Living The Dream

My Sons

2012-03-13T17:25:00.000-08:00

Is this a dream? Is it real? Is this really happening? Is this what an answered prayer is?

I'm blessed and happy to say: YES!!! This is what "Living The Dream" is all about. Alex and Dade are moving in with us for the 2012-2013 school year!!!

Alex, Dade, and Sienna will be home schooled and although Sienna already has a taste of what home schooling is like, in comparison to public and institutionalized school, all three kids are going to love home school this upcoming year.

This upcoming summer and school year is going to an overwhelmingly positive memory for all of the Breuker kids, and Eric and me too. We are so excited and happy to be able to have all four kids together for a school year, in Alaska, in home school.

Alex and Dade had the opportunity of a lifetime, and they seized this opportunity, jumping in with both feet. They won't ever regret this decision, and neither will Eric or I. I'm bursting with pride that Alex and Dade took advantage of an opportunity that most kids will never have the chance to experience.

Life is good. We are blessed beyond anything we deserve.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

Blessings Unlimited

2012-03-13T10:12:00.001-08:00

In 2010, I tried being an Independent Consultant for Discovery Toys. I absolutely love the educational toys and products they offer but, selling educational toys and products wasn't where my heart was.

I thought I was forever done with selling products as a "Independent Consultant" until I discovered Blessings Unlimited. Blessings Unlimited is a company owned by Dayspring and they offer a multitude of Christian gifts, books, home decor, etc.

I am excited to say that I am Blessings Unlimited's newest Independent Consultant!!!

My website is:

Liz Breuker- Independent Contractor for Blessings Unlimited

The Angry American

2012-03-03T19:49:00.001-09:00

A few months ago, I found this very unique blog about a American-native and her life as an Expat Parent in the UK. I always got a kick out of the comparisons and clashes in culture she'd write about. The last time I commented on any of her blog posts was a few months ago, when she mentioned something about Cadbury being more than the chocolate Easter egg company. Cadbury is practically a British chocolate empire, and us Americans only get to sample the Easter eggs. I thought, "Hey! I learned something!"

Then I made my fatal mistake. I commented on my discovery that Cadbury was more than the "chocolate Easter egg" company, clearly giving away my Americanism. Let me tell you, the comments that followed mine were astounding. And nasty. And they weren't from my fellow American brothers and sisters. I got the distinct hint that the world thinks that the United States of America is populated by ignorant, dirty, non-educated, always-sitting-in-the-outhouse-scratching-themselves dummies.

Yet, a few minutes ago, I look up this woman's blog and skim through it. Then I saw it. The post that stopped me dead in my tracks. I just had to read it. "Sh*t Americans Think About Living In The UK" (it was something like that). I thought to myself that maybe I'd get honest answers to the typical and curious questions that an American may have about the UK. (I've ALWAYS wanted to visit) In fact, I was so intrigued that I read all of the 31 comments under this particular blog post.

As I was reading, the loud and proud American in me wanted to choke the sh*t out of this traitor; this FORMER American; this insulting and disrespecting woman. Brits, Australians, and maybe even a Scottish woman too, commented, almost laughing through words about how stupid us Americans are. I wanted to write, "Did you ever think that we're only asking because of our curiosity and interest and the reason we mention London so much is because it's the only damned city we ever hear about in the States???"

Instead, I am taking to my blog to mimic her American-bashing post, except, it is I, the AMERICAN, that will be writing a few "Easter egg" statements to the world!

SH*T FOREIGNERS ASK AND SAY ABOUT AMERICANS

"What's New York City like?"

(I've been there a handful of times and it's constantly busy. Most of the American population hasn't visited the City.)

"Wow, you're not fat?"

(Open your eyes. Is 5'8", 135 lbs., FAT to you???)

"Why are you all so angry all the time?"

(Mmm, it has something to do that we're not "Free" anymore, and we're in debt up to our eyeballs because of our garbage President [to be continued]...)

"I love Barack Obama."

(Really? I don't. Live here. You won't like him much either. Over 15 TRILLION dollars in debt, he apologizes to the world and caves to foreigners, and wants to take away our very basic FREEDOMS. And on top of it, he has a personal agenda to run our nation into the ground all the while getting his rich friends even richer with his Obamacare bullsh*t. There's a damn good reason Americans say, "... Pry my guns out of my dead, cold hands.")

"You actually LIKE guns?"

(Yes. We also love blowing sh*t up.)

"That sucks that you actually have to pay health insurance."

(Yes, it does. But not all private health insurance plans are horrendous. It IS costly but if one were to think for a split second, they'd realize that the cost is astronomical because of the state of our economy... And with the US 15 TRILLION in the hole, all I can say is- embrace the suck. All of you "Hopey Changey" people got what you voted for.)

"You're arrogant."

(Wrong. I'm proud to be an American. Because that's what I AM.)

"You think you're better than everyone."

(Again, wrong. The US is the envy of the world because of ALL we have to offer. And our National Pride isn't arrogance. Most of us KNOW how blessed we really are, and we will not hide our gratefulness and happiness.)

"Have you seen the movie Titanic?"

(Yes. It's too long.)

"You smell like fat and butter."

(This was actually spoken by a Korean soldier, to American soldiers, during a introduction meeting on Camp Mobile, Korea [my 2nd tour]. I wanted to casually mention that a lot of Koreans smell like they've slept in rice patty dung and took a Kimchi bath before PT that morning, in foggy humidity, when it's 90*F, while the city sewers feel the need to expel it's gas while we're on a six mile run. I'm extremely curious HOW a Korean soldier can smell fat and butter under the layers of cabbage and sh*t.)

"Do you all say 'ask' like 'axe'?"

(No, we don't. If you can come up with an explanation as to why ANYONE on the planet says this, please let me know.)

Why do you have your flag everywhere?"

(Better question- "Why don't you have your flag everywhere?")

"You haven't lost your house yet?"

(Why would I have lost my house? ... Something you know that I don't?)

"The trouble with America is..."

(Americans are the ONLY ones permitted to say this. I'm not going to target a Mongolian and say to them, "The trouble with Mongolia is...)

"Why do you think you can be the World Police?"

(Riiiight. I LOVE being 15 TRILLION dollars in debt, my kids' future mortgaged because of two Presidents, seeing reports about my fellow Army brothers and sisters KIA, having our useless, corrupted, and worthless Federal gov't pay Hugo Chavez for oil that we could be drilling right here in America... Oh, and that whole thing about China practically owning my country. World Police? I think not.)

- and -

"How do you feel about 9/11?"

(How do you feel about a knuckle sandwich? Do you REALLY have to ask?)

I'm extremely proud to be an American. And I always will be.

"These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve."
President George W. Bush; September 11, 2001

God Bless America.

I'm From The Country, And I Like It That Way

2012-03-02T12:36:00.001-09:00

"I'm from the country, and I like it that way. Everybody knows everybody, everybody calls ya friend..." I love that song by Tracy Byrd.

Just a few moments ago, as I was out on my deck ~~taking a fresh air break~~ smoking, this song randomly popped up in my mind. Why? Because I saw a big pile of moose droppings, close to my back yard fence. Naturally, I thought to myself, "Mmm! Lookit 'at raht 'ere, 'at sumbitch came awful close to uh fence". My friends, this isn't "gangsta" or urban-talk. This is the language of "Hick".

Yes, I'm a Hick. I come from the sticks in Maryland, and have long attempted to diminish and exterminate this part of myself, well... Completely change who I am. Eleven years later, it just isn't happening.

I remember a few years ago, I heard a Sara Evans song on the radio while in the car with Jen (best friend EVER), and I asked if "Suds In The Bucket" was new. Needless to say, Jen was quite amused at my lack of country know-how. I had stopped faithfully listening to country music constantly when I went into the Army, and I was severely estranged from my roots.

In my humble opinion, country music today compared to country music 20 years ago... It stinks. Carrie Underwood is such a breath of fresh air! I still love Toby Keith, even though "Red Solo Cup" is no "I Should Have Been A Cowboy" (but still so dang catchy!), but I miss old Reba, Shania Twain's novelty, and of course, Garth Brooks. Eh, I still feel justified from separating myself from today's country music scene. From time to time, I crank up bluegrass, and I tell ya, it's like the instant disappearing act. Poof! Eric is nowhere to be seen! I turn bluegrass off and, poof! Eric appears again. HOW anyone can dislike bluegrass... I just don't know. Then again, this may be one of my natural Hick outlooks on life.

But the Hick attitude? It is everlasting, despite the downward spiral of country music. "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl." ... Couldn't be any more true. I've been described as loud, overbearing, aggressive, in-your-face, intimidating, overly-animated and undecipherable. "What'd she just say?" "Can you please repeat that?" And the all-encompassing, smile-and-nod... I get that a lot. It doesn't help that I can almost see the non-Hick population's hair blow back as I'm talking to them, or as I've been told many times in the past, yelling at them.

Yelling? Meeeeee? No way! I don't yell. I "enunciate". In fact, I think I enunciate so effectively, I can practically give you a trim every six weeks if you don't want to pay for a haircut. I'm sure I break the sound barrier, thus splitting hairs, with my supposed "yelling". Eh, leas' 'at wut I been told...

For some reason, us Hicks feel that if the non-Hick can't understand us, the louder we become, the easier it is for them to understand us. This works when Hicks are talking with each other. As we're "enunciating" our view points (talking over one another, all the while becoming louder and louder), it's like watching The View. Five people rambling all at once and somehow, when the conversation quiets, everyone knows what was said. Jus' how it is...

Then, when I a Hick becomes angry, the smile-and-nod is in full-effect. I have ignorantly defended my Hick status for years, by saying, "Ah don' have 'n accent"... Mmm, palm to forehead moment. I know what I'm saying, it's only that I never realized that I sound like Boomhauer as I'm ranting. Mmm, well idint 'at sum'in. Non-Hick translation: Isn't that something.

I could provide a Hick-English dictionary right now, but I should save that for another blog. That in itself will take me hours.

I have now realized that I can't escape my roots, but rather embrace who I am and stop running away from it. Dade tries to correct me every time I say the word "water". He says I say it like "wuuter". I say he says it Michigander-like- "waaah-ter". Eh, tomat-ah (Hick), toma-toh (non-Hick).

Whenever you and I are engaging in a passionate, upbeat conversation, and you encounter me as a yelling Boomhauer, please take no offense. It's just me, the forever Hick.

I'm from the country...

... And I like it that way.

If You're From Maryland, This Isn't Unusual, It's Decorative Lawn Art

Road Trip

2012-02-21T20:56:00.000-09:00

This past Friday, the entire Breuker clan (including Jake and Hope) piled in the truck and drove to Anchorage. I had a sleep study appointment Friday night and after it became obvious that there was no way for me to make it to Fairbanks in time to catch a 8 a.m. flight (we would have had to leave Delta at 4:30 a.m.), we made the impromptu decision to make my sleep study appointment as "reason enough" for us to take a family trip.

The scenery is beyond words. The 703 pictures I took do not adequately encapsulate the truth. The pictures themselves are breathtaking and beautiful, but they're lying. To be in Alaska in person, the surroundings mute and inescapably humbling, and think that a picture will appropriately convey the truth? No. Not even close.

We are blessed beyond anything we deserve.

Numbers 6:24-26

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Delta Junction; 8 a.m.

Hope Was Ready For An Adventure!
Delta Junction; 8 a.m.

