AK fun before I flee

So moving is always such an emotional roller coaster for me...full of highs the anticipation of new beginnings and adventures and lows of saying goodbyes and packing!!! Not to mention stress and anxiety which is probably why I am blogging at 1 23 am. Joblessness is a big stress even though i say I am not worried ( i know the Lord will provide something for me) got a call from a principal who said call me and if we haven't made a choice by then I'll interview you..same everywhere lower 48ers do not do phone interviews.

My youngest brother flew in on Friday and we have been partying up in A-town. We have gone white water rafting, to a glacier, through a 2.5 mile long tunnel to Whittier, an old gold mine, Girdwood to Alyeska ski resort, Talkeetna on the 3 rivers jet boat tour, seen moose, eagles, other birds, a fox, all kinds of wildflowers and mountains, a movie at the new theatre, playhed war ball, football, church, walk on the coastal trail,and it is only Tuesday night. He is hilarious and I have enjoyed being around him again! He should be getting his mission call any day now!!!! Way for him! He is going to be a great missionary.

Mom and Dad have had an adventure getting here already but things seem to be going smoothly now. I can't wait to see them and leave...it feels like I have been saying good bye for a month now; first to school people, now everyone else...granted I need this time to really process the move. I am ready to be on the way and feel the high and not be in the low--having Eldon here helps. One of my closest friend here said you act more comfortable with him here. It is so true having someone who has known you forever and loves you unconditionally (almost ha) is so calming. Plus he is a great kid and we have such a long past things come so easily. I think people give up to easily on new relationships intimate ones or not because they don't give the time to really grow a past a shared experience if you will-sorry total tangent but I can't be blamed its now 1 31 am and still not dark.

I just want to say how much I have learned in the past 2 years in my profession and in the gospel. I have made precious memories that are mine forever. We are our experiences and this has been a good one! I have learned more about TRUST and that faith is always exercised for a future event.

"alaskan" adventure about to end

So the students' last day was yesterday and I had them pull out all their old work for the year and we talked about what we did that we liked, and DID not like, and what was really fun! This was good for me esp as I was feeling like I could have done more with these ED (emotionally disturbed) kids.

My two history classes I had a short timeline of the year and they had to put it in order without their books and that was fun to see them do that...they did pretty darn good. Another class I made a graphic organizer for food, dances, projects, guest speakers, and movies. We filled it up and we all had a great time remembering the year. We watched old commercials and 20/20 interviews we had made, plays, skits, photos, and it was hilarious to see how they changed. We had a student who gained at least 30 lbs, two who drastically cut their hair, and they all grew so tall.

I will miss these kids and the familarity of the school and feeling like I know how to work the environment of the school i.e. the practice rooms, grey isolation rooms, cops there daily, and kids leaving for long stints in juevy and mental health facilities. I only had one crier he was in my 5th grade room last year and Ihad him in 6th grade social studies this year. He was going to miss me, but I think he was really crying because he forgot a card he made me at home. So goodbye kiddos! I will miss you and think of you often.

Birthday

I have had a great birthday! Some friends took the weekend to go camping in Kenai. We had a great time around a camp fire making smores. "how can I have more if I have not had any?" We rented a bike made for 4 that looked like an antique car and had fun riding it down to the softball fields to play some ball. We had tin foil dinners down on the beach and watched the sun set it was gorgeous!!! We drove back Sunday am and stopped at the Wildlife conservation center and saw some of the animals there, it was fun.

Church was good and then my dear friends and coworker Kay Papakristo invited me to her place for a birthday bbq. It was gorgeous outside!! Sunshiney.

Then I went with my roomate on a whale cruise out of Seward. It was amazing. We saw humpback whales a mom and baby, stellar sea lions, dahl sheep, thousands of birds, old WWII bunkers, eagles,and sea otters. We went to the Sea life center and had a great time there. One tank had some harbor seals and one of them hung out at the glass and played with you. He would follow your hand all around. He was sooo cute. I saw swimming birds up close and touched lots of sea plants and star fishes. It was great!! I think I will take my parents and grandparents there in a few weeks.

