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!