Well we made it to ND, a while ago actually. I started work this past Monday (yesterday) and Mike started 2 weeks ago. We are both liking our jobs so far. It has been an adjustment but I had a great trip down the Al-Can and in Minnesota. The pets did great for the car ride. We are currently bunking in Grandmas basement with Mikes Uncle Mike. Cora is with us in ND and Java is at my parents house (thanks mom and dad) keeping Willow company. We have called a few places about rent.... but they are not taking more people on the waiting list or want $1,000 for a efficiency apartment... I do not think so. We will be saving our pennies and looking at houses in a couple of months. Currently we are in the middle of a March Blizzard... welcome spring haha.
I will post some picture later.
My new work schedule in Monday though Thursday, 10 hour days. Then I have Fridays off for a 3 day weekend! So I am thinking about doing weekly posts on Fridays. We will see how that works... Ta Ta for now.
P.S. New blog title coming soon, maybe Friday...
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
3/22/2011
2/28/2011
Hello
Well I have been I bit busy lately so the blog is seriously slacking, and I do not see it getting much better in the next couple of weeks. Mike and Dad left here on Friday morning with 14' uhual, with my car towed behind it. They made it to Whitehorse the first night, then Fort Nelson, then Llyodminister AB, and finally Williston, ND! They made it through the boarders with no problems... can I hear and Amen!! Today they unloaded the uhual and then Mike drove my dad to Minot. Where he rented a car to drive to Minneapolis.
My last day of work was also on Friday!! And I start my new job with the North Dakota DOT on March 21st. I have been cleaning, organizing and getting out "accounts" in order here in Alaska. On Sunday I sold our Couch!! Made $50 dollars on it, and used it for 2.5 years... I <3 Craig's list. I also went to a couple of Aces Hockey games with Samantha, Hans and Jacob. The last game we lost in a shoot out and I was a very mean auntie. Samantha had left the seats to go get something and Jacob had a melt down. I was holding him trying to calm him down as he was flailing. I sat down (as the period was about to begin) and the arched his back, threw back his head and smack... hit his head, right by his eye on the seat next to me. I feel so bad he has a nice red spot and shiner on his left eye. Bad auntie Megan...
Any who My mom is flying up either tomorrow or Wednesday to drive down with me, we plan to leave on Thursday. But have yet to decide where our stops will be, it depends on the road and how the animals take the drive. Tomorrow I am taking the Veracruz in for an oil change and check over. Walking the Dog. Bringing our extra TP, dish washed detergent, food, ect. to the food bank. Going to a yoga class. Going to the salon to use up a gift card. And the finishing cleaning and starting to pack the car. I am really going to miss our friends in up here. The scenery. And the wild life. North Dakota will be a BIG change but I am embracing it with an open heart and open arms.
My last day of work was also on Friday!! And I start my new job with the North Dakota DOT on March 21st. I have been cleaning, organizing and getting out "accounts" in order here in Alaska. On Sunday I sold our Couch!! Made $50 dollars on it, and used it for 2.5 years... I <3 Craig's list. I also went to a couple of Aces Hockey games with Samantha, Hans and Jacob. The last game we lost in a shoot out and I was a very mean auntie. Samantha had left the seats to go get something and Jacob had a melt down. I was holding him trying to calm him down as he was flailing. I sat down (as the period was about to begin) and the arched his back, threw back his head and smack... hit his head, right by his eye on the seat next to me. I feel so bad he has a nice red spot and shiner on his left eye. Bad auntie Megan...
Any who My mom is flying up either tomorrow or Wednesday to drive down with me, we plan to leave on Thursday. But have yet to decide where our stops will be, it depends on the road and how the animals take the drive. Tomorrow I am taking the Veracruz in for an oil change and check over. Walking the Dog. Bringing our extra TP, dish washed detergent, food, ect. to the food bank. Going to a yoga class. Going to the salon to use up a gift card. And the finishing cleaning and starting to pack the car. I am really going to miss our friends in up here. The scenery. And the wild life. North Dakota will be a BIG change but I am embracing it with an open heart and open arms.
