Looking forward to 2013 and being a grandmother!!!!

     It is two days till the end of 2012. I can't begin to list all the changes that came around in 2012. Let's see if I can try, though...decided to move from Texas to Alaska, sold most everything we owned to get to Alaska, spent June at South Padre Island, Ryan and Jon decided to move with us, the Texas Caravan made it to Juneau in 9 days, we all got new jobs, we all moved into new homes, we found out Juneau is filled with great people, we celebrated a wonderful 32nd wedding anniversary (James and me), loved having Thanksgiving with our new neighbors and friends, and had the most beautiful white Christmas you have ever seen....but the most exciting thing happening around this family is Ryan and Jon are having a BABY and James and I are going to be grandparents...and Caleb is going to be an uncle!!!!! Now, I know this is not news to anyone keeping up with my blog, but I just don't think this event can be topped...nope, sorry...this is the best thing about 2012. And when the baby angel gets here in July 2013, the baby will be the best thing about 2013. Hands down...no question...and I mean it. I have waited years for this grand baby...other friends were just having grand babies left and right, and I kept saying things like "When Ryan is ready, she will get pregnant". I did want her to be ready. I hope she is  since it's a little too late to turn back now. And bless her heart, she is so morning sick and so tired and so cranky, but we keep encouraging her and know she will feel better soon...second trimester is here and things are going to improve...I hope.

     So on the 1st day of January, 2013, I am whipping up a big ole pot of black-eyed peas and going to make everyone eat at least a spoonful. We trust God with all of our hearts, but it never hurts to have a little luck on our side...luck is something that our family doesn't have a whole lot of, but we continue forward and trust our Jesus...Happy New Year, dear family and friends...it is going to be a GREAT year! Woo Hoo!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

     Having lived in Texas my whole life till now, Christmas in Harlingen usually consisted of winds out of the south, at least 30 mph, lots of hot temperatures, and never a need for a sweater. Never...well, unless you count the 100 year snow in 2005, but that shouldn't count as it probably will never happen again. Yes, it was fabulous and we loved it and we couldn't believe that it happened on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!! It was almost like a Christmas miracle. We lost electricity Christmas Eve, and didn't have any till 5 p.m. on Christmas Day. Having no electricity was really great...we lit candles and opened gifts by the candlelight. We made snowmen, snow angels and ate leftovers for Christmas dinner. And the kids remember it as being the "best Christmas EVER"!

     Here in Juneau, in the winter, it is like Christmas every single day. The entire community puts up lights and let me tell you, that really helps your mood. It is dark here by 4 p.m., and those beautiful Christmas lights warm your heart. Snow and Christmas lights are a grandiose pair! I could easily keep my Christmas decorations up all year, here in Juneau. But I won't, because it probably would get old in the summer, when the sun never really sets.

     Having James gone so much has been really hard on us all. We are trying not to whine and pout but we are not doing too well. The kids miss him so much, and I miss just having him right here with me, as he has been for the last 32 years. So when James got home Saturday night, he came home to a rousing hero's welcome. Lots of hugs and kissing and crying and hanging onto each other, blessed to all be together again. Ryan is really missing her daddy, and we blame it all on the pregnancy. James is so happy to be home and he loved the Christmas decorations and the homey feel I tried really hard to impart.
     So as the Christmas season continues, we will cherish the times we have together and try not to cry and pout, since Santa Claus is coming to town...ok, that was a little corny, but I am a nerd, underneath all the glitter and sparkle! Merry Christmas, Y'all!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but inside it's so delightful!

     I think that winter snuck in the back door last night...really. No kidding...no fun-ing...no warning. Any other time, I would be saying, Bring that baby on!", but not when James is out of town. Somebody is going to have to snowplow the driveway this afternoon or at the crack of dawn in the morning before 6:45 so I can get Caleb to work. And I say somebody knowing good and well it will either be Jon or Caleb doing the plowing. Caleb can do it, but bless his heart, he has another cold and he is coughing up a piece of lung every time he coughs. And I can only imagine how hard it is to snowplow up the hill of the driveway when you have a prosthetic leg. My poor angel boy...he will try but I am afraid he will fail. Which means my future son-in-law will have to do it. Lucky Jon...or not-so-lucky Jon. Poor fella....does he really know what he is getting himself into by marrying into this crazy family of ours? He can't run away now, as he is going to be a daddy to my grand baby, and we are going to have lots of fun in the next few years with that dear baby...and he is going to want to be around for it all. Jon is such a good guy. He adores my Ryan and he is going to be one great daddy.

     I miss James. I wish he wasn't gone so much but we understand the job and the rigor it is putting him through. Just wish he was in town more, especially around the holidays. I am just thankful that he WILL be home for Christmas, for sure. The company he works for makes sure their employees are all home for the holidays. YEA! We have been blessed by this company as they really seem to care about families and our needs. It is good to work for a kind company. After running our own company for the past four years, it sure is good to have someone pay US, and on time! That is the best part!
     Amos is still so lonely for James but I think he has finally adjusted to James being gone a bunch. When James is home, Amos sticks right by him, like maybe he can stop him if he tries to leave again. He has learned how to do his business outside in RECORD time...he hates the cold and snow and he is now tugging at his leash to go back INSIDE! It is pretty cute to see him choking himself, literally, to get back to his warm bed. Still spoiled rotten, but better.
     We had such a great Thanksgiving here in Juneau. I miss my family very much. I wish I could just snap my fingers and my mom would be standing here with me. Mama says it is much too cold for her to come up in winter ( that's why we have houses with heaters, Mother!) so she will just wait until the great grand baby is born to come this way. That is just fine with me, as long as she gets here to see my grand baby and her GREAT grand baby!!!! We have to take one of those four generations of women pictures!!!! Mama, I know you are reading this...start booking that flight right now for July. And I mean it, little missy!!!
    Better run before my mama sees this and I get in big trouble....:)

A GRANDBABY and Caleb turns 18...yes, 18!!!!!

     I am going to be a grandmother. James is going to be a grandpa. Caleb is going to be an uncle. My precious baby girl is having a baby of her own. I am going to be a member of the Grandparent's Secret Club. For the past 10 years or so, I have watched my friends become grandparents. I have ached for a grandchild. I never put any pressure on Ryan as I really wanted her to be ready to be a parent. The job of parent is full of joy and love, but it is also very tough on a young mother. Especially if the young mother has to work outside of the house. In the past 4 years or so, I have seen Ryan marry, divorce and become engaged to the father of my grandbaby, Jonathon. Ryan and Jon had been planning a March 2013 wedding in Las Vegas, and had even sent out "save the date" cards. Well, that Vegas wedding is not happening. By then, Ryan will be 6 months pregnant and unable to fly, we are pretty sure. So in the next month or so, Jon and Ryan will be married at the little log chapel that we all attend every Sunday. Our pastor will marry them and we will celebrate in a small but very special way.
    And then we will wait....we will wait till the end of June, 2013 for this baby to appear. At this point, I am not sure who is more excited...James, Ryan, Jon, or me....oh, wait...I know who is the most excited...Caleb!!!!! He has already bought the baby it's first lovey, which is so soft and silky. He can't wait for this precious little baby to get here. It is going to be a long 8 months, waiting for the arrival of our angel.

