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

Just Keep Swimming

This is the phrase I sing to myself when I feel like quiting during a run.  Monday night Mike and I ran this route in about 33 minutes! 
 
This is also how I am feeling about life right now.  Just Keep Swimming!  and you might get somewhere.  Life is just chugging along nothing really exciting going on.  This past weekend we went to our first Aces game of the season on Friday.  Saturday we hung out at home, walked downtown to the 5th Ave Mall, and then had our first Dinner for Nine of the year.  Our dinner for 9 group is great and we had a wonderful meal.  Sunday we went to church and then taught Sunday School to 2 Kindergartner's and 1 2nd grader.  It was a small group but they kept up laughing.  Sunday afternoon we just hung around the house, watching football and baking cookies.  Sunday evening we went to my friend Angela's house for a little while, her 1 year old Olive decided she really liked me, she was so cute bringing me books to look at.
This week is already 1/2 over.
Monday we ran, as I said above and the vegged. 
Tuesday we went to the gym and vegged.
 Tonight we are going out to dinner at Suite 100 (http://www.suite100restaurant.com/) with Samantha and Hans for their 4th Wedding Anniversary!  No big plans for the weekend.  Just looking forward to going to Minnesota soon!

Weekend Fun

This weekend we had a ton of fun.  Mike and I watched Jacob on Friday night for a few hours and then caught up on our DVR list.  Saturday we slept in, and the headed to the gym.  I ran for 25 minutes without stopping!   Mike ran 2 miles without stopping.  After a quick shower we did some shopping Costco, Target, and Kohls.  Then we got ready and headed to the church auction.  There was lots of stuff there.  We did not win anything in the live auction but in the silent auction I won a Cricut!

and a cookie jar!

Mike won a picture of A Cabin with Denali in the background and a Ipod Touch

After the auction we wend to the Wood Shed, a bar down town, to celebrate a friends birthday. 

Today we slept in at little and then taught Sunday school at 11.  After church we just hung out at home.  Mike dorked around on his itouch and I played with the cricut and scrapbooked.  Tonight I am going to make some chocolate chip cookies to put in the cookie jar! 

WEEK 4 DONE!

Well 5 weeks in and I have finished week 4 of the Couch to 5k. Not to bad if you ask me since we had 2 groups of visitors and I had strep. I am almost to where I was in February. But from what I can remember week 5 is hard, ends with a straight 20 minute run. Yikes!

Not much else is new. Mike went back to work on today and we have zero exciting plans for the weekend, we went grocery shopping last night, so exciting....Today I am making a Rustic Kale and White Bean Soup and some beef burritos for the freezer. Then I am going to treat my self to a movie! Oh and Sunday School starts this weekend!

Church Activities

Mike and I have been helping with the youth at our church since we moved to Alaska. We primarily help out on Wednesday night but also help out on special events such as retreats. In the past we have helped with Senior high, but this coming year we are going to be helping with Junior High! Last night was the final night of the summer session. We had a Relay night which involved playing all sorts or relay games. The new youth director Robbie had everything planned out including face paint for each of the teams to decorate them selves with. Mike and I were in charge of 20, yes twenty, 7th and 8th graders. 12 girls and 8 boys with a ton of energy. They did the dress up relay, a chariot race, a lego build thingy, and the banana relay, it was a blast watching them work as a team. This school year we will be helping at least every other Wednesday, the weeks Mike does not work. I will most likely be there more often.


We are also excited that we are going to be helping out with the little kids Sunday School this year. We will be teaching the 5&1st grade Sunday school. I am so excited to work with the little kids they are just so darn cute. But also pose their own set of issues. Sunday School starts the 12th of September! I shall be interesting.

Rain Rain Go Away

This weekend Mom, Dad, Mike, Samantha, Hans, Jacob and I all packed up and headed down to Anchor Point for a mini-vacation. We rented a cute little cabin "Cabin in the Woods." It had a loft with 2 beds, a bedroom with 1 bed, a living room, bathroom, kitchen and a washer/dryer. It was very nice to have place to warm up from the rain.