2/20/2011
Packing Packing and some fun
Mike and I have been spending this weekend packing, packing and packing. You can only take so much packing before you head implodes. After about 2-3 hours you stand there looking at the organized chaos you have created and have no idea where to go next. This weekend we completed the guest room, it is 100% packed! (except for a few big pictures.) We have about 90% of our close packed. The kitchen... well we have 3 smallish boxes packed. And need to find more boxes... or buy some.
I am going to get on a soap box here and say why in the h*ll are "moving" boxes so darn expensive. Everywhere we go we ask if they have boxes and all the stores have said that they either do not have any "free" boxes or that we can buy moving boxes. Sorry I do not believe that they do not have any boxes. I know for a fact they recycle a lot of boxes everyday. And second why are the boxes they sell $3-$5 a freaking box. Really ugh.... stepping of the soap box.
Friday night was awesome. We had bought a wine making experience a while ago on Groupon. So we went and tasted wine for about 2 hours ... amazing! Then we helped mix a wine, a Luna Biana Chardonnay Wine. It will not be ready to bottle for 8 weeks. We will not be here so some friends have volunteered to bottle it for us. And then ship it or bring it to us later.
This weekend we also drove out to Eagle River Nature center for some fun. We went snow shoeing with Cora of course. She was so much fun to watch bounce in the snow. I have some pictures but have been having some... technical difficulties posting them. We also went out to lunch yesterday and had some yummy Mexican food.
Sunday we had church and taught our k-1st-2nd graders. They are so darn cute. I got their addresses and promised to send them cards from North Dakota. Then we dropped of our recycling. And packed for a couple hours... got to the Chaos phase and took Cora for a 2 hours walk. Then packed some more. We watched the "new" Karate Kid on netflix... not 1/2 as good as the first one if you ask me.... but yeah.
Tomorrow my work is closed...but we have a submittal on Tuesday and I have to finish the "package" as much as I can tomorrow so we can submit early on Tuesday. I also have a physical type this for my new job. Tomorrow night I think we are going to go to Simon and Seafort's for happy hour to use up our remaining gift card. Then pack pack and more packing.
My dad is flying up on Wednesday and then Mike and him are leaving in a Uhaul on Friday. My mom and I will follow on the following Thursday. I will try to update more later...
I am going to get on a soap box here and say why in the h*ll are "moving" boxes so darn expensive. Everywhere we go we ask if they have boxes and all the stores have said that they either do not have any "free" boxes or that we can buy moving boxes. Sorry I do not believe that they do not have any boxes. I know for a fact they recycle a lot of boxes everyday. And second why are the boxes they sell $3-$5 a freaking box. Really ugh.... stepping of the soap box.
Friday night was awesome. We had bought a wine making experience a while ago on Groupon. So we went and tasted wine for about 2 hours ... amazing! Then we helped mix a wine, a Luna Biana Chardonnay Wine. It will not be ready to bottle for 8 weeks. We will not be here so some friends have volunteered to bottle it for us. And then ship it or bring it to us later.
This weekend we also drove out to Eagle River Nature center for some fun. We went snow shoeing with Cora of course. She was so much fun to watch bounce in the snow. I have some pictures but have been having some... technical difficulties posting them. We also went out to lunch yesterday and had some yummy Mexican food.
Sunday we had church and taught our k-1st-2nd graders. They are so darn cute. I got their addresses and promised to send them cards from North Dakota. Then we dropped of our recycling. And packed for a couple hours... got to the Chaos phase and took Cora for a 2 hours walk. Then packed some more. We watched the "new" Karate Kid on netflix... not 1/2 as good as the first one if you ask me.... but yeah.
Tomorrow my work is closed...but we have a submittal on Tuesday and I have to finish the "package" as much as I can tomorrow so we can submit early on Tuesday. I also have a physical type this for my new job. Tomorrow night I think we are going to go to Simon and Seafort's for happy hour to use up our remaining gift card. Then pack pack and more packing.
My dad is flying up on Wednesday and then Mike and him are leaving in a Uhaul on Friday. My mom and I will follow on the following Thursday. I will try to update more later...
