Soldotna Update - I feel as though I've finally come up for a small breath of air after a long and tiring dive. A number of tasks that required multiple stages of completion are either finished or nearly finished. New problems have arisen, but they don't have quite the immediacy that some of the solved issues had. I still need to find a place for the rest of the clan to live in once they arrive. Our current lodging is fine for the boy and myself, but would be a bit TOO cozy when the others arrive. My son is now enrolled in school and even had the chance to make a friend today while also learning how to use a paddle-board. He still keeps smiling and telling me how happy he is that there are mountains here.
Soldotna Update - The locals have been amazingly kind and friendly! I was taken aback at just how normal first day activities are no matter what school or state. We received first aid training for everything from stopped hearts to skinned knees. I also drove by the place where I would most want to live (that is still relatively in my price range). It's main windows look over a forest of trees and can see mountains in the background. I haven't been inside (still trying to meet with a lender, let alone a realtor), but that hasn't stopped me from having some rather pleasant daydreams.
Soldotna Update - Today held more welcome speeches and information for everyone starting a new school year. Again, the people here are extremely positive. It was nice to hear a number of applause breaks during the opening speeches. I nearly have all of my employment paperwork done. I'm just waiting on the transcripts from my college experiences so that I can fully apply for the Alaskan teaching certification. There is a large amount of online work that I need to do, but my connection to the Internet has been unfortunately spotty.
One of my new colleagues invited the entire staff (which is a good amount of people) to his home for an beginning of the school year pot luck. I got to mingle with a good deal of my new coworkers and Trevor had a lot of fun with many of their children. The home and yard were amazing and built by my coworker himself. From his home's third story it was possible to see an entire mountain range to the southeast and (had the clouds not occluded it) the gorgeous Mount Redoubt to the west. I have to admit to a good deal of envy.
Soldotna Update - I got more time in my classroom and got to see my class lists. There is still a lot of work to be done, and my room probably won't be perfect by the time school starts next Wednesday, but I think that I should largely be ready by then. My department has certainly helped in that regard. It's been a while since I've taught a middle school language arts class, but my teammates are thankfully quite knowledgeable about the state standards and how best to implement them. I feel like a first-year teacher again, and in many ways I am, but I'm not nearly as afraid of meeting my students as I was the first year that I taught.
I am already in love with this school. It's not perfect, but I keep finding myself giggling (yes, giggling) as a look about my room or walk the halls. I need to be careful that people don't think I'm too crazy ... yet.
I love that my air mattress came with instructions that says its deflation for the first month of use is due to fabric stretching. That way I have a whole month to pretend it is not because I'm too heavy.
Soldotna update - Trevor and I spent a portion of yesterday driving around trying to see the ocean and acclimate ourselves to the area. We found a public access point at about the same time that the heavens decided to flood us (it had been sprinkling all day), so we figured that it was nicer in the car. The house I was looking at sold already, but there are a couple of others that have opened up. Unfortunately for us, it's a seller's market up here.
Today, we went to our new parish and were very warmly welcomed. The rain has been on and off again today with a high of only 60 degrees, which has felt perfect to us. Our priest today even had us pray a special intention for those suffering from hot weather. Tomorrow, I tackle my classroom and get ready for Wednesday's busy first day of school.
Soldotna update - Trevor and I made good progress on my classroom today. I also had the chance to meet a few of my students, and hopefully made some good first impressions. Trevor even tried to set up a D&D game with a young lady who is a student of the teacher next door (He was helping a variety of people today). I learned the correct way to tear those large sheets of construction paper. But most importantly, I discovered that they provide fresh popcorn for the staff EVERY DAY.
This IS the promised land!
Soldotna update: It never really feels real until the first day of school. Everything is still in a dream-like state for me. I'm looking forward to tomorrow as I seem to be holding my breath until I finally have students in my class. We visited Trevor's school today for their open house and met with all of his teachers. He is very excited about his new school and classes. This excitement was only magnified when he discovered that two of his teachers (one teaching two of his classes) are fans of Star Wars and video games. He even gets to play Civilization V as partial credit for his geography class!
We both need a good night's sleep tonight.
Soldotna update: The first day of school went great for both me and Trevor (aside from a small not-yet-resolved issue with busing). I believe that I made a good, strong, caring, and entertaining first impression on my students. It will take me a little while to get used to the shorter periods, as the day seemed to fly by.
We also got to view a few houses today. The only one that impressed (and it was still weird, but it a good way) was one that is probably out of our league. I have more to see both tomorrow and Friday, but the other three that we saw were all underwhelming. I still hold out hope.