Mike, Dad, and Hans were "supposed" to go halibut fishing on Saturday morning... however the winds were to high so it was postponed until 1, and then the charter was completely canceled. So the boys headed up to the Kenai to dip net, with Dad on the shore watching. They only caught one fish.

Samantha, Mom, Jacob and I headed into Homer and went to Bear Creek Winery for some wine tasting. Jacob had a juice box and some string cheese. They had some really yummy berry wines, Samantha who "does not like wine" even bought 2 bottles. Their Strawberry Rhubarb wine was super yummy and we each bought a bottle. Then we stopped at the National Wild Life Refuge looked around the small but interesting museum before heading out on a walk. Jacob was so cute on the board walk, he at times looked like the one who had been drinking the wine.

Sunday Mike and Hans got up early and headed out to the Kenai for some more dip netting. Mom, Dad, and I went on a short walk around Anchor Point before starting the treck back to Anchorage with Samantha and Jacob. The Boys made it the the River at the PERFECT time Sunday!! They caught 10 yes 10 salmon!!! Mike 6 and Hans 4, between 10 AM and 3 PM. Needless to say they were happy. While they drove back we all went to church to welcome our new pastor. We ended the long, but short weekend with a pizza and the boys cleaning fish.

I will try to post pictures sometime...

They Won!!

Mikes Tattoo mostly healed

Mike Batting
The team on the field

Mike's Softball Team won their First Game Wednesday night!! The same team from last year from the church. (So what if the other team only had 4 players and had to forfeit.) They did do a scrimmage and Mike was 6 for 6 at bat! He also scored a couple of runs.

Fun Filled Weekend

I am excited for the weekend. Tonight Mike and I are going to go to the Rock Gym (http://www.alaskarockgym.com/) for a "Lesson Session" where we will be taught the basics of Rock Climbing and belay certified! It is something I always thought sounded fun... Mike is a little unsure of it since he does not like heights but I know we will have a good time. The class is from 7 to 9 and we can use the gym until 11.
Saturday I am sleeping in!! After putting 55 hours in at work this week I cannot wait to not have to wake up to an alarm! Then we are reservations to go to the Alaska Dinner Factory from 1 until 3 (http://www.alaskadinnerfactory.com/) and make 6 different meals. We will get a total of 12 meals to make at home because we split the 6 into 3 person servings instead of 6. I will post more later. Then at 6 Saturday we have our dinner for nine group from church. We have a new couple joining us so I am excited, they are bringing their 18 month old. The group decided to go out to eat this time at La Mex, a Mexican restaurant in Anchorage that Mike and I are indifferent about. We think Alaska is to far north of the boarder for really good Mexican food~ haha.
Sunday we plan to go the the 9:30 church service. After Church we are going to Jacobs First Birthday Party. I cannot believe he is already a year old. He is getting so much of a personality.
In other news... MY MOMMY IS COMING TO VISIT.... A friend is getting her a buddy pass type ticket! She will fly standby and is coming the 22nd of the month... less then a week away!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! Mike and I had a great day in Whittier. Saturday was truly magnificent. The sky was bluer than blue, the snow was pearly white and the sun was warm. We walked around Whittier. Then watched Father of the Bride before heading down stair for dinner and drinks at the hotel. The french fries were really yummy! They had a guitarist there signing and playing starting at 7 he was really good. Then we went up to our room and watch the Hangover, which I actually liked. Today we got up and had omelets for Breakfast, they were yummy. However the weather did a complete 180. It was cold, rainy/snowy, and cloudy outside. There was a bit of snow on the car. Compared to MN where my parents are running around in shorts and sandals... not fair. We got our Easter Basket from Great Harvest... the bunny is so cute and the cookies were really yummy! Tonight I am going to the 6:30 service at Church, and Mike is picking up an overtime shift at work.