2/14/2011
One year
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| My family's hands on Callen's Drum Photo by Blasing Shots Photography |
Hopefully I can take some of that adventure spirit and apply it in the next couple weeks. Today I put in my two week notice at work! Mike put in his last Thursday. We are moving to North Dakota, (so I will have to rename my blog.) Mike has landed a job as a Police Officer!!! (I am so proud of him.) And I will be accepting a job with the North Dakota Department of Transportation. I am so excited to be moving back closer to family. We will be a 12 hour drive from our parents and Mike even has family in the town we are moving to!! We are so blessed that Mike found this job and that I was able to secure not one but two job offers in the same town with in 2 weeks of applying for jobs in the area. I know for sure that Callen had a hand in making everything fall into place.
These next couple weeks will be very stressful packing, saying good bye to the many friend we have in Alaska, and driving the Al-Can in March. My parents will be helping us drive the 2,600 miles from Anchorage to our new town. Please keep us in your prayer not only today as we remember Callen, but in the weeks to come as we start our new adventure.
I so wish I could be in Minnesota today to hug, cry and remember with family and friends. But I send my love from the north and can't wait to see you all soon.
Love you so so much Callen.
2/04/2011
Happy Birthday Mike
Happy 25th Birthday Mike!
I am so so glad that I have been married to you for 2.5 years!
Have celebrated 9 Birthdays with you and we have many more to come.
Tonight we are going out to dinner at the Snow Goose, and Mike will trying out some new beers. I will be hoping there is cream soda... because I LOVE cream soda. Not to much is new up here in Alaska... at least that I can share with you yet. Cora is doing really well. She is super calm, as long as she gets her walks. She is also eating much much better, there are still times where she seems un-hunry but most times she eventually eats all her food. I have been cooking lately, last night we made Halibut a la Barigoule from Martha Stewart (http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/halibut-a-la-barigoule) It was so yummy with some white wine from Denali Winery!
I will post some pictures tomorrow
I am so so glad that I have been married to you for 2.5 years!
Have celebrated 9 Birthdays with you and we have many more to come.
Tonight we are going out to dinner at the Snow Goose, and Mike will trying out some new beers. I will be hoping there is cream soda... because I LOVE cream soda. Not to much is new up here in Alaska... at least that I can share with you yet. Cora is doing really well. She is super calm, as long as she gets her walks. She is also eating much much better, there are still times where she seems un-hunry but most times she eventually eats all her food. I have been cooking lately, last night we made Halibut a la Barigoule from Martha Stewart (http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/halibut-a-la-barigoule) It was so yummy with some white wine from Denali Winery!
I will post some pictures tomorrow
1/26/2011
Settling in
Life in Alaska has gotten kinda crazy, sorry I have not posted in a while.
Cora is settling in with us quite well. She has been with us for almost a week now. She is getting much better at walking and not pulling on the leash. She gets walks at least 3 times a day! We left her alone on Saturday night, when we went to a church dinner. She tore up her blanket in the kennel so when left alone she no longer gets a blanket. Cora leaves the blanket alone at night when we are sleeping, so she has something comfy to sleep on. We also left her alone for a few hours on Monday... she decided to chew on the crate... so we are going to have to do some work there. Java and Cora are doing better with each other. Java some times tolerates Cora, even rubs on her to see if she can feed her, haha. We has some problems with getting Cora to eat on Friday and Saturday, but she has eaten most of her food since so we were excited. She is an amazing dog, as long as she gets her walks she is totally relaxed!
Cora is settling in with us quite well. She has been with us for almost a week now. She is getting much better at walking and not pulling on the leash. She gets walks at least 3 times a day! We left her alone on Saturday night, when we went to a church dinner. She tore up her blanket in the kennel so when left alone she no longer gets a blanket. Cora leaves the blanket alone at night when we are sleeping, so she has something comfy to sleep on. We also left her alone for a few hours on Monday... she decided to chew on the crate... so we are going to have to do some work there. Java and Cora are doing better with each other. Java some times tolerates Cora, even rubs on her to see if she can feed her, haha. We has some problems with getting Cora to eat on Friday and Saturday, but she has eaten most of her food since so we were excited. She is an amazing dog, as long as she gets her walks she is totally relaxed!