29 wow! This is not exactly where I saw myself as a youth but it has not been a bad ride. Some hard times now and then but overall some amazing experiences!!!!!!!!!!!! I have lived in 6 states (that I remember) 4 of them as a YSA. I feel like I am a well rounded person (no pun intended) who has been a risk taker. I have lived in every region of the USA. I have been exposed to city life, rural life, freezing climates, and hot climates. I have remained true to myself and to the covenants I have made. I have continued to love the Lord even through disappointments, trails, sorrows and know that the best part of my life is ahead of me. Faith is always facing forward. (remember lot's wife elder holland talk...AMAZING)

I long to have my own family and put down roots; when I get discouraged about this I just remember what I have control over and what I don't. I also remember that it only takes a short time to get married. I have known lots of couples who met and very quickly their lives changes dramatically. 2 from my ward here are now about to be parents, wow the difference a year can make...BUT if not then; I will continue to live my life having faith in the Lord and His infinite goodness, kindness, and His plan for me. I know part of my mission on Earth is to be a good example to others, to love others, and to learn all I can. These 3 things can keep me busy for a long time!!!

SUNSHINE Y'ALL -- and scares!

Today is the third day of absolutely gorgeousness; clear calm skies and sunny sixty degree weather! I have been have some grand adventures lately!! Saturday I took my good friend and co-workers daughters to the Eagle River Nature Center we saw some swans on the way out and a bunch of eagles and other "Alaskan" birds there. That night, after eating and feeding the missionaries at my friends Lexi's, a group of us in 4 trucks went off-roading /4 wheeling for 6 hours out at Jim Creek, just off the knik arm bridge. The sunset that we saw driving out was amazing. We had a blast smashing through mucky muddy, and sailing through cold creeks; I know it was cold because the truck I was in the water seeped in after crossing a dark deep mud hole. After 1 flat tire, 1 chainsaw useage to free an axel from a tree, 1 trip to the woods to pee, 1 wrong turn down a too narrow trail so we had to back out, we still did not make it to the Mat-Su glacier but boy did we have fun!!!!!!!! At 4 am on the way back into Anchorage you could see the sun starting to come back up.

Sunday night one of my BFF's here Erika, I played the piano at her baptism and now my baby is all grown up and going off to preach the gospel in Germany and Austria, texted me and told me the Northern Lights were out, 1: 15 in the am. I ran and put on my ARKANSAS hoodie and got myself outside. At first I didn't see it then she told me to look over Mt. View and then I saw it. It looked like a hazy green moving cloud. It was awe--some!

Monday at FHE we played ultimate dodge ball. When you get out all the people you got out are back in, never ending game. Then we got in teams of 3 and if someone in your team got out the team was out, within 20 mins we had a winner. So much fun to play and watch! We went to cold stone yummo! Then went to a middle school to play football, mosquitos are out and attacking. During the last play of the game my Erika had a seizure... scary! I was glad I was with worthy boys who were ready to give her a blessing. She came to and was fine within a few mins. Friday night my dad was in a tornado. He was driving and the storm got so bad he decided to get in a culvert. A tornado went right over where he was and two trees feel on his upper body and legs that were sticking out. He is lucky to be alive!! These two things were such a reminder of how important family and friends are to me and that life is so fragile. There are no guarantees for tomorrow all we have is the here and now.

Tuesday was a good guy friends b-day party after food, we went and walked on the Tony Knowles coastal trail and got cussed out by a crazy native lady because Erika's dog was off it's leash and she had to slow down. Good times! We were watching the sunset, seeing all sorts of birds at chester creek lagoon, and hearing the creek run into the ocean. The mountains on all sides and their reflection in the water was a spectacular to behold. We walked back holding hands and singing we're off to see the wizard. Such a great night!!

