Arigaawesome Cranberries!

This past week has been so much fun, that I'm beginning to think our three years here is going to go by too quickly. And that's with Jordan gone... time always goes by so slowly when he's gone, so imagine what it's going to feel like when he comes back this week (in exactly 48 hours from now!!!)!

One of this week's highlights includes attending our first night of college ministry called Arigaa. I believe this is a Native word for "hope". The Covenant church and CYAK are calling all of their college ministries Arigaa.  Our church even has an Arigaa house that is the church's parsonage. They have opened it up to three college women that wanted to live in an intentional Christian environment while they are attending UAA. CYAK has staffed the house with one women, Heather, who will be like their RA. It's such an awesome opportunity for those girls.

Speaking of awesome, our night of Arigaa on Thursday was just that! We even played a game that the students have dubbed "Arigaawesome".  Picture about 25 college students sitting around the room, shouting out words and making actions to get their team to guess what's on their card. Much like Catchphrase, only awesomer. It was so fun to hang out with these people. It just might be my favorite part of the whole week! And this is my job!? Seriously. I feel so blessed.

On Saturday I packed up a lunch and Layla and we headed up to Wasilla to meet my friend Mary.  She also has two dogs... so after letting them meet, greet, and sniff each other, we put them all in Mary's Jeep and drove to the woods.  Mary parked along a dirt road and got out a couple times to check to see if the cranberries were in abundance or not, and then decided on a spot.  We let the dogs run around and play with each other while Mary and I picked, and picked, and picked. Two hours later and we each picked a gallon of low-bush cranberries! Now I just have to figure out what to do with them. It was great to get out into the woods today though, and I know Layla enjoyed it, too.

I have met so many amazing people up here, had so many wonderful dinners over the last two weeks, and great conversation. When I spoke with my friend Kate from MA yesterday I loved it when she was like "I can't believe you've already made so many friends!". I can. God is just that good:)

I came home one day, opened up Layla's crate, and this is what she did.

Arigaa group!

Mary with her two dogs, Osa and Kiana, and Layla! Look at all those berries!

Osa dug a hole so deep she could have buried herself!

Sleepy puppy after playing with the dogs all day:)