1/12/2011
We are Adopting
After a long time thinking about it Mike and I have decide to a Adopt a Dog. We went to an Adoption Fair at Petco on Saturday and saw a bunch of dogs. Mike we were kinda focused on the puppies but after talking we decided a dog would be better. We looked at an adoption web page and Cora came up. I remembered seeing her at the event Saturday. Mike contacted the agency and we went to meet her last night. She is an absolute Doll. High energy yes, but very sweet. We hung out at her Fosters house and then took her on a short walk. She actually was listening to me, better then Mike. We are filing the paper work today and seeing her tonight. Then I plan on picking her up on Sunday after church, walking her and introducing her to Java and our home... ( I am not sure what Java is going to think.) If all goes well we will adopt her full time when Mike gets off of work on the 20th. We already have a vet appointment set up on the 21st to get her checked out.... we are already in love...
Here is what the webpage said about her:
Meet Cora! She is a 1.5 year old Husky mix. This girl only stops moving when she lays down! She took a couple of days to warm up (she was shy and a bit nervous at first), but is very sweet now that she is getting more comfortable. She is very high energy, loves a lot of play and to go for a long daily walk or two. She is doing very well with the cat, and excellent with the neighbors three female dogs. She likes playing with her rope and ball, and knows all of her basic commands. She walks very well on a leash if not allowed to charge ahead. She is submissive and very well behaved but still an independent thinker. She's sleeping in a crate at night and rides well in the car around town. This girl is a gem!
Meet Cora! She is a 1.5 year old Husky mix. This girl only stops moving when she lays down! She took a couple of days to warm up (she was shy and a bit nervous at first), but is very sweet now that she is getting more comfortable. She is very high energy, loves a lot of play and to go for a long daily walk or two. She is doing very well with the cat, and excellent with the neighbors three female dogs. She likes playing with her rope and ball, and knows all of her basic commands. She walks very well on a leash if not allowed to charge ahead. She is submissive and very well behaved but still an independent thinker. She's sleeping in a crate at night and rides well in the car around town. This girl is a gem!
1/09/2011
Be who you Are
12/31/2010
2010 in review
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| January- Trip to Hawaii with Mom and Dad |
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| Febraury- Callen, Photo by Blasing Shots Photography |
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| March- Back to Alaska- Star Wars Exhibit |
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| April- Easter in Whitter, Mom in AK |
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| May - Kodiak |
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| June- More Kodiak and Mike in MN |
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| July- Tattoo, Mom and Dad in AK, Camping with Samantha and Hans, Fishing |
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| August- Camping, G&G I and Mike Sr in AK |
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| September- Marja in Ak, 2 year Anniversary |
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| October- Fall hikes, went home to MN |
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| November: Home in MN, Thanksgiving Photo by Blasing Shots Photography |
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| December- Winter wonder land and Christmas |
12/26/2010
Alyeska 2010
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| SUN RISE CHRISTMAS MORNING FROM OUR CONDO |
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| START OF OUR SNOW SHOE ADVENTURE |
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| ON THE TRAIL |
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| BEAUTIFUL TREES |
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| TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN SKIING SATURDAY |
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| MIKE ON THE HILL |
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| PRETTY ICE |
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| ON THE SKI LIFT |
12/24/2010
12/23/2010
Are you Ready For Christmas?
Now that Alaska is gaining light again...
I might be ready for Christmas.
I still have a present to wrap and the food to make.
I have to go get some powdered sugar from the grocery store.
but over all I think we are ready.
I am ready to have a 3 day weekend with Mike.
I am ready for the Candle light service at church.
I am ready for the birth of our Savior.
I am ready for a relaxing night at Alyeska.
I am ready to go show shoeing.
I am ready to hit the slopes.
I might be ready for Christmas.
I still have a present to wrap and the food to make.
I have to go get some powdered sugar from the grocery store.
but over all I think we are ready.
I am ready to have a 3 day weekend with Mike.
I am ready for the Candle light service at church.
I am ready for the birth of our Savior.
I am ready for a relaxing night at Alyeska.
I am ready to go show shoeing.
I am ready to hit the slopes.