South Of Fort Greely

Alaska Range

North Of Paxson; This Mountain Is Enormous

Eric Gathering Fresh Alaskan Spring Water

Eric

Jake & Sienna

Emma

Rest Stop South Of Paxson

Driving South Into The Matanuska-Susitna Valley

Mendeltna, AK

Palmer, AK

Chugiak, AK

Sunset In Anchorage

Sunrise In Anchorage

Anchorage

Emma & Me In Anchorage

Sunrise Seen From the Anchorage VA Hospital

This Is What We Were Served At The Wasilla, AK McDonald's
Look! It's Not Slop Thrown In A Bag!
And, They're NICE There!

Ravens In Alaska Are Gigantic; Wasilla, AK

Driving To Palmer From Wasilla

Mat-Su Valley

Eric In The Mat-Su Valley

Me In The Mat-Su Valley

Sienna & Me

This House In Sutton, AK Is LITERALLY Buried In Snow

Mat-Su Valley

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

2012-02-15T11:40:00.001-09:00

I know that there are some things in life that I am just no good at. For example, civilian life. Ya know, no biggie... I can not and do not let my hectic and chaotic childhood serve as wisdom or guidance for being an adult; my backbone and life reference is the United States Army. Come to find out, not everyone in the United States thinks like its military! Another thing I learned? The American People (civvies, that is) doesn't appreciate or approve of four-letter words peppered heavily in every conversation, between every friend, every day... I've curbed my cussing by A LOT since having Sienna, but, the F-word hasn't escaped my vocabulary yet. I'm trying.

Korea 2003

Unfortunately, the United States Armed Forces and the United States civilians are totally and completely estranged from one another and no matter how many times it's claimed or how many pictures a service member or veteran sees of patriotism and appreciation, the service member or veteran questions it, and to a certain degree, believes it to be lies. All lies. Why do you think there's so many crusty old, curmudgeon-like vets out there??? (Yes, I will be one of them in my old age)

The service member or veteran knows what the true meaning of politicking is: lying! I remember being stationed 11 miles south of North Korea (Tongduchon, ROK) in 2006 when Kim Jong-Il was about to put this top secret missile in the air and my mother writing and calling me, worried. The American media basically, well, um... lied. Whatever politicking went on in DC and was subsequently spewed to the country, was based in lies and delusions rather than reality. What was happening on the Korean Peninsula, and what was being reported in the States, was a stark contrast of truth and lies.

Add up many of these types of variable examples over say, one enlistment, or a 20 year career, and a person is changed. After awhile, all I knew was Army. When Eric and I left Active Duty in 2007, I know that civilian life terrified me because I had no accurate gauge of what being a civilian was. I was able to wear my hair and nails however I wanted, put any color of makeup on my face, wear my own clothes, turn off my cell phone, and on some days, I could actually have a second cup of coffee at breakfast. "Swallow it now, taste it later" is commonly uttered by... "higher". I always wanted to ask "higher" by pointing out common sense: If another national tragedy were to occur, are the infidels really going to monitor whether or not I'm on my first or second cup of coffee? Why the **** do I need to be in the motor pool at 0830, cutting my short breakfast even shorter? Only to wait for the motor sergeant to literally open a drawer that none of us grown adults are allowed to open, so we could go through ~~Hell~~ the process of dispatching vehicles?

In order for a civilian to begin to attempt to grasp the world that is Army, they'd just have to enter military service and find out for themselves. There's a saying, "All the good ones get out". That couldn't be any more true. There comes a time when maturity and the desire for pursuit of happiness ranks above blindly following orders. The politicking and parade rest and attention, all of it gets old, and it gets old fast. A lot of people simply grow out of military life, wishing to begin anew as a civilian.

Two-Day-Old Sienna; She Was Born Days Before My ETS

I haven't been Active Duty Army in nearly five years, and I'm still clueless about many, many things. Like I said before, I'm no good at life- civilian life, that is.

Through becoming a mother and taking my childhood public education into consideration (which I detested), I lobbied and passionately poured my heart out to Eric about not sending Sienna and Emma to public school. So, by an absolute miracle, I found Imagine and Learn. Imagine and Learn is a Montessori preschool and I was taught about all that Montessori is. I was amazed, grateful, and so happy to learn that there are actually other parents in the U.S. that think the way I do! The need, passion, and interest in retaining as much control over our children's education as possible, instead of shuffling them off to an institutionalized school with fancy accreditation and labels.

I believe the need for personal control is so great once a service member becomes a veteran, that civilian life reality can be pushed out of reach. I, for one, over think a lot ~~everything humanly possible~~. I constantly have Mind-Vomit (my friend Nicki's blog... Check her out, she's awesome!). An example? My house is empty. Picture a two-story, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, house... Empty. My house is empty partly because of the weather- it's just too cold to have the house repainted and then subsequently put new furniture in the rooms, we're now used to Alaska prices, our budgets have been readjusted, and now, we wait for spring. That, and one little ol' thing. I can't decide on ANYTHING. In the Army, it's Hot A's or... starve. It's eating whatever the cooks in the MKT prep, or... starve. Eat the s**t in front of you, or... starve. Life at it's simplest.

Decorating a big, beautiful home is a much more daunting and terrifying task than furnish or... leave the house empty. I finally have control over one more thing in my life! And this freedom is scary. In the barracks or military housing, I never decorated. Why? Just wasn't my house and Army housing is the slums. Never had to think twice about it. Never had to think twice about being an MP. Never had to think twice about following orders, no matter how insane they were (I was notified literally one hour before being promoted to NCO- I was ordered to have perfectly creased BDU's and blingin' boots for this ceremony that everyone but me knew about), never had to think twice about military oppression. Hence the term "service". Then, poof! DD 214. I've said it once and I'll say for eternity: the DD 214 is the Holy Grail of military paperwork. The discharge paper. If my personal arsenal of DD 214 copies dips below, eh, 20 copies, panic and terror ensues and I'm out buying ink cartridges. Yeah, it's that important.

Fast forward from Army service to today. Sienna's and Emma's birthday invitations came in the mail yesterday and I've addressed them to everyone, and now I'm at a complete standstill. Their birthday party is on April 7th, but... When is it appropriate to hand them out to Sienna's schoolmates and others? Okay. Roughly seven weeks before the party. Too soon to pass them out? Is it inappropriate to put the invites in the kids' cubbies at school? Was it insensitive of me to extend the option of RSVP'ing to me by text message? Am I doing any of this normal, civilian, mommy, school, birthday party, stuff right? Or is everyone watching me fumble and smooth myself out around the edges and people here in Alaska are totally amazing and patient and kind???

Sienna has never had constant and steady and GOOD friends before. All of this is new for our family. Whenever I tell someone that I "can't handle life" that day, I'm not trying to overdramatize. Trust me, I'm silently freaking out about the eensy-teensy things. Like when to pass out birthday invitations. Or in a local restaurant. "Am I gauche?" is a thought that crossed my mind for about... the first five minutes I was in Alaska. Thankfully, Carhartt's and boots is perfectly acceptable in the finest of restaurants here (what I like to think of as common sense).

The Breuker's, December 2011

I am a VERY loud, boisterous, animated, passionate, story-teller of a person. I talk to people easily. I am not reserved; I am not quiet. So, I ask of you, if I'm quiet in public, running errands or out and about, and I don't happen to tell you the story of my life that day, please don't think I'm unapproachable or anti-social. I'm just having an anxiety attack about whether or not to distribute birthday invitations nearly two months in advance, whether or not the stranger I talked to at the gas pump thinks I'm a total freak for maybe something I said that could have possibly been misconstrued into insanity and craziness (for my lack of civilian know-how), or if people think I'm insane for answering the question, "Why did you decide to move to Alaska?" with, "I honestly have no idea".

Moon Rings, Seen From My Deck in Fall 2011

As I navigate through a stable civilian life in Alaska, I hope you realize that I truly cherish the small things, love my family with everything I have, and I don't really care about social grace. I'm merely trying to get by with a little help from my friends.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T11:58:00.000-09:00

Although Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday, it's still fun to celebrate every year. I am racked with immense guilt this Valentine's Day because Sienna had Valentine's Day crafts to make at school, and... I literally couldn't get out of bed. I couldn't move my back or my neck because of the pain and of course, when Eric is working, I am the closest thing to being a single parent imaginable. About 1 1/2 hours ago, I finally rose and painfully traipsed around my house.

I hope Sienna forgives me for not taking her to school today; she was so looking forward to it. Maybe we'll have a Valentine's lunch in town and hopefully I can convince Sienna to be my Valentine. But first and foremost, I'm going to attempt to get out of this chair!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!

Dancing With Jesus

2012-02-11T19:25:00.004-09:00

As if anyone cares what I have to say right now...

Don't You Just Want To Smile With Her?

Just a few short hours ago, the planet lost one of God's most visible, tangible, human gifts- legend Whitney Houston. When celebrities die, I, as I'm sure like most, pause for a moment of respect and remembrance. Sometimes, I become angry, as I was when I learned of Amy Winehouse's death. "Damn it Amy, WHY? Why the drugs? Why the alcohol? You're too damned young."

I cried when I learned of Princess Diana's death- I was 14 years old. Cried. Like. A. Baby. Not because of her Royalty, not because I literally, literally grew up with her- seeing her on the tabloid stands since I was a tot, but because of her remarkable compassion and humanity. An amazing human being.

Yet, a few hours ago? Anxiety stabbed my heart as I gasped at the FOXnews.com Breaking News ticker, "Whitney Houston Dead At 48". God, no. Isn't she clean? Isn't she healthy now? She's a mother. Oh my word, she's not even a grandma, is she? How is her daughter?

I was born in 1983 and grew up with Whitney Houston's voice. Any time I heard about her, I perked up and paid attention. I loved her. She was so lovable.

Rack your brain. Can you think of anyone who has ever lived, that can sing the United States National Anthem BETTER than Whitney Houston? Remember that? 1991... Remember???

Whitney Houston Sings the National Anthem

The definition of "being able to sing" IS Whitney Houston. Kesha, Britney Spears, Madonna- not even close. Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks- up there. Mariah Carey- almost on the same level as Whitney Houston. In my lifetime, I've never heard anyone sing so passionately and so well as she could. It's also making me crazy that I'm writing about a woman who has brightened my life so much, in the past tense. Crying like a baby... Again.

No singer in this world has ever amounted to remotely resembling talent that is Whitney Houston. She didn't need glitz and glamour.

She was a child of God. Now, she is singing and dancing with Jesus.

God said it was time.

We will mourn her. The legend that is and will always be.

Ready For The Weekend

2012-02-10T15:43:00.001-09:00

Thank Goodness It's Friday! Woo hoo!!!

The temperature right now in Delta is 42*F and yes, windows are open in my house. Feels incredible.

The Dish Network installation man is here right now installing the dishes and will be finished in a few hours. Not to mention, he's very nice and Dish Network is much more transparent and honest than DirecTV!

The Festival of Lights begins here in Delta tonight and I'm really looking forward to it.

As of today, we now have over eight hours of daylight- this is GREAT!

The Fort Greely bowling alley is reserved for Sienna's and Emma's birthday party, birthday invitations have shipped to my house, and all that's left is to buy the Angry Birds birthday party decor, and the girls' cakes.

Laundry is almost done, sorted, and put away.

The Relay For Life team I'm a part of, FGPD Blue Light Special, has raised $275 in a matter of THREE DAYS. We are well on our way of surpassing our $1,000 goal!

Eric took Sienna to school today (thank you!) and Emma has been a little ham all day. Emma also went down for a nap easily this afternoon.

I'm now researching intensely colors to paint the entire house in this spring. I have realized that the allergen-resistant type paint will cost much more per gallon but hey, Sienna is allergic to dogs, so... What can we do...

