A New Week

Wow, I can't believe it has been a week since my last post. 

Last week actually turned out to be amazing, Alaska Summer, weather.  No rain, temperatures in the high 70 to low 80.  It was an amazing week.

Friday evening we watched our church softball team play.  Richard says you know we are bored when watch softball and watch people we don't even know play the game.  But is was nice to get out and about.  While we were driving, we actually found a REAL neighborhood.  You see, all we have noticed is a house then a bunch of trees, then a house, then trees, then house, then trees - I think you get the point.  There were several very nice (keep in mind all houses here are siding, no brick) houses and many were for sale.  When we got home we looked up these houses.  Well let me say, we won't be buying a house anytime soon.  Most of these houses were a little larger than our home in Clinton and they ranged in price from $250 - $350K....That of course doesn't include what it would cost to heat the house. We also drove out to the Chena Lake area.  I say drive, because when we got to the entrance they charge by the vehicle to get in and all we wanted to do was see the lake.  We made a u-turn.  Maybe we will see the lake another day.

On Saturday, we drove to Chena Hot Springs. It is a little resort area. It was beautiful.  Even talked to some OSU Cowboy fans. Richard said he would take me back for our anniversary in March.  I posted pictures on Shutterfly of the resort.

That evening we went to a restaurant called Silver Gulch for dinner.  They were having a live Jazz band.  The food was very good and the music was relaxing.

Yesterday at church, we were shaking hands and making introductions.  I introduced myself to this lady that I have noticed every Sunday and felt I should know her.  I mentioned this to Richard, so being the vocal person he is (LOL), after church he said to her "my wife thinks she knows you.".  Guess what I did.  We went to Evangel College in Missouri together.  She even spent a weekend in Clinton with my family.  It is a very small world.

Today, I enjoyed morning tea (I don't drink coffee) with our Pastor's wife.  It was so good to have human conversation.  She shared a wealth of information with me about Alaska and the church.  We agreed we needed to visit again.  Oh, her husband is a big DALLAS COWBOY fan and an OU fan.  She said that football around here will start next month.  After visiting with her, guess I need to go shopping for clothes.  I may actually get to own my first pair of UGH (Not sure how to spell them) boots, among many other things.

I'm still on the job search.  I know God is in control and has a plan.

I will try to continue to keep you updated.  Be blessed and stay cool.

Love and miss you all.

Sally

Chena River

The Restaurant

Chena Hot Springs

A few Pics of Chena....

Pictures in Shutterfly

For those not on Facebook.  Use the link below to access my pictures in Shutterfly.  Hope this works...


I've created a web site(s) called “SallyandRichardinAlaska” to share pictures with friends and family. I'd like you to be a member of the site. Come check it out at http://sallyandrichardinalaska.shutterfly.com/?toaddress.

Bass Pro In Calgary

Entering Canada

Somewhere in Canada...

I think he was afraid to cross the border....lol

Our new Home

Some of the BEAUTIFUL flowers in Alaska

Richard and Rachel at the Ice Museum

Here in North Pole

Santa Claus Statue at the Santa Claus House in North Pole

My new kitchen.

I may have figured this out.  Thanks Brenda.  I will post some pictures of our journey up here.

Welcome to Monday

Good Monday from Alaska:

Not really much to write about today. 

According to the weatherman, this is one of the coldest July's on record. Hope that doesn't mean that it will be a worse than normal winter. To us it isn't really cold, it is mild and kind of nice.  I did tell Eric today that I would take one and maybe two of the 100+ days in Oklahoma.  People keep telling us to get our cars ready and ourselves ready for the winter by September. You may ask what does that mean?  Well, we have to buy new tires - bluezac?  probably not spelled correctly.  We have to buy this heater thing for the car.  Keeps the oil/motor and whatever else warm and they recommend automatic start.  It is odd to see plug ins everywhere for your car.  They told Richard last week to learn where the parking stripes are on the parking lot because after the first snowfall, which could be mid to late September and possibly early in September, you won't see the stripes again until May or later.  They told him they only scrape the parking lot twice during the winter. Yesterday was one of the first days that the sun shined all day and the temp got up to 75.  Today it is in the low 60 and the sun has been shinning off and on.  We try to get out everyday and enjoy any sunshine we can. Believe it or not Richard is actually walking with me.  We are back up to 2 miles now.  Not sure I will ever talk him to running with me.  Wonder where we will walk/run when it snows?

