6 Weeks and We're Almost Home

Honestly, some days Ray and I feel like we've just arrived and other days it feels like we've always been here. Today is our sixth week in Fairbanks. We're both settling into our jobs. Most weekends and some weekday evenings we'd spent a considerable amount of time searching for a house to lease. Our greatest desire was to find something that was long-term. Neither of us wanted to unload our furniture and stuff, only to have to do it again in the next year. Several of the properties we were shown were going to be put back on the market (for sale) in May.

The first house we saw and fell in love with was a log home out in the hills. No garage. No fenced yard for Wendell. However, it was the only house we've seen with a (propane) gas stove! We looked at a duplex, a townhouse, and lots of single family dwellings. Some houses had potential but many were drive up and drive away. We even looked at (and weren't at all impressed) a home in "THE" neighborhood--Doyon Estates.

Then, one Sunday I saw a listing in the newspaper. 5 Star Energy rated. Built in 2002. 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2 car attached heated garage. Wow! I called. Turns out the owner(s) is a dentist in town. [AND Sarah Palin was his babysitter when he was growing up!] He was very excited to know Ray's in town! As we drove there, I reminded Ray not to commit to anything. At this point we thought we wanted to live on the West side of town--close to church and church friends. We drove up and immediately liked what we saw!

535 Baranof Avenue in NE Hamilton Acres (it's on a 1/4 acre lot)

(We signed the lease and drove over to shovel the driveway.)

We took two steps inside and knew it was what we were wanting! We were home.

The layout is the living/dining/kitchen area upstairs with a 1/2 bath. Plenty of cabinets and storage. Plus, it's equipped with all appliances: fridge, stove, dishwasher and microwave. Plus, a pantry!

From the kitchen, you walk up three or four stairs into the master bedroom and bath area.

(I hadn't realized, before posting this blog, I failed to take photos of the space. The window you see upstairs from the first photo of the front of the house is the master bedroom.)

Downstairs there's a laundry room, den, full bath, and two bedrooms

As of Tuesday, the Superman border is now gone. :-) This room will become the "Texas" room.

This weekend we'll paint this room and turn it into the "Helen" room.

The backyard is Wendell's dream! And come spring and summer, I'm pretty sure you're gonna find Ray grillin' on the back deck. Come join us!

Ray had fun shoveling off the deck!

We'll be waiting...and we'll leave the light on!

Blessings,

Y, R and W

P.S. Here's our new phone number... 907-328-0813 (as of 5 pm Sun Nov 2).

Our SA cell phones still work. We have free weekend minutes and welcome your call!

Seeing Backward - Today God Is First by Os Hillman

October 19, 2008

"O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed" (Ps 30:7).

It is often difficult to recognize the hand of God when we are in the midst of adversity. We often feel God has hidden His face from us. When the Lord takes us through deep valleys, there will be fruit from the deep valley that we cannot see. You must press into Him with all you have during this time.

God uses the deep valley to frame our lives to create a change in our nature, not just a change in habits. The depth and width of our valley is often an indicator of the level of calling and influence we will have on others in the future. Our adversity is not just for us, but others who will be in our future path of influence. This is not very comforting when you are in the middle of the valley, but know this is a truth in the Kingdom.

It is often years later when we discover the wisdom of God and why He intentionally led us through the dark valley. Life is often lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back at through valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life while we were there. "He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light" (Job 12:22). When you begin to realize this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time, but He was.
Do you find yourself in the valley?

Now is the time to fully trust Him to guide you to higher ground.

Wendell's First Day at Doggy Daycare

As we were preparing for our move to Fairbanks, I began expressing my concern about Wendell being by himself all day while we both worked. (Not knowing, but figuring I'd eventually get a job.) I suggested to Ray and Nic that we find a mush family to give him to. I strongly felt that we'd done our job--rescued him and returned him to his ideal environment. As I researched housing I kept coming across property after property that advertised, "No pets."

Ray wouldn't hear of giving Wendell up! In fact, as we'd been driving around looking for a house, we saw a couple of mush farms. They did not look inviting!! We both felt very sorry for the dogs (lots--50, maybe more?) as they were chained up. That wasn't what I had in mind. I thought we'd find a nice family with a few dogs. They'd get "exercised" every day and he'd have a great life. Still, I didn't let go and let God. I continued to fret.

Now for those of you that aren't familiar with Wendell's story--I'll bring you up to speed. In January 2006, while Nic was working at Mission Park South, he watched as this beautiful red & white Siberian Husky ran around the cemetery. It was a cold and rainy day (cold for SA). By the end of the day, Nic was very concerned that this beautiful dog had been out all day with no food or water and he was limping. He had no collar/no tag(s). So, he called me. The first thing he said was, "You'll never believe what's running around the cemetery. The dog of your dreams." He asked if he could bring him home. He tried to get him into his car and couldn't coax him in. I drove over, picked him up and called Ray on my way home telling him, "He's a gift from God." Ray groaned. As soon as we drove up, Ray opened the car door and announced, "We can keep him!" For weeks afterwards, I scoured the Express-News Lost and Found classifieds, watched Websites and never saw a posting for a Lost Husky. I named him after Oliver Wendell Holmes. The Supreme Court Justice. My high school alma mater. Our mascot is a Husky.

A few weeks ago, while I was up at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for a job interview, I overheard a conversation about the doggy daycare in town. Noah's Ark. When I was offered and accepted the position (Sr Administrative Assistant in the Administrative Office) I asked my new co-worker, Jodi, about the facility. She raved about it, telling me her Lab attends every Friday.
A couple of days later, Wendell and I went in for a visit. Turned out he needed a couple more immunizations that are required in AK. He then visited the "playground" and ran around with two of his new furry friends. He passed the screening process and today attended his first day at Muttesori!

We received a note, along with the posted pictures, from his teacher. It reads, "Mr. and Mrs. Torres, Wendell did great for his 1st day. He was very shy at first, but did start to warm up to some of the other dogs. He was a joy to have here! Enjoy your evening and hope you like the pics. Jen"

Jen is the wonderfully warm caregiver. I'm so grateful God brought us to Noah's Ark and Muttesori.
Enjoy Wendell's pictures!

(Take a good look -- like every good child by recess he'd already lost one of his snow booties.)

More news about our house hunting and my job to come...stay tuned.

Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father. - James 1:17

We love you SNOW much!

R, Y and Wendell

Who Are Our Neighbors?

After dropping Ray off at the hospital this morning, Wendell and I took a drive through our neighborhood. As we searched for a home we'd gone in several directions but not southwesterly.

So about 5 blocks down and 5 streets over, here's what I discovered---Fairbank's Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and the Food Bank. The sad reality is this...you don't have to live in a million+ city of folks to have the same needs. Poverty, violence, abuse, neglect, homelessness, and all that comes with a less-fortunate life, is everywhere! I'm just glad that Fairbanks has the ability and obviously interest to try to meet (some of) these needs for folks.

In the early morning light the lit cross caught my attention!

There are a couple of streets that look like a possible "Habitat" neighborhood.
Can you imagine building in this weather?! Voluntarily?! What dedication. There's even a "Women's Build." Check out the link.


In the past, Ray had successfully run a food drive at the VA hospital in San Antonio. When he sought permission to do it at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, we were glad to find out they already have one in place!


The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

We love and miss you all!

Y & R