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!