Our Summer / Fall Update

Let's see I haven't written since our honeymoon in March. No surprise as I went through a refinance boom that began in January and ended in last part of July but seem to take another month to recoup. Never fear we live in Alaska - there are many adventures in our own backyard.

In May I went on my first whale watching trip. I still haven't seen Shamu yet but I did get to see a Humpback whale bubble feeding.

In June we had our first San Diego visitors. Steve and Nona Barker stopped in to see me after their adventures up north. I can't tell you how warmed my heart was to see those I endear stop into Juneau. I took the day off and picked them up at the airport. Figured they were whooped and ready for some rest - I was right! A pot of coffee (fresh for Steve), I cooked breakfast and we got time to chat. Ahhhh! Afterwards I told them I would take them to the glacier quickly before dropping them off for some napping time. I think they thought I was taking them for a long drive - so 15 mintues later we are at the glacier. LOL!!! Yes it's almost in my backyard. Shawn and I got to do dinner with them - great time! Thank you both for being our first visitors. Love ya both.

Great part is we had family come up that month too! What a blessing. We went up the tram to the top of the mountain. What fantastic views from up there.

Also that month Athena learned how to swim. We all know she loves the water but yes she officially swims. She would panic each time her butt would start sinking. It took another dog stealing her ball in the water and then FINALLY she played follow the leader and followed him out, growled at him, took the ball and came back.

July - we visited San Diego. It was a whirlwind tour let me tell ya. It started with my 20 year high school reunion. I only went to the mixer and had a blast. We headed up to Stampede for some dancing and spent time with some long time friends. Sets my heart singing and my feet dancing. We got to go to Glory Mountain church and spend some time with friends there too. We tried to visit with everyone and take care of some specific items and there wasn't enough time. If we missed you - know you are loved but we were whooped when we got home. We did get to go to Magic Mountain and Shawn was able to convince me onto rides I thought I would never go on. Lots of fun!

Then came August. Shawn finally got his long awaited promotion as the Business Executive for Southeast Alaska. Shawn was both excited and relieved. He had been waiting since August 2008. His training ended up being in Dallas, TX and was gone for my birthday. I was sad!!! He is doing very well his first few months out of the gate. He's learning new things, growing new skills and expanding current ones. We are all proud of him. Odd how life works - my work ramped down and his ramped up - so we still have to schedule time together but I must admit in the last month it's getting easier. YEAH!!!

We move right along to September. My husband knowing how much I love helicopters - got me a tour to the glacier on a helicopter for my birthday. Upon his return we found a day where it wasn't raining and got in. We flew through the mountains and it was amazing! We saw mountain goats, ice fields and then landed on the glacier. Yes I said landed on the glacier. No matter how many times you see it - I'm still marveled at creation and the way things are formed together. I definitely got roots in my heart for adventure no matter how small or big. One day I'll see even more.....it's on our bucket lists!

Last but not least October. Earlier this year we planned a hike but then I threw out my shoulder really bad so we cancelled. Finally we got to go (actually twice). It's called West Glacier Trail. The map shows it up to a certain point and then McGuiness trail takes over. The part they don't show is the extended route (notice I didn't say trail) where you trek through all types of terrain following only orange ribbon every 50 feet or so. Good thing I have an Eagle Scout for a husband and a dog who marks her trail. :-) From the McGuiness split it's about another hour and 15 minutes down to the glacier caves. Well worth the trek. Athena was such a sport and did better than I expected. We were all a little stiff and sore the next day but not as bad as I thought either.

Well that is about it for us! Hope you enjoy the pictures. If you have a facebook account you can see all of them in the 2 newest albums. Miss and love everyone! Hugs, Shawn, Bethany and Athena.

MARCH HONEYMOON

Through the grace of God we got to go on our honeymoon in March. Cancun, Mexico was beautiful. Shawn and I got to share "firsts". Our first real vacation together. Our first time having more than a few hours together having fun. Our first time diving together...and the list could go on. We met a few sets of couples down there and had a great time. I have figured out that my husband is a chatty-kathy in hiding. Find a nice stranger and the conversation and stories will never end. :-)

Shawn and I went diving. Pretty cool for a girl who had never even snorkled. Anyone that knows me I tend to jump right in. Well I tried....came up for water gasping for air 3 times before I figured it out. Good thing Shawn and the instructor were patient. Once I figured it out, I didn't want to come up. Our first dive was a 15 foot dive at Xel-Ha (shell-ha). It was beautiful. The caves we went in were a little freaky. I was having flashbacks of all the underwater movies with a shark coming out of the dark. The first time was called 'snuba' because the tanks were on a little raft above us.

Our second dive was 33 feet and this was with a tank on our back. I forgot how much GEAR weighs. I finally got the nerve to fall backwards off the back of the boat and off I was making my way down the rope, stopping to unplug my ears every so often.

Well we returned home hoping for Shawn to have a promotion waiting for him (so we were told) and me to begin filling my pipeline again with loans. The promotion never came to fruition and ended in a small train wreck for Shawn. I came back to a refi-boom and filling the pipeline became easier than before our honeymoon. My boss took her vacation and I covered some of her files in her absence. Talk about learning trial by fire. Whew!!! Well we are still in a refi boom and God has blessed the work of my hands abundantly!!!

As for Athena, some may have seen my Facebook pictures but she is doing well. We are now trying to manage her weight. Not having a back yard and working too much has caused the girly to be a bit 'tubby' as Shawn endears her as. For that matter Momma has become tubby too.....too much work and not enough play. So we have recently started remedying that matter. We are walking with a friend and her dogs a couple times a week in the morning. And each weekend I am trying to stay out of the office at least one day and go take her out. The picture to the left is a trail on the back side of the aiport. There are lots of ducks and geese and WATER!! Oh yes Athena's favorite.

Today Athena and I were invited on a hike up Perserverance Trail. AMAZING! We saw our first bear of the season. Momma and a new cub were tucked up the hill from where we were. I was very happy to have a group of us as I'm not quite ready to encounter a bear. We had one in our front yard last week....Thank God I wasn't home. Today's hike was a great combination of flat areas, slight inclines and steep switchbacks. I'm so out of shape. LOL!!! But it truly is beautiful. Today was a good day. Athena is sacked out behind me snoring and I'm pooped.

Well we are coming to San Diego July 9th through the 18th. We hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and full of joy!

Much love,

Bethany, Shawn and Athena