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!)