From My Heart.....

A Trip Down Melancholic Lane....

2012-02-04T00:06:00.000-08:00

As I was waiting to board a flight today, I was glancing out into the waiting area and saw a family with small children. They reminded me of our little family when we were raising our 3 little kiddies.

I wanted to step back in time, and redo it. Redo their childhood years and:

cuddle them more

worry less about the "clean" house and let them have fun

care less about what people thought

not trying to make them "perfect"

not trying myself to be the "perfect" parent

minister GRACE, abundant Grace and less legalism

There is so much I wish I could redo and not have let the moments pass without cherishing and appreciating each one. It seems like when the children are small, we are so caught up in the everyday things that need to be done. Laundry, dishes, meals, etc... I wish I would of taken the time to be and enjoy each moment with my kiddies...

I have often wondered why the Lord gives us children when we are young and selfish and immature and lack wisdom. I know one reason why we have them when we are young, because we are too tired when we are older to handle the demands of continuous action and questions.

I know the Lord redeems. I know He has covered all my mistakes and errors as a parent and sees my heart as I cry out before Him on behalf of each of my children. I know this, and yet, there is still a part of my heart that weeps over it. I wish I was tucking them in their cribs and bunks tonight with much laughter and kisses and hugs and reading and prayers. Jessica with her Teddy. Mike with Duke, and Laura with her monkey.

And The Wheels Lift Off......

2012-01-30T21:39:00.000-08:00

Only when the wheels of the aircraft began to speed down the runway in Anchorage and lift off, did my heart feel a little sad. It was then, I realized that I had just left Alaska and the next touchdown would be far away from so many I loved. And yet, also taking me to ones I loved dearly too.

Waiting to get on my flight in Anchorage, was a dear friend of Jim's and mine, John Williams. We were on the same flight, headed to PDX. It was just an added blessing to be able to spend a few moments together before we boarded.

I had 3 seats again to myself. I lifted the arms of them and laid down. It was a nice smooth flight. I had some hours to begin to process my trip and just had such a grateful heart for the opportunity that had been mine. I fell asleep too :}

I am looking forward to a good rest tonight and day tomorrow, before I head back to work on Wednesday. I learned a long time ago that I am too old to fly back from Alaska and head back to work on the same day. I need time to process and recuperate. It sucks getting old..:}

I am looking forward to going back to work as an Alaskan/Horizon Employee with refreshed insight on how it feels on the other side of the counter. A smile, a kind word, goes a long way to a weary traveler.

I love my family. I am grateful for the investments made into my life at a young age, from my dad and mom. I have a heritage to pass on to my own children and their children.

Alaska: I will be back. Alaska Airlines: you are the best!

Grateful For His Grace

2012-01-29T23:26:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day with a heat wave of 7 above zero. I loved spending time with my youngest daughter and we sure made the memories this weekend. She was my chauffeur, although I did venture out and drive her car to town and felt quite accomplished. I know I grew up with these kind of snowy icy roads, but when you have been away from them it is a little intimidating to tackle them again. But I did and I didn't even panic.

What a wonderful morning at Church On The Rock seeing so many people I love. To worship with a group of believers that have a part of my heart was a ministry. It was communion Sunday and so Dad, Gail, Laura and I got up together to share this special time together. The tears seeped from my eyelids as my dad prayed before we partook. Another memory for me to hold close within my heart.

So many cherished friends I saw today, ones that have played such an important part in my life. Many of them have invested deeply into my heart and have deposited much truth and grace through many years.

None of us are lone rangers. We need each other. We need encouragement, help, direction, insight, wisdom, grace, peace, and yes, correction and reproof. We are all on this journey of life together. The Lord uses us to minister to each other. May we not neglect these gifts He has placed in us to reach out and make a difference in each others life. His grace, working in us, to change us and use us!

Laura and I drove to Kenai. I was able to get on the first flight out to Anchorage. There were only 6 on board. I love the 20 minute flight. Spent the evening with my sista Debby and her hubby Bob and my sista Marie. There is NOTHING like being with family.

I love my family. My time with my dad is something I will always have to hold onto. I am so thankful for these last few days that the Lord gifted to me. I pray my daddy lives for another 10 years, and I will trust the Lord with His decision on when his time on earth is done.

Good night Alaska. You know you have my heart......

No Place More Beautiful....

2012-01-28T22:53:00.000-08:00

I grew up here and come to visit as often as I can, and each time I still stand in amazement of the beauty that Homer holds. I can't imagine there being a more majestic place to be.

This morning I brought Laura to the doctor and she was diagnosed with bronchitis. So we stopped at the pharmacy and filled her up with all the drugs she needs for the next week. Made sure she got some good cough medicine that will let her sleep. We love codine :} She spent the day on the chair at Uncle Ken & Theresa's home watching movies, drinking Grampa's blueberry tea, water, napping and just resting.

I spent many hours at my dad and Gail's just relaxing and visiting and great conversations. My dad is full of knowledge and I loved listening to him tell me the history of the Jews and how scripture puts it all together with what is happening in our world today. It was fascinating listening to him. Makes me want to dig deeper into scripture! I am so grateful for these moments with my dad, that I will have to cherish always.

Got to spend a few moments with a dear friend I went to school with from 6th grade to 12th grade. I love the bond that we have in friendship and mostly the bond we have through Jesus, as we both have given our lives to serve Him and love Him with all our hearts. No matter where we leave off, we pick right back up when we get together. That is a cherished friendship.

Tomorrow it will be off to church and I will get to see so many people that I love. Lots of hugs! Then it will be off to Kenai again with Laura and I will wait for another standby flight to Anchorage. How did this time go so fast? There are so many I didn't get to see, but this season, this time, is for my dad and it has been special.

Oh Alaska....You Know You Have My Heart.....

2012-01-27T22:37:00.000-08:00

I did get on the 615 flight last night! The photo above was taken from my seat. I sat in the back bench seat. It was a small plane! Had a great conversation with the two ladies I sat by.

Laura was there at the airport waiting for me. It was so wonderful to see my daughter. We drove to her little home and she made me a delicious dinner. We started to watch a movie but I was falling asleep. So off to bed we went. I slept for 12 hours.

I was able to see her office at the school she works for and the two wonderful ladies she works with. It always does a mother's heart good when people love your kids :}

We headed to Homer after we stopped at Subway for lunch. Thank you Auntie Ree for the coupons. It was sunny but cold and the roads were typical Alaskan winter roads. I counted 4 moose a long the way.

It was so wonderful to walk into my dad's home and see him standing there. He was folding laundry! I spent 4 hours with him and Gail (his wife) and then my brother Mark and his wife Isi and their son, Javan, brought out a wonderful stew dinner. It was a great evening. I love my dad.

There are so many emotions in my heart when I come home. So many memories. Memories from the past and memories to be made. Life is made up of all these memories. One thing I do know is, the Lord is faithful and always has been faithful and will remain faithful to the deepest cries of my heart.

Welcome To The World Of Standby Travel......

2012-01-26T18:23:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in the Anchorage airport, trying to get to Kenai. It is a 25 minute flight. The last two flights have been full and now I wait another hour for the next flight. I am almost tempted to buy a ticket so I can get there, but will have a little more patience to see if I can get on tonight. The planes only holds 16-30 passengers. It depends on which aircraft they are using. ERA is a very busy airlines. It flies all over to the smaller cities of Alaska.

The gate agent is very nice. A young gal and I complimented her. She let me know that there will be some available seats on a later flight tonight if I don't make the next one. It is nice that she is looking out for me. A kind word from a gate agent made my evening!

It is FREEZING cold here~ Yikes, I forgot how cold it gets. But is is so beautiful. Debby has heated seats in her car. That was treat. If I ever live here again, I want my car to have heated seats :}

So, time to dig out my beautiful laptop and blog for the day. Debby, Marie and I had a great time. We went to Red Robin for lunch and laughed away. It is always so nice to be with your sisters.

Laura is anxiously awaiting my arrival and ready to cook for me "Puttin on the Ritz" halibut dinner I requested. Can't wait.

It is fun sitting in the airport and seeing the Alaskan natives. I miss them. I miss their culture and listening to how they talk. In fact, there is a lot I miss about being in Alaska.

But for now, I am here. Waiting for a flight to open to spend time with my daughter this evening. Airports are fun. Think I will go roam around for the next hour while my standby name goes further down the list. Ah...I know the routine oh so well. :}

I am grateful for this opportunity and all the teachable, character building moments the Lord gives to me.

Talk later......

My Love Hate Relationship With Flying....

2012-01-26T02:00:00.000-08:00

How these big metal birds stay up in the air is beyond my comprehension. I know it has something to do with aerodynamics, but yikes, this is a heavy aircraft. This is the girl who has overcome her fears of flying to actually work for an airline and then actually step on the aircraft.

It so use to cripple me to fly. I wouldn’t be able to sleep for days knowing that I had to get on an airplane. It is still not my most favorite thing to do, but once I have completed my trip, I am always very grateful I went, and had a great time.

I do love flying Alaska Airlines. The crews are the best, and I love the pilots always talking to us and telling us where we are. It just puts my mind at ease to know they know what they are doing. :}

When you are on an airplane you have no control. You just sit and hope that the pilot knows what he is doing up there. Hoping that he didn’t have a big fight with his wife and is in a bad mood and his mind is distracted.

So here I sit, 32,000 feet above land, floating quietly to the cold north. I believe there are only about 45 passengers on board. Everyone has their own couch :}

I am thinking of my wonderful coworkers who helped me make this trip possible by covering my shifts. Also, thinking of my hubby (who I miss already) who allowed me to go and spend time with my family.

Yes, my family. That is the reason why I am headed to Alaska this evening. I will be spending time with my two sisters in Anchorage, my daughter in Kenai and my dad in Homer.

When us sisters get together, we laugh so hard we cry. We tend to tell the same stories over and over from our childhood, but each time we tell them, we laugh just as hard. I love my sistas. Wishing that Val and Vick where there too.

I am excited to spend the night with my Laura in her new little apartment. She is going to make me dinner. Yes, HALIBUT :} I will get to see where she works and see her world.

Then we will head to Homer and see my dad, spending time loving on him and just being close. It will consist of conversations and hugs and pictures to cherish.

My trip will be short, a mere 5 days. I can pack a lot into those days. I promised my hubby though that I would make sure I get my sleep. I am still recovering from pneumonia and it is taking me awhile to get back to normal strength. I will use my time wisely and take care of myself.

I will write each evening on my blog and let you know how my day went and how the Lord’s grace covered me each step and went before me.

Both my batteries are recharged for my camera. How can I go to Alaska and not take 400 pictures?

Until tomorrow……

p.s. there were so many people on the waiting list for first class, my name wasn't even on there :{ someday though....

2012

2012-01-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

It is the new year, and here are some things I hope to be intentional about.

1. read more

2. finish my book I am writing

3. more exercise and less sitting on the behind

4. take a few trips with my flying benefits

5. get plenty of sleep

6. drink lots of water and less diet pepsi

7. laugh more ( I love to laugh)

8. journal more consistantly

9. know when to say NO

10. make my life count in the lives of others...(it is not about me!)

11. more girlfriend time

12. more dates with hubby

13. to hear your voice Lord, more distinctly.

Thirteen is a good number to end on for now. All of the above are not unattainable. I choose changes that I can succeed in, if I become intentional about them. So here we go, 2012......Oops, just thought of another one: to become a woman of His Word!!!!

So excited the day she was born.....

2012-01-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

I was so excited the day I found out I was "with child" with my firstborn. It was back in the day when you took a pregnancy test and had to wait many hours for the test results.

