely do we catch him doing it

Blue eyed baby boy

Signing

Ever since Avery was little we have tried to teach him sign language so he could communicate with us. He was always pretty good at milk and more, but now that he is talking more he signs and talks. Mostly saying thank you and please in sign. Makes a mommas heart proud!

 Avery practicing his sign language...MORE

Some of the good days

A few shots of the good days in between sickness

 A boy and his apple...if only he would eat it instead of spit little pieces all over the place

Hair just like his father

My handsome little man

Avery and his Uncle Todd

Again with the apple

Zac doing his house hold chores :)

Just woke up from a nap

He just tooted...

It's a REALLY good apple

It's been a LONG week

I don't know if you can tell from the picture but it's been a ROUGH week at the Lail house. Right before Christmas Avery was getting over a month long stretch of sickness. First it was strep throat, then viral stomatits, and then the stomach bug. He had about two good weeks and then a couple nights ago he spiked a 103.7 temp. He still had a 103 fever the next day so we took him to urgent care and they decided to do a chest xray. Which by the way is TORTURE. I don't know how I thought they would keep a 20 month old still enough to get a chest xray but torture chamber was not on my radar. They put him in this contraption that looked like it was developed in the 1700s for torturing prisoners. It was painful to watch, especially since Avery was crying and screaming and staring RIGHT at me like he was saying why aren't you helping me! After they were done I told him we would never do that again...and then the xray came back with "patchy infiltrates" Oh great...possible pneumonia...possible repeat chest xray...WAY TO GO MOM, you just promised he wouldn't have to do that again. Luckily for me when we took him back for his follow up he was doing much better and we opted to NOT do the chest xray...whew.

Now that Avery was on the mend we were thinking things were going to start looking up around here. And then I go and punch myself in the eye, and now I am seeing black spots in my vision. Well, it wasn't exactly like I was TRYING to punch myself in the eye...it just happened. Yeah, Yeah I know, how do you punch your own self in the eye. Well, its a story that probably won't make any sense unless you were standing in front of me and I demonstrated what actually took place. It was hard to explain to my husband and he was there when it happened. So now I am dealing with this black ink blot floating around in my right eye...not good for a nurse who is supposed to be taking care of other people.

Hoping this next week has happier news to report!

Winter Wonderland

Snowing again today, and according to Zac we are gaining almost 5 mins of sunlight a day...YAHOO! By the end of January we will be gaining almost 7 mins a day.  Now that is something to shout about :) The sky is always so pretty here in the winter because the sun is either rising or setting, there is not much in between.

Tubby time

Last week while PawPaw and Uncle Todd were here, Avery had a "tubby" 9 straight nights in a row. As soon as we opened the door to their hotel room he would run straight to the bathroom and start climbing in clothes and all. I was thankful it wasn't my bathroom because water was going everywhere. It is hard to not just let him have a good time when he doesn't get to do it that often. His last bath was back in September, the last time they were visiting...so have at it kid.

Hope for 2013

As hard as 2012 was with moving, starting new jobs, missing family and friends, missing being a stay at home mom, Zac learning how to be a stay at home dad, and fighting many days of loneliness and wondering why God brought us to Alaska, I am grateful for the struggles the past year brought and see such hope and victory for 2013. 

"This is going to be a year of greater HARVEST – harvesting on what we have seeded for over the years. There is going to be a greater outpouring of power and anointing than ever before. It is going to be a year of the GREAT transference of wealth. God is opening up the windows of Heaven to pour out blessings to fund ALL that He has asked us to do." -Joan Hunter. 

Zac, Avery and I are believing God for greater things in 2013. For answered prayers, for prophecies fulfilled, for destinies revealed, and for hope restored. We continue to have an expectancy for what He is going to do in us and through us. We are a HUGE work in progress but faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, and we have faith for the divine fulfillment of God's will here on earth as it is in heaven.

We received an encouraging and TIMELY word from my mom that just strengthened our hearts and our resolve to be sold out for the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what the costs. This word is not just a word for us but a word for all in the body of Christ and to those that the Lord is drawing into His Kingdom. Thank you mom for your discernment and your willingness to speak what the Holy Spirit has given you!

"Dear Bekah and Zac, 

God is working for you. Take to Him all of your concerns, including your dreams. Let His light shine on your hopes and plans. Let Him turn your dreams to reality. Don't try to hurry His process. You don't know what you might miss. Work with Him and accept His time frame. Remember that He does not do things in a hurry, but He does keep His promises. God is constantly working for you. Work with each other, together with Him. Don't focus on the things going on around you that seem to be wrong. "Do not be afraid, or be fearful because I am with you! I am your GOD. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 Sure things have been hard lately but you two are toughest people I know. Don't let circumstances rule your emotions or actions. Love, Mom

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,

    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

 

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I." Isaiah 58:8-9