Sometimes I think Monday is a bad word....or maybe uvula is...

So while this particular Monday isn't the worst Monday I have ever had, and even though it wasn't amazing I am still thankful and blessed that is was another day with my sweet boys!  I always see posts on Facebook and Twitter about the dreaded Monday and how so many things go wrong, so here is what happened to me on this glorious Monday!

Let's see...for the past 4 days my "hangy downy thing" (the thing in the back of your throat; I was informed today by my 13 year old sister and the nurse at urgent care that its proper name is uvula.) has been really painful and swollen.  I will continue to call it my "hangy downy thing" because every time today I have told people my "uvula is infected" they think that part of my body is somewhere else! haha  Not to get gross or anything but it basically sits on my tongue in the back of my throat hurting..all day and all night long...ugh! Then when my "hangy downy thing" hurts my ear aches and throbs too...just gets better..I know! It became so painful I can't even eat without tears coming to my eyes! So I took a trip to the good ole' urgent care here in Wasilla, Alaska...

The entire waiting room wreaked of cigarettes and alcohol, the man across from me had no teeth, the woman beside me was drinking chocolate milk from a half gallon carton, and the people diagonal from me were on their cell phone discussing why they were in a custody battle.  Those are just a few of the "interesting" things I observed and learned about today in urgent care!  Not to pass judgement, but I am pretty sure several of them are "clients" of my dear husband.  I did say a little prayer for all those there to feel better and that God help them in whatever their situations may be. 

After waiting for over an hour I was finally called back to find out that I indeed have uvulitis! The doctor told me it was a good thing I was there because it was starting to swell, and sometimes they swell up to the size of a plum! A PLUM!!!!  If that were to happen I would have to have a breathing tube..yikes. 

So I picked up my prescription at the pharmacy, got all the way home only to find out they gave me the wrong antibiotics.  After I loaded my child into the car my gas light came on.  Gas is currently $3.96 a gallon. : ) I now have the correct prescription that causes nausea and lots of other joyful things that involve the bathroom! I have to eat every time I take this medicine and guess what makes my "hangy downy thing" and my ear hurt the WORST!?  Yes, it is eating and drinking! haha

While my experience above is spelled out very dramatically, I am very thankful I was able to go to a doctor and be treated for my problem! I am thankful that we live in a place where my biggest problem at the moment is my infected uvula and the price of gas.   I am grateful my problems are not that I don't have clean drinking water, that an earthquake and tsunami destroyed my home and killed loved ones, or that I may get radiation from a nuclear plant.  My husband still has his job and our sweet baby is healthy; right now life is pretty amazing.  My Monday might not have been how I wanted it to be, but it was a blessing that it turned out the way it did. 

As I sit in my bed nauseated from the wonderful antibiotic that is going to hopefully cure my uvulitis I am listening to Laura Story's "Blessings."  Many of my friends on facebook have put links up to this song as there have been so many people with heartache and trials lately.  This is just one song that sticks out right now, but there are so many songs out there that lift me up everyday and let me know God loves me and has a plan for me!  Who knows what God has in store from my trip to urgent care and all of  the people I encountered today.  Regardless of whether your Monday is crappy, you are going through a storm, or nothing is wrong at all; this song makes you thankful for God's blessings no matter how they come! This is the chorus:

                            ‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

                             What if Your healing comes through tears

                             What if a thousand sleepless nights

                             Are what it takes to know You’re near
                             What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

Laura Story- "Blessings" Video Link

 I will end with this... Lamentations 3:22-23 ( It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.) I also like the way Nichole Nordeman says it too..

                               Your mercies are new every morning

                                So let me wake with the dawn

                                When the music is through or so it seems to be
                                Let me sing a new song, old things gone
                                Every day it's true, You make all Your mercies new

BRING ON TUESDAY!   : )

I should be folding laundry...

The baby is asleep and my wonderful husband is at work... I have a ton of laundry to fold and bottles to wash, but I am doing anything but that right now! haha It has been awhile since I have blogged, but now that I am back at home and not working hopefully there will be more time for this! So I figured I would start off with something simple, but fun!



Things I am LOVING right now :

1. Lysa TerKeurst's Blog (yes this is the link to it!) ---so refreshing, and most of the time I am like " Oh my goodness this is me!"  It has been lifting me up all through the week!

2. Girl Scout Cookies---March 12th was National Girl Scout Day! While they aren't the cheapest cookies they sure are good, and besides my husband always buys popcorn from the Boyscouts, so I feel I am just leveling the playing field!

