*Through it All*

I thank God for the mountains,

and I thank Him for the valleys,

I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.

For if I'd never had a problem,

I wouldn't know God could solve them,

I'd never know what faith in God could do.

-Through it all

This is the view that we get to see everyday out of the front window. The best part is that this picture was taken at 10:30 PM! we are constantly gaining more daylight! I have no problems sleeping through it either, which is great!  I wasn't sure how that was going to work out.

The lyrics I mentioned at the begining is from a song that I have heard a thousand times, but never really caught the words. One day I was randomly listening to songs on youtube, and It came to that verse...It literally stopped me instantly,I just had to listen to it over again...I kept replaying that part! I think that has been the biggest thing I have learned these last few months! I am so thankful for the things God has placed in my life! good and bad! I never looked at my trials as blessings before...I never looked at it as a way God draws us near to him! I love my surrondings because this song always comes to mind when I see the mountains!

I have had to deal with situations that I never thought would come my way and I will continue to face stuff I haven't been through before. I try to protect people by going around the truth, I have made decisions before praying about them, and I have caused  difficult situations to arise.  I am learning each day to trust, have faith and wait for direction!  Thanks to all who patiently allow me to work this out in my life :)

Through it all,

I've learned to trust in Jesus,

I've learned to trust in God.

Triathalon

The Gold Nugget Triathalon is coming up! I obviously cannot participate in it this year which makes me extremly sad. Maybe next year! Anyways, I cannot wait to go and cheer on Kathleen, Tayvia and the rest of the team members!!!
 Kinda glad I can't participate ;) I am not a huge fan of the logo!!!






Spring is finally here and it's AWESOME! I think we have had better weather this week than in Michigan :)

IT'S A GIRL!

The newest Miedema member is a healthy baby girly-- arriving in September :)

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!! I am very excited.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for mewere written in your book before one of them came to be. -Psalm 139:13-16

Weekend Happenings

We had a great weekend! I didn't feel very hott early on friday, so I snacked on some bread then Rachel and I got out and about. We had a very productive day!

Saturday was the best weather that we have had here yet! I got to lay out for awhile! It was awesome!

Ansel and Yvonne took me to the Knik River bridge! It was a beautiful day! We tried going out to the bridge at midnight one night, but I couldn't see much- When I went back in the light I saw the whole bridge was grafittied, Ansel found the only appropriate piece of art on the whole thing! 

Sunday we overslept a bit, went to church then came home and pretty much cashed out for the rest of the day! Ansel stopped in for some cookies that I was making and brought us some other goodies, but other than getting up like once I don't think we moved-we both woke up at 12:30am to find ourselves in the same postion we were in earlier that afternoon.

I found this magnet on my desk at work! It's pretty accurate :)

This picture is probably my least favorite! I felt like crap and really wanted to stay in and rest! BUT I have some pretty presistant friends, so I avoided barfing all over Ansels car, and made it to the top of the Butte :) We made some hilarious memories this day that I will never forget! I am not quite sure who the random guy in the background is...but apparently he wanted to be by us.
Breathtaking view!!! This was taken from the Knik Bridge. It might be one of my new favorite locations!

She's off again...

My mom safely made it to Africa! She will be gone until July! Pray for continued safety and health! Prayers for my dad too who will be alone for awhile, and will be traveling to join her in July:)

My parents are wonderful people! I love that they are such amazing examples to me. My siblings model that to me as well.

Arn't they cute? :)

God Sightings

Easter was a beautiful day here! We had awesome church services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday! we went to the Moyers for dinner, and it was an awesome day! We drove around for awhile on sunday before lunch and found some amazing sights! This is one of my favorites! it was soooo warm out, yet snow everywhere! I love having a constant reminder of God's amazing creation around me wherever I go!!!!

I LOVE the church we are attending! I really look forward to sundays for that reason! it's pretty small, but it gives us a chance to try to know everyone. I LOVE the worhsip team, and the songs we sing! Here is a song that I have come to love and listen to daily! The words are awesome, and really challenge me and change the way I think about the way I live my life!

The song is called 'Speak o, Lord' the song is great, you can look it up, but I took parts out of it and it has kind of been my prayer! Completley being removed from a situiation in your life and being thrown into a new one really test's your faith I have found that as much as I hated this at first, it has been the biggest blessing in my life and has helped me grow far more than I ever expected to!

Hope you love this as much as I do.

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,That the light of Christ might be seen today- In our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Fulfill in us all your purposes for Your glory...Test our thoughts and our attitudes In the radiance of Your purity. Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see Your majestic love and authority. Words of power that can never fail—Let their truth prevail over unbelief....renew our minds; help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises, And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.

Another big blessing was the bible study that Rachel brought me to! Unfortuantly I had to stop going because its on monday's and I work right through it, but I am praying I can attend this fall. I always felt so refreshed after leaving there!! I took alot from it the few weeks that I was able to attend...and the notes I took will always be something I cherish!

I love this life

Being here has me doing some things that I never imagined I would get into. We have different idea's of entertainment here...and how could you not with all this amazing beauty around you! I am going to give camping and fishing a shot as well :) I can't wait!

I was introduced to another hiking location called the Butte. I of course wasn't going to go, but Ansel happened to force me to wake up early and go:) Against my best efforts, I ended up hiking it. I tried stalling for as long as possible so I made him stop at a Buffalo farm along the way! it turned out to be a great day!

The Butte is about half the size of Lazy Mountain so I enjoy doing it regularly. Don't be decieved....the lazy mountain is in NO way Lazy!!! I didn't think that I was going to live to see another day on the way up! I had to hold Ansel's hand to get to the summit because I was a little scared of heights!!!

What I've been up to....

I decided to start a blog so that everyone is able to keep up with my life! it's hard keeping everyone up to date on everything.

First, I LOVE Alaska. If you talked to me at all my first few weeks of being here you might be surprised that I can actually say that! Its such a beautiful place, I have met wonderful friends, and it really changes you as a person,I love the way that I view things now!!

I have a job that I absoultly love and I am very happy to have gotten it. I went against over 60 people to get the job, and its awesome! I am pretty much the only girl, other than the two accountants, and I don't think I would have it any other way!!! Im spoiled! :)

Here are some pics of what I have been up to!

We have been doing TONS of Hiking. My first hike that I actually finished was the not so 'Lazy Mountain'. We made it to Summit, which to me, was quite an accomplishment!





















Ansel pretty much forces me to go hiking...I try to ignore his calls, but he shows up at my house and drags me along...I always end up haivng a blast!!!!



This handy little service got me around my first couple weeks being here. I have a ton of stories from meeting intresting people on here. It has it's practical uses, but I am def. glad I haven't used it in awhile :) I think Rach enjoyed hearing who was riding that day...they all liked me...alot.