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!)