We moved to Minnesota to pastor a small church when I was about 2 months along. I remember finding a new doctor to walk me through my pregnancy there. I went to the appointment in my new maternity clothes (I was so excited to wear them). On my first appointment, he asked me if I was sure I was pregnant. I remember almost crying and I said, "the doctor in Alaska told me I was". Here I was so excited in my new clothes and how could I not be pregnant. :}

Jessica Joy was born on the first of January 1978. Weighing in at 9 pounds and 13 ounces. She was the 2nd baby born that day at that small hospital, so we didn't win any of the New Year prizes. I had the greatest prize and gift as I held her in my arms. I was so excited I had a girl. Oh, pink here we come.

Here are some thoughts that come to my heart as I think of my firstborn gift.

pony tails and ribbons

dresses and bonnets

#15 Basketball

poofy Bangs

working at McDonalds

YWAM

kindness

giving heart

loyal friend

tender heart

wonderful mother

adores her sister and brother

weight watchers

beautiful inside and out

Lifetime

perseveres

Cookie Lee

I love my Jessie Joy so much. Not only is she my firstborn but also has become a dear and close friend.

No matter what else the Lord allows me to accomplish in my life, nothing will be more important to me than investing in the lives of my children and grandchildren and seeing them walk and follow the Lord.

I love you my Bestie and so thankful the Lord choose to give us you!

MOM

Still Basking....

2011-12-05T14:50:00.000-08:00

I am so grateful that the Lord sees our hearts and knows some of the deep cries we hold there.

Of course, all of us, have very deep and serious cries, that we bring before the Lord, that we long for Him to answer. We go before Him in tears for those things so heavy on our hearts.

But we also have "fun" desires, that He sees. Things that are on our hearts that we want to experience or see in our lifetime.

Whatever it is, the Lord hears.

Yesterday, the Lord fulfilled a deep desire I have had in my heart since 2008, when I saw Sarah Palin on TV for the first time. I loved her from that very first moment.

Yes, she is from Alaska. Yes, she likes to wear pink. Yes, I found out I am related to her and yes she was the second female, vice president candidate, for the United States of America.

I have followed her (and yes, done a little stalking on their Wasilla property) and I have prayed for her and her family.

Working for Horizon/Alaska Airlines really does have its perks. I was able to meet both Sarah and Todd yesterday before they boarded their flight. I had a glorious 10-15 minutes with them, uninterrupted, all by myself. We laughed a lot and talked about Alaska and how we were connected in a few ways. I hugged them many times, of course! Had pictures taken with them and had them sign some boarding passes I reprinted, so I can keep them :}

They laughed when I told them about me stalking their Wasilla property a few summers ago, and that is when I met Bristol in their driveway.

They are both just real down to earth people, like you and I. They have hearts and feelings just like us. They were so gracious and kind and everything I ever imagined!

Today, I am still basking in a dream fulfilled for me. Those of you who know me well know how much this meant to me.

p.s. now time to get some of those black glasses she is wearing :}

Books, Books....Oh, How I Love Thy Pages...

2011-11-30T12:43:00.000-08:00

My most favorite aisle at Costco is the book aisle. No matter what is on my shopping list, I always have to stop and browse the books. My cart just automatically goes there!

I love to read. I attained that love during my childhood years. Growing up on the homestead, we didn't have electricity for many years. So, that meant we had no TV. Nor did we have a telephone for that matter.

I would lay on my bed (my bunk) for hours and read away. I read every Nancy Drew book at least 3 times. I remember reading "Christy" and had to reread it over and over. I couldn't put "Gone With The Wind" down, it was so captivating.

A good book is one that you don't want to end. Sometimes when I am in the middle of a book, I will comment to my hubby, that I am sad, because I am almost finished with the book and I want it to go on forever and not stop :}

Right now I am reading, "Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly. I love history and what an amazing leader Lincoln was. So much we can learn from him.

There are so many other books I would love to read. I pick them up at Costco, then put them back down and always say, "I need to finish the books I have, before I buy another".

Books about History (thank you Mr. Schroer) are my favorite. But almost any book can capture my attention. Well, with the exception of anything that has to do with cooking :{

I am thankful that my granddaughter, Taylor, has my same love for reading. Books are an incredible gift, and the ability to read, is a gift, too!

A Man Child Was Born.....

2011-11-11T00:02:00.000-08:00

32 years ago today, November 11th, 1979, the Lord blessed us with a son. He came out the "roof", as he was an emergency C-Section. He weighed 10 pounds, 12 ounces and was 23" long. The same day he was born, a lady also had a set of twin boys. The 2 twins together didn't weigh as much as Mike did. They were in the hospital nursery side by side. Jim was standing outside the nursery glass window, admiring his son, when he heard someone beside him say, "look how BIG that baby is"!

The day I brought him home from the hospital, I fed him cereal. Of course, it was all watered down in his formula, but he was hungry, and has not stopped eating since.

There is a special bond between a mother and a son. I so love my boy.....Here are some things that come to my heart as I think of him.

my only boy

tenderhearted

kind

giving

strong work ethics

tall

basketball

calling Ulmers

sensitive

a wonderful brother

fishing

saying goodbye at Safeway in Soldotna

crabbing

loving his niece and nephews

integrity

loving his family

I can't imagine loving him any more than I do now. He is a delight to my heart. Many millions have seen him on TV, but to me, he is my boy and always will be. His tender heart has captured mine from the beginning. I am so incredibly proud of him and all that he has accomplished. He married a wonderful girl, whom we love.

I know that the Lord has a special calling upon his life. I remember very vividly a Sunday evening long ago when the Lord was speaking to his very tender heart.

I am so thankful for my boy. I am a very blessed mother.

In A Single Moment, Our Lives Were Changed Forever....

2011-11-09T15:05:00.000-08:00

November 27th, 1992. We were at the church setting up for my sister's wedding that was to take place the next day. Enjoying the day, and the phone call came that forever would change each of our lives.

My 54 year old mother, who was on her way to the church to prepare for her daughter's wedding, had just been killed in an automobile accident in the small town of Clam Gulch, Alaska. Her little blue Honda 4 door, got caught in the slush of the road and she went over to the other lane and another car hit her and she was killed instantly. My two little nieces were in the car and hurt, but survived.

It seems like yesterday, at times, and then it seems like another world ago. So much has happened since that day. So much my mom has missed out on that I know she would of loved to have been a part. So much each of us have missed out on, knowing she would of invested so much into our lives in these last years.

I wept. I still weep. No one can ever take the place of your mom in your life. We can have others step in and be like a mom to us, but no one, takes her place.

One word that comes to mind that describes the life of my mom is GRACE. She knew the grace of God abundantly in her life. She left us such a legacy......

Tomorrow is her birthday. Oh, my heart and eyes are weeping. Mom, you left a family that loves you dearly. You were taken at such a young age. We don't understand or have all the answers BUT one thing we do know is that we will trust God with the reasons why.

12:13pm Alaska Standard Time on Nov 27th, 1992.... my mom entered into the presence of the Lord that she loved.... I know she will be waiting for each of us, with open arms and a warm embrace. I have a lot of living left to do, and things I want to still accomplish in my life...but when I get to the end, I look forward to her embrace and her mommy hug again.... I love you mom...

What a gift to our family....

2011-11-08T18:07:00.000-08:00

28 years ago the Lord blessed us with a precious baby girl, 9 pounds, 12 ounces and a head full of black hair. We named her after my mom, who was there for her birth. Laura Marjorie. She is the only grandchild that carries my mother's name and that is a special gift to my heart.

She was a planned C-section and I wanted her to be born on the 10th, which is my mom's birthday, but the doctor had a golf game scheduled and said he would do the birth on the 8th. We didn't know we were having a girl. Back then, we had to wait till the birth to see what the Lord had blessed us with. I knew if we had a girl that we would give her my mom's name. :}

Here are some things that come to my heart when I think about my girl...

she was my only child born with hair

my baby

long hair and braids with ribbons

sucking her finger with part of her monkey sock in her mouth too

crumpling like a piece of paper

basketball

Winkie

YWAM

moving from Alaska

Azusa

College Graduation and Master's Graduation

Counselor

a soft heart

loves to laugh

her family means everything to her

idolizes her brother and her sister

great Auntie to Taylor, Tanner and Tristan

beautiful smile

gorgeous

beautiful heart

kind

steadfastness

thoughtful

cherishes her friends

loyal

I love her to the moon and back and back again! She has blessed our lives and given us so much joy! So incredibly proud of her and her pursuit of the dreams that are in her heart.

I really do have the best kids in the whole wide world! I wouldn't trade them for any others I know.... and I know a lot of great kids :}

This mom's heart is thankful for the Lord's faithfulness in her life.

I love you Laura!

Your mom forever...

Dreams, Sarah, and a Memory.....

2011-10-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

One of the items on my "bucket list" is to meet Sarah Palin.... I didn't go to bed thinking about it last night, but I dreamed about it. I found myself at some kind of meeting and Sarah was there. Of course, in my dream only, (haha) I ran up to her and hugged her and asked if I could have my picture taken with her. So after about 10 pictures that I had a friend take, I proceeded for the next hour or so to just talk with her. I was asking her all kinds of questions and then telling her how much I admired her and the things she stands for.

When it was time to go, I said goodbye and she said "let's keep in touch" my heart was full. I had met her! A dreamed fulfilled and she was just as wonderful as I imagined. But, as I was walking out of the room, I saw her plop down on a chair, next to one of her crew that travels with her, and say something like "that girl talked my ear off and plumb wore me out!"..... Needless to say, in my dream, I slunk out of the meeting, feeling very humbled and embarrassed.....

When I woke up this morning, I was musing the events of my dream. I still want to meet Sarah, but I hope I tone it down when I do, so there will be no slumping down in the chair on her part. I do admire her for what she stands for and the convictions she lives by. I think if we would of been in high school together, we would of been very good friends. Maybe BFF's.

So, onto the "memory"... In processing the dream this morning, a painful memory came back to me from about 20 years ago. Isn't that interesting..... I never think about it, but this dream spurred the incident in my mind and in my heart.

I was sitting around with about 25 to 30 ladies and we were drawing "secret sister" names in our ladies group. A secret sister, is someone that you pray for and encourage throughout the year and send little gifts to, and like the name says, it is done in "secret".

As we were drawing names out of the basket, I just happened to glance across the room. I remember this one lady, that when she drew the paper, with the name on it, she rolled her eyes and gave a disgusting grimace. After the meeting was over, I went up to her and said " I could tell you weren't too thrilled about the name you drew." I can't even remember the answer she gave, and I didn't pick up on any clues.....until........

I realized some months later, that she had drawn my name.

Many years have passed and the little sting of pain remained in my heart this morning at the freshness of that memory.

I realize that not everyone will like you, and whatever the reasons were, the one who chose my name, was not "thrilled". I have to let that go, and this morning I gave it to the Lord to cover. I am thankful that when the Lord sees my name, I am accepted and loved! It is a good teaching lesson for me. I am me, in process. The Lord is working in my life, and I want to be more like Him. Sometimes in our processes, we aren't very pretty in the inside and it is portrayed in many ways on the outside. My desire is to leave a fragrance of the Lord on the people I touch.

So, I am ready for a fresh new day. Maybe I will meet Sarah.

Instant Maturity.....

2011-10-17T00:14:00.000-07:00

"We often want to be called of God, then ushered painlessly into a position of service and honor, miraculously possessing the character our callings require. God doesn't work that way. Our appointments are not about glamor. They're about glory. God's glory". Beth Moore.."David, Seeking a Heart Like His"

In this "instant" world, we are not accustom to having to wait...We get perturbed if we are in the drive thru for more than a few minutes. We are living in an age, where entitlement and expectations are high. Why should we wait? I want it now and now is when I need it!

