Dissapointment Strikes Again!!

So, we thought we would be living the life. You know, housboat in Alaska, paying minimal rent, going out on our deck and catching dinner. But I should have known that with my luck it wouldn't really be THAT easy.

Our Housing problem:
 Pretty much the boat my friend was going to buy got sold the night before and he never called to tell her that so we got all excited and BAM it was no more.

Other Problems:
On TOP of all that, Colin won't be in Juneau when I get there tomorrow :( Sigh.... I was kinda hoping Heavenly Father would let me catch a break on this one, you know, since I'm moving 2017 MILES away from home for the FIRST TIME EVER... Apparently I'm not allowed to catch a break though. Oh well., somehow it will all work out. It definitely won't be comfortable for me though. We also realized we need to buy a car. Colin has to be at work at like 7 and won't be off till after 5 and the bus system runs from 8-5. Of course! I'm sure you all guessed that would happen.

As you can see, I may have the Worst. Luck. Ever. Seriously I could write a book with that title and people would read it because they would be so amazed at the things that happen. Pretty sure that a lot of the stuff has like a 1 in a million chance of happening to people (maybe I'm exaggerating a little there, but it sure feels that way!). But it happens to me.

I'm sure it will all work out, because that is what Heavenly Father seems to be telling me.... but when you are moving 2017 MILES away it feels a lot better to have a set plan. Which obviously I don't. I'm praying for a miracle today. Somehow, Some way something will come up and I will have a plan. But somehow I doubt that will happen..... I guess I just have to walk into this mess... uh.. I mean.. adventure.... with faith in God and in His plan for me and my Colin.

Housing Dilemma Pt. 2

Well, here is the update! I talked to one of the Bishops and he explained whySO the housing is the way it is right now...

Ready... ready?! Ok!

The Alaskan Legislature extended their session for another 30 days. Typically when the legislature is excused the legislators leave and rent out their places for the summer and thats we poor seasonal job people find housing. Well since they extended LOTS of people are stuck like I am!

**Poof**

I instantly didn't feel like such an idiot! It all made sense!

So after lots of prayer for a place to live, we MAY have something.

Here is how it happened....

My friend Nicole mentioned my dilemma to an old HS friend who lives in Juneau, Linsie. She added me as a friend on facebook and immediately started networking me out! She added me to a group of women that are from Juneau and posted on there what I was looking for. Not only is she helping me look for a place to live, but, she is telling me all about Juneau and how awesome it is. It has made the whole process so much easier for me. Especially since I actually KNOW someone there other than my husband and a few of the other pilots... who might I add are all men. Having a woman to talk to is going to be crucial haha. ANYWAYS got on a tangent there.......
Back to the point! Yesterday she writes me on facebook and asks "So, Miss Hannah, who's never even seen the ocean...are you interested in perhaps living ON the ocean?" my thought... Ummmm DUH! Of course I am! Dream come true if you ask me! Here is the catch... They need to buy it first and because of that it may not happen... If it did, that would be awesome, if not, well at least we have somewhere to stay for the next few weeks until legisature is out, which will also give us time to maybe find other couples to rent with and get a house.

Whatever happens, I WILL be in Juneau in 3 days and I WILL get to see my husband this week! Thank goodness!

Here is a little Easter Treat!

I figured I would share some of my favorite Easter songs. Nothing can touch your heart like music can. Enjoy!

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today: Mormon Tabernacle Choir



How Great Thou Art: Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill



Because He Lives: Sally Deford Perf. by Allyse Smith Taylor and James Loynes Acc. by Marvin Goldstein

Housing Dilemma.... Fun Fun......?

So, here is the deal. Juneau is the most difficult place ever to find housing.. seriously! No Joke! If it wasn't for the people I had doing ground work in Juneau... I would be in HUGE trouble. I still may be in trouble. I have 6 days.. count them, SIX, to find housing for me and Colin. To add on to the problem everything there is SO expensive. $1100 a month for a ONE bedroom apartment.... really? Maybe I'm so shocked by it since I worked for a property management company here in Prescott and I know the area prices well.... Oh well. I guess I will just have to bite the bullet and accept the inevitable.... On top of all that we are hoping to find a furnished apartment. Can't take the bed with me on the airplane! At least Colin gets a food allowance! That will make it easier for us to pay rent and eat well. And Costco food court food is the exact same price as it is everywhere else, well, so I hear. $1.50 for a hot dog and a drink? Yes please!! Well as unlikely as it is, if anyone hears anything about housing in AK, PLEASE let me know!!!!

