Halloween 2016 + Ardoin Family Update

When I got an email today, from google, notifying me that my website had crawl errors, it occurred to me that I am seriously overdue for a blog post. This year has been full of struggles and hardships (which I might feel open to talking about at a later time) that have taken me places that I never wanted to go. I’m here today, with a new understanding of the reservoir of strength we all have within us. Hopefully life will remain on the upswing, despite a delay in our Alaska departure and an uncertainty for where and when we’ll land in the lower 48.

It’s now November, and in the last few months, Isaac has returned from Officer Candidate School where he graduated with honors and I ran my first official Half Marathon at the inaugural HooDoo Half Marathon here in Fairbanks. We’re trying to remember what it’s like to work as a team, after our three months apart this summer. The kids are happy to have their Ukulele player back, and I’m relieved to have the help around the house, especially since the snow is already flying and the dark days are again upon us for a fourth time. I really thought that we’d be out of Alaska by September, but I keep forgetting that God’s plan is just that: his plan. So here I am, waiting on the Army to tell us what to do, wondering if I’ll have a chance to XC ski this year, or be rushed off to Arizona before the solstice. I’m done worrying about it, and I’m just going to presume that everything will work out in the way it’s supposed to. Stealing the Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter cups out of my kids’ halloween basket has certainly helped me to feel relaxed, but I can probably attribute that to my go-to glass of Yellow Tail. Man alive, their Cab Sav is the best!  Surely you’ll hear from me/us again – most likely when our moving plans have solidified. I’m rather looking forward to traveling the Alcan again, even if it’s a cold, dark drive. I’m more so looking forward to re-entering civilization via Vancouver (a top 10 favorite city of mine, for sure), Seattle, Portland and good ole California. The west coast really is the best coast.

Cheers!