Musings of Living in Alaska

I've been home for the past 4 days.  The first day I had a meeting with the CEO and human resources director in the morning.  They wanted to know why I was leaving and what it would take for me to consider staying.  I felt that I had an open forum to share from my heart some of the concerning things happening in the clinic.  For the rest of the day I enjoyed studying emergency medicine topics.  In the evening we were hoping to see some northern lights, which we did, but the show wasn't too spectacular.

In the evening I started reading a biography about a woman named Hannah Breece who was a school teacher in old Alaska.  I loved reading what the land and culture was like 100 years ago here.  There were no cars or planes and she did a lot of traveling by boat, dog sled and on foot.  She taught in several schools across the state and took weeks to travel from one school to the next bringing most of the stuff she would need, including food and school supplies for a year away, traveling like this.  She would at times be dropped off by one guide and left hundreds of miles away from civilization before being picked up by the next guide.  She'd just camp out with her gear by herself and wait patiently for the pickup.

On the second day, Friday, my family and I went to Alyeska to go skiing with my 12 year old's 5-6th grade classes.  All the kids had lessons, and I'm pleased to say really enjoyed learning to ski.  Tim and I took turns going up the lower lifts and skiing down on our own.  Some time I'd like to go skiing with some friends maybe, but I really look forward to skiing with my kids when they get better.  I just hope they all don't surpass me too quickly...!

Yesterday we stayed home and moaned all day for how sore our legs were after skiing on Friday.  They seem to be a bit better this time.

Over the whole four days we've been watching the Iditarod online.  I've really gotten into watching Aliy Zirkle take the lead for the first several days.  Right now she is within 4 miles of the leader, and still in the race.  We've been keeping track of the race through www.iditarod.com/race/current-standings/ and through http//:app.ionearth.com/2012/iditarod.  Our local racers, Mitch Seavey, and Dee Jonrowe are also in the top 10.  The current leader is the son of Mitch Seavey, so he also grew up in this area.  I'm glad to be getting a zeal for one of our Alaska sports, because I'm not really all that interested in (dare I write it?)...hockey.  I guess it is because I don't really understand the sport of hockey and the rules.  Dog mushing, on the other hand, is pretty understandable. (I still like basketball, though, and we did enjoy watching both the Cook Inlet Academy boys and girls high school teams win their regional conferences).

I hope to get some pics up soon to go along with this post.  I think my husband may be putting them onto the other computer as I type.

Just when I think all my ducks are in a row...

Last night I went to sleep thinking I've got this job in the bag.  On Feb 22 the board will approve my contract, then I'll turn in my notice to my current job and in two months (May 1) I'll start my new one.  Today I got a note saying that they didn't get me on the right list for the hospital board to approve my contract, so it will have to wait until March 28!  So now I have to make a decision.  Do I put in my notice without a signed contract and risk whether it might fall through, or do I wait another full month before I change jobs?  Ugh!  They sure don't make getting hired at the hospital easy.

Some pics...finally

Soldotna Sunrise

Mount Redoubt

View Not Far from Home (moose on road)

This is me from Becoming Outdoor Women Alaska 2011

T-shirt hanging on a wall in Talkeetna restaurant 2011

This is from a family getaway to Talkeetna last year (that's my family)

Also my family in Talkeetna last year (sorry it's so dark)

Mount Denali (McKinley to those from outside Alaska)

A Random Shop in Talkeetna 2011

I've got more, but these are all more of a winter theme. 

I went to our congregation this morning.  It was really a great time.  We were reading and talking about Exodus 18 and 19.  Ex 19:5 really tugged at my heart where God told the Israelites that if they would obey Him He would make them His special treasure.  When I read that, it makes me long for that and makes me feel jealous of them.  Then I read Titus 2:11-14 and saw where Paul wrote to Titus (a Greek) that if he followed God and obeyed His commands and all that He told Him to do, that He would make Him his own special possession and also that this was a word for all peoples (vs 11).  I am so glad that God opened His heart to the whole world and calls us all to be His special treasure if we will but obey Him and His commands.

On the way home from there, my girls and I sang How He Loves Us, and the song also came to my heart about His Banner over Me is Love.  Sweet times.

I hope you are having a great weekend and draw close to Him also.

