Forty Seventh Stop: Bean Cafe

     Several months ago there was a group of fire fighter explorers that made their way from Alaska to Orange County for a week-long hands-on training.  My dad happen to be one of the main people in charge and got to meet Mr. Todd Bowey who was one of the main people in charge of the Alaska crew.  My dad mentioned that I was going to be moving up to Alaska to live in the village and (out of what I can only assume a feeling of obligation), Todd offered to show me around if I was ever up in the area.  I am sure that when he offered he would never expect for me to contact him and take him up on his offer... he also didn't know me yet. Not only did I take him up on his offer, my best friend was going to be with me.

    Todd not only showed us around, but opened up his house and his family for us to meet and enjoy.  Todd and his family were truly amazing.  We started out with Fire Station tours of Station 1 and Station 3.  To some people that may not be interesting, but I am a girl who has spent many holidays in a fire station because dad was working ... and those truly are the best memories.  So, I was rather excited to see how things are done up here.

Detour: Formal report is that not much is different between the station set up.  Only difference that I managed to make myself look like a complete idiot...here in Alaska 4 days off is called a Kelly... my dad always just called them a 4 day... you can only imagine the inappropriate comment I replied with when Todd told me he was "on his Kelly" during the days Merideth and I would be in town.   Yes... I know.. I have great elbow structure and should be a hand model (inside joke).     

     After the station tour, we made our way through town showing us where the "ok"places are to hang out and the ones to avoid like the plague... Bean Cafe for example.  We then made our way back to the house where we got to meet the puppies!  They were so awesome and you better believe that in a matter of time Bruiser and I were cuddling.     

     The day just continued to get better.  Got to meet Todd's son T, his daughter P, and his wife Mrs. Miranda Bowey.  We had such a great dinner and that is when all the laughs started that continued throughout the evening.

We may be in Alaska, but we still get the California cup..
Do recommend Snow City in Anchorage. Delicious.

Can take the girl out of Orange County,  BUT, you cannot take her out of the fire department. 

Don't think I mentioned.. I saw my FIRST moose!! I was so excited and could not get over it. Mama and her two babies. So amazing.  

Forty Sixth Stop: Anchorage

 Time for another adventure.. absolutely!!   I was able to jump on a plane again and meet my best friend, Mer, in Anchorage.  I have never had the opportunity to step foot outside the airport.   Figured it would be worth taking advantage of my 4-day weekend and see what kind of trouble Mer and I can get in. . . and it is Halloween... even better!

     Tonight we started out by catching the rest of the baseball game at an adorable little place called "Orso" in downtown Anchorage.  After polling the entire bar, we were amongst great company.  We were all very disappointed when the Giants won... yes, if you are a Giants fan, you are on top of the world with yet another ring on your finger , but I have a very strong disliking for the Giants.  Those of you who are Giants fans may stop reading my blog... Darn it!  After the game was over, last of our beer drank, and the amazing food we had was consumed, we were pointed in the direction of our next stop... Humpy's.    

Merideth and I loved this little spot.  It was very comfortable and had an enormous amount of beer on tap.  We met so many wonderful people and even won some awesome prizes after kicking some major butt in wii boxing. Yes, that is correct.. I played wii boxing in a bar and I was undefeated and loved it! Victory dance took place!     

After a very successful evening, it was nice to retreat to our wonderful hotel room in attempt to prepare for the shenanigans that await us for the rest of the weekend.

Routing for KC!

We were on the 10th floor.. crawling distance to our room.

Forty Fifth Stop: Apple Grant

    After all the hush hush is over... I have exciting news!  Our school here in Nanwalek is one of 114 school ACROSS the nation to recieve a grant from Apple, and we are the only school in Alaska! 

    Monday, October 17th, Nanwalek School got news that they were one of the final recipiants of an Apple grant through the White House connected initiative.  This grant will help provide the students to the latest technology and learning tools. This will help provide the students in the classroom with the features as it transforms their learning, exploration, and creativity. 

    What does this mean?  Each student and teacher here at the school will receive an iPad for instruction.  This will allow the teachers to deliver the instruction in an entirely new way, and the students will be able to access an entirely new method of learning as well. 

