Adoring Year 4

This year has officially begun and I am beyond excited to see what this year brings. I will be teaching 1st and 2nd grade this year with total of 6 students. I will also be teaching 3rd grade math, which means I will be able to see my kiddos from last year. It has been a blessing to see their smiling faces every day. I have learned an incredible amount of information throughout these past few years. I am beyond blessed to call this amazing place home. I will still be working on my masters classes and Lord willing will be coaching again. I don't doubt that this year has many surprises, twists, and turns. It's going to be a good one because I know that God has me where He wants me.

SCROLL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM FIRST AND WORK YOUR WAY UP

Artistic work of one of my kiddos.

 Everyone needs a brain break every now and then.

Back to my home base where the running is freeing and the sites are breathtaking.

Katmai was a crazy incredible time. I was able to collaborate with other teachers, spend time with friends that I only get to see twice a year, and challenge myself in having adventures. Overall, I caught 3 fish, saw 6 bears, 1 eagle, 1 moose, and 1 wolf. I can't believe that I was given this opportunity and live in such a beautiful state.

Bottom picture: I finally caught a chum after our guide came over, took  my pole, proceeded to throw the lure in, and catch it. I was excited yet discouraged. I wanted to catch my own fish and thankfully I ended up catching another 2 by myself. The next few pictures capture all my emotions of catching, touching, and trying to act calm while getting my picture taken with my first fish. 

  

Learning how to decorate a lure was never something that I thought I would do in my lifetime. I have never been fishing and I thought this was a good step in preparing me for the fishing excursion. 

Smallest international airport I have ever seen or flown out of!

Love when the girlies greet me when I arrive back in AK. Thanks Marisa and Kenzie Girl for picking me up and blessing me with a new notebook for coaching and this adorable sign!

Kayaking Excursion

It was incredible that I won this spectacular adventure and could bring these lovely ladies with me. This trip has been a long time in the making! So, if you knew me before I moved out here, you would have said that I am a city girl and I don't like camping. Well though that may have been true, I have recently come to realization that I want nothing in this life hindering me from going anyway or doing anything. Fear, personal reservations, or staying in my comfort zone is not something I want to do anymore. So here I am, asking to go camping. It was so remarkable to get out, catch my breath, and clear my head from the last month's schoolwork. I am looking forward to heading out again, potentially really soon. Change is underway and I accept.

As for the trip and everything we did, it included: boating, kayaking, camping, exploring, and spending quality time together. We first boated to a set of islands at the head of Lake Clark where we were dropped off. We then proceeded to kayak around the islands and explore what each one had to offer. We were able to enjoy the beauty that surrounded us where ever we looked. We ended up setting up camp on one of the islands and had an enjoyable time together. It is always humbling to see the vastness of the mountains and lake. The next morning we kayaked down to Kegik to be picked up due to choppiness of the water. It was a memorable experience for sure. Grateful for these friends!