Rock Throwing Tirades!

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; (Romans 12:10-12, NKJV)

Road trip'n with my Bestie! She's my happy place ;)

Several weeks ago, we had a get together at our place with friends. If you’ve been reading our most recent blogposts, you know our place is currently an RV on a remote campground in Alaska. There is a gathering place on this particular campground lovingly referred to as “The Smokehouse”, where campers sit around an open fire, chat with other campers, cook meals to share, make smores…just your average camping hangout. Some families bring their musical instruments so everyone can enjoy a singalong.

On the particular weekend our friends had joined us, the campground was full of campers of all ages. All the parents were at the Smokehouse while most of the kids were playing near the middle of the campground where they could be easily seen from the Smokehouse. 

Suddenly, a teenaged boy had joined the smaller children. He asked one of the ten year old girls, “Can I pick you up? I want to see how much you weigh.” She responded with, “No.” He picked her up anyway. He picked her up at her knees and started flinging her around upside down. One of our friends (we will call him “Sam") asked her dad (our other friend), “Is that your daughter?!” Her dad “Bob” (for confidentiality purposes) immediately yelled her name, “Susie!” (also for confidentiality purposes) as he immediately headed her direction. He kept yelling her name in a very…well, a very fatherly way…a father who knows his authority. Needless to say, every camper on the campground knew, Dad was on his way to his daughter. Also needless to say, every camper on the campground knew not to get in between him and his daughter!

The second time Bob yelled, “Susie!”, the teenage boy gently put her down and quickly disappeared in a camper. 

Bob checked on Susie and thankfully she was unharmed. 

Susie’s friends ran to the Smokehouse. I asked for details on what had happened. One of the children said, “Momma, were we right in throwing rocks at the teenager when that boy picked Susie up?!”

To clarify…that would by my child asking that question, also that would be my child throwing rocks.

In the weeks after this occurrence, I’ve thought a lot about how this situation played out. This situation has really impacted me and made me more fully realize the importance of our inner circle. It has also made me more grateful for my inner circle.

We all need “Sams” in our inner circle. These are the friends who keep a watch on us when we don’t even know it. They notify our Father the instant they know something is up. Earnestly keeping us in prayer manifesting great power and producing wonderful results on our behalf! (James 5:16) I cannot tell you how many times my “Sams” have contacted me ready to do battle, letting me know they are praying for me and to say, "Hey, what's up?". Thanks “Sams”, I love and appreciate ya’ll!

We also have to have our "fervent in spirit” friends who we can trust to go on a spiritual rock throwing tirade when we are being flung around upside down! (Romans 12:10-12, Ephesians 6:12, Psalm 34:19) 

Dr. Terry Mize recently posted on his Facebook, “Always stay until the devil leaves…” 

Yes. 

That. 

Those friends.

And then…there’s our faithful Father who never leaves or forsakes us! Our Rock! Our Fortress! Our Deliverer! The Father, who always answers when we call on His Name!  (Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 18:2, Romans 10:13, Jeremiah 33:3, 1 John 5:14-15)

A great big shout out to my inner circle! May I always be sensitive to the Spirit in keeping you as you so faithfully keep me, I love you all!

Most gracious Heavenly Father, thank You! Thank You for all the “Sams” and the “rock throwers” You have placed in my life! Thank You for their diligence! Thank you for their patience with me! Thank You they remain steadfast with and for me in prayer! Thank You for their encouragement! I am so rich in the friend department! Thank You for ordering my steps and answering my prayers by placing them in my life, each of them are more than I could have ever thought of or asked for! I pray for them right now, in the name of Jesus, every need met and perfect wholeness in their lives and the lives of their loved ones! I pray for every reader right now, for each of us to invest our time, effort and energy into the inner circle You have placed in our lives. We thank You for friendship and we thank You for our our ultimate Friend, King Jesus!

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Proverbs 20:24

John 15:15

Ephesians 3:20

Tea with Michelle Duggar

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18, NKJV)

Thanks for the pic Google!

