Last Day of School

Well, the time has come for me to say goodbye to Alaska, Anaktuvuk Pass, Nunamuit school, my students and my new found friends...   I am not good at change and not good at saying goodbye, its going to be hard.  Its going to be really hard... 

But in the end I will be home with my family and friends.  I have lived my dream by moving to Alaska and teaching up here.  It is something I have wanted to do since high school, and early years in college.  I know people thought I would never move up here and never be teaching up here.  I just feel so lucky to say I have done it and I have loved it.  

Being away from my family was hard, there were lots of nights I cried myself to sleep, lots of phone calls I had to end to cry by myself and lots of things I missed out on.  But I have also laughed, had fun, made friends, learned so much, and loved living up here.  It is a different world, it shows what beauty nature has to offer us and it has opened my eyes to life outside Illinois.  I feel so honored to have this experience, and the memories that will live with me forever.

I have made friendships, changed students lives and changed my own life... all in 10 months.  I now know I can do anything I set my mind too.  I can accomplish any dream or goal I have.  I however did not do it alone, I had the help of my parents, sisters, niece, nephew, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  Without the loved ones in my life I dont think I could have lived out my dream.  I know I am stubborn, but I had to have the support to help me get where I am.  I owe all you a BIG THANK  YOU!

I have graduated high school, college and accomplished my dream of being a teacher.  I have been to the top of the United States, I have had so many first, I just feel now I am on top of the world.  

I can not wait to share my story with my family, friends, future students, and future generations.  I am so eager to get home and see the faces of the loved ones I miss so much.

I will see everyone as soon as I can.

Lots of love from Alaska  :) 

SO SORRY

I need to make a post and dedicate it to my sister and her husband, Amber and Jason. I am so sorry I misspelled you last name.  I know it is McReaken, but I guess I was typing faster than I was thinking or I was thinking faster than I was typing.  Something like that.

Anyway, I am truly, madly, deeply sorry for the misspelling.

I can not wait to see the McReaken's in 10 DAYS!!!  so very freaking excited.  

Lots of love

Ash

On the search again

Well I am house hunting again.  Crazy I am not even in Illinois yet, and have had two houses arranged and lost both of them.  I am not sure what I am going to do, I guess it will depend if I get a full time job for the fall..

I just feel blah... about not knowing what I am going to do...  owell, I am sure I will find a place to sleep for a couple weeks, LOL...  I know several beds, couches and floors that have been offered to ME, I feel so loved!

SEE Amber, Koehler's and MrCreaken's  IN 11 DAYS!!!!  See the GROVES in 12 DAYs, so excited!  :)

Love ya

Ash

Happy Mother's Day!

I just wanted to send out a special Happy Mother's Day post to all the great moms out there.  Being a mother is the most important job anyone could have.  It is also a job that at times goes without the proper appreciation.  It is  24 hour a day job, that never stops.  I don't care how old your kids are, they always still need their mother.  I think Mother's should have one day a month that is Mother's Day instead of one day a year.  

I know I could not be where I am today with out all of the great women in my life, many of which have their own kids, but have taken me in as one of their own at times.  I have several great women I call "mom" and that means so much to me, they are great mother figures to have when I need them.

I especially want to say thank you to all you do to my Mother, she is the best woman and friend I know.  She is always there when I need her and always there to give advice or listen to me.  It has been so hard to be away from my mom for several months at a time, so being home in just a few days will be GREAT.  I will be able to see my mother anytime I want too.

Hope Mother's Day is great for you all.

Lots of Love from Ashley Marie  :) 

Photos

So, I have been slacking on uploading photos... Also my computer will not read my pictures off my camera, I had to borrow a card ready for another teacher.  So here are so recent photos of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska!

When it warmed up a couple weeks ago and we still had piles of snow the kids enjoyed riding their packs really fact into the deep snow then crashing.  It was actually very funny.  I felt bad laughing at them, then asking if they were alright.  But they did it several times.  :)
Another warm day, I think almost have the kids in the village were out walking just like Kerri and I.  I took a minute to take a photo.  It was a very very fun day!
TRUE village life.  Two 4th grade girls on a very small motorcycle.  It is so cute.  They ride that thing everywhere.  There are several motorcycles around and lots of 4wheelers and Argos.
Kitta and Zoey enjoying the lake before it completely thaws.  Zoey is a major water dog, thats the lab in her.  Kitta, well she is learning to enjoy the water.  

This picture was taking before the THAW, Kerri is down looking into the frozen over lake, trying to see what she can see.  It was very funny!

I will post more pictures at a later time, but I thought these were very cute pictures.  Hopefully the weather continues to warm up, so we can be out and enjoy our evenings as much as possible.  :)

WAY TO MUCH STUFF!!!

So, I decided I really need to get totes mailed out tomorrow, since I will be in Illinois in 26 days. 

 I was really hoping to get all of my stuff in 10 totes.  I moved up here in 14 totes.... and I thought I could eliminate a few things, but the ten totes idea is shot out the window.  I already have 10 filled and I am not done packing yet.  I still have to pack up my kitchen, stuff from my classroom and odds and ends...  I don't plan to take much from my kitchen, I have had the same kitchen pots and pans for several years and they were cheap when I got them, so I think when I get back to IL and get settled it will be time for an upgrade!

BOY, why do we accumulate so much stuff.  I try really hard not to be a pack rat, but sometimes it just happens.  I always think oh, I can use this next year, and I had great storage area this year in my apartment, so things just gathered and gathered.  

I am still unsure of future plans.  I know I have my summer job with Upward Bound, and my summer house in Newton.  Past that, I am not sure what I am doing, where I am going, or much of anything.   ALL I KNOW IS I WILL BE WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS!!!  At this time that is all that matters to me!

Alaska Update :  The weather had warmed up here for a few days.  We had made it to the dump twice and several short walks here and there.  However, today it decided to cool back off... I guess thats what happens when you live in the Arctic.  

Have a GREAT week.

lots of love from Alaska - 26 more days!!!