I left off yesterday with our journey starting by calling you all.

Little by little we got all of the details. Ryan had a choice to start on August 25th or Sept 8th. I said the 8th as we wouldn't have time to see everyone before we left. He is holding it against me now lol just kidding. The sooner you arrive in AK the sooner you are a resident and can hunt as resident.

Ryan also found out he had to go to Kenai AK for a training for a week. WHAT???? I said,  we are trying to get things sold or dealt with and go see family. It all worked out. We flew out to CO and spent time with my dad and brother Scott. We got to see other family and had a bbq that was fun to have people see us off. I can say it started to hit me I may only see my friends and family once a year. We flew home and was home a couple of days to drive to Stromsburg to see Ryan's family. They had a b-day party for Bridger and it was so nice to see everyone even if it was just for a few mins. That trip ended by me taking Ryan to the airport to fly to AK. My dad and brother drove out later that week and then Scotty and I drove at 1130 to get Ryan from the airport in Omaha. It was nice having him home though. Ryan's family came up for a day as well to help us start the process. It was fun having both our dads there. We had to clean and wash out the entire garage. It was hot that day but very nice playing in water. While Ryan was gone I got a virus, then Bridger got it that weekend when we had a bday party with his friends in NE. Let it stop with just us two? Nope Ryan got home dad and Scotty left more reality hit that I was moving my kids 3,000 miles from their papas. It was hard to hug them and say see you soon. Friends in Ponca were joining us to say goodbye. Ryan came home sick! He managed to function for the going away party but it was hard being sick saying good bye. We got to go to the zoo and meet friends from MO there that was a fun day and we came home to a good amount of money on our kitchen table just said bless others when you can. We cried and cried God had shown up that day. (Sorry I jumped around in this paragraph):)

The movers came and said it will take 3 days, so be ready next Wednesday they said! Perfect! This was going to be crazy I wasn't going to have to pack a thing!!! In the 3 weeks we had to prepare to leave God blessed us by selling our chickens and all the baby stuff that I no longer needed, right!!!! We just started looking at things and said they won't take this and this so lets get it gone. We also had play dates with friends. Alexa and Bridger got to spend a lot of time together and I am so thankful as the two of them still talk about each other and send gifts to each other. I got to spend time with my best friend Amanda and other friends Maria, Stacy and another Amanda!! I sure miss these ladies so much to the day. I was blessed by getting to know them and can't wait to come visit them.

The week arrives Monday our Tahoe was loaded and shipped. Wednesday morning we watched out the window to see the movers coming. Only two arrived and packed up the garage and basement with a few things left. The kitchen got packed as well. Then they left. I get a call on Wednesday night saying we don't have that much left we will just be there Friday. What?!?!?! they still had four rooms left. Ok I said. The guy came to crate up our mounts on Thursday so that was nice to see something getting done. Friday they arrive late. The semi was not around and the lady was mad because they guys from before didn't realize how much they really had. I started getting frustrated when they said we won't get done today. I called the boss and said I have a weeks worth of hotels booked we leave tomorrow morning at 8 this will get done and loaded today. He assured me it would. Little by little things started cleaning out. This smooth move wasn't starting out so smooth. Around 1 is when the semi arrived. As things cleared out I started shampooing carpets. At 430 Casey and Amanda came and got Bridger and the pizza I had gotten to have at their house that night. That was a help to take Bridger so thank you!!!

We finally closed the doors on the semi at 745. Finally they had got done inventorying our items. I still had a few things to do I hurried. Couldn't wait to eat and relax. 815 is when they pulled away with our entire household goods. Material stuff right! Yes  except those special pics and oh I hope that makes it etc.

We get to Casey and Amanda's and laughed and cried and laughed and cried. Didn't sleep well, no of us did. Bridger and Alexa hugged and said see you soon. We hugged and hugged and I didn't want to let go of Amanda and she said the same. I cried for the first hour of our drive I think. I just thought our family and friends are here what are we doing?

