WE AREN'T FROZEN SOLID

Sorry I haven't posted for so long. The last two weeks have been unbelievable. We go to work at 8 in the morning and don't get home until 10 or 11pm. We fall into bed and start the process over again the next day. It has been very stressful and most days don't even eat.

I am managing a midtown Anchorage office and Lee is managing an eastern Anchorage office. They are both owned by the same person. We have 7 preparer desks, two processing computers and we go 24 hours a day in Midtown. After next Friday we go back to closing at 9pm and I can hardly wait. We did more returns by the end of January than we did the entire season in Bountiful.

I never realized what a diverse ethnic population there is here and it has been very interesting. I love doing returns for true native Alaskans down from "the bush". They live in villages the way their anscestors have for hundreds of years.

I have never been so exhausted in my life (so is Lee), so we left Saturday morning, (after I got a much needed highlight - we have to have our priorities straight) and went south to a ski resort and spent the night. What a joy to sleep in. Today we went to a Glacier, a wildlife sanctuary, took the tram to the top of the mountain, and just had a great day. We are back at the office tonight paying bills and then head home to do some laundry.

I went to church last Sunday with the family I am staying with. She was put in as Relief Society President for her 3rd time. They have been so good to us (we are never there so we make it easy) and worry constantly about us eating enough.

It has been SO SO SO cold. Always below zero - -5 to -10 at night and never above about 12 in the day. Today it was 20 and we were - wow, it's not bad out here. It is actually supposed to warm up to the 20's in Anchorage this week - a heat wave. The family we are staying with has a heated 2000 square foot garage. Oh and that's only one of the garages. It is every man's dream. It's nice to get in a warm truck - oh so nice.

I am going to try and load some pictures right now so we will see if it works. We miss all of you. Thanks to Kara and Justin for watching our house. Thanks to Steve and family for sending some cleats so I won't fall again and Lee will stay upright. Thanks to Shelly and family for sending rice krispie treats, dark chocolate and Valentine cards. We love you all, hugs and kisses to all our grandkids.

Tomorrow I find out about my broken hand - will let you know.

Love, Carma