3. Sundrop---It is now being carried Nation wide..so YES!! that means it is here in Alaska!

4. "Coming Home"--- I have never been the biggest fan of Lifetime shows, but I am loving this show! It lets you see what so many families go through everyday.  I cannot imagine if Boyd was gone for months at a time and being away from his family.  We had a hard enough time being apart for the 2 extra weeks I was in North Carolina.  Boyd called tonight while it was on, I was crying of course, so he said " Don't be saddish..have a raddish! haha I love him!   It is so very humbling to feel like you are apart of the reuninting of a family! It makes me so thankful and grateful to live in a country that is free, only because so many selfless people are willing to sacrifice their time and their family for us to do so! : )

5. Shark Steam Pocket Mop---I have had this since Boyd Thomas was born, but I love not having to drag my mop bucket around or having to buy floor cleaner! Wonderful!!!

6. Old Navy---This past week Old Navy had a "stock-up sale"..and boy did I do just that!! I think this is the first time since moving to Alaska that I have been excited about some new clothes! Also for the past several seasons I have not been very enthused with what Old Navy had to put out, but finally it seems there is a break in the clouds!!

7. Our Hot Tub---While it is not in its final resting place, which is in our backyard.  We have to wait for the snow to melt until we can move it out there; so it is in the garage for now!  It has been AMAZING  to be able to fix myself a blueberry parfait and wind down after Boyd Thomas is in bed! Thank goodness for Craigslist!

8. Sunshine!---While its not a balmy 70 degrees..the sun is out and that means the snow is melting!!!  I am sure we are not out of the clouds yet, they are calling for more snow later this week, but it is a sure sign that "Spring" in Alaska is right around the corner!!

9. Red Box---while soon I am pretty sure I will be loving Netflix and not Red Box...I am loving my $1 movie rentals!

10. Just Dance 2--- I bought this for my sister in law for Christmas, and while most of us were too shy to bust a move in front of everyone else, I knew I "needed" this game!  It has a "just sweat" mode, while I really might not be sweating as much as it says I am at least I am getting some cardio in! This game is also lots of fun with friends!! I have had a little more practice than everyone else, so they are always complaining when I win!  If you aren't into dancing you can always just watch everyone else look like fools trying to dance to "It's Raining Men!"

Alrighty I think I have now procrastinated enough...off to do laundry and other things!

Boyd's Birthday!

Boyd's birthday was June 24th, he turned 24! He THINKS he's getting old! We went to Benihana in Anchorage for lunch then headed down to Seward! It was such a beautiful, simple little town, lots of fishing and wildlife! We saw sea otters eating clams, went to the Sea Life Center, walked the docks, we finished the trip off with a hike up to Exit Glacier, and a delicious dinner at the Salmon Bake!

What is a birthday without Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake!?!

We found the Trooper boat while walking the docks!

The bird sancuary at the Sea Life Center- You were able to walk in the room and be with the birds! They were all so cute!

Boyd getting a "Sea Urchin Hug"

We thought this fish was dead, but really he is just missing his eye! Crazy!!

Probably the coolest van ever!

Exit Glacier - We hiked 2 miles to this glacier only to find out when we got there that we couldn't even touch it, luckily it helped us work up our appetite for dinner!

Free Time!

Wednesday night Boyd and I went fishing. We stopped off in Hatcher's Pass to see what we could find. The fireweed is starting to bloom up there, and Boyd did some more fishing!

King Salmon!

I know it has been while since our last post, but I am thinking I am going to get better at this!!
Boyd and I have been doing a lot of fishing lately. Last week Boyd went fishing on the Little Susitna River with his friend Chris, and he finally caught his first King Salmon of the season!! It weighed over 27 pounds! Chris caught one too! We now have lots of tasty King Salmon in our freezer! As king season is coming to a close we are anxiously awaiting the next run of fish to come our way!! As of right now the fish count is Boyd-1 Heather-0

Labor Day Weekend : )

This weekend Boyd and I did some exploring. The weather was great here. It was in the mid-60's, and it was sunny all weekend long! On Saturday we went south of Anchorage. That is where the wildlife reserve, and the Portage Glacier are located. On Sunday we hiked the Butte, and visited various lakes around the valley. Things have been going really well here. The weather has been nice, and we are both enjoying our jobs. The leaves are starting to change colors, and off in the distance you can see the snow capped mountains. Winter is well on its way! The pictures are beautiful, but they do not do this place justice at all. Its amazing to know that when God made this beautiful place he had me in mind!

Piper right before Boyd tossed her in the freezing cold lake

Reflection Lake

We only made it half way up the Butte ( a small mountain near our house). It was really steep and I was out of breath.

This is Portage Lake. Portage Glacier is just around the bend. If you look close you can see pieces of the glacier in the water.

Moose Flats

The Wildlife Reserve Gift Shop, I really liked the hat, but Boyd put his foot down. : /
The animals at the reserve have been rescued in some way or another; some were shot, hit by cars, or are in some way injured.

Grizzly Bear

Baby Elk

These trees died in the 1964 earthquake. The salt water came up into the land and killed the trees.

Our Newest Edition

Since we were unable to ship both dogs up, we decided to adopt a new one! This is Piper. We rescued her from the pound. She is an Alaskan Husky/Australian Shepherd mix. So far she has kept us entertained, and keeps me company when Boyd is at work!