Family and Friends

Thanksgiving and Christmas are long gone now, but Tim and I had a blast spending time with friends and family throughout the holidays both here in Alaska and in Florida. 

Thanksgiving was a fun time with Tim's son Weston and my nephew Nick.  They both visited for a few days and aided Tim in totally trouncing me in the game of hearts every night.  Tim's daugther Chantelle and her family also came out to the house for a while that weekend, and I was able to get a few good photos of Tim's family. 

Tim and I headed South for 3 weeks around Christmas and New Year's.  We were able to visit some members of both of our families and meet a few of each other's friends.

















 Family also came to Sebring to see us, including 2 of my sisters and their families, Tim's sister Debbie, my Uncle Jack, Aunt Mavis, my 92 year old Grandma and her "younger" sister Doris along with her significant other, Don. My uncle took a bunch of photos of allof us, but I haven't received them yet. Tim especially enjoyed the warmer weather in Florida.  Golfing with his Dad is always a highlight of his trips to Sebring, and, of course, hog hunting.




















































This Christmas, Tim was able to shoot 2 sows which provided us with a cooler of pork to take home with us and some meat to give to friends and family in Florida.  Ironically, the hogs haven't been seen around where we hunt in Sebring since then.  We hope they return before next Christmas. 

On our way out of town for Christmas, I lamented that I was going to miss the snow for Christmas.  Tim snickered, looked at me and said, "It will be here when you get back."  He was wrong, however.  Alaska was experiencing a "January thaw" when we returned from Florida.  The weather was rainy and warm, and our snow was GONE!  I was sad until it returned a week or so later. 

We have continued to have "warmer" weather since January.  Our snow is melting again and there are spots of open water on some of the rivers.  The sun is up for almost 12 hours a day now, and we can feel the heat of the sun despite the cold in the air.  We are gaining almost 6 minutes of daylight per day now.  We are told the bears are waking up now.  Soon we will need to take the gun with us on our walks around the neighborhood.  Look closely at the markings on the tree...  see if you can see the bear paw and claw marks.

I started my new job right after Thanksgiving, at the Cross Road Medical Center Lab.  It is nice to be working with patients again.  I was working part time until this week when I started a new position with the clinic as their HR person and Executive Assistant.  I will still get to work in the clinic every afternoon, but the new position will allow me to use some of what I've learned in my MBA program so far. 

 

The sun has been creating lacy icicles on the eaves of the buildings! 

The mountains continue to give me joy!  They are so gorgeous covered in snow and they are tinged pink and orange at sunrise and sunset.  Tim is anxious for Spring to arrive, but I am enjoying the days as they come.  God has blessed me so much, and I am enjoying watching the subtle changes in His creation.