If I could sit down for a cup of tea with Michelle Duggar, I would hug her neck and say, thank you.

Thank you for:

• showing us how to restore gently (Galatians 6:1)
• refusing to give up on your kids (Galatians 6:9)
• walking in forgiveness, grace, and restoration (Colossians 3:13, Luke 6:37)
• teaching your children to do the same (Proverbs 22:6)
• teaching your son to admit fault and make restitution (Proverbs 22:6)
• your obedience to God’s Word (James 1:22)

I would also let her know, one negative mark against her (in almost 50 years) in no way negates all the good fruit she has so elegantly shown us. (Matthew 7:16)

Lastly, I would offer her a word of encouragement by telling her to continue to holdfast to God’s Word, pray for her persecutors, and understand her way of life will always be seen as foolishness to her accusers. (Hebrews 10:23, Matthew 5:44,  1 Corinthians 1:18, Psalm 105:15)

And on the bright side, hey…who knows, perhaps Anna can run for president one day. 

Worked for Hillary right? 

Oh wait, that’s right…her husband lied under oath but kept his job (like so many other public figures).

Welcome to America folks! (Isaiah 5:20)

I almost avoided my sarcastic humorous side….almost...

God did the most amazing thing!

Today’s blogpost is a continuation from our previous blogposts. To catch up, please read our previous blogposts, thanks!



Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy! (Psalm 126:3, NLT)

While staying in a temporary RV waiting for our RV to go through inspection, we took a family day and went on a road trip to Whittier Alaska. As we drove towards our destination, my youngest said, “Mommy, where does God want us to live?” I said, “You ask Him and He will show you.” (1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 John 5:14, Matthew 7:7) Little did I know at the time, God was about to show us before days end! And, He was about to show us a place way beyond our expectations!

That evening, on the way back to the Ship Creek RV Campground in Anchorage, Mike mentioned he had heard of an RV campground in a remote area outside Anchorage. 

We are country folk, we don’t “do” city well. We can when necessary but we really prefer to be out in the woods. And being in Alaska, we all wanted to experience as much Alaskan wilderness as possible.

As we headed back to Anchorage we started looking for the RV campground Mike had mentioned. We found no signs and our gps took us on a wild goose chase. I used my phone to get an address which told us we were about 40 minutes away from the campground…in the opposite direction. We were all tired, ready to go to bed, and really didn't know if this campground even existed. I was impressed to keep looking for this campground so I said, “I really believe we need to go back and take one more look; otherwise, we may really kick ourselves. Let's not give up yet." (Galatians 6:9)

This time, we drove straight to the campground and wow! A glacier in our front yard, a creek ten steps out our backdoor, surrounded by mountains, bike trails, hiking trails, lakes, canoeing, bear hunting, and meeting other campers around the fire pit in the evenings! This place truly is days of heaven on earth for us! (Ephesians 3:20, Deuteronomy 11:21)

For confidentiality reasons, we won't currently disclose this location. 

Thank you for your understanding! 

Thankfully, we have made the transition into RV living quickly and painlessly with great expectations of many fun adventures.  If you are considering this lifestyle, below is a list of things I’ve learned thus far from living in an RV.

• We are meeting so many great people from all over the world, making life long friendships.
• There is way less time needed for "house" freeing up more time for "home".
• With less to do to maintain a home and compete for our time, energy, & attention, there is so much more time to fish, bike, hike, canoe!
• Due to water restraints, when I shower I can either wash my hair or shave my legs…so alternating is key.
• We manage really well sharing one vehicle. The trade off (no payment/interest/insurance) far outweighs the minor inconvenience.
• Now that we have a creek 10’ feet out our back door, a glacier 300 yards out our front door, our girls rarely ever ask for screen time (video games/ipad/itouch).
• We are very thankful for these amazing adventures!
• I have a deeper understanding of the phrase, Happy Camper! 

