Sun Vally Mania!

Just because I'm moving in less than 6 days doesn't mean that I can't have a little Idaho-style fun before I leave. Sooooo, my friend Allison and I went on a little road trip through Stanley Wilderness Area and Sun Vally to take in some of Idaho's most bragged about scenery. We hiked over 15 miles in two days (probably more like 20 but who's counting) to several lakes in Stanley and up Baldy mountain in Sun Valley. We had the pleasure of staying in Ali's friends cabin at a lutheran camp, which name I am neglecting to remember, thus declining the opportunity to camp out in 30 degree weather. Brrrrr! (I'm sure you Alaskans are laughing at me right now, 30 degrees is nothin' right?) Enjoy the pictures as they will likely be the last you will see of Idaho on this blog.

Sawtooth Mountains

More Sawtooth Mountains

Me, Allison & Kim

Famous Stanley Baking Company (at least to Idahoans)

Pretty mountain lake (I think it's called Bench Lake)

Allison & Kim

Allison caught me being silly on the camera.

Baldi Mountain (also the ski moutnain in Sun Valley). It looks tiny but it really is HUGE! You can ski on the back side, on another mountain connedting to the back side and beyond. I bet if you tried to ski all the different runs it would take you a day to do it. That's big!

I got a job!

Finally!!! I found out two days ago that I will be working at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage as a clinical acute care dietitian. This is the job that I have been pursuing for the last two months or so. It has been dragging on and on and on....What a faith builder! I had my first interview the 3rd week of June. Then the second on the 2nd week of July. My future boss was on vacation for a month and I had to wait until the beginning of August for all the paperwork to be sent to HR. It only took their HR a MONTH to get me some news (note the bit of sarcasm) Anyway, I was really trying hard to leave it all in Gods hands but it turned out to be a struggle to wait. Well it was all worth it because once again God has come through in a mighty way and provided yet another blessing in our lives. I officially start with orientation September 29th!

Take your shoes off cuz we're going to the beach!

Florence, Heceta Head and Newport beach on the Oregon coast specifically. During this last week we also went to Eugene to visit my see-ster and bro-n-law (Jen & Jimmy). As the weather was around 100 degrees on saturday, we decided to cool off by heading to the beach.



This is the famous, most photographed lighthouse in the world...Heceta Head Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast just 1.5 hours from Eugene.




Here we are playing frisbee at the beach near Heceta head.


We ate dinner in Newport beach at this great pub and wandered around to a few shops and the piers. By this time we were tired and it was time to head home.

Recreation in Bend, Oregon

This week has been a memory maker and a blast all together. Gerry and I ventured off to Bend, Oregon to visit the Clemens (who just moved there in June from Willow, AK). I've always heard that Bend was a nice place with a ton of outdoor recreation things to do but I had no idea. It's an amazing place! We went to several lakes to go boating and went hiking in the mountains and along lava flows. We were able to bring Jasper along where he had a blast swimming and frolicking along the way.






Here we are at Todd Lake. As you can see it was a beautiful day. Jasper was sure enjoying the cool water. Look at him jump! He looks like a pro with his little feet tucked n' everything!





This is us at Sparks Lake. Gerry is chillin' and he works hard to row the canoe. Jean & Bruce Clemens are in the kayak. Beautiful place isn't it?!

A place to lay our heads!

Can you believe how fast God works!?!?!? I literally just finished my RD exam (August 1st) and then think to myself...hmmm I better start looking online for potential places to stay in Alaska. Because we have a dog, and not a small one under 25 pounds, it complicates things. He doesn't qualify for many places in Anchorage because of the weight limit. He also needs to run (which means trails nearby) and he needs a back yard to do his business. Where in the heck are we gonna find a place like that in Anchorage for cheap?! Well I didn't have to worry about it because God found us a place. Just like that (finger snaps) too! One of my mothers friends sent out an email asking several people to keep their eyes out for a place for us. Within a day, a woman named Diane Henninger called me. She lives off of Lake Otis and E 50th area. Get this, we get a 4 bedroom house, 2 car garage, backyard, a place on cambell creek trail system, AND the use of everything in her house (which means we don't have to look for furniture) from September 24th until April sometime. All of this for $500 bucks a month!!! Man am I excited! This means we don't have to look for an apartment someplace, we can save money, we don't have to pay extra days on our Uhaul and we can store our stuff in the garage for free. This is truely orchestrated by our all mighty powerful God. Thank you Jesus for such a gift!!!

RD Exam

I PASSED!!! Why is this such a big deal??? This test was something I had been dreading for YEARS!!! Actually I dreaded going through school to get my bachelors too. Why? I don't know except that I believed many a lie from satan and was bound by fear. This stopped me in many things in the past until God said "ENOUGH!" This is a HUGE DEAL in the fact that this was not just a test of my knowledge of nutrition, it was a spiritual battle for whether or not I was going to believe that God has the strength to get me through anything (even if I don't) and will just have faith to let him prove it to me. So THANK YOU GOD for helping me pass!!!

