Alaskan Wildflowers

In an attempt to cover up the ugly, used-to-be-landscaped flower bed next to our driveway, we planted some tiny little Alaskan wildflower seeds in June. Maybe it was the end of May. Some time around Memorial Day. While I planted all the flowers in boxes and pots around our house, the wildflowers were Scott's thing. Every time we come home from somewhere, he walks down to inspect them. And then accuses me of not caring about his flowers when I choose to walk straight into the house ha ha. Maybe almost in the way the dad on "A Christmas Story" loves that leg lamp. Anyway, I never thought they would grow. But alas, while 34 days of Alaskan rain has all but killed my pansies, marigolds, and geraniums, Scott's flowers have flourished. He wins.

Finally!

Some pictures of my first REAL classroom...

"Mrs. Darhower" really doesn't seem like it's me, but maybe eventually I'll get used to it. If only all the kids could learn how to say it...
Flowers from my mom and dad


The view out my classroom windows

Grown Up

There's been a lot of things lately that keep reminding me I'm a grown up. Having to pay for my own dentist visit, signing a teaching contract, making decisions on my own.
Today was a battalion Family Readiness Group (FRG) meeting, and as a company FRG leader, I was to go. In the board room, seating was assigned and mine read Kristin Darhower, A Co FRG Leader. How the heck did that happen?!?! First of all, the last name. Definitely reminds me I'm a grown up, because I'm married. Yet it doesn't quite seem to be me. Maybe being a grown up and coming out of my shell to the world just requires a new name?
Secondly, how did I become this involved in the Army??? Last August, I didn't even know what FRG meant! For those of you who don't know, I basically work with the Captain of the Company (comprised of about 100 soldiers and their families) to organize and plan events/fundraisers that support the families. You know, the people you always see on the news? The ones holding the "Welcome Home" banners? Yeah, those are the families the FRG supports. Somehow I fell into the position of helping run this organization, which is something I'm certainly proud to do. I just can't help but shake my head in amazement at the work of God. He put me into something I never had a "want" to do because I never assumed (in a million years) that I'd be able to do it. To put me in this position of leadership really speaks of His confidence in me and I know I'd never get more than I could handle. He's helping me to succeed at something I never thought I could do. Actually, we'll see if I succeed at it after the first fundraiser function tomorrow...

Arctic Thunder 2010

As another July comes to a close, I realize that I'm missing something this year. Hmmm...could it be the Clearfield County Fair? Yes, unfortunately I won't be paying the $6 admission (is that still what it is?), but I also won't get my choice of fair food. That's something I do miss here in Alaska. However, I did get to go to Arctic Thunder 2010 this weekend. It's an annual air show on Fort Richardson/Elmendorf Air Force Base. And it's not your average air show. The demonstrations that I saw were mostly done by fighter jets (I WILL remember ear plugs next year.), but the headliners were the Blue Angels. I didn't have my camera on me, but I found some pictures online of how the Blue Angels perform. These are some of the things I saw. Now I can say I saw the Blue Angels, so that's one more point for Alaska!








This last week was a sad one. One of the large planes practicing for the air show crashed. Four airmen were killed and it was definitely a dark day in Anchorage. I've never been a fan of aircraft in general. Standing in a Chinook helicopter today for 10 minutes was about enough for me. Walking into the the kind of planes Scott jumps out of made me feel very claustrophobic, even though the planes were huge. I give all of our Airborne soldiers so much credit for what they do. I've definitely come to appreciate what our soldiers and airmen do for all of us, on a daily basis, even more.