where to start...

I don't even know where to begin. It has been a long time and so much has happened that i am at a loss of where to start. I guess i can begin with the end of schooling: GRADUATION!! We both graduated together on December 16. We were so lucky that the timing of our schooling worked out that way. Our families came up and helped us pack up our things that day and then came to support us on our graduation night. Eric had no desire to walk, but since we were both graduating i figured it would be cool to walk together. So, i signed him up to walk with the nursing students :) Instead of being with the accounting/business students Eric agreed to walk with me. That was fun. It was a great night and we were given great messages-Elder Cook came and spoke-it was a great talk!

The next day, bright and early, we finished the last minute cleaning, said our goodbyes to our families, and said goodbye to Rexburg. There were two other couples that we became pretty good friends that are now in Alaska too. The husbands all got jobs at the same firm! We were able to fit our stuff in the same Uhaul and split the moving costs a little bit. We left for Seattle on December 17. We loaded our car onto a barge that would haul it overseas to Anchorage and then we put all of everyone's stuff on a barge container to haul it up to Anchorage too. After everything was loaded we realized that everything we owned was out in the ocean on its way to Alaska. So crazy! We said our thanks and goodbye to Erics dad and hopped on a train to Portland, Oregon where we stayed with my grandparents for about a week before we caught our flight to Anchorage. We were able to go stay at their beach house for a few days and it was so nice. We were SO lucky with weather-no wind, no rain, clear skies, all you needed was a light jacket! It was such a nice break from the hectic world we were finishing up. Christmas was so good. It was nice to be around family.

On Dec 27 we loaded our stuff on the plane and left the "lower 48" on our way to our new home: ALASKA! I still cannot believe it! We arrived safe and sound and one of the couples (the Murdocks) that moved up here too made it before we did so they picked us up and took us to our new home. Our landlord had a blow up mattress, shower curtain, and some paper products waiting for us when we got here so we wouldn't have to worry about those kinds of things. We got a phone call earlier that day saying our car made it and we could pick it up the next day. Our "stuff" wouldn't arrive for another week. We made do with pb&j's and a few other simple things like that until our stuff arrived. A little over a week later our stuff arrived. That was quite the day. All 3 guys went and unloaded the barge, separated everything into piles for each family, and then loaded it into a uhaul truck where we took everything to each others houses and unloaded things. It was a day long process and Eric was exhausted. But, it was so very nice to know that everything made it up here. It was a little intimidating looking at the high stacks of boxes knowing we had to put it all somewhere, but i was just so happy it was here that the next morning we got right to work and put it away. It took us a couple of days to get it all put away and decorations up, but it looks nice and we are so grateful its all here! We went out for a drive looking for moose one day, were unsuccessful but took some pictures of how beautiful it is here. We are amazed at the snow-there is so much of it. We are told that this year has been an unusual winter and that there usually isnt quite this much snow. They do a really good job of keeping the roads as clear as possible, but lately it has been hard for them to keep up because it just keeps coming down. :) We went into town with the Murdocks and looked at the ice sculptures-they were pretty amazing. It is cold here, but nothing we are not used to from living in Rexburg (ICEBURG) for a few years. The people in our ward also told us that the weather is usually not this cold either-which was very nice to hear. I just make sure to put on my long johns and i am just fine :) We are really liking Alaska. The people here have been so nice. There are some things that we have found are more expensive here, such as gas, eggs, potatoes (sad sad sad) and housing. But altogether its not that big of a difference at all. The one thing that is taking me a while to get used to is waking up at 7 or 8 in the morning and it's pitch black outside. My body could get up and go for the day, but the darkness plays tricks on my mind and makes it feel like it's 4 in the morning. The sun usually is up by about 10:30 everyday and sunset is usually around 3-or 3:30 everyday. It is pretty different, but i am praying i'll get used to it soon. We are doing really well and are all settled in. Eric will start his job as an accountant (auditor) in one week from today! I am getting everything sent in and am studying for my boards exam. Everything has been going well and we are enjoying it here.

Many more alaskan adventures to come....