While we may get what we want in this world, in an instant, that is not the way our Heavenly Father has planned for our lives to receive from Him.

Yes, we receive forgiveness the instant we ask for it. We receive salvation, the moment we ask.... but when it comes to forming us into His image and molding us and working in us, to fulfill the calling He has placed upon our lives, that is not instant. It is a process. In all honesty, sometimes the process sucks....:}

Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up fully mature and His character built within us? I am sure David, was wondering what in the world was going on in his life as Saul kept on pursuing him. He was suppose to be the next king and he found himself hiding in caves, always being pursued by the enemy.

Most of us will never find ourselves physically hiding out in a dark and wet and gloomy cave, but emotionally we will probably find ourselves there at times. Feeling as if we are all alone, and wondering what in the world is happening in our lives? I thought the Lord had called me, we say?

Little did David know that the Lord was molding him and preparing him for the calling He had placed upon his life. Just as the Lord is molding and preparing us to be fruitful and to bring Him glory and not ourselves.

It is not "instantly" but it is His faithfulness that works in us, as we remain obedient to hear His voice and walk in that.

The Oldies Were Once Young....

2011-10-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Last night I am driving home from work and I found an "oldies" radio station. Who would of ever thought that the songs I listened to in high school would become oldies. How can that be? Listening to those songs brought me back to so many memories, such as...

riding the bus and listening to them on 8 tracks (Mr. Knodel, you were the best bus driver ever!

thinking of all my classmates and how close we were (38 in our class)

Mr. Schroer, my favorite teacher

driving around in Doug's new VW getting ads for the yearbook

driving around in Eunice's VW (forgetting to put oil in it!)

laying awake at night and listening to the KFQD radio

buying some of those songs on cassette tape at Homer Rexall Drug Store

sitting at the Parfait Shop with Nan

wondering if he "liked" me? and crying if he didn't....

remembering the innocence of childhood and youth

FATCATS

Looking forward to our 40th class reunion in Sept 2012 in Homer, Alaska~

The Flickering Light Bulb.....

2011-09-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

Ah.... I love my new job with Alaska/Horizon Airlines....Let me list a few reasons why.

1. No more tears riding the employee bus home from a work shift.

2. The people I work with are so supportive and encouraging to help me learn.

3. I LOVE the passengers and meeting them and trying to help them.

4. Of course the free flight perk!

5. Wearing uniforms is fun. Plus you don't have to worry about what to wear.

6. I do like giving announcements over the PA system.

7. Gaining new friendships with fellow employees.

Seven is my favorite number, so I will stop there for now. The flickering light bulb in my brain is starting to have some pauses and moments of burning brightly as I catch on to the details of the job. It is not always flickering, which is good, sometimes it shines brightly, which means, I have caught on and done a procedure correctly. YEAH....

It has been 3 months now, since I put on the uniform and I am so glad I have stuck it out to get this far and not given up. Looking forward to gaining more confidence and learning the procedures, especially before the holidays arrive. We will be swamped then, and I want to be able to do my part in helping the passengers with all their needs.

It has been the most intense job I have ever had. We are on a time frame to get those planes out on time. So it is a challenge, and I like challenges!

I don't regret for a moment coming to this new job. It was always a desire for me to work for Alaska Airlines. It was a dream for me, that has been fulfilled and I am grateful to the Lord for giving me this opportunity.

Two Busy "B's" for Me This Week......

2011-09-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

Bible Study- Tuesday, I get to go to Ladies Bible Study. I haven't been able to attend for 6 years, but now with my new job, I have Tuesdays off. I am so excited to be a part and spend time with these ladies in my life! Ready to dig into the Word and have the Lord speak to me. My heart is yearning for His voice.

Beth Moore- Will be studying David's life in Beth's new study called "David, Seeking A Heart Like His". I got my workbook and I am ready to go, and so excited to do this study. I facilitated this study 13 years ago in Homer, with a group of ladies that are so dear to my heart and remain so, and now I get to attend this study again with an updated version, and with ladies that have also become dear to my heart.

Blessed

Because I Have Always Done It.....

2011-09-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

The other day, I am washing my hair at the kitchen sink. I always take a bath towel and fold it and lay it on the front of the sink, before I lean over the sink and begin. So, I found myself doing it again the other day and then asked myself, "why do I do that"? I have done it for as long as I can remember from my youth growing up on the homestead. My mom did it, my 4 sisters did it.

WALA... I had a light bulb moment....

On the homestead, we did not have running water. Well, except for the pairs of legs running to the creek and back with the buckets we carried up and down the hill. Our kitchen sink was metal and just inlaid in a wooden counter. It wasn't fancy, but did the job. There was no pretty tile or baseboards to surround it, and so when we would bend over, our shirt would get dirty from the counter edges.

I smiled as those memories flooded my heart again. I don't need to fold the towel and put it at the sink counter anymore to protect my clothes....but I will continue to do so, because now it is a precious memory of the homestead years and reminds me of my mom and how simple life was "way back when".

The Burning Bushes In Our Lives....

2011-09-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

"When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses! Moses!" Exodus 3:4

It was an ordinary day, just like all the others, for the last 40 years, as Moses went out to tend the sheep on the hillsides that day. Except.... this was the day that the Lord took the ordinary and made it extraordinary!

Ordinary days...... we all have them. Going about, being faithful, to what has been put before us, and then.... in a moment, we encounter our own "burning bush" and our lives are never the same.

We encounter them, because we take the time to turn aside and look. God does His part, but He waits for us to do ours. He waits to see if we are willing to "turn aside" before He will reveal Himself and call our names.

Notice that Moses wasn't at a crusade, a retreat, a men's group, or even sitting in church. He was out doing the same thing he did every day, the ordinary, when the Lord showed up.

I am not saying that any of the above are not good. If you know me well, I love going to our annual Women's Retreat and look forward to it so much! The Lord does great work in one's lives at those events....but we don't have to "go" to those events to hear from Him. He shows up, exactly where we are at. Whether it be a hillside, driving in the car, at work, grocery shopping.... whatever we find ourselves doing.

I love "burning bushes". Mine may not be as "nation changing" as Moses was, but never the less, they are just as ordained and important. I long to continue to be faithful to where the Lord has placed me, doing the ordinary...and when I encounter a "burning bush", may my heart always turn aside and hear His voice and be obedient each time.

Moses.....

2011-08-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

Moses, has always been my favorite Bible character. I am reading the book by Charles Swindoll, "Moses, A Man of Selfless Dedication" and I love the insight that Swindoll brings into Moses life and the season and time he lived.

I think what I first loved about Moses, besides being a little baby boy, and put in the reeds of the Nile, to escape death and having my mother heart ache as I think about such a moment, is the fact that he put up with over a million grumbling people at one time.

Think about it. We are all leaders to someone. Life consists of all sorts of people and personalities. We know what it feels like to have someone grumble when we are trying to lead and ask them to do something, and we have grumbled ourselves. But, can you imagine being a leader over a million people and listening to all them grumble? Yikes, Calgon take me away!!!

The book also goes into a lot of details about the "wilderness". My favorite line is "His schooling includes time in the wilderness. That's where He gets our attention". All of us have found ourselves at some time or another in the "wilderness". A lonely, abandoned, desolate place where we feel all alone and think that the Lord of heaven has forgotten us.

"The Wilderness" will be another post, at another time. For now, as I continue to delve into the book, and have the Lord speak to my heart during this season of my life, I hope to share some of the insights the Lord shows me.

P.S. I still have always thought it wasn't fair that Moses didn't get to enter the promised land, because of one of his actions.... but then, I am reminded again that we as leaders have a great responsibility to obedience.....

A Tender Heart....

2011-08-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

From the moment I heard that my first grandchild was on the way, I began praying for a child that would be tender.
My precious Taylor, who is now 9, has the most tender heart I have seen in a child. She is honest, and kind, and thoughtful and sensitive and loves her parents and her grandparents. She loves Jesus too!
She is learning about growing up and all the blastings of the world's standards. She is learning what is appropriate to talk about with her friends and what is only appropriate to talk about with her parents. Life's lessons for her are stepping up and her tender conscience and heart are at work. I wish I could protect her from the harshness of the world, but I know I cannot. Oh Lord, protect this precious girl and keep her always in the center of Your hands. May her heart always remain tender to the promptings of Your Spirit. The plans You have for her are precious and good. I again trust her to you...... Taylor Jean Garrels, you are an absolute joy to my heart and will always be grandma's princess. I love you to the moon and back again and again. I will never stop praying for you!

The Crumbling Pedestal....

2011-08-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever admired someone, only to have them deeply disappoint you? I think we have all been there. Many years ago the Lord did such a deep work in my heart about putting those ones I admire up on a "pedestal"...for they will surely fall off and then we can find ourselves disillusioned, disappointed and sometimes angry.

The Lord is the only one who will not disappoint or fail us. We as people, no matter how hard we try, will find ourselves at times, either saying, or doing the wrong things and hurting one another. The grace of the Lord is there to cover us, for which I am humbly thankful for.

We are all on this same journey of life, and yet, each one's path is different. Yes, there are ones we can admire and look up to and are examples to us. But they are people just like us.

It goes both ways.... I never want to be on anyone's pedestal, for I know I will fall off pretty quickly or have already fallen off. I am just me, walking this journey of life, longing to be obedient to my Jesus and all He asks of me.

So, let's tip those pedestals over!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....

2011-08-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

Oops...it is not Christmas, wrong holiday...I should be singing "Happy Birthday" :} I am up savoring my last few moments of being 56 years old...YIKES, that sounds incredibly old. I can remember the day my mom turned 30 and I thought she was getting old. I was only 15 then, and a sophomore in high school.

Birthdays give you a time to stop and reflex upon one's life, dreams, visions, perspectives and priorities. But also this year, it has stopped me in my tracks to consider the "legacy" I will be leaving behind for those that follow. What am I leaving to my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, besides the book I am taking forever to write about my childhood on the homestead in Alaska, and the grace of God that so incredibly worked in my heart and in the lives of my family.

The frailty of life has become so real to me these last few months, as death and birth have been a part of my surroundings. Life really is fleeting. It goes by so fast and have we made a difference? Have our lives counted for more than it being all about "us"?

I want to make a difference in the lives of the ones I love. A difference that would cause them to want to be more like Jesus and pursue Him with their whole hearts. Not a "Sunday School" religion. I want to leave a legacy of faithfulness and obedience. Not one of perfection, but one of realness and honesty. One who wasn't afraid to admit failure, repent, and get up and go on again, understanding the Lord's forgiveness.

Oh, I wish I could see down the family line for the next 50 years and see if the legacy I have left them, drew them to Jesus. But, I can't see that far...I can only see 2 generations down and my whole heart yearns for them to see Jesus and His incredible grace through my life.

I could conquer the world (whatever that means), be a billionaire (I promise Lord I would give lots away, if I won the lottery), lasso the moon (Jimmy Stewart), have lots of "things" and "possessions".... but the most important thing to me, is my family. Nothing else compares to them walking with the Lord. Nothing!

Justin, Jessica, Taylor, Tanner, Tristan, Mike, Laci, Laura, and all the future "grandkids" and future son-in-law, ... You are all my heart. The legacy I desire and will always yearn to pursue will be for you.... because you are a part of me.

My heart cries out to you Lord, to continue your good work in my heart to make me more like You, so I can leave the legacy my heart desires to those that come behind me.

A "Now" Word....