    This is a huge success for the school and we look forward to the new opportunities that will come with this opportunity. 

    CONGRATULATIONS Nanwalek School!!  

Here is a link to a report that was in the Alaska Dispatch News:
http://www.adn.com/article/20141030/ipads-all-nanwalek-school-wins-apple-education-grant

Forty Fourth Stop: Carlsbad, Ca

 Back in Carlsbad!   It felt so good to be able to spend a few days back in my original home with all my family and friends.  I know I continue to mention how blessed I am and how lucky I am to have so many people in my corner cheering me on, but it is true.  My village continues to show support for this adventure that I am on. 

     Being able to give my Mama a real hug... and not a skype hug was pretty awesome.  It is all about the little things that you don't realize that you will miss.  I am fortunate that I do have some use of technology to be able to skype and keep in touch,  but there is nothing better than the first hug from your Mama after you haven't seen her in two months. 

     Wednesday night (my first night home) I was able to surprise my 2 kiddos.  D and Tay were so excited to see my family walk into Golden Spoon and then were over the moon when they realized that I was behind them.  They both gave me the biggest hugs and had so much to tell me.  They make my heart so happy and it is hard knowing that I am missing their soccer games, dances, ect, but I am so happy to have them in my life. 

     After an already pretty amazing evening, my neighbor Patti asked me to come over because she had something for me.  So the kiddos and I go over after we get back from frozen yogurt and what she gave me left me speechless and made my eyes "sweat." Mrs. PR is a phenominal quilter.  She makes the most beautiful pieces of art work and she made me one!!  I never imagined that I would be blessed with such a beautiful piece of art work. 

     Thank you again Patti.  Your art work is beautiful.  It brightens up my room and has been keeping me nice and warm as the nights are getting colder.

Forty Third Stop: Mr. and Mrs. Lind

Part Two:

     The second part to my Saturday was the "other" main reason for me coming back to California.  My best friends,  Joe and Christy, are getting married!  I cannot believe that it is already time for these two to say "I do."     

     From start to finish, it was an absolutely beautiful day.  There is no doubt that these two are absolutely perfect for each other.  The love that they share can be felt by everyone they are around.     

     For two people who do not like to be the center of attention, they did beautifully.  I look forward to watching them start the rest of their lives together and continuing to be an example for the rest of us on how to love unconditionally and whole heartedly.     

     hank you so much for allowing me to be apart of your day and the honor I had to help interpret.  I love you two so much!

An absolutely beautiful couple, who had an absolutely beautiful day. I am lucky to be able to call them my best friends and was able to witness them say "I do." Truly magical day!

Forty Second Stop: San Rafael Graduation

    October 18th was made up of 2 parts. It ended up being the day that my sweet girl Solstice was going to be graduating with her new person, and my 2 best friends were getting married.  Here is to one day that was full of so much love, happiness, and sweating eyes!

Part One:     
     I was not able to sleep because: a) I was with the guys celebrating Joe's last day as a non-married man...and b) knowing that in a few hours I was going to be headed up to San Rafael to spend an hour or so with my sweet girl and her new person. Both events left me with so many emotions.                                                                                                                                      

     I was over the moon that Solstice had found her match and was going to start her new life working.  Solstice is one of my most proud accomplishments.  She brought so much joy to everyone that she met and is now on her way to helping make the life of her new person, 

Mr. E.

     I am not going to lie... During the entire ride up to San Rafael I was crying my eyes out.  The unknown has been so hard to accept.  Waiting week to week to see where she's as and what phase she maybe in, and then to hear that she was getting pulled for graduation was a last-minute shock to my system.  I was so overwhelmed with emotions.     

     The moment that my sweet girl and her person walked in was one moment of complete happiness.  She walked into the room with her nose sniffing away.  Then she made eye contact with me and Mr. E dropped her leash and she wiggled her way over to me in a hot hurry.  That moment... knowing that she didn't forget me and was still so excited to me.. is something I cannot explain.  She was so excited.     

