HOME!!!

He should be home in about 36 hours!! I am beyond excited!!!

Thunder Bird Falls Hike

Although it was very icy at times, we had a fabulous time hiking. Nicki and her two girls, Mazie and Ellie, went. Along with Amanda and her two girls, Cadence and Averi. As well as Courtney and Marianke. It was lovely to get out and enjoy the sunny weather today.

 Cadence and Ellie loved walking hand in hand.

 Nicki and Amanda helping their girls get over the super icy parts.

 Nicki and sweet Mazie.

 Averi saying "cheese"

 Courtney and Averi. Courtney is going to be such a great mom!

 The whole group :)

 Cadence, Ellie and Averi

 Amanda stripping the girls down after letting them go jumping in the mud puddles.

 Ellie getting a little drink :) She was using a leaf to dip into the mud puddle and then licking the water off the leaf. I couldn't help but take some pictures. The ER nurse in me says, "ahhh, it will build up her immune system" :)

 Nicki helping Ellie get her wet shoes and socks off.

Averi saying "cheese" again.

Hiking Baldy

We have been itching to get out and do some hiking. It continues to snow a lot of days here. Most of the snow in the city has melted....but the mountains are still covered in snow. We decided to get out there and hike Mt. Baldy even though it is still very snowy and even pretty icy in a lot of areas. One day Sarah and I went with some of our friends Dan and Nicki and their two adorable daughters, Ellie and Mazie (and Dan's cousin, Troy). That day I had forgotten my hiking stick so I (and Nicki, Ellie, and Mazie) did not go all the way to the top. If I don't have my hiking stick or Matthew I never go to the top of Baldy because it is very steep towards the top. In the winter it is very slick and icy and in the summer there are lots of very loose rocks. Then, Sarah and I went and hiked Mt. Baldy a second time with our friend Amanda. This time I had my hiking stick so I made it all the way to the top :) It was gorgeous. It is always so refreshing to get out and hike and enjoy the outdoors.

 Sarah, Amanda and I celebrating getting to the top! :)

 The view of Anchorage and Eagle River from the top.

 Sarah and Amanda

 Me and Amanda

 Me and Sarah

 Mazie Mae :)

 Nicki and Ellie

 Sarah hiking Mt. Baldy in the snow....wearing capris :)

 Mazie, Nicki and Sarah

Mazie, Nicki and me

I am so blessed to have so many great friends up here to surround me and hang out with me while Matthew is gone. I miss him so terribly. I am so ready for him to be home. Can't wait!!! But, in the mean time I am so thankful for everyone here who has been taking care of me while he's been gone! Hopefully he'll be home in two or three weeks :)

Hungry

Since Tyler's death I have not felt "hungry" for God's word, except when I am down and when I am searching for comfort in His word. But I have not had a desire to just search His word to know Him more. That is, until the last few weeks. As most of you know, Matthew and I miscarried our baby back in late January. Although at the time the grief was not terrible or unbearable, over the last couple of months God has slowly worked in my heart to have a new desire to know Him again because of the pain of this loss. A desire to truly understand and know the powerful and sovereign God that I serve. I had been very content. Happy. Fine. Okay. And lacking desire to be nearer to the God. Thankfully, God did not allow me to stay that way. He does not want me to be luke warm in my faith. He desires that I passionately seek after Him and seek to know Him more. So often I rely on Matthew for my comfort rather than God. I am married to an amazing man. A man who is so compassionate, patient and kind. He is so good at comforting me and loving me that I tend to run to him instead of God. Since the miscarriage happened while Matt was gone, (Matt did get to come home for a few days right afterwards) I have been unable to rely on him as much for my comfort, and in turn God has reminded me that he is my comforter. And, God has renewed my desire to seek him and know his truth just for the sake of knowing him and loving him rather than only for the sake of finding comfort.

Sweet Potato Moose Soup

I had some moose meat thawed out that I needed to use and was really craving some sweet potatoes. So, I googled those ingredients and this is the recipe that came up (I changed it a little bit).

1 lb moose meat (or ground beef)

4 sweet potatoes, cooked (pureed or chunks)

2 cans chicken broth

1 can coconut milk

1 yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic

2 cups celery, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Saute onion, garlic, and celery (using olive oil). Add ground beef, cook until beef is done. Put in stock pot and add chicken broth, coconut milk and sweet potatoes. (and salt and pepper to taste). Bring to boil and let simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour. 

I cooked brown rice and served this over brown rice, but you can also eat it by itself. i thought it turned out great! I will definitely be making this again! 

I didn't take a picture of the final product because it didn't look that appetizing :)

Maybe Not :)

Sooo...about spring. It may not be coming as soon as I thought. :) Because I woke up to this this morning. But, I do LOVE the snow! So, as much as I am ready for warm weather, camping trips, fishing, hiking, barbeque's, and Matt to be home....I do love to see fresh snow on the ground. It is just so perfect and clean and beautiful. Just like we are in God's sight when we accept the grace of Jesus Christ! 

Spring is Springing

Even my car has noticed that spring is coming. My car is a great winter car. It has lots of really nice features that make winter driving so much better. But, I have found that even though she was made to be great in cold, she really she likes the warm weather better. In the winter she was only getting about 22 miles per gallon. But already with the temperatures being in the high 30's and low 40's she is now getting 26 miles per gallon. I am sure she will continue to improve her miles per gallon average as the temps continue to get warmer :)

Congratulations!

I have two sisters-in-law expecting baby's this fall!

Zach and Kara are expecting another little addition to their family in late August. As well as they are adopting a baby from Africa in May! So they are expanding by two again this summer :)

And then, John and Deb (Matt's brother and his wife) are expecting their first baby in October! 

Congrats to both families!

Indoor Luau in Alaska :)

 Sarah and Averi

 Hailey and Cadence lounging on the beach chair :)

 Amber, Andrew and Tami

 Amanda and Sarah

 Brent and Liz

 Ryan and Devin

 Hailey and Jen

 Brian and Averi

 Amber and Tami learning to hula dance

 Cameronn watching while Amanda and Sarah laugh at themselves attempting to hula.

 Hillary, Shiloh and Levi

 Ginna, Amanda Ninette, Jen, Cameronn, Me and Sarah

 Ginna, Tyler, and little baby Van Zandt!! :)

 Devin and Sarah

 The Cook family

 Me and Liz

Cole and Averi