2011-08-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

There are times in our lives, where we go before the Lord and ask Him for a response to our requests. Sometimes, the responses come right away, and sometimes it is in His plan and heart for us that the answer is to come at a later time. Today, I am asking the Lord for a "now" response.

There is a deep issue in my heart that I need the Lord to resolve. That I need Him to clearly show me now, and not 2 months from now. I know it sounds presumptuous, but I also know that the Lord is in the "now" business as well as the "later" business. So, as we have said over and over in our lives, "it doesn't hurt to ask".

I know His heart is good and He is faithful. I know I am His daughter and that He understands and sees each chamber of my heart and what each contains. I know He is trustworthy.

May I find His grace to whatever His responses are to my heart's cry.

Funeral to Family Reunion

2011-07-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

My precious dad was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in November. It is a cancer of the lung that there is no cure for, medically. I flew up to Alaska in February to spend time with him and had a wonderful visit.

Last Monday, I received a call from several siblings saying that dad had taken a turn for the worst, and I better get up there if I wanted to see him again, alive. Alaska Airlines, flew Jim and I FREE all the way to Homer, Alaska and back with confirmed seating. What a wonderful perk of being one of their employees. We flew into Homer, to save much time on the road traveling, so we could get there in time to say goodbye.

All 8 of the siblings flew in, as far away as Louisiana, and we have not been together in 19 years. Uncle Ken was there to pick us up at the Homer Airport and drove us right out to see dad. Dad had come home from Providence Hospital in Anchorage because he wanted to die at home.

As I saw my dad, laying there, fighting for his life with every breath, it was almost more than this daughter heart could contain. He seemed so weak and so vulnerable. As I sat there watching him, I was asking myself the question, " Which is worse, the way my mom's sudden death in the car accident was, or sitting here watching someone you love suffer till death?" I came to the conclusion that NEITHER is better. They are both horrible.

Each of us took turns sitting with dad, so he wouldn't be alone. A couple times I had the midnight to 3am shift. Well, I fell asleep during one of them and Auntie Vicki had to fill in for me. It was a good time to sit in silence and pray and just be.... having my heart flooded with memories from childhood, and the legacy that my dad is leaving to all of us. The legacy of loving Jesus and serving Him with our whole hearts.

On Saturday, my dad suddenly took a turn for the better. We couldn't believe it. I was doing my shift and about 3am in the morning my dad opens the door, is dressed and I said, "Dad, are you okay?, what are you doing?" He spoke legibly and just as clear as could be and said, " I am not tired and want to come out here and be with all of you!" We sat in amazement..... He sat out with a few of us for about 15 minutes and then said, he was tired and went back to bed, and has continued to improve each day since then. On Sunday, he wanted to go out for a HAMBURGER.... He also went to get some tests done and all the liquid around his heart is GONE.... He is breathing good, he is talking, he is just like he was when I came up in February. It really is a miracle, there are no other words for it. The cardiologist gave him 2 days....

We are witnessing a miracle and calling him Hezekiah. (Read 2 Kings 20:1-6) I don't know how many days my dad has left. But 15 years sounds really good.

All 8 of kids, plus many grandkids that came, were able to say goodbye and hug their dad and grampa. He was also able to hold each of our hands and with tears share the goodness and miracle of God in his life. We have now each started to journey to our homes, knowing that the time together was right, and good, and ordained, and precious.

Being all together after so many years was a gift. We took many pictures, laughed our heads off, cried our tears, said our prayers, ate tons of food brought in by loving people and just made more memories to cherish and hold on to.

I can say this. God is faithful and God is good. And I also will add, even if the Lord would of taken my dad home at this time, I would still say, my God is faithful and my God is good. And we would of wept a lot, but we would not of wept as one who has no hope.

I love my family. It is such a gift to belong to such a family. So to Dad & Gail, Debby, Marie, Bobby, Kenneth, Valerie, Vicki and Mark, thank you for caring, for all the memories and laughter and tears. It is a wonderful gift to know we have each other. I know mom would be so blessed by her family.

12 Years Ago......July 16th, 1999

2011-07-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

Oh Lord, you have been so faithful to the deep cries of my heart. It was 12 years ago today, that you took us from our beautiful home in the most absolutely gorgeous place in all the world, Homer,Alaska, to bring us to a place in Oregon where we could find grace and healing for our hearts.

We left with so much pain and heartache over circumstances and the Lord knew that for us to be free and whole again, and to find the healing we needed, and that He longed for us to receive, that we had to leave where we were. Our hearts were desperate for His touch.

Even as I write this blog, so many emotions flood my soul. Tears come easily to my eyes. I left my family, people I loved dearly, and my heart in Alaska, but knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord opened the door, prepared the way, and ordained Canby New Life Foursquare in His plans for us. He knew, this would be the place that we would find what our hearts so desperately needed.

If I could only use one word to describe the last 12 years, I would use GRACE. Over and over the Lord has done His work of grace in my heart and continues to do so. It has been a season of healing through tears, valleys, mountaintops, joy, sorrow, repentance, worship, in His Word, and putting myself in places where the Spirit of God is, so I can receive from Him. He also placed significant people in my life to help me along this journey.

I can honestly say that He has healed my heart and made me whole and I have found the Lord Jesus in ways that I have only ever dreamed about.

His work is not over in my life. This has just been one season. My heart continues to press on, to knowing Him deeper and loving Him more. I am thankful I serve a God that sees. He sees the past, He sees the now, and He sees the future. He knows what we need. Oh Lord, keep my heart soft and tender and my ears sensitive to your voice always. And may I always say YES to you, no matter how painful that choice may be. Knowing that You always have our best interest in your heart.

We said yes to you 12 years ago, even though we left so much of our hearts in Alaska, but what we have gained in our souls has been worth every tear!

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and the extent you went to, to do the deep work in our hearts You knew we longed for. I will always serve you, Lord, always.

p.s. Lord, I would love it, if it is in your heart, to send us back to Alaska someday soon....I am trusting you with this portion of my heart...

The 7am Grand Opening

2011-07-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

I love crowds and grand openings..... but going to the new Fred Meyer grand opening in Wilsonville this morning was quite an experience.

If you were one of the first 200 people to go through the door then you were given a free gift card ranging from 5 dollars to 500. I got there about 6:45am and I must of been the 2000th person there. I heard the first shoppers were ones that spent the night on the sidewalk....What is ironic is that if I was 20 years younger, that probably would of been me. :}

Observing people is quite the pass time. Especially when they are "anxious" to receive a bargain. It seems to bring out the worst character flaws in one's soul...

I was waiting patiently to check out at the self check and saw that a spot had opened up. I pushed my cart over and was looking at the screen to begin checking out and all of a sudden this customer comes up to me, gets right in my face, and says, "excuse me" (with an attitude). I guess she was still using it and had gone for help. So, I nicely apologized and walked back to line.

Isn't it interesting the responses of people these days? It just takes a moment for an act of kindness instead of rudeness.

May we all take a step back and think before we speak. May our words and body expressions and actions bring life to the ones we are interacting with.

My reward for going:
1. I saw some dear friends and was able to chat a few moments
2. I got the layout of the new store, which was very nice
3. I got a free Fred Meyer shopping bag (HA)

There's No Crying (In Baseball) In Learning A New Job...

2011-07-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

Well.... today I actually had a moment of wondering if I could learn everything that was being shown to me at my new job. I knew if I let it get to me, that my eyes might of started leaking profusely. So, I took a deep breath, went outside, got some fresh air, and continued to ask the Lord to help me do the best job I could and to learn it!

There is so much to know and I recognize that I am working with fellow employees who have been there for over 10 and 20 years. A passenger can come up to the counter and have a request and they can plunk the keys on the keyboard and wala.... there's the answer, or there's the new boarding pass. Me: I am still trying to figure out if I should hit F1 or F3....

The people I work with are great. My trainer is the best. My brain is trying to work as fast as it can and all I can do is continue to do the best I can. I know the Lord opened up this job for me, and I love what the job consists of. Looking out over the counter at 30 to 100 or more passengers to help and I love it!

I am trying to keep it all in perspective, recognizing that in time, I will get it. Until that time, I will press on and persevere and try to keep the faucet on my tear ducts closed.....

Another Time.... Another Place.....

2011-07-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

4th of July memories from my childhood...

July 4th, 1959... Three sisters, Debby, Marie and myself, went to stay with our second elderly cousin, Allen Lester and his wife Eleanor. He brought us into an old five & dime store. I can still picture it today. Real old hardwood on the floors, glass counter tops, penny candy in big wooden buckets. Cousin Allen wanted to buy each of us three girls little flags to wave, but I didn't want a flag, I wanted the little pink diary that was under the glass shelf. I didn't get the diary, but it just goes to show you that I liked pink way back when I was a little girl and would also come to love to write. It also shows that I have a mind of my own on what I want.:}

It was this same holiday, that we had the big picnic with the Fitts side of our family at a park. I remember watching Aunt Edith, a lady who never married and was very old. I think she was pushing her mid 80's. To a 5 year old girl, that is OLD. I was watching her make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and all I could look at were her old wrinkled hands. It is still very vivid in my mind today. I just couldn't eat the sandwiches that she touch with her old hands, and I wouldn't eat them. So, I was sent to the car, as a naughty little girl, with no food. But sisterhood is sweet. My sister Debby snuck me a red apple.

July 4th, 1967.... Christian Community Church had their 4th of July picnic out at our homestead at the Anchor River. It was a beautiful day. I remember Harris Gordon falling over a tree and cracking a rib.

July 4th, 1968. The whole Halpin clan again attended the 4th of July picnic with the Christian Community Church family. We were somewhere up East Hill, where the first CCC building first was. Back then, there were the Edens, Gordons, Farnens, George Dahlgren, Arnos, and Halpins that consisted of the congregation. A small but close family.

When we were raising our children in Homer. Every 4th we would go out to the Homer Spit and see who could find the most states on the license plates. Homer is such a tourist town. I remember the year we came up with 48 different states and Hawaii was one of them.

Many 4th of July's have come and gone. It is funny what you remember. That is what makes up our lives. The memories and circumstances of the past.

First Week Down.....His Grace Abounds

2011-07-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

I never realized how wonderful it is to sleep in passed 2:30am.... but today, I did and it was glorious. I am looking forward to enjoying my 3 days off, to rest and relax and sleep in, and spend time with my hubby, and family that is coming for the 4th.

My first week of work went fast. The Portland Airport is big and spread out and I do a lot of walking every day. I am looking forward to having skinny legs soon, hope it works its way up to a skinny butt too! :}

I got to board many flights and one to even Vancouver, BC. It is an absolute blast, greeting each passenger and checking their boarding passes and making sure they are on the right flight and ready to board. I LOVE THAT! I never in my wild imagination realized how much work goes into getting passengers boarded and on their way to their destinations. LOTS of work!

Lots to memorize and remember.... "Now what keys do I hit to get that answer?" HA.....But each day, I am gaining a little more knowledge and what I love about the job is that everyday can be different. We are boarding different flights, and different passengers with different needs and so it is never dull or boring....

Everyone I have met is so friendly and tons of people have been working for Horizon for years. It is a great compliment to the company. They do treat their employees well and we do have laughter and fun together.

They say it will be a good 4 months until I really catch on and a good year to feel comfortable. So, my goal is to not be too hard on myself (the perfectionist I am) and to give myself time to feel confident. I love learning something new, and I want to learn it well with excellence. That is my goal.

Just Some Things.....

2011-06-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

1. I was sitting in church this morning and really missing my dear friend, Valerie Byrd, who went home to be with Jesus over a year ago. I miss her sense of humor and her heart for the Lord, but most of all her friendship.

