Visitors

I've been curious for a while about who all visits my blog. I see on my stats that I supposedly have visitors from random foreign countries.... and I wonder who you are. :) Blogging was a way friends could keep up with my travels when thousands of miles separated us. But I've made several blogging friends since that time. It's been a fun adventure. Just a couple months from now will mark three years that I've been a part of the blogging world! Wow, where did the time go?

Downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada

So, I invite you to leave a comment telling me where you live and how you found my blog. Perhaps I have old friends reading that I didn't know knew about my blog. And maybe I have new friends out there reading, just waiting for that first introduction.

Feel free to let me know what you like or don't like about my blog... any question you're dying to ask? Anything you'd like to see in the future? 

Back to School

When I was in high school, I had no intention of furthering my education with university studies. Also had no desire to be a teacher of any kind.

Well, fast forward several years. I've attended Secondary schooling for 4+ years now and taught many times over. Funny thing is, now I enjoy school, both being a student and a teacher.

Thought I was done though being a full time student... well, that's going to change. I just started an online English course this past week. Also applied for admission back at UAF (where I got my Associates from). Since I already have my AAS, I should only need two more years before earning my Bachelors. And if I work hard (take summer classes), might be able to achieve that goal in eighteen months.

Meanwhile, I've been steadily working on a TESOL course online. For those of you who don't know what that is.... Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I have about two weeks left to finish the course. Yay! I've wanted to do this for a long time and finally set my mind to it. It's been informative and I hope to put all that knowledge to good use. Maybe it will even help me get a job overseas teaching English.... one could hope. Until then, I'll use it here to help the students I tutor and for the classes I occasionally fill in for.

With everything else going on in my life, it is a challenge to keep up with school some days. But I have a goal in mind and I'm pressing on!

Homesick?

Ever have one of those days when you're homesick? 

I do. Somewhat frequently. And its not for a place you would probably think I'd be homesick for. Truth be told, I've been homesick more in the US, than I am when I'm overseas. 

First time I lived away from home, I was in Arctic Canada and can remember just a handful of days of homesickness. Most of those occurred when I received bad news and wished to be home for my family and friends. Otherwise, my days were filled with loving where I was and making new friends and memories. 

The year after that found me in the vast remoteness of Outer Mongolia for seven months. Seven months in the dead of winter. And I can distinctly remember one day of homesickness during that time. That was my first Christmas not with my family and it didn't faze me one bit. Every day was an adventure and while I missed family and friends, homesickness was far from my mind. 

THEN God had me at home in the States for a while. At home. In my own country. Familiar culture. Language easily understood. With family I loved. Friends I enjoyed. And I was homesick!

Do I enjoy everything about Mongolia? Well, no. Some of their food, I still have a hard time eating. And being so sick you want to die while living in a ger with no running water, an outhouse 30 feet away, smelling animal fat cooking over the wood stove, all in the middle of winter, can't say that's really enjoyable. But for some reason, Mongolia has a very special place in my heart. I still count many of those months as some of the best times of my life. The people I've met, many are still close friends and others will always be a part of the memories of an awesome time of my life. 

And since that first time to NWT eight and a half years ago, I've traveled to several more countries. A few left a less favorable impression than others, but all have had some kind of impact on who I am today. So that, now when I at home in Alaska, I get waves of homesickness for a strange land with weird food, diverse climate, different language. 

Then there are those days when I get homesick for my Real Home, the one I haven't seen yet. Heaven. One word that encompasses SO much! Longing for the day, I'll meet Jesus face to face. Sit in His presence. Sing His praises. Hear Him audibly say my name. oooh, gives me the chills just to think of the Great, Awesome, all-Powerful Almighty Creator of the universe speaking my name! 

To be surrounded by those loved ones who are already with my Saviour. I'll see Michael again. And Denise. And Grandpa Jim. And so many others. I miss them. But the sure hope of seeing them again one day reminds to keep my joy and my smile. 

So when the homesickness hits, I remind myself to be grateful that there are places I miss. It means I've had a full life. Wonderful times remembered. Important lessons learned. Close friends made. Families formed. And one day, homesickness will no longer be in our vocabulary when we reach the other side of Jordan. 

