May 26, 2024 Teeples Visit

 Wow have almost let two weeks go by!  With our dear friends the Kuerths leaving last Sunday and Chalaes family coming on Saturday we have been in a whirl wind!  I have to say the Teeples coming softened the blow of the Kuerths leaving!  They will be sorely missed. We were able to have them with us for Sunday dinner of Ribs with family!  

Teeples even sang for us and I always love that!!

Somehow even with no institute we had a full week with apartment inspections, putting up blackout curtains and getting cinnamon rolls to all took some days!  A special YSA fireside with elder Mark Pace Friday night which was wonderful!  Temple night and FHE  plus open institute on Tuesdays keeps us hopping!  Learn to really care about these YSA and the young missionaries!

We have been running a hundred miles an hour with Teeples.  Hayes and B and Dot have been staying with us here! The rest in an AirBnB over by the institute!  We did Saturday north of Anchorage and ran to Eagle River Nature Center for a hike, Thunderbird Falls hike and up to Eklutna lake, a glacier fed lake that is beautiful turquois water!  All were gorgeous! It was cold but okay.  I had pre-made lasagna for us after back at their place! It was a great day. We got 19,000 steps so quite the day!  On Sunday we went to church at our YSA Ward we went for a drive up up to Flat Top to see a view of the Anchorage bowl, the walked the boardwalks of Potters Marsh and the to a beautiful little waterfall from McHugh Creek down Turnagain Arm.  We were all still amazed at how it is daylight and the sun is still up at 11pm!  Saturday was outdone on Monday by riding bikes 22 miles on the coastal trail! It was amazing in every way!  Dad and I were on peddle assist bikes or we would not have made it! It probably sold us on the bikes!!  Even Dot went the whole way!! We saw moose and lots of beautiful ocean and beyond.  Trying to give the Teeples the whole Alaska in  one week!! So we had to go to Moose’s Tooth pizza after the big ride!  Weren’t as hungry as we thought so had left over pizza in the car Tuesday on our way to Denali National Park.

Teeples rented a 10 passenger van for their week here so we got to be together all of the time.  It was pretty comfortable for all! Of course I say that knowing they spoiled me!!

We had very little disappointment in our adventures!  We saw a moose everyday! We saw caribou and porcupine in the park!  We had spectacular views of Mt Denali even one at about10:30pm alone in the park!  We watched Brother Bear in our room after dinner and were down for the night but it was light and the sun came out and it was so beautiful so us 5 oldest went back to the park to explore and we were glad.  Wednesday we split and five went up the mountain on a hard hike and 5 went on a walk sort of hike down the river!  It was all beautiful and gave us another record step day.  We had a not so great dinner in the park cafeteria before heading out for home!  The park opened this week so we can give all the new folks a break!  We got home late but still had ice cream I believe!  Every night!  Thur we went to Girdwood to ride the tram but cloudy sky and cost talked us out of that! So instead we went on the most beautiful hike of all! It was in like a rain forest!!  It was unbelievably beautiful! Never seen anything close except maybe in Hawaii!  Then we went to the wild life preserve to catch our Bear sighting and musk ox.  Everyday we start cloudy thinking it will storm but clears up and by the end we see the sun!!! Amazing!! We went north Friday to the Matanuska Glacier which we couldn’t get very close to without a $125 each tour.  It was interesting though! We had a stop on the way and talked to a couple pulled off too! Ends up they were both raised in the church! Not active now but our badges open interesting doors. Also these kids are pretty great at reaching out to people!

Saturday the last hurrah Teeples all caught the train to Seward at 6:45 in the morning.  We drove down and got there just as they did but left 2 hours later!  It is a beautiful ride!!  They really enjoyed the train!  We had a bad lunch!! But went to the sea life preserve and hiked up to the Exit Glacier!  Both were a great success!  Got close to the glacier this time!  The Kenai lake was as beautiful blue even though cloudy!  Ice cream in Girdwood finished our day.  They had to be at the airport 9:30 last night so we had leftovers at our house a few showers and I got a great haircut courtesy of  Chalae and Lyzzie!! Then they left!  We feel a little sad today but so grateful they came!!  Shared some great experiences and it will tide us over!  Back to missionary work we go!!!

 One of our daily Moose sightings 

Mt. Denali        Anchorage Temple