2. Reading the obituaries in the Sunday paper and realizing that one day mine will be there. Life is short...makes me even more committed to reaching out and touching people's lives TODAY...for we do not know about tomorrow. Don't wait until tomorrow to take care of a broken relationship or to let those know how much you love them.

3. Grandchildren have ears in the back of their heads. Grandparents have eyes in the back of theirs.

4. If you think you have nothing to pray for, watch the daily news.

5. How many umbrellas does one person need... I just had to buy another purse one that says Horizon/Alaska Air. Of course it was 1/2 off.

6. LISTEN, and after someone is done pouring their heart out to you, listen some more. We have been given 2 ears and only 1 mouth.

7. Subway really is the best fast food restaurant when you want healthy eats.

8. If you need a good chuckle, look up the "Pickles" cartoon each day.

9. Digital cameras are one of the best inventions of the last 10 years.

10.Weight Watcher's chocolate fudge ice cream bars are such a treat.

11.I highly respect people who have integrity. Who keep their word, and have the character to stand for truth, when others around them are not.

12.If it is pink, I will give it a 2nd glance.

13.I could live in flip flops forever.

14.What was the Lord thinking when he made mice?

15.I love to blog.

Day #6 There Is No Place Like Home

2011-06-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

What a week. What a day. My brain hasn't worked this hard in a long time and it felt so good. We had a class photo taken and looking forward to receiving a copy. We got out at 4pm and then we all headed to the airport together to catch our individual flights back to our homes.

I had a "first" today. I got x-rayed and patted down at the airport. I know I looked tired and probably scary....but yikes. I asked them why and the lady told me it was because I had on a long chain with a locket on the end. It is a necklace I always wear when I go somewhere, as it carries photos of me and my hubby. I want to always keep him close to my heart... AW....The TSA lady told me that next time, I should just take the necklace off and put it in my purse. Lesson learned.

The flight from SEA to PDX is so short. You just get up in the air and then you are almost descending into Portland. Well, not that fast, but it seems that way.

My honey was there, waiting for me. It is so nice to be home. I got my schedule for the next two and half weeks. I am off this weekend ....yeah, so I can rest and relax and then on Monday, I will begin to put to practice what I learned this last week. I am looking forward to it so much.

It just has been an incredible experience and I have loved every moment of it. I am looking forward though, to not studying airport codes or the computer system at least for this weekend.:} There really is no place like home........

p.s. my final test score: 100%

Day #5 The Light Bulb Is Flickering....

2011-06-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

I had some aha moments today. Oh, I understand now. :} So much to learn, so much to remember and tomorrow is the BIG final test. All of us here at the hotel gathered downstairs tonight and had a study pow wow. It was fun. Quizzing each other on all the codes and all the 50 pages we have used in our class so far...Team work is a wonderful pleasure and gift. Each of us giving our best, to make the whole complete. I am in love with this new family that the Lord has placed me into.

There are so many people that the Lord brings across our paths in our lifetime. Our mission is to love them. And I pray that the Lord would continue to pour out His grace upon my heart so that He can pour out His love to all those who's path I cross.

I am ready to be back home with my honey and get into a "normal" routine. But I have a feeling that my schedule will not be "normal" as I am on the bottom of the food chain :} But that is okay. I am excited to get to work at the gate at PDX and put to practice all I have learned and to the love the people He puts in my path.

Going to bed with my study notes again...but the light bulb is flickering....

Day #4 Friendships and Shuttles

2011-06-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Shuttles are a wonderful thing. Especially when they are free. We get shuttled to the hotel from the airport and back. We get shuttled from the hotel to the training center each morning and then at day's end. And tonight a few of us took the adventure of taking a shuttle to the big mall.

We walked around, then found ourselves at the Olive Garden for a nice sit down dinner and had to connect with everyone giving each other our face book addresses, showing off pictures of our families on our cell phones... and just bonding as new friends. There is something about going through something together, that bonds you.

Our days are full, with a few breaks and 45 minutes for lunch. So it is mostly in class learning. Today, I printed off my first boarding pass and ticket and luggage stip. YAHOO... now, when tomorrow comes, will I even remember how to get into the system? Ha...so many codes, so much to learn and I love every moment of it.

It is challenging and keeps the brain alive and working. They are teaching us without using a mouse...YIKES, everything has to be done from the keyboard. Lots of shift, control and alt keys.

Time to call it a night. My pillow is very inviting.....

p.s. I bought two pink headbands at the mall :}

Day #3 Enjoying The Small/Simple Things

2011-06-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

As I sit here in my hotel room, looking out the window, I can see the planes taking off from SEATAC. I love praying for each flight I see.

It has been a long day of training with excellent instructors. We were at the headquarters for Alaska Airlines today. All 30 of us, each at our own computers to begin learning the computer system that we will know by heart and become so natural to us, within a few months. It will come after much repetitive practice :} I am looking forward to learning the program, and learning it with excellence.

I got to visit the Alaska/Horizon employee store. It was an absolute blast. Everything that had the name Horizon on it, was 50% off, in celebration because this is the 30th year anniversary of Horizon. Oh the small, simple things of life, I so enjoy.

I have met so many wonderful people in my class. We are all from different stations but have the same connection of Alaska/Horizon family. There are 2 gals from the Fairbanks, Alaska station. So, right away, I had to connect with them. :}

The 2 instructors make the class so enjoyable. We are laughing and learning and asking a million questions. The company is committed to helping you succeed and gives you the tools toward that end. I still can't believe this is me, here, in this position. It is a wonderful gift from the Lord to me, and to my family. I just want to keep pinching myself, to make sure I am not dreaming and it is really real. The Lord really does hear the cries of one's heart.

Flying high with excitement.....

Day #2 Thank you Mr. Schroer

2011-06-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

Well...the big infamous test was today. The one I had been studying for the last 2 and 1/2 weeks. All 106 airport codes that Alaska and Horizon Airlines flies. I had to get at least an 85% or they would send me packing today, no second chance. I got 100%.

It was a wonderful feeling to have studied and accomplished this feat. YEAH..... thank you Lord and thank you Mr. Schroer for having us learn how to memorize in 7th grade, all the states and capitals of the United States, all the countries and continents and oceans of the world too! Those skills I learned, way back then, I still continue to use today!

I spent all morning in orientation and all afternoon in a customer service seminar. It was great. Much laughter and camaraderie amongst the group already. There was 24 of us, from all over the northwest. I am going to post a little blurb, from a video we all watched, from YouTube about customer service. "Give Em The Pickle" It was great!

It will be on my face book page, as I don't know how to add a link to this blog on my Mac.

Tomorrow will begin a 4 day training of learning the computer software system that Horizon/Alaska use. We also get an opportunity to go to the big Alaska Airlines store! That will be a blast for me.

I am exhausted. Didn't fall asleep till 2:30 this morning.(I am just like a kid at Christmas). My alarm went off at 6. I have been on the go since. Now, I am in my jammies and headed to bed.

I am so thrilled and excited about this opportunity and all the open doors it will bring my way. What a tremendous company to be a part of. Thank you to all my family and friends for being so supportive and encouraging to me in this new path the Lord has led me to. It is good!

Day #1 A New Adventure

2011-06-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it was an absolute blast checking in at PDX. The gals at the counter were all excited to learn that I was going to be "the new gal" soon and wanted to know when I was going to start! It was nice to check in, have them take my bag, and not have to pay a penny...I am loving the perks already.

My flight to SEA was fast and good. No turbulance, which I am grateful for. Had a pleasant conversation with the gentlemen seated beside me.

Flew up with another young gentleman, who will be working with Horizon too, and going to the same training as I. We finally found our hotel provided by Horizon for all us trainees, and I got a room with NO roommate:} So that is nice. Even though it would of been fun to share a room with someone and get to know someone new (I was hoping for someone from Alaska)...having my own room is absolutely GLORIOUS.

Had dinner at Dennys with the other new trainee from PDX. We had a nice conversation. He is engaged to be married in November. He loves Jesus too, so it was wonderful to connect with him.

I am going to study my airport codes one more time tonight before I lay my head on the pillow. I miss my hubby already, but it is a blessing to me that he is so supportive and excited for me in this new opportunity that the Lord has definitely opened for me.

I feel incredibly humbled and grateful tonight. I am so excited about the week ahead, learning new things and applying them, and meeting so many new people that will be a part now of my new family of Horizon/Alaska Airlines.

Perspective on a Thursday evening......

2011-06-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

Does it really matter if.....

1. you have to stand in the grocery line longer than you want to?
2. the restaurant got your order wrong?
3. your child peed their pants?
4. you have to pay almost 4 dollars for gas?
5. you are stuck behind a "Sunday" driver?
6. your newspaper got all wet on the driveway?
7. your dog pooped on your carpet?
8. you have to wait an hour over your appointment time for the doctor?
9. someone waved to you with their middle finger?
10. stamps are now 44 cents?
11. you are in the drive thru for over 5 minutes?
12. you stained your favorite pair of pants?
13. the pastor didn't meet your expectations? ( I could write a whole blog on that!)
14. someone was incredibly rude to you?
15. you were disappointed in the actions of a friend?
16. your washing machine broke and to the laundry mat you must go?
17. one of your manicured nails just broke?

It just takes a split second in time, for life to be put in perspective. One phone call, with news that makes your heart skip a beat.....and you realize all the other "inconveniences" in life, are really just that, inconveniences, and you would take them all in place of the "news" you just received.

Perspective, my dear friends, ..... may we gain it now......

Does Anyone Keep Their Word, Anymore?

2011-06-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

Oh, Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy Holy hill? He who walks with integrity and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend. In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt, and does not does not change; Psalm 15:1-4

Have we ever find ourselves committing to something, or promising something, and then we don't keep our word? The Lord has so impressed upon my heart to be a "woman of my word". I purposely pursue keeping my word, if I say I am going to do something, then I will do it. There are times, when life happens and things change or come up unexpectedly, and I am not able to do whatever I had committed to do, and let the person know and apologize for that. I am not talking about those instances.

I am talking about a continuing character flaw of promises and good intentions, but never keeping your word. Good intentions don't count. We all have good intentions. The simple answer is this: DON'T promise, if you have no intention of following through. Our words are so powerful. They minister life or death...

This is so heavy on my heart tonight, as someone's good intentions have effected my life again. And I wonder how my "good intentions" have affected others also. My prayer Oh God, is that I would always keep my word, even if it hurts me. Even if it is inconvenient, costly, demanding, boring, takes a lot of time, etc....

I am so thankful for the Lord's grace who continues to pour it out lavishly upon my heart. My He use me to minister life and not death to the ones that cross my path.

The Long Goodbye.....

2011-06-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

Today, was my last day at Clackamas Community College. I have worked there for 5 years and 3 months. So many memories made. So many precious friends and students have forever found a place in a chamber of my heart.

A new chapter begins for me. I will become a full time employee of Horizon Airlines on the 20th of June. It has been a desire of my heart for years to work for Alaska Airlines and Horizon is under the umbrella of Alaska Airlines.

I am grateful and thankful for the new beginnings ahead for me. I have no doubt that the Lord has gone before me and opened this door. It is a gift from Him to me and I rejoice!

I have been saying goodbye all week and tomorrow will be the last, as I attend the Class of 2011 Pinning Ceremony. It will be so bittersweet for me. Saying goodbye to my dear, dear staff, who have become my dear, dear, friends. Also, students who I call my own, are about to graduate and go out and touch the world! I am so proud of each one of them. They have worked so hard to get to this place. If I ever find myself in a place that I need a nurse, I hope I will find a CCC Nursing student at my side, for they really are the BEST!

