Thought it was about time for another post.  Sorry that they have been so few and far between.  between all the goings on I seldom remember to post to my blog.  But it looks like I finally got around to it!  

Alaska: Frigid Fall

I noticed that the air was warmer and did not have the familiar bite that it has had for the past few weeks.  Looking at the thermometer it showed a balmy 0 degrees Fahrenheit!  That was Wednesday night.  This weekend it has finally warmed up to 32 degrees.  It is comfortable outside with only a thermal and long sleeves.

I am sure most of you enjoy ice skating.  Well, I get to go ice skating everyday on the way to work.  We got about 4 inches of snow a couple weeks ago, then Thursday night we got a bout an eighth inch of freezing rain.  Driving to work that morning was about like ice skating.  That evening we got almost 8 inches of soft, wet snow which helped some, but wheels still slide on the sheen of ice beneath the snow, which is now an invisible danger.

Last weekend I went up to a cabin in Talkeetna with some friends.  This is the view from out of our window!

 The moon setting behind (Kahiltna)?

The sun rising on the peak of Denali, 20,322 feet.  This picture is taken from an elevation of about 400 feet, so what you see is almost the full 20,000 feet of mountain, that is around 4 times the grand canyon's depth!

There is nothing quite like the stuporous bliss to be had while toasting your feet beside a nice warm fire in a little cabin while the temperature outside is -10 F.  Thank you Jessica, Matt, and Chett for an awesome weekend!  We did some intense sledding.  Temperature was still -10F when we all three piled onto a sled and shot down an almost-45 degree slope.  Cold ice crystals stung our faces, but we did it again! And again, and again!

Monday I flew down to Talkeetna and back fulfilling the solo flight requirements for my private pilot certificate!  Only 3 more hours of prep-work with my instructor and then I can take the test!  Flying in the winter time involves a little more work than usual.  Wing covers so that the wings do not develop frost before you fly. Engine heater and engine blanket.  Dress warmly for the pre-flight so that it is not rushed.  I am sure that I felt the sensation of ice inside my nostrils one night after buttoning the plane up for the evening.  Temp was around 0 that night.

Thankful for a cozy trailer home to keep me warm and dry.  Just finished stacking some wood for the week.  It is 40 degrees warmer this week than it was last week, so I may not have to burn as much.  

These pictures below were taken from a butte called "The Butte" less than a quarter mile from my house.  I took these pictures one Sabbath afternoon.  I had a feeling that the low lying clouds were very thin and I was rewarded as the clouds cleared away just as I came up to the summit!

Looking Northeast towards the Matanuska Range

South towards Pioneer Peak

Went cross country skiing today after church with Matt Sandvik.  Skied more than 7 miles.  Starting to get the hand of cross country, but it is definitely more challenging than downhill skiing.  The experience is in being out in the middle of nowhere with silent, snow-dampened forest and mountains above.

Friday, the same day that we had the freezing rain followed by snow,  I braved the weather to attend our weekly bible study.  I am so thankful for the group of friends that I have and the Christian fellowship and encouragement that we are able to share with each other every Friday.  I almost let the weather keep me home, but I am glad that I went because I was inspired to continue following hard after God.  We read the story of Jonathan attacking the Philistine garrison.  There is such a contrast between Saul and his son Jonathan.  Jonathan took time to honestly seek God's will.  God's will was important to him.  Saul, on the other hand, wanted to appear as if he were seeking God's will.  He made hasty sacrifices, and rash oaths forbidding people to eat.  But in reality, he cared about his own glory and honor instead of what God wanted.  

All too often we do the same.  At least I know that I do.  It is easy to live life pretending as if I am relying on God for direction and strength, but often I find myself putting my time with God on the back burner.  Complacency slips in and I lose sight of the earnestness of the situation in which I find myself.  I feel that Jonathan must have kept his great need as a sinner in need of God's power in his life fresh in his mind.  When we look on Jesus, and his sinless life, we see the wretchedness that sin causes in our lives, and we desire to be clean and free.  "The goodness of God leads us to repentance" Romans 2:4  As we look and see who God we become changed (2 Corinthians 3:18).  The difference between Saul and Jonathan is that Jonathan had allowed the spirit of God to work in his life, to convict him of sin, and to change him.  Jonathan longed to have Christ's character, but Saul was just playing a game for his own reputation.  Friday night helped me to want to be like Jonathan, daily surrendered to Christ and so thirsty for righteousness that I spend time seeking His will daily.  

 

Tomorrow I am going to go skiing up at Hatcher's Pass for the first time!  The road there is plowed during the winter and makes a switchback with almost 1000 feet elevation from the top to the bottom.  Looking forward to seeing what it is like!  Wild powder, here we come!

Alaska is truly wild and I am privileged to be here!