Surviving Denail, Part 1

As many of you may know, J is off on an Alaskan adventure, climbing Denali. He set up a blog chronicling his training leading up to, and his climb of the highest peak in North America. I thought I would write the occasional blog post about how we are doing, surviving the absence of our favorite furry white boy.

J called tonight on his rented satellite phone for the first time. Yesterday morning we spoke while he still had cell service, just before the bush plane arrived to drop him off on the glacier. Today he had to call me back several times, as the satellite phone kept dropping the call. They are at a camp in a little bowl, so each time the satellite the phone was connected to went out of sight of the bowl, the call dropped. J gave me some interesting tidbits about the temperatures on Denali:
7, 200' (Where the plane dropped them off) L: -20º  H: 0º
11, 000' L: -30º  H: -10º
14, 000' (Approximate halfway point) L: -40º  H: -15º

I've had many friends tell me that I am a super wife to let him go do something so dangerous and recreational for a month. I'm only so super because I am receiving heavenly help, and because I have the best friends in the world. I couldn't do it without the thoughts and prayers of my amazing friends, who are the angels Heavenly Father sends my way when I need some help. I know that the Lord is sustaining me. I'm pretty sure that, if I didn't have the Lord's assurance and care, I'd be a basket case. As it is, I feel at calm and at peace about the coming month. I'm not worried about J's safety. My capacity to handle all of my responsibilities with the kids and home will grow as I trust in Heavenly Father's care.

The boys and I have been busy. Life as usual. O has seemed to miss J the most, huddling in his blanket in the morning and having a little lonely time before he gets going for the day. This afternoon while doing his homework, S looked at me and said, "I just want daddy to come home." I replied, "He will." We have regular, busy days planned; fun weekend events to look forward to; a surprise visit from G&G Kim (don't tell my kids!); and end-of-school programs to occupy our time. The month will fly by before we know it.

I'll post more as the weeks pass. If you want to follow J's adventures, click on the blog on the sidebar entitled, "Expedition 2012 Climbing the High One."