Alaska

You heard it right we are going to Ketchikan (southeast) Alaska for the summer and we couldn't be more excited for our little adventure. We have known for a while now but wanted to make sure it was all going to go through before we said anything. We are truly blessed to have been offered great jobs for the entire summer. We are leaving right after finals in April and returning 2 days before school starts in August.
Don is going to be driving a tour bus and being a guide for Princess Cruise Lines. He is so excited, and is going to be the cutest tour guide Alaska has ever seen. 

       I will be a zip line tour guide for Alaska Canopy Adventures. Hopefully I am not scared of heights....because these are 100 ft above the ground. 

Ketchikan is beautiful from what we hear. We are so excited to experience and explore it for ourselves. Here are some fun facts about Ketchikan:

1. It is known for its totem poles

2. It is considered the "Rain Forest" of Alaska

3. It is the salmon capitol of the world, there are reports of the salmon weighing up to 600 lbs

4. Over 1,000,000 visitors visit Ketchikan and its small population of 12,000 each summer. Up to 6 cruise ships can come in a single day.

5. It is a seaside city

Ketchikan we cannot wait to call you our home for the summer of 2012. 

Lessons Learned

 I know I talk about him a lot...after all he is my best friend and the reason my life is so great. This semester has been a crazy one with Don getting shoulder surgery, then influenza, and with our crazy work schedules, along with heavy school loads, and getting ready to spend our fist married summer in Ketchikan Alaska. I have a few quotes that have been on my mind this whole semester and I thought I would share them...

1. From a woman who I admire. "The only way to go through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." 

-Majorie Hinckley.

With this crazy semester there are days where I have just wanted to cry whether it is feeling bad for Don or because of school stress. But life is too short to cry and feel sad.

2. "Don't ever let a problem to be solved, become more important than a person to be loved."

Sometimes I stress (a lot) but...Don is so great and holds me tight when he knows I am about to stress and tells me everything will be alright. I have been able to learn this semester that no matter what it going on in your life you cannot forget about the person that you love the most. Stress is temporary but love will be forever if you treat it right.  

I am a very lucky girl to have this man in my life. He makes me laugh everyday and is such a light in my life.   He teaches me daily lessons that help me progress and he is my biggest fan. I cannot imagine life without him. Girls marry your best friend and it will be bliss.

Oh he also taught me tonight how to fix my car. We took it to the shop he works at and re-did the brakes, changed the oil, and put new tires on. Side note: A friend who works with  Don asked Don if he would change the oil in his car and since Don has had me do it a few times before he responded jokingly to his friend "sure or I will just have my wife do it." The friend just laughed and said he felt like his manhood had just been shot down. Don loves when I come to the shop, get dirty and learn new things, and I have to admit it is actually fun.

6 months

    We woke up last Wednesday and realized that it was our 6 month anniversary. We have been so busy with school and work that we hadn't even thought about it until the morning of. Don was busy that day so I decided to do something fun for him. I got the keys to his cabin along with a bucket of firewood, hot chocolate mix, and a whole bunch of our favorite movies. 
     The second Don got back from work I kidnapped him and took him up the canyon. We stopped at the Sundance Deli (we love this place) we have so many great memories up there that I think it makes it that much better. Then we headed up to his cabin. I seriously underestimated the amount of snow and had never been to his cabin in the winter. With that said I did not realize that.... 
1. My car would not make it all the way to the cabin. Allowing us to take a nature walk all the way to the cabin.
2. That the snow to get into the cabin would be 4 ft. deep
3. That we would have to dig the door out
4. That the inside of the cabin would be colder than the outside temperature and
5. The power and heat would be turned off for the winter
     When we made it into the cabin after lots of work. We ate our food in front of the fire, then cuddled under 4 bear skin blankets with our hot chocolate watching a movie. It turned out to be a romantic fun night. 
     I forgot flashlights so we had to walk all the way down to the car in the pitch black at 11pm. I was so nervous knowing that there are cougars and other animals right around that area. Don was there to comfort me (along with the screw driver I was carrying as a weapon in my hand) and we made it safe and sound to the warm car. Don't worry Don was laughing at me the whole way down for wanting to carry the screw driver but he knew it would make me feel better ha. 
     One of the things I love most about Don is that he is so easy going. In a situation that has potential to be a hassle and turn out bad, he with out fail can always make it fun. He is always looking at the positive in life and the glass half full. We had an awesome 6 month anniversary and I can't wait for the other adventures that are ahead of us. I am one lucky girl.

We failed at taking pictures of the adventure but I found this one from one of our adventures last fall and feel so blessed to be married to my handsome best friend.