     And speaking of angels, my angel boy will be 18 years old tomorrow. I can't believe he is going to be 18. I know everyone always says "it seems like just yesterday that I had him" and "enjoy him while you can for he won't be little long". I want him to "be little" for a whole lot more time. Caleb has been such a joy to me, and of course, to his daddy. He has made me a better person. He has taught me what unconditional love, extreme strength of character and what grace is all about. He faces obstacles every single day, but he keeps on keeping on. He never, never, never, ever gives up. I wish I had his faith in God. He shows me every day what life is really all about. He steps up to the plate when his daddy is out of town, and he is a fine "man of the house". He is brave and strong in ways I can only imagine, and he has been my hero for the past 18 years. He loves his family with his whole little heart, and he takes great pride in being" just like his Gandad". He and my dad could have been twins. I truly believe that my daddy's soul is right there inside Caleb. My dad was the greatest man I have ever known, and Caleb is patterning his life after my dad's life.
     James and I feel blessed by our children and "soon to be" grandchildren. Thank you, God, for giving these two children to me...I needed them.

Can't wait to make that first snowman!!!!!

     Winter is on the way...don't need to wait for it to show winter on the calendar which isn't till December. It is getting ready to rip through Juneau. Not that I am an expert on the subject of Juneau weather, but one of Caleb's coworkers at Spunky Sprouts Daycare swears that when there is snow on the Douglas mountains, we are "doomed"! That just cracks me up. Obviously some folks around here aren't too fond of winter. Go figure! This family of mine can't wait for the first real "on the ground" snow. Our neighbors say it will be around Halloween which is just next week. I am really not looking forward to the driving and ice slipping that may occur since we are not used to anything remotely resembling snow or ice. The 100 year snow is 2005 that hit all of south Texas was our first real experience with the white stuff...it melted away so fast there really was no chance to slip and slide around on the roadways, even though James felt compelled to try and find hot coffee for Grandmother and Pawpaw Canville that lovely Christmas Day...we had no electricity( from 7 p.m. Christmas Eve). That was before the generator went in at our house. After we opened our presents by candlelight, James happily drove to Stripes and found coffee and burritos...in fact, our Christmas lunch that day was burritos and leftovers from our Christmas Eve dinner...Mom lucked out on that meal...she was supposed to cook Christmas Lunch but with no electricity, she couldn't. The kids  remember this Christmas as the best one ever...and the snow was the reason. And you know what? The burritos were so darn good...it really was a great day.

     So when that first big snow hits this wonderful town of Juneau, you can bet this family will be out making snowmen, scooting down the driveway with sleds and flapping out snow angels on the lawn. And when we have made fools of ourselves, slipping and sliding through it all, we will gather in our home, snuggle under the blankets, drink hot cocoa, and thank God for all of the blessings He has given our family. Happy Winter, Ya'll!

Signs from God...and my daddy! And a bear or two!

     I want you to know that I have never asked for a sign from God. I have heard of people doing this and scoffed at the idea. But right before our big auction in June, I was seriously doubting our decision to move to Alaska. Everything seemed to be coming at me, full steam, and being the very stable homebody that I am, I was scared that I wasn't following God's will for my family...maybe that I was just being selfish...taking the kids away from their friends and jobs, and most importantly, taking us all away from our family...leaving my mom, Marigayle and Sarah. And I was leaving behind my very best friends, who I depend on every day of my life. So....I asked God for a sign that I was doing the right thing. Less than 3 minutes later (I was driving over by the mall), I looked at the Luby's Cafeteria sign and what does it say? It said " Baked Alaska" for $4.50. Now, anyone who has lived in the Valley knows that a place like Luby's has NEVER had Baked Alaska on the menu. I have just never seen it in the restaurant and trust me, I have eaten there a million times since I was a little girl. So when I saw that sign, I pulled over and laughed and laughed and acknowledged that God had sent me the sign I needed.  Just amazing, really. I told James all about it and we all felt better about our decision. That night when I got into our bed, I had my little stack of magazines ready to read. I picked up the first one, which was a Family Circle, and I just opened it up sorta in the middle to see if I had already read it, and the page I opened it to was a recipe for how to make....wait for it...BAKED ALASKA!!!! I couldn't believe it. Showed James and we squealed together...what a sign! What more could we ask for? God had given us two signs and we were satisfied and from that day forward, I knew we were doing the right thing.        Truly, without a doubt, the right thing.
So fast forward to last weekend, when we went to the glacier to walk around and get out of the house, we jokingly asked my daddy to send us some bears. It just so happened to be my daddy's 75th birthday, and we had celebrated it all day with funny stories and had even dug out some old photos of him, to keep his memories alive. Well, you guessed it...my daddy sent us some bears...in fact, he sent a mama bear and her two cubs, right out into our path. They were the most amazing animals we had ever seen in the wild. We did a lot of squealing and we watched those bears for over an hour. You could have heard a pin drop out at the glacier. EVERYONE around us (about 15 of us) just watched, mouths open and simply amazed. What a treat! And yes, I think my daddy sent them in our path. I am sure of it.

     After the bear fun, we went to a little cafe for lunch. It started to rain, but quickly cleared up, but then the rainbows came. Yes, rainbow-s....several of them...here, there, all over. Now my daddy was just flat out showing off. Rainbows everywhere and all we could do was smile and laugh and praise the LORD that my daddy was right there with us. I could feel him...I really could. On this birthday, after him being gone over 3 years, I knew for the first time, that he was here with us in Alaska. He would have loved living here. He loved the mountains and the pine trees and wildlife. He was a real mountain man....and a mountain OF a man. I will miss seeing his smile for the rest of my life. He has come to me twice in my dreams and he was right there with me when I needed him the most, but I yearn to hug him and to feel safe in his arms again, like when I was a little girl. Because of my belief in God and my knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I know I will see him again. And when I do, I will run into his arms and feel safe and secure.
     I guess this blog post has kinda turned into a tribute to my daddy, for his 75th birthday. I know my precious mama mourns him to this very day, and will for the rest of her life. But she will see him again, and he will be out of pain and standing tall. I can't help heal her heart. I tried but I can't. I have finally realized that I can not mourn for anyone else but me. We all miss him...he was the anchor of our family. I am just blessed to have had him in my life for 50 years. Blessed beyond all reason...thank you, dear Lord.
   

A Moose for the Village...truly!

