Psalm 31:24
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.

I'm an adventurer
I'm a hard worker
I'm a fighter
I'm genuine
I'm content
I'm a giver
I'm worth it
I'm happy
I'm a teacher
I'm a jewel in His crown
I'm involved in life
I'm honest
I'm treated with kindness
I'm hopeful
I'm lighthearted
I'm carefree
I'm truthful with myself
I'm careful with my trust
I'm protective of my heart
I'm F-R-E-E!!!!!

What a difference a year can make!

One Fish...Two Fish...

I've been back from Alaska for a few days and can't quite seem to wrap my head around being home. It has partly to do with accepting the fact that I actually live in Missouri and that school is just around the corner. In my mind I always told myself my Alaska trip was at the end of my summer and that I would push the thoughts of school to the back of my head until "AFTER" my Alaska trip...Guess that means the time is NOW!!! But before I launch into school prep stuff & my deep thoughts about education...let me relive just a few key moments from my trip. (I'll try & keep it brief but consider this your fair warning)

I headed to Alaska with the prospect of trying my hand at salmon fishing. Now keep in mind that this is totally & completely out of my comfort zone. I apprehensively purchased my fishing license and set out with Denise, Erin and Speaker Bob and bear spray(for real) to a bend in Cowie Creek. It was a beautiful scene and something I would expect to see out of the movies perhaps. I felt like I was really in the wilderness. After a quick lesson from Speaker Bob on how to cast and reel I tried my hand at it with a very unsucessful first cast resulting in a loud PLINK as the lure hit rocks 2 feet in front of me...OOPS! I was ready to quit but those along refused to let me give up that easily. I eventually got the hang of it and could see salmon jumping all around me...taunting me...making my competitive blood pump faster and faster. I wanted to catch one of those suckers! I ended up catching 2 fish..The first was a male salmon called a humpie. He was HUGE and I realized quickly that I wasn't very strong.
Coordination never has been my thing so I struggled to pull up on the fishing rod while reeling it in at the same time...I ended up just walking backwards and dragging him to shore! It was a rather humorous sight!!!! We threw him back in the water after a few pictures b/c I was told the meat wasn't very good for eating. Just a few minutes later I hooked another one and this one was THE REAL DEAL! It was a beauty. I was fine with everything until I had to hold it with my bare hands....talk about slimy and disgusting!
I squeeled and hollered and made so much noise I don't think there were any bears within a mile of us! I have decided that I could go fishing again and even enjoy it as long as I don't have to take the fish off the hook or clean it!