I'm also researching mantles and stands for our TV in the living room. And I think I've found some perfect sconces for the living room as well.

If the weather keeps up, we'll be able to go shooting tomorrow. It's been months since I've shot, and I really want to get outside. Cabin fever stinks!

Being able to get out and about is very nice and Eric, Sienna, and Emma love it too. We truly are outdoorsy people.

I hope everyone is having a great Friday like we have had so far!

Emma Sitting On The Dragon Ice Sculpture At The Visitor's Center

Sienna's Turn

Sunrise Seen From Nistler Road

Very, Very Windy On Nistler Road

Sunrise Seen From Clearwater Road

Sunrise Seen From The Alaska Highway

Very Serene Landscape

Beautiful Alpenglow On The Alaska Range

Alaska Range

I Live Here!!!

Visitor's Center in Delta Junction

Daybreak Seen From My House

Raspberry Road, Midday

Intersection of Tanana and Caribou in Delta Junction

Caribou Avenue

At The Rest Stop Just North Of Fort Greely

Alaska Range

Miss Moose Is Back! Look At Hope, Thinking She's Really Going To Do Something To That Moose

Hope Is So Happy To Defend Her Home!

Such A Proud Puppy!

Visitor's Center In Delta Junction

Sunrise Seen From My Backyard

Jake Loves Eric So Much

I Can't Believe That Emma Is Almost 3

Midday, Seen From My Backyard

I Know You Can Do It

2012-02-07T18:38:00.001-09:00

Today, I was invited to join the FGPD Blue Light Special, Relay For Life team. I happily and proudly joined, and now I invite and ask you to join and please donate to our team. Delta Junction kicks off our Relay For Life at 6 p.m. on May 11, 2012.

Here's our team page:

FGPD Blue Light Special

Think about it?

If you don't want to physically participate, even a small $10 helps purchase microscope slides, instrumental in cancer research.

When you donate through our Relay For Life team page, your donation is tax-deductible, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to choose to list your name on our team page!

No matter how much you choose to give, next to your chosen donation amount, a blurb will inform you how your loving, giving, and charitable donation will be used.

Our team goal is $1,000. I know we will surpass our goal because I know a lot of amazing and caring people that want to do something for an incredibly honorable cause. And I have all the faith in the world that there are that many more people here in the Delta-Greely area that would love to get involved!

And what's better than getting involved in and donating to a cause totally dedicated to kicking cancer's butt?!?!

You guys rock, I mean it.

Another Day, Another Dream

2012-02-06T16:45:00.000-09:00

Good Morning Emma!

HEAT WAVE!

The Sun Is Out!

Hope, Having Fun

Jake Has Had Enough

She's Always In The Mood To Play Fetch!

I Love My Puppy

Mommy & Emma Being Goofy

Silly, Silly Emma!

Hi!

Mid-Day, Looking at the Alaska Range, From Delta Junction, AK

This Is My Life

Emma & Sienna Caught Off-Guard

Someone Needs A Nap...

My Sweet Sienna

My-Almost-Five-Year-Old Baby Sienna

Peace

2012-02-05T15:17:00.001-09:00

As Eric and I stood on our porch late last evening, a whistling wind howled, replacing the silence we heard moments before. At that moment, I suddenly came to grips with that we live on top of the world.

I appreciate living in Delta so much more because the other day, I visited Anchorage for the first time. No thanks, keep it to yourselves. Anchorage is a sprawling metropolis whereas Delta is slightly more than mere nothingness. I cherish and treasure the plethora of vast greatness, all a gift of God's beauty.

I always wanted to "get away from it all", and away from it all I got. I love Alaska, I love Delta, and I love the people. I finally have peace on earth.

John 1:16 "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another."

Changes

2012-01-28T14:21:00.002-09:00

What a week.

January 28, 2012
Delta Junction, AK
Photo Taken By & Snagged
From My Friend On Facebook

Earlier this morning, it was -60*F here in Delta. I felt it and saw it inside my house. We keep the heat at 68*F inside and last night, the thermostat read 68*F, but what it really felt like was... Cold. The doorknob on my front door is iced over, inside, our windows has about 3/4 inch of ice and frost coated around the seals, inside, and wearing a hoodie never felt so good.

The other day, I log on to Facebook, and see that my cousin accepted my friend request. I have searched for her and my aunt for nearly two decades and I chatted with my cousin for a bit online and then texted with my aunt. I was on the verge of tears for those few hours because I was so happy. I still am! I also talked with one of the boys I grew up with in Maryland for a few hours on the phone. It was so good to hear his voice!

Eric is talking and dealing with a salesman with Seekins Ford in Fairbanks so we can unload our two vehicles for possibly a Ford F150. Slashing vehicle debt for something that is naturally durable (every American knows of Ford's reputation) will be nice. I love Alaskans- this gentleman in Fairbanks knows we live in Delta and is doing everything to work the best deal with Eric, over the phone.

I'd Be Having A Party

On another note, I want to make clear that I am not speaking politically whatsoever when I say: Big Bank in the United States is the Devil. I absolutely adore, respect, and love talking with and seeing the ladies that work for Wells Fargo here in Delta. But dealing with fiscal inquiries at the corporate level? My throat was raw from screaming at the evasive idiot on the phone. I actually flipped my lid and lost it. I was assessed a fee for absolutely nothing and when I demanded my money back, Wells Fargo "offered as a courtesy" to refund half of the money they stole from me. Courtesy? I told the woman that she is psychotic if she in her heart of hearts believes that to be true. Whatever nasty, vile, hateful expletive you can imagine, I very well may have screamed it at the bot on the phone.

My point? Credit unions and local banking truly is the way to go. On February 1, I am proud to announce that Eric and I will become the newest clients of Mt. McKinley Bank. Sienna and Emma will have some sort of Youth Savings with Mt. McKinley Bank, and I'm so excited that I found out only six months into having this banking relationship with Wells Fargo to learn that Big Bank will chew you up and spit you out and tell you that it's all your fault. Buh-bye Big Bank!

Sienna and Emma are napping and Eric's off to Ft. Greely to check the mail. I, on the other hand, will continue to sit and do nothing like I have all day. The older I get, I realize that I can't monopolize illness. This infection or illness that I've got owns me right now.

I'm grateful to God that if I'm going to be sick and practically immobile when it's 60 below outside, I can be sick in my house that retains heat perfectly.

The girls are napping, the TV is off, Jake and Hope are sleeping, and I'm a 130 pound paperweight today. Perfect day for serenity and a perfect day for endless coffee.

Going On A Field Trip

2012-01-24T11:56:00.000-09:00

Living in Delta Junction, Alaska has incredible perks... and some quirks as well. Living here is a gigantic change from my childhood, spent in Ijamsville, Maryland. Ijamsville is roughly 30 miles northwest of D.C. I grew up in the country but the nearest city with luxurious amenities is Frederick. 15 minutes down the road and the mechanic, grocery store, Target, Walmart, and anything else one would need to shop for is at immediate disposal.

In Delta, there is IGA (which is extremely expensive), three gas stations, a medical clinic, post office, a handful of local restaurants, and a few mechanics. Not much else is here. And I love it. However, in Maryland, there is a seemingly never-ending economic boom. The countryside I enjoyed as a child has been replaced with hustle and bustle, business, extensive housing, new schools, and as I like to call it- a unstoppable invasion of craziness, courtesy of D.C.

Instead of driving 15 minutes to Frederick, a once-nothing Urbana is only five minutes away, and now possesses and boasts a self-sustaining community. For my Alaskan friends, imagine Delta becoming exactly like Anchorage in a short span of ten years. For my friends and family still in Maryland, I don't know how you do it.

Urbana, MD Landscape Before The "Invasion"
Early 1990's

Urbana, MD
Present Day

This Is What I See Every Day Of My Life
Viewing the Alaska Range from Delta Junction, AK

Delta is scarce, remote, and quiet. During wintertime, going to Sam's Club, Fred Meyer, or Walmart in Fairbanks is a 2 1/2 hour commute each way. Planning a day trip to Fairbanks is all-inclusive: leave early in the morning, write down everything to do and everywhere to go, and plan to be out and about all day long. In Ijamsville, there's no need to make plans- Urbana is five minutes away.

I have happily given up rural-turned-urban life for what I have now: total peace. I just had to move 4,100 miles away to get it. And I've never been happier. Onto planning our family outing in Fairbanks on Friday...

Blessings

2012-01-21T14:16:00.004-09:00

The Tax Man

There are times when I can slip into self-pity, and I've been in a funk for about a week. "If only I could pay off my mortgage faster, if only I didn't have to pay for auto insurance, if only I could furnish my house all at once..." Another kick to the face for me was discovering that we barely missed the First Time Homebuyer Credit- all $8,000 of it. And there's the United States tax code. Makes me never want to file. A guaranteed yearly migraine- no matter how simple the returns will be.

Then there's Eric and I regaining control of all of our finances. We decided that we do not want "auto-pay" on any of our bills. We decided that it's much, much better to write checks and pay everything in cash (as we've been doing for a long time with most things). We do not use debit cards and we do not have credit cards and, WOW. Creditors throw the biggest hissy fits and give the ultimate guilt trip when a customer says- "Take me off of auto-pay, I'll be mailing in my payments from now on." It's unbelievable how angry and upset they become when I revoke their control over my bank account.

January has been a turbulent month for me because of all of these changes. I'm amazed at how much these corporations want control of my money. They fought me tooth and nail; our auto insurance company told Eric that we have to have one month's insurance payment in reserve if we choose to mail in payments rather than be on their automatic payment plan (to "protect" us if we fail to make a timely payment... can we say, CON ARTIST?), and I've been receiving a lot of "reminders" from the banks for our truck and car loans, since I stopped auto-pay.

This is how I envision Big Bank
& Big Corporate

I'm fulfilling their demands by playing their game and when I simply tell them, "no problem, I'll do what you want", they try conning me again into giving them my banking information. No, thank you! I am going to sit around on this lazy Saturday, relishing in the fact that these creditors are beyond scared.

I will sit around today, griping about taxes, lounging around and not doing much of anything. I will also sit around knowing that I live in Alaska, I have a great husband, two angels for daughters, an amazingly beautiful home, two reliable vehicles, and peace and more freedom. Whenever I become grumpy and agitated, I look outside and I am reminded of where I live. Knowing that it's extremely cold outside as I'm gazing at beautiful Alaska, sipping my delicious coffee in my warm house, hearing Eric turn the pages in his book, as I listen to my girls play happily. I have until April to answer to Uncle Sam and Big Bank is on my time now. Feels fantastic.

Time for another cup of coffee...

I Am ANGRY, And You Should Be Too

2012-01-17T21:58:00.003-09:00

I am mad, fed up, disgusted, and have felt for a long time that I've been backed into a corner. I am strong-willed, passionate, and am very persistent. Do you know what SOPA and Protect-IP is? Do you know what the House of Representatives and Congress are preparing to vote on in the very near future? CENSORING AND BLOCKING WEBSITES TO AMERICANS, under the guise of "protecting" us from overseas piracy. Seemingly, the only morons who are for this legislation is entertainment industry, favoring protection of "intellectual property". Hopefully, the American People can remind these delusional idiots (Hollyweird and the Republican Texas Rep. that dreamt this up) that that is the risk one takes when deciding to have an online presence. I do not need a "thought police" telling me how to live and what I should and should not be doing online.