     Before we get too far into the blog post, I will be posting a photo of a moose that was hunted on Douglas Island. The moose is dead, but remember this--animals that are hunted here in Juneau are used as food for the winter. Yes, I know we have a Wal-Mart, but old customs and the natives survive because of the food caught or hunted here in Alaska. Here's the story--
     Our neighbor, Dan, went moose hunting with another new friend, Roger. Roger and Dan have lived in Juneau for a long while and they hunt and fish a bunch. James has been invited to fish with these two men and has already been invited to a moose hunt NEXT year (the hunting license is too high till we are considered a resident). Last Sunday afternoon, James got a call to come see the results of that hunting trip. So we all piled in the car and took off to Douglas Island, which is about 15 minutes from our house. When we got to Roger's house, the moose had already been hung up and was ready to skin and harvest the meat from. The moose was HUGE! Small antlers, really, in the wake of this huge body and those antlers were covered with moss...yes, moss. Not sure if the moss was just growing on the horns on its own, or the moose had been scraping the moss off of a tree, but regardless, that moose was a sight to see. Such a sight to see that I promise you, half the neighborhood of Douglas and Juneau came by that afternoon to see the moose. The heart of the moose was saved as a specialty item (YUCK) and the moose was taken to a processing plant to be cut into steaks and sausage, and I am pretty sure, all of those neighbors that came by for a look, were hoping to get some of that moose. Sorta like fishing around here...if you catch some, you share...and I mean that in the friendliest of gestures. This town has such a wonderful spirit of community. I am impressed by how much everyone really looks out for their neighbors. As newbies to Juneau, we are kinda scared about the impending winter snow, and am wondering how we will dig ourselves out if James is out on a job...Dan and his boys have promised to help me, and I know they will. These complete strangers are pretty much taking us on to raise, so to speak, and we are so grateful. We have felt welcomed in this new home of ours and Dan and Kathy are part of that welcome wagon. I asked God before we left Texas to help us find friends in our new world,  and he has sent us some of the nicest people in Juneau.

     Back to the moose, the Holt boys told James he had to bite on the moose's leg...it was a tradition. So that is why there is a picture of that nonsense. I think the boys made that up, but it was sure fun watching the men do it.
     So that is the moose story...a village will be fed well this winter because of the chain of life that our God provided for us all.
     Oh, by the way, even though the moose doesn't look it, he weighed over 1000 pounds, I think. And the hard part was Dan and Roger had to pack him out for almost a half mile to the boat. Poor Dan was whooped when we saw him. Dan is a small fella, but he must be super strong, as that moose was ALASKA SIZED....would have said he was TEXAS SIZED, but in honor of our new home and friends, we give all the glory to ALASKA on this one!!!

Fall Is HERE!!!!! Praise the LORD!

     FALL is here in Juneau...I love it! I have always enjoyed the months of September and October because the weather starts to cool off and school starts, which always meant new beginnings for teachers and their students. For the first time in my life, I am actually able to SEE the season of Autumn. The leaves are crazy colors of brick red, bright yellow, and rusty brown. In a one week time span, the season has changed. It has been amazing to watch it all unfold. When in Harlingen, I would decorate for fall early, just hoping it would cool off because my Halloween and fall decorations were out. It never did. This past week, I have worked decorating the entire house with pumpkins, berries of all sorts, and candles and yummy smells everywhere. It was so much fun to work and NOT break a sweat. Every morning when I wake up, it feels like we got a little norther, and that is a scrumptious feeling. Makes me want to climb right back under the covers, but for some crazy reason, I am always ready to pop out of bed and look out the big windows, ready to see what God has to surprise me with today.
     So Fall happened while James was gone at work all week. He couldn't believe the changes in the trees when he got home on Saturday morning. By the way, he was gone for 6 long days and nights so we were all very happy to have him home. This great job of his is going to be a doozy, as it will take him away from home here and there. Caleb and I are thrilled to have him home, and Amos Sparky is just so glad he is home that he is behaving like a little angel NOW...that dog was beyond naughty and Caleb and I both threatened to "lose" him, sell him or make him run away. Of course, it rained all week so raincoats, rain boots and umbrellas all had to be used, and if even a drop of water touched Amos' bottom, he refused to tinkle or potty. Back and forth, back and forth, wet and wetter...I swear to ya'll, I almost killed him with my bare hands. His only saving grace is that he is soooooo cute, that it was hard to fuss at him for too long. But I did put a for sale sign up, and I would have sold him for cheap, but nobody wanted him....wonder why???? James should be ashamed of making this animal into a real stinker. Had to laugh yesterday when James went to fix the Jeep, Amos knew he was gone, so he raced to the pantry and dumped the trash can, and in the process, the trash can hit his food bowl and food went everywhere...about 3 minutes later, guess who walked in on the whole escapade...yep, James... and I just let him deal with the toot!!! Amos got a spanking and a good talking-to, but it didn't work too well  since Amos ran straight to my bathroom to dig in that trashcan. But by then, James was tired and I ended up cleaning it all up and discipling a dog that cannot mind to save his little animal soul. Wait till snow gets here...the dog will probably be constipated, and won't that be a hoot!!!!
     Next installment will be all about a MOOSE...yes, a moose!!! I have pictures to prove it all....as I have always said, "I can't make this stuff up"!! It really happens to us...
Oh, and the cruise ships will be gone within the next 10 days so the big Juneau sales are beginning downtown...Ryan and I are headed down there tomorrow to see what is on sale....most of the downtown shops are seasonal, so after the last cruise ships come in, they sell the 2012 souvenir stuff and pack up and move back to the Caribbean for the winter and to be ready for the cruise ships down there!!! Then in the summer, they pack up and move to Juneau for the cruise season. I am on the hunt for long sleeve shirts for Caleb and nesting dolls for my greedy self!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!

Loving our life, and living our dream!

     So much has happened in the past week and a half...I thought seriously about abandoning this blog, since we have moved and gotten all settled into our new home, but have decided to keep it going as a way to keep in touch with all of my precious family and friends that have long prayed for us. The encouraging words and prayers have literally lifted us up, up, up! So I will continue till ya'll tell me enough is enough!!

     On August 30th, James and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary! Our marriage is such a wonderful part of my life. I love this man of mine. He brings me the greatest joy. We laugh together, cry together and love each other and our little family. James has never, EVER made a mean or snarky comment on my continuing problem with FAT (ladies, you know what I am talking about!)...he supports any diet I need to fling myself into, (or out of) and he just loves me unconditionally and still thinks I am cute...yes, cute! 53 years old and I am still cute! Oh, I love him...bunches and bunches. I pray for at least 32 more years. We would be 85 then and since the women in my family live well into their 90's, we can do this...no problem!!!

