The Last Frontier

Alaska: The Last Frontier. The 49th State. The Mainland. The Great Land. Land of the Midnight Sun.


It has suddenly hit me that we have been here for half of our time on station! I finally feel like we actually LIVE in Alaska! When you move somewhere new, it always takes time to come to terms that you live there and you aren't just visiting. It seems like our move to Alaska has taken longer to feel like a reality then most moves. I remember last year we kept saying to each other "I just can't believe we LIVE in Alaska! This is just so crazy/cool!" And now that we are are predicted to move next year I suddenly find myself in a panic!

I can't believe we have been here for a year and a half already! Our first winter here was apparently of the "worst", with record breaking (in the last 50 years) snowfall of about 150 inches, but, we got through it! We came from a state that practically shut down if there was more then an inch of snow and you were stuck in your neighborhood for days waiting on plows to come to your cabin fever rescue. Here though, there is no such thing as a snow day. It can snow a foot over night and no need to worry about being stuck in your neighborhood for a week, people don't rush out and buy up all the milk/water/canned goods off the shelf because a snow storm is coming. Nope, they do quite the opposite. They get excited for the snow, they gear up, go out and rough it in the negative temps.

One thing I have realized about Alaskans is that they love life, and to the fullest. Sure, they are a bit different when it comes to the way they dress, hold a conversation, spend their money, protect their family and property and just their overall demeanor, but man, do they know how to have a good time! I'm not talking about getting dressed up, going out, getting drunk and partying. No, that's not Alaskans at all (you could go to the nicest, most expensive restaurant in town and wear jeans, no problem).  It's camping, fishing, ATVing, snow machining, ice fishing, hunting, hiking, running, snow shoeing, skiing, dog sledding, flying and living off the land. I know people who never buy meat or fish. They shoot a moose and have meat for the whole year. They dip net once or twice and have a freezer packed full of salmon for the winter. They have chickens for eggs and grown their own garden, they live off the land! It truly is the Last Frontier! There are so many things people can (and are willing) to do here that you just can't in the lower 48. Owning an ATV or UTV or a snow machine is like owning another car. Carrying a gun is like carrying your wallet. It's essential and it's just what people do.

Living in Alaska has taught me a lot. People here know how to really enjoy and appreciate their home state. They don't waste time, or sunlight for that matter. In the summer the sun is out until after midnight, and so are the people. They pack as much as they can into the summer days because they know it only lasts a few months. In the winter they take advantage of the snow and all it has to offer. They don't sit at home and mope because of the dark and the cold. Yes, it is easy to get stuck in a rut over the winter, but if you want to survive the winter with minimal amount of depression and weight gain, you gotta get out there and have fun! Really, if you dress properly, you don't realize how cold it is!

There are just so many cool opportunities to do things here you just can't find in other states. Have you ever seen Santa and his real reindeer downtown during Christmas time? Have you ever had to forgo the fireworks on the 4th of July because it just doesn't get dark enough to do them? Have you ever had to break for a moose crossing the street in your neighborhood? Have you gone out ATVing until midnight because it was still light enough so, why not? Have you ever watched the Northern Lights from your bedroom window?

I'm in a panic because I want to make sure we push ourselves and enjoy this state to the fullest before we move. I don't want to look back and wish we would have done more. With realizing we have half our time left I am eager to take full advantage of this gorgeous state now, while we can. I've had this "aha" moment and it has left me excited and eager for this summer and even next winter to come!

Even though we were supposed to move here 4 years ago, got it taken from us and went to Dover instead, God had a plan. His timing is perfect. He knew Alaska was going to be a part of our life, even if we didn't know. Now that we are here, I don't want to waste another day!

Alright, time to bundle up the kid, hop on the snow machine and go shoot tonight's dinner. Ha, just kidding! But it is almost time to get the kids from school and enjoy those gorgeous mountains on the way!

~Susan

Friend: A person who _____?

Friend:

n.

1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.

2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.

3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement

How would YOU define a friend? If you could describe a friend in just a few short words, what would they be? And, would your phrase be a completely different one for each one of your friends? Maybe some of your phrases would be something like: a good listener, someone who can keep secrets, someone I can count on, a person I can trust, a person I like to be around, someone with similar interests and/or beliefs, a person I care for, someone I go to for advice, a person I have connected with because of similar circumstances, someone who is there for me when I need it...I could go on! I bet with each of these phrases someone in particular came in mind, or perhaps they all describe that one person in your life, possibly your best friend? Of course a friend can be described on more simpler terms as well. Maybe someone you have met just a few times that you can hold a conversation with, but  you wouldn't necessarily tell them your latest and greatest secret. This word has been on my mind a lot lately for many reasons, but I won't go into detail about that.

