Fun in the sun & snow!

We were surveying the situation before heading down the hill!

Look mom...no paws!

I can not even tell you how cold it was up on that hill. The wind was blowing so strong that it literally took my breath away. We had such a blast today. Patrick got his new snowskate for his birthday (it was late because they were back logged) and so we went out to this place beyond the golf course. Oh my goodness what a blast we had. We even found a great back drop for our family picture. We took a ton of pictures so once I get through them all I will post them.

Wondering where they are?

Last night I asked Mark, "Where are all the Jan's, Ed's, Jenn's, Alan's, Jane's and Tommy's here?" I recently read this statement: "Friends are special people. We can't pick our family, and we're sorely limited in the number of them at any rate. Society and mores (and often our own conscience) dictate we select a single mate. But our friends can be as diverse and infinite as the adjectives we choose. Our friends, in a very real sense, reflect the choices we make in life." The last sentence hit home. I have alway been the sort of person that is there for you in thick and thin. I am one of those people that will ALWAYS listen to you, not necessarily give you the advice you need, but listen and try to be objective. I think back on the 20 years of Coast Guard life and the friends I have made, Sandy and Paul, Dave and Penny, Mary Ann and Fred, Barb and John, Dena, Susan, Debbie, Andrea and Dan, Brian and Linda, Ann and John, Beth,
of course Jan and Ed, Alan and Jenn, Jane and Tommy, Joann and Frank, Maggie and Ben, Jeannette, Katie and John, Lindsay, Amanda, Gail, Cyndi and Gary, Jennifer and Michael, Sherry, Michelle and Ed. These are people I still am in touch with whether it is via e-mail, telephone or just Christmas letters and cards. Some of these people we got together with for 4th of July BBQ's or game night or New Years Eve parties or came by while our husbands were deployed just to have spaghetti and a glass of wine to get through yet another lonely night. I am truly missing these people. These are the sort of people who are the honest to God "true" friends. No games, no bullshit, not those fair weather friends who are there when their life is tough and then kick you to the curb when it gets easier only to come looking for you a few weeks or months later when their life gets difficult again. So last night when I asked Mark that question, he hugged me and said to me, "they are here....somewhere."

Playing in the snow with the Murphy and Indy!

We had this huge drift in the backyard and as you can see it come to about my knees. Yesterday was a beautifully sunny day (not warm by any means please don't lecture me about not wearing a coat! ) Anyway, I walked into the drift and tried to convince my short legged bassett/rottie to join me. At first he just barked and barked and barked. Finally my decided that it would be ok to attempt to join me. He finally did. I was so proud of him knowing how cold the snow was on his belly! He didn't stay too long and made a beeline for the more packed snow and to his dad.

Here he is plowing his way back to saftey!

The snow could just swallow Indy up!

Here he is jumping around!

Hello Friends and Family

It has been so wonderful to have Mark back with us. It has taken some getting use to having someone else in the house. It is so nice to have my best friend home again. It has also been rather cold here in Alaska. Just a few days ago we had over 60 mph winds and snow and an actual blizzard warning in effect. They ended up closing the base down around 1:30pm that day. Crazy weather to say the least. Last night around 11 pm it started to snow again and we ended up with between 3-5 inches of very light powdery snow!! It is so beautiful. Mark and the boys went out straight away this morning and began shoveling the snow off the porch and sidwalks. Besides all the normal day to day stuff we are planning a nice quiet Thanksgiving here at home. We have invited Mark's new FS1 Omar Brown to join us. He recently got PCS orders to Kodiak and Mark is thrilled. Mark says Omar reminds him of his other most favorite FS1 Al Scales. They seem to be on the same page with the galley and that is a beautiful thing. We hope that all of our friends and family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and know that we are thinking of all of you during the holidays and wish we were with you or you were here with us in the cold, snow! LOL

At long last Mark is home!!!

Mark's Adventures

Mark recently sent me some pictures of the largest Buddha in Japan. When he finally gets back to Alaska we will put all his photo's to DVD and send everyone who is interested a copy. I know he took tons of pictures. I also know that he had a great time checking out yet another new country. Counting down the days until I get my husband home again! I can't wait!!!!!

Sunrise on the Mountains

The top picture is Pyramid. The second picture is the mountains to the left of Pyramid.

King of the Couch!

This was Indy's Halloween Costume! Of course it fits him to a T!!!

A Coast Guard Marriage

A Coast Guard Marriage

You stand at the dock watching his ship pull away,

You feel in your heart a little voice say:

'I Love You. I need You. I want you to stay.'

He stands on the deck, watching you too

His world falls apart, he wants to be with you.

He feels his heart breaking, his eye sheds a tear,

The only thing now he wants is you near.

The only thing that keeps her from falling apart,

Is the thought of her husband kept close to her heart.

Out on the deck he stands still in rain,

Praying for the ocean to swallow his pain.

A golden streak of heaven shines down from above,

But he remembers to be strong for the woman he loves.

After so many months his ship finally pulls in,

Her heart skips a beat when she spots his wide grin.

They throw their arms around each other in the tightest embrace,

Their hearts are free as they feel their pulse race.

Yours surely must have been a match made from above,

Because this Coast Guard Marriage is a test of true love.