Lunch funny and Recognition

So I often will go across our back track over to The ARC of Anchorage, an organization that helps disabled kids. They help them learn work skills; part of their program is an in-house cafe. I got a baked potato. I came into the gym like I have many times before, only this time one of our "special" kids grabbed a handful of hot potato and threw it then licked his hand. It reminded me of our Downs Jacob he is so fast at grabbing food and he will do the same thing. It made a great mess all over me and the gym....oh geeze!

I felt awful for him cause he kept saying hot hot hot hot hot..and his aid felt bad for my lunch. Our administrative assistant went and got me a new potato over at the cafe while I was helping our janitor and special kid clean up the mess. How sweet!

Yesterday at our end of the day meeting our Principal ,who is maybe 5'1 and sometimes looks really funny talking and dealing with kids who are seriously 2 or 3 times his size, recognized me for my giving up my prep period to go in with the 6th grade PE class and helping out Coach Danny who has 9 kids and no teachers assistant in there. Everyone clapped and it felt nice to be recognized publicly for that effort/sacrifice!!!!

Alaska Roadtrips

Since there are several people from the group I pal around with a lot who are moving in the near future we have decided to road trip on the weekends until we all leave. Fairbanks was the first road trip and probably the longest!

This past Saturday we drove to Girdwood and went up to the 7 glaciers restaurant; which is nestled on top of a mountain at the Aleyeska resort. We took the tram to get up to the top of the mountain. It was gorgeous! The food up top was sooo expensive; it was a 5* eatery. It was tasty especially the creme brulee ! The drive there was spectacular. It was a clear sunny day and the sun was sparkling on the sea. The sunset while we ate and reflected some color onto the snowy mountain side. On the way home, the nearly full moon captured our gaze as its' light danced on the mountain side and the surface of the wavy water.

I will post some pictures soon!

On a side note- I can not believe that another year of school is almost over! The end of the year around here gets intense. Last week we had 4 students arrested and 2 intervention coaches i.e. security guards taken to the hospital for x-rays. One for a hand that got slammed in a door, the other for his nose, head butt to the face. We had a brawl in the hallway right outside my door that I thought would end up looking like a saloon fight in a John Wayne flick but it only dragged in 3 students. It has been nuts around here for sure!!! I am sure there is only more to come.

Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs, and ELDER CHRISTOFFERSON

Went up to Fairbanks, AK some YSA's invited us up to hear Elder Christofferson and Elder Brad Rissenmay, recently called to the 70, at a stake conference. There was not stake president release and Elder Christofferson said he kept getting asked why are you here? He said he was sent as a message of love and as a symbol that there is no place so remote, so isolated, so far that Heavenly Father does not know where you are and is aware of you. He spoke about light and how important it is in our lives temporally and spiritually. He said we need to invite the things that the Lord has touched into our lives, just as the stones that gave light to the Jaredites.

We decided since we were so close we would go to Chena Hot Springs. In Arkansas there is a town called Hot Springs that has natural hot springs too. It was a blast! The Spring was really hot!!

Then we drove over to North Pole, AK. My 1st cousin Spencer Sherwood is serving his mission in Alaska and he started in North Pole. We went to Santa's house and had fun poking around there.

Then we went to the Fairbanks stake conference and heard from one of the 12 Apostles. Elder Christofferson. It was powerful! We heard from him again on Sunday am and afternoon for a special YSA/SA meeting. We got to shake his hand and he took pictures with a lot of the YSAs. We stayed at the same hotel too but never saw him there.

The drive up and back was spectacular the Alaska Range of mountains is amazing!

the mountains looked like they were on fire..no camera could capture this lovely moment

moosing around at Denali Princess Lodge..it was still boarded up for the winter
YAY for Santa!

The museum on the University of Fairbanks Campus
Ice museum at Chena Hot Springs
WOW so high up on the globe!
the hot springs so hot!!!

this was in theUoF museum..ode to alaska outhouses. in the lower 48 rest stops have running water and flushing toilets..here you get an outhouse and if you are lucky some hand sanitizer.
view almost to fairbanks
view from hotel room of the chena river
picnic after church

Elder Christofferson and Risenmay on the stand on the left is the mission president and his wife Elder and Sister Dance, they are amazing too!