I've been offered the job

After a little negotiating, I have a good job offer and I plan on taking it.  If all goes as planned I'll be taking my new job in May.  I'm really glad for it, but feel bad for my new colleague where I am now working.  Where we have 4 and a part time provider now, we will have only 2 and a part time provider by the end of the summer unless they can recruit some more.  I am not the only one leaving, you see, another colleague is leaving as well.  Our new colleague came on at the end of December and I like her a lot.  I hope we can build our friendship even though I won't continue to be around the workplace. 

The last few days I have been convicted of keeping a rein on my tongue.  It is SO HARD to not become part of the constant negativism that is constantly around me at work.  I am at a loss how to turn it around without making myself sound goody two shoes.  I really want to try to be positive.  I will keep praying and hope that God can help.  I guess I can be thankful that I have a good place to practice this difficult skill.  I do admit though, that I fail everyday.  If you think of me, please pray for me.

January 2012 in Summary

We've had an extremely cold January with plenty of snow to boot.  We had a couple of weeks of temps below -10 and 3-4 feet of snow at least.  We're definitely glad now that Tim bought the snowblower this year! 

January 13 I had an interview with Central Peninsula Hospital for an opening they have at one of their clinics.  It has been a long drawn-out process that I sent my resume to be considered last July.  They didn't say anything after my interview until Feb 3, and that offer was pretty low (I'd have to take a $10,000 pay cut :(  ).  I made a counter offer and they are discussing it, so I still wait.  Fortunately I feel I am in a good place in that I do not have to change jobs.

There are a few things I don't like about my current job, but for the most part it isn't horrible.  The bottom line is that I need family medical insurance for my family of six.  I just don't think it is wise to go without it if I have an alternative.  Secondly, I've become pretty set in my Sabbatarian ways (ie, I like to keep the Sabbath on Saturday).  It is a special day to me.  I don't like to have to work on Saturdays, and my current job has not given me any alternatives to that.  I'm glad right now I only work 1 in 5 Saturdays, but if they can work out an acceptable salary, I won't have to work any Saturdays at all.  In November I asked for 1/2 day a week for administrative time in my current job.  They felt all they could give me was 1/2 day a month.  If I get this new job, it is built in for all the medical providers to get 1/2 day a week for administrative work.

Right now my job is doable, and I work with one of my best friends every day.  If the new job doesn't work, I'll still have an income and there are some good things about my current job that I will miss.  For example, I like my dictation alcove.  I've got it set up so that I have lots of helps around me that assist with my coding and such.  I appreciate the support staff that I have.  If I need someone to help with a needy patient who needs a little extra TLC before she goes, there are people who are right there.  Or if I have a coding question, there are about five people I know by name whom I can call and ask for help.  If a patient doesn't have money for their prescriptions they need, we have a full-time person who helps them find a program to get the medicines for free or for low cost, and we have another program in which we can buy the medication for them in extenuating circumstances.  The clinic is there to help people and we get it done!

The girls are doing well at school.  We have a science fair coming up, and we've been planning and starting 3 projects for that.

Well, I've got to go superglue my daughter's papercut.  Sorry I don't have time to edit my ramblings.  I hope it is somewhat coherent.

A review of my day and thoughts

I had some great Bible study this morning.  I have Torah Club 1 that I just started.  I was reading from last week's Torah portion where Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  This led to a more in-depth study of Jesus from John 1 and Genesis 1.  Deep stuff.  Jesus=Torah=God=with God.  How can someone be God and be with God?  Jesus healed on the Sabbath and continues to work on the Sabbath because the Father is working "even now".  I have so much more I need to understand!

I didn't want to quit, but eventually felt the need to go help Tim take our ever-expanding pile of garbage and recycling to the dump.  At the dump I saw a bunch of eagles perched in nearby trees. 

When I got home I put away our Christmas and Hannukah stuff away while listening to some speakers on tape/dvd.  As I hear the story of where antisemitism started, and as I learn about the roots of Christianity and how it became a separate religion, I am turned off from what Christianity has become.  I did Christmas this year, because I am a gentile believer and have many good memories of it.  However, the more I become aware of how Christianity became what it is today, the more I am not sure of what I should do about things like Christmas.

Then I changed around the living room furniture.