Miskalaskaness (which, being interpreted, means "miscellaneous Alaskan randomness")

Have I ever told you that I love it here?

I'm feeling wordy and I think that tonight, I will succumb to the wordiness. Don't say I didn't warn you in advance. ;)

In between lots of work around home and keeping 5 children alive and well, we've had some adventures. Smallish adventures, granted, but adventures nonetheless.

The first adventure was a hike to Dorothy Falls. I didn't know there was a waterfall around her until Amy invited me to go with her and the Ericksons (friends from church). I brought Noah and Shaina along, and the party grew to include a few of the Fiskeaux kids as well, and Amy and James' Chili-Dog (who I'm sorry to say was very naughty indeed on this trip).

The hike was gorgeous and...a bit exhausting. But we enjoyed it so much! Spring's beginning to poke through the tundra and a miriad of little wildflowers are appearing! Tundra is fascinating; like a little world in and of itself. Have you ever wished that you could shrink yourself to better explore the details of creation? When I look at tundra, I wish I could shrink and explore.

Amy and Justice... two of my favorite Nomites! I love spending time with the Adcox fam!

There are still patches of snow at higher elevation, and since it's unseasonably warm here, we enjoyed stopping and cooling off a bit during the hike. I love this picture.
We had to cross a few rivers and streams to get to the falls. If I were to tell you that this was cold water, it would be a scandalous understatement. What we're doing here would be a very effective way for the US government to get terrorists to tattle on their buddies. Stick them in an Alaskan river and they'd talk. Fast.

...Oh I forgot: that might violate their human rights. My apologies.

Memorial Day brought with it another adventure of sorts! We headed out in the ATVs to a cabin on the beach for the day. We explored the beach, cooked on the fire, and relaxed, enjoying the sun and the breathtaking scenery around us.

Have you, perchance, ever wondered what I look like when I ride a four wheeler at a hight rate of speed? (It would be very strange if you had, but regardless,) wonder no more, bloggies!
Nate and I laughed until our sides ached at these pictures we took while we were driving, the wind contorting our faces. The vain boy wouldn't let me post the pictures I took of him. But I'm saving them for his wedding day. Mwahaha!

Without a doubt, Nate's the funniest person I know and I am so amazed that he's my, MY, brother!!! And the other facet of Nate that you learn pretty quickly if you spend any time with him is that he also has a passion for God that fills his heart and overflows into his actions.

"Friends don't let friends dance and drive." (But siblings don't have a problem with it!)

The kids looked adorable, all bundled up in the back of the six wheeler for the drive to the cabin. We drove along miles of beach, the Hobbs in the six wheeler and Nate and I on the four wheeler. And it was so fun.

Noah found some whale bones!

Pretty sobering- as you see, somebody lost their soul on the beach.

Thank you all for your comments. I do love to read them! And especially the ones about my dream the other day. :) I've thought about dreams a lot since then, and well, who knows... dreams do come true; you're all right. My greatest dream is to learn to delight in God to the fullest extent possible... and then the other desires of my heart will all fall into place. My big question is not "will my dreams come true?" (although yes of COURSE I'd love to know that!) But rather it is "Lord, will you share YOUR dreams with ME?" We have dreams, but what about the One who gives and takes away dreams? Can you imagine the awesomeness of the dreams in God's heart? The hopes He has for us? The vision He has for the world? The joy and wonder and glory He's waiting to reveal to us in heaven?

Wow. Makes my dream about Mr. Nice Guy seem pretty trivial. :) I can be such a self-obsessed Christian, guys. I mean, we all can, and I know that. But I'm the only one who knows the real, inside, deeply hidden Danielle. And I get disgusted by the trivial thoughts that fill my mind most of the day; the way adoring my Savior is something that must be practiced, remembered, and disciplined and not something that flows from my heart naturally every hour of the day.

Who cares about my dreams. What are GOD'S dreams? Who does He want me to be? How can I get there? That's what really matters. That's all that should matter. That's the Invisible Reality that I must learn to fix my eyes on every moment. Help, Lord.

I'm rambling...

...That means it's time for bed.

...And it probably also means that I'll edit this post in the morning. :)