(ok, so this picture was taken in the afternoon and on moving day-- like almost a month ago, haha. But the Starbucks in hand was so fitting for the greeting!!)
So it's been almost two months in Alaska so far (thus, this will be a long post since i have a lot
Of catching up to do) and let me tell you, it has honestly not been the easiest transition I have ever had to a new place. Its very cold here, I have been feeling very bad and making friends has been a challenge. However, God has not left me to myself!
I had been in a very deep and dark hole for the last month and I felt I would not be climbing out of it for a very long time. And now looking at it, I feel like a lot of it was a result of the first trimester blues with lifestyle changes and physical disruptions I was not used to... However, God has been so good to me and helped me dig myself out of my dungeon, even when I really didn't want to. It started with a simple thought He put into my head and helped me see the brighter side of this place he's called us to: we live in alaska, an unique experience that we might never experience again. Many people don't get to do the things we now have access to in our own backyard, even if it is dead cold outside. In our summer, we will have 24 hours of daylight... (And in honor of that, I'm going to start a garden and make crazy monstrous veggies!! Haha!) There is so much to do in this place and I need to start looking at the future instead of living in the the glory days of our past. Sure, I miss all the familiarity, but it's time I stop liking there and moving forward to invest the task God entrusted to us!
So being in my second trimester and feeling AMaZING, I have found many ways to start making this place home for both Andrew and I:
Starting with making some yummy blueberry muffins mom used to make me as a kid... Mmm...
...Changing up our dining room tables a bit (old on left, new on right):
Yey! My first project! I'm on a roll :)
...made Rice Krispy treats for Andrew!!
And yes, the Mickey head is the heart in this little "I love you" because... We're going to Disney world!! Woohoo!! I am so pumped! It will be the first time in the years Andrew and I have been together (dating and married) we have gone to Disney world together, as I have been annually. I am so excited to take him! It worked out that andrew has to complete water survival in pensacola, fl to meet his training requirements. I am going down to stay with a very missed friend Andrea and meet up with him after his training. From there, we are driving to orlando where we are meeting up with family, which will make it even better! We are getting so excited about our trip to the sunshine state ;)
Here is our calendar, counting down till the 25th of this month- yippee!
(Notice the end goal):
It's kind of what we are calling our baby moon right now ;) last Disney "woo-raw" for a little bit without a little one in the picture. But never fear, it's not the last... ;)
We also decided to attend some "unique alaska experiences" while we had the chance. Like the idiarod! Its the last great dog race that takes place annual here in Alaska. The ceremonial start always takes place in anchorage, ak and the real race start begins in willow, ak on a giant frozen lake! We went to both, so I will start with the ceremonial beginnings...
(I will have to post the video at a later time... My connection is too slow right now)
They have other events that go with the idiarod start.. Like the Japanese snowball fights (the winners go to japan to compete-- and I actually wonder how that's going to pan out after all that's happened there right now...) The game is like paintball and capture the flag in one. It was fun to watch, but I definitely wouldn't want to participate (the snowballs are made by machines and are literally ice balls-- trust me; one of the guys we went with tested them on his very trusty friend and it left a very bad mark to prove it...)
This other event was my favorite: it's called the reindeer run! It's when you literally pay money to run with a bunch of angry reindeer. Everyone dresses up and runs like mad! Like the running of the bulls... Except no one actually dies...
(Andrew is somewhere in the runners, but because there were a lot of people participating, I couldn't find him. Next time, we are picking neon colors ;) )
Can you find the carrot?
... How about tigger?
Love those fuzzy runners... Whatever they are..?
And now for the real deal:
Yes, the idiarod! We drove out with our friend Lacy to a cabin in Willow to watch the racers run by. Remember, we are on a giant frozen lake, with airplanes, snow machines and many many people... Never gonna be able to do this back in the states!
Off they go on their 10 day journey!
Here is an Aces hockey game we went to one night with some friends :
The aces won! Yey!
But the best part: the subway sandwich gun ;)
Oh! Another moose sighting!! Check it out:
In other news, even with eli's naughty behavior around other dogs lately, he still seems to be finding friends :) here is eli's good ol' buddy hank and his new buddy Duke, our cousins' Brandon and Lindsay's dog:
Oh! And we finally set up the house if you haven't noticed from that picture above, so I can finally show you what our alaska home looks like. We will start with our room:
...our bathroom:
Our living room:
The kitchen:
(thanks everyone for the thoughtful birthday cards! I look at them daily!)
Lastly, the "attic room", aka our guest room. If you haven't noticed, this room just sums up the eclectic theme I took with our house. I took everything ever given to us, plus some additional pieces we accumulated on our own, and made a warm, loving atmosphere that I am enjoying very much: Partially because everything we have has been lovingly given to us, and in that respect, it reminds me of how blessed I am to have such a loving and supportive family as I do. Thanking God for all of you! So here's to you family (come enjoy it soon!)
Ok, and lastly, a baby update:
I'm 15 weeks and baby is the size of an...
Thats right! An orange! mmm... Makes me want to get to Florida faster now! Haha!
Ok and because many of you requested it, here is the first bump picture of the bump:
I will be updating it again soon... Especially since the time I took this picture at 13 weeks I have grown a dramatic difference... But this is all I got for now. Next post will be more exciting.
Miss you all back in the states!! Many xoxoxoxos!
Until next time, be blessed ;)
1 Corinthians 7:17