How Do You Begin To Say Goodbye?!

I have tried writing the first sentence of this post over and over again. Twelve different times in fact. This is perhaps going to be the most emotional thing I have ever written on here (okay, maybe since the birth of our daughter...That was pretty emotional) so I am just going to come out and say it...

We are leaving White Mountain.

We are leaving the region.

The last four years have been an amazing adventure and has become life changing for both my husband, Clint and I. I have been changed as an individual, a wife, a teacher, a mother. It is within the last four years that I found out who I am. I have become more independent and more aware of what I am capable of. I have taught nine preschoolers and two kindergartners in the last two years. I have traveled around rural Alaska by myself. I have learned how to hunt and fish on the tundra. I have learned how to start and drive a four-wheeler and snow machine. I have learned to raise an infant in the most coldest conditions. Most importantly, it's here where I found my faith again.

It's hard to say, but we are leaving a place we have called home. We are leaving a place where we have made lifelong friends-friends who are like family.

We are moving back to Ketchikan.

We made our final decision when we found out I was pregnant again (back in December). The news about baby love #2 was confirmation from God (for us) for both Clint and I that we have made the right decision for our family. I couldn't see life being very vibrant for the kids and I if I am at home constantly and not able to get out and about with two little ones. I had a fear that I would be stuck inside our house all the time. I'm not saying it's difficult and impossible to raise two little ones in the arctic (many, many people do it, and I applaud them) it just wouldn't be the life for us. And the financial burden...Well, lets not talk about that :)

The most important factor though is family. It's so important to me (and now Clint) that our babies are raised close to their grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins. Most of my favorite memories are of my childhood and being raised right next to our family, and I want that for our kids. I remember going to birthday parties, slumber parties, fourth of July (was a HUGE event,) even the every-week Sunday dinners. I want that for our family. I want them to be able to watch Bria and the baby grow up. I want Bria and the Baby to know who their grandparents are. This will also let us see Clint's parents in Arkansas a lot more than just once every other year! It has been difficult for both Clint and I to be so far away from them and this way, we can see each other more!!!

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."

Psalms 32:8

******************************************************

It has been a long road of wondering what we are going to do from year to year. All I know is that I have had a peace about every decision we have ever made because we wait for God to open the door. We wait for God to close the doors that we shouldn't go through. Sometimes, it means that we make sacrifices. Sometimes it means that we are scared or weary about the decision "we" have made... But that is where faith comes in. That is where hope comes in. 

When I am scared, I am always reminded of what Jesus says in Matthew 6: 31-34:

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  

How comforting! Whew... It really puts my mind at ease and my heart at peace knowing that we will always be taken care of. So, as much as I'm sad, nervous, scared about leaving a place that is familiar the above verse is so comforting knowing that He is right there with us, guiding our every move if we let him. 

So now that I've rambled on. I have found comfort in the last few words in this post. I am able to look to the future with peace, hope, and faith! I am excited for this new season in our lives. Excited to watch my sisters grow. Excited to watch my babies grow. Excited to watch our family grow. 

I will leave you with one more verse for thought: 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  

                                                       -Philippians 3:13-14 

So with that in your heart and mind...

Seize today! Give it everything and don't worry about anything!!

White Mountain, we have loved every second of being with you. We will never forget!

Here we come, Ketchikan. Get ready, the Shultz family is comin' back! 

Summer Time Blues....

I am sick.

I am tired.

I am bitter.

No, not because I'm pregnant (even though I am having a difficult time-I love it all the same. I'm growing a baby!)...But because it is still COLD here! And quite frankly. I've had enough!

Here is the weather today:

And for forecast for all week:

I am so thankful for change in seasons... 

Summer, you can come now. I am ready! 

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Carnival Update...

As I'm typing this, Bria is asleep. She fell asleep around 12:15 in church and it's now 2:45. We are tired! It's a good tired though, an accomplished tired. We had so much fun at the carnival last night and we didn't get to sleep until around 10:30. The carnival and cleanup luckily only lasted until about 9:00, but little miss B was so overstimulated that she came home and played while I cooked dinner for Clint. When we finally went into the bedroom she as asleep in 5 seconds. No joke.

The carnival was fun for everyone. It was amazing how many people came to support the Bible Camp and how many people enjoyed just being together. Kids where having fun. Parents were having fun. Teenagers were having fun. Everyone enjoyed themselves.

I almost fell over when I heard how much we made in just under two hours .... Ready? ...We make just under $1,000 for youth to attend Bible Camp this summer! What an amazing contribution from everyone who participated. I"m so glad they went home with tons and tons of prizes too!

Here are some pictures of the carnival. I forgot my good lens ( I am learning just how important good lenses are!!) so some of them might not be the best quality, but they still show the happiness and fun that everyone had!

I loved seeing Bria interact and play with other kids her size. It's so adorable seeing her develop and be able to -try-and communicate! 

20 Weeks :: Halfway !!

**Insert happy dance here!!**

We made it again! Wahoo!! We are halfway (half-baked always sounded so weird to me) and baby love #2 is uh-movin like there's a dance party in my tummy. The movement always seems to happen right when I'm finally about to get comfortable. This belly has grown so much faster than when Bria was in there! Not to mention, I don't feel as "peppy" as I did with the first either. This pregnancy is taking a toll on me and I don't know if it's because I've been lazier in the workout department (actually-this is most definitely the reason!) or if it's due primarily on the fact that they are so close together. I have had back pain, leg cramps, heartburn, dry skin, gross hair, and the like. People keep telling me I'm glowing- I keep telling them that they would be glowing to if they felt nauseated and were sweating all the time! Ha. 

