I'm back in my home of Alaska!!! It's absolutely beautiful outside, fresh snow has been falling (and staying on the trees! It's so pretty!), and the -10 degree weather has felt like a bombing 30 above (compared to Grand Forks with that terrible wind chill factor). Driving home from Anchorage, the moon was gleaming on the mountains and ocean, and I wanted to cry. I never took for granted Alaska, but being gone from it only increased my appreciation.
What I also forgot was that being home does NOT mean vacation. I was put to work shoveling the next morning and have been awakened by my mother excited to share her week's plans with me while I was still in bed trying to "sleep in". The noise level is frighteningly loud, the sound of the kids' (nieces, nephew, and sisters) feet pounding all over the house and the barking of Jersey has made for sore ear drums.
I've been able to catch up with a few friends since being here. I realize that although I have been gone, people haven't been putting their lives on hold for me (shocking, eh?). It's interesting seeing the developments occurring, relationships creating, and life progressing.
My second night home, my niece Mereiedi spent the night with Damaris, and we as a family played the ninja game in the living room. Here are a few pics, and also, a picture of our "dog" (I still don't believe it's a dog. If it were on the road, I'd hit it).
IT'S NOT A DOG.
That's all that's happening in Slow-dotna, Alaska. gahhhhhhhhhh I can't stop staring out the window!
HASTA LA BYEBYE
-Donica
(Young adults scavenger hunt tonight [December 22], 6:30pm, Soldotna Bible Chapel.)
