Guest Blogger...McKenzie Healy

"Everything happens for a reason." Always a firm believer of these words, but my time here in Juneau has made me an even stronger advocate. I truly believe the coincidences and timing of all the events in my hectic life brought me to this breathtakingly beautiful place for a reason. We spent the good portion of my third day hiking to a glacier. The very second we reached the end of the trail and were standing face to face with the enormous glacier, we saw a gigantic chunk the size of a small house crash into the water, followed by several other smaller pieces calving. This was by far one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in mother nature and I couldn't help but think "what are the odds"? Our timing to see this was so spot on and couldn't help but loop this back to everything happening for a reason. There was a reason we accidentally took the wrong trail and had to backtrack, a reason we had difficulties crossing the river, a reason we chose to start the hike at a certain time and a reason we stopped to see a porcupine. All these reasons lead me to a great thing. I have realized how important it is to stop dissecting every little thing and wondering why. Just let it be. Weather its an hour from now, or 20 years, I will know exactly why this happened, because everything happens for a reason. The slower pace, cleaner air, friendlier people and way of life was just the change I needed. 

I have loved "walking in Nicole's shoes" for the past few days. I was able to meet her friends and roommates, eat at her favorite restaurants, walk her favorite trails, and drink at that one bar she goes to once a month. NYC to Alaska was a bit of an adjustment, but its a remarkable place where I have made memories that will last a lifetime. 

MacAttack Does Juneau.

Not only has my lovely mother been here for the past week, McKenzie Healy decided to grace us with her presence for a long weekend! Kenzie and I went to high school and college together and I had the privilege of living with her in Baltimore the summer before I came to Juneau. And now...she's here! This trip was very impromptu but not at all surprising. Just a testament to our friendship and shared love of adventure. Thanks Mac, for being such a champ and such a blessing in my life. 

Guest Blogger...Barb Ferraro

Greetings! I knew when I decided to visit Nicole I was in for a treat. So far I have hiked, biked, visited glaciers, sat upon mountaintops, seen bald eagles and porcupines up close. I am so afraid to see a bear... oh my!  I learned in my "bear training" to speak loudly if you see one because they are more afraid of you than you are of them. Well not true for me soooooo I yell the whole time I am hiking which kinda affects the serene nature of a hike. Nicole never takes the direct route anywhere, she tends to turn a simple walk to the grocery store into a hike by going over a mountain to get there! Everything she has told you about Juneau has been true. It is a breathtakingly beautiful place! It can best be described as God's country and there are signs of him everywhere. Nicole has made the most wonderful friends at her job at AEYC, I can't thank them enough for taking such good care of her this year. They are not happy I am taking her back in September but I told them I had her first! Her friends and roommates I've met are delightful and I can't wait to meet the rest. They make me so full of hope about the future of our world. So I am off to breakfast now but I am sure before she will let me eat I will have to hike a trail!

Bling Day.

My office is not fun at all (sarcasm). 

Important Shopping Trip

My items at the checkout counter. Tomorrow's going to be a fun day at work.

Wrangell, Alaska.

I'm back! I had the opportunity to travel to a small town in Southeast, AK to facilitate a training for child care providers there. The population of Wrangell is about the size of my high school and makes Juneau look like a bustling metropolis. Towns in Southeast AK feel even smaller than they actually are because they can only be reached by plane or by ferry. This adds a unique element to their feel. The environment was so quiet, slow, extremely friendly and wonderfully relaxed. 

I was able to get in a quick hike and at the summit see an areal view of the entire city, there it is! 

So here's a typical AK story for ya... I stopped in Ketchikan, AK on the way home and when we were about to board at 8:25 they found some mechanical problems. They then announced to the passengers that the mechanic (THE mechanic) was on an 8:45 ferry back into town, so we had to wait for him. Only in Alaska. 

Bananagrams On The Beach

Playing on an uneven rock adds a whole new element. 

The sunshine and the view was so worth it.