walking in a winter wonderland

Emma's first time to play in the snow.  She loved it. She ate several amounts of it and laid down in it mostly. 

home for christmas

Today I am trying to stay positive.   Last week I called the passenger terminal on base and they said there was a C-5  flight to Wright Patterson Air Force Base(Dayton, Ohio) today.  Space available means if there is space available active duty members and their dependents can fly free on a military aircraft to wherever they are going.    The tickets this year for flights were outrageous from the start. They are always are during the holidays,  unless you leave for a month, and this year we were unable to do that because of Christmas events at the Chapel.   Commercial flights were starting at $700 per person, which adds up when you are buying for two.  $1400 for the cheapest flight. ugh. 

Yesterday, I called to check on the flight to Wright Patterson.  It had been cancelled with no indication why.  Probably the weather.  I am trying to be positive about staying in Alaska for Christmas, but I am such a Christmas lover. :)  I love being with my family.   We are half way through  our Alaska assignment.  We move in Summer of 2009.   I love living here, but it so hard to know you can't drive a few hundred miles and be home for the holidays.  I am used to that.  We will have a fun Christmas, because I won't allow myself to be sad the whole time.  I am just feeling upset today.

Where's the snow?

Our house in November before the snow melted...
Now in December... go figure
Emma is a huge Blues Clues fan. This is her scared look she learned off the show about feelings. 

The snow keeps missing Anchorage/Eagle River completely.  There are major storms to the west and also east of us.  We have high temps of 47 Saturday.  Strange Alaska weather.  Everyone is upset because they can't snowboard as much.  Hillburg and Alyeska ski resorts are making snow though.  Kyle will be out there this weekend probably. :)

my dream

Kyle is the duty Chaplain on call this week.  We were awakened early Sunday morning by a call.  There was a suicide attempt on base.  Unfortunately this is not the first time Kyle has received a call like this.  I tried to go back to sleep, I was upset and couldn't.  When I finally did I had an interesting dream.  I dreamed Kyle was visiting one of his squadron's and it was an Army squadron.  (Which in real life he would never  have an army squadron).  I was with him on visitation and for some reason there were fox holes and we looked into one and the guy was missing.  They finally found the guy alive but he had a gunshot wound and was bleeding.  Then they told me to go inside a nearby building.  It was a store like a Target or something like it.  There were a lot of other women  with me waiting, and then we started hearing gunshots going off.  I then did the only thing I knew to do, I found a nearby room and started praying like crazy! :)  The pentecostal was evident. ha  Then I woke up.  I didn't tell Kyle about the dream for quite some time yesterday, because it sort had me messed up.  I always analyze dreams and try to think of the hidden meanings. 

This week were also saddened by news that an Army chaplain had committed suicide.  We don't know him personally.  He was not in our denomination, but he worked closely with our AG endorser and had taught classes at AGTS.  He also had taught at West Point and was a very influential man.   Somehow life become more than he could bear and he decided to take his own life leaving behind a wife and five children.  

My dream and these situations made me evaluate how I treat life.  Life is such a gift.  What are we doing we the gift?  I think maybe I needed to have the dream to once again appreciate the gift I have in Kyle and my daughter, Emma.  To be thankful for every fun moment we have shared with our loved ones!  God has blessed us in more ways that I deserve for sure. 

It also made realize how many people are hurting during this Christmas season.  As we sing Joy to the World and read about Christ being our "Wonderful, Counselor and our Everlasting Father",   I want to also remember that "He was familiar with our griefs and carried our sorrows".  He knows our every pain and has experienced them as human flesh.   This Christmas I want to help those who maybe having a hard time this Christmas season.  Let them know that life is worth living- even though life brings pain- there is always hope in Christ. 

My dream only reminded me of how valuable my prayers are for Kyle.  I don't know who he will be helping today or tomorrow and he needs God's strength.