I'm still on the job search.  Last week I think I applied for 18 jobs.  Add three more to that list for today. I am constantly reminding my self of the verse in Jeremiah - "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord" and also that his plans are not my plans and his ways are not my ways - and I have to WAIT (such a hard thing to do) for Him to bring about his plans in his time. 

This weekend was the Gold Days Parade/Celebration in Fairbanks.  We went to the parade in the rain.  That evening we met some of Richard's friends from Polka Band Days in Fairbanks for dinner.  Our first experience of Thia Food.  It was good, but not sure Richard will add it to his list of things to eat.  It was so nice to talk to someone who knew you and you knew them. 

I may have said it before, but I have a new appreciation for being the new person in a community/church.  It is so hard to form friendships when you only see each other once a week.  I know friendships will come with time and some will even be lasting ones.  I told Richard that Sunday's are the hardest.  I miss my Sunday School kids and my church family so much, especially on Sunday's.

Okay, enough of the sadness.  All in all God has been good and this adventure has been more than we have ever expected.  We are learning each day to rely more on God and more on each other.

I will write more later this week.  Be blessed.  Love you all and miss you.

Sally

I Passed!

I bit the bullet yesterday and took my driver's licensed test - and I passed.  I am an official licensed driver in Alaska.  Guess that means I'm one step closer to being an official resident.  Now to get Richard to go take his test.

Not much has happened since my last post.  The painters FINALLY finished (except for caulking the windows).  We are officially unpacked again.  There are still several boxes in the garage, but they may just have to stay that way because I ran out of room.

The job search continues.  There is one job that I would really consider.  It is at the elementary school on post.  It doesn't pay well, but it would be a job and get me out of the house.  On the plus side, when the weather is bad, Richard and I could ride to work together.  But, it's not my will, but thine be done.  I know God has a plan. 

Yesterday,  I treated myself to a much needed manicure.  The guy doing my nails and I were visiting and guess what....he worked for 2 weeks during August 2010 at the Nail Salon Spa in Clinton,  It is a small world.  His wife said it was too hot, dry and windy.  He said it was small. 

Three weeks from tonight Eric will be here.  I'm so excited to see him.  We plan to do a little sight seeing while he is here.  We have not been to Denali yet so that is on the agenda.  Not sure what else.  He will only be here till Monday morning.  It will be a fast trip. He didn't want to wait till it got cold to come - I can't imagine why.

Richard will be going to Tulsa (I think it's Tulsa) in October for an optometry meeting. Guess I will experience my first time in Alaska alone unless I can figure out a way to come also.  Looking at the price of airline tickets for Christmas - YIKES - but we will get there even if we have to have beans (not Richard's favorite) and water for awhile. - Not really.

Well I better get to my daily routine.  Job searching in the morning and reading, TV, entertaining Charlie in the afternoon.

Have a blessed day.  Love and miss everyone.

Sally

Painting....

The painters finally arrived around 5p.m. on Thursday, returned at 4 p.m. on Friday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday (today).  Not sure when they are coming back but I am so ready for the painting to be completed and to redecorate. 

Well Thursday was a day for me.  It was a day of I just want to go back to 135 Regency Drive where there a people/friends, a job and family.  But then I came to my senses and reminded myself that this too will pass and that we are here for a reason and a purpose.

Friday evening Richard and I ventured out to Fairbanks.  We found a very good BBQ place and went to the movie.  Charlie had his first experience of staying out for a few hours and guess what he survived. LOL

Today since the painters were here we did a little touring.  First we washed my car.  I may have to be happy with a dirty car as the car wash here was terrible.  From there we went to Fort Wainwright where Richard works.  It was like we had traveled to a different part of Alaska.  It was beautiful.  I posted a few pictures of the Post and the hospital on Facebook.  From there we drove up to Fox where we saw the pipeline.  It is amazing that the pipeline is as large as it is and runs above ground in some places.  Again, pictures are on Facebook.  From there it was grocery shopping.  While not all things are higher here some are.  It is amazing that we at one time could shop once a month and spend around 300-350 on food (keeping in mind that we always had beef in the freezer) and ate out often. Well I have gone to the store every two weeks since arriving and average $200-300 each time.  Another difference in groceries is we now eat at home more and Richard takes a lunch to work, unless he eats at the cafeteria at the hospital and honestly eating in the cafeteria is more reasonable that taking a lunch.  One of the things that we have noticed is higher is pop.  Richard is a big Dr Pepper/Mt Dew drinker.  A 12 pack runs around $7.  Today we found a 24 pack for $10. Maybe he will cut down on his pop drinking - probably not. We left Charlie out all day today and he survived one more day. Oh, Richard has decided the first big purchase we make is going to be a washer and dryer.  He does not like going to the laundry mat. (That is a regular Saturday routine)  There are no coin operatored, they are card operatored.  Oh, and the car wash only takes dollar coins and the minimum you can start with $3.  The automatic starts at $8 and goes up to $16.

