our sojourn...: January 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

I'm ENGAGED!

the next day at my place

just after he proposed

the picnic spread, notice the heart shaped rice krispy treats . . . he's a hopeless romantic and I love it!

the view from our picnic blanket, not bad for Southern CA (not quite Alaska but pretty for a desert land)

the picnic spread he planned

a little sparkling lemonade with a sparkling diamond ring!

a ring shot

the post proposal tail-gate target practice

Jonathan and Stephanie the couple I am living with temporarily (they are incredibly hospitable)

Our first engagement present from Jonathan and Stephanie

This past Saturday Ben and I spent the day together in the mountains and he proposed!! The story is great and I want to do it justice but life has been crazy so I will post pictures now and fill in the details later for those who have been asking to see the RING. It is AMAZING!!! I am SO happy! I am getting MARRIED! The wedding will be in Alaska on June 27th for those who want to mark their calendars. :)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Fun with Guns

one of may ways to use your back seat

my first couple shots

our targets

Amy

Bart

Ben shooting a kiddy gun

Our faithful sweet action 1973 jeep

Red neck?? Perhaps. Our unattached back seat became multi-purpose

having a little afternoon snack while lounging in the sun

the 3 lb. pine cones we found, we talked about bring a truck load back next time to market at craft stores, a little gold or silver spray paint and a price tag of $10 we'd be in business, or we could keep them "natural" brown and sell them by the pound, hmmm . . .

Me and Amy getting squished in the back seat, the jeep we borrowed is a 1973 and the back seat isn't bolted in . . . makes for an interesting ride on a bumpy trail up and down steep mountain roads!

This past Saturday Ben, Bart, Amy (friends of Ben's), and I went up in the mountains about an hour out on a one lane dirt road to go shooting. Ben has been ACHING to taking me shooting and I have been anxious to have an opportunity to go so we made a day of it. Bart is one of Ben's seminary buds and his wife Amy and I get along really well. We shot EVERYTHING in the realm of guns, hand guns, shot guns, and rifles. I'd spout out all the names and numbers like a 3006 but I don't remember. I just remember that I like rifles better than shot guns, less kick and short barrels better than long, no brainer my arms are short.

We set up a homemade jungle and went to town. The guys let us go first and then they had fun shooting some still but some moving targets like 3 lb. pinecones. No joke the pine tree patch that we drove to had 3 lb. pine cones. The sharp, heavy if they hit you on the head you would have a serious head injury kind of pine cone. I have never seen anything like it before! The homemade jungle you ask? Animal kingdom paper plates from Wallmart, you can specify eye, ear, nose, etc. when you shoot. It was a GREAT way to wrap up our winter break. I started work full force this week and Ben started seminary again. We are back to "real life" now.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Jobs

The past three weeks have been a whirlwind but exciting and relaxing too. After getting in to CA December 15th and flying to AK the 17th I came down with the flu for three days. A tough way to start a vacation but also a good way to force me to REST, something I had been lacking the past month. After I got back on my feet Ben got bronchitis and was down a couple days before getting antibiotics. After our sweep of illnesses we enjoyed time with friends in Alaska going to Wasilla Bible and Faith Bible.

In true Anita fashion we also packed in breakfasts, lunches, brunches, dinners, game nights and coffee dates with various friends of mine and Ben's. Alaska is now a whole new playing field with Ben having connections and extended family in the area. We have to divide our time, although Ben will agree that I got to take most of the time for my family and friends being that it is my home stomping grounds. Sharing time and people takes some getting used to at 30. :)

After 10 days in Alaska we flew to Spokane, WA to spend 5 days with Ben's family. I got to meet his mom and stepdad Tim, his dad and his fiance Tina, his brother Mike, sister Karley and one of his grandmothers. They are all great people. It was a really relaxing time. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know his family a little and look forward to getting to know them better in the future. Ben's schedule was much more relaxed than my AK schedule. We slept in almost every day, AMAZING, and enjoyed the record snow fall, almost 6' in 3 weeks! Ben and his dad shoveled nearly every morning. Washington had more snow, by far than Alaska . . . go figure! Ben's relaxed nature is really good for a "doer" go getter like me! I need to SLOW DOWN once and awhile.

This past Saturday we flew back to CA and crashed! I had two job interviews yesterday (Monday) with two different school districts in the area. Both went well and BOTH called me back TODAY offering me a position. I chose the one that will be full time with full benefits. The even cooler part? They accept 5 years experience from another state. I have exactly 5 years from my last job in AK so I can bring in all 5 and move up on the pay scale, yahoo! Alaska only accepts 2 years experience. It has been VERY encouraging to see God provide in all this . . . a great man in my life, safe travel 2,700 miles across the country in December, sweet fellowship with friends and family in AK and WA and now a great job that I will be starting TOMORROW! Thank you Lord for your provision in the little and big things! He is good!

I will download more pics later, my computer jammed up and isn't letting me download right now. Stay tuned! For those who have been faithfully praying for my job situation, THANK YOU! Your prayers were answered above and beyond and in a timely manner!