     On September 2nd, I turned 53...this number just blows my menopause mind. I feel 53 when I walk and hobble along. I do NOT feel 53 for any other reason. For the first time in my life, I am at peace with so many things. I adore this new home of ours, I love the mountains and trees that I see every single day, I am super thrilled to watch the whales and eagles right outside my back windows...I have to say that I feel so blessed that I am almost giddy...yes, giddy. Our faithful prayers have brought us this far, and our continued cries for help to our God are answered each and every day. My actual birthday was on a Sunday, and we started the day with church in the little log cabin. Later in the day, our wonderful new neighbors, Dan and Kathy Holt, came over and invited us to go whale watching in their boat!!! It was rainy and messy and wonderful, all at the same time. We had a blast and yes, we saw several humpback whales. The water was rough, but Dan is a pro out in the waters of Alaska. I did get a little bit scared, as the waves were pretty wild, but I knew God was out there with us, watching over the crazy ole Texans! It was probably the best birthday I have ever had, and I have had some doozies in my life, especially in Las Vegas. (those slot machines are missing me, I am pretty sure!)
     James started his job this week and I haven't seen him this happy in a job in a long time...he loves the people he works with and he is keeping super busy, which is good, because when he gets bored, all kinds of projects get thunk up and that always seems to involve large sums of money! Projects like the JEEP!!!! The best part for James about this job is the traveling he will do. He leaves Monday for Petersburg and he will be gone several days. The worst part of the job for poor Caleb and me is the fact that James will be gone overnight for several days at a time( which will be a problem in the winter, but luckily I will have Jon to help me, or our sweet neighbors). We will miss him but I know he is going to be just fine. I know God didn't bring us this far north to have James mauled by a bear or splashing down in a float plane! James will get to see Southeast Alaska and he really is thrilled to be able to do this job. Woo Hoo!!!!! Can't wait for that first paycheck to come rolling in!!! And our new medical insurance will start October 1st!!! That is one of the best perks of this job!!!
     I have yet to sub this week as all of the sub jobs have been in the special ed departments, and I swear, I am just too old to chase after the little ones that are determined to run AWAY!!! I have taken a couple more little falls...these legs are just giving out! The chasing of small boys just doesn't lend itself to a good situation for me. James has insisted that I stay home and he thinks he can make enough in overtime to keep us afloat, so I will trust that and stay home. Caleb is just loving his job at the Spunky Sprouts Daycare (he is with the 2-3 year olds), and we homeschool on his days off. He got his first paycheck EVER on Wednesday and we are heading to Wells Fargo this morning to get a checking account set up for him. Our baby is growing up!!!

     Well, that's enough for now! Thanks for reading and my love to each and every one of you reading this blog of mine!! (the last photo is an overhead shot of part of Juneau. We were on the tram!)
   

Thank the LORD, we all have JOBS!!!!!

     Yes, we are all now gainfully employed, thanks be to God. I was starting to get worried...ok, I was past getting worried, I was starting to get hysterical. Now mind you, we are still scraping pennies out of the glovebox for groceries, but we all see a paycheck coming. James is awaiting the drug test results to come back and then he will begin work as a field service tech for the CAT dealership in town. He will fly to remote areas of Southeast Alaska and fix big equipment in the field. He is super excited about the job, as he will get to see this beautiful state AND get paid to do it. This amazing job of his will allow me to work as a sub when and if I want, which is exciting to me. I will be able to sub every single day here in Juneau, if I want. The sub system is great, round here. I just log on to the sub system, and pick and confirm my job choice for the day or week. Starting Monday, I will be subbing for the week in a half day position in special ed. I want to sub in each elementary school, so I can meet lots of people. I love the fact that I can work if I want to, and on those cold snowy days, I may just stay home, snuggled up with Amos Sparky. And lest I forget, Caleb got a job, too!!! And his first day yesterday was so much fun that he can't wait to go back on Monday! He is a teacher assistant for the Spunky Sprouts Daycare and Preschool. He is currently working with the 2 and 3 year olds. This child of mine LOVES little kids and he is now working 8-4:30 every day. I will work on his schooling on the weekends, and he may take a day each week off of work to also do some school work. I imagine he will learn more in the school of hard knocks than I could ever teach him, but we will continue working on his GED curriculum so he can finish that in the next couple of years. We are also working on his driver's license and we are now determined to get that sucker before he has to learn to drive in SNOW!!!
    The weather this past week has been cold and rainy...yes, COLD!! Yesterday the high was 55 with spits of rain off and on. I actually had to dig out my pants to replace my shorts that I have been wearing for FOREVER!!! Flip-flops went in the closet and sneakers are out. It was so chilly in this house that we almost turned on the heat....almost...just couldn't do it, yet. We all bundled up and we warmed right up...can you imagine turning on the heat in August in Harlingen, Texas????? I think NOT! Poor little Amos is always shaking cold, so he is in his little sweaters all the time. He has become the biggest baby since the big move...he loves to be swaddled in a blanket and he will sleep 8 hours or more, never moving a paw!!! Some of it could be the weather, and most of that could be he is just inherently lazy. Silly dog!!!

     So that's what's new and I appreciate you following along...we are blessed by all of your kind comments and prayers. Our adventure continues...can't wait to start posting some snow photos because the locals are predicting a bunch of the white stuff this year!!! YIKES!!!!

The Joys of Being An Alaskan Housewife

     The house is finally unpacked and the cutsie decorations are all out and showing off. We now have a king bed, again, and I can turn over in the bed without knocking James off onto the floor. I found the most wonderful bed frame at the consignment shop, and it just makes the bedroom look so put together. I also found a wonderful dining table and 6 chairs, 2 red barstools and a little black table...all from the consignment shop. Woo Hoo! The scratches and dings don't bother me. In fact, those little dings are part of the charm of used furniture.
     Well, the job hunt continues. We feel pretty sure James will be offered a wonderful position as a field service tech on Monday of next week. He would no longer need a service truck...he will have a service plane!!! He will fly into remote communities and fix broken stuff, and then fly home. Alaska Air would transport him and his tools each time and then he would fly into the remote areas on float planes. The company would also pay for his food and lodging, but he will not be gone as long as if he worked at the mines. I may be able to stay home with Caleb, as James' salary may keep up fed and happy, but I would like to find a part time job to keep me busy. We have waited patiently for God to steer us to the perfect job and by golly, He has done just that! Please continue to pray for us as we make the big decisions for our family.
     We have also met the nicest family down the street. Dan and Kathy Holt and their 5 sons are just the cutest family EVER. And get this...Kathy home schools them all!!! I am amazed by this woman. She has just graduated her oldest, and he is headed to Lackland Base in San Antonio in two weeks. The littlest one is 4 and her oldest is 18. James has been helping the boys tear down a jet ski that they bought that has never run. Kathy invited me down yesterday to watch her make "fireweed honey". Amazing process of steeping the fireweed blooms and two other blossoms into this scrumptious "honey" that she then cans. I have fond memories of watching James' mom can veggies but I have never been brave enough to try my hand at it. Kathy made the whole process look so easy, but I know it isn't. She also cans fresh salmon and gave us two jars of it...salmon patties, here we come!!! Kathy makes home schooling look easy, too. She is a wealth of information for this Alaska newbie. I am now inspired to make strawberry and blueberry jam out of the yummy berries growing wild outside my back door!!! And after that, watch out, world....I am going to start or find a sourdough starter and start whipping up homemade bread and friendship cake...Alaska is bringing out the "housewife" in me!!! I am going to need one of those bread machines!!!! Garage sales, here I come!

Crazy legs and my unpacking escapades!