Today, I called Senator Mark Begich's DC office and let one of his very nice staffers know briefly what I thought about SOPA and Protect-IP, wrote him a email detailing EXACTLY what I think about it, along with gun ownership rights. I have also requested a meeting with him to discuss the future of America.

I sent a email to Congressman Don Young and have also requested a meeting with Senator Lisa Murkowski, along with writing her an email as well.

All three members of Alaska's representation know point-blank how I feel, what I think, and how damned angry I am about many things.

I deeply encourage you to get involved, no matter what state you live in. I will delete my Facebook, twitter, blog, and email accounts, then promptly call Alaska Communications to cancel my Internet service contract. This will be my last blog entry if this insane legislation passes.

WE THE PEOPLE!!!

Contact Senator Mark Begich

Contact Senator Lisa Murkowski

Contact Congressman Don Young

Google: End Piracy, Not Liberty Petition

No Rush

2012-01-16T13:08:00.007-09:00

Being impatient. Doesn't exist here in Delta Junction. Today is MLK day and obviously, the federal government is closed. But, so is almost everything else in Delta. I'm shocked and happy that it's no big deal that small businesses close on holidays and tend to not stay open late on the night before a holiday in attempt to make a few extra bucks.

Family and tradition reign here and it's nice to get back to the basics. In the Lower 48, it is the norm for a lot of businesses to stay open on holidays, to include Christmas, for greed. Is it absolutely necessary to stay open on Christmas? No, not at all. Although I disagree that MLK day should be a federal holiday and federal employees should have the day off, it is a holiday nonetheless and small businesses in Delta respect that.

In the Lower 48, spoiled and impatient people would have a conniption fit if they were visiting Delta today. I know that the three gas stations are open, and... I'm not even sure if IGA is open. If not, I can wait. Nothing is falling behind because of the closures and no one is holding their breath in anticipation for life to resume normal operation tomorrow.

Today is a calm and relaxing day to spend with family and friends. I love that money isn't the object of affection in Delta. God, family, and friends is the life to be desired and I think that today is a day to be enjoyed by all.

I'm having a great time slowing down, taking it easy, and vegging out- knowing that Delta is more than likely doing the same thing as me. Absolutely nothing. Who doesn't have patience for that?

I Have Always Gone My Own Way

2012-01-13T14:56:00.003-09:00

My life is a polar contrast to a politically-fed American standard. Sometimes, I feel that I'm a housewife in 1952 and that today isn't 2012. Although I didn't attend school in one town for my entire childhood, didn't attend college for four years right out of high school, and I'm not a high-profile fashionista or big-time executive, I am content of my hard-work and for better or worse, the choices I've made for my life.

I was born and raised in Maryland- the country, yet still in the DC Metro area, went to three elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. I didn't even graduate in Maryland- I graduated on Long Island. I went back to Maryland after I graduated and tried the college thing for less than one semester: I didn't have the patience, interest, intestinal fortitude, nor the proper discipline for traditional education at a "place of higher learning".

I cherish, treasure, and respect educated people, it's just that I've never been one to fit in with "thinkers" and white collar living. I come from the sticks, I like getting muddy, I like shooting, riding four-wheelers, fishing, and hunting. I'm the epitome of blue-collar. In contrast, these are not the reasons or qualities within myself of which I attributed my life-changing decision to enlist in the United States Army.

I enlisted in the Army at the beginning of February 2002. I flunked out of college, I was a dishwasher at a local restaurant, had no steady plans for anything worthwhile, was extremely eager to get away from my entire family (we've always had contentious relationship), and most importantly and influential: September 11, 2001. Come February 20, 2002, I was in Missouri for training and Basic Training is how I began my life as an adult.

Because of my service to my country, it is not mandatory for my family for me to hold down full-time employment, for Sienna and Emma to be latchkey children, for my girls to be forced to go to public school, or be stuck living in an area I loathe. I've periodically asked myself under the blanket of guilt if my service meant anything to my country or my family. Through satisfied eyes, I know that the answer is: yes.

Eric and I earned the beautiful home we live in, we earned living in Alaska, we earned flexibility and comfort, and Sienna and Emma benefit from Daddy's and Mommy's military service.

I was born an outsider. Going with the flow, doing what everyone was doing, liking the same bands as my classmates, dressing provocatively, and going to football games... I always wanted to hit the snooze button until graduation. That's never been for me. Doing your "own thing" against the public school force-fed agenda was, and still is, a very unpopular thing to do.

I was also born with an iron will. Don't tell me what to do, don't smother me, and do not ever tell me what you think is best for me! I bluntly don't like being told what to do. Part of my early childhood wisdom about federally-funded public education was due in fact to my natural resistance to their demands. I kept telling myself, "This doesn't make sense, why on earth do I need permission from an adult, who is not my parent, to use the bathroom?, who cares about Calculus and Macbeth!"

No matter how much a brainwashed, union-bred, public school teacher attempted to jam all of this "useful" information down my throat, I did what was demanded of me, was graded, I begrudgingly bit my tongue and looked forward to my release (graduation). The Army was a personal nightmare for me, although I truly enjoyed serving my country. After my discharge from Active Duty, the next few months were rough for Eric and me because of the economy.

My service is now benefiting my husband, me, and our daughters because of my Veteran's benefits. Because of my Veteran's benefits, which I earned because of my service to my country, I have been able to postpone college until Fall 2012- 11 years after I graduated high school, we had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world we wanted, and we have the authority to educate Sienna and Emma any way we want.

Because of my military service, I met my husband and have since been building great and memorable life with him and our daughters, we are homeowners in ALASKA, and Sienna and Emma will be home schooled.

Had I continued with a public college education, I would still be in student loan debt up to my eyeballs, been restricted to a certain geographical career market without the flexibility to live anywhere I wanted, I wouldn't have met life-long Army buddies with incredible memories and stories, I would've never visited Asia, never met Eric, and I wouldn't be in my fantasy dreamland. I would've fallen into the common American trap of building a miserable life near family in an area I detested, working in a mundane career only to "pay the bills".

It was never easy going my own way. I now have the life I never knew I wanted. I'm a stay at home mom and housewife in Alaska. I don't feel guilty for earning the freedom of having the option to stay at home to support my family, mirroring somewhat a 1952 housewife. My home is my office and I'm damn proud of it.

And I still don't know one word of Macbeth.

Looking Forward

2012-01-07T19:45:00.000-09:00

Today was a day of doing a lot of nothing and cleaning up the Alex and Dade tornado that hit my house three weeks ago. Eric was driving home from Anchorage today and Sienna, Emma, and I was moping around, irritated with life.

When silence is the echo of Alex's and Dade's absence, I believe it is the only time when I have an issue with it. Lingering, permeating silence is not good for a (step)mother's soul to heal. Tomorrow, I will pick myself back up, dust myself off, and finish cleaning the house. And mull over the hundreds of pictures I took of our family during their brief visit.

Naturally, Monday is the day of going back to the grind for people that are employed outside of their homes; Monday for me is when I hit the ground running getting into college. Monday will also be the first day of research for me for the boys' summer visit. Eric, Alex, Dade, and I have begun brainstorming fun activities to do six months from now.

Camping in Valdez, touring Anchorage and going to the Zoo and Botanical Gardens, driving to Prudhoe Bay, and the Summer Solstice festival in Fairbanks are certain. I told Alex and Dade that I will immediately begin research and try my hardest to have us all fly to Nome to pan for gold for a few days. I also hope we can go to Barrow, so we can all visit the northernmost city in the United States together. I am almost certain that we'll visit Denali National Park as well.

There's also Kenai, Juneau, fishing for salmon, hunting, shooting fun weapons, camping in the bush, and more opportunities for love.

Boys, I missed you to pieces even before the garage door closed. This was a perfect visit; onto the future now.

The Grand Finale

2012-01-06T13:31:00.000-09:00

Saying goodbye is never easy, nor does it become easier as time marches on. It is always the most awkward and sad moment when I have to say goodbye to Alex and Dade. I didn't want them to leave but they've already missed a few days of school and that is the common sense no-brainer as to why they had to return to Texas. As I dwell in my sorrow I'm cognizant of my emotions and my rationale, realizing that right now my emotions and rationale are not matching whatsoever. My emotions say, "STOP! Don't go!", whereas my rationale says, "I have no legal responsibility of these boys at all and they have to go back to Texas".

I thought saying goodbye to Alex and Dade was difficult when they were toddlers, but now they understand their life circumstances and know that Eric has only visitation and they will not see us for the majority of any given year. The next time they will see us, Sienna will be five years old and Emma will be three years old. I would adore having all four of the Breuker kids together from Sienna's birthday to Dade's birthday- just once, so that they can have the opportunity to spend every birthday together.

Since becoming a mother myself, I have learned to never take time for granted and to never wish time away. There are times when I lock myself in the bathroom, under the guise that I'm really going; instead, I'm claiming my temporary sanctuary and placing all my thankfulness in that bathroom door handle lock. Then I snap myself out of my irritation and rejoin my husband and daughters in living. For the past three weeks, I've had the honor of escaping for five minutes from two boys as well. Two hyper, rough-and-rumble, loud, pestering... Loving, caring, beautiful, sweet, and always-up-for-an-adventure boys.

Summer break is too far away. Can I wish these next few months away- just this once?

Delta Junction, AK

Coming To An End

2012-01-04T20:40:00.001-09:00

Tomorrow is our last day together. These past three weeks have flown by and I'm very sad to see it all end. I have had a ball showing Alex and Dade Alaska and we haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg. They are enthralled with God's beauty, the freedom, and the happiness here. Not to mention, there are plenty of outdoor activities for them to enjoy in Alaska!

We have toured Fairbanks, shopped at Santa's House, went dog mushing, had a fabulous first Christmas in Alaska, shot the .22, ate great food, and relished in each other's company. We've done many more fun things together as a family and I'm flabbergasted that the time has already come for me to reflect upon this season. I don't want them to leave.

Tonight, Dade and I made dreidel key chains and it sure was a team effort! But, we did it, and here is Dade's beautiful key chain!

Boys, please don't go.

It's A Brand New Day

2012-01-02T17:48:00.000-09:00

Nistler Road

Clearwater Road

Alaska Range

Dade & Alex

Nistler Road after sunset

Alaska Range after sunset

Deltana, Alaska

Thank You, Alaska

2011-12-31T00:24:00.000-09:00

Maybe compartmentalizing isn't so bad? I like to believe that 2011 was the best year of my life so far... Except my best-year-ever began in May. In my first blog entry, I described our discovery and journey to the Last Frontier. Yet, as I ponder my "Year In Review", I must force myself to incorporate the entire year. Although, I honestly can not pinpoint precise moments of despair from January until May. It was a daily Hell that we were living.

From January 'til May, Eric, Sienna, Emma, and I were in a constant whirlwind of misery and negativity; mostly because of the Army and the actual installation we were living at: Fort Hood. But, in May something happened. Our seemingly never-coming-to-fruition dreams of moving to Alaska were becoming a reality and in August, we arrived to Delta Junction.

On August 4, 2011, we stepped foot inside our home for the first time- in Alaska. We kept to ourselves and almost bounced off of the walls the entire day, plus running amok in our huge backyard. All four of us were the only ones capable of exhausting ourselves because nothing could hinder our exhilarating energies that day!

Since that day, I have had nothing but heartfelt gratitude for every second I've been here. Being genuinely happy does something to a person. And I'm never letting it go.

Thank you God for making me.

Thank you Mom for having me.

Thank you Dad for raising me.

Thank you Rich for accepting me.

Thank you Governor Sarah Palin- your show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska", inspired Eric and me to come here.