Okay, I'm done with my rant. Now, on to more fun stuff: 

We have no prediction or idea if Belly Bean is a girl or a boy and quite frankly, we could care less what the gender is. To have another little princess and a sister for Bria would be amazing, and having a baby brother would also be a dream come true, so I guess we are just going to ride this out until we find out the gender on March 16th!!

{Compare baby love #2 belly with Bria belly here}

And here is what thebump.com has to say about our baybay:

your baby's the size of a cantaloupe!

Baby weighs about 10.2 ounces and measures about 6.5 inches. She's still got a lot of growing to do though. Can you believe you're halfway done?

your baby at 20 weeks

• She's got working taste buds.
• Now, she's gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day -- that's significantly more than before.

via

Here is what I posted on Facebook today. It was a hilarious conversation I had with one of my Kinders during morning circle:

And just to show you what a huge difference these two pregnancies are, here's a picture I posted from B's 20 week post:

Why hello feet! It doesn't look like I'll be seeing you anytime soon. 

Happy Halfway Birthday to us!!

Saturday Morning Splendors...

Yesterday I mentioned that Clint is going to be pretty busy this weekend helping with the boys retreat. He had to leave at 7:45 this morning to go make breakfast in the kitchen at the school (I love that man!) so it was just little B and I here at home...

We enjoyed a nice breakfast:

Played and laid with Sierra:

Talked with family:

We read books: 

(sorry the picture's grainy... I had to crop the photo) 

Took a nap: 

Now, it's time to get ready for the day. We have a long one ahead of us :) ... 

Have a good Saturday! 

Fun Filled Weekend Ahead !!!

We have been getting ready for a fun-filled weekend! Clint has been asked to help with a middle school boys retreat that Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK)  is doing in White Mountain. Clint will be in charge of the worship and hunter safety course! Clint's heart is a heart for God and I'm so thankful that he is able to be part of missionary work-it's what his dream has become! I know God is doing wonderful things through Clint and it seems that it's getting more and more every year. I'm excited for what the next few months bring him as well!

Over 35 boys will be attending from the surrounding villages in the Norton Sound region. It is a wonderful and fun way for these kids to be discipled and mentored! They are going to be doing a lot of fun,  and crazy activities: building snow shelters, learning about gun safety, survival, and most importantly, become men of God. There is an adult mentor that is going to be with 3 boys throughout the retreat during small group time and individual work (making shelters). In a way I'm kind of bummed that I can't participate, well because there are no girls aloud!!

On Saturday, Clint and I (with the help of some folks here in White Mountain) are putting together a Carnival fundraiser for the kids to go to Bible Camp this summer! Yes, these village kids have to raise most, if not all the funds to travel to Unalakleet for a week long summer camp. We wanted to do something a little bit different than a bake auction (we have done it for four years straight at the end of the year). We wanted something that everyone can enjoy.  We have about nine different activities ranging from Wii games to face painting to bean bag toss to fish pond to a pie throwing contest and baked goods along with popcorn! Please join me in prayer as this is a fundraiser and we need money! :)

Today after school we got down and dirty to sort all the toys for the prizes. All the toys and prizes were donated from a church in AK and another church in Texas. Some things were donated by locals here in White Mountain as well. These kids sure are loved and I am so thankful that we have wonderful people to help them. A big thanks to you...You know who you are!

We aren't done yet. There was another 2 boxes of goodies that was given to us by the White Mountain church and I had to sort through those afterwards!

I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend. Ours will be filled with games, good times and good fellowship as we mentor and reach out to kids across the Norton Sound region!!

:: Wordless Wednesday ::

{Kisses}

I know this isn't the best quality photo, but it captures Miss Bria running towards me to give me a kiss. It's her favorite thing to do with her Daddy and I... and me??? I love every kiss she gives me, even if it is those sloppy-didn't-quite-get-your-mouth kind of kiss :) 

I hope you get some sloppy kisses on this fine Wednesday!  

I am linking up with and then, she snapped, The Paper Mama and Jenni From The Blog

::: Princess Beauty :::

Have you ever wondered where your kid finds random things around your home? Bria has a knack for finding the weirdest things and we don't know where they came from i.e. soda bottle caps (we don't drink soda), batteries, bandaids, etc.

On Sunday she came into the living room looking like this:

Yup, our baby is a natural Princess Beauty! She managed to find one of my pearl (obviously fake) necklaces and put it on her head like a crown. She was running around like this most of the morning.

I think it's perfectly fitting :)

19 Weeks!!

Okay, okay...I made it the 2nd week of posting Baby Love's belly pictures :) Can I get a medal?

Everything is going pretty much the same as last week (since I was late posting last week's) with the exception that I am loving chocolate right now, but really, who doesn't? We still don't know the dates for going to Nome for the big ultra-sound and we couldn't be more excited. I'm so so happy that Clint and Bria are going to share the moment with me! It was hard going into Nome by myself when we found out B was a girl.

Still winter. Still cold here in White Mountain.  I think at this point, everyone is wanting it to be warm weather so we can enjoy Spring!

Have a good Monday :)

Bria & Her Shoes

Some of our best friends bought shoes for Bria when she was born. Shoes that will fit 12 - 18 month old toddlers. I was cleaning Bria's room today and found the shoes on the shelf and tried them on B. They fit! And....She loves them! We left the house for a while and I had to put her winter boots on, but as soon as we came back inside, she ran and grabbed the shoes and tried to put them on. She wore them all night long!

They sure make me want to go out and buy a pair of Mary-Janes with flowers on them!!