Who approved the ice?

Picture of DeHart's, a local "7-11" with six foot icicles!!!
My car in my driveway.  This was the morning after it snowed two feet.  When I opened my car door, it pushed snow out of the way...not fun to drive in...
Icicles at Lighthouse.  The girls loved this.

So, the last few days have been interesting.  It's gone from snowing two feet and about 18 degrees outside to pouring down rain and about 40 degrees outside.  The warm weather (yes, 40 degrees IS warm!) is starting to melt the snow, so the berms are getting smaller.  Problem is, it gets to freezing at night, so all the millions of puddles of water is turning to ice.  This, let me tell you, is not fun to walk in, drive in, live in, etc.  Who approved this?  I am enjoying the warmer weather though (never thought I'd say that...) and enjoying the clear skies.  It's getting beautiful again!

Work is still going well.  I'm loving the girls and the challenges they throw at me.  Monday was a fun day...we had three of the six girls have full on blow-outs - that means they lost their tempers, storming around, yelling, swearing, not listening to anyone, etc.  It was quite the adventure.  Luckily I had the next two days off...One of our girls is going home sometime this week, so we're getting another new one.  This is kinda scary because the house will be "young" meaning they are all so new to the program and will have meltdowns easier.  So it's going to be pretty high-stress for the next few months.  Be in prayer for all of us!

Other than that, I don't really have any fun stories.  Just hanging out, trying to keep connected with folks at home, and trying to enjoy life in Alaska.  Hope you are all doing well!  Miss you terribly!

Blessings!

All in a Day's Work

It's been a crazy week.  Lots of little things happened, and a couple big things.

I ended up getting the Subaru.  It wouldn't start that day because the starter system was broken - sound familiar?  The dealer assured me nothing else was wrong with the car, so I went ahead and bought it.  It has started this whole week, so I guess that's a good sign, right?  It's a cute little car, and it'll get me around.  So at least I have some way to get around.  This is a good thing!

Christmas was fun.  I woke up really early to video chat with my family and watch them open presents and wish I was there.  It was good to see them though.  I felt a little at home...Then I got ready for work and worked with my girls for the rest of the day.  We had prime rib and mashed potatoes for dinner, so it was all good.  Pretty low key, not too much girl drama, and a relaxing night.  

Yesterday I went to work and took the girls sledding.  A few funny stories.  You know how when the snow on tree branches gets too heavy, and all the snow falls?  Well, in native Alaskan culture, there are little evil men that live in the trees and woods.  When the snow falls, it is a warning sign to get out of the forest, otherwise they will get you.  So, while we were walking trying to find a good place to sled, the snow would fall and the girls would freak out.  We finally found a good hill, and started to sled.  All of a sudden, all of the trees around us lost their snow.  The girls didn't like that at all.  It was pretty comical.  So we continued sledding and a bad thing happened...

...All I know is that at the top of the hill, my wrist was fine.  At the bottom of the hill, my wrist was not fine.  I got to the bottom of the hill and couldn't move my wrist or bend my fingers.  I kept trying, and "walking off the pain", but it wasn't working too well.  There was no immediate swelling, so I didn't think I broke anything.  So, to distract myself from the pain, I initiated a snowball fight.  Rule number one: if you are from California, never get in a snowball fight with an Alaskan - they WILL beat you!  And hit you every time.  And make the best snowballs.  It's quite a learning experience.  Rule number two: never get into a snowball fight right after you injure your throwing hand - it doesn't help.  After loosing at the snowball fight, and hiking back to the house, I looked at my wrist and realized that it was pretty dang swollen.  Our clinician Doug said I had to go to the ER to get it checked out.  He voluntarily took me down to the hospital.  Five hours later, I went home with a very bad sprain (no broken bones!) and a splint.  Yay for that.  Right handed splints are not fun when you're right-handed...So I'm learning to do many things with my left hand - ha!

I got to see Aunt Evie, Uncle Leo, and Daniel while they were at my house the other night.  Let me tell you, it was SO funny - it was chaos.  I don't even remember half of what happened, I just remember laughing and having a stomach ache that night!  My family was there too - it was quite hilarious.  So thanks to all of you!

I went on a snow hike with my friend Crystal.  It was beautiful and reminded me of Narnia.  It started to snow pretty hard while we were out, so we turned back before getting to the end of the trail.  But it was beautiful and so much fun.  We came back to my house and drank hot tea and chatted for a while, so that was fun.  

I get to work a double shift tomorrow, and then six days next week, so pray for me!

I love you and miss you!  Hope all is well and Happy New Year!

Blessings!

It's Almost Christmas...

...And I have yet to do some Christmas shopping...yup.  I'm in big trouble.

But here's the deal.  I've been under so much stress the past few weeks that I've cried enough tears to fill an ocean, got mad enough to light a runway, been excited enough to make even the toughest kids smile.   If you add it all together, you equal the panic attack that got me Wednesday night.  Yes, it was a fun week.

Many of you know the car problems I've been having.  I finally decided to buy another car.  So Aunt Tara and I went looking for cars last Thursday and Friday, and I found two cars: one was a little out of my price range but a solid car, and one was right in my price range but an older car.  I decided I wanted to buy the 96 Subaru because it was more in my price range and I've been told my multiple people - including car mechanics - that Subaru's are one of the best cars you can get in Alaska.  So the car dealer tells me I can take the car for the weekend and see how I like it.  I drive it around the first day, park it in my driveway overnight and try to start it the next morning.  I bet none of you can guess what happened.  If you guessed that the car wouldn't start, give yourself fifty million bonus points!  The lights and radio started, but the car would not turn on.  Sound familiar?  So I call the dealer, and he's sending someone out tonight to tow it back to the dealership.  So now I'm just a bit more nervous about buying this car.  Can you blame me???

