Getting Ahead of Myself, As Usual

"Greetings, Cicely, on this most exceedingly beautiful spring morning. A morning swollen with new life, a morning on which, if I had the voice, I would let loose with song. It's hard to believe just a few short weeks ago we were eating our cornflakes in the wintry dark. Now, well it's still kind of dim our there, but I can see the golden glow of Apollo's chariot waiting in the wings, about to make its entrance. Winter's on the lam, no doubt."
Chris In The Morning, Northern Exposure

It has been warm here and we are sensing the new hope of spring. Odd yes, it is only February but spring is seriously in the air up here. The days are noticeably longer, light until almost 8 pm. The sun is trying to poke it's lazy rays over the mountains as I make my way to work in the morning! Ani and I even ran down to the Bering and out on the beach tonight. We didn't even leave the house until 6:30ish. The beach has melted down enough to allow us a small pathway between the vertical tundra ledge and the sheet of ice that sprawls out toward the sea. We joyfully took that path less traveled by and ran about 1/2 mile toward the mountains then cut vertical up to the tundra and forged across the still frozen mounds toward the cell phone tower. I barreled onto the gravel road thankful for the Kanetok River's 'gravel gold'. Harnessed myself to Ani and he happily pulled me home:) Maybe that (happily) was more me;)

We have another B-ball Tournament the weekend. This is the place to be everyone, come on out! It's the district playoffs so we already have teams camped out at the school. Four of the schools decided they best seize the good weather today and make the flight to Quinhagak while it holds instead of risking the chance that the winds of change might prevent their flying tomorrow. So the school will be buzzing tomorrow with extra kids. Apparently they'll just camp out in the gym until our school day is over. Then the games begin:)

Speaking of school, Chuck made me laugh again today. He was finishing up his work and I was putting away books. As I walked past I reminded him, "Pinch that pencil, Chuck." He's also been working on holding his pencil with a pinching grip instead of a fist grip to help him write better. Anyway once I had my back to him again I heard him mumble to himself, "Pinching USED to be bad, now they WANT me to do it..." I couldn't help myself and laughed out loud. Chuck giggled too, "I'm funny right." "Yes, Chuck you are funny! And to be funny, you have to be smart. Sooo Chuck, not only are you funny, you are smart!" These kids make me smile. I hope you do too as I share them with you.

Already it's the end of February! Where is the time going??? I'm not ready to let Alaska start drawing to an end, BRAKES, BRAKES, where are the BRAKES in this contraption??? What unexpected adventures of blessings have found and followed me here! My cup runneth over, how much do I hope and pray it is spilling on to you all as well.

Shout Out To: Everyone back home in Wisconsin gearing up to ski the American Birkebeiner Cross Country Ski Race. The Birkie is near and dear to my heart as I'm missing out on it this year. I finally made the 3rd WAVE last year! How many years I have skied that race hoping to get out of Wave 4. I seemed to have been stuck there for several years then suddenly last year I broke free! It's okay though, I'll be "Touring Anchorage" and scoping out the Iditarod soon enough. In the meanwhile Good Luck Everyone! Ski fast! Take chances. And cheer for each other when you get to the "Big" Hill, it'll get you to the top faster;)

"Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running (skiing) - and never quit!" Hebrews 12:1