#livinginalaska

[lilybethpowers-blog]

So peaceful! 🥰 #alaska #livinginalaska #nature #winter #fyp #travel #jber #anchorage #fypシ https://www.instagram.com/p/CZYv1ypLizw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thenayli22]

You can tell how much I enjoy visiting Costco. One of my favorite times to vlog. Check out my shopping trip. Link in bio! #thenayli22 #producttester #livinginalaska #costco #shopwithme (at Fairbanks, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9gEuoHu3q/?igshid=1exhesl0fasqd

[wanderingsoulwv]

2015

Well....today is New Years Eve. The last day of 2015 and I must say it wasn't all that bad of a year. Big changes, happiness, making peace....it was good. S got out of the Marine Corps, which not gonna lie caused panic. I continued to love my job as a surgical tech. I became friends with some amazing people. My new friends help me see what a great person I actually am, and that I am loved and cared about. My daughter grew, and shows me everyday how incredibly smart and creative she is. We finally got out from that hellish nightmare of a house. I made peace with my mother. I let negative people go from my life. Finally got back to an amazing point in my marriage. Learned how to become a better parent. S got a new job and we picked up and moved to the middle of the Bush in Alaska. I am living in the middle of nowhere in Alaska!!!! I did things I never dreamed of doing. Driving across country. Seeing Rushmore. Seeing Little Big Horn. Seeing a moose. Getting close enough to a moose I could touch it. Experiencing almost 4 foot of snow. Thinking 45 is warm. Getting a new job working with children. Shooting and cleaning a grouse. Getting on a plane. Getting on a plane by myself. Getting on a tiny plane. Getting on a tiny plane by myself. Living in minus 30 temperatures. Tackling challenges of Bushlife. Mailing food to myself. Becoming stronger than I ever thought possible. 2015 was full of emotions. Up and down and back up again. Feeling so hopeless I never thought I could get up again. Feeling so happy I thought I would burst. But I made it. Another year full of wonderful memories. The only thing I wish for 2016 is to keep on having these amazing adventures. Meeting amazing people. And most of all time slowing down so my life one doesn't grow up so fast. *Cheers*

[wanderingsoulwv]

Tradgey

When tradgey hit this small village I now call home, I wondered what would happen next. How would this small place be able to deal when they lost one of their own, especially in such a sad way. The story is a sad one that you can read about at the bottom. This post is about how McGrath deals in the face of tragedy and the response has been overpowering. The entire village has come together to help find one of their own. They have spent hours and hours in below zero conditions to help find him. The Village Council is providing food and warmth to the volunteers that are searching. The people in the village are dropping off food and drinks to help. Everyone is assisting in any way they can, no matter how small. It really is a beautiful thing to see everyone come together. Even more amazing are his Marine brothers. When they heard he was missing they set up a go fund me account to send up as many as possible to help aid in the search. The response to their campaign has been phenomenal! The local airline has helped try to fly as many as they can from Anchorage to McGrath. The local hotel has set up a deal to help them with boarding. The people have opened their homes up to them for the overflow. People have volunteered their cold weather gear to help them as most have never felt this kind of cold before. People have offered everything they can from making food to lending their washing machines and dryers. It's a beautiful thing to see. People coming together to help one another out in a time of need. If more people in the world followed this example I believe the world would be a much better place. No-one here is thinking, "What's in it for me?" instead they are asking, "What can I do?" They are working all day and then going out on the river at night to help with the recovery. They are doing everything they can, in every little way to help. I recently watched a video where people from the outside often look down at Villiage life. They believe there is something wrong with "these people" and "this place" but honestly I have rarely seen something as wonderful as "these people" or "this place." It's a rare thing to see an entire community come together in such a big way. Here is the link for Casey Graham's Go Fund Me account. It was set up by his Marine brothers and whatever is left after expenses will go to Casey's family. Please donate if you can, and if not please share. Every little bit helps in a big way. https://www.gofundme.com/caseygraham The link also has the story of what happened. As stated this post was about how McGrath handled what happened.

[wanderingsoulwv]

Flight day

So today was the day that I have both been dreading and anticipating for, for weeks now.... It was flight day....dum dum dum!!!!! I had to fly from McGrath, to Anchorage, then from Anchorage to Fairbanks all by myself. I managed...it was difficult but I managed...of course the xanax helped. So did the fact that I got to write what I was seeing and experiencing, it helped keep my mind clear and from getting too jumpy every time there was a jolt. For this flight experince I'm breaking this up. Letting you "see" the land and then tomorrow my ramblings from the flight...mainly because I want to keep the two separate. So let me describe my journey for you as best I can, because like always, it is something that should really been seen instead. I wish everyone could be capable of seeing what I've seen today. The frozen landscape with a sunrise around 11 am...it really does take your breath away. I remember the first time I saw MGrath, it was just before landing as most of that flight was clouds. I remember thinking it looked a little brown and grey but still cute. But seeing it this time all white and frozen makes you feel like you are on some foreign planet. There is a sharpness to it that wasn't there before and you wonder ...is this what it looked liked when great mammoths roamed these lands? How different did it really look? I wish I could have captured more photos but alas no electronics on during takeoff. You could clearly see the river, stark white against the darkness of the trees, winding and looping across the landscape like some sort of artic snake. It's weird from the air. It looks so small but your brain tricks you by saying, "Oh it's not all that far." I am able to see so much more this time because it's clearer. As I look down for signs of life, I wonder too how it felt to be one of the First Alaskans to cross this great land. What it must have took in order for them to survive this wildness. What determination. Sometimes as I look out the window I see the perfect shot. The sun shinning through the clouds just so and hitting the land, but before I can capture it it is gone. I spent most of my trip to Anchorage writing to help me cope with the stress and fear that flying puts on me. And let's just say....it's exhausting. I see no signs of life...no houses or animals, just brilliant white, and by God is is beautiful. I still can't believe I live in this...nature's great treasure. I wish everyone could see this beauty....maybe then there would be less hate in this world. The trip to Fairbanks wasn't quite as vivid. There were definitely more clouds so I didn't get to see as much or take as many pictures, but it's safe to say everything from before still holds true. It is still beautiful. It is still something everyone needs to see. It is still Alaska.

[wanderingsoulwv]

My new Baffins!!!! They are so pretty!!!! Even better half off!!! #readyforwinter #winteriscoming #livinginalaska

[wanderingsoulwv]

It's snowing!!

[wanderingsoulwv]

Snow in the mountain