Finally, able to log on. We are the Albert Family of Ruby. We had a quick meet with Trent Sunday after he woke up and needed to make up for time. Looked good, unlike a few other mushers who had bit of frostbite, black eyes, broken sleds. Amazing to think of his night runs standing up behind his sled. Kids:you made wonderful snowshoes and George is pleased and humbled by your gift. It will inspire our own children (age 11 and 12) to not take their dad's rare talent for granted. We will hang it in our home.  George's grandfather, Frank also made double pointed Athabascan snowshoes-for use on set trails. The round tip ones work best in deep snow. In two weeks, many here and in other villages will hold a Spring Carnival with snowshoe races, dogsled sprint races, ice picking contests. Be aware-I told Trent this and I bet his mind is working overtime in planning snowshoes races for you.

I hope you cherish your journey in making them as well as your trip to AK and outings on the snowshoes. Gee, mention something to Trent in 2008 race about decline in a native craft and he just goes gang-busters to solve it, challenge his charges, inspire others. Next he'll have you native tanning a hide so you can have native style snowshoe bindings!

An important item to share. We gave Trent the task of carrying a special packet of get well wishes along with 'Flat Santa' from the 3rd to 5th grade students along with about 50 Iditarod mushers who signed the card. The Ruby checkpoint judge made sure all mushers were asked to sign a card to be taken down the race trail to a Shaktoolik four year old boy, Jacob Takak. He has muscular dystrophy and now has been diagnosed and treated for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He returned from treatment in Seattle to be among his family and Eskimo village neighbors and made a wish for a February Christmas, which he had. Big hearted Trent has many things on his mind right now, foremost among them the care of his dogs. He took this packet of empowered good thoughts and was to deliver it to little Jacob's hometown, much in the spirit of the original Serum Run to Nome. We thank him for putting this on his race to do list! A four year old and his family must have an amazed smile on their face about now, ask him about it. Prayer for the little guy, the tv story touched many in Ruby. Students here are anticipating the web cam meeting with you all in Ketchum.

Eileen and family.