This is the first holiday without Callen... it sucks. I want to call him and find out what the Easter Bunny left for him and what him and Rachel had planned for the day. I did talk to Rachel which was nice. I hate that Callen is gone. I know he is celebrating with Jesus and God but it sucks that he had to go so early in his life. I wish he was down here playing his drum or the guitar in church. It has been over a year since I have given him a hug, sad I know, I so wish he could have come up to visit us. Happy Easter Callen. Send down your love to us.

Bible in 50 words

I recieved this in an email... I Like it...

God made

Adam bit

Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled

Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided

Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked

Prophets warned
Jesus born


God Walked
Love talked

Anger crucified
Hope died

Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.

Monday... Again

Seriously where does the time go? Anyone want to help me out on this one? Mike and I had a great weekend. We went to my work Christmas Party on Thursday night. It is always fun to get dressed up and see my coworkers out side of our normal office routine. They gave away a ton of awesome prizes, but sadly I disappointed Mike the 2nd year in a row and did not win anything.
Friday night we went to a retirement party for Mike coworker. It was at Lone Star. The food was good, the drinks were good and we sat at a table full of Mikes. Out of the 5 other coworkers at the table 4 of their names were Mike, needless to say learning everyones names was pretty easy!
Saturday we went and worked out together and finally went grocery shopping. We had been living out of the pantry and freezer for a good week. We also finished up our Christmas Shopping and will be sending the boxes out tomorrow! ( I forgot to bring them today...)
Sunday after church we finally went and got our Christmas tree. First we went to a out door place that we heard had beautiful trees. The trees were gorgeous... but the price tag matched it. I could not justify spending $75-100 on a 3-4 foot tree. So then we went to Lows and they really did not have any that "spoke" to use. We ended up at Home Depot and got a Nobel Fir Tree that looks beautiful in our condo. We planned on decorating it tonight (Monday), but Mike got called in to work overtime!!! So we will decorate it tomorrow. After getting the tree situated I started baking... I made a batch of puppy chow, a triple batch Cranberry white chocolate cookies, and some Christmas gift, (which I am not able to fully disclose until after Christmas). Then I went to Bible Study. Then Last night we went out to eat with Samantha, Hans, Jacob, and Hans Parents (Mark and Diane) to the Brew House. Samantha Finished her last class of College yesterday so we went out to celebrate her freedom!
Congratulations Samantha!

Time Flies

Wow time is just flying by. Did you know Christmas is only 2 weeks and 2 days away? Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? Mike and I are almost done just a couple things left to pick up, ship out, and I have some baking to do. But we still have not gotten our Christmas tree. We plan on getting one on Sunday after church. We are super busy this week. Mike has been working days. Tonight (Wednesday) we have Youth Group, Thursday is my work Christmas Party, Friday is a party of Mikes old Coworker, and Saturday is a dinner with our Dinner For Nine group at church. I guess I do not need to cook much!

Last night we wrote up and printed off a Christmas letter to send out with our picture card thingy. Now to find time to fold the letters, stuff the envelopes and put them in the mail.

Well gotta Run!

December = Busy

I cannot believe it is already December! Where has 2009 gone? Is Christmas really only 24 days away, holy smokes that is crazy talk.

Mike and I have tons planned this month. I have a work Christmas Party, Mike had a Retirement party for a co-worked, we have our dinner for nine meeting, I continue to have Lego Robotics twice a week, we have youth group on Wednesday, I go to Bible Study on Sundays, and we really need to hit the gym to get ready for our vacation. We are also going Skiing at Alyeska (http://www.alyeskaresort.com/) with the Senior High Youth on the 27th.

We are going to miss being home for Christmas again the 2nd year in a row. That is one of the down sides about being 2,500 Miles away for our families. At least we have cell phones, facebook, blogs and skype to keep in touch with each other. I am anxiously awaiting the Christmas Eve Candle Light Service! At least this year Mike can come too! (last year he was working nights).

