Work is Fun Out Here

Time for an update. It has been such a beautiful week. We have had sun every single day up until today. We were supposed to be getting guests today but the clouds are too low and thick. I have been busy cooking and baking everyday now. I am loving all the kitchen work...except for the early mornings of 6:30 every other morning. 

One day we took some scraps across the lake for the birds and so that we don't have to burn the food up by the horses, keeping the bears away from the horses.

 The view from the other side of the lake.

Carly, Stevie and I went in the canoe to drop off the scraps. I sat in the middle on the base of the canoe and soaked up all the water. My but was very wet.

Another day we hiked up to Lookout. What a fun hike. It was kinda like the Butte, the two florida boys thought they were gonna die. It was such a nice day for the hike. We had to take some folding chairs and a table up to the top so that they could do their horse back rides up to the top with their guests for breakfast one morning. The chairs and table stay up there all summer.

 Clay built this cross for Chase and Jena's wedding. They had a helicopter bring it up to the top. On the day of the wedding Jena and the girls rode horses to the top and it started raining on them so they had to wedding in the yard instead and the cross stays up top.

 View form Lookout

 Another View from Lookout

 Remmington and Nico

Me at the top of Lookout.

The view of the Lodge, Lake and Airstrip coming down from the top of lookout.

Another day was spent moving kitchens. We were in the main lodge the first few days waiting for the water to start working in the Cook House, once lines un froze we moved to the Cook House, now that is a process that I will get to do at the end of the season too, but back to the Main Lodge for the winter. Once we moved over we soon found out that we had no hot water, the thermocupulator was out, I guess. So we have been boiling water for dishes at every meal and when we make more dishes. Every time you turn around someone is doing dishes. 

We also had our first staff meeting the other day. I guess I was supposed to be intimidated, but it was a piece of cake. Their family is way too much like mine for me to be intimidated by anyone. We will be having meeting once a week.

Thats my update for the week and there will be more to come in the following week. Hope all is well with every else.

I am enjoying my time here and am so blessed to be here. I love every little bit of it.

The Love of Our Saviour

Lately I haven't been hungry for God, but it all started to change as I was saying my goodbyes to close friends before it was time for me to head out to the lodge. I was blessed with a friend who prayed over me which brought me to tears. Another one gave me a necklace that says 'God of Wonders...When I stumble in the darkness I will call your name by night' and the last thing that got me was when I was visiting a good friends new baby I was asked by one of her her little girls to read my keychain to her, so I did and it was the Footprints in the Sand poem, I started to get all chocked up again. Those things made me realize some important things in life.

I have come to realize how much God is always there and He is always dropping hints and trying to show you the way to go and then it's your choice if you choose the way He sets out for you. God was telling me that He missed me and that is when I also realized it was time to start reconnecting and what better place to do it than in the heart of His country at the Lodge. Which is why I started back up on my daily devotions.

What inspired me to write this post was one of my devotions I was catching up on the Devotion was entitled Enjoy Your Life-The verse that coresspodnces with it is "What ever may be your task, work at it heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance which is your reward."-Colossians 3:23-24 Then the author wrote…Jesus died so that you can enjoy abundant life, not just the days you are off work, or on vacation or when you get to go shopping or golfing-but every day of your life. He wants you to enjoy going to the grocery store. he wants you to enjoy driving the kids to school. he wants you to enjoy paying the bills. He wants you to enjoy cleaning the house or mowing the yard. You can enjoy life if you determine to do so. Say, " I am going to enjoy every aspect of my life, because Jesus died so that I could have joy unspeakable and full of glory." From Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer, June 6.

Wow when I read that devotion I just thought that while I am out here I need to have joy in everything I do no matter how difficult or easy the task is. But it's true Jesus died on the cross to take away out sins so we could be forgiven, and since we are forgiven and given this life we don't deserve it we should enjoy every moment of it and give God the glory of it. These past few days of consisted of enjoying things like racking, baking, cooking, doing dishes, cleaning up outhouses, making beds, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, and even playing with dogs.

I have been so blessed by God. He has sent me out to do something for Him. Not sure what it is that He is going to have me do, but I can't wait for it to happen. I am excited to be on this mission for God and I pray God will give me confidence to speak His word in every circumstance. This is a journey He sent me on for His glory and I pray that I can do just that and Glorify Him as much as possible.