General update: Rather than give my daily update about the happenings here, I thought I'd dedicate this entry to those who are diligently working to reunite my family, especially to my wonderful, gorgeous, and overworked wife, Janelle, who is having to deal with nine years of accumulated mess and assorted stuff back in Michigan in an effort to get the house up for sale and our family back together while still dealing with two hyper boys and a husband who is overanxious to hold her in his arms again. Serious thanks also go out to my mother, Cheryl Swanson Marks, and my father for their physical, emotional, and financial support in this move; my brother-in-law, John McKnight IV, for driving out from Wyoming, his construction expertise, and willingness to drive a rental truck up to Alaska; my daughter, Alex, for giving up conferences and other summer activities to come down from the U.P. to help out; my daughter, Katrina, for her help despite having to cancel two trips she had looked forward to taking; and everyone else who has lent a helping hand. They have worked themselves to exhaustion to get things done. I ask on their behalf (and especially on the behalf of my better half) for any help that anyone else bring. Specifically, they could use help with sorting, packing, cleaning, and getting everything out of the house so we can start showing it to potential buyers. As always, your prayers are also deeply appreciated.
Soldotna update: We've looked at more houses, but so far have only been impressed with a ... well ... weird one that is only in our price range if we really stretch our finances even with the substantial help from my parents. Aside from its large size, interesting rooms, and amazing garage, one of its real draws is that also has a separate well-maintained guest cabin as a part of the property which could even work as a rental. Anyway, Trevor and I will visit more tomorrow.
Speaking of my son, for a little over a day, but thankfully only one time after school, we had a minor issue with Trevor's busing, but thankfully generosity won out over bureaucracy this time.
Meanwhile, Mera is now an official Alaskan, now bearing a bear on both her front and her back as a part of her new licence plates. It was a long wait at the DMV, but the person who helped me was amazingly upbeat and friendly (a common trend here). I have not yet applied for my own Alaskan licence, but I was informed by the clerk that my name and number are still in the system from when I last lived in Alaska. After twenty years, I would return to the same licence number.
I may have mentioned this idea before, but the issue with my licence number brought it back to mind. Just before I left, a friend told me that this move would be a great opportunity to start over and reinvent myself. But that's not how I feel. For me, I feel more like I am resuming a destiny that I thought I had lost.
Soldotna update: We looked at more houses, but are still mostly enamored with the "weird" one that we saw the other day. As I mentioned earlier, one of its main draws is a separate cabin which could be used as a rental to help pay for the property. Meanwhile, there is plenty of space for the family as well as some separate areas for Janelle's art and my video game playing ... er, writing.
With this time "on my own," I've also gained a greater appreciation for both my wife and single parents. All of the errands, time at work, and housework have been very difficult to juggle. I've considered every meal I've made a minor victory. Getting Trevor off of Minecraft long enough to teach him how to sign his name was another. It's yet another in a long list of reasons why I'll be really happy to be reunited with my soul mate.
Here's Mera sporting her new Alaskan look (check out the bear on the plate). She may be dustier than she's used to, but she seems to love it as she's been averaging over 51 MPG here (although I know that will change as it gets colder).
Soldotna and Jackson update: Trevor and I were invited to sing with the choir today despite not going to practice with them this week. Trevor declined, but I was more than happy to oblige. I also met up with Becky Applebee, whom I had not seen in twenty years, after mass. I was so happy to see her that I nearly squeezed the stuffing out of her. People here have been friendly, but it's nice to meet up with someone who already knows me. When I remarked on the friendliness of the people I have met here, Becky told me something that I asked if I could quote: "People live up here because they want to be up here. That's what makes the difference. People who don't want to be up here leave."
Trevor and I also tried out our first pizza place up here: Bub's Pizza (Trevor said it was a name that Bj might come up with for a pizza place). It was expensive [read: almost everything in Alaska is], but good.
Meanwhile, our family back in Michigan took a much needed trip to the Michigan Renaissance Festival to enjoy themselves before heading into the main push. They are renting the truck on Thursday the 27th, using it to haul away what they can't get people to pick up, and then packing it with what they have paired down for a move to Alaska. They will be on the road by the 30th at the latest (I still hope sooner), while readying the house for sale in the intervening days. They have done monumental work and still have a Herculean task ahead of them. Again, any help that anyone could lend would be greatly appreciated. As always, your prayers are also welcome.
Update: My mind was not on my classroom for much of the day; a state that I was thankfully able to turn around by the time my seventh grade classes came around (I have four eighth grade classes in the morning, lunch, two seventh grade classes, and then a half-period advisory). It's a strange week. The first two days are nearly full-day tests (today for seventh grade and tomorrow for eighth) and the following three will have the language arts classes giving the students a pre-assessment essay. It really cuts out a week of true instruction, but I've already seen the value of the data from previous years. In the end, we're not only given general math and English levels, but actual achievement levels for EVERY strand of the state curriculum. The school even reschedules students based on this information.
That said, my thoughts have been more with my family on the home front. There is still a great deal to do, but they have accomplished much as well. Both bathrooms are undergoing transformations. Depending on the advice of the realtor, the kitchen may as well. We will be leaving this house in better condition than when we lived in it, let alone bought it. Still, there is much still to pack and clean. My frustration at being unable to help has led to my saying the wrong things to those who know more about the situation than I do. I am overeager to be with them again. I need to temper my anxiety and put my trust in the Lord. His plans have always turned out better than my own. It's just hard to do, especially for a meddler like me ...
And, with that, you should be caught up.