One of the neat things about being a military wife is all the many (different kind of) friends you make along your journey of moving here and there and everywhere across the globe. It's scary at first moving somewhere new. Most of the time you do it all on your own, without family and friends to hold your hand as your jump into a new town (or state or country!), a new schedule, new schools, new jobs, new church, new people and really just a whole new life. For the first few months you are unpacking boxes, organizing your house, figuring out schedules and where to go for this and that, learning the new street names and where the best place to get a cup of coffee is, because honestly, a good cup of coffee is a major priority if you want to keep your sanity.  Then once shop is set up and a few months go by and you settle into your routine and you feel like you finally have a hold on this new life, you realize, you are in desperate need of a friend. And the whole cycle of making new friends starts all over again. Sure, you've done it once, or twice, or like me, 7 times, but it never gets any easier.

The thing about friends is that the word really is a broad spectrum as far as how close you are to someone and how well you really know them. You can have just met someone a week ago, ran into them twice and from there on out start referring to them as your friend. Or, you can have known someone your whole life, know all their secrets; the good, the bad, the ugly about them and call them a friend too. This is what I love about friends.

With all the moves we have hurdled over and successfully accomplished, I have found that God has brought to me a specific friend or a couple friends that met my very needs at that time. It can become really lonely as a military wife when your husband is gone and you still have all the duties of taking care of the kids, the house, the cars, etc, and then you are also picking up the slack and are responsible for all that he is when he is home. Life goes on when they are gone. It doesn't come to a complete halt. Diapers still need to be changed, the bills still need to be paid, the dishes still have to be done, the kids still have to get up for school and so on. This is where the importance of a friend comes in. One thing the military life has taught me is to put yourself out there and make friends! It's really hard and awkward at first, but we need all sorts of friends in this time of our life to meet our different needs. When it comes to needing help, or someone you can vent to; you may have one or two friends, or you may have twenty. Take a moment and think about these friends. What would life be like without them? How would you cope with certain situations? Who would you talk to, lean on or ask for help?

What's awesome about the military is having friends (literally) all over the world. Yes, I have many friends, some closer then others, some who know things about me that others don't, some who have been through certain situations with me that others might not even know about, some who would get that inside joke and some who wouldn't. But what's really cool about the word friend, is that because of such a broad definition of the word, I get to call a lot of people "friend". I'm so thankful for all my friends. They have all helped shape me into the person I am today. I have memories of each one that I get to cherish forever, or continue making memories with right now. I get to call each and every one of them a friend for a different reason.

Sure, being in the military is hard, it's emotional, it's stressful, it's painful, but all of these awesome people in my life I get to call a friend make it worth it! Friends are an amazing gift. I know I am very thankful for the people that God has brought into my life.

So, how would you describe a friend? Or, better yet, how would YOU like to be described AS a friend???

Goodnight,

Susan

Shredded Honey BBQ Pineapple Chicken Sandwiches (Crock Pot)

Thursday nights are gym nights, and because we don't get home until 6:45-7:00, I knew I wanted to do dinner in the Crock Pot. I didn't want to go to the store and buy ingredients to make a meal; I wanted to use what I had on hand. So, I was going to just throw some BBQ sauce over chicken and call it good, but then I saw this recipe and since I already had everything for it, I figured I'd try it! I halved the ingredients since we didn't need to make as much and it was the perfect amount with some leftovers for today (which I've already had, and it was so good!)

*below is the recipe already cut in half*

Shredded Honey BBQ Pineapple Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (slightly thawed and cut in half)
3/4 bottle Kraft Honey BBQ
1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
1/8 cup brown sugar
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 (big) can pineapple tidbits (drained)
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Cheese slices for topping

In a bowl mix the BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Place chicken in slow cooker and cover with sauce mix. Cook on high for 4 hours or until chicken is cooked through and pulls apart easily. (It will look really saucy, but once the chicken is shredded and the pineapple is mixed in it will be the perfect amount) Shred chicken in the sauce and pour pineapples over and mix in. Cook on high for 30 more minutes while prepping rolls and cheese and sides.

Place mixture on rolls and top with cheese and watch it melt into yummy cheesy goodness!

Like I said, I made these for lunch again with the left overs, and today I used Pepper Jack cheese and also topped with dill pickles-SO good!

Hope you enjoy! And don't forget the napkins.

~Susan