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!