Meet the Cast (Thus far)

I reckon that I should have done a "Meet the Cast" as my first blog post, but alas, I did not - probably and truly (based on some text messages and emails) leaving many of you with confused minds.  Allow me to un - confuse you.  Let's begin with the current cast - though many are sure to be added as the weeks progress.

J: Employed by God's Kingdom.  Giver of all things that have been given to him.  Freely.  His time, his money, his home, his Lodge, his energy, his family, his creativity, his food, his heart, his wisdom, his encouragement, his love.  All of it.  His relationships are what make him rich and full.  And that is the message that he shouts from the river banks of Ninilchik, AK.  "Be.  Rest.  Sit with me.  Let's pray. I love watching you laugh.  Go.  Take a break.  Sit on the deck.  Relax.  Enjoy.  Run around.  There is room for everyone.  All are welcome.  God's up to something.  We have plenty, stay!"  This is J.  Belting Jack Johnson while creating something in the kitchen, dancing on the deck with a group of middle schooler's, inviting a random Lodge passerby out for dinner, boding accolades to his beautiful wife, pulling the car over to stop and enjoy fresh water from a mountain stream, watching God's majestic creation from the deck (both that of loud college students blowing up water bottles with fire crackers, the baby Moose, or Reds splashing in the river) - there is so much to glean from the way he lives his life.  There's not a wasted moment.  And if you've had the privilege of knowing someone who lives life this way, then you know exactly how refreshing and energizing it is.  You can go weeks and weeks without sleep and not even know it because you are far too busy being alive, truly being alive.  Thankfulness seems too weak of a word to encapsulate the amount of thankfulness that seeps from J's life and then how that same thankfulness plays out in the lives that are affected.  Maybe a tongue twister of a sentence, but a life with a significant trickle down effect.  Seeing the Lodge fill up week after week and people from all over the country leaving full in the ways of the Lord, based on what He has blessed J with, in order to bless others, makes it way too easy to do anything and everything to serve and give to the work he is doing here.  Though, I did learn that like any father, he will revoke responsibilities should things get out of hand - it's just that in this case, getting out of hand means that you didn't spend enough time resting, being, sitting, enjoying, relaxing, laughing, and building relationships.  How life should be lived and yet how unlikely it is actually lived by most of us.  It's a good thing that I can just ask him to roll me down the hill or look at my "Foby" (Food Baby) in order to get him roaring - thus all is forgiven. ;)

Hot Thang, (Grandma Adamae): I am going to write the most about Grandma, because like Tamica, I spend the most time with her.  You will never meet anyone like her.  She calls me her "Wild One."  Though, at the ripe age of 81, I think she is my wild one.  She makes growing old look more fun than being young.  Or simply that there is no difference in being young than there is in growing old.  She charges around the property and over the river faster than Tamica and I combined.  I imagine that she could outrun a grizzly.  You would find us in her dust.  She doesn't stop giving, serving, nor loving.  Each passing day, she finds new ways to do these things even more.  Humility is her middle name.  She still journals every single day and takes great delight in the simple things such as writing and sending letters all over the country.  Thus, every morning before 10:00 A.M., she jaunts on over to the Post Office.  She's so protective of Tamica and I that one day, she didn't even let us out of our parked car when we saw our first cute guy in Alaska.  Then again, maybe that's not her protective nature, but rather her playful nature.  Which is ironic considering that Grandma is typically doing anything and everything in her power to set us up and light a fire under our tush's to find our hubsters.  That could have been one of our MIA soon to be husbands, Grandma!  Grandma always gets the last joke.  Hands down.  Her new favorite word is "awesome," (recently taught to her by Tamica).  She says it with an exclamation every single time.  "Grandma, what do you think about the salad?"  "AWESOME!"  This is actually more than her just learning a new word.  We were working with the response of "Eh," as her descriptive answer for something really good or something not so really good.  Thus, we just never knew.  Next word on the docket: "Super cute."  What I am certain of is this: She is changing my life.  And I think we are changing hers too. :)

