Its not that we didn't love Soldotna, but The Lord was moving us on. After the Holidays we both began to feel a bit restless. Jordan was ready to try his hand at guiding and I was ready for a new job. Neither of us knew how to make either happen, so we started looking for opportunity and praying hard. Jordan surprised me with a trip to Hawaii this Spring for 2 weeks! It was fabulous and greatly appreciated. We spent 10 days on Oahu and 4 days on Kona with my Grandparents. We got to do a few hikes and of course swam a lot. Pearl Harbor on Oahu was sobering and touching. Jordan cliff jumped over a waterfall that we hiked to, but I was too chicken. We saw whales and I played my first round of golf with Grandad, Grandma MJ and Jordan. We were not ready to come home. However when we returned surprise awaited. Jordan was offered a two fold job: construction this winter that would turn into him guiding adventure tours (camping, fishing, hiking, etc) next summer for Peter Goodwin with Alaskan Ventures. My uncle Jeremy also recruited him for guiding moose/bear hunts this Fall!! These two venues are located in Port Alsworth, AK. We thought it over for a month or so and decided to go for it. With our notices put in to our employers we started finishing up the remodel on our house, found renters (from Oregon), put most of our things into storage and shipped the remaining items to Port Alsworth. Unfortunately this decision cost us our summer and it just so happened to be the warmest one in who knows how long. We tried out best to enjoy the sun as often as we could, but it just wasn't enough.
Pale and tired we arrived in Port Alsworth the first week of August. We are living in my Grandad Davis's cabin. It just so happens my dad also accepted a job out here as principal of Tanalian School, so he also will be living in the cabin. My mom will join him next summer after my youngest sibling, Jodi, graduates High School. The cabin was built by my Grandad and his boys back in the 70's. It is 4 bedrooms, 1 bath. The rooms are small, but the living area is larger than you would think. There is no dishwasher and no dump, so we handwash dishes and burn all our garbage. The things we can't burn wait for a plane ride back into "town" (Anchorage or Soldotna mainly). We have hot running water and electricity, however the cabin was not built for Alaskan winters, so using these facilities is very expensive long term. Part of our rent is to winterize the cabin and to cut costs wherever we can. I've been hanging laundry out to dry, Jordan and Robbie are replacing the windows with better insulated ones, and my dad is creating a radiant heat system through our wood stove. It has been quite exciting, but a lot of work for the men. I have enjoyed cooking them dinner after their long work days.
Hopefully I can get a part time job out here, but for now I am enjoying the tranquility of this place. The lake is our backyard and I've enjoyed watching it change daily as the air gets colder. The air is fresh and the pace is slow. Along with the old memories of childhood is mixed anticipation for the new. This place is awash with God's glory and I am so blessed to be a part of it all. Its healing qualities have refreshed my soul. You can't help but praise Him here.
After next Fall we don't know where we'll be. We may be calling this place home or getting ready to find a new adventure. It truly amazes me how much can happen in one year. For now we are right where we are meant to be. Be praying for us as this adventure will have its challenges. Jordan will be gone weeks and months at a time....I am not excited about this. It gets dark, cold, and potentially lonely here during winter. Pray that I can find God-fearing ladies to befriend. Overall pray that we can "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us." (1Thess 5:16-18).
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