Revelation 12:11: What do you want to do today? Glacier climb? Fish? Moose hunt?

Ah, life here in Alaska is somewhat settling in and while I may have tricked you by thinking we've been hunting moose (sorry, not true), I've decided it's time to update you all!

Jordan is gone for his first PT test in Alaska this morning, with a bum knee, so I'm praying that he doesn't injure it more while he's out there. But I love his confidence. He hasn't really been able to work out because of the knee, so when I asked him if he can thinks he can pass the test, he's has no doubt at all! Oh sure, running a mile and a half at 7 minute/mile pace, and doing 50 pushups and sit-ups in under a minute each... EVERYONE can do that when they're out of shape. Sometimes I just look at his runners body and wonder why God gifts some, and not others in that capacity. Right now, I'm SURE I would fail that test, even if I had been working out diligently. Can I get an Amen? (pause for a brief moment of self pity...........

Ahem.. moving on now).

I guess I can't admit that I've been totally lazy since being here. This past Monday I took Jordan ice-fall trekking on the Matanuska Glacier about two hours from Anchorage (we saw two moose on the drive!). This trip was so.... beautiful. I'm really loving the idea of getting up close and personal with glaciers, hanging out by rivers and oceans, and hiking the woods becoming a lifestyle for us instead of a vacation. Alaska is serving us in many ways Nebraska just couldn't... somehow those rolling hills of cornfields just weren't as exciting as strapping on some crampons and walking around a huge block of ice that's thousands of years old!

Our dear friends Clint and Sandra also invited us to go fishing with them on base the other night, too. We still don't have our fishing licenses, as we aren't residents yet, but it was still fun to watch! I think the most exciting part was the drive out there. This base is SO huge, that we were able to drive out past the flight line for about 15 minutes on a dirt road until we ended up at the ocean. Seriously. Along the way we stopped at a small lake that some red salmon were spawning in. Clint taught us that salmon turn red when they're at the end of their life. They lay their eggs, then actually die OVER their eggs so their babies have something to eat when they're born! Gotta love creation... how did God seriously think of everything? We had fun with the kids watching them try to fish with their little poles from the shore. So cute :)

So in between all the fishing and glacier climbing (seriously, it's a busy life), I have been working on my substitute application so I can work in between my ministry hours here and there. I tell ya, they certainly make you jump through a lot of hoops to be a sub. But at least you know they don't take just anybody. That's comforting. I've also been solidifying my fundraising training so I can start my fundraising for CYAK. This is something I'm really nervous about, as I need to raise enough funding to be able to travel each year and receive a small stipend for hours of work. Some of you may be hearing from me via letter or phone call in the next few weeks. Please keep this part of my ministry in your prayers, that God will provide everything I need to do this job, as I really feel like this is exactly what He wants for my life right now.

And in between all of that, I'm also trying to decorate our new house. So far, I have two new pillows for our living room couch. But Layla has decided that couch pillows are her new prey, and tries to "wrastle" them when I'm not looking. I'm begging, if you have a solution to this new obsession, I'm willing to try anything!

Life is certainly busy up here, but not too busy to be missing our wonderful friends in Nebraska and remember how truly far away we are from everything and everyone. I hope this blog is finding you all well, happy, and a less sweaty this week!