In Awe

I’m sitting here in my new apt (I finally have a place to call home…for 6 months, well, 1 day a week, but still, it’s home), completely overwhelmed with awe of what God has done in me and given me the past 12 months. The prep to get me to Africa, the prep to bring me to Alaska and what underlies it all is a DEEP DEEP trust in Him. I have learned to trust my Savior in ways I never knew I would or even could. Allow me first to simply give you the amazing gifts God has given me the past couple days:

·         A cheap, last minute 1 way ticket to Alaska

·         A free ride from a sweet family I met on the plane

·         A free hotel room (due to my credit card points)

·         An incredibly HUGE “economy” car that has given us amazing gas mileage over the past 4 days (we just reached half a tank with tons of driving and time in the car)

·         A free place to stay (with Amanda’s family)

·         Free meals for 3 days

·         I won a free $450 BIKE!!! (we did a pick up trash in Palmer day and entered a drawing and I won a TREX 3500 aluminum frame mountain bike!)

·         We have been loaned a newer Jetta for the summer (instead of having to buy a cheap one off Craigslist – Amanda’s family is loaning it to us)

·         A BEAUTIFUL and incredible 3 story apt with 3 bathrooms and rent under $200 for 6 months – oh and they wanted a year lease and decided to allow us to sign 6 months – this place is awesome!

·         A fully stocked apt/counters/bathroom including a vacuum for $45/person

·         My camera arrived just in time for my trip I leave on for training tomorrow (thank you PAULA!)

·         My next week of meals is totally taken care of due to training.

… just to name a few!

I am seriously overwhelmed to the point of tears at seeing what God has given and done for us. How he cares for me and provides EXACTLY what I need. (A bike...seriously, those of you who know how much I love biking can understand)

Some may call this “Coincidence”, but I call it a God who loves and cares for me and has blessed me with an INCREDIBLE year of freedom, growth, travel, and adventure. I have to be honest, I’m a bit anxious about getting back to a J-O-B (my early retirement was great!) and not just any job, but one that demands about 15 hrs of my time a day, not to mention I talk and am “on” almost the entire time… (oh wait, am I going back to teaching J But truly, this job is demanding. They have all warned me. So, you can pray for me if you think of it.

Ready or not… here I go.

Well, I've done it. Ya'll talked me into it, so here is my new found love and joy - a blog to share my life experiences with my friends and family all over the world. Now I wish I would have done this during my recent adventure to Africa  (so don't be surprised if I post the 50 day journey on here...it just may happen). But, until that happens, let's talk ALASKA!
I arrived in Anchorage, Wednesday, May 9, 2012 @ 11:59pm. After making friends with the security woman at John Wayne Airport (who's daughter happened to be looking for a roommate as She is tour guiding this summer as well), sleeping a good bit and meeting a great Alaskan man, Carlos, who told me story upon story of life in Alaska, I arrived: tired, excited, nervous and a bit overwhelmed. This adventure is a bit different, considering it's an actual JOB (which I haven't had in a year!). I arrived at the Ramada Inn to my sweet friend and now roommate Amanda, sound asleep. We hadn't seen each other since February, so it was a sweet reunion. She fell fast asleep and I laid there, wide eyed and awake for the entire night. I kept saying out loud, "I'm in Alaska!" (3 weeks ago I was saying, "I'm in Africa") ... how quickly life was changing.
Our first day was filled with being introduced to Anchorage, having an awesome continental breakfast (which we took about 8 bagels, 4 bananas, 4 oranges, 4 apples, peanut butter, cream cheese and 3 yogurts extra :), seeing 2 Moose!!, and apartment hunting. Anchorage is not what you would call a "pretty" town. It's definitely a tourist spot that's a bit run down (or a lot run down), but the people are SO friendly and the view is uncapturable (yes, I know that's not a word, but I just made it one). Each apt. we visited was better and better. Originally we started with 5 of us to be in apartment, but after talking with Eve (the security woman's daughter) we became 6. The last apartment we visited was in a bit of what you might like to call "ghetto", but it ain't nothin' I haven't lived in before, but the inside literally left me speechless! 3 stories, 3 bathrooms, all new appliances and a great deal on rent. Amanda and I were pretty stoked on it, but I was really hoping for cheaper rent and we both knew we could fit a few more people in the place (since non of us will be there consistently) so we decided to send an email to our other Royal Celebrity peeps (who we haven't met) and ask if anyone was looking for a room. Then we prayed. 20 minutes later, Amanda's phone rang with a friendly voice saying he was interested in the opening. We both looked at each other and freeked out. Literally, every step of the way God has been providing for us in crazy ways! So, this was no surprise, but an incredible blessing.
So, to save you from exhausting details (today was a rat race to get all our paper work in, sign agreements, call electric and gas companies, chase down the property manager etc)... WE GOT THE APT!!! And (as of now) there is a grand total of 7 of us! :) 5 girls 2 guys. All working for Tours this summer. It's gonna be fun!
Until we move in, Amanda and I are staying with her awesome cousin and family and now we get to relax, see the country side and I need to STUDY STUDY STUDY!