-62 (yes I said Negitive 62) weather means to me:

*windex freezing and turning into ice on your house windows before you even have a chance to wipe them down.

*your thermostat being set on close to 90 degrees and it only getting up to 70.

*not being able to touch a door without gloves b/c it can actually burn your skin. Not even kidding.

*exhaust and smog having nowhere to go b/c the air is too cold and thick so you literally drive in a constant almost white fog.

*and last but not least, wondering how on earth birds can survive here right now. believe it or not, there are STILL birds here and probably don't plan on leaving this late in the game but it makes me wonder how they do it...

Alaska is definitly a ONCE in a lifetime experience. Emphasizing on the ONCE :)

We're surviving but please take advantage of those cold, bitter days in the midwest for me b/c they're probably alot warmer than here! I NEED A WARM VACATION, lol! Going to see Gina in Florida might have to be on the "to do" list soon...

is NOT deploying now. Always a plus!

Oh and just a little FYI: Today's high was -40. LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

On that note, Happy Monday :)

Sorry I've been so MIA for SO long but I'm back and full of updates!

So we've been on Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska for 7 months now and this place is definitly one of a kind to say the least. When we first got here, the summer was beautiful and very bright. Very bright all day to be exact :) but the start of the winter has unfortunitly already been a drag. :( Going from almost 24 hours of brightness to only three and -20 temps has been a bit stressful. And kinda cold. Ok I lied; REALLY cold. For instance, the other day we had a "warm front"..it was 16 out and I went with just a sweatshirt on. Lol, so rediculous the way your body can adjust so fast to a new climate. Hmm, lets see what else..We had our first snow at the end of September (which Hayleigh absolutely LOVED!!) and in the mean time have accumulated at least a few feet and probably 12 inches of solid ice on the streets. To be honest, I almost sort of forgot how to drive on the snow and ice after living in Mississippi for so long but I think I've got the hang of it again :) Although trying to make turns or accelerate at a stop sign in a mini-van is never easy. Or fun. A 4-wheel drive trade in might be a must for next winter..

Ok so enough with being a Debbie Downer about living here in the arctic and on to more exciting and happy news! Lol..

Hayleigh is growing so fast! She just had her third birthday November 2nd and it was so much fun! It was of course, none other than Disney Princess themed and couldn't have went more perfect! Oh, she also started Pre-school this month! Such a milestone! We're easing into though (yes, I said WE'RE because it's not easy sending your baby to school :)), so she only goes two days a week. From 8:30-11:30. It's really been great for the both of us though and she looks forward to going everytime! Jimmy loves the fire station he's working at now, which is always a plus and makes a move to a new place that much easier. He really enjoyed fishing this past summer but always kept an eye over his shoulder for the 1000's of moose that just walk around like nobody's business. No really, they're everywhere. And they're huge. I've met some really great people since moving here and am SO thankful for them. When your away from home, your friends really do become your family..One of my friends has a little girl who's 4 and has hit it off so well with Hayleigh! They'll also be stationed here for the next four years so it's comforting to know that not everyone you meet (and become close to) will dissapear overnight! I suppose when that does happen though, it's just part of being in the military..The girls are actually in class together at school which I'm sure they think is just so cool :)

Now for the bad news..

Jimmy's deploying sometime in January for 4-6 months..I think it's ironic that after four years of serving, they finally decide to send him on a deployment while we're in ALASKA. The coldest part of the year even. Ugh. I suppose the plus side to this (if any at all) is that the Air Force doesn't send they're troops out longer than 6 months at a time so we won't have to deal with anything crazy like 12-18 months. Hopefully me and Hay won't have to stick around here the entire time and can try to come back for a visit but it's awfully expensive to fly anywhere from Fairbanks so I guess we'll just have to see..

I'm sorry this post is SOO long but I suppose I had a lot of catching up to do. You know, as cold and far away as this place is, we really are trying to make the best of it just as you would anywhere. I guess it's just such a culture and weather shock that it's hard not to talk about all of the crazy and different things that go on here. Despite it all though, the three of us are doing well and are very healthy and of course can't wait for SUMMER! :)

Oh and if anyone knows my chihuahua and is wondering how he's dealing with the negitive temps..not very but he's surviving :) Poor dog can hardley scratch at the door when he's done so I have to watch for him to make sure he doesn't get left outside too long! Ah, the joys of Alaska.

P.S.
Here's a bit of a funny fact for anyone who's interested..it's so cold here now that when you walk outside with ANY kind of moisture inside your nose, your nose hairs freeze and poke at you until your back inside somewhere heated. No joke. Lol..

I'll be sure to post pictures soon! Happy Thanksgiving!

I hate nights like these...

I've had a few people asking about the particulars of the move so here they are :)

1.We found out that the orders are for THREE years, not four.
2.Our report date is no later than May 10th, 2008.
3.The base we're moving to is Eielson AFB, Alaska (it's it's own town). The closest "popular" towns are Fairbanks and North Pole.

The Air Force gives you 30 days of vacation to take before you leave for for an "overseas" (it's considered over seas just b/c it's so far. Go figure.) assignment so we'll be home for a visit sometime in March or April. It's all up to when our stuff is being moved and how early we'll be heading up to Alaska.

When we first found about these orders and started contemplating our options, we decided that if this is what the Lord truely had planned for us to do that everything would just fall into place and it really has been doing just that.
Thankyou so much for all of your prayers and support! Don't give up just yet though, it's only December! We still have to figure out how to ship our car, when to pack...the list goes on! But like I said, it's all working out and I know that this is what we're supposed to be doing. Happy Holidays! :)