Thank you Dawn- Sienna absolutely loved you! Thank you for making her last few months in Texas happy, educational, fun, and stable. She still talks about Jonni's birthday party!

Thank you Rick, Nicole, & Nick- I was privileged to live next to you for those short months and I appreciate your hospitality and friendliness. There's always houses for sale and rent here in Alaska...

Thank you Laci- your friendship and constant encouragement is something I keep very close to my heart.

Thank you Mike- for your patience, understanding, and for working so hard for us, that we would be homeowners. We still LOVE our house!

Thank you Travis & Nadine- for your accommodation, understanding, generosity, and helping Eric and I out so much. We really can't thank you enough.

Thank you Pastor & Jackie- we've found our church home and are so grateful that you care.

Thank you Ft. Greely Security Guards- I can't fully express my appreciation for how kind you all are. If you need anything at all, I'm here.

Thank you Sue- I love talking with you every time I check the mail (and everyone else at the Post Office too!) and Emma sure loves those lollipops!

Thank you to all of the AAFES & Commissary employees- I'm so happy to see you and talk with you every time I shop! I also appreciate all of you high school kids that bag at the Commissary. Your willingness to escort me and my daughters (sometimes helping me round them up too...) to my truck in -30*F weather and load it all up for me, with smiles on your faces, is a breath of fresh air and very comforting. Your hard work is not in vain!

Thank you Rae Ann- you are a Godsend. Sienna is happy now and to finally see her thriving and succeeding like she has, Eric and I are truly blessed to have found you!

Thank you snow plow workers- you make it so that I don't need to eat anti-anxiety meds like candy whenever I drive.

Thank you kid that lives on Creekside Drive- You have no idea how much you've helped me. Because of you, I can actually get out of my driveway and onto Creekside because you clear the entire Drive with your snow plow/ four-wheeler every single time it needs to be cleared. YOU ROCK!!!

Thank you to all of our great and wonderful friends that we've made here in Delta- we love you and I'm thrilled that our kids play together, we can get a cup of coffee on a whim, or just hang out and talk.

Thank you Eric- you are the love of my life and I'm honored to live my life with you. You are an amazing father and husband.

Thank you Alex & Dade- I have watched you grow for the better part of a decade now and you are becoming fine young men. I love you and I'm very proud of you.

Thank you Sienna & Emma- you are my Princesses and time is going by too quickly. I could go on forever about how you and you alone have shaped me into the person I am today, how much I love you, and all of the mommy-mushy stuff. I thank God every single day of my life for you. Princess & Peanut, you are my world and my life. I love you with every fiber of my being.

I used to coast through life, postponing my happiness and making the future responsible for it. Not anymore. 2012, no more fresh starts. Only contentment and inflating happiness.

Goodbye 2011. Thank you for being the best year of my life.

Sienna & Emma

The Good Life

2011-12-27T18:22:00.001-09:00

How gratifying it is to show kids what life is like without the Internet, cell phones, and (gasp!) Facebook. It doesn't seem that long ago when the advent of America Online and the car phone were for the "rich". Also, ordering a bouquet of flowers and ordering plane tickets were previously reserved for The Jetsons. Before the "World Wide Web", we wrote thank-you cards, we called our grandparents instead of "Skyping" them, and oh-em-gee!, we drove without a cell phone or GPS!

I wholeheartedly believe that my generation- the 80's and 90's kids, like so many generations before me, was dealt the best hand in life because there was no such thing as Facebook or anything of the like. Bullying was in-person and to settle the score, an old-fashioned fight was in order. Nowadays, I would be considered a "bully" because of my "aggression". I am not a cantankerous old kvetch with a chip on my shoulder yet, it saddens me to see Americans pansy-fied, deliriously believing that talking something through, hugging a tree, and taking everyone's feelings into consideration would calm everyone down.

Um, no.

I can't speak for Alaskans, but it seems that my "backward" thinking still reigns here, and let me tell you- life is simpler and a whole heck of a lot happier. This is how it should be; playing outside, shooting BB guns and .22 rifles, playing fetch with the dogs, going on hikes, playing card games with each other and drinking hot chocolate on lazy days, and learning how to coexist with people because you want to- not because you have to.

Thank you Mom & Dad. You know why.

Thank you Travis & Tucker. I know why, I just hope your pinch, slap, and kick marks have faded by now...

Alex Standing at the End of the Alaska Highway

Mile 1422- End of the Alaska Highway

Making Crafts On A Lazy Day

Dade Playing In The Backyard

Prince Dade of the Castle

Dade Shooting The .22 Rifle

Sniper Dade

Alex & Dade Seeing Their Walking Sticks For The First Time

Alex Playing Fetch With Hope

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T11:56:00.001-09:00

Merry Christmas! We are thoroughly enjoying our first Christmas in Alaska and we are privileged to have our entire family together this season. The kids wasted no time this morning waking Eric and me up! At 6 a.m. sharp, we were awaken to, " 'Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la, la la la laaaaaaa!"

Alex and Dade tore into their gifts, Sienna savored every single one of her gifts, and Emma just doesn't understand. Emma doesn't get why she received so many fun gifts today!

Last night, I started a huge flour fight with Dade, and I lost! We had so much fun and as I look around my kitchen this morning, I'm amazed at where flour can end up!

Dade Is Winding Up His Flour Bomb

And... There Was The Bomb

Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning!

Eric Showing The Boys The Walking Sticks He Made For Them For Christmas

It's A Great Day To Be Alive

2011-12-23T19:05:00.000-09:00

I'm so grateful that yesterday was possibly the apex of our Christmas season in Alaska. I gave my family my Christmas gift- dog mushing. We traveled to Fairbanks yesterday for a fun-filled and exciting day and we had the best time of our lives.

After sleeping in late, we trucked up the Richardson Highway to Fairbanks to meet the ladies who would be taking our family mushing. We arrived to our mushing location shortly before 1 p.m. and geared up. Seeing my sons and daughters explode with energy and excitement in 5 degree weather after seeing the sleds we'd be riding is something I'll never forget. All six of us were in awe and smiling from ear to ear during the entire mushing trip.

The scenery along the trails was breathtaking- the scenery one would see on a documentary about Alaska or on a postcard. We were in that plush, pristine, silent, and untouched scenery. For the first time in my life I thought to myself, "If I were to die this instant, I'd go out the happiest I'd ever been." I have begun to live like the day before me were my last day. All of it possible, courtesy of God's greatness. We are immensely blessed to have this earth to live on and so much of it extraordinarily beautiful.

After we mushed, we headed to Denny's for some coffee, hot chocolate, and a quick bite to eat. The Denny's in Fairbanks is the Northern Most Denny's in the World and we're always amused to be there. Though, this time, Alex and Dade had never been there and their eyes were as big as saucers. It was so much to take in for them and nothing could erase the smiles and happiness from their hearts.

From Denny's, we went to Santa's House for last-minute Christmas shopping. I truly feel like an Alaskan now- I wanted nothing to do with the seasonal tourists! Alaska is a different world and I'm so grateful to be here. The impatience, nastiness, and all-about-me vibe was on display from the shoppers at Santa's. Definitely not Alaskans. We weaved in and out of the parents and babies, took it all in, and the boys picked out a few gifts.

Santa's House was my last adventure yesterday. Alex, Emma, and I drove home from North Pole and the drive is usually 1 hour, 15 minutes. Last night, it took me three hours to get home. There was a huge Christmas blizzard last night that dumped about a foot of snow. We were very relieved to pull into our driveway last night!

Eric, Alex, Dade, and Sienna are outside finding the perfect Christmas tree to bring home and set up. We're late doing it this year, but when the boys are home, it's the perfect time.

Putting Arctic Gear On

Alex & Sienna

Emma & Me Waiting

Alex

Dade

On A Break

Eric, Emma, & Me

Alex & Sienna at Denny's

Emma & Alex

Cheers!

The Breuker's

The Breuker Kids

Giggles

2011-12-21T09:47:00.002-09:00

I was right about the peace and quiet... Or rather, the lack thereof. Our home is proper now; everyone is together. Giggles and laughter replace the silence I experienced a few days ago and I wouldn't have it any other way. Alex and Dade have taught Emma the art of sledding down the stairs on a sleeping bag and all I hear from Emma now is "Do 'gain! Do 'gain!"

Sienna and Emma have the cutest belly laughs and giggles but no one else on earth can make them giggle like Alex and Dade. Alex is extremely overbearing and overprotective of his little sisters and Sienna and Emma revel in his love. Every day, Alex and Dade find something new to love about Alaska and they are so happy to experience it with their sisters.

I need to go now because Alex is saying he's dying because Dade kicked him up the nose socket. The echoes of Emma's giggling is overshadowing Alex's impending death. Thank goodness it's nothing serious...

Emma learned the fine art of sledding inside

Alex

Alex taking Dade & Emma on a sled ride

Alex is the zookeeper

Just another day for Emma

Emma is yelling at her brothers

Stoic

Alex, Dade, & Sienna at Fort Greely's indoor playground

Reunited

2011-12-19T13:36:00.001-09:00

Happiness flooded our home last night and will continue on for the next three weeks. Overprotective brothers and impressionable little sisters make for a heartwarming experience!

All of the sweets I baked for my family? GONE. Didn't even last 24 hours...

Dade cuddled right up to me

I'm so glad to have them home

Alex was so happy to see us

Alex & Dade playing with Hope

Dade chucking a snowball at me

Emma & Dade

Dade loves the snow!

Alex decked out in his Alaska gear

Jake is loyal to Alex already

Alex, in Heaven

Calm Before The Storm

2011-12-17T12:55:00.002-09:00

This it it. Today is the last day of quiet I will have for the next three weeks. My stepsons fly into Anchorage tonight and all of us will be reunited tomorrow evening for three holidays: Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's. Operation Alex and Dade commences today: Baking strawberry pies, cheesecakes, banana bread, banana nut muffins, chocolate chip cookies, and sugar cookies. One would think these goodies would last a week; with my family, these sweets will last 48 hours MAX.

I am doing everything within my being to defer this Christmas Operation because I want to sit in front of my Happy Light and tinker around my house and on the computer in silence for as long as possible. My house is clean, Christmas gifts are wrapped, and everything is all-systems-go for my stepsons' arrival to Alaska.

August 2011

I wish I could be a fly on the wall when Alex and Dade land in Anchorage and smell the Alaskan air for the first time, I wish I could be with Eric and Sienna at the airport to see the boys sprint to greet Sienna, and when they're all heading home to Delta from Anchorage. Alaska is a whole 'nother world and I will never forget my first impression and discovery of Alaska when I flew up here from Texas this past May. The wonderment and amazement is so exciting and fulfilling and for kids, it's that much more magical.

I also want to be a fly on the wall when they pull into our driveway for the first time, gazing at our home and our yard. Alex and Dade already know Jake but I wonder how they'll react to Hope. Hope is a non-stop ball of energy like Alex; I'm sure they'll hit it off immediately.

Jake letting Hope know that he's
Alpha Dog

Since our house is bare with next-to-nothing when it comes to furniture, four kids' voices will echo and bounce off of the walls for the next three weeks, I will be sweeping and mopping every day, I will be exhausted constantly, there will be constant chaos, and two little girls will experience their first Hanukkah and Christmas in Alaska with their big brothers, and I can't wait.

Hurry up boys and welcome home!