How long will we do this? I don’t currently know. I do know, when this season ends, we will move into the next season. Life is full of seasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and if I have learned anything, I've learned...

Seasons come, and then Seasons Go

Yesterday Mike said, "If we had a boat, it would really enable us to get into remote areas of Alaska. My response, "When you buy one, just make sure it is big enough for me to live on!"


Yep...

Seasons come, and then Seasons Go

Father God, I know many people reading these blogposts are experiencing seasonal changes. Some seasons are looked upon with great anticipation as some seasons can be unsettling. In the name of Jesus, I pray for every reader right now, that they will always seek you first during their seasons. I pray they have eyes to see and ears to hear and they continue on the perfect path you have called them to. May we all seek you first in all we think, say, and do. And may all we think, say, and do...glorify You...in the name of Your Precious Son, Jesus, amen! Father, thank You for answered prayer in my life and the life of everyone reading Key Tov Blog. May they be filled with peace, Your Peace, the Peace that passes all understanding!

Happy Glamper

Today’s blogpost is a continuation from our previous blogposts. To catch up, please read our previous blogposts, thanks!

Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18, NKJV)

"I will make a road in the wilderness"...some words just jump right off the page when they, all the sudden have deeper meaning!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV)

"Thoughts of peace"...yea...that...

God is doing a new thing in our lives, a very different thing! 

I deleted two boards from my Pinterest account today: 

• Log Cabin Decor (bye-bye log cabin dream)
• Mountain Retreat (c'ya...don't wanna b ya)

And created a new one:

• Going Minimalist

I began researching minimalism about three years ago. The first blog that made a deep impression and made me really start thinking, was 

http://www.becomingminimalist.com/about-us/ 

If that link doesn't work, please google becoming minimalist blog.

We also watched documentaries on "Tiny Houses."

At that time, I felt so busy. But I also felt like wasn't accomplishing much. I determined to refuse to become a part of what I call "perpetual busyness". 

I was beginning to hear more and more people say:

• I would love to get together but I've just been so busy.
• I want to get the kids together, but we're just so busy right now.
• Let's get the families together soon but the next few weeks are very busy.

Hey, we own five stores...I completely understand busy days, busy weeks, and busy "seasons"; however, I don't understand how a person functions well in a lifestyle of longterm busyness.

Back in the day, I remember ladies dropping by to have coffee with my grandmother. I remember long walks with my Daddy, and by long I mean all day long while we checked on cows, looked for a missing calf, or checked on fences. I remember going fishing with my stepmomma almost every summer evening. I remember the earliest days of my relationship with Mike, walking out properties searching for the perfect spot for a deer stand. What am I saying, almost twenty years later we are still searching for perfect hunting spots!

No cellphone coverage. 

No internet. 

No interruptions. 

No distractions. 

The ultimate FaceTime. 

It just didn't make sense to me, all the modern technology was suppose to free up more time to do the things we love. Instead, I felt like technology was trying to imprison me to do more of the things I didn't love. While completely sucking time and energy out of me, leaving me with an inability to do those things I really loved.

A few years back, I spent the day with a friend. She received over seventy phone calls while we were "together". 

All this caused me to look at my girls and think...I only have about eight more years to impress upon them all the important things my Daddy impressed upon me.

• godly wisdom
• character
• integrity
• life lessons
• relationship

At this point, my girls were already eight and ten years old. Those years had flown by in a flash. I knew the next eight to ten wouldn't go by any slower than the first eight to ten.

We were at a crossroad in our lives, the clock was ticking and my mind was clicking. 

Again, I entertained the thought of living in an RV. I mean...we are in The Last Frontier after all! I thought, “Is this totally crazy?” And, “Can we, a family of four, really live in an RV?” 

All the sudden, a door swung open. (Psalm 37:23) I came across information on RV living. In my research, I found a series of You Tube videos of a family, the Nortons. The Nortons live in an RV….with six small children. I knew at that moment, if she can do this with six…I know I can do this with two!