The Beep Of The Cell Phone....

2011-05-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

My cell phone beeped today, as I was sitting at my desk at work, alerting me that I had a text message. Looking at my phone, I saw that the text message was from my first born daughter, Jessica. I knew that the message that was on the phone, would change the course of all our lives to some degree. I flipped open the phone, read the message and burst into tears, sobbing. The message read: "Final decision made: Staying Here!"

Jessica and her husband, Justin, have been on a whirlwind course these last few weeks of talking, and praying and seeking counsel, and more talking and praying, to come to a decision about a job offer that had been put before them. The job would take them many miles from here, and not Alaska.

They had Jim's and my full support whatever way they choose. We just wanted them to do what they felt the Lord was asking of them. Last night, I tossed and turned, knowing that today, they had to give the final answer. Every parent wants the best for their child and my heart was so torn, realizing that they might move far away and how could my mother and grandmother heart survive?

My daughter is my friend, and I love spending time with her. The Lord has given us a very special relationship. We have shared so much together.

As I lay my head on my pillow tonight, I am grateful to the Lord that I don't have to say goodbye to my grandkids, my daughter and son-in-law, for now. They are here in Washington to stay, until the Lord opens up the right doors and they know the doors are from Him. It will be the right timing....
Until then, I will hug, laugh, enjoy, invest into their lives, every moment I can with all the "more" days that the Lord gives me.

Setting the Record Straight...and Estate Sales....

2011-05-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Today I found myself standing in line, with a number card 40 in my hand, waiting to get into an Estate Sale....All of sudden it was 10am and all us standing in line, scurried into the 3 story home, and handed the guy at the front door our number card.
I have always had a "certain feeling" about estate sales, and today was only a confirmation.

As I was roaming around the house, from room to room, bumping into people, looking through someone else's life, all sorted out in different piles throughout the many rooms, I had an overwhelming, increasing sense of sadness.

An estate sale, most of the time, is because someone has passed, and this is what is left of their "life" they have left behind, for everyone to plow through. The saddest encounters for me, are when I find old photographs of the family.

I am setting the record straight for my children right now.... After your dad and I are gone, please take whatever you want, and give to my siblings and our friends what you think they might like.

There will be no estate sale from us. I won't have people, pawing through our lives, looking at half filled boxes of bandaids, shampoo bottles, bags of poise pads, toothpaste, towels, sheets, musty smelling clothes, dishes, costume jewelry, books I enjoyed, etc... Please children, do take all the pictures! They are our lives together, filled with many memories. Everything you don't give away or want, please take to the Goodwill.

Most of all, what your father and I want to leave with you, is a legacy to follow Jesus. All the other "stuff" that will be left is just "stuff".

10 Qualities Of A Good Leader

2011-05-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

All of us have leaders in our lives and each of us have led, to some degree or another. Each leader leaves a lasting impact upon us, whether they have been positive or negative. Listed below are 10 qualities that I have determined over the course of my experiences, whether I am the leader or I am under a leader, that each must have to make a positive impact upon their followers.

1. Have integrity...
2. Be a person of your word...
3. Not only listen but hear...
4. Genuinely care...
5. Lead by example...
6. Communicate effectively...
7. Personal character...
8. Be a servant...
9. Teachability...
10.Committed to growth...

I am sure there are many more qualities that can be listed to make this complete. These are basic. I want to be a good leader. I want the Lord to develop these deep qualities in me. I've experienced enough pain in poor leaders, and I have had the real joy of good leaders. Not perfect, but hearts who include most of the 10 qualities I have listed. I am so thankful for His grace that continues to mold and make me into the woman of God that I long to be, and wanting to lead by example. Leadership really is a gift. It opens the door to touch someone's life. How we touch them, is up to us....

The Eve of Mother's Day...

2011-05-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

I have been cleaning out my closet, and today, I came across a red shirt that was my mother's. For the first time, I pulled it out from the back end of the closet and put it on. I wrapped it around me, and could picture in my mind how it looked on my mom when she wore it. I believe it was one of her favorites, as I saw her wear it many times.

Naturally the first thing I did though, was smell it. To see if I could still smell her scent. But it has been so many years, that her scent no longer lingers and all that remains is the smell of my clothes closet on it.

Mother's Day is tomorrow. Even though this will be the 19th Mother's Day that she has been gone, I still miss her. I miss her just as much and even more each year. She never saw her youngest children grow up, my children grow up, my siblings children grow up, never got to meet her grandchildren, missed out on so much laughing with her kids, sharing in their accomplishments and weeping with their sorrows.

I miss you mom.... and now that I have discovered the red shirt, that I forgot was back in the closet, I will put it on from time to time and pretend that you are holding me close. Thank you for being my mother. You were such a good mother in so many ways. Your children do rise up and call you blessed.

"Heaven Is For Real"

2011-04-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

There has been so much hype about this book, that I went out and bought it and finished it today during my lunch hour. I wasn't impressed. Whether the story told in this book has any truth to it at all, doesn't change a thing about what that truth really is. What I do know:

1. The Word teaches that heaven is for real
2. There will be no more tears/crying/pain/death
3. God will be there

Many of the other "pictures" that the book brings out are questionable in my mind. It is a good story, but I won't make a "religion" out of it. Sometimes we get swept up in the latest wave of things that sound really "spiritual".
May the Lord give us discernment.
Just sayin......

Standing At The Grave....

2011-04-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

The day was overcast. The Alaskan December weather was briskly cold but not snowing. I found myself staring at the vast, dark, dirt hole at my feet. Right beside the hole, laid my mother's casket. Soon, my dad and brothers would lift it with the ropes and gently let it down into the dark cavern that laid there.
I stared. It seemed so cold and dark and lonely. I didn't want to put my mom down there. I wanted her to be alive where it was light and warm, where we could laugh again and let her know how much we loved her.
My dad and brothers began to lift the ropes and lower her slowly down till the casket hit the dark shaded dirt at the bottom. We were all there. The family that loved her. We each threw flowers on the top of the casket and could hear the thug on the wooden box as each one landed. We were all quiet. Our hearts were weeping.
I stood there, and the account of the Resurrection of Jesus, became so real and dear to me. If Jesus hadn't come, died and risen again for mankind, then looking into the dark sullen grave would of been all I had. There would of been no hope. BUT He conquered the grave! Hallelujah Christ Arose!!! When I get to heaven, after I see Jesus, I will run into the arms of my mommy and oh, hold her so close. Because of Him, I have that hope!

The 7th Grade Giggles

2011-04-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sitting in a training workshop today, that was related to my job, I found myself giggling. I was sitting next to my dear friend, Christine. It had been a long, tiring week and our brains were already overloaded. As we sat there listening to the instruction and then trying to put it to practical use on the computer, we were having a hard time comprehending the material and everything seemed funny and it was funny. We couldn't even look at each other for we would burst out laughing. It brought me back to 7th grade, Mr. Schroer's history class. He was so strict and you didn't dare get the giggles in his class. If you did, you didn't look anyone else in the eye, and bust a gut, or you would of gotten in deep trouble. By the way, he became and still is my favorite teacher of all time! And it is because of him that I love studying history today. But, back to the giggles...I believe we all need to have a dose of 7th grade giggles again, no matter how old we are. Life is hard and there is nothing like a case of the giggles with a friend to lighten your soul and your heart.

The twist of the doorknob.....

2011-04-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

Today, as I stood waiting in the radiology department for my results, I knew that once I heard the twist of the doorknob, that my life could change forever from that moment on. I found myself at the radiology department getting my annual mammogram. Last year and the "season" the Lord had me go through, with getting a call back, another mammogram, an ultrasound, a biopsy, and then surgery..... and then the final results was a non cancerous papiloma. It is hard to describe the emotions that one goes through as they walk through such an "ordeal". So, many thoughts and questions went through my mind and heart. Waiting for each results I think was the hardest on me. How do I tell my children? I was picturing my own funeral. What about all the things in my heart that the Lord has put there, that I want to see accomplished. You just want to know and then you can begin to deal with whatever the answer is.
So, as I went in today, one year later, I had some trepidation and to be really honest, I think that this moment was weighing heavily in the back of my mind and on my heart for the last year,wondering what the results would be this time.
Once the test was done today, the wonderful lady who did the test, left me in the room, as she went to talk to the radiologist. I sat in the room alone, for about 10 minutes...waiting...and praying. Then the twist of the doorknob sounded....and this was the moment I was dreading. The radiologist walked in, said, everything looks perfectly fine. No problems. We will see you in a year. I got up, and HUGGED him. He smiled and said, "thank you". Then I hugged the lady who did the test.
I kept on telling the Lord, while I was waiting that "I am trying to trust you Lord, with my life". But I really would like some good news this time. And I told him that even if the results were not what I wanted to hear, that He was still good and still faithful.
Tonight I will lay my head on my pillow with a grateful heart and will continue to ponder and learn from the emotional journey this last year and how that waiting for the twist of the doorknob, could become so life changing.

Another season ago...

2011-04-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight, my heart wanders back to when I was in high school. I knew a boy named Tom Crane, who I believe was a year older than I in school. Today is his birthday. I would love to wish him a happy birthday.I don't know where he is now...but I remember that he never liked celebrating his birthday because it was also the date that his brother died in Vietnam, April 4th. So wherever you are Tom, I have you in my heart tonight, praying for you and that you are doing well and that the memories of your brother are being held closely tonight. Love your old friend, Terry

Where are my red ruby slippers?

2011-03-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

Don't you wish it would be that easy? Clicking together a pair of red ruby slippers, and then being transported to where your heart longs to be.

Dorothy skipped along the yellow brick road with her 3 friends, hoping that the great Wizard would be able to give her the desire of her heart, to go back home to Auntie Em. She never realized that she had everything she needed right then to go home.

These are a few observations from this famous story.

1. Each of Dorothy's friends had needs also. We all desperately need His touch.
2. We need each other, to come along side, exhort and encourage and to walk the yellow brick road together.
3. We need to appreciate the ones in our lives (like Auntie Em). There will come a day, when we will no longer have them, or vice versa.
4. Somewhere over the rainbow, I hope there is a nice pot of gold.
5. I still don't like flying monkeys.
6. I'd rather be Glenda than the wicked witch.
7. We already have everything we need through Him.
8. Sometimes, I still would like a pair of those ruby slippers, as I impatiently wait for His timing and plans for me.
9. Dear Jesus, I wear a size 10.

You need a "wash car", Grandma

2011-03-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

I was picking up my 3 precious cherubs to spend the night with us tonight. My 4 year old grandson, sitting in the back seat, pipes up and says "you need a wash car, grandma". My heart immediately melted and brought me back almost 30 years.

His mommy use to talk like that too. I remember when Jessica was about his age, and the grandparents came to visit. We were living in Minnesota, they were living in California. Jessica says to them when they arrived at the house, "do you want me to bring in your case suit'? and later on she said to them, "do you need the paper news"?

Special memories from their childhood, and now some of them are replaying in the next generation. I absolutely love it!

p.s. I think I will drive them through the wash car tomorrow for fun!

What have we come to value?

2011-03-11T18:34:00.000-08:00

I just got done looking through this magazine. I ask myself, "Why do I read it? What draws me to be so interested in the lives of the rich and famous?" Here are just some of the things from this issue.

Charlie's life is in disarray

Christiana has bad-news boyfriend

Scarlett and Ryan's breakup three months ago appeared to be drama free

Many celebrities have their own personal app

Justin's hair

Kody & his sister's wives'

What is fashionable

Legal Matters

Divorcing

Wed

Baby on Board

Beauty Watch

Tour of someone's rich Irish castle

These are just some of the articles in this magazine. I got done and my first response is "WHO CARES?"...Who in the world gives a rip? Why do I waste my time and money to buy the magazine. Even though this particular magazine was not mine, I have paid $$ to buy this before. It is so irrelevant to real life.