A Day In Our Life

2011-12-15T14:39:00.014-09:00

My Happy Light

Whatever Sienna caught at school, it invaded Eric and me last night. I, at least, dropped like a rock last night and didn't fully awaken until 10 a.m. this morning. Sienna and Emma rose shortly before Eric and I did and we're all putzing around at half-speed today. We did welcome a new addition to our family last night- our new Happy Light. Eric picked it up for me in Fairbanks and brought it home last night and although I have no idea how this light works- it works.

The idea of the Happy Light is to simulate the sun's rays to offset depression, anxiety, and Seasonal Affective Disorder. I tend to scoff at physician's made-up diagnoses these days, yet, I am grateful that there's a name for the "wintertime blues". I've always been a morning person rather than a night owl and in the 90's, no one could make sense out of people gaining weight, becoming depressed, irritable, and anxious. If only I had a Happy Light 20 years ago!

Sienna napping on her bedroom
floor after fighting sleep all day

In Alaska, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a serious reality. Domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse runs rampant up here- especially during winter. At the Arctic Circle is the exact latitude designating polar day and polar night. At 2011's winter solstice, at the Arctic Circle and in the Arctic, there will be 24 continuous hours of polar night (a sunless night).

Here is what Wikipedia says about the northernmost city in the United States of America: Barrow, Alaska:

"The sun sets on November 18 or 19, and it remains below the horizon for about 65 days. This creates a polar night that lasts until the sun rises again around January 22 or January 23. During the first half of the polar night, there is a decreasing amount of twilight each day, and on the winter solstice (around December 21 or December 22), civil twilight in Barrow lasts for a mere 3 hours."

Sienna's gingerbread house

I live in Delta Junction and I've got cabin fever/ wintertime blues! Delta is hundreds of miles south of Barrow. Could you imagine 65 days of night, every winter?!

Today, I am submitting Sienna's gingerbread house for the community contest at the library. She is so excited to enter and I am so grateful, as her mother, that our family has and continues to integrate in our fantastic community!

Emma and I drove around for awhile yesterday snapping pictures of Fort Greely and Delta Junction and I snapped some very pretty scenes.

Fort Greely

An alpine storm raining down on the Alaska Range

Spruce Tree

Middle of the Day; Looking at the Northernmost Mile of the Alaska Highway

Fort Greely

Today Belongs To My Child

2011-12-14T10:53:00.007-09:00

Today is a typical Alaskan winter day- dark, chilly, and routine is forever in perpetual motion. Life in America is a well-oiled machine, Alaska included... Except for us. The show stopper and monkey wrench for our home is when Sienna's schedule is interrupted. "If Momma ain't happy, then nobody is happy" can be a typical and unspoken nuance within various households in the world... Except for us. Substitute "Momma" with "Sienna" and that is a dead-on description of the Breuker's well-oiled machine. Sienna doesn't rule the roost but I'm amazed at how I, a grown woman, can be brought to my knees, panicking over this community illness that Sienna's caught. It's a bug that's going around and unfortunately, many children in Delta have been infected with the croupy cough and congestion and/ or the stomach flu.

Last night, Sienna went to bed and slept for a solid 13 hours. Sienna never sleeps. Even as a days-old infant, she never slept. I am panged with memories of Eric and me walking in circles around my in-laws' couch for hours in the family room, gently rocking a very inquisitive and interested Sienna to sleep. And the colic. 'Nuff said. Her refusal to sleep is just who she is.

Sienna will find something, anything available to her advantage to stay up an extra 30 seconds past her bedtime. "Mommy, I need to tell you something", seems to be the reliant and faithful catchphrase she resorts to when she can no longer conjure up anything else to grab my attention. "Go to sleep, Sienna" is my constant and unwavering response to her barrage of verbal attempts to avoid sleep at all costs. Our nite-nite banter was only exchanged once last night and because she didn't return for another attempted bedtime debate, I knew she wasn't feeling 100%.

After a restful and uninterrupted night, I tried to wake Sienna up at 7:45 a.m. for school. She usually arises with relative ease after a minute of cajoling yet this morning... nothing. She was exhausted and had no energy and when she first sat up and started coughing up the croup, that's when CEO Liz of Breuker House began the mental reorganization of the entire day. First thing's first- text Daddy and Sienna's teacher. Secondly, come to grips with the fact that any errands I scheduled to run today is postponed until tomorrow. Lastly, I am to be available and on-call to my baby at any given moment of the day shall she need me.

Sienna's fever broke, she's eaten her gummy vitamins and vitamin D3 pill, and now she and Emma are hamming it up quietly all over the house. Sienna's not in the mood to lay around and watch movies all day and she's not in the mood to leave the house. She's in the mood to have me within earshot; ready for me to tend to her every need and whim. She's in the mood to gently and happily play with Emma all day, rendering me the inherent and given referee should they have a dispute.

And I'm in the mood to do everything she asks and demands of me, because, today belongs to my child.

The Sun Is Not A Birthright

2011-12-12T11:25:00.007-09:00

I like being a nocturnal recluse here in the Last Frontier, but I'm a bit impatient now. My rose-colored glasses aren't on anymore although, honestly, I don't think I've ever had them on because Alaska is just that amazing. Mr. Sun, please wake up from your astronomical nap and shine down on me! I praise and thank whomever invented the happy light... I have one ready for pick-up in Fairbanks that will be mine this week.

Generous amount of sunlight on
a Alaskan winter day

In addition to taking the maximum allowable amount of vitamin D3 per day, I try to keep as many lights on in my house as reasonably possible. My new happy light will help me with this Alaskan winter funk that I'm in and hopefully help soak in the light (and patience) that I need to get me through another few months of persistent darkness.

I've been watching my daughters closely and I think they're pulling through this very drastic change in sunlight and weather quite well. Me, on the other hand, am getting very impatient with this twilight/ darkness season we're in. I hear this is called "cabin fever". I've certainly got it! I am still never unimpressed with the Alaskan way of life and the unavoidable and forced in-body experiences of daily living here.

Whenever I've travelled in the Lower 48, I've noticed only minor changes, mainly in the regional scenery. Every major American city has a variety of pizza joints, restaurants, chain stores, and they are practically identical. Identical meaning that every major American city has a Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, a state park nearby, similar road structures, and the same amenities. Substitute names for businesses, displace regional accents, and maybe one city has more trees than the other. Maybe a different landscape to look at. Always something, somewhere to remind the American of their home territory and thereby influencing the traveler to subconsciously compare the differing location's similarities to their own hometown. Not here.

Virtually everything in Alaska is different which I truly love and can't get enough of. In 2004, Fairbanks got its first Walmart, there is only a Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, Sports Authority, Lowe's, and Home Depot in Fairbanks (please forgive me if I've left any big-name retailer out). There seems to only be the necessities here, and Alaska seems to be behind the Lower 48 by about 20 years. I'm okay with that! When you're here, you know you're practically at the top of the world.

With the limited shopping and typical Lower 48 activities to do in Alaska, an Alaskan is forced to acclimate to his or her surroundings. Humans do not change Alaska; Alaska changes humans. As I mentioned before, lack of sunlight is something I must acclimate to. The deep freeze temperatures is something that I must also acclimate to. If I didn't wholeheartedly believe I've been a displaced Alaskan my entire life, I'd have to conform to the Alaskan attitude and way of doing things. Which, in my humble opinion, is much better than anywhere in the Lower 48.

In the past week, our family has eaten caribou sausage and bear ham. Both are delicious and we're eager to kill our own big game next year. We're also anticipating fishing a lot and my cooking salmon a few times a week! These sustenance activities are postponed until there's more daylight outside than three hours of marginal twilight.

I am determined to not become a hermit here but rather embrace the darkness and grab a hold of the twilight hours and do all that I can with it. Until then, I'm placing my hopes of snapping out of my cabin fever funk in my happy light that will help save me from being a permanent recluse.

It's About That Time...

2011-12-11T12:54:00.000-09:00

Six days, count 'em, SIX!, until my stepsons arrive in Alaska. The anticipation in our home is almost too much to bear. Everything we have for our family to do is set up and ready to go. We are late putting up our Christmas tree this year; Eric and the boys are going to cut down a fresh tree and bring it home for us to decorate.

Sienna is collecting toilet paper rolls for a Hanukkah craft for all of us to do together, and there is more than enough to do in the Delta community and surrounding communities for Christmas. Eric and I are taking all of the Breuker Kids to Christmas In Ice in North Pole. This is an ice sculpture festival complete with lights and an ice slide for the kids to slide down. Of course, we're going to Santa's House and the Winter Solstice Festival in Fairbanks.

We'll be spending a lot of time driving around and sightseeing and this Christmastime when our whole family will be together, we'll see Denali and tour Anchorage together. I can't wait to stroll through The Alaska Zoo with Alex, the animal genius in our family! Hiking, sightseeing, festivals, Santa, and my personal gift to my entire family will blow my stepsons away- dog mushing in Fairbanks.

It's all systems go for dog mushing and thank goodness for Fort Greely! The brand new activities center was opened a short while ago and we've already been bowling at their brand spankin' new bowling lanes. On top of it all, there are snow machines to rent. I am unsure if we'll be able to check any out but I'm surely going to try!

Full Moon
Yesterday Morning 9 a.m. AST

Only two weeks until Christmas! I am satisfied with my new found procedure with Christmas shopping. Start gift shopping during Summertime!!! I've been collecting trinkets, gifts, and clothes for all four of my kids since we arrived in Alaska in August, and Eric and I are finished! Every thing's wrapped, put up on the highest shelf in our closet, and out of sight until our Christmas tree goes up.

Christmas music has been playing on the local radio stations and we've longed for a white Christmas since our Fort Hood days. A cold winter, Christmas and Christian music, and real Christmas trees is our reality and our way of life now. And I am blessed to spend it with the people I love most.

Delta Junction Community Christmas Party

2011-12-10T17:02:00.000-09:00

The Delta Junction Community Center hosted the Children's Christmas Party today and fun was had by all! The Senior Citizens arranged the festivities and Santa came to greet all of the children. It was around one hour long and Sienna and Emma also did some arts and crafts by decorating their own snowmen!

It was very enjoyable relaxing in the main room of the Community Center while an elder read the tale of St. Nicholas and the story of Jesus' birth from his Bible. Sienna and Emma were enthralled with being read to, as Eric and I respectfully listened to this man teach our children the importance of learning about Christmas.

I would guess that around 50 people attended the party and there was plenty to do for all ages. The refreshments were quite yummy as well!

The Sun setting behind the Alaska Range at 2 p.m. AST

Sienna told Santa that she wants a horsey and a tea set

The only picture of a smiling Emma this afternoon!

Princess

Santa's Elf just gave Sienna a gift bag

God Bless America

After the Christmas party, we took a short drive in and around our subdivision to moose hunt. These pictures were taken around 3:30 p.m. AST.

This trail connects our subdivision to the adjoining subdivision down the main road

Hello!

Pictures Of Our Life

2011-12-09T11:08:00.000-09:00

Overlooking the Alaska Range at Sunset; 2:15 p.m. AST

Sienna

Emma

Treeline in Delta Junction, at Sunset; 2:15 p.m. AST

Sienna waiting to bowl at the Fort Greely bowling lanes

Emma got her ball down the lane!

Me, in my new glasses

I love Sienna so much!

Daddy & Sienna telling each other secrets

My two favorite people!

Silence

2011-12-06T13:23:00.002-09:00

Living in Alaska naturally brings peace and quiet- at the same time. I was born and raised in Maryland; the DC Metro area, and I've lived in Korea for two tours, a few Army installations, and some more states as a Veteran. I am a very anxious person to begin with and that entire time, I craved peace and quiet. Peace and quiet to escape from the television, the vehicles driving nearby, and from humans.