Thank God for You Tube! I quickly educated myself on the ins and outs of RV living. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I was intrigued, but even more, I was inspired and excited!

I truly believe God had already prepared my heart for this season. 

Two years ago we took our first RV trip from Oklahoma to Alaska. Last year, we took an RV trip around Alaska. (To read about our adventures, please refer to previous blogposts, thanks!) 

I hear you knocking, but no...you cannot come in. Bye-bye now!

Since then we’ve entertained the idea of living in an RV. I just wasn’t prepared to take that jump…....until now!

That’s right, our homeschool just turned into RV school! Mike prefers to call it, "Our Tiny Mansion"...he has always had such a way with words!

It has never taken Mike and I very long to make life changing decisions! My close friend offered to keep our girls so we could go RV shopping. After shopping several dealerships, we are very excited to announce we bought our new second home, our RV!

Our Tiny Mansion!

http://www.granddesignrv.com/solitude-overview.php

If this link doesn’t work, please copy and paste it in your browser or google Grand Design Solitude Front Living. 

We couldn’t get our RV for 10 days due to inspections, servicing, etc. However, the dealership very graciously offered us an rv (free of charge) in the interim. Thanks ABC RV Sales! So we moved out of the hotel and into the temporary RV. During that time, we stayed at the Ship Creek RV Campground. It is very conveniently located in Anchorage. It is within walking distance of downtown and has a great walking trail right on Ship Creek. The campground has a great staff and is a full service campground (meaning full hook ups…water/electricity/sewer as well as showers and laundry). While it was really nice to have so many amenities and be within a few minutes of everything Anchorage has to offer, our hearts were still set on camping in the Alaska wilderness…as much wilderness as we could find while staying in an RV. 

Please join us in our next blogpost as we share with you how God ordered our steps in a life changing direction into this exciting new season of our lives! (Proverbs 16:9)

Where Do We Go From Here…and, How Do We Get There

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10, NKJV) 

Today’s blogpost is a continuation from our previous blogposts. To catch up, please read our previous blogposts, thanks!

During this time, I had a close friend daily walking alongside me in prayer. She is a hardcore prayer warrior and we all need some of them close by! One day she texted me and said, “God wants you to, be still and know He is God.” A few days later, a close friend (in another state and knew nothing of what as going on) texted me and said, “God wants you to be still and know He is God.” Peace rushed over me. God’s Word is alive and changes everything! (Hebrews 4:12) I encourage you to always speak scripture over your life! How great is the love the Father lavishes on us! I had always known God was working things together for my good, but the two texts just confirmed He was my Rock and my Shield! (Romans 4:27, 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:28, Psalm 18:2)

As much as I didn’t want to choose the hotel option, we decided our next step would have to include a brief hotel stay. That short season reminded me of a previous season when we stayed in a hotel due to permitting issues on an apartment renovation on Maui when I was pregnant with my youngest and my middle child was a toddler. God delivered me out of that situation and I knew He would quickly deliver me out of the current situation. (Psalm 18:2)

Several close friends, very graciously offered for us to stay with them so we wouldnt have to stay in a hotel. But we decided, we shouldn’t create disarray in their homes just because our home was in disarray. 

I believe God had been preparing me over the last few years for where I was in this season. A few years ago, God had put it on my heart to store up treasures in Heaven. (Matthew 6:20) I started researching “minimalism". In a culture that screams, “More!”, “Bigger!”, “Better!”, my heart was yearning for the opposite.  

I found myself fed up.

• Fed up with all the “stuff" that really doesn't matter.
• Fed up with payments with the majority of our money being applied to interest. 
• Fed up with paying three times over in interest what I had paid for an item.
• Fed up with not really grasping what was truly important.
• Fed up with not being able to see the forrest for the trees.

I was convinced, there had to be a better way…a more simple way. A more peaceful way. A way that would free up our time and space to do more of what really mattered to us, in excellence.