     It is 6 in the morning, and the light is bright out the window...I would say the sun is bright but there is no sun most mornings. I am sure it is somewhere, but not sure where. The past week has been "typical" Juneau weather. In fact, the locals are kinda laughing at us Texans, saying things like, "Yep, welcome to Juneau! This is normal!", and I was great with it for a day or two or four, but now it has just flat out become gross. Mind you, I love this kind of weather, historically, but the bad part is that when it is wet out, my feet and legs decide to defy gravity and I end up sprawled out somewhere not so nice. For whatever wild and crazy reason, my legs and my equilibrium are getting worse. I have taken three tumbles since we got to Juneau, and all of this has happened while there is NO snow on the ground. I do have a walking stick, and I have got to remember to take it with me wherever I go. I can only imagine the fun and games that are going to happen when there is icy snow on the grounds. James cannot carry me around everywhere, even though he thinks he can. (Well, he isn't carrying me, but he insists that I hang on to him, and I guess when I fall, WE both FALL!!! Silly man!
     James and I are still looking for work...which is now getting scary and critical. We have applied everywhere and I mean that. We continue to trust God and know He did not get us this far to not provide a way to take care of ourselves. Please pray for us to find jobs that will help support this precious family of mine.
     The house unpacking is going pretty good. My men have pretty well abandoned me as far as decorating goes, but little do they know, TODAY is the day we hang stuff...whoop!!! They can't hide anymore. I know there are still things missing that are still in the garage, but I guess eventually I will find it all. Some boxes I am unpacking are like Christmas morning boxes...I didn't label things real well, and am sneaky surprised when I find hidden treasures in them. Finally found towels yesterday, and also found my Scentsy goodies...important stuff, both...well, I borrowed a couple of towels from Ryan so we had towels, but the Scentsy stuff was woo-woo exciting....Caleb and James just shake their heads at what I deem important. They have their stuff, and I have MINE, and by golly, I realize it is usually scrapbook stuff and salt and pepper shakers and angels and crosses and dishes and candles and roosters and lamps and quilts and...the list could go on for days. So there, MEN!

 

Still faithful and waiting for the right jobs...

     Here we sit, waiting for the dear Lord to help us with the job search. We have applied for every job in Juneau that we are qualified for. James has such wonderful skills and we are sad that no one has even called him in for an interview. The mines are slow to hire. I am sure that once they interview him, he will be hired for some job or another, but we really need it to be sooner than later. In the meantime, we are staying busy. James is almost finished with the Jeep that we brought with us and it looks good and sounds tough! And of course, what man doesn't love a good Jeep??? I stay busy keeping the dog mess cleaned up, doing laundry, and keeping the kitchen rolling.
     This is the week!!! We just know this is the week that both James and I get a job...and not just any job, but a job that will keep us afloat and able to take care of ourselves. We move into our house next Monday, and we are super thrilled to be able to get our stuff out of the trailers and into our beautiful house.

     The weather is rainy today. Wet and nasty, we ventured out to get rain jackets and James got his first pair of XTRATUF boots...they are ugly but he loves them and since the entire town of Juneau has a pair, he needed them to fit in!!! I have some beautiful blue paisley print Bogs that will keep my tootsies dry and I realize they are a little flashy for Juneau, but bear with me, locals. I plan on bringing bling and sparkle to Juneau so get ready!!!!
   

2 jobs down, 2 more to go...and Caleb, too!

     Well, as predicted, the kids got jobs first!!! Woo Hoo! Ryan started today as a case manager for Juneau Youth Services, and Jon is the new assistant at Alaska Hardware!!!! James has put resumes out everywhere and we are just waiting on the right job for his wealth of skills. And as for me, I will work wherever I can. The district has approved my sub application so I am sure I will sub some this fall. Caleb has even put his name in for a couple of daycare/preschool jobs. Now that the kids have jobs, we will concentrate our efforts into getting James a great job. He has applied with the mines, and we are a little leary of that whole mine thing, but we are trusting God to provide the job that is just right for James. I will admit it is kinda scary sitting here waiting for God to find us the right job, but we know He has plans for us all...if we will just be still long enough for him to do His best. Please pray for us to find jobs that will provide us with a moderate living.
     Just dropped Caleb off at his first youth group meeting with Chapel by the Lake. I was nervous for him, but he insisted I just drop him off and leave, probably before I embarrassed him for some reason. We so enjoyed the service this Sunday at Chapel by the Lake, and were greeted warmly by all. The friendship bread that they give visitors was super yummy. In fact, Ryan had to break off a piece in the car before we could even get home. Silly hungry girl!!!!
     Well, I hear the Jeep running out in the driveway so that must mean that James is getting close to finishing his little project. Jon may have to drive it to work in the morning!!! Get ready, Juneau! It is very noisy!

At 11:30 p.m., we had a big visitor...

     It was a huge BEAR!!!! Yes, my friends, a real bear. We Texans sorta scoffed at the trash company when they reminded us to lock up our trash cans each night by putting them in the garage. We didn't listen, because I guess we thought we were smarter than wild critters. So at 11:30 last night, with all the windows open to catch the cool breezes, we hear an awful clatter in the driveway, right under our bedroom. I knew immediately what it was...I snuck to the window, tore open the shutter, and saw the biggest bear EVER in our yard. That bear was HUGE. James and I couldn't believe it was really happening...the smarty-pants bear dragged the trashcan to the center of the yard and then got a full trash bag out and ran off. We woke Ryan and Jon, but by then it was too late...the bear was gone, or appeared to be gone. Of all nights, it was pitch dark for the first time in a week. We all four parked on the couch, looking for the bear to return. Finally gave up and went back to bed...the best part is that we have a nice bear...sometime in the dark of night, he drug the trash bag back to the center of the yard and proceeded to snack his way silly, I guess...such a polite bear, to bring the trash back. OMG! So poor Jon had to clean up a very big bear mess, and it wasn't funny, either.
     We all want to set a trash trap tonight but I am scared he might get cranky and climb the steps to my bedroom window. The neighbors next door said the bear is a local, and they see him a lot. They sometimes see him in daylight, but he just lumbers off when he sees humans. That bear looked to weigh about 400 pounds...he was ginormous and I mean it...We have named him Jumbo Bear, after my daddy. He was not a fuzzy-wuzzy kind of bear, though, and as for me, I really don't want to see that bear again, EVER...really...this is like living on the edge of danger!!!! Woo Hoo!!!

The Gang's All HERE!

