Get Ready...Get Set...

Who knew moving two states and a country away would be so challenging?  For those of you who don't know, I am a horrible packer - just ask my sister.  I hate it - seriously.  I get so unmotivated and then throw things into boxes just to say that it is done.  Really though, all I've done is create more chaos.  But it's coming.  I have a few more things to pack and some clothes, and I am done!  Ready, set, AHHH! ;-)

As I was looking through clothes to take, clothes to leave, etc, I noticed something.  I do not have many "Alaska" clothes.  My clothes are for Hawaii (last summer...) and So Cal (all my life).  It's very strange to think that I am going to need a whole new wardrobe.  Many ladies would kill for an excuse to go shopping for new clothes, but I can honestly say that it is a bit like packing for me.  I hate it just as much.  So I decided since I have a "free afternoon" with nowhere to be and no people to see, that I would just go to Ontario Mills (why there?) and get some "Alaska" clothes.  Right...

The first problem is that I live in So Cal and am moving to Alaska.  Alaska just recently started hitting the 60's in temperature.  I'm going to freeze.  I do love the cold, and am looking forward to the weather, but here's my problem.  All the stores are having their beginning of summer sales - for So Cal.  No one has long-sleeved anything!  As I was going through my clothes at home, I noticed that I don't have any jackets.  In fact, I have two long-sleeved shirts, two pairs of jeans, and no jacket or sweater of any sort.  Not good.  And would you believe that stores in So Cal do not have winter gear in their stores at the end of May in So Cal?  I know!  The audacity of it!  Hence my next problem - finding jeans and long sleeved - or warm - clothes so that I will not have to mail-order many things.  I had a small amount of success, but it was painful...;-)  I'm really hoping that tank tops are alright in Juneau.

Six days till departure.  It's coming so fast and I still have so many people to see, things to do, and goodbyes to say.  Pray for me!

Blessings!

Wait, What?

Many, if not all of you know by now that I am making a huge move from my home in So Cal to Juneau, Alaska in a few weeks.  W0w - it doesn't seem real!  I've heard it all: "You do know it's going to be cold up there...", "You'll feel like you're on an island!", "You know that there are plenty of group homes in Southern California that you could work in - you don't have to go so far away".  Yes, I do know all of these things, but why not now?  Why not have an adventure like this now?  

So yes, I am very excited.  And yes, I am extremely nervous about moving.  I'm leaving everything I've ever known here, my family, my friends, and starting a new life up in Juneau.  I will be working at a home called Cornerstone in Juneau with teens who need a place to go.  We will get runaways, kids taken out of their home by CPS, and the like.  The job at Cornerstone is to figure out what the need of the kid is and place the kid there - maybe a meeting with the parents and social workers, maybe a recovery house, maybe a place to sleep for the night.  Sound fun?  Haha!

  I will be living on the edge of the forest (with the bears, so I'm told...) in a one bathroom two bedroom apartment with my good friend Bri from APU.  I've attached pictures of our apartment.  I want you to notice if you look out the window, you can see that it is still snowing - in the middle of May!  Wait, what?  Is that supposed to happen?

I will do my best to put up pictures, stories, and thoughts while I'm up there.  Please feel free to email me, call me (yes, we do get cell phone reception there) or drop me a note!  Please be praying for me too.  I'm excited for what God has for me, but I would be lying if I were to tell you I wasn't nervous, scared, and a bit skeptical.  But beyond all those things, I am so so excited. 

Blessings!