Now that I live in a fairly remote area in Alaska, there is an abundance of silence. And I'm not used to that... yet. Too quiet, too still, too much of... nothing. Too much of anything is a bad thing, as I recall my aunt's famous words to me as I was growing up- "everything in moderation, nothing to excess." As a kid, I was unable to comprehend those words yet as an adult, that mantra is very close to my heart. Which is why I keep asking myself, "is this excess of silence a bad thing?"

Until August 4, 2011 (when we walked into our home for the first time as a family), I never relaxed or was able to relax. My childhood was chaotic, and at times the Army was Hell on earth. Exit Army, welcome to motherhood! Piled with the stress of practically raising my stepsons while my first child was an infant, and then... Welcome back to Hell! (the Army) Our family was miserable at Fort Hood, always loud and always busy. There is no moderation with the United States military!

April 30, 2009: Happy Birthday Emma! May 3, 2009: Goodbye Eric, God bless you on your Afghanistan deployment. Nine months of torture later, Eric comes home, only to be met with much more stress. More misery, clock slowly ticks by, then December 2010 rolls around. BOOM! Alaska, here we come! July 27, 2011, see ya Texas! (it was actually a profanity-laced sentiment that I wished Texas...)

Return to August 4, 2011. Life at a standstill. Was it reality that people didn't have to have their mobile devices on 24/7 because the Army wanted them at any given hour? Was it reality that Eric and I were homeowners and we could prohibit anyone from stepping foot onto our property? Was it a reality that we sacrificed for and earned the right to peace and quiet? Is this freedom at last?

Yes, it is. And I have no idea what to do with it. When I left the Army in 2007, I thought I had it all handled. Yeah... Right. No one telling me what to wear, how to style my hair, what polish to put on my fingernails, how to stand and how to place my arms when speaking to someone of higher rank. No one beckoning me over the cell phone that I paid for to morph into work for extra overtime while I was dog tired. No one making a schedule that I was legally bound by (courtesy of my voluntary Oath of Enlistment) to work 12 hour shifts, 17 days in a row because the Army had a drop in personnel.

No Drill Sergeant attempting to fatten me up at the mess hall because, of course, I was too skinny when I enlisted. No one attempting to brainwashing me into thinking that "pain is weakness leaving the body". I still maintain that pain is pain, pain is BAD, and WebMd confirms my hypochondria by reaffirming that I will die of Leukemia within 24 hours. I am now free to believe that I have properly diagnosed myself with Leukemia, and I will die a homeowner, in silence, on the lot I own in Alaska. Shall I ask my Drill Sergeant what my last meal should be?

Instead, I am headache-free (thanks to my absolutely amazing doctor at the VA), I am wearing my stylish Nine West glasses that the VA helped pay for, I am sitting at MY computer, in MY kitchen, in MY house, on MY lot, in silent Alaska. I should be relishing my earned silence with a good book while Emma naps. Instead, I'm listening to oldies on iTunes; not having an induced anxiety attack that earned silence brings. My arthritis is hurting me right now... I wonder how long WebMd will give me today...

It's a Holly, Jolly Christmas

2011-12-03T17:28:00.000-09:00

Come Christmastime, I'm the biggest Christmas fanatic out there. If I could put mistletoe, fresh twigs and berries, pine, cinnamon, potpourri, and wreaths in every single room in my house, I would! If I could sculpt my own ice, Santa and Rudolph would be perched on my patio in front of my house. Instead, we go to North Pole and marvel over these brilliant pieces of art.

Roundabout on Santa Claus Lane

McDonald's on Santa Claus Lane

I will be in Fairbanks on Monday and will be stopping at Jo-Ann Fabrics. I'm making the kids', Eric's, and my Christmas stockings this year; this will be my attempt at preserving and continuing family tradition with and for my family. I am also going to make the wreath that will be affixed to our front door. I have some great ideas and can't wait to go to the craft store!

I have also decided that when my stepsons arrive at their home here in Delta Junction, I will have homemade strawberry pie, pumpkin pie, banana bread, and strawberry lemonade waiting for them. I'm very excited for their arrival because of all the fun things we'll be able to do as a family (with a few surprises thrown in for just the boys!). I am really looking forward to making cookies with them and teaching them home canning.

Another incredible perk of the boys' visit this year is that our time together spans both Hanukkah and Christmas. I am Jewish on my father's side and one of my stepsons converted to Judaism. He and I can celebrate this holiday together- we'll probably even make a few latkes!

Every day, the scenery is still breathtaking and I snap photos at any given opportunity. I snapped many perfect images yesterday; living in Alaska is sometimes a surreal existence.

Salcha, AK

My version of the "River Rhine"

Salcha, AK

A moonbow, risen above Quartz Lake

An Alaskan Morning To Remember

2011-11-29T17:42:00.002-09:00

A Love-Filled Christmas

2011-11-28T10:58:00.000-09:00

How exciting! Christmas is less than one month away and we are going to have a full house. Praise God. Upon the advent of Skype, keeping in touch and communicating with family so far away is now a leisurely activity- not a scramble against time to ensure picking up the phone in order to not be tardy for the "phone appointment".

Eric and I are overjoyed this Christmas season because the entire Breuker family will be together this year. Rare is a moment when all of the Breuker children are spending time with each other. This Christmas, they will be together. This New Year, they will be together. And this upcoming summer, they will be together.

I'm sure my stepsons will love Alaska and everything this beautiful state has to offer. Even in wintertime, there is never a dull moment and there's always something to do. I anticipate Sienna and Emma spending time with my stepsons to be the highlight of our time together and our first Christmas in Alaska will surely prove to be magical for us all.

Christmas day will be great- I'm sure Eric will read from the Bible, choir music and Christmas-y music will be on, it's going to be a white Christmas, hot chocolate flowing freely, and above all, there will be an over-abundance of love, and we will be together.

When the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2011, I told Eric that 2011 will be the best ever for us. I was right!

Happy Thanksgiving, The Afterthought

2011-11-26T13:11:00.002-09:00

I hope everyone had a blessed and Christ-filled Thanksgiving; we did. Thanksgiving 2011 was the first Thanksgiving, or holiday for that matter, that wasn't interrupted by the Army. We woke up in the morning to no alarm clock beckoning us and screaming at us to awaken, there was snow on the ground, music playing, children playing, and I was busy at work cooking.

A few years ago, Eric's and my friend affectionately called my turkey "the pterodactyl" because it was so big. Every year since then, I have prepared and cooked my "pterodactyl" with all the trimmings, and all the goodies.

I like to interpret Thanksgiving as a day recognized to celebrate and praise God for all of our blessings. As per orderly and perfect American tradition, the counterpart to praising and thanking God on this day is the FOOD. For Americans, Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving without FOOD. And lots of it.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Cranberry Sauce

Delicious Deviled Eggs

Homemade Strawberry Pie

Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potatoes

Yummy Wheat Rolls

The Pterodactyl

Eric carving the Pterodactyl

Homemade Mushroom & Onion Stuffing

King of the Castle

Sweet Sienna

Hungry Emma

Queen of the Castle

Before Thanksgiving Supper Prayer

Homemade Banana Bread, Strawberry Pie, & Pumpkin Pie

Although I'm eternally grateful that Eric, Sienna, Emma, and I were alone to celebrate Thanksgiving as a family, we missed our Army buddies, and my stepsons. I love cooking and I love celebrating and I look forward to next Thanksgiving, when I can cook for a group of people.

Since I wasn't able to go Black Friday shopping with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, I'm going to hunt down Cyber Monday deals, and then be completely finished with Christmas shopping.

And then to do it all over again next year...

The Fun We Have In Alaska

2011-11-19T22:10:00.001-09:00

We threw boiling water into the air at -30 degrees the other night. It was amazing to see!

I Am A Veteran

2011-11-11T20:36:00.000-09:00

Daylight is scarce these days. I'm sure the people here, affectionately called "Deltoids" (Delta Junction natives), can gather with absolute transparency that Eric and I are making our best attempt to adjust to our first Alaskan winter. They are overwhelmingly patient with us; especially Sienna's preschool teacher, because Sienna has been late almost every day for the past week!

The sun doesn't fully rise until around 10 a.m. and around 3:30 p.m., we can tell it is beginning to set. Around 4:30 p.m. is twilight, and at 5 p.m., it is completely dark outside. We've been told by numerous people here to take a daily dose of vitamin D3 to cope with the lack of sunlight. To my delight, IGA had one bottle left on the shelf for Children's Chewable Vitamin D3!

Today, Eric, Emma, and I attended a Veteran's Day service at the Fort Greely chapel. It was beautifully done and the Garrison Commander and Command Sergeant Major were there, Active Duty families, Veterans, the American Legion, and even the Boy Scouts! An adorable Boy Scout escorted us to our pew before the service began. Courtesy of the American Legion, we each received a red poppy pin. Emma loved hers.

At the beginning of the ceremony, as is by military tradition, the Colors were posted. Immediately after the Posting of the Colors, we recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Instinctively and proudly, we placed our right hand over our heart, and recited this passage of remembrance. Whilst gripping her red poppy, Emma placed her right hand over her heart as well. At the end of the ceremony, the colors were Retired. I proudly saluted my National Colors as they were carried up the aisle to be Retired and I felt even more proud and grateful to be amongst my peers- the United States Veterans.

To our shock, lunch and cake was waiting for us in the fellowship hall! Our lunch was donated by the local community and IGA decorated a beautiful American flag cake for us! All of us were happy to be there; mingling, telling stories, and eating our delicious lunch. This afternoon in the fellowship hall, the ambiance and company was permeated with unshakable respect and gratitude for one another. It was a perfect afternoon.

Fellow Veterans do not care if one has deployed or not; no, there is never a hint or theme of class-denouncing or politics in our discussions. Our lively and passionate discussions are about our experiences and our indestructible camaraderie. We do not care what color or gender one is, we glean knowledge from each other, and we are the immediate and faithful shoulder to cry on.

I may not have ever deployed, but I have a wild story to tell and a strong shoulder to lean on.

God Bless the United States of America.

I Love Alaska

2011-11-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

I did it! I canned my first batch tonight, and I canned dill pickles. I feel a newfound confidence that I am cheaply preserving food (to be hoarded) so we can dig in when we feel that winter should expire. Eric really, really wants me to cook and freeze homemade broccoli and cheese soup, so that's next on my agenda. I've already preserved and frozen strawberries, and today I made meatballs and vacuum sealed them. Everything but the pickles will be frozen and before long, our freezer will be full.

Eric may go hunting with his buddy this weekend and hopefully get a rabbit or two. He has also implied that I should learn how to make rabbit stew!

Tonight, Sienna earned another patch in Awana Cubbies! I am SO proud of my little girl and all that she's doing for the Lord. She is my little evangelist!

It is -10 degrees outside right now and I hope a bright aurora is in the forecast! As I was driving around Fort Greely today, I witnessed a vast amount of untouched land and we truly do live in a winter wonderland.

Self-Preservation & Values

2011-10-27T13:49:00.002-08:00

Since this is our first winter as homeowners, Eric and I are learning from the house itself and all of our wonderful and helpful friends here what we should be doing to insulate our house, winterize our vehicles, and much more. From watching television to asking questions, we're learning that hoarding food is a very good thing to do during winter.

Even though the cost may seemingly be steep at first, we are going to purchase home canning equipment, a bread maker, and a deep freezer. We already have the FoodSaver vacuum machine and that helps out a lot.

The people we bought our house from custom built this house with Energy Star appliances. Even the boiler is the most energy efficient on the market. We still need to insulate the garage door although Eric put the plastic insulation over the window and that has retained so much heat already.