12/11/2010
Christmas Decor
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| Willow Angel Nativity |
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| Stockings (Megan, Java and Mike's) |
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| Swedish stuff and Santa |
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| Mike Shoveling, not as much snow as MN but still 3 inches |
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| Me |
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| Precious Moments Nativity Scene |
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| Santa and Christmas bear |
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| Wine bottle Snowman |
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| Nativity and snowmen |
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| Our tree |
New Nativity Scene
12/10/2010
Feeling better
As the previous post said I have had a bit of winter gloom. Yesterday was by far the worst. I woke up at 6:00 really missing Callen and not wanting to get out of bed. After crying for almost 45 minutes and talking to Mike I decided that going into work was just not going to happen. I went back to sleep, called in to work at 9, then slept until 11. When we woke up I stayed in bed reading until 12:30. Mike the wonderful husband he is brought me breakfast/lunch in bed.
After getting up cleaning a bit we did some running around. We went to the Vet office to get Java some more food, to Office Depot to get some ink, and then to Alaska Mill and Feed. Mike had called Alaska Mill and Feed to see their prices on Christmas tree and found out they started as low as $15. Well the $15 trees were only 3 feet tall so we went up to the $35 4-5 foot tree an got a bushy tree. I have to highly recommend Alaska Mill and Feed to anyone in Anchorage looking for a tree, they were really helpful, had the trees in a ware house that smelled really yummy, wrapped the tree ina plastic bag so you could but it in the back of the car instead of on top, and I felt better buying from a local company vs a national chain like Home Depot.
We go the tree set up last night and will decorate it this weekend. I am happy to say I took my last test for the Arctic Engineering course I am/was in! It only took me 1.5 hours! After I finished my test Mike and I went out to Carrs and got some Chinese food for dinner. They have this "Feast for Two" for only $10.99. You get 2 egg rolls, 2 entrees, a fried rice and a LowMein box. We ate our fill and still have enough to eat another meal. Last night we vegged on the couch and went to bed early.
I am happy to say waking up Friday morning I feel 100% better.
I also want to say Happy Anniversary to my Grandma and Grandpa Bjerke. They celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss yesterday! Congrats!
After getting up cleaning a bit we did some running around. We went to the Vet office to get Java some more food, to Office Depot to get some ink, and then to Alaska Mill and Feed. Mike had called Alaska Mill and Feed to see their prices on Christmas tree and found out they started as low as $15. Well the $15 trees were only 3 feet tall so we went up to the $35 4-5 foot tree an got a bushy tree. I have to highly recommend Alaska Mill and Feed to anyone in Anchorage looking for a tree, they were really helpful, had the trees in a ware house that smelled really yummy, wrapped the tree ina plastic bag so you could but it in the back of the car instead of on top, and I felt better buying from a local company vs a national chain like Home Depot.
We go the tree set up last night and will decorate it this weekend. I am happy to say I took my last test for the Arctic Engineering course I am/was in! It only took me 1.5 hours! After I finished my test Mike and I went out to Carrs and got some Chinese food for dinner. They have this "Feast for Two" for only $10.99. You get 2 egg rolls, 2 entrees, a fried rice and a LowMein box. We ate our fill and still have enough to eat another meal. Last night we vegged on the couch and went to bed early.
I am happy to say waking up Friday morning I feel 100% better.
I also want to say Happy Anniversary to my Grandma and Grandpa Bjerke. They celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss yesterday! Congrats!
12/07/2010
Winter Gloom
Sorry for anyone who's following my blog I have just not been in the writing mood the last couple of weeks.
This holiday season is hard for me and the darkness of an Alaskan winter seems me be pressing on me more this year than in the past.
A friend, Liz, from high school posted on her facebook for extra prayers today, her little brother, JP, passed away two years ago today at the age of 21. JP, like Callen, was a lovable guy. He had the greatest sense of humor and could make everyone laugh, with the crazy stories he told. Both Liz and JP were on the Shot Put and Discus team with me in high school. I remember after Saturday practices we would all load up and go to OCB (Old Country Buffet). Getting the soup bowls to use for ice cream, since the ice cream ones were so tiny. I also worked with JP as a cart person at Target in high school. He made the hours go by faster, was a hard worker and would make everyone laugh. It sucks that both Liz and I have to go through losing our only sibling, our younger brother, someone who could light up a room with their charm. It sucks that our parents had to lose their only son, and youngest child. It sucks that all the family functions in the future look so much different now than they did before. JP is missed by many.