     Monday morning at 5 o'clock Juneau time, my little family came together again. The ferry was 30 minutes early and Caleb and I barely had time to throw on our clothes and race to the ferry terminal. Once the three cars and trailers got off the ferry, there was a bunch of hugging and kissing and group hanging onto each other...we do a lot of that, in this family. We all headed to the hotel where Caleb and I had been for the prior three nights, and the Caravan members all got hot showers and clean clothes on. After a quick breakfast, we started the unpacking...BUT, before we did any unpacking, we all piled in the car and made a quick visit to the Mendenhall Glacier. It was about 7 in the morning, and no visitors were there yet. Ryan and Jon got their first look at that glacier, and I know they were blown away with it. Ryan remarked that she felt her Gandaddy there...just like I do. We are kindred spirits, Ryan and I...
     So today is Thursday and we have spent the entire week unpacking and decorating Ryan's home. We are almost finished. Still waiting on the TV to be hooked up, but we do have internet, and that is a blessing when you have a very bored 17 year old. We are now putting our energies into finding jobs, so  the rest of this week and next, we are on the prowl for good paying jobs with great benefits...everything now days has to be applied for online and that still seems so impersonal to me, but we will do as required and will pray we all find jobs soon, since the money we had planned on taking care of us for a month or so is flat out gone...over $5000 spent on tires, alternators and brake cylinders that we hadn't planned on, but safety was our priority and if it means we eat beans for a month cause we need to conserve our money, so be it...we are safe and sound and together again as a family, thanks to God.
     I want to thank each and every one of my blogger followers and my FB friends. Special thanks to the prayer chains who prayed for us and for the family members who got down on their knees and begged God for mercy...we couldn't have done this without you all. My mom and sister prayed nonstop for 9 days and nights, and without their financial help and love, we would have never made it. Love you, Mama and Marigayle...you are our rocks.
     Juneau is so beautiful. I could try to explain the beauty I see but I can't do it justice. I will try to find my camera to take some photos of the splendor that God made. God has certainly blessed Juneau. This entire week it has been sunshine and birds singing. We have spotted several eagles and their nests, and have seen lots of squirrels scampering about. Our neighbor Barbara saw a baby fawn on Monday and we just keep waiting on the bears to lumber by. The temperature has not been over 70 degrees all week. We have the windows open and for the first time in my life, I love it...I have always hated having windows open but not anymore. The cool breezes are just great.
     Well, I need to close this up so I can finish up our dinner. I actually put a pot roast in the crockpot this morning, with some potatoes, carrots, onions and celery. It smells delicious, and we are all ready for dinner early!
     Please pray that we all get jobs, as quickly as possible. We are ready to work and get into a schedule  so we can move onward with our plans of building our home. We are thinking about building a duplex on our mountain land so Jon and Ryan can rent it from us to help pay the mortgage. Over one third of all homes in Juneau have an apartment, duplex or attached home to them, for this very reason. We can already tell we are going to have to pool our resources till we can make it alone. It's a good thing we all like each other!!!!

In the early hours of daybreak...

     There is such peace in Juneau...when you walk outside you can actually hear the birds and the wind rustling the pine trees. The sun never really sets...sort of a lovely twilight from about midnight till around 4 in the morning. Then if the sun is coming up, around 5 o'clock in the morning it is up in all its glory. The high temperature today was 69. When Caleb and I went to the glacier yesterday morning, there was no one there but us. The cruise ships were still docking and Juneau was still a sleepy little town. Being at the glacier that early in the morning, I truly could feel my daddy, right there with me. He was in the rustle of the spruce trees and he was roaring in the waterfall close by. This must be what Heaven looks like. And I can't honestly believe that my family is going to get to experience this wonder every single day.
     There were 5 huge cruise ships in Juneau today. Caleb and I went back downtown and watched them for a while. We both decided we could sit on the benches at the dock and watch the ships all day long. The downtown was crazy crowded with buses and vans and tourists everywhere!!! Us locals just tried to stay out of their way, but I must admit, we had to go to the Alaska t-Shirt Company, which is really just a big ole souvenir store. And yesterday, we trekked to the Russia Store and fawned over the nesting dolls and carved wooden Santas...it is my favorite store EVER and I will be saving my money for a new set of nesting dolls before the store closes for winter.
     Tomorrow the Caravan pulls in and we will be at the dock to greet them. We did get to talk to the gang when they finally pulled into a port with some phone signal, in Ketchikan. I know my baby girl is ready for a warm shower and a hug from her mama. She has been such a trooper and she has slept on the hard floor of the ferry so her daddy could have the air mattress. And God love poor Jon...that man has earned a couple of diamonds in his crown after this trip. He is so hungry for home cooked food so hopefully tomorrow we can get enough unloaded for me to cook up something good for dinner at Ryan's home. We will be living with Ryan and Jon for three weeks, till our home is ready. Hopefully by then, we will all have jobs!
     Will close this now as Caleb and I need showers and since we are up at 5 tomorrow morning to meet our family at the ferry, we better head to bed early!

Almost there....

     The last few days have been very character building for the entire clan. After banishing the Devil back to his devilish den, the Caravan made good time and had only minor problems the last two days. Last night, the Caravan made it to Seattle, very late but ready to get this trip over with. James thought the transmission was going out on the Beast...he was wrong, but something had to be repaired AGAIN on the Beast, but James got it going again. Not sure right now what it is that broke, but after fixing it, the Caravan moved on. They got to Bellingham, Washington at 1 this afternoon and boarded the ferry soon after. Ryan is already seasick and all the cabins were sold out so the Caravan will be sleeping in chairs of some sort, and not nice recliners. It will be a long 39 hours. I hope things improve for them. They are just beat to a pulp over the whole road trip.
     Caleb and I made it to Juneau with no problems. We even caught an earlier flight and were in by 3:45 instead of 7:30 tonight. We rented a car and headed to the hotel to rest, but first we had to go take a peek at our rental home that will be ours on Aug. 6. The house is 100 times more beautiful than in the photos. We are truly blessed. Ryan's duplex looks great, too, and tomorrow we will get the keys to it so  we can start getting it ready for us all to live in for three weeks.
It is rainy and cold in Juneau, and I am as happy as a clam in this weather...I am sure there will come a day that I might curse the cold, but not any time soon.
     We had dinner last night with Mom, Marigayle and Sarah. I know that they are excited for us to follow our dreams, but it is hard to get past the fact that we will be 4000 miles away. I will miss my mama...she is my heartbeat, my pillar of strength, and I have been spoiled to have her at my side for the past 20 years. Marigayle is probably still crying, but she will get through this, as she and Chris make our house their home. I will miss my sister, but I expect her to come visit. And Sarah...well, she knows that I expect her to follow those dreams of hers...she has so much talent and I will be watching as she harnesses her talent.
     Tomorrow, Caleb and I are going furniture shopping...just a couple of pieces until we all get jobs. Thank the dear Lord above for Mom and Marigayle...they lent us enough money to get us rolling. The Caravan and the road trip from he** cost us $5000 we hadn't planned on!!! Can't wait to really add up the tab and see what this big move has cost us.
     Monday, the ferry pulls in at 5:30 in the morning...Caleb and I will be at the dock, ready to hug necks and make sure we are all ok. When we all get together again, then we will officially be residents of the great state of Alaska...I am going to take so many photos, ya'll will all be sick of me and my pictures! Bless you all for your prayers...we couldn't have done this without those prayers. Stay tuned as the Texans make a bunch of noise getting to Juneau on the ferry...

Devil, please get back in your Hellish den...

     The Devil has been messing with my man today...the Caravan is exhausted and sees no end in sight.  James had to replace the front tires on the Beast this morning, (after too much wear and tear from the trailer) and then the Beast ran out of diesel because the second tank wouldn't work. After finally priming the truck to get it started, bad weather has been an issue this afternoon, too. OH, and like that isn't enough, the air filter and fuel filters had to be replaced today, and then the skid bars got knocked off of the brand new black trailer, almost ripping off the bottom of that big monster. James is so terribly depressed and there is nothing I can do to help him, I fear. The four warriors are exhausted and pulling these trailers is, in hindsight, probably not the smartest thing we ever did. We probably should have just packed an overnight bag and gone to Juneau without all of our stuff. The sad part---this isn't even a tenth of our stuff. We sold almost everything, including our king bed. We have one chair, an ottoman and a buffet. A few end tables, lamps and my Christmas decorations...we should have hired a semi-truck but their estimate of 15,000 dollars seemed out of line at the time we made the decision to haul it ourselves.
     So please, dear friends, please...pray non ceasing for my precious family till we see that light at the end of the road. I feel helpless down here, but Devil--you better get back where you belong and quit messing with my family. God has our back and we must trust him when it all seems like too much. God, give James the strength of ten men as he battles the Devil and his friends.
     And God bless James and Ryan....God bless Jon and Elizabeth...the precious foursome trekking across this mighty country of ours. What memories they are making...hopefully this time next week, the traveling will all be over and we will be sleeping in Juneau, and waking to a big, bright beautiful tomorrow...
And Devil, just so YOU know....NO ONE MESSES WITH MY MAN!