Before coming to Alaska, we had major plans. We were going to lease a cabin for a time, buy a house (which would be our second home), buy a second vehicle, furnish the house (furniture as well as household goods since we already have a home in Hawaii). But in the previous months, my heart continued to cry out for the opposite. But what is the opposite? We had to have a house and a second vehicle…

or...

did we?

Please join us in our next blogpost as we share with you how God ordered our steps in a life changing direction into this exciting new season of our lives! (Proverbs 16:9)

Decisions, Decisions

Thank you so much for your warm welcome as we move into this new season of blogging! We really appreciate you and your encouragement!

Today’s blogpost is a continuation from our previous blogpost. To catch up, please read our last blogpost, thanks!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, NKJV)

We decided buying was better than leasing. We set our hearts on a three story log cabin that was for sale and located right down the road from where we had been leasing. Unfortunately, three weeks and almost $500.00 later, the contract fell through because of extensive repair issues.

We were very disappointed because we had our hearts set on a log cabin located on the side of a mountain in Alaska! Isn’t that everyones Alaska dream?

We were quickly approaching the end of our lease. So we got back into the house hunting game. We found a charming retreat like home. It wasn’t exactly what we had our hearts set on but it was in a great location. It was more than we wanted to pay for a home but we were growing a little weary from work, and homeschool, while at the same time shopping for a home. We built a great relationship with our realtor and he kept encouraging us to keep going! 

*For confidentiality purposes, we won’t publicly disclose our realtor's information. However, if you are in the Anchorage Alaska area and need a really great realtor, please email us (staff@starterman.com) and we will be happy to give you a referral. 

Lastly, the home was older than we had wanted to buy, but it had a really great yard. Mike (my husband) and I, kept trying to make this house fit us.

Twenty-four hours before the contract expired (and another $500.00 later), we decided to submit a termination of agreement due to a long list of issues. Mike and I were in agreement…we just could not get peace to buy this house. 

At that point, we found ourselves with 24 hours remaining on our current lease, no home to buy, and no home to rent (in one of the busiest rental market seasons in Alaska). At that point, I didn’t know much but I did know I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus, God provides all my needs, He has never failed me, and He wasn’t going to fail me now. (Romans 8:37, Philippians 4:19, 1 Corinthians 1:9)

Please join us in our next blogpost as we share with you how God ordered our steps in a life changing direction into this exciting new season of our lives! (Proverbs 16:9)

Seasons Come and then, Seasons Go

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:"(Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV)

If you are a follower of Key Tov Blog, you may have noticed we had taken a sabbatical. I was in a season where I needed more time for my children and since they are my first mission field (immediately after my husband), I recognized the need to temporarily step away from blogging in order to maximize and prioritize my time.

Now, we are entering into a new and exciting season and we have a lot of God’s amazing goodness to share with you! (Ecclesiastes 3:1, Psalm 100:5)

• First, God enlarged our “house” (Isaiah 54:2) and we opened another location (www.starterman.com) in the great Last Frontier, Alaska!
• Secondly, we’ve seen many changes over the last eight months since sharing our time between Hawaii and Alaska, as I am sure you can imagine!
• Thirdly, we are excited to bring you along with us as we blog about the most recent upcoming season in our lives!

Our first season in Alaska was an exciting time of leasing an amazing log cabin in the Chugach Mountain Range!

*For confidentiality purposes, 

I won’t disclose the location or the landlord’s name; however, 

if you find yourself in need of an amazing vacation rental in Alaska and 

want to do business with a really great landlord, 

please email us (staff@starterman.com) and 

we will be happy to give you a referral.

As that season (leasing the log cabin) was coming to a close, we were making decisions on where the Lord was leading us next. Lease another location, or buy? 

Please join us in our next blogpost as we share with you how God ordered our steps in a life changing direction into this exciting new season of our lives! (Proverbs 16:9)

*We are currently in a remote area so internet is not very reliable. 

As a result, we will post when we can. 

Thank you!