A friend, Liz, from high school posted on her facebook for extra prayers today, her little brother, JP, passed away two years ago today at the age of 21. JP, like Callen, was a lovable guy. He had the greatest sense of humor and could make everyone laugh, with the crazy stories he told. Both Liz and JP were on the Shot Put and Discus team with me in high school. I remember after Saturday practices we would all load up and go to OCB (Old Country Buffet). Getting the soup bowls to use for ice cream, since the ice cream ones were so tiny. I also worked with JP as a cart person at Target in high school. He made the hours go by faster, was a hard worker and would make everyone laugh. It sucks that both Liz and I have to go through losing our only sibling, our younger brother, someone who could light up a room with their charm. It sucks that our parents had to lose their only son, and youngest child. It sucks that all the family functions in the future look so much different now than they did before. JP is missed by many.In other news Mike and I have been busy decorating for Christmas. Changing the table cloth and candles. Exchanging the fall decoration with leafs for snowmen and Santa's. And I put out our 3 nativity scenes. I have a Willow Angel set, a Precious Moments set and a new porcelain set this year from my mom (her and my grandma have the same one). We are debating whether or not we will get a tree. As Grinchy as it sounds a live tree is a lot of work and who other then us is going to see it? And we have no place to store an artificial tree. One of the locally owned green houses has some small trees so we might go get one of those to put a few ornaments on and the presents under.
11/21/2010
Weekend Over Already
I think weekends go by way to fast. Mike is working nights this weekend, which means I see him for dinner and that is about it. Yesterday I went to the gym and had a scrapbooking get together last night. Today I went to church and then taught Sunday school, we had 6 kids this week. Then I went to Dairy Queen as the youth were having a fundraiser there. They got 10% of the profits of ALL sales between 11 and 2 today so really I HAD to go... haha. This afternoon I did a load of laundry and scrapbooked some more. We had some yummy spaghetti for dinner with yellow peppers, turkey, and onions. Not much else is going on. This week will be busy. I have a dead line at work Tuesday so I will be working late tomorrow. Then Thanskgiving is Thursday with Samantha and Hans.
I will leave you a few pictures of our kayaking adventure and trip to the cabin when we were in MN.
11/17/2010
Exciting Stuff
Monday night Mike and I went to a new friends house for dinner! We were connected with a few couples and singles in there 20-30's through our church. Last night 5 of us got together to start planning a 20-30's group for the United Methodist Church's in Alaska. It was so nice to meet some new people with a common faith in God. We had some lasagna, bread, a salad and I brought a Chocolate Cheese Cake for Desert! It was amazing.
Right now we are planning a get together at our church in January and a retreat at Birchwood (http://birchwoodcamp.org/) in the spring! I am so so pumped about the retreat. I love Birchwood and as exciting as it is to go out with the youth, I am excited to explore the camp! Ever since Callen and I started going to Clearwater Church camp in Minnesota I always feel closer to God when at camp surrounded by nature and other people who are also searching for him.
Oh and one of the leaders even started a Facebook page for it so go check it out
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alaska-20s-30s/159604814063051
Right now we are planning a get together at our church in January and a retreat at Birchwood (http://birchwoodcamp.org/) in the spring! I am so so pumped about the retreat. I love Birchwood and as exciting as it is to go out with the youth, I am excited to explore the camp! Ever since Callen and I started going to Clearwater Church camp in Minnesota I always feel closer to God when at camp surrounded by nature and other people who are also searching for him.
Oh and one of the leaders even started a Facebook page for it so go check it out
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alaska-20s-30s/159604814063051
11/13/2010
Hello again
We are back from Minnesota
Well actually the picture above is from Wisconsin at my parents Cabin but we are back in Alaska. We had a great trip home seeing family, friends, and learning how to drum better. I loved meeting our nephew Wyatt from the first time.
We spent a bunch of time up at the cabin with my parents
The weather was amazing.
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