I switched my job this week too.  I am now a Case Manager at Lighthouse, the all girls house.  I'm pretty dang excited about this switch, and so far it's been good.  Two of our girls are on home pass for the holidays, so our house only has three girls right now.  It's so nice.  I couldn't have had a better time to come on board at that house.  It'll be a nice, slow introduction to everything.

I'm starting to get a little sad about not going home for Christmas.  It'll be fine - I'm working Christmas Eve and morning, so that should be interesting.  Hopefully everything will go well and the girls will have a good Christmas.  It'll be different, that's for sure. 

So with all these stressors, some good, some not so good, it's been quite a lot to deal with.  It's hard to keep my head above water right now.  But then I am reminded, especially in this Christmas season, that Jesus is right there with me.  He's not going to leave me.  When I get tired and weary, He doesn't.  He came to this earth, all those years ago, so that I would be OK today.  I can continue to have hope and faith in Him even though it seems the world is falling apart around me.  Jesus truly is the reason for the season!

I love you and miss you terribly!

Blessings!

Baby, it's C-O-L-D Outside!!!

I woke up this morning to really cold snow on the ground.  While it wasn't the two feet everyone was predicting, it was still a lot of snow.  It's expected to snow more this afternoon, so maybe we'll get the two feet total.  I don't know.  But here are some pics from this morning!

Blessings!

Back to the Cold...

My time at home was amazing - too many memories to write down.  But those of you who I got to visit with and see, thank you SO much!  Here are some pictures from the visits:

I think all of your visits are gonna get me through the long winter ahead.  And it's gonna be a doozy!  

The paper and weather stations today said there was a winter storm coming in tonight and tomorrow where we could see up to two feet of snow and have blackouts.  Here's the website to one of the reports:  http://www.wunderground.com/US/AK/025.html

Sound like fun?  I'm not sure I'm cut out for winter up here.  But, like Uncle Leo said, I'm here and in an adventure - make the most of it and find something to enjoy.  I will, once I get over being terrified of the snow...

In other news, I am getting a new job and moving to a new house!  Let me explain.  I won't be working at Cornerstone anymore (this is the house where all my crazy stories come from).  I'm moving to Lighthouse, which is a level 4 facility that only houses 6 girls at a time.  These girls have substance abuse, mental issues, and have been abused in one way or another.  Rough crowd, but I think it'll be good.  I've pulled a couple shifts and really enjoy working there.  I'll be moving to Case Manager, which will be great.  I'll get to use my degree a little bit more, so I'm pretty stoked about that.  I'll let you know how that all turns out.

I already miss home so much and want so bad to go back.  But I think these new changes will be good and keep my mind off wanting to be home.  I'll take pictures of the snow tomorrow and try to post them in a timely manner.

Know you are all in my prayers and I miss you!

Blessings!

Is It Time Yet?

I just want to go home! 4 days, please go by fast! I have lot's of stuff to do before I go, but I think I can get it all done in time.

I think God is really trying to teach me patience and is pointing things out in my life that need to change. I don't like it, and I'm stubborn, so this is something really hard for me. I don't like change, even if it's good. I have to warm up to the idea of change. There are things that I am doing that are causing me stress and my roommate stress that I'm thinking need to change. I'm not the only one to blame for the stress in my house right now, but I've realized that I'm not even trying to change that. Be in prayer for me in this! I think the time away will be good...

I can't wait to go home (in case you haven't gotten that memo...). I can't wait to see and hang out with my family, see my friends, get some hugs, and rest. I can't wait to relax for 12 days! Thursday, come quickly!

I don't really have a whole lot to post, other than I leave Thursday!!! YAY!!!!

Blessings!

Ninjas

I've told this story to quite a few people, and Linda said I should write about it in my blog. So here it is...

I had to work Halloween grave by myself. I was not happy. Luckily, it was a very quiet night - not one phone call, no one came walking in the door, none of the kids AWOL'd...it was a great night.
It was the night after that stuff went down.

Again, working by myself, at about 1:45 in the morning, I hear the front door open. I get ready for whoever it is to come to the office, but no one comes. About two minutes later, I hear the front door open and close again. Again, I don't see anyone. Then, about ten minutes later, I hear the door open and close again, and I look outside to see a kid looking at me through the window. Freaked me out. The kid turned around and started staggering down the ramp toward the parking lot. So I grab my huge MagLite flashlight (just in case...) and go to check it out. As I leave the office door, I practically run over another kid that is standing right by the office. Again, freaked me out. The kid is just looking at me! So I ask if there is anything I can do for him, and he says, "uh..." and walks into the conference room. I don't want to go in there because I don't know who or what else is in there. So I go to the next office over and get Ryan (he drives MCU and was doing paperwork). I ask for his help, he comes out and starts to go after the two kids that have now left Cornerstone. He comes back chuckling to himself. He says, "I've never seen that happen here before! They said that they wanted to be ninja's and sneak through Cornerstone, but staff caught them, so they left." Great...Now I have bears AND ninja's to worry about! So Ryan called the police to let them know. The rest of the night was great, and nothing has happened since KNOCK ON WOOD!!!

In other news, they hired another part-time grave person, so I won't have all the nights by myself...only a few. I'm thankful for that. Also, I get to come home in 13 days!!! I can't wait for that either.

Hope you are all doing well! Love you and miss you!

Blessings!