People, living the life of the rich and famous, flaunting their wealth and destroying one relationship after another. Are these the roll models I want for my grandchildren? Absolutely not.

Thinking of our world tonight. People going hungry, not having clothes/shoes for their families, not having homes, not having water etc....thinking of Japan and the devastation that country is experiencing tonight.. oh, the contrast. And what about our military? Giving their lives for us, and in constant danger, so that America might stand free. These are our heroes. They have given themselves to something worth while, to make a difference.

I hope to not waste much more of my precious time, reading magazines that have no positive, growing influence in my heart. That have nothing to do with real life.

What have we come to value?

Diamonds are sisters' best friends......or at least make a good memory...

2011-03-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

If you could look close enough you can see each of us 3 sisters have a diamond on the right side of our noses. Grandma Gail was the fun culprit. She had a stash of fake studded nose diamonds and she helped us 3 girls put them on. We laughed so hard together. We left them on all day until they fell off. But, oh the curious looks and questions that came with them. My daughter Laura, couldn't believe I would do such a thing as she knows her dad, my hubby, wouldn't think it was the greatest decision I had accomplished in my life. I played along with her and didn't tell her right away that it was just a stick on nose stud. Needless to say, it was harmless and brought so much laughter and making a memory together that it was worth every bit of it.

Reminds me of life. We sometimes put things on, to pretend we are something we aren't. Oh, the masks we sometimes wear. One thing I appreciate so much, at one of the things the Lord has done in my life, is that, we can come to Him just as we are. We don't need to pretend, or behave a certain way. We don't need to put on someone else's shoes or clothes, to be accepted. We don't need to be or look like anyone else. He accepts us just as we are! We don't have to perform to earn his love. It is the same with our relationships and friendships with each other. Being real is one of the most important gifts we can give to each other. With all our flaws and failures, being honest and saying, "this is who I am". That is freedom. That is liberating.

p.s. In all honesty, I really would like a real studded diamond in my nose. I think they are very feminine. Unfortunately my husband doesn't share the same opinion!

Alaska/Oregon Day #10

2011-02-28T20:58:00.000-08:00

I did fine saying goodbye until I got to the airport and it was just Kenneth and I. My eyes started to tear... Airports are joyous and sad all at the same time. Then, I was doing okay until I read my daughter Laura's facebook post about her mom leaving and I am sitting in the Chili's restaurant at the Anchorage airport by myself and the tears started to stream. I gained my composure again and wheeled my pink carry on with the white pokadots to my gate. The day was so clear and beautiful. A perfect weather day to fly out of Alaska. In the back of my mind I was wishing that Redoubt would blow and no flights for a week :} but, it wasn't to be. When the plane was going down the runway to take off, I started to cry again, realizing that once the wheels touch off the ground, I would be leaving Alaska. I know, I have a very sentimental heart. But I love Alaska so much and my family there and the beauty and the vastness and the non busyness of life. And yet at the same time, I was missing my honey and family here and just wish we could all live in the same town, different streets :} I am incredibly grateful to a faithful God for all He has given me and allowed me to do and have. I am blessed. I will remain faithful to Him who has called us here for now and love the people who He has given to us here. My heart longs to be obedient and faithful to His calling upon our lives. Thank you to each one who made my trip, a trip of my dreams. It was perfect in every way. Oh to see my dad, and hug him and laugh with him, and share memories. Looking forward to more of that in the near future. We laughed as a family and played "words with friends" with each other until the wee hours of the night and made more memories. I am home now and my hubby had the house spotless. He had also written a poem for me (a nice one) and had it on the counter. He even ironed the pillowcases! He does treasure me and I love every moment of it. It was fun to pull out of my suitcase all the little trinkets and treasures I brought back with me for him and my grandkids of course! So, this is the end of this portion of my blog for this trip. I will continue writing in my blog at least weekly with random thoughts and ponderings that the Lord is stirring within me. Thank you for sharing this precious journey with me. I am and will always be an Alaskan by heart.

Alaska Day #9

2011-02-28T00:19:00.000-08:00

My heart is full. I spent the morning at Church On The Rock, worshiping with so many ones that I love. Hugged so many. Love so many. Heard a good word on the "Two Sons". Then headed back out to the homestead, packed my suitcases, and hugged my family. Kenneth and Theresa drove me to Anchorage today, as they had some business they need to take care of tomorrow in town. We are all staying at Bob & Deb's tonight.
Many memories to cherish that I hold in my heart from this past week. Many to process. As I hugged my dad, I assured him I would be back in the late summer to see him again, so my heart was not sad saying goodbye. Holding Laura tightly before I left. Again, trusting the Lord with her. She is a precious girl.
My trip was everything I could of desired. I am humbled and blessed that the Lord would allow me to come and go before me. He has always been faithful, is faithful and will remain faithful to the deep cries of my heart.
I heard a song on the radio today by Barbara Streisand, "people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world".... my paraphrase: "people who need people, are the blessed people in the world". We need each other. We need each other to love, to encourage, to hug, to pray with, to weep with, to rejoice with, to exhort, to spur on to godliness. Friendships are a gift. They are to be treasured and taken care of. I haven't always been a good friend, but my heart yearns to be the friend that the Lord asks of me in the lives of the ones I love.
Tomorrow I get to see my hubby. I am incredibly grateful for the man of God he is. In fact, tonight, my heart is grateful for so much. For the time spent with my dad, my family, my daughter, my friends..... I love life. In my heart, I am truly an Alaskan. Maybe someday the Lord will send us back here. That is on my "bucket list".

Alaska Day #8

2011-02-26T23:17:00.000-08:00

Today is my last full day in Homer, as I will be headed to Anchorage tomorrow after church. As of every other day that I have been here, I have made the most of my moments. Spending as much time with family and then seeing friends in between those moments.
Spent a few hours with my daddy today. I again am so thankful for the heritage that has been passed to me through him and my mommy. I am confident that it was the Lord who took us from Massachusetts in 1964 and brought us here. It was His plan, and in His heart for us. I am humbled that He would go to such lengths to reveal His heart to us and that He continues to go to such lengths to reveal His heart to us.
Had lunch with Laura, Kenneth and Theresa in town today. It is so fun to be together. Saw a neighbor and friend, Dwight, at Subway while we were there and had him sit with us. It was so fun to reconnect. He was our neighbor on the river bottom and we share so many memories together as families.
Pam, Brenda, Cassy, Laura and I took a tour at the Winery out East End. It definitely was a memory made and captured on camera. Laughter is a wonderful gift.
Spent the evening relaxing with the family and watching the DVD series of Love Comes Softly.
I am so grateful for God's incredible grace in our lives and for the freedom and liberty that He has for us to walk in. I am humbled for His heart for us, for me.

Alaska Day #7

2011-02-26T00:28:00.000-08:00

It was wonderful to sleep in this morning. The roads were a little icy today so I had to be careful. I did step out of the truck once today though and my feet slipped right out from under me and I landed on my behind and elbow, but I am fine. It would of made a funny home videos clip. Sanding trucks are one of my favorite friends this time of year in Alaska. Makes the roads and parking lots so much safer.
Saw some precious friends today. From the hospital to Subway and Captain's Coffee and at a friend's home....eating subway sandwiches,drinking diet coke, drinking coffee and sharing hearts. Sharing memories, making new memories and laughing. Friendships are such a gift. I treasure them and do not take them for granted.
Spent the late afternoon and evening with my brother and his wife, Ken and Theresa, relaxing and watching a movie. My Laura came from Kenai and is spending the last few days here with me before I head back to Oregon on Sunday afternoon. I love having my baby girl here. Laura just asked me if I would rub her back, so time to shut my computer down for the evening. My heart is full and grateful for all He has given to me.

Alaska Day #6

2011-02-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

My alarm went off this morning and I fell back to sleep. I did make it in time though for my dad's class. :} Having an automatic starter is a wonderful blessing. I could start the truck from the warmth of the house, while I got ready to go. So great again to hear my dad teach. What an incredible wealth of knowledge he has. I loved getting his handouts and will enjoy studying them in the future. What a gift.
Again spent time with dear friends today. My dear Kelly who lost her husband a few weeks ago. What can one say? except, I love you, I pray for you, I weep with you, I stand with you, I hold you and I lift you before the Lord. She is precious and I know the Lord will walk with her each step of the way through this season of her life. Life is hard and sometimes it really sucks. So thankful we have the Lord Jesus to turn to.
This evening I spent with my Bud. We have been friends since 1977. We had our babies together. We share so many memories from so many different seasons of our life. I love laughing and sharing and also shedding a tear or two, with those I love.
Today is my brother's 50th birthday. It was fun as I made him a birthday cake. I am so thankful for him and what the Lord has given to me.
I have had a few moments of tears(by myself) as I have thought of my dad and how I want him to live for another 15 years or more. I still can't wrap my heart around his disease. I love him.

Alaska Day #5

2011-02-24T00:21:00.000-08:00

I feel like a real Alaskan woman driving around in my dad's 4 wheel truck. It is a blast. TL's are fun. Got up early this morning and headed up to ABI to attend my dad's class. What a blessing it was to hear my dad's heart and wisdom as he shared from the book of Jonah. He had such great insight that I had never heard before. Isn't it interesting how you can read a portion of scripture over and over again and then the Lord reveals a new truth to my heart from the same word. I love it when the Lord does that.
Spent some time with precious friends today. One from childhood and one from about 14 years. I love relationships, I love my friends, I love the people the Lord has put in my path. I absolutely like "Sweet Berries". What a fun restaurant and all the goodies to look at and purchase of course.
I love good conversations, lots of laughter, a few tears, prayers and hugs.... we are all gifts to each other.
Tonight, my dad and the rest of the family that remains in Homer went out to Land's End for Local Night. It was fun to be together and laugh and talk and share a good meal.
Seems like I am always having my camera in my hand. So much to capture, so much to cherish, so much to hold onto in my heart.....
I feel like a very rich woman in the wealth the Lord has given me in family and friends.
My heart remains in Alaska.

Alaska Day #4

2011-02-23T01:58:00.000-08:00

This really is the most beautiful place in the world. Of course, in my small world of travels, but still....I never tire of its beauty. I just have to hold the camera in my hand at all times and snap a way. Spent some time with dear friends today and looking forward to spending time with some more as the week goes on. I love the gifts of friendships the Lord has given me.

Spent some time at the high school this evening watching my niece, Kyra cheer her last home game before Regionals. It is just so special to be here and be able to participate in the special events in their lives.

I am reminded again, that there is nothing more important in life than relationships, ministering grace to one another, exhorting and encouraging each other. We need each other! I am so grateful for the ones who have invested into my life, deposited grace and exhortion and made me hunger for more of Him.

Tomorrow morning I head to Alaska Bible Institute to hear my dad teach. I graduated from this Bible School in 1976. It will be a precious time for me.