Jeramy:  Now, you'll notice that there are a number of photos of us posing with ice cream.   I think I've shared with you that the General Store is city life to Ninilchik, AK, as the whole downtown area of Seattle is to Washington.  But this ice cream posed picture is especially applicable in this case.  While most of us have a sweet tooth, Jeramy has sweet teeth.  A whole set.  So much so that Tamica and I have to make double the amount of dessert every night so that he can have one full batch and/or pan for himself, and the rest of us can share the second.  And because there's always leftovers from the second batch (what normally would be Jeramy's original serving), at about 11 P.M. each night, he seems to find those extra's - even if they are hidden in the back of the freezer.  In fact, we've learned that it's much better to avoid dinner leftovers by serving Jeramy a plated supper.  You may as well put a cake on his dinner plate.  Okay, that's a bit much, as he does like caesar salad. ;)  More so than his sweet teeth, Jeramy pretty much runs the show when it comes to all things construction and building.  The lodge has his sweat and nails covering walls, insulation, and ceiling - top to bottom.  I am very thankful for this, as plastic tents with roaming bears and moose is not necessarily ideal.

T - Spice (Taylor): "I think we're at the place in our relationship where we can be rude to each other now."  Week two, and this is what Taylor announces at the dinner table to me.  And I couldn't agree more.  Especially when it comes to food.  There's nothing worse than being a cook and everyone lying to you about how delicious the disgusting roast sitting on their plates is.  I'd like to think that my breaking a four wheeler, microwaving metal, never being able to reach anything on the top shelves, inquiring as to whether Eskimo's are real, taking photos of him while he sits in the dirt and changes a flat tire, discussing albinism, forgiving me for not knowing that there wouldn't be parking for a truck and trailer hitch in the downtown city of Anchorage (even though my intentions were solely in pursuit of a perfect meal for him, despite his mockery of me needing a chai tea latte or something), or bellowing country songs from the top of my lungs, is making Taylor a better and more patient man (while keeping the eye rolling to a minimum, which is really tricky to do) - but the truth is, he already is that.  And I feel as though living at the lodge with him gives me plenty of credibility to judge his character.  It begs the question as to why there isn't some sort of Wrangler University.  He would be the Dean.  Not to mention, I think lives in general would be rather enriched if there were more Wrangler's trotting the globe.  Beyond being a patient man, his thoughtfulness also runs the gamut.  Knowing how much I love adventures, he'd never consider leaving me behind - even if it's a trip to the dumpster, right alongside a dead mouse.  It's okay though - he makes up for it with his signature and un - named but incredible dip.  We also hear that he's got a pie up his sleeve ready to unleash.

Jacobe (Jake): Jake hailed to us a few days ago from California.  And because we all wanted a family day (this essentially means that we all pile into a van, drive over an hour, get separated in WalMart for an hour, find each other and leave), Jake had the great pleasure of exiting the airport to find our entire crew there to greet him.  And if being the newbie wasn't enough, we ended up having an impromptu photo shoot, in which he had no choice but to participate.  Cheerfully, he did (even if his first impression of us started with a "F" and ended with an "reaks").  This was the beginning of our relationship with Jake and it was in the beginning that we knew he was a perfect addition to the family. Adoption papers were signed and back to the lodge we headed.  Oh, and did I mention that he called Tamica and I "ma'am?"  Win.  Let's talk about Jake's laugh for a moment.  It's mild and quiet, but purely contagious.  You know that you're funny when Jake tells you to "Stooooooop."  Or at least I like to think it's that I'm being funny and is more of an avoidance from his forthcoming belly laughing versus pure annoyance.  Which speaking of bellies, if you can reach the level of belly bumping with someone post supper, you know you've found a gem,  Oh, and don't let me forget, when he toasts and tastes his perfectly browned Alaskan S'More, he does a dance around the fire (thinking that no one is watching, but we are, like right now).  He = My Brother, Me = His Sister.  He epitomizes grace, patience, and selflessness.  Basically and simply put, Jake is only here until the first week of July and Tamica and I are already scheming for ways to ensure an August departure.

