Margo's Trip to Washington

In July Margo flew to Seattle for some repair surgery on her wrist that had been fused because of arthritis three years ago. She stayed with her niece Carol and her family in Redmond during her pre-op appointments. Carol's husband Toby generously loaned his truck for her travels for the next two weeks.

Carol and Toby's daughter Emma invited Margo to a Tea Party at her play house, (built by her and Grandpa Lon).


Brother Jake, Carol and Jessie attended the tea party as well where we played games and had refreshments prepared by Emma.

Bryan's family came to celebrate Matthew's 7th birthday in Mt. Vernon. We stayed in a motel with a swimming pool where Dylan, Nathan and Matthew spent the day swimming.


The boys resting in the motel room with Allison before the big birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's

Spending time with grandson Matthew and son Jeremy in Bellingham was very special. Jeremy and Margo worked together to re-model Matthew's bedroom. It was fun to surprise him with a new bed.

Margo made curtains with wild Alaskan animals and Jeremy repaired and painted a used dresser we found at the Good Will.


Next stop was Friday Harbor where Margo spent a week with son Bryan and his family. On a hike to Jackel's Lagoon on the south end of San Juan Island Dylan and Nathan did some tide pooling. Margo enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine as well as a special day with her grandsons.

Reading to the "boys" in her special Grandma Room in their lovely home. What a delightful way to recover from surgery!


Dylan and Nathan attempted to teach Grandma how to play Golf on their Wii game. They were very patient but eventually returned to their more sophisticated games!



A fun bike ride around Lake Padden in Bellingham with Jeremy and Matthew. Actually, Grandma walked and this was the scene as I came around a bend where the boys were waiting for me to catch up with them.

Sunday School

We began a Sunday School this summer for the kids from Trident and Akutan Village. We enjoyed enthusiastic participation from the kids as well as their parents.


With the help of some donations from several individuals in the Lower 48, we had lots of craft supplies.



As part of the Sunday School program Gary incorporated an AWANA type game time and the kids loved it!


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Basketball Camp

Chuck and Diane Bundrant, Trident Seafoods, PenAir and APICDA sponsored a basketball camp at the Safe Harbor Church Gym on July 25-26. They brought with them a team consisting of Ryan Appleby, former player from the University of Washington, Jon Brockman from the Milwaukee Bucks and sisters Kara and Thea Hanato-Smith from the Hawaii State High School Girls Varsity Championships. PenAir flew over 50 kids and chaperons to Akutan for the event.

Jon and Ryan led the kids and some young adults in a series of drills designed for building basketball skills.

But more importantly they took the time to build relationships and to teach character and team building principals based on the Bible verse:"I can do everything through Him who give me strength." (Philippians 4:13) Here is JR, Akutan's Village Police Officer shaking hands with Ryan Appleby.

Each participant received a gift packet consisting of a sports bag, tee shirt, and a souvenir basketball. Here is Janene from Akutan getting her basketball autographed by Jon Brockman.

Even the young ones were included in special drills and workshops designed to instill some simple skills and a love for the game.

Jon, who towered above the kids at 6'7" led them in stretching drills but also stretched them to consider their commitment to living the 5 Ps. "Plan, Purpose, Perspective, Perseverance and Passion". He and Ryan shared from their own life experiences the importance of having a right relationship with Jesus Christ and living out these concepts.

Gary, Margo and Lon enjoying the activities and taking a break from transporting and serving food to over 50 people.

All of the kids and chaperons were housed in the church. The "Girls' Dorm" was the stage in the church sanctuary. The boys slept on air mattresses on the gym floor. We aren't sure just how much sleeping took place, but they all had a place to do it!

Jon, signing a picture for an admiring fan and taking time to pass on some words of encouragement.

Our friends Aida and Bea who showed up to help working hard in the kitchen, food serving line and even participating in some of the fun.

Trident's plant manager, Dave Abbaisan and Jon Brockman's dad, who traveled with the team as did Ryan Applyby's dad.

Diane Bundrant and volunteers preparing the individual awards for the closing ceremony later in the afternoon
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Akutan's own Anthony receiving a special award from Jon and Ryan for his hard work and consistency during the camp.

The tired but happy participants from Akutan picture here with the team at the end of a very busy two days.

Lon's Visit

Gary's brother Lon came to help out with preparations for our Basketball Camp and to help with maintenance around our building. We loved having him around and appreciate all of his help.

Although Lon had recently had knee replacement surgery, he and Gary refinished the gym floor.

You might think they are working out in the weight room but they are really repairing some of the equipment

Trident brought over 50 kids from other islands to a basketball camp hosted in our gym. Lon was a big help getting ready. He helped transport all of the meals for the campers from Trident's galley to the church. Thank you Lon for your gift of service!

As you can see, it wasn't all work! The guys went out fishing almost every afternoon and caught over 30 halibut in the three weeks he was here!

Recent Projects

Our Quilting club Pinning and Blessing this Racing Cars quilt Bea made for her Nephew. We figure we might as well pray for the recipients of our quilts while we are down on our knees!


A thank you gift for Bryan in the Baader Shop for making three fiber glass sewing tables for our sewing machines.


Margo and Marylil finishing up handwork on their projects and enjoying a rare moment of relaxing together and visiting.


Lydia's Easter wall hanging


A Tea Cup Quilt for my Tea Party Friend!


My daughter-in-law, Chelsea took me to her favorite quilting store in Reno and we found the cutest apron pattern (among other things!). I recently got busy and made several to give as gifts. I like them so well on my sewing room wall, maybe I won't give them away!


My Niece Gail taught me how to do Paper Piece Quilting with fabric while we were visiting in East Wenatchee.


Eagle Paper Piecing project that I tried on my own after I got back to Alaska.

Vacation 2011 - Part 2

I just occurs to me that I never finished blogging our vacation that is now ancient history! We have made some very precious memories that I thought I would share briefly in pictures. We have been back home in Akutan for over two months now and so much has happened that I want to post on my blog. But I guess I better do first things first.

At the end of my first vacation blog we had only gone as far as Oregon. The rest of our trip was spent with our Washington family and friends. We made our headquarters at Lon and Janet's beautiful home in East Wenatchee where we shared their downstairs apartment with our niece Gail who is home on furlough from her teaching ministry with New Tribes Mission in Papua New Guinea.

Bryan, Allison, Nathan and Dylan as well as Jeremy and Matthew joined us in Wenatchee for a Ski weekend. We stayed in the Red Lion Hotel and the kids enjoyed and outside hot tub in the snow! Needless to say, Grandma and Grandpa didn't take the plunge! Gary's brother and wife Jeni joined us at Mission Ridge for the day. Lon and Janet's kids and grand kids as well as Bob's kids and grand children all came to visit and we shared a couple of wonderful dinners and a sweet reunion at Lon and Janet's.

The next two weeks were spent in Friday Harbor and Bellingham visiting with our kids. A dear friend lost her teenage boy in and accident while we were there and we were able to attend the memorial service in Lynden. It was a heartbreaking loss but a God glorifying service.

Gary had the opportunity to preach and share the ministry of Safe Harbor Church in Los Banos California, East Wenatchee, Friday Harbor and Entiat. We loved being in our home churches and sharing with so many of you.

It was hard to say good by to our kids but we are so grateful for the opportunity to have spent quality time with each one.

The rest of our vacation