Thursday, August 27, 2009

Alaska...n? Not quite, but it's pretty!






























































































































































































































You know that picture you have in your head, the one that imagines how Alaska might look? Forget it, it's not even close to how beautiful this place is. I find myself thinking "this is Alaska, you're in Alaska!' several times a day. It truly is amazing, and I find myself constantly in awe. I want to videotape my drive to work, just to explain how pretty even the most basic parts are.







We have been incredibly blessed since we got here, we've both got really good jobs, and who can beat free living? :) I am working as a Chiropractic Assistant (A certified one now too!) at Lucas Chiropractic up here, I can not explain how happy I was to find this job, and how well it has worked out for me. My boss is an amazing person, as is his wife, and the rest of the staff. I work mostly with the physical therapies, and patient exams... I also handle insurance verifications and records requests... and our latest accomplishment, taking the office paperless! It's been a challenge, writing and re-writing the program, inputting all of the data, and training! Anyone who works in the medical Field will understand what a job this is! I'm happy to say it's up and running as of Tuesday, and we'll see how it goes when the Doctor's go solo for the first time without me tomorrow:) All in all, I love my job... I love to watch people get better, and to be part of the healing process that our bodies are built to take on. I'm a true believer in what I do, and know that through the proper care and knowledge of our bodies, they can take care of us, and do just about whatever we ask them to do. I am also excited to tell you all that, after a LOT of strong encouragement and begging, I now have a pretty new truck to replace my poor little Honda... We bought a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, and I LOOOOOVE her! It's fun to have a 4x4 to play in, and nice to have a bed for hauling again... although mostly she just drives me to work, the gym and home, no complaints:) We'll have the Intrepid paid off in a few months, so Nick thinks he will be getting the new camaro, but we will just have to wait and see about that... ha ha!
























Nick is working at Home Depot, and he is enjoying it. The tough part for me is that we only have one day off a week together, but I am glad he has a steady job, and it keeps him entertained. He works in the lumber and building materials department, and I know he has to fight hard everyday to not tell customers what he thinks about them when they don't build things properly, since he is coming from a position where it was his JOB to tell people how to build things:) He's a great leader, and it's fun to watch him get excited over accomplishing goals that he has set for himself... Obviously it's not his dream job, and I don't know if he knows what that is right now, we're still moving on from losing what we both thought were our "dream jobs" but we are so blessed to be ABLE to move on, and still be together and successful at what we decide to do. I also have to say, that it is... Football Season... ugh! ha ha, so he is especially happy, and I am especially forgotten:)












Luckily for me, I have found a few things that I really enjoy up here too. Although, I may not be AS excited as he is over football... I have started doing Yoga at least once a week at a Yoga Room here, and working out every other day. In addition to physical exercise I have been working on my nutrition, and have lost almost 20 lbs since we got here. I am currently doing a 21 day whole food cleanse, and feel sooooo good! I'm doing my best to create new, healthy eating habits, and stay in the best shape I can... with the eventual goal of preparing my body to have a baby... but that will wait a while longer.












I do have my ups and downs here, I really really miss my siblings, and Alaska can get lonely.. but overall this has proved to be the adventure we were after, and I am so glad we are here. Nick and I are so happy together, I love him to death, and can't wait to get married and start our family together! Don't tell him, but I already have the spot all picked out and everything... Anyone up for an Alaskan wedding? ha ha. Maybe next summer, and probably somewhere a LOT closer to all of you, but either way... I'm ready!












So here are some pictures of the house, our pet moose, the tractor, and our weekend trips... Enjoy, and keep in touch! my mailing address is PO Box 870998. Wasilla, AK 99687, write to me!!!!! or, at least e-mail me, or facebook me, I miss you ALL!












Love ya!












-Me

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Corrected link

Okay, here's the correct link for any of you non-facebook users:) http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3283851&l=fdef51400d&id=650105294

Friday, June 12, 2009

Thunderbird Falls

Nick and I hiked up to Thunderbird Falls, and drove to Eklutna lake today. It's taking to long to upload them in more than one place, so go look at my pictures at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=130688&id=650105294&saved

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Alaskans!

Well,

We made it! We got here on Monday night, so I'm a week late in blogging. Sorry about that! I'm still getting adjusted, surprisingly the cold isn't bothering me at all, I'm actually enjoying it! It's snowing outside right now, not enough to stick, just enough to keep the old stuff from melting for now. I'm trying to convince Nick to shovel a sledding hill for me, I will be the oldest sledder, at the latest time in the season, and I will LOVE it. ha ha. It's much better now that I have proper winter attire, and yes, I did finally throw my flip flops away!

Anyways, I wish I had written more about the trip as we were making it, but I'll post things as I remember them. It was even more beautiful than I expected, and I would love to do it again someday! We took over a thousand pictures, and I've posted about 60 of them on Facebook... But it will be a while before I post more, because the Internet is incredibly slow here!

I really miss Phoenix, but only the part where I actually knew people. Otherwise it's way prettier here! (Remind me that when it's 30 below with no sunlight!) ha ha.


I have to send a Happy Birthday shout-out to my favorite neighbor Martha! We miss you and Brandon SOOOO much! I'm so glad we got to know you before we left, and can't wait to see you again!

Also, Britney's having a baby, and I just have to say Congratulations to her and Jason! I am so happy for you both!

Alright, I'm done for now... I will post more again soon, hopefully I'll get a job this week!

Love you all!

-Jen

Sunday, March 22, 2009

I am really bad at this blogging thing. I have no idea if my last posted or not.


Anyways, here's the picture, I love it, and I love the people in it even more. Sorry if this is the 17th time I've posted it, I'll get better with time, I promise:)
I may have already added this one, but I came across it again today on my Mom's facebook page and had to post it. I LOOOOOVE this group of mine:)

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Arika, Patrick, George and my Mom came up today to say goodbye... and to help me celebrate turning 21. I had a great visit with them, but never feel like our visits are long enough. I wish I knew them better than I do. They are great about sharing their lives with me, but I miss all the important details it seems like. I'm just proud of them, and proud that I am from the family that I am.

The closer we get to leaving, the more my heart aches knowing the length of time I will go without seeing my family.

I am so excited to embark on this next adventure, and I love Nick with every ounce of myself, I know that great things are ahead for us... But it's still unfair to have to say goodbye to my siblings who I love so very very much.

It kills me to know how much I am missing, I really think being the oldest is unfair. I feel such a strong bond to them, but I worry that they don't really know me. I've taken for granted having them so close, I should have spent more time with them. They are such amazing kids, and they grow so much each time I see them... They really are my inspiration in life.

Growing up is hard.

Tomorrow I turn 21. We leave for Alaska on the 31st. We planned out our route yesterday, and it looks like we will be headed through Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Seattle, and eventually Canada. I can't explain how excited I am for the future. I'm happy to say that I am proud of where I am in my life. I have always had big plans, and I feel like I have accomplished many of my goals, and seen countless numbers of my dreams come true. I have really been blessed, and I owe my success to my family, and all that they have taught me, and the support they continue to give.

I will be blogging all along the way, I can't let any of the memories of our adventures me lost! So keep checking in... hopefully there will be pictures too. I hear I'm in for some serious beauty along the way!

I love you all!