Moving outta the lower 48

It's official, we are moving back to Alaska. After years of galavanting across the US of A (okay only Colorado and Idaho), we are heading north. Just in time for the frost to put a chill into the air. We will be driving out of Idaho September 14th and if all goes well (please o' please Lord let it), we'll be there by the 20th.

First, I don't officially have a job yet but it's in the works. I am the top canidate for a clinical acute care Dietitian at the Alaska Native Medical Center. I will know by the last week of July-first week of August if I got the job. I will start September 29th if I do.

Second, we need a place to stay. Anchorage only, seriously I don't want to commute with the price of gas these days. If anyone knows of a person who rents out an apartment/duplex/townhome or needs a housesitter for the winter please let me know. One thing is...we have a medium size dog. They must okay the doggie to live with us there. We only need a one bedroom but a two would but a-okay with us too.

We look forward to making connections with everyone we left behind 4 years ago. We'll see you in September!!

Gettin' hitched!

Yep, Aaron is going to tie the knot. Come October 18th he's gonna be stuck to his "ball and chain" forever. Although this sounds bad. I should say, Abie is not a ball and chain at all. What an amazing girl she is and what a perfect match up God has orchestrated for Aaron and Abie! We are super stoked.

So on a similar note....I get to be a bridesmaid! Yep yep! I get to get all fancied up for the special event. I love it, an excuse to wear a dress. It's been years since I've worn a dress. Sad but true.

Gerry's gotta new job!

The title may throw you off a little. No he didn't leave the slope. Yes he is still gone for 3 weeks at a time BUT he got an upgrade with the ol' joby-job. He's now a coordinator on his same crew. What does this mean? Well, I thought you'd never ask! Pay Raise Baby! The greatest thing about this is just hours before Gerry was telling me (for the first time EVER) that he was a little miserable in his job. Okay, just plain unhappy. It sure isn't fun to be stuck doing something you aren't real happy with. Anyway, he gets a call from his boss telling him that he's got a new job if he wants it. WOW does God work fast! Thank you Jesus for caring for our needs and emotional state!

Here we are....Abie, Aaron's fiance, looking beautiful as always, and Aaron, looking his best too. :)


Grammie Jill and her contagous laugh that I always remember lighting up a room.


Dad, Jen, Uncle Mark, and Great Uncle Jack posing for yet ANOTHER picture.


Uncle Rick, Uncle Dale, Dad and Mom having a very deep conversation. Jimmy scratching his head trying to figure out what's going on. (J/K, I just couldn't resist Jimmy :) )


Aunt Jackie being her usual CRAZE self.


Great Aunt Dottie, Aunt Reanne, Uncle Rick, Cousin Anna, Old family who's name i don't remember, Aunt Marie, Grandma's best friend Ginger.

Haakonson Family Reunion

Well, as many of you many know, family reunions can be a bit over whelming and chaotic. Ours was not much different, but SO very rewarding at the same time. We all met up at Grammie Jill's house in Redbluff, California the last week in June (some of us, ahem...me, couldn't make it until mid-way through the week d/t that ol' responsibility spelled W-O-R-K). Anyhoo, it was full of people coming and going, many conversations spread throughout the house, kids playing in the yard, much feasting, and spirtual encouragement to last a lifetime!

Pictures will have to come at a later date as I have tried to upload them without success.

More to come on this!

Back to Alaska!

Maybe.

Just out of the blue I decided to check with a few hospitals in Anchorage to see if, by chance, there were any RD jobs available. Mind you, I had been looking in 2007 and no prospects had revealed itself so I didn't expect much. To my surprise there were EIGHT RD positions available at only THREE hospitals. I simply couldn't help myself and had to apply. As it stands now I have two strong prospects, one at Providence and another at the Alaska Native Medical Center. I have had an unofficial interview with ANMC and will have an official one the second week of July. Providence only has a part time position open and needed to get creative to give the position a few more hours for me to really consider it. I will be following up with them in July as well.

I don't know what I was thinking because I am currently trying to cram in as much study time to pass my boards (the first week of August) and work at my current job (the VA hospital). I might have maxed myself out but I can't resist the thought of moving back to Alaska. I saw the chance and leaped for it!

So, it is very probable that we will be moving back to Alaska this fall (September-ish)! Keep me in your prayers as I study, tell my current job I am leaving (they will be very sad), pack up the house (by myself mind you, Gerry will be working over to make mulah for our move), and try to maintain my sanity!

I'll keep you posted!!!

Look at him go...

Ha ha, look at Jasper just gettin' into it with the ice cream container. He was all over the living room with his head buried in melted drippings of vanilla ice cream. Such a goof ball!

Look at our little Booze-Hound

Of all things Jasper drools over it would be beer! Yep, he's our little "booz-hound".

Cirque du Soleil

Anybody heard of them? Of course you have!!! I have been trying to see a show by these guys for years. When we went to Disneyworld in 2006 and Las Vegas in 2007 I missed showings by 2 days!!! Well I was finally able to see these guys live in a show called Saltimbanco. They were amazing, just like I thought they would be. The various acrobatic tricks and circus-style fanfare was what it was all about.

Canyonlands National Park

Moab and Mountain Biking

Capitol Reef National Park

More Arches National Park

Arches National Park