And the Alaskan Caravan moves on...

     Today the Caravan has been just a-humming along, enjoying the cooler weather...until about an hour ago. Just right before passing over the Continental Divide, the BEAST (the nickname for James' junky, funky truck...1996 Ford) lost brake power!!! Yes, lost brakes...thanking God for every second of safe travel, James pulled the Caravan over and surveyed the damage. Blessedly, he found an Auto Zone and was able to get a master cylinder, and then he was able to fix the brakes, right in the parking lot of the Auto Zone. I guess the weight of the trailer and the incline of the mountains is really taking a toll on the old truck. I have always doubted the Beast's ability to even make it to Rio Hondo, much less to Alaska, but every time I would bring up the subject, I was poo-pooed and told that the BEAST was in better shape than any new truck. Still not too sure of that statement, but I played along. Now I am really petrified that at this rate, we are never going to make it up to Bellingham, Washington. If the Caravan makes it that far, and gets on the ferry, we can always just drag the BEAST off the ferry if we have to. Luckily both Ryan's car and mine are new vehicles so I am pretty sure they will make it, if the trailers behind them don't cause trouble.
     I am so glad that Caleb and I aren't with the Caravan...I am just a terrible backseat driver and Caleb is a Nervous Ned, so it is better that we fly up to Juneau to meet them. The bad part about staying behind is we really can't help much, being this far away. And it is awful to think that we don't know what is really going on and that is scary. But, once again, we are putting our trust in God and even though I know He has my family in his arms, I still worry. I am praying that I can be more trusting and less nervous, or it is going to be the longest week of my life. Truly...

THE CARAVAN TO ALASKA!!

Here are a few shots of the loading and preparing of the vehicles and trailers--

Our Big Fat Alaska Adventure BEGINS...

     Yesterday, at 3:30 p.m., the biggest caravan EVER took off from Harlingen, Texas...bound for Juneau, Alaska! This day has been anticipated for months. We have sold all of our material belongings, except those things we just can't part with. My precious family is now on the road, and I have never been so scared in my life. The trailers are way too full and the heat is eating the tires up. The caravan made it to Boerne last night, as planned, with top speed of 50 mph. All 3 trailers are swaying and rocking but the drivers are hanging tough. They made it through some horrible rain, and lots of construction. They spent a very short night in the Hampton Inn in Boerne, and are back on the road today. The first blowout happened at 9:30 this morning, so the caravan made it to Kerrville, where Wal-Mart is open and ready to install new tires on two of the three trailers. All the old tires looked good and weren't that old but James said the pressure and weight on them is making them blow out. So, 8 new tires later, the cost of this move just keeps rising. But as my daddy always said, "It's just money". He was right...we will spend whatever money it takes to keep our family safe. I am so thankful for the prayers that are being said on our behalf. I am so thankful for my precious friends and my dearest family members who have helped us with this move. And I am so thankful for our dear Lord and Savior, who has us in his rearview mirror as he leads us to Juneau.

Seriously, the packing is AWFUL!!!

     Well, as of Monday morning at 9:00, the packing has finally really begun. Mom has come over the past two days and we have worked like trojans for 6 hours each day, and after those 6 hours, Mom hobbles home and I collapse in my recliner. We are spent...Austin Powers ain't got nothing on us. Mom is the master packer of houses, since she has helped Marigayle pack up and move 47 times. Yes, that number is true. I am not making it up. Promise.

     And Mom is twice the work horse I am...she has crazy wild arm strength for a woman 72 years old. She is 20 years older than me and she was running circles around the 52 year old ME. She is amazing. I hope and pray her health stays good as she really has at least another 20 years left in her, even though she thinks she will only last about 10 more years...those were her words, not mine. Mind you, all of her relatives have lived into their 90's, so I just know Mom will be right there with them all. 

     Every single room is now officially torn up. We have 2 forks that aren't packed, and some paper plates to eat off of. I have a small skillet and cookie sheet left out and we still have a microwave to cook with. The big caravan will be leaving on Saturday, the 7th, but Caleb and I are staying behind till the 13th. It is going to be mighty empty in this house with all the stuff gone. Luckily, Marigayle bought much of our furniture so it will still be here. Caleb will go on an air mattress and I will sleep in the "pink bed" that Marigayle also bought. 

     Ryan and Jon are packing like crazy, too, and we will be living with them in their duplex until our home is ready on the 6th of August. Since Caleb and I are flying later in the week, we are in charge of all problems that might happen while the caravan in moving across America. I will look for food and hotels along the way, and will alert James to weather conditions and such. I will try to be a help, and not a hindrance. Sometimes I am a pain in the pants...or at least that's what James says!

     Our 4th of July will be spent packing, and that is just fine with us all. This time next year we will be in Juneau for the 4th, and we have heard that Juneau throws a great party for the holiday. 

God Bless America! (and God--can you bless our little family as we prepare to caravan to Alaska? )

We need all the help we can get!

Those beautiful waves...SPI, I will miss you.

     Our month at the Island is almost over. We have two more nights to enjoy all SPI has to give. The sun is setting right now and the sky is pinker than pink. We spent a couple of hours this afternoon at Clayton's Beach Bar...it is right on the Gulf and it is very nice. We sat in the open air area and enjoyed some boiled shrimp and fries. When we were done, I walked over to the railing area and stood there for at least 10 minutes, looking at those waves. Growing up, my daddy would bring us girls down to the Island for the day and we would play in the sand, getting just as dirty as humanly possible two little girls could get. Our swimsuits would fill with sand and it was so funny to us then. Daddy always brought his fishing pole to throw out in the surf. Back in the very early years, we loved to play on the Boca Chica side. Daddy would start a fire and we would watch as he sliced potatoes and onions into a big cast iron skillet, stirring them around till they were mushy and greasy. To this day, the smell of "Boca Chica Potatoes"cooking brings back some wonderful memories. I still cook potatoes and onions that way...we don't have them often but when we do, they are never as good as they were on the beach, with some sand in them, I imagine.
     As a little girl, my daddy would let us ride on his back as he waded into the great big waves. I always felt so safe with him. He was so tall and strong and he always made it to the second sand bar, where we would hop off and sit in the water for hours, riding the waves. He always brought the big tractor inner tube so we could all hang on and dodge those big waves. My cousins, Jay and Anton, would come down every summer and they would get to go with us to the beach. I know their memories of my daddy are very special. When my daddy died, Jay and Anton were just as sad as we were. My daddy, their Uncle Jim, was a real hero to a lot of people, I have found out over the past three years.
     So today, when I looked out over those Gulf waves, I shed a tear thinking that I would probably never see the Island again. If we do come home to visit, we will not take time to come to the Island. This move to Alaska has become very reflective for me. Today I remembered how it felt to be a little girl riding on my strong daddy's back, and wishing that I could ride in those waves with him, one more time.
     Once again, I am blessed...