Well... I wasn't going to do this...

BUT!!! Here I am!


So... the last couple weeks of my life? Well, they have been crazy! Lets start at the beginning of my time as a McDaniel shall we?

March 26th, 2011

First thing I see is the note that I set for my alarm clock....

 "WEDDING DAY!!!!!!"

 The day that I had been waiting for my whole life. The day that for a little while seemed like it would never come. After having a date, then having to cancel it due to job after job falling through for Colin and then BAM!! He got a call from TEMSCO Helicopters Inc. on March 12th, 2011 and had to be in Alaska by April 4th. Suddenly I had a date again... March 26th, 2011.

After a hectic 2 weeks of wedding planning I was exhausted. I had stayed up late the night before working on my playlist and setting up for the reception so needless to say waking up at 5 AM was the last thing I wanted to do. I had showered the night before and I put my hair in curlers and had to be in Mesa by 8 AM. Needless to say, we didn't get out of the driveway till 6:30..... So after a nice LONG car ride (longest drive of my life...) we arrived at the temple. Jenny Christensen, who was doing my hair, had found two empty parking spots and promptly stood in the one she didn't take and saved it for us (that didn't make the people before us who wanted that spot very happy... but hey! It was my wedding day right?!)

We got into the temple and quickly got my hair up all pretty like and I met Colin in the temple lobby to wait to go to verification. I had left my family in charge of getting the extra stuff (veil, flower for my hair, marriage certificate and the bouquet). They got 1 out of the 4 things into the temple (better than nothing!) So we get to verification and they ask for our marriage certificate... uh oh... we don't have it! Luckily that wasn't something I was going to forget and we had gotten it into the car. My Dad went out to get it and after what seemed like an eternity he came back with it and delivered it with pizzaz! He had it in a briefcase all by itself and opened it all fancy like, it made a tense situation a little more comfortable!

The ceremony was beautiful. I was so excited and all I could think was "In a few minutes, we will be married. I will be Mrs. Hannah McDaniel!" He said Yes, then I said Yes and then we were pronounced husband and wife and Colin kissed his wife for the first time :) As people filed out of the room they gave us hugs and kisses and went outside to wait for the monumental "walking out the door of the temple picture". I was whisked off to get changed into my beautiful wedding dress and have my hair double checked and perfected for pictures. A cute little old lady came into the bathroom and informed me that my groom was ready and waiting for me. A few more bobby pins and a spray of hairspray later I was in the arms of my Husband ready to walk out those temple doors. What a FEELING! For years I had watched (and envied) other brides do the same thing and there I WAS! Me and my best friend.

After a few hours of pictures and lunch we headed home. We stopped by Circle K (our favorite drink place.. can't beat $.87 for a 44oz soda!!) and got a Coke and a Dr. Pepper. That was something that we had been doing our entire relationship and here we are a happily newly-wedded couple doing the same thing we had been for over a year. It was grand! Our reception was beautiful thanks to some amazing friends and we escaped with only minimal car decorations. It was a long long day, but it was so worth it!

After 4 days of married bliss...

It was time for my amazing man to head off to Alaska. He would first drive from Prescott Valley to Salt Lake and then from Salt Lake to Richland and then from Richland to Seattle to catch a flight to Ketchikan. Our first month of marriage, we spend 4 days together... The emptyness I felt those first few days was unbelievable, and to an extent I still feel it now. Our little apartment, where all our memories were made, lost all of it's homey-ness. I felt utterly alone. Then when it came to turn in my keys, I didn't want to do it! I didn't want to give up that place that held all of our memories. Our relationship had blossomed there. We fell in love there, and I didn't want to give that up to someone else. Talk about an emotional roller coaster!

At the Present

Now here I am, still waiting to see my best friend again. One week from this moment I will be with him, and I cannot wait for that! As hard as it has been, I think I have fallen even more in love with him. We have never been apart this long in a year and 3 months. If this had happened while we were still engaged or dating, it may have been easier. But since we are now "one" it feels like half of me is missing. But it won't be like that for much longer.