I went to work today... Mike, Grandma, and Grandpa went to the Anchorage Museum. We are having Homemade Chicken BBQ pizza for dinner tonight, yummy. We might go to Blind Side tonight. I love having my Grandparents up here. I have to admit they have spoiled us almost rotten since they have been up here; buying our Christmas gifts, taking us out to dinner, and playing numerous games with us (Sorry, Dominoes, Life, Trouble, and Yahtzee.) I don't want then get on the plane Saturday. :(

Birchwood Fall Retreat

Soccer

The Chapel

Fire

Pumpkins

Leslie, Megan and Alisha

Twig with Ice

Mike and Megan by the lake

Games in the Lodge

Sun Rise

We had great weather and company at the Birchwood Fall Retreat this weekend. There were about 20 youth and 5 adults from St. John. Friday night most played capture the flag with glow sticks. We played a few games like shuffle buns and fruit basket upset. Saturday we ate good. We ate all weekend, our cook Bernita was awesome pumpkin pancakes, taco salad and chicken with mashed potatoes and corn oh my.

Saturday our youth leader Jay organized a game of professor, where the adults built a model then one youth from each team looked at the model and had to tell their team how to build it, but the rest of there team could not see it and the professor could not touch it. It was a lot of fun and all the youth participated.

We had free time in the afternoon where the youth played football, soccer, went on hikes, played games, and carved pumpkins. The pastor at St John came out in the afternoon and did a communion service at the out door chapel. After dinner the camp managers Steve and Marie organized a scavenger hunt with clues through out the camp. We had 2 teams competing the freshman vs everyone else. The freshman won by about 2 minutes. Then we had a camp fire with s'mores down by the lake.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, a little early. We have "big" plans for Halloween. We are going out to Birchwood Methodist Church Camp for the weekend for a youth trip. (http://www.birchwoodcamp.org/) I love going out to Birchwood, it is beautiful out there. I hope that it does not rain, it is not "supposed to. It will be chilly but I can handle cold.

Mike has one more week of the Academy!! YIPPIE! His co-workers got tased earlier this week, but her had proof that he had already been tased so did not have to suffer that again. Today he will be maced ... again for the third time in his life. But he only has to get it in one eye. It still does not sound fun to me.

Hope you get more Treats than tricks!

Craft Fair

Yesterday Mike and I went to the craft fair/ Fall Festival at our church. We had never gone before but I am glad that we did. We bought a Northern Lights Coupon book from the youth. Which is the same concept as the Happenings book in the lower 48. It has a lot of coupons for restaurants and also a ton for tourist type activities in Alaska. And a large portion of the money goes to the youth fund at church.

We also bought this super, super cute wine bottle snow man for a local artist. I fell in love with is and HAD to buy it!

Busy Busy

I feel like I am always running some where these days.

This has its good points and bad points. Good is that if I am busy I am not sitting at home in front of the TV. Bad because it seems like a tornado has gone through our house. Last night after youth group. (At youth group we went and played mini golf. I was naively excited...I love mini golf... however I was highly disappointed. Never EVER waste your time or money going to Castle On O'malley mini golf. I think my high school senior graduation party had a better mini golf course. But the what can you expect in Alaska) Any who; Last night, I had had enough of the kitchen. It was NASTY. Yes, I know it is partly my fault but whatever. I washed all the dishes, scrubbed the counters and floors. I am happy to announce I feel safe eating in it again!

Tonight we do not have much planned. I have pork chops pulled out for dinner. We plan on going and working out tonight. My C25k quest continues, currently I am stuck on week 4 which has 4 running sets 3min, 5 min, 3 min, and 5 min. The first three I have no problem with the last 5 minute run though I can not get through. I am not sure if it is mental or physical. But I will keep trying.

It will be another busy weekend. We have dinner with the other youth group leaders Friday night, I have FLL on Saturday followed by a party for work in Eagle River, and Sunday we have church and I have bible study in the afternoon. And I hope to sew some this weekend too. So much to do so little time! If only there was an extra couple hours in the day.

