Falling Ash

It's official, Mt. Redoubt finally hit us. Eruption began last Sunday with multiple explosions in ensuing days/nights. Because of wind direction and the height of the explosions we've missed all the ash action. Thursday we got word that we would be the receivers of all the excitement. The largest explosion of 65,000 feet had occured and apparently the wind was pushing it our way. We never got ash that day. I really thought we were in the clear. I was wrong. Yesterday there were 3 eruptions and the second one sent the ash to us. It took the ash 2 hours to travel 110 miles. Mike and I and gone into Sam's Club to make some purchase's. We were in there no more than 30 minutes when we walked out and it's raining ash. Mike ran to Schuck's Auto to get air filters and I ran to work to cover all of the computers. It reeked outside of Sulpher. I later learned that the amount that fell was no thicker than a dime, but it's still enough to be concerned about. The Anchorage Airport has completely shut down. Prior to that it was at each airlines discretion of whether they flew or not. The last time the volcano erupted was in 1989. Volcano followers believe that because of it's history the volcano is likely to continue to erupt for atleast another 2 weeks, if not longer, which could very well hinder my vacation plans to sunny California. I'm most concerned about this. I've been counting down the days until visiting family, warm weather, shopping, roller coasters, In-n-Out and Olive Garden. I'm not going to be all that ecstatic if I have to reschedule. I guess only time will tell. Until then we will focus on not breathing the ashy fumes!

Sister Beck

On Thursday we had the opportunity to have Sister Beck, the General Relief Sociey President, come and do a special fireside. She was up here visiting some family and they arranged to have her speak. The church was packed! Cars were double parked and were lined up down the street for quite a ways. It's not very often that we have such celebrities up here so I was glad that so many people took advantage of attending! She gave a great talk and I wanted to share some of the things I learned:

• All we need is our covenants
• We don't need credit to do it the Savior's Way
• Be in places you can feel the spirit
• Communicate/Pray with our Father in Heaven
• Write Questions that you want answered in the front page of the Book of Mormon and when you find the answers write them on the back page of the Book of Mormon
• Make personal connections by writing in the Margins
• Start a gratitude journal
• Transitions ARE NOT a Disease!!
• Exercise Faith
• Relief Socity is the ulimate Peace Corps.
• When behavior goes up against doctrine, doctrine will always win
• We are for family, we aren't against anyone
• The Lord takes individuals and makes GIANTS
• We are living the life we signed up for
• No ability exceeds revelation. We should learn to seek personal revelation, understand when we receive it and ACT upon it!
• We need to use our abilities for good
• We are living an experience to prepare us for the dream

It's amazing how much of the 'little' stuff I forget about, but how big of a difference it makes! I was very grateful for her words and for the experiences she shared with us. She is an amazing woman and has done so much for not only the women in the church and world but also all mankind. She is on the board for the perpetual education fund and has assisted with disaster relief all around the world. We are greatful to have a leader like her.

Only in Alaska...

Last Saturday I had to go into work for something, and I pulled into the parking lot and was trying to unlock the clinic door when I heard a noise behind me. I looked back and saw this...a moose eating our trees. Earlier in the week Mike and I had talked about how we hadn't seen as many moose this winter and then this happens! I think that this is one of my favorite things about Alaska. No other place do you see moose crossing the highways, let alone the side streets. And it's not uncommon to see bear in the city during the summer. Although a moose isn't the nicest of all animals, I'd much rather be in an empty parking lot with a moose than a bear! I'm still unable to find my camera so I took this photo with my phone, so unfortunately you can't get accurate depth perception with this picture, but I was a lot closer to this moose than the picture perceives.