Day Numero Uno

My ride!

I'm here! So on the plane ride down we got some turbulance once really good and it made my stomach turn upside down on me but a little fresh air and I felt 100% better. It was a beautiful day out today for a flight. So clear, I know I am bragging and I have no pictures to show but I was to busy enjoying everything I didn't think about using my camera. When we landed we unloaded the plane and let me tell you it was FULL. Once we got the food into one of the many different cabins I got a half tour but then it was time for some lunch since it was already like 1 and we had landed at 11. We had some friend fly in for lunch today sat and chatted with them. Once lunch was over I got started on the cookies, but the butter was soild frozen so then as the butter unthawed I got the full tour of everything. And then back to making cookies. We kinda just hung out and all did our own little thing. I made some beds and cleaned the kitchen up but thats about all the work I really had to deal with today, now tomorrow will be another story.

Cookies!

I get my own little cabin all the myself. It is so cute and it even has its own bathroom but the water isn't hooked up yet so I can't use it an who knows when it will be, but thats ok cause there is a different one that I am using now.

 My cabin!

 The Right Side on the inside.

 The Middle on the inside.

 My Bed on the Left Side.

My bathroom that doesn't work yet...there is a shower next to the toilet just hard to take a picture of the bathroom.

 I am the only one they hired outside of family for the whole summer, but that is fine with me. This week they have two brothers coming up from Florida for about a week I guess to clean the yard up and some other odd jobs that no one else has time for. As of now it is just me Denise, Stevie and his girlfriend Carly. And we have to get everything ready for guest on Monday. We can do it no big deal just one busy day on Sunday is for sure.

So far I am getting along just fine with the family and I'm sure it will be the same when the rest of them get out here.

The Start To Something New

WOW! I can't believe the day is finally here. On this wonderful early morning I get start the adventure of a life time. I fly out to Rainy Pass Lodge at 9am. A bit early for my liking but I will take it. I have been waiting for this day for about 8 months now and about 6 of them was just waiting to here if I got hired. This week rolled around and on Monday I packed my things, Tuesday I emailed to see when I was heading out since I had not heard, Wednesday I waited for a call or email, Thursday came and I called to see what was going on, "You will be leaving tomorrow (Friday) at 3 with me," said Denise on the phone, went to bed super excited and also very late due to a FaceTime chat with a good friend, Friday came and I got woken up by a phone call at 10am not too early but I was still sleeping, "So is it ok if we move your flight to 9am tomorrow (Saturday), we have a little bit more running around to do and weather will only get better," said Steve this morning. Now the time is here and it is WAY to early for me to be awake but I am heading to Anchorage to get on a plane and start work for the summer.

I am supper excited to be leaving, but also a little bit nervous. I don't know the people other than what I have seen on TV. It will all be new to me but also a great experience and I am glad that I don't know anyone because it will make me branch out to meet new people. I can't wait to see what it all looks like in person. And I will finally be able to answer everyones questions like Are you staying in a cabin? Will you room with anyone? Who else did they hire? Don't worry I will answer them ASAP.

I'm so glad a I got a chance to see everyone before I left and I'm going to miss everyone so dearly this summer. No cell phone service, but there is internet. So we can keep in touch via Blog, FaceTime, Skype, Facebook, and if your lucky a hand written letter. Let me know what your FaceTime and/or you Skype accounts are. I would love to chat with everyone at some point in time this summer.

I love you all to pieces and am so glad that you can all keep up with my adventures through my blog.

P.S.
My FaceTime is michelle.tingstrom@hotmail.com
My Skype is michelle.tingstrom

Packing...

So the packing began. My mom helped me fit it into two bags, 3 1/2 months worth of clothes and other items into 2 bags. I would that is impressive for most girls.

 This wasn't even all of it...

But I did get it all in the duffle bag and backpack.

I am not sure when I leave  but they told me to be ready between June 12 and June 15. So this week I will be anticipating my departure to my new adventure, start to a new chapter, new home, new life, new people, new places, and many other new things. I am excited yet a little nervous. But don't worry I will keep everyone posted on my adventures out at the lodge just check in here every once in a while and get the scoop.