     I finally sat on the ground and she continued to wiggle, circle/rub on me, and lick me.  She finally sat in my lap facing me practically nose to nose and looked into my eyes... it was as if she was saying to me, "Mom.. where have you been? I have so much to tell you!"     

     We were then able to sit down at the table and get to know her person.  Mr. E is such an amazing person.  He already had so much love for her.  That feeling of the unknown melted away because I could see she was going to be in great in hands.  Mr. E was at the head of the table and I was to his left.  Solstice had positioned herself between Mr. E and me.   Her head and paw on my feet and her back and tail on Mr.E's feet.  It was a total "Solstice moment" as if she was bridging her past life with her new life.     

     As we continued to chat, my heart continued to grow in happiness.  Mr. E is truly a great person with a big heart.  To hear how important a guide dog is to him just solidified why I did this.  All the emotions that I was going through was all worth it to see the impact that this sweet girl will have on him and the confidence that she provides him.     

     Thanks to Mr. E being willing to keep in touch, I will be able to keep you all updated on how his sweet girl is doing and adjusting. She will be adjusting to life in Houston, Texas working with her lawyer.  I can hear her now snoring in an important trial tucked under his chair.    

  Big puppy hugs and lots of love and great success sent to these two.  May they find a way to become the best team around!

Another BIG thank you to Mary Harris and the Guide Dog School for the Blind for providing me with this opportunity. I am forever thankful! 

Part two to be continued... 

 

After lots of tears I finally get to see my sweet girl! 

Solstice curling up on my feet just like she use to. Feel asleep too!

                    

Solstice bridging her past life with me to her new life with Mr. E. Totally a Solstice moment!

                                  

Mr. E getting Solstice ready after we got to visit! No more green vest.. hello handle harness! 

My heart melts seeing Mr. E and Solstice together. He already loves her so much. Makes all my concerns melt away. They are great together!

So grown up. Love this girl!!

Sure I will pose for you. Check out my new handle!! 

     

Forty First Stop: Burbank, Ca

 I have made it to Burbank!  It was a very long night of traveling with a 6-hour layover in Seattle.  I completely forgot about my friends that live in Seattle to see if I could get a tour of the city at 2 o clock in the morning, but I made the most of it by crocheting and meeting new people that were in for the long wait as well.  

     I am normally good about sleeping on planes and/or for layovers, but I think the unknown... and being back in a "BIG" city, kept my mind from getting sleepy because I did not sleep at all.  8 o'clock (a.m.) came rather quickly and I was ready to start the last flight for the start of this trip. 

     Arriving to the beautiful Burbank'  I was able to see my little sister Alyssa.  She and I were able to catch up all day and cause havic in Burbank.  I, surprisingly, was adjusting ok.  Driving on the freeway made me a little nervous and I may have closed my eyes at parts, but other than that it felt good to be back.  

     We were doing some shopping in the mall and I was  so excited to see a Target!!  This was my favorite store back in Fresno.   It was my go-to for shopping or if I  just needed to distract myself after a long day.  The Burbank Target is not your typical Target either... it is 3 floors!!!  I was in awe standing on the third floor just soaking in how epic this was.  

     After running around, it was great meeting up with the rest of my Jucksch family.  It was so great being able to spend some time and not just do a 5-minute drive-by to or from Fresno...Even though hours later I was leaving to make my way back to my Fresno peeps.  

     One the way to Fresno, I rode up with my Aunt.  After living in Fresno for 9 years, we finally were able to make this work.  Loved spending time chatting about Alaska and teaching theories.  Was able to get some great feedback and "Aunt" advice which I am forever greatful for and look forward to incorporating it when I work with my kiddo.  

      Arriving at the house where I would be staying was one of the many amazing moments of the trip.  It was so great to see Duda, Joe, and Christy.  Could not believe the time was upon us for Joe and Christy to get married.  Seemed like they just got engaged. These two are the reason for the trip and I cannot wait to be able to share their day with them.  

     After functioning on an hours sleep, it was so great to curl up on a real bed and know that waking up was going to start so many wonderful adventures that waited ahead of me.