I began my job search this week. Keep praying that at the right time the right job will come my way.  I would really like to work on Post and possible at the school on Post.  Benefits to that job would be riding to work together and having holidays and summers off to travel to Oklahoma or wherever else I/we should want to go.  Speaking of, we have already checked on ticket prices to fly home for Christmas...OH MY...I really need a job just to buy ticket.  LOL..

Eric is coming and August and this one excited mom.  He will fly in on Thursday/Friday (12:45 a.m.) and leave at 5:50 on Monday morning.  It will be a quick trip, but a good one. 

We still do not have darkness and a little rain comes about every day.  So many changes, but we are learning.

Well that is about it for today. Have a blessed Sunday and week.  I will keep you updated on what is happening in Alaska.  Love and miss everyone.

Sally

I'm Back

We have Internet and now it is time to catch up this blog.

We moved in on June 28. No more hotel and hello to our own bed.  I said in my earlier post that the painters came - NOT and they still haven't came.  But we are - for the most part - unpacked and I have decorated and the adjustment has begun. Even the smell of smoke is getting better.

On Friday, June 29, Mom, Rachel and I went to the Santa Claus House.  Well it isn't all it is hyped up to be.  It is really simply a big gift shop and Santa Claus is there as are his reindeer. Oh and fudge.  It was still a fun time.  That evening we had dinner in Fairbanks and said goodbye to Mom and Rachel.  A very emotional time. 

The weekend was very uneventful.  We attended church on Sunday at the Assembly of God Church in North Pole.  Guess who attends the church - SANTA CLAUS. The people were friendly and they are looking for a drummer.  Richard let it be known that he is a drummer.  So we are praying for the opportunity to open for him to play drums.  The church doesn't have services on Sunday night - another adjustment. We have been invited to the SALT (Seasoned Adults...something) activities. Richard says we are too young for them but the only other group is the young adults and we are too old for them. LOL.

On Monday, July 2 Richard reported to work.  He has officially been on the job for a little over a week and is now seeing patients.  He says he likes it, just not the having to leave the house at 7 a.m.  Gone are his 9-5 days.

For the July 4th holiday, we went to the parade here in the North Pole. It was fun.  Santa Claus was even in the parade - the man is everywhere. That afternoon we ventured to Fairbanks and listened to military bands and bagpipes in the park.  No fireworks - since it is daylight all the time.

Speaking of - sleeping is really not a problem.  When we get tired we look at the clock and if it is at least 10 p.m. we go to bed.  Right now we have about 20 hours of sunlight, but even the other 4 are still light outside, just not sunshine.  It seems to rain a little everyday. I have talked Richard in to walking with me and Charlie.  We try to venture out for at least a mile everyday.  There is a track that runs along one side of Badger Road (the main road beside our house).  The track actually goes all the way down Badger Road, so we could walk the three miles to North Pole. Haven't convinced Richard to do that yet, since we would have to walk back also. Lol.

I have been busy applying for jobs.  So far I have applications in with the Fairbanks/North Pole school district and the University of Alaska - Fairbanks.  There are currently no openings on the Post, except for those requiring weekends and evenings and I really am not interested in those hours.

Charlie has become a very LAZY dog.  He sleeps all day and is so excited to play ball in the evenings when Richard is home.  He doesn't like to go outside unless someone goes with him.  Don't know what he will do when I start work.

The weather has been very mild.  It did get as low as 45 one morning this week.  The afternoons usually peak out at 70-80. 

Well that about sums up what is happening here.  Please go to facebook to see pictures.  I cannot get pictures to upload to this Blog.  Anyone have suggestions - I'm open for any of them.

We miss everyone VERY much.  I need adult conversation.  My next adventure is to find someone to color my hair and cut it - I miss you Becky. If you have the ability to Facetime, let me know. Well, till next time, be blessed and stay safe.  Love to everyone.

Sally and Richard.