Missing my girlfriends already...

I have always been blessed with an abundance of friends...great friends, in fact. Friends that support me no matter what I do. James and I have two couples that we will miss terribly. The six of us have had some really silly, fun times together. Jeff and Tammy Cleckler and Holly and Carl Leatherman are the kind of friends that you pray you will find. Tammy and Holly used to teach fourth grade with me, back in the days when I was teaching. We formed a close bond for lots of reasons, and we found out very quickly that our husbands also liked to hang out together. We spent many weekends at the Island together, enjoying the now defunct bed and breakfast, Casa de Siesta. The men loved to horse around in the pool and eat at Dirty Al's...wait, they still love to do that. The three women that belong( kinda) to these men are so happy that our men get along and have become best friends. For the past 8 years, the six of us have spent many a fun time together. We make a real effort to keep our friendship together. This past week, Holly and Tammy and I had two nights together on the Island. In fact, the Clecklers and James and I have rented side by side condos for the month of June, just so the boys can be together. We are going on a dinner cruise on a big ole sailboat on Thursday of this coming week, and we will laugh and share memories of our happy times together. When James and I decided to move to Juneau, one of the big hurdles we faced was leaving our family and friends. We will miss our friends...we will try to Skype and FaceTime each other and have promised to keep in touch, but we all know that things will never really be the same again. James and I pray that our friends will come see us in Juneau. Through thick and thin, and all the in-betweens, our friends have been there. They were our rocks, when my dad was so sick. They kept me sane when I broke my back, and they helped us out when Hurricane Dolly destroyed our home. Christmas parties and lake gatherings, Algodon Balls and weekly dinners, birthday celebrations and girl luncheons...we have done all of those things TOGETHER, because we have so darn much fun when we are with each other . They are the friends that everyone deserves to have, and we have been so beyond blessed to have them as a big part of our lives. I try not to cry when I think of these friends and how much I will miss them. So when we finally leave for Juneau, I will say "see ya real soon", and not goodbye...

Hurricane season....please wait till we move!!!!!!

Moving to Alaska means not having to worry about hurricanes ever again...well, I will have to worry about Mom and Marigayle and will pray no hurricanes like Dolly will ever come again. But in Alaska, we will have different problems with weather. Supposedly Juneau has high winds, but as one resident told us, "We just don't name them like ya'll do!" Blizzards will be exciting, the first one anyways. We will prepare to hunker down, just as if we were waiting on a hurricane. We have also heard that a tremor or two may shake us up, and that doesn't sound like much fun either, but we will look to the locals and follow their lead when bad weather approaches. Every one will know the Texans are in town...we will be the crazy bunch running around in our shorts and flip flops in November. We all have boots for the snow and coats warm enough to stand below zero temperatures. We have gloves, mittens, socks, knit hats, sweaters, light jackets, cleats for the snow and whatever else the Bass Pro Shop had for sale this past winter. We are ready for anything weather-wise, and pray we can dig our way out of the snow when it gets deep. Our new home comes with a snowblower and I have two tough  men to shovel those sidewalks. I am sure we will all take a tumble or two on the snow paths, but we will try not to act like newbies. Those sourdoughs are going to love us!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

A mother and her child...

I have these 2 incredible children. Now, I know everyone has incredible kids, so I know I am in good company when I brag a little about them. The last 2 days, my daughter, Ryan, and I have spent some much needed time together. We are making good use of this very peaceful condo at the Island. The men are in Harlingen, still working on this darn Jeep that James decided to make from scratch...who does that?? Oh, wait, I know....MY man does. Anywho, this has given Ryan and I a little time to ourselves. We have scrapbooked, gone to Dollar Tree and Dollar General, had manicures and pedicures and ate like little piggies at the Island Brewery. By the way, the beer bread at that Brewery place was sooooooo good. I had two pieces and then had to bring home my whole dinner because I was miserably full.
So to make a long story short, I have enjoyed the time with my daughter...the child that refused to let us go to Alaska without her, even though she is leaving a great job and lots of friends. She is going on blind faith that her daddy and I will take care of her and that she will find a job. Caleb has at least seen Juneau and he fell in love with the town. Ryan hasn't had that chance. But I know our daughter...she will love it in Juneau. She is so very much like me and I know that she will be find her own way on her own terms. Now, if I could just get my mom and sister to move up there, everything would be perfect. I do know that my mama will come visit and Marigayle is saving up money to come out there, too. We will keep in touch and will pray for each other every night, knowing that God is watching out for us all, as He continues to shower us with his blessings, whether we deserve them or not.

My daddy...

     It is Father's Day. My daddy should be here for me to hug and kiss. Just over three years ago, my daddy went to live with Jesus. I take great joy in the fact that he is standing tall, out of pain, and I am pretty sure is hunting every early morning, in the mountains of Heaven. But the selfish Liz would like to have him here with me. I know he is in that better place that everyone talks about but I still very selfishly want him here with me. We were blessed to have him 8 more years after his heart attack. That heart attack should have taken down the average man, but not my daddy. My daddy was a great man, a man that everyone should strive to be like. He was my hero every single day of his life. He worked hard to provide what we needed. He loved us all so much and that is one of the main reasons he stayed around those extra years. He refused to give up. When the end was near for him, I could hardly stand to see him, and for that I am eternally sorry. I try to remember the man that I knew as a little girl...the man who loved me unconditionally. So on this Father's Day, I want you to know, Daddy, that I love you and I WILL see you again, and when that day comes, I will run into your arms and feel safe again.
     I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who is so very much like my daddy. James Ray Startz, thank you for being the daddy every kid deserves to have. I honestly don't know what I would do without you, my precious husband. My daddy loved you...you were his son, through and through. You helped nurse him for 8 years and for that one fact, you are my hero. The kids and I love you so very much...Happy Father's Day!

My First Guest Designer Job with my pitiful little scrapbooking abilities!

After many, many years, I have finally found a hobby. I have fallen in love with scrapbooking and all that goes with it. I have actually even completed a couple of albums, which is a very big miracle for me. I love collecting all the goodies to MAKE the scrapbook, but seldom find the time or energy to actually USE the stuff. And then I found the monthly kit clubs...and oh, dear me, did I stumble onto the "funnest" part of the whole business!!!! I can just sit at home and wait for my monthly kits to come in to me. Wheeeee!!! I am currently a member of 4 kit clubs and I love them all. But...my favorite right now is The Paper Bakery Kit Club. And I got chosen to be their guest designer for the month of June. How fun this has been!!! I have made 4 projects with the June kit and will be posting on the Paper Bakery Blog on the 17th. I am going to post the photos of my four pitiful little projects and hope I don't offend any "real" scrapbookers. I promise to get better...really, I will...ok, maybe I won't but I will have fun trying to run with the big dogs!!!