Every window needs the plastic shrink wrap on it, we need to buy insulation for the pipes, winterize our vehicles, and buy food making and storing supplies. Some homemakers may cringe at the thought of another winter of baking bread and canning and vacuum sealing bulk foods, but I'm ecstatic to begin.

Eric and I have learned to take advantage of buying in bulk when there's a sale at the Commissary or Sam's Club. All items in Alaska are more expensive than the Lower 48, so when there's a sale on meats, canned goods, or toiletries, I pounce. It also saves me trips to the store when I have Sienna and Emma with me!

Eric wants me to try my hand at gardening- the catch is, I don't have a green thumb whatsoever! I can certainly attempt at growing our own veggies... Hopefully, I can take a free gardening class before summer comes. In the meantime, I'll be having a blast canning and bread making while listening to Eric Clapton, John Fogerty, and Steppenwolf.

Along with a iron-willed work ethic, learning how to be self-reliant and independent is one of the most important values I want to instill in Sienna and Emma. Just last night, Sienna was sitting at the dining table and she asked me if I could pick up her Cubbies bag off of the floor across the room. Before I had a chance to respond, she told me, "Never mind, Mom. I can do it myself." I almost cried. She is only four years old and she knows she can help herself. I expect nothing less of my children.

With these values, I believe Eric and I can teach them an extremely valuable, life-long lesson about helping ourselves, working hard, and serving ourselves and others by conserving and preserving food. To me, this isn't a complicated theory at all. I keep reminiscing about the timeless fable: The Ant and the Grasshopper. I will be certain to teach them this fable while we can and bake for the first time and then I will ask Sienna if she wants to be the ant or the grasshopper. I already know she'll be the ant- for life.

It's A Wonderful Life

2011-10-21T10:19:00.001-08:00

As I relax in front of my computer this morning, gulping coffee and listening to AWOLNATION on YouTube, I keep getting up to look outside and snap memories onto film. What a present it was to wake up to this horizon outside of our bedroom window!

As I let my mind happily wander, I keep looking at my completely empty main living room/ area (which is 1/2 of the bottom floor in our house), my home decorating ideas wildly flare. Eric and I have gone room by room in our house and we have perfect plans for decorating. We're going to do it right and until we get our perfect way, our house will be barren.

Eric and I saw beautiful aurora's last night as they were gliding over the treetops. I keep telling people that they are so addictive that time will escape us and before we know it, it is 1 a.m. We never get tired!

I am so grateful we moved to Delta Junction. The Delta community really bands together and celebrates holidays, we have soup kitchens and food banks, and everyone seems so happy to do it all. Tonight, we have a marriage "conference" at church with a potluck and child care, on the 29th, Fort Greely is hosting their Halloween Ball for kids, and on Halloween, our church is having the annual Harvest Festival, sponsored by the Youth Group. There's also a Halloween festival in the Delta community tonight.

I can only imagine what the community does for Thanksgiving and Christmas! This is a place where business is closed on Sunday, manners and gentility are preserved, and I have yet to note a hint of politics (Fort Greely can keep that!).

We are integrating well in the community and folks already know Sienna and Emma at first sight! Sienna is continually thriving in Montessori preschool and at Awana. She earned her first patch to be sown on her vest!

Eric and I are so proud of her and we are extremely anxious for Emma to begin all of these fun things. However, the age limit for both Awana and Montessori preschool is three, so until then, she and I will Mommy-Emma time. Suits me perfectly.

Winter Wonderland

2011-10-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

Today is one of many days to come that I feel enveloped in a winter wonderland. Snowfall is constant, the sky is gray, and today is a day of confine. The sky didn't even begin to lighten until 9 a.m. making me wonder how much of this nocturnal season will be spent in hibernation.

Emma and I are relaxing at the kitchen table; only to begin a day of movies, snuggling together. Jake and Hope are furiously chasing each other in hopes of finding sticks in the yard to pile on the deck so we can fetch later. Sienna is at school and Eric has an early day today.

The abundant and natural Christmas feel makes me want to begin decorating for the holidays early... It already feels like Christmastime. We just need to get through trick-or-treating first. But first, I'll turn on Bing Crosby.

Jake & Hope

Nature & Family

2011-10-15T13:31:00.001-08:00

Nature in Alaska brings serenity, peace, and amazement. Two nights ago, Eric and I saw our first moon ring and we are still amazed. We've never seen anything like it and we are excited to see many more. Because of the desolation here, there is much of God's land that hasn't been disturbed and when humanity disturbs it, it is minimal.

I just came inside from playing fetch with Jake and Hope. Since we gave Jumper the best home a few days ago (and was told that she's thriving with her forever family), Jake and Hope have been much happier and energetic. I think that Jake and Hope needed to be the only brother and sister pups at home, mainly because they both love attention so much! Not to mention that Jake has the biggest ego of any pup I've ever met. They both love running around, playing in the wooded area, helping us by bringing sticks to our fire, and sunbathing on the deck. Sienna and Emma seem to like this arrangement as well and I am amused every time Emma uses Jake as her step stool.

Today is another day of yard work and household chores, then church tomorrow morning. Maybe we'll see another moon ring tonight.

View from our deck

Salcha, AK

Hello, Winter

2011-10-13T13:13:00.001-08:00

It is a brisk 18 degrees today with biting wind. Outside is sunny and slightly overcast and life seems to be taking its time. Thankfully, today is a "free" day- Eric has the day off, Sienna is in school, and Emma's only requirement for today is napping.

I went to Fairbanks yesterday for an MRI and left home at 5 a.m. In ideal weather conditions, the drive from Delta Junction to Fairbanks is 1 1/2 hours. However, I left so early from home to arrive in plenty of time for my check-in at 7:15 a.m. I arrived at the hospital at 7:10 a.m. Driving in the dark with not much snow on the ground proved to be a culture shock for me. The Alaskan dark is much different than anything I've ever experienced. There is no light pollution until nearing a city and if snow blows up from the road from a passing vehicle, it is near whiteout conditions.

We are already prepping our house for arctic conditions. In Alaska, there is no autumn season; the weather cools slightly then winter dramatically arrives with a kick. The shrink film and weatherstrip seals will be going up shortly, our vehicles will be winterized soon, and Eric and I will need to shop for our winter gear. Sienna and Emma have their arctic gear but they are unsure of these freezing temperatures. Eric and I are also unsure of freezing temperatures because a "freezing" temperature in Delta Junction is -30 to -60 degrees.

In the meantime, we are going to enjoy being forcibly acclimated to Alaskan temperature, continue the yard work, and make snow angels.

Salcha, AK

A view of our back yard this morning

Snowflakes & Hot Chocolate

2011-10-11T10:48:00.001-08:00

Today was going to be a day full of yard work with Emma, and the pups running around. My outside plans have been derailed because snowflakes are falling! The temperature is brisk and a prominent 25 degrees, so Emma and I are coloring and drinking hot chocolate at our kitchen table. I love our breakfast nook area because there are two windows; one a bay window facing our back yard. I never thought the day would come where I'd be a stay-at-home mother, coloring with my little girl, drinking hot chocolate inside our warm house in Alaska, and watching the beautiful snowflakes effortlessly and gracefully fall from the sky.

Sienna is at her Montessori preschool today, Eric is at work, the pups are lazy and cozy, and Emma and I are playing. I love my life.

Welcome! The beginning of our dream life...

2011-10-10T13:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog! This will be more extensive and relaxing for me because I can write about our experiences here in Alaska. Aimee inspired me to start blogging again and I am copying her idea about blogging in a far away land!

Many people know how we wound up in Alaska, but some don't know. Last December, as Eric and I were dwelling and rotting in our constant and persistent misery, we woke up and took a look at our lives. There we were at Fort Hood- it was hot, humid, December, with no snow on the ground.

At this time, "Sarah Palin's Alaska" was airing new episodes every week and we had recorded that show on DVR. We both love Sarah Palin so, of course, we tuned in! Her travelogue series captivated Eric and I, and Eric had vaguely brought up Alaska before, for "after Army" plans. Why I said no at that time is beyond me!

Like tension, one can cut misery with a butter knife. We were sitting there miserable watching Sarah Palin having a blast with her family and out of nowhere Eric flatly and hopelessly asked me, "Let's move to Alaska?" Without skipping a beat, I said, "Let's go."

Fast forward from December 2010 to July 27, 2011. Over 100 resumes submitted on USAjobs.gov, many replies back, then one email that would further our plans and hopes of living in Alaska. The job offer. This was the email I needed for my broker and lender to see so we could apply for a mortgage. At this point, Eric and I were hoping for the Fairbanks area and hadn't given much thought at all to Fort Greely. What was this rinky-dink town called Delta Junction? I called our broker and told him about the Fort Greely job offer and we were free to browse online for houses in the Delta area. We viewed some nice houses, some houses with land, some dumpy-looking houses, and then "the house." "We're setting the bar too high", "There's no way we can get THAT house!", "Let's keep looking". But we came back to "the house" and decided that I'd fly to Alaska that May to put in an offer.

Mid-May 2011: Buh-bye Texas!!! I was off to Alaska for one week to browse houses, put in an offer, and prayerfully, enter contract. Not to mention, square things with my lender, put down earnest money, pay for the home inspector, have the home inspected while I was there, and do every thing needed before closing. I met with my broker (who is the best!!!) and he did everything for me but sign the papers! Eric and I are really fortunate and blessed to have found such a great broker that understood that we didn't know what we're doing.

After some stressful days in Alaska with an offer, counter-offer, waiting... More waiting... Deciding closing costs... More waiting... Then, striking a deal! I had two days, I believe, to sign everything I could in terms of contract/ closing documents, have the house inspected, and rush rush rush! It happened. Inspection day comes and we go to "the house" in Delta. The inspector was there, and so was the owner. I was silently shaking in my boots, then I meet the owner. I had seen that he was a Retired Army MP from a plaque on his wall, so I figured maybe I could immediately forge and build a positive rapport with him. I shook his hand and he reached in his wallet and handed my his business card, face down. With a grin, he says, "I want you to read this card and I want to see your reaction." I flip the card over and it says, "Chief ****** ******, Chief of Police, Fort Greely." Eric's future boss at Fort Greely. Chief had seen Eric's name come through from HR, so he knew who I was before I got there! He was very amused and started laughing because I gasped fairly loud and started laughing myself!

The rest of my Alaska trip went wonderfully, and I ended up renting a car from the airport and I went to Santa's House in North Pole. I told Eric that we need to go in there loaded because I am going to want one of everything! Santa's House is so much fun and it is the place that every child's letter goes to, addressed to Santa Claus.

After I returned to Texas, Eric and I were a hop, skip, and a jump away from being homeowners. All we had to do was go to closing on July 27th. Since we were doing a long-distance deal with closing, we were to overnight everything back to the title company and then wait for a call from our broker. July 27th we closed on the house, Eric got out of the Army and we left Fort Hood for good and forever, and I was officially accepted into the University of Alaska Fairbanks for Geology! July 27th was a good day!

On July 27th, we drove and drove and drove. Our goal was to make it out of Texas that day, and we did. We stayed in New Mexico that night, and for the next week, we travelled through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and finally Alaska. I'll never forget the look on Eric's face as he stepped out of his car, in his driveway, looking at his house for the first time.

Sienna and Emma raced to the front door and I unlocked it and the door swung open. The girls were off like a shot and Eric picked me up, and carried me over the threshold.

The rest you've read and seen (in my thousands of pictures) on Facebook!