Let it snow let it snow let it snow!

Once again it has been awhile since we've posted. Let me tell you, I knew teaching would keep you busy, but I didn't realize really how busy it would keep us. It is very difficult teaching up in the Bush. You see things here that you wouldn't imagine seeing or hearing about down in the lower 48. However, it makes our calling to be here so much more significant. Even though it is difficult and some of the children have hard lives at home, I can't help but smile every time I see them walking through my door. They are always energetic and ready to be here despite their circumstances. Ben is getting to know his students more and more each day and so it is making it easier for him. The one thing about Ben that is so neat is that he loves being around his students inside and outside of school. If we are walking home and the kids are out playing a game, Ben will stay and play with them for a little bit. Me on the other hand...I keep walking. Once I'm out of the school and on my way home, there is usually no stopping me. :) haha Ben is a much better person than I am.

Last weekend we got to go to Russian Misson for a teacher inservice. It was absolutely beautiful there. There were actual trees. I have forgotten what trees look like. Mountain Village has little bushes, but nothing like Russian Mission. In Russian they had pine trees. I found myself taking a gazillion pictures of trees. It actually kind of reminded me of Minnesota. The thing that I find so funny is that to go to an inservice in a different villiage...we don't go by car, train, or bus. We fly there. Also, there are no hotels...so we have big giant teacher slumber party in the school. It was to get out of our village for a weekend.

This weekend there is a fall festival going on in the village. Last night there was Eskimo dancing. One of our own math teachers, Joe actually got out and was dancing. It was pretty neat! Tonight there is a pot luck which there will be a plethora of moose dishes and other fine cuisine. After the pot luck there will be fiddling. This last week I took my Kindergartners out berry picking. I chose a pretty chilly day to go, so my first back of Kinders went out and were freezing by the time we got there so we picked a few and the kids ate them by the time we got back to the school. My afternoon Kinders had much better luck. It wasn't as cold and wasn't as windy. They collectively got about half of a container of berries. As we were walking back, I noticed that all my kids had blue and red faces. It was pretty cute.

Two nights ago there were about 5 of us having dinner at Mel's house. As Ben and I walked out the door I saw snowflakes coming down and I screamed out of joy. Kevin was still inside and thought I was getting attacked or something had happened. Well, I think Kevin knows now how much I like snow and Christmas as I started singing Christmas Carols on the walk home. My sister would be so proud of me.

Thank you Harvey's for sending us a care package! It is so fun going to the post office and seeing that little pink slip saying that we have a package. We love you all and miss you! Oh, by the way...Ben and I got our Bush flights to Anchorage for Christmas break. It was about $1700 for the both of us round trip just to Anchorage and back. We have yet to get our Anchorage to Minnesota tickets. We are waiting so see if prices go down a little bit.

Love from Alaska,

Ben and Anne Harvey