Busy Week

We have had quite a busy week so far.
Monday was Samantha's Birthday. We went out to dinner with her, Hans and Jacob at the Glacier Brew House down town. Then we hung out over at there place.

Mike and Megan

Jacob

Samantha and Hans

Tuesday night was supposed to be out last game...but we only had 3 girls show up, we need four to play. So originally we asked the other team if they would let us play with an extra guy. Then our team got to talking and decided that we really did not want to play in the rain. We we told the other team congrats you won and headed to Moose's Tooth for Pizza and Beer (well I had their Cream Soda since it is SOOOOO good.) Our softball team did not do so well this year but we had a good time and got to know some people from the church a lot better!

Wednesday night was the current St. John youth pastor's, Adam, last night. He and his family are leaving so they can fund raise money to start up a missionary project in Fiji! It is totally awesome. He will be in Anchorage until his house sells. So Wednesday we went to help out with the youth group and say good bye. The "activity" for the night was a cheap skate scavenger hut at the Mall. Adam gave each of the 3 groups $10 in quarters. They got 10 points for each receipt they had for exactly 25 cents. 5 points for something under 25 cents and 2 points for a receipt with something over 25 cents. The youth seemed to enjoy it, although some just used the money to buy food and hung out.

Tonight we have nothing big planned maybe go work out and had Omelets for dinner, yum. Tomorrow the church has a candidate for the new youth pastor up so we are hanging out with the youth group again!

Hope, Alaska

Bikers Down Town Hope

Hike


Sarah, Jenna, and Ruth on the Hike Waterfall in the background


Water was moving quick

Jenna and I

Jenna, Sarah, Riley and Sebastian

Me and Sebastian

The road

YOU can kinda see the road in this picture if you look close

This weekend I went on a women's retreat to Hope, Alaska. It is only about 13 miles from Anchorage if you go directly, however if you want to take the road it is about 2 hours. There were a total of 11 women down for the day Saturday but only about 6 people stayed at the cabin for the entire weekend. I rode down with Sarah and Jenna and their two dogs Sebastian and Riley. Friday we went out to dinner at discovery cafe, they had very good onion rings :) Saturday we went on a short hike in the morning, played some games around lunch, and went on an adventure after lunch. Jenna had found a hiking trail to go to and the start was at the end of Palmer Creek Road, little did we know that the end of the road would take us an hour to get to, with the last 4 miles were not maintained. At some points it looked as though you were driving into a lake. Once we got to the end of the road we walked up to a waterfall, however we somehow missed the trail and just walked through the tundra. The water fall was really pretty, you could feel the mist! We found the trail on the way back down.

Saturday night we had a Halibut and Salmon Feast with a ton of side salads. We made a fire and made som-mores outside. I am really glad that I went, it was great to get away for the weekend.

Camping

If you look close you can see our Black bear.

The Black Bear

Our Bike Ride

The end of our ride

Kayaking!!

Dinner

We had a great weekend camping. Friday we went to Eklunta Lake and set up camp. We went on a short 7 mile bike ride... I fell on some roots and now have a beautiful purple and blue left knee and thigh, call me Grace. We hung out around the camp fire for the evening.

Saturday we had eggs and bacon for breakfast and while cleaning up a black bear walked across the edge of the group camp! After the excitement we went on a 24 mile bike ride back towards Whiteout Glacier. (I did not fall, I walked over the rooty section!) We were really tired after our bike ride but really wanted to take the kayak out. So we ate some lunch, loaded up the kayak, and went to the lake. The Kayaking went great!! That night we had a pot luck with all the other church people at the camp.

Sunday (today) we got up and had oatmeal for breakfast and took down camp. We packed up the van and went down to the lake. Mike rented a 2nd Kayak so we could cruise around the lake. It was a little, ok a lot, windy so pur arms are sore tonight. Now we are at home and took showers. I feel alive again, since the camp ground did not have showers or running water. I can't wait to go camping again!