2013 Year In Review

Once again it seems as though it's been way too long since I've updated.  The reason I thought to do this is not very original at all.  I was on FB and saw a little tab pop up and it said something about reviewing your year and the top moments...something like that.  As I was lured into look at this stuff I noticed that 2013 was packed with all sorts of highs, lows and in betweens.  I'll share some of the most memorable for me with you now.

January 2013
I have been in Alaska since 2011, but it was on this trip back to Texas that I really realized that Alaska was home.  I loved Austin, Texas.  I have some great friends there, discovered triathlon there, started my adult life there.  So many experiences there, both positive and negative.  Don't get me wrong I'm glad I have family and friends there.  If there is any place I would want to go to visit family it would be Austin.  However, on this trip almost as soon as I got there, I realized that it just wasn't home anymore. I had come to love Alaska and couldn't wait to get back. Ever since this trip I can't help but notice how when I go almost anywhere, I'm always ready to come back to my Alaska.

Another absolutely monumental thing that happened in January was that I paid off my school loans!  I think anyone who has ever had school loans understands the burden that you feel when you are paying on these.  It's a nice chunk of change to have back in your wallet.  So glad it's done!  Hope to never have these again!

March 2013 -  Tragedy
In any line of work there will be accidents and mistakes.  In some professions like aviation mistakes and complacency can cost you your life.  The ACE family lost 2 lives in March and the lives of all of the other employees and families were affected greatly as well.  This was a reminder to me to be vigilant in my work and a lesson to everyone involved.  This was truly one of the toughest times and I hope that I never have to experience this again.  This is literally all I can say about this.

April 2013 - Sold the house in Texas
This was a monumental thing on multiple levels.  It was the last thing that I felt was preventing me from fully being in Alaska.  While my heart and soul were definitely here, a significant piece of my checkbook and just the thought of it sitting there over 3,000 miles away was a thought that weighed on my mind often.  In the end, I took a financial loss on the house, but overall selling it was a total gain that can't be measured by dollar signs.  I no longer had to worry about something breaking, or about that mortgage every month.  I had started a life here in Alaska and unloading the house was a great thing.  It was the last thing that allowed me to completely move forward with my life.  Thank you Marcy Urban.  She was a really great real estate agent and I believe made the difference.

Celebratory dinner after house sale

June 2013 - Got Surprised
One normal June day my pilot boyfriend asks if I want to go flying in our friends plane.  We kept talking to our good friend and he always encouraged us to fly the plane to keep it going and put some hours on it.  So I think this is way cool!  Little did I know that I would come home from that plane ride an engaged woman.  I knew that I wanted to be with Todd for the rest of my life, but I definitely wasn't expecting to receive the most beautiful and precious ring that I am wearing today.  Pilots....never a dull moment. :)

Flying back from Seldovia, engaged to a crazy pilot

July 2013 - Amazed
From the beginning Todd's and my relationship has always been honest and real.  We had always talked about how we didn't really want any sort of wedding or big deal.  It's just NOT how we roll!  We were married in an as small as you can get private ceremony at a place where summer and winter we spend a lot of time.  On the shores of that little lake in Kincaid Park I married the man of my dreams and my soul mate.  He showed me that love is a real thing.  It's not a word, but an action.  It's not a feeling, but a choice.  He is the most manly man I know.  He makes me feel beautiful inside and out.  I am a better person for having known him and I am so lucky that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.

Our Wedding

August 2013 - Loss
The loss of our dog Brew was very sad for us.  We love our dogs just as they should be loved....they are part of the family.  God puts these animals in our lives for a reason.  Anyone who has truly loved an animal knows this.  They only know how to fully give love.  There's no 1/2 way for dogs.  They love you completely unconditionally.  Brew was no exception.  He was such a sweet thing.  He had a charmed life.  I'm glad I got to be a part of it.

The amazing Brew Erickson

October 2013 -  Wild Blue
Wild blue came into our lives!  I've always enjoyed aviation.  Since I can remember aviation has been a part of my life.  Enjoyed flying with my dad in a 185 as a kid....when I met Todd it's like aviation came back into my life.  We talked frequently that it would be one of our dreams to have a plane that we could explore Alaska in together.  What can I say...it was the right deal at the right time!  Adventures around Alaska here we come.

Captain Todd and Wild Blue

November 2013 - World Travel
The summer was very busy for both of us so we deferred our honeymoon trip!  The south Island of New Zealand was the destination.  Spending 2 weeks with the love of my life was awesome.  It was everything I could imagine and more.  We enjoyed dragging our mountain bikes all around the island.  Too much fun!  A solid start to a lifetime of adventure together.

Mountain Biking New Zealand

Here's to 2014!  Bring it!