Until then..... Embrace Life. Live to the Fullest. Even if that means accepting homesickness. 

But When I Do....

This past weekend was the long anticipated weekend road trip to Anchorage for The Piano Guys concert. Somehow our two day trip turned into three days and then evolved into four. Which I was totally okay with, since it meant I had two days off work. :) I like long weekends. 

road trip!

I don't usually take 1000+ mile weekend road trips,  

But when I do - it's with amazing people! 

ready for some craziness!

Don't usually take road trips with the Fairchilds, 

But when we do - we use a water bottle as a funnel to put gas in a old lady's car on the side of the highway. 

using our homemade funnel

The guys wanted to go skiing/snowboarding, so they dropped us girls off at the airport to rent a car. We were gonna cruise around town all day until the concert. After clearing up some confusion about our reservation, the lady asked if we wanted a truck. At no extra charge! Sure thing!! So, we bummed around town in a new, bright red Dodge Ram. Oh yeah! I've always wanted a truck, so was cool to drive that around town. The gas mileage isn't cool (which is why I haven't bought a truck as of yet), but for a day, why not!?

Don't usually rent a vehicle for a day,
But when we do - it's a TRUCK.

girl and her truck is a beautiful thing

Don't usually go to an Alaska Aces game,
But when we do - we get a picture with the Stanley Cup!

NHL Stanley Cup

Don't usually go to Anchorage,
But when we do - we hang out with Chuckie Cheese!

yes, we really did go to Chuckie Cheese :) 

The Piano Guys concert was amazing. As we knew it would be. :) Next time, I'll be paying more money for my ticket so I can get a seat closer to the front. Definitely would be worth the money. They were pretty funny and oh, the music! We had an awesome time. Only got in trouble once... someone just had to use their camera during the concert... ha.

After the concert was over Saturday night, we met up with some friends, also down from Fairbanks, at Dennys. Well, we met up with them, after finding the right parking garage. I suggest knowing exactly how to get back to the right parking garage late at night in downtown Anchorage... but we survived that little adventure, with only a slightly fast heart rate. Then we began the two hour plus drive to Seward. Yes, I know, we are slightly crazy. Arrived about 230 AM, found our respective beds (our hosts were already in bed) and crashed.

Red Robin!

Sunday was beautiful in Seward! Gorgeous blue skies and crisp, clear view of the mountains. Our very brief time at the ocean was fantastic; we sped down there for a couple minutes between Sunday school and the main service. Why not, when you are three blocks away from the water and have a ten minute break between services? Besides the cold wind woke us up, since we were all so tired from the previous late nights.

We don't usually go to ocean in Seward,
But when we do - it's during church.

Monday we made the long trek back home. Was snowing and blowing the first bit, but cleared up thankfully. Course we made some stops along the way, so our intended arrival time kept getting pushed further and further back. But 11 PM isn't so bad, considering I've gotten home much later from road trips. Much later.

All in all, it was a great time. And I would do it again. With the same people. That says a lot.

chillin' in the back seat

Trusting

Do you trust me? 

Yes, came the reply. 

But why? 

Because I know you. 

The above is a snippet of a conversation I had somewhat recently with a friend. I was attempting to show them that in order for one to trust God, they must know God. Who trusts a total stranger with anything important? Not me! 

God wants us to know Him. Not just to know about Him, but know Him personally, like one does their friends. How you say? Well, but spending time with Him, talking to Him, reading what He's wrote to you. Thinking (it's called meditating) about what you know regarding Him.

Isn't it funny how you share something with someone to encourage or challenge them and then it turns around on you? Not long after the conversation about trusting God with my friend, I was in the midst of comparing myself to others I know and feeling like I came short in every area. My blog isn't as cool as theirs. Wish I was as pretty as her. She has all the cool stories. blah blah blah. 

Then God spoke to my heart -

Barrie, do you trust me?  

Yes, of course, I do. 

Well, I'm the One who made you, correct? 
I chose your looks, your strengths and weaknesses, your talents and personality. 

Thank you Lord, for reminding me that we are all individuals. And that you didn't intend for me to try to be like someone else, but instead just to be me. 

It's easy in a world of social media to feel inferior, like everyone else has it all together. But honestly, they don't. Not anymore than you do. So, just trust God.