The drive began it was sunny and warm in Ponca. We headed out to 3,000 miles away. We were about 2 hours in and I said Ryan our truck is running rough!!! We got to a town in SD and went to walmart knowing it was our tires. They said you will have to wait 3 hours. I had seen a tire shop just down the road. We went there and it said for emergencies call. I called as they were already closed being it was Saturday August 23rd. However, There was a guy still there he took our truck back opened the doors so the kids could play and let us eat popcorn that was left. Ryan and I felt behind but God provided and 30 mins later we were back on the road again. Our new tires were not balanced. We had to make it to Minot which was an 8 hour drive. We pushed and didn't stop but every 3-4 hours. Our truck was packed full and bags were exposed. We get to ND and it starts raining. We drove in the rain the rest of the way. So we stopped in Fargo and got trash bags to go over our bags. It was freezing cold to us after leaving warm Ponca. We did make it to Minot at about 830 that night and everything was wet and still raining. We had to stop on that back road because Bridger had to go potty! I prayed Lord help him to not have to go other then when we stop. Only 1 other time the whole trip did we have to stop for him again:) We pulled in and get the dogs in and the bags we needed. Um lets say that was about every bag in the pickup:/ Ryan said lets not do this again:) Pack in one bag. Let me remind you it was pouring down and everyone was ready for a swim. It was late but we went anyway. Bridger and Cedar loved it.

Off to bed for an early morning to get to the border! Awe the memories, I will leave you here and share all about that tomorrow.

thank you all for everything and for reading and joining us on our journey! I will be posting pics as well starting tomorrow. Sorry just learning this blog thing!

As I sit here while the Bridger and Cedar rest I calculated up wow we have been in Alaska for almost 5 months! I am just now getting to this! Where has the time gone:) So I wanted to start a blog about our life up here in Alaska. A lot has happened and you may be thinking this is old news:) I want to go all the way back to August when our Journey started. So each day I will try to quickly get us caught up. I am sorry it has been so long. Please enjoy the reading as you walk with us through this Journey.



Starts with Ryan looking for jobs in early July and I was just becoming close to friends in NE and thought why now. He applied in Wyoming and Montana and nothing happened with those jobs so Ryan one night came home and said what about Alaska? I looked at him and said where at in Alaska? Homer or Juno. I said well lets pray about it. Of course we did. He said I am going to apply are you ok with both places after a lot of research I said only Homer. If it doesn't happen then we know. He applied. 3 weeks until the application period closed. Each day Ryan said I doubt I get an interview. I said just pray and wait. The call came he had a job interview on Monday at 1 Ak time so yes this is where it all started with the time difference. 4 NE time. So he comes home early I take the kids to the park thinking it was going to be a 40 min or so interview. I went home after 40 mins and the interview kept going. As I pace and keep Bridger from going in the room I prayed.

Ryan came out after a total of an hour and 15 min interview and he smiled and said I don't know its between one other guy and I. It was the smoothest interview I have ever endured. I hugged him and said oh honey lets keep praying and asking God to guide us. She stated she would let him know by the following week but they may realist the job and do more interviews. So he was a tad discouraged.

On Wednesday July 23rd just 2 days later Ryan came home from work and we were busy doing the normal things I went for a run Ryan playing with the kids all of a sudden gets a phone call on his cell phone and he says I will be right back. He is gone talking for a while in the room. He comes out and by this time I am downstairs. He is quiet but has a glow about him. He says"I got it" I got the job in Homer AK. We hugged and cried so shocked to know already so scared, so excited!!!!

Thats when after praying a while and talking we started calling you all and preparing you for something I never thought you would hear. We accepted a job in Alaska!. Tears came from some. excitement came from others. Shock came from most.

Our journey had begun.

Today I am ending here in just the beginning of God starting his work in our lives up here in Alaska!

Stay tuned for the ride!!!