Fall has arrived!

So, autumn is officially here and it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL here in Anchorage. I love seeing the mountains full of different colors of the trees- reds, browns, oranges, and yellows. The leaves are literally coming in through our door. 

I am LOVING anything pumpkin for the season of fall (and through Christmas) :).

I am amazed with the Lord and his creativity and imagination when it comes to the season of fall. 

I think fall is my favorite season!

I thought I would start off the season right with three different links to amazing fall recipes.

1) Veggie Chili

2) An autumn candy/ pretzel mix that is a super yummy party favorite

3) Chocolate Chip pumpkin muffins, of course! :)

If you could be in Anchorage, Alaska right now, all you would want to do is drive and drive and drive. My work recently had an event in Wasilla, AK which is right outside Anchorage so I got to drive and see how the trees look and the leaves falling. I LOVE it!

Psalm 104:24 "Oh Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom has thou made them all: the earth is full of your riches!

Try this amazing veggie chili recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/grandmas-slow-cooker-vegetarian-chili/

Chili is my favorite food so I am partial to it. This one is veggie so make sure you remember that to tell your husband :) 

This party mix has been an autumn hit: http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/10/06/better-than-bleep-halloween-candy-snack-mix/

And fall is not fall without pumpkin muffins of course! I like to add chocolate chips and walnuts or pecans. YUM.

Try this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins/

I hope you enjoy some of my favorite fall recipes!

Beautiful Alaskan Autumn.

I am so happy for the weather to be so beautiful! Means Tony and I can take walks in the leaves :)

Hope you are enjoying the autumn where you are.

More recipes and fall ideas to come!

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Goodbye, Summer!

So the word "frost" has been creeping up on weather news, as well as the word "snow on the mountains." Summer is officially over. 

With its farewell has come a lot of people at the work with the sniffles. My allergy medicine has been coming in handy :) It is a fierce and fast change of season. We went from "sandals are okay"/ "short sleeves are fine" to "you better bring a jacket and be wearing either rain or snow boots".

I never got to see this season in Alaska as I moved here last November. I do love Autumn, and will be posting some yummy pumpkiny recipes here pretty soon! 

The leaves are beautiful. Reds and oranges and yellows everywhere. The leaves have been coming straight through our apartment door. Autumn is here with style!

I think it is only fair to salute a proper goodbye to the days of summer. These are some of my favorite memories:

Taking hikes and seeing BEAUTIFUL landscapes.

Seeing the wildflowers of Alaska.

Going fishing for the first time.

Photo Ops.

Wading rivers.

Saying goodbye to Jessie as she starts college!

Roadtrips and scenic byways.

Happy Birthday Holly!

A much needed trip to Texas.

Aannd.. a visit from my best friend!

Hiking, biking, and camping in one trip :)

A fishing trip with my hubby.

Exploring.

Catching some fishies.

An airshow!

My first backpacking trip.

The biggest pumpkin I've ever seen!

Caught my first fish ever! A nice silver salmon.

A trip to Memphis, Tennessee and Graceland.

Olympics 2012.. Yes, please. Especially Gymnastics.

Sweet fellowship with our bible study group. Catherine and Tobi got married, and we all took a fishing trip!

I got some highlights!

I will miss this weather. A lot.

The most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

Sweet marriage. Hiking times together!

A memorable day long hiking trip along powerline pass with our married friends!

God, I am in awe of you.

Goodbye, Summer!

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Lessons on Patience

pa·tience

  [pey-shuhns] 

noun

1.

the quality of being patient,  as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss oftemper, irritation, or the like.

2.

an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness orannoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with aslow learner.

3.

quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence:to work with patience.

Yes, this is what the Lord is trying to teach me. All over the place. Everywhere.

Patience, patience, patience. 

And I'm not getting the message.

This is the par none, the hardest lesson for me to ever learn.

You see, contentment is the thorn in my side. It has been, and I'm afraid it always will.

I am a sinner. So, as you read, keep that in mind. This is how I see life often times: what do I want next? What could be better? What can I do right now to get the things I want (which I wish I had right now)? 

Tony is gentle with me and kind. He accepts that this is my struggle. He lovingly reminds me that we serve a Father who has our best in mind, who wants to shape and mold us for HIS glory and OUR good.

Some examples of my impatience:

1) Waiting in line 

2) Traffic

3) When things need to be fixed around the house

4) When I want something (Whether that be food because I'm hungry or thinking bigger: a different job, a puppy, babies...)

5) When technology doesn't go my way (i.e. my computer breaks down, my phone isn't working...)

6) When I cook. I want it to be ready fast and I don't want things to mess up

Yes, I am this impatient.

But the Lord is abundantly graceful. And unending in his forgiveness and love.

I am learning to accept my life exactly as it is, knowing that I serve a God who knows every hair on my head, every thought I've ever thought, everything I've ever wished for. 

God loves me so much, in fact, that He doesn't just give me the things I want when I want them.

He is trying to teach me to want Him and to want my life to be a story of his faithfulness. 

This is a lesson I am only just learning. I know God is real. I know He hears my innermost thoughts. I know He loves me. 

The main thing I'm learning in the midst of my sin and impatience is that, simply put, this life is NOT about me. AT ALL. It is about the Lord and HIS glory, not my own. I am a servant of a God who has proved to me his love for me, over and over. I trust Him. I want my life to point to Him and Him alone. 

Only when I let go of the things I want, my expectations, the things I think I want and desire and need and instead want the things of eternity do I truly rest in the Lord.

My goal: to hate my sin and saturate myself in the truth of God's word.

This is what the Lord says about patience:

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

"But you, oh Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15

"I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:15

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20

Oh for sweet grace, that in my sin the Lord rescues me and reminds me of His truth.

I know these lessons on patience will still continue. I pray I am willing to learn, open to the Lord's gentle reminders of his love for me.

Patience, let's dance you and I :)

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A Day at the Alaska State Fair

 This last weekend, Tony and I got to spend a day at the Alaska State Fair! The only other fair I've been to was the East Texas State Fair when I went down to go visit Tony in Tyler, TX at the Forge. So, this was new for me!

My experience included: the ferris wheel, fried food (of course!), the biggest pumpkin I've ever seen, and a livestock show which in Alaska means reindeer! Hello, Rudolph :)

We also got to watch a lumberjack show/ competition where professional competitive lumberjacks did some amazing stunts for us!

One of my favorite things was that I got to watch chickens hatch! There was an incubator and you could see the little chicks trying to get out of their eggs :) So cute!

Some inspiration for me: We watched a bread-baking contest and now I'm inspired to bake for next year's contest. Not sure what I will make yet... but I'll work on it!

Our Day at The Fair:

The LumberJack Show:

They raced up these wooden poles and they went crazy fast! It was amazing.

Hello, Babe :)

Rudolph!!

Got to see chickens hatching!! Adorable, I want one :)

Gobble Gobble

I got to see a 937 pound pumpkin!!! Crazy! There is a vegetable growing contest that blew my mind.

Looks like a good recipe:

Yum :)

So... I realized I'm kind of afraid of heights... especially when the ferris wheel stops at the top and we are just rocking back and forth...

Not sure how my dream of skydiving is going to work into this...

View from the top:

The bread baking contest:

The judges are pretty intense! Next year, I'm going to enter!

It was a very fun day at the Fair. It was rainy but we didn't let that stop us! My lesson learned: the fair isn't just for kids- there is an inner part of all of us that needs fried food and to ride rides. :)

The End.

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