Okay, here's a clip from wikipedia about Barrow: "There are freezing temperatures on an average of 324 days per year.[8][9] Freezing temperatures, and snowfall, can occur during any month of the year.[7]
Barrow is a desert, with an average of less than 5 in (127 mm) "equivalent rainfall" per year, which includes less than 30 in (76 cm) of snow." For the whole thing, click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrow,_AK. It's truly a fascinating place.
Amy, me, Annette, Amy's kids Jaida and Joey
Me, Amy, Joey, and Jaida
Amy and Jaida
Annette and Joey
I know, the picture is sideways. I don't feel like going back to change it.
Jenny was trying to sport her cast but the photographer cut it off, making it look a little bit weird that she only has one pant leg down. I figured an explanation was in order.
We had them at our going-away party for Daniel Schwicht, who is in my Sunday School class. He's off to BYU-Provo next week and we'll miss him a lot! I'll always remember when I first met him and we played "two truths and a lie". His lie was that he was a really good ballet dancer. I wanted to call him on it, but was afraid that maybe he actually was a ballet dancer and didn't want to offend him so I picked something else.
This is him on the left, Matt Rindlisbaucher on the right.
Cara and Haleigh showed us some of their moves. Something about a shaky leg? Snakey leg? I'm not sure. It made me feel old because they knew all of these moves that had names I had no idea about. It was a fun night. I knew at that point that I wouldn't be there Sunday School teacher past the next day so I had to hide the sad I was feeling. They are such a good class. I love 'em!
I research healthy recipes and then cook them.
I test my blood sugar a lot and research online about diabetes stuff.
I measure out the food I eat and write everything down.
I exercise.
I blog. (your screen serves as my picture of that)
Today I sat at the feet of a veteran seminary teacher of 11 years. She poured the ideas out like fireballs. All of us newbies were scribbling vigorously. It reminded me of my first couple of years teaching school. Same overwhelmed feeling of "where do I start?", and "I'll never be like her." Fortunately once I left (the meeting was 3 hours!), I had to go back to the beginning and remember the basics. I don't have to be her...just me. Me with the Spirit, that is. And that seems a bit more doable.
And speaking of cupcakes, here's a picture of the largest cupcake ever made (according to the Guinness Book of World Records--see link for all the stats: 
Anyway, today I took time to do some reading out on the lawn. There is a fountain (picture below) I sat by, which is really cool to see when it's dark out because they light it up in a variety of colors and the water reflects it, which makes a really cool sight. Maybe I'll come back with my camera during the winter.
And later I found that there is a park with a small pond to walk around right next door, kind of hidden. Using my regular route, it doesn't even go by there. And especially in the winter when everything is frozen over, it's impossible to know where the lines on the street are, let alone a pond with a pathway. 
There aren't any fish in the pond, this guy is practicing his form during his lunch break. That's an Alaskan fishermen right there.
I also love the ripples they make when they paddle around. I know, I'm starting to sound a little bit crazy. But I was mesmerized. I think when I bring my future kids to ponds or places with ducks, I may just be more into it than they are.
As I'm looking at ducks, a floatplane flies overhead, and again I'm sweeping my camera up for a shot. I have so many pictures of these things, but I love them! Where in the world can you walk out of a city library to find a park with a guy practicing his fishing form, and then look up to see a floatplane low in the sky?
