Washington....We're here!!!

Wow! I just read my last post...a lot has happened since then and I'm sorry I haven't written sooner!

Watson Lake, Yukon, Canada
Signpost Forest
VLYMOM (my license plate while
we were living in Palmer)

Birch Bay, WA

We left Alaska bright and early on Sunday, September 25th and crossed the border into Washington State on Wednesday evening, September 29th.  It was a quick and uneventful (thank you, God) drive - except for a wrong turn on the home stretch out of Canada (which turned out to be a blessing anyway).  My life-long and closest friend Angie drove with me and the kids.  She kept me sane and alert and provided me with much-needed best friend time along the way!  I will never forget the kindness, wisdom, and insight she provided while on the road and moving into our rental home.

As some of you know, it is not easy to move - especially out of Alaska.  We sold everything in Alaska and had to totally furnish our home once here.  Now, we are comfortably moved in and I'm sitting here enjoying the gas fireplace while I type this.

Robert will graduate from the Customs Academy in 3 weeks. We are all so proud of him and everything he is accomplishing for our family. He even had to be pepper sprayed and tased all in one week! Poor guy. His academy class is doing very well. They have the highest test scores of any class thus far!  These people want jobs!! I'm excited to be able to attend his graduation ceremony - thanks to my parents who will be flying up here from New Mexico to stay with kids for the weekend while I fly to Georgia.

My parents were able to visit for a week
on their way to stay in NM for the winter!

Our fall has been amazing. We have been able to experience things we have never experienced before. It's like a whole different world here in a way. While I hear reports about Alaska's winter weather it's difficult to imagine it since every day is still around 50° here. It hasn't rained here very much since we arrived over a month ago. I'm told, though, that this is unusual weather and normally much rainier. Here's a few pictures of a wonderful day we spent at a local farm - Stoney Ridge Farm.

So to sum all this up, we have been very blessed to have met, and made friends with, some amazing neighbors.  I feel like we've known them forever and am truly thankful for God's answers to specific prayers.  Also, we are attending Faith Community Church - it reminds me of our beloved Wasilla Bible Church, another blessing. We had a little bit of a late start with school, but are busy getting "caught up" - even though when Little Robert broke his wrist while roller skating last week he was hoping that I would give him a reprieve. Nice try, Honey, you broke your left wrist and you're right handed!

I have to wonder at what point I will a.) stop making plans because I just make God chuckle when I try and b.) stop being amazed when my specific prayers are answered.