Alaskan winter

You know it is funny. Every time I talk with someone in the lower 48 they always ask how cold it is. I wonder when this question will get old. The funny thing is is that I am not the only Alaskan to be asked that. People in the lower 48 think that there is always snow on the ground, it is always below zero, we wear skins for clothes, and we travel by dog sled. This may be true for some of the Natives and outlying villages, but where we live it isn't true. We are in an area where we take care of our own though. I love this mentality compared to the lower 48 and even in the Anchorage area. Not to say that I wouldn't love to live like that, but there are some things you can live without!

We have sure learned allot having been in Barrow for two years. You learn what you can live without and how to make friends. Up here you don't always have your extended family around you and the people that you meet become your family because they are in the same place as you. We lived in a small town in the lower 48 for 5 years and could say we really didn't know a single person. We lived in Barrow for 2 years and I have some of the greatest friends I have ever found. Misery loves company as they say!
Our pastor asked me if I liked Barrow and I have to say that, "Yes, I loved Barrow without a doubt." It has it's downsides but I learned so much. There were mountains and valleys to walk through and I had to learn to see myself. Barrow is a place that you meet yourself in. It's not glamorous, it's not exciting, but there was a reason the Lord had us there. It is definitely a place where you either get to know God or you run away. Winter in Alaska is sure a time for that. At least where we are now I can drive somewhere. Thank God for the automobile.

School

One of the things that is so great about Alaska is that homeschooling is so supported. With so many communities in the bush long distance learning is a normal thing. We got our school room set up thanks to Pastor and are putting the finishing touches on it. It has really done things about my attitude towards this place. With everything happening in this house I could really come to hate it, but this has been a revitalization of good feelings. I hope it lasts! It is so nice to have a place for the kids to do their work and crafts and not have it all over the kitchen table and trying to eat around it.

Blessings

As we have been trying to install this new furnace we have been running into more and more issues. Between the plenum and miscommunication it is going over budget. Thank the Lord for those that have been helping to get it in. I am so hoping that we can get a wood stove in soon. It would sure help our issues. On the other hand we have learned how to lay pipe and do sweat fittings on copper pipe. I think I may go to plumbing school when the kids are grown.