Alaska State Fair

On sunday, a friend and I went off to Palmer, a hour drive north of Anchorage, to go to the State Fair. It was not a very pretty day. It was cloudy, rainy, and a little cold( about 50ish) aka GA "winter" weather:) We left about 10am and got there about 11am. We walked around and looked at all the exhibits and the booths. We went and saw all the animals and the agriculture displays. They were pretty cool. We looked at all the art and bakery enteries. I was really impressed with some the artwork. I ran into some of my coworkers while we were looking at the artwork. They told me that another coworker of ours was going to be out with her dog in a Fly Ball demostration a little later in the day. So, we went over there when she was suppose to me on. I ran into several more co-workers so we were in the little cheerleading section. I really wanted to check out the Our Life:Live healthy exhibit. In it is displayed real humans, who have donated their bodies to sciene and have been preserved with plastication techniques. I loved it, but i am science geek. They would not let take pics in that exhibit so I dont have any to share, but I have alot of all the other fun stuff. But I am having a slight technical diffculty with all the pictures so check out facebook as I get them uploaded. I had a great time at the fair.

A challenge to get real

I am being a little more productive today and getting to posts done today. This one is going to be more on the serious side.
Well, here goes
  I have told some of ya'll but I am having a small procedure done on my toes in about 2 weeks. All three of my brothers have had the same procedure done. I am taking a week off of work to try and stay off my feet. I am kinda nervous about the procedure even though I have seen similiar things done on animals, and I have talked to the doctor, I know exactly what is going to hapen. It is really the first kind of procedure I have had besides dental stuff. But, with teeth stuff you cant see what is happening, during this I can. It is not really the procedure I am worried about it is the week at home.  I am worried about being caught in a web of depression. I have dealt with depression before, it is something I seem struggle with in different times of my time. I have learned to realize the "signs" of it coming on and change my thinking(like the scripture says to transform my mind/ thoughts) and start praying. I really feel like this thing is something the devil has been beating against me for years, because God has told me and given me a powerful gifting for him, God has called me to be a powerful woman of God. I sometimes feel like Moses, I dont feel like God can use me. But, I know down inmy spirit that He is telling me that He can use me and that He has proved Himself in my life over and over. My last bout with depression was in the six months that I was working at PET( the emergency clinic here in AK). I was working nights. I just felt all the joy was sucked out of my life. I had no friends, no car, and no sleep. I could not make it to church or any group meetings because of my work schedule.  I have already talked about that time, so just to sum up. It didn't work out at that clinic and God provided me a new position. It has worked out great there. But, during my time a PET I would work three nights in a row and then have four days off. During those days off, I would sit at home and do nothing. Graham would make some stupid comments about how I would sit in the at same spot all day and do nothing while he was at work. But, I was so stuck in my cycle of depression I didnt want anyone to see me like that, plus I was putting on some pounds and I was ashamed and embrassed.
Anyway, Graham is leaving town for a few days right after my procedure so I will be alone for few days without a car. I am just praying that God will be with me. That He will protect me from this attack from the Devil. I havent told many people that I am having this procedure because I dont want to be a burden on others. I will be able to take care of myself, but I also know I cant shut people out when all they want to do is to bless you. But, I also know that you can't rely completely on others to fill your needs. God can fill everything, but sometimes He uses others to help fill those needs.  So I am asking that ya'll one pray for my procedure that everything goes well and two pray that He will be with me and reveal some the answers to the questions that I have. He will reveal how I can use the gifting and callings He has given me in my life in my current situations, and that He would stir up a hunger for Him during that week.  Because I want to bloom here where He has planted me.  Thanks!

McHugh Hike: the mountain that fought back

This past saturday I went hiking with a friend to McHugh Creek. As we were pulling up to the parking lot around 10am, we saw a bear across from the car. I think I was more calm because I was in the car and once the bear saw us it ran up over the rocks and hid. So, we went up and parked and started the hike. Thankfully, we did not encounter any more bears. The trail was really pretty and the weather was great....until we came to a bend in the trail and decided to hike up the mountain instead of hiking to the lakes. Thats when the clouds decided to roll in, but it was ok. We were scrambling over the rocks when the wind picked up and started to blow with force. Still, we pressed on. I was scrambling up the steep incline to try and reach the summit. The wind really was howling then , it got up to about 50-60mph. I finally made it to a low lying rock face, I could not go any more. My friend made it to a rock face about 5-10ft above me. We sat up there about 20 minutes and then decided to head down. I slide down the incline since I could not stand against the incline and walk down hill. It took about a hour for us to scramble down that part. Then we got back to the rocks, but now they were slick because it had rained while we were up the slope. All I could think about was getting down off the rocks back down into the woods. Finally, we made it down back to the trail, then we had to hike back to the car. Everything was wet and soaked. About 7ish pm we finally made it make to the car. I have some pictures. I was so happy to get clean and dry. I dont know if I will be brave enough to fight with that mountain again.

Olympic Ramblings

I have enjoyed watching the olympics this past week so much. I gave up sleep just so I could watch until the end of the broadcast each night. While watching, I have had several thoughts in my head.
I am amazed by these athletes and what they can accomplish.
My first rambling is this, If I was just in the olympics, I would be so proud, but I get kinda mad when some of this athletes when downcast when they win the silver medal. I mean, goodness you were 2nd in the olympics that is a very big deal. Did you forget that you beat out all the other competitors in the semifinals, the heats, and other qualifiying competitions just to make it to the olympic final race.  I watched the final of the 1500M swimming final where a 15 year USA guy was in it. He was not "on paper" within medal possiblities but this young guy saw that thing hard and saw that whole thing under 15mins. That was 30 laps! He was fourth! Yes, he didnt get a medal but He did his best. 4th in the Olympics is not bad to saw when you get back to school. I am so happy when you see athletes celebrate a bronze, because that it how it is suppose to be. A medal in the olympics is icing on the cake from just making it to the olympics. I know all the athletes train hard and train to win to gold, they should not hang their heads in shame on returning back to their home countries without a medal. You did your best and the world watched it. Be proud!
And this leads into my next rambling, this athletes train so hard. They make so many so sacrifices just to have a chance to compete in the Olympics. Like a mentioned earlier, they have to qualify in so many competitions. They give up time with their families and friends, move away from their homes to train with certain coaches/places, endure injuries/surgies , spend tons of money and etc. all so they can follow their passions. I have so much resect and admiration for them. I thought to myself, wow I dont know if I could compete to my passions that much, but then I remember I did! Not it such a grand ways, but I moved away from my family to go to school and now, I am really far away:) But I am doing what I love. My family is so proud. I didnt give up when I faced obstacles.
And last rambling for the night, is this alot of the commetary I keep hearing is that part of the competitions is mental and when things go wrong not to let it affected them mental. I know some of that is true. But there is also a spiritual aspect, God has given these competitors a physical gifting to be able to do these sports.  I believe the athletes that get to prideful/arrogant and think that it is their ability to get themselves that far, are putting themselves in alot of danger spiritual.You have to remember that we are not own, we have been bought by the biggest sacrifice of all.  For an athlete to have a humble heart is so not the norm for sports today. I have seen several athletes on both ends of the spectrum this week. It upsets me when I see the arragance in some of them.
My computer battery is running on empty do this is the end of my rambling tonight
Anyway, back to watching more of the Olmmpics!