"Land of the Midnight Sun"

I honestly can't believe we have been gone for three weeks! Time is just flying by, and all of the days are starting to blur together! Part of this has to do with the fact that the sun is ALWAYS up! The sun goes down around midnight and usually comes back up around 3 am, so you have the longest days, which is perfect for adventuring and driving late at night! It can just be very challenging to keep track of the time because you can't judge anything off of the light outside! 

So for the past two weeks, we have been doing a lot of trainings and a lot of working and exploring, and adjusting to the area! Here are a few pictures of where we are staying! 

We are living in Healy, Alaska. This town has a population of around 900 people, and it doubles in the summer because of all of the employees here during the summer season! There is a total of one gas station, three bars, a liquor store, and a LOT of wildlife! At first we were a little worried about our limited access to resources we have been used to at home, but it has actually been perfect to refocus and simplify! Because of all of the limited distractions, we have really been able to enjoy the time that we have together, and enjoy all of the wildlife and beautiful landscape! We have also learned to really rely on each other! There are very few members of the church here, and VERY few young married couples, so we are really the outliers. However, this has been one of the most refreshing things about our adventure here! We are meeting some of the most wonderful and incredible people, and learning so much about people from all over the world! They even have an exchange program here for students from Bulgaria! 

Where we live is called "The Homestead". This is part of company housing and meals, and is around 15 minutes away from the Princess Lodge we all work at! 

The view outside our building! Seriously so gorgeous!

This is what the Homestead looks like! And the view right behind where we live! 

Here is our room. We are currently sharing a twin size bed, because of availability, so that means lots of cuddling and snuggling time! 

On our first Sunday here, I was lucky enough to be able to attend our local branch! It it such an incredible branch with the most amazing members! I can honestly say there is such great strength in small numbers! I felt the Spirit hit me like a wall when I entered into the building! 

It is also such a blessing because the church is just under a mile away from our apartment! We are able to walk to church, which makes us leave on time ha ha, and get some peace and quiet, and pondering before church starts! We are truly so lucky to have a church so close to us in such a remote location, because otherwise it would be hours and hours until we would find the next church! 

Once Rob got off of work that day, we were also able to go into the National Park before it opened up to the public, and before all of the bus tours starting going through it! 

One word describes Denali National Park; B R E A T H T A K I N G! 

It was honestly one of the most beautiful national parks I have ever been to! Everything is so close to you, and the wildlife is everywhere! It is so peaceful, and chilly ha ha. 

The view from our drive to work everyday, can't complain about this! 

How is this even real life?! 

Testing out our new binoculars we got for Christmas! (Thanks Joe!! ) 

Can you say WALL-E? ha ha ha 

I am so excited to do some tours through the national park, and go back over and over again! 

For the first week of work, we were preparing for the hotels to open, and preparing for literally thousands of guests to come in just one week, so there was a lot to do, and a lot of information to absorb! 

Let's just say, Rob's uniform is a lot more flattering and "updated" than mine.  (More on that at a later time ha ha :) 

This week we also had the opportunity to visit a local husky puppy farm. Husky Homestead is owned by a man named Jeff King, a famous Iditarod athlete, who raises Alaskan huskies to compete in the race each year! He offers tours to the "Husky Homestead" where you can go an hold the husky puppies, and learn more about the Iditarod race, and  then play with more puppies. 

I am obsessed...I think we need one ;) 

I was seriously in puppy heaven! 

This is one of the outfits the Iditarod champion wears during the race, because of how cold it is throughout the entire race! 

Later that week, Rob drove to Anchorage for work, and got to ride the train home, where he enjoyed some incredible food! I also tried salmon again, and it was absolutely delicious! Maybe Rob's prayers about me liking fish are coming true! 

The Lodge that I am working at offers a musical theatre show, and they let the employees attend! The individuals in the show are very talented, and really get the audience involved! 

When we got home that night, we had two packages waiting for us, and it felt like Christmas! I guess I got a little taste of what it feels like to be a missionary because I was SO excited! I was ecstatic because I gluten free food coming in these boxes from my wonderful parents! 

Lets just say, gluten free has been some tough business out here, but after some reconfiguring, I think we have a little system down, thanks to my incredible and generous parents! 

Because the sun goes down so late, it is called the Land of the Midnight Sun, but this is perfect for adventuring and spectacular views! We had the chance to see Mt Mckinley on a clear day, and it was was         a m a z i n g because of the limited clear days we have out here! 

We did get to see a beautiful sunset around 11 45 pm this night, and the picture doesn't even do it justice! 

Our last beautiful adventure of the week was visiting Otto Lake! We decided to try some fishing and just enjoy the beauty of God's creations! 

We truly feel blessed and grateful for this opportunity! It is taking a bit of adjusting, but we are grateful for this experience and what we are learning together!