Holy Cow!  Didn't realize that it has been almost a month since we last posted anything.  We have been really busy dealing with sick/injured missionaries, the mission finances, iPads, etc., and haven't had a chance to do much else, including write on the blog.

We did have the chance to go with all the other senior missionaries and the mission presidency and their wives to the local college's girls gymnastics match.  It was the University of Alaska - Anchorage Seawolves vs. the BYU Cougars.  One of our senior couples is assigned to CES and teaches Institute at the college.  One of their students was participating as a member of the Seawolves team, so we went to support her specifically and the BYU team in general.  We had a great time and saw some pretty awesome gymnasts.  One of the BYU girls was the daughter of former Olympic gymnast Peter Vidmar.  Some of you older folks may remember that name.  He was a gold medalist in the 1984 Summer Olympics.  And, he is now serving as mission president of the Australia Melbourne Mission!

One of the BYU girls on the uneven bars.  Not sure who it is.  

Looks like Emily Vidmar, but it also looks like two or three of the others, too.

After the match, having seen the phalanx of black and white badges in the audience (there were 12 of us sitting in a group), several members of the team came over and thanked us for coming and supporting them.

Oh... in case you were wondering, BYU won the match.


If you look back through the posts, you will see that winter arrived in November and we were pretty excited about all the snow and ice.  Well, that has been about it.  It has been cold enough that some of the snow and most of the ice has remained, but nothing new has been added.  This winter has been milder than last year and the year before.  Since we only have to hike back and forth to the office from the parking lot, and we have a 4x4 vehicle to get back and forth, we have really been disappointed.

As we have reported earlier, though, the Alaskans can still find ways to enjoy what winter they've got.  Here are a couple of shots of a small lake here in town where they have groomed the ice into a couple of areas to play hockey and a speed-skating loop.  They even have lights permanently installed to make it so you can skate at night.

Gotta start your hockey training young!

But last night while we were sleeping we got about an inch of snow.  It was very pretty and pristine out there on the way to church this morning.  Then it rained/freezing rain/sleeted all day and the snow was pretty well gone off the roads.  This afternoon, however, it looked like we might finally get the Alaskan winter we have been hoping for.  The snow really came down for a little while, with the wind blowing like crazy.

The wind was really swirling the snow around all these apartment buildings and all the windows on the south side of our apartment were covered in snow for awhile.

This is looking out the living room window after the worst (best) of it was over.  Of course I didn't think to take any pictures/videos during the best part. 

This is looking out the back bedroom window (north side)

The bad news is that it has been 30-35 degrees all day and the roads are almost clear again.

Oh well....