Eye A N (Ian): Ian's the newest Wrangler addition.  We didn't have to worry about a photo shoot with him because he's already a lover of the camera - at least that's what half of his luggage suggested.  Something Ian didn't know prior to his arrival in Ninilchik is that he would be baking Mocha Fudge Brownies his first night in town.  It's always nice to know that a Wrangler has a diversified skill set, we think.  Original roots from Arkansas, I knew Ian was going to be an asset at the Lodge when I made (for the first time ever) a Creamed Corn dish, and he overwhelmed me with his compliments.  It's always delightful when a Southerner bodes well of a Southern dish made by a non - Southerner.  The same is true of my Southern Sweet Tea.  Ian has a good summer ahead of him - especially if the too hot to trot ice cream parlor girl lets him take her on a date.  ;)  Or perhaps she will read this blog one day - and in that case, I would like to introduce myself as Ian's Official Wing Woman and invite you over for a blazing campfire and tasty S'More with Ian or perhaps a cozy game night in the Lodge?

Col.: He calls us his Brown Angel's and tells us that we are going to leave the camp at the end of the summer and never need a compliment again because he will have doted on us enough to last a lifetime.  And it's really true.  He makes my cheeks pinker than the salmon.  He's also already volunteered to perform our weddings and hand craft our future baby cribs.  He is filing Grandparent adoption papers for us.  He spots needs like an eagle coasting above - whether a new coffee table (builds it), a hug (gives it), a message (delivers it), encouragement (shares it).  It makes perfect sense being that he is a retired Army Chaplain, Author, and Speaker.  And can I just say, with having lost my last living Grandfather a couple of months ago, it's been heart candy especially for me.  Story after story after story after story after story after story after story after story after story after story (don't worry, I started copying and pasting) - comes flowing from his lips like a waterfall - life, war, and other mysteries (okay, and love). :)  So tell me, why is it that with how truly remarkable everyone is here, I didn't just write one general paragraph?  Because yet again, I find myself sitting here in finally what is some dusk lighting (at 1:00 A.M) reflecting on how lucky I am in having met some of the most unique and incredible people to be in my current longitude and latitude location.

Dar & Dino: The best neighbor's anyone could ever have.

Youth for Christ: Week one of camp kicked off with a group of zealous and spirited middle schooler's from Anchorage.  Part of the Youth for Christ organization, they came to the lodge purely as volunteers - willing to empty themselves into any and every project we had for them in order to get the camp up and running for the summer season.  Their days were not only full of cleaning and painting, sewing and vacuuming, but were also abundant with laughter and dancing.  And it was more than humbling for us to see.  Here's why: Half of the group of girls had never been to camp.  Half of the girls lived with their grandparents because their parents were not in a position to take care of them, financially or emotionally.  Half of the girls were taking care of their younger siblings.  Chocolate milk was a commodity at home.  Their ears, eyes, and hearts were deprived of attention, compassion, and loving words.  They saw themselves ugly, unworthy, and insignificant. And despite all of these things and more, along with their incredible leaders (Kate & Heather), they poured hope, zest for life, and love into each moment of our days - of course more than we could have done for them.  Isn't it funny how it always works out that way?  I am a better person due to meeting this wonderful group of young ladies, whom I believe are going to continue growing into strong and passionate - but always playful at heart - women that take the city of Anchorage by storm in ways only God has designed for each of them individually.

Valentine:  My dream and Dar's dog.  I want to take him home with me.  Or, should you be at home and want to have a welcome gift waiting for me, please don't hesitate to obtain a Husky and put a white bow around his neck.  My address is...well, you should know it if you are buying me a puppy.

Moosey: Our evening visitor.  Though, he is quite camera shy.  I imagine as the summer progresses, we will learn more about each other and he won't be as shy.

Baldies: They cover the beaches and fill the sky daily.  Everywhere else you would think that they were extinct - but the truth of the matter is that they just all live up here by me. ;)