Dog Mushing

Here I am at the K300. That stands for Kuskokwim 300. It's a dogsled race- like the Iditiarod, but they race up the frozen Kuskokwim River instead. It was pretty darn cold that day, my hands were freezing even in my sealskin mittens. Alot of the racers had frozen beards as they went by. All the dogs had little booties on their feet so they wouldn't freeze and some of them even had jackets on. Honestly the dogs are a little dissapointing. I always imagined mushing dogs to be big Huskies or something, I don't know what these dogs are but they're surprisingly small. It was definitly a cool experience- Definitely not something I could have seen in Seattle.


I'm still really enjoying my job. Today was an especially good day. I just love being able to help people get what they need to live the best they can. It's so fulfilling to me, to be able to help coordinate people's care. I love being in the behavioral health setting, it's so fascinating to me and fun. I love the people that I work with true. Alot less stress than my previous position. I am so thankful for my previous position though because it really has helped having all those connections at the hospital! I kinda do miss drawing blood and stuff though... I know that sounds gross but it's true. :) I should be doing that at my job soon though, so I'm excited about that. haha I also miss the babies, but two of my friends up here are having babies this summer so I should get my fix then. And then one of my best friends at home is having a baby too, so I'll have a nephew soon! I'm super excited about that. Slightly bittersweet though because I wish I could be there to see him all the time. That's definitely the hardest part about being up here, missing out on daily thing with the people I love.
I'm so lucky to have my sister up here with me. She's doing really good. She's still working at the elementary school as a substitute. She's pretty much a permanant sub now, they really love her there- I'm so proud of her. She's fitting in so well, it really is amazing. Bethel isn't an easy place to live, especially for a city girl and she just goes along with everything. She takes the bus to work (it looks more like what we'd call a shuttle) and then walks home. Yup she's quite a trooper.
Her walk will be significantly shorter now that we're moving. We're pretty much looking forward to the move now. Not so much looking forward to the packing or even the unpacking but it will be nice to be in a new place, especially a 2 bedroom place.
Also I've been helping with the Awana's program at one of the churches in town. It's basically Sunday School/Children's church/boy and girl scouts on Tuesday nights. It's really fun. I take my friend's little cousin with me and it's been a really good time for us to hang out too. It's such a great opportunity to be able to love and pour into some really needy kids. Many of these kids see so much at such a young age, they have to grow up really fast. Most of their parents drink away their childhood- it's nice seeing them on Tuesdays being able to just be kids. And I just pray that the love we show them and the things we teach them will make a lasting impact. I pray that the memory verses that they learn will stick with them always. The word of God doesn't come back void right?!
We have lots to look forward too because my parents will be here in a few weeks, my best friend Corey comes in April and then two of my roomates from college will be here in May for my birthday! Isn't that wonderful! When I tell people about all my visitors they are amazed. People that have been here much longer than I say that they've never been able to get anyone to come visit them. So things are good.
Oh except one piece of really sad news. Skippy died. Yup the little fish in the middle of the picture. I was pretty tore up about it and I was kinda mad at Lenny and Reggie, I really don't feel that they mourned good enough. But I guess grief is subjective and only they truly know how they felt about it.
Talk to you guys soon...