I am tired, so will close for now. I lay my head on my pillow tonight, grateful for a faithful God. Terry the Alaskan Girl

Alaska Day #3

2011-02-21T23:36:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful day in the hamlet by the sea. Full of laughter and memories. Some went snowmachining for the day. I passed as I didn't want to freeze my toes off, but they had a great time. Laura and Laci got a little bruised up and will be sore tomorrow, but they are fine. Laura fell into a hole, and her head went forward and broke the windshield and she hurt her knee. Laci kept on tipping over and she has some good bruises on her knee too....But they came back smiling :} I spent a few hours with my dad today with my two sisters and brother in law before they left to go back to Anchorage and Kodiak. We took lots of pictures and laughed our hearts out. This evening was spent with dad and Gail coming up to the house and we shared stories from our childhood AGAIN. There is nothing like being in a room, full of family, who know you, who you have shared your life with, and you are laughing your head's off. There is so much we have walked through together.
I am thankful that the Lord chose to take us from Massachusetts and bring us to this great land of Alaska. He knew it would be here that we would find Him. That He would reveal His heart to us and we would bow our hearts to Him and serve Him. I am thankful for the parents He choose for me and for the legacy they have given to me and my family. I am savoring each moment here.... I believe my heart is shaped like the state of Alaska.

Alaska Day #2

2011-02-20T22:21:00.001-08:00

Had a wonderful morning at Church on the Rock. Saw so many precious friends that I cherish in my heart. Blessed to sit between my daughter and my dad. Got a little teary eyed listening to my dad sing.... OH, how I love my family. I went to hug my dear Bud Pam and I said, Oh, I love your PINK jacket. She said, " you can have it, if it fits you",,,, well, WALA... I put it on and I love it.... I felt a little guilty taking her beautiful jacket but not guilty enough to give it back...:} What a precious gift she gave me, but most of all her heart towards me. After church, we went out to the end of the Spit and watched Mike captain the Time Bandit into Kachemak Bay. They were close enough to land so we could take some good pictures. Then he came back to dock and gave us a tour of the boat. It is much smaller than what I imagined or how it looks on TV. It was such a treat to see where Mike spends many months out of the year. I walked out of the boat with two Time Bandit mugs :} We are loving being together as a family. One thing we love to do is laugh and also tell stories from our childhood. Stories we have told over and over again, with a little embellishment, and we laugh so hard we cry. I absolutely love my family and my heart is here in Alaska....

Alaska Day #1

2011-02-20T03:48:00.000-08:00

It is 2:45am(Saturday night-Sunday morning) Alaska time and I am just finding time to post, so this will be very short.... Drive to Homer was absolutely beautiful and being with my family....there are no words..... We had a birthday party for my brother Kenneth who turns 50 this week and also for his daughter, Kyra, my niece who turns 18 this week. It was so wonderful to see my dad and hug him......tomorrow we are all headed to Church on the Rock and spending another day together. It is absolutely beautiful here, clean crisp white snow. Just looked at the thermometer and it is 7 degrees outside. The Lord is good. I am incredibly grateful to be here. To make the memories and share the laughter. I am going to bed now. :} My heart is in Alaska.....

Hills & Valleys.....

2011-02-13T20:28:00.000-08:00

"I use to think that life was hills and valleys-you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it is kinda like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times, you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for" Pastor Rick Warren

Tonight, as my heart is weeping with those that weep, so far away, as they say goodbye to someone dear and precious, it also is rejoicing with a dear friend who is close, who was given a special gift today.

The Lord asks us to weep with those that weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice. For those that weep, I want to hold you close and let you cry and I will cry with you, asking the Lord to comfort your hearts as only He can do. My heart is raw and hurting for you.... And for my friend who is rejoicing, I am rejoicing with you today, I celebrate an answer to a deep cry of your heart!

When I personally weep, when I personally rejoice..... I am thankful for the people the Lord has in my life to share both sides of the tracks with me.

I weep, not as one who has no hope, but I still weep......

2011-02-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

I know you are there, but sometimes, my heart still weeps when everything around me is falling apart and doesn't make sense. When the pain is so deep and we are hurting so badly that we can't even breathe. Lord, I know you are there.... I trust that you are there.... even when I can't see you. "When I don't understand, when I can't see Your plan, I will trust Your heart" through my tears, for myself and for the ones I love dearly who are hurting and weeping tonight.

Holding onto your hand tightly, Terry

Picking up the Blogging Pen Again.....

2011-02-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

I love to write and I love having my blog. I haven't written on it for quite awhile and my heart is stirred to be more faithful and to write more frequently. There is so much in my heart that I long to share and this is a great outlet. So I am excited to start blogging again. Maybe I will even post a few things from my book I am writing, about my childhood, growing up on the homestead in Homer, Alaska. Looking forward to posting soon and sharing life with you.

From my heart, Terry

Life Is What Happens When You Are Making Other Plans...

2010-08-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday and I am overwhelmed with being loved from my family and friends. It has been a day of reflections and ponderings of my life and all that the Lord has done for me and my family. The last few years have found me in the "waiting" room of the Lord. It has not been easy, and I have not always passed the test. But one thing I do know is that the Lord is more interested in who I am becoming then where I am going. This week some special things have come into our lives as a reminder from the Lord that He has not forgotten us nor the cries of our hearts....The Lord is faithful. Life really does happen when you are making other plans.....

10 Quirky Things You May Not Know.....

2010-03-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

I was reading Beth Moore's blog and she listed 10 quirky things about herself and they were a riot! She encouraged her readers to list their 10. They had to come off the top of your head and not be too deep or serious.....just 10 things that if people really knew you, they would know this about you....I thought it sounded fun....so I am going to give it a try and ask you to give it a try and we will find out some fun things about each other. Happy reading and responding....

1. I prefer plastic silverware over metal
2. I can't go to sleep in a room if the closet door is open...it must be shut
3. I always put my hand on the outside of the plane and say a prayer, before I board
4. I am not a mall shopper
5. I like my food more on the burnt side (toast, popcorn, steak, hamburger)
6. Flipflops are my favorite shoe
7. I don't like clutter
8. I absolutely HATE to camp
9. I love a good book and am sad while reading it because I don't want it to end :}
10. I love to study history....

We each have a story......

2010-03-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

As I was driving down the freeway home from work today, passing cars and they passing mine, I took the time to look at each driver. I was wondering who they were, what was their background? What dreams were they pursuing? What wounds were they carrying from their childhood or youth? What makes them laugh, what makes them sad.....and I realized again that each and every one has a story. No one's story is more important than another's. We might think ours is more important, but it isn't. We are all on this journey we call life and we all have hopes and dreams and fears and tears...We bump into people all day long...may my heart be reminded that everyone is important, everyone has a story, and everyone wants to be loved.

A mother's heart.....

2009-11-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

From the moment we hear the news that we are with child, in a family way, have a bun in the oven, there is something that happens within a mother's heart.... that forever will be changed. It is a change that remains within us for the rest of our lives. No longer is life about us, we now have a part of us, that has been given to us as a responsibilty, priviledge and incredible gift. Ours to train, raise, love, direct, pray with, discipline, laugh, giggle, enjoy, support, exhort, encourage and on and on it goes. No matter how old are children are a mother's heart and love for them remains the same....whether they are tucked in their beds for a nap or they are off to college or married and moved far away. It makes no difference. You would think that them being older would be easier... for me, I have often thought, if only they were 2,6,& 8 again and I was tucking them down for a nap and the worse thing that could happen was they would pee the bed. I often tell myself today, I wish I wouldn't of been so concerned about the "little" things when they were younger, and just enjoyed them more. They grow up so fast...I would take a pee bed anyday. .. Today, each of my 3 precious children are facing some obstacles that makes my mother's heart weep....I know that the Lord loves them more than I do (even though I can't imagine that!) My little buns in the oven, have all grown up to be responsible young adults. They are great people who love the people around them and make a difference in people's lives. They each have servant hearts for which I am thankful to the Lord for. I know it has been in the difficulties of life, that the Lord continues to mold me and my character. So, I know He will do the same for each of my 3 little buns. Oh, the love of mother......

Because He lives...I can face tomorrow.....

2009-08-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

Sitting up in the green section, in the outdoor Ampitheater at the Oregon State Fair, and listening to the gospel message being sung by the Gaither Vocal Band was a breath of fresh air and a ministry to this worshipping heart. Now, this is what I call gospel music. As I looked around, almost the whole crowd was my generation or older. Since the Gaithers became popular in the early 70's, a lot of young people today have never heard of them nor their music. It is a vast difference in what you hear today that people call "christian" music. It was just a ministy to my heart. Yes, a platform of seasoned artist who know their instruments and know how to sing...but also, they minister, not perform.

A comical aspect of the concert was that the BUNGEE JUMPING ride was right beside the outdoor theater. Everytime, someone would take the JUMP, a big gong sound would penetrate the airwaves... so as we are listening to the concert we are also enjoying the view of the brave ones who dare to try such a ride. I told Jim I wouldn't ride it for a million dollars and I wouldn't. I think it is a heart attack waiting to happen!

I am grateful for christian musician who minister with their God given talents and not perform. It is when they minister that Jesus is glorified and not they themselves.

Back in Oregon

2009-08-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

Back in Oregon..... These signs awaited me when I got home. I love my honey.....

I slept most of the day on Friday. On Saturday, I unpacked, did laundry, paperwork and took a walk. Jim was gone at Chaplain Academy in Salem all day.

My heart continues to process my time in Alaska. It was such a special time for me. I am thankful the Lord knows my heart. May I remain faithful to what He has placed before me.

Alaska Day#9

2009-08-06T19:33:00.001-07:00

In just a few hours I will be at the airport and then ready to fly home early in the morning... What a fast week...what a blast of a week...so fun, so many memories, so much laugher that brought us to tears, and reminiscing...and then added so many more memories to our already long list.....

The older I get...the more I recognize that there is nothing more important in life than relationships(and to do everything within my power to keep them whole and healthy.).. besides our relationship with the Lord. Things don't matter, possessions are not what make one fulfilled and content...... there is nothing that warms my heart more than a hug from a family member or friend.

I leave with a full heart..... a grateful heart.....My time with each of my family members has been so fun!!!

I miss my honey.....so it will be good to be back with him.

To all of you who followed this blog, I hope you enjoyed my wild Alaskan adventure. Someday, I pray the Lord calls us back to this great State.....

I am and will always be a true Alaskan, Terry

Picture#1 my unhappy face as I realize that I won't be able to see Sarah Palin...

Picture #2 beautiful picture I took of bleeding hearts at my brother Kenneth's home

Alaska Day #8

2009-08-05T22:22:00.001-07:00

My last night with the sisters..... we are in our jammies and are going to watch a movie about the life of Thomas Kincaid...... The two pictures are of us 8 kids so many years ago as we began our adventure in the great northland of Alaska in 1964. The second picture is of the beautiful Anchor River surrounded by fireweed.... It is where the Lord brought us, to the homestead those many years ago. It is here in this place, that the Lord had ordained for us, that we found Him.... I will write again tomorrow evening before I leave Alaska...... Just going to cherish the moments I have left with the sistas!

Always an Alaskan by Heart, Terry

Alaska Day #7

2009-08-05T01:06:00.000-07:00

Really, Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

I slept in till after 10am this morning. It was wonderful. Debby has a nice cozy bed for me upstairs and I just slept away....

By the time we left the house it was noon... we headed to a giant used bookstore in Anchorage called the Title Wave. It was enormous and a blast to walk around. I found about 5 books I am going to attempt to pack in my suitcase.

Then we headed out to Eagle River to visit our nephew, Aaron. It was fun to see him again. He is such a special young man.

On the way home from Eagle River we then had to stop at the new Target store! Yes, can you believe it, Anchorage has not only 1 target, but is getting ready to open its 2nd one soon....

We got home and Debby fixed fresh salmon and halibut that was just caught on Saturday by George, my nephew. He went out on a charter in Seward. Boy, it tasted wonderful....I could eat Salmon and Halibut every day!

After dinner we then headed to Walmart to buy some souveniers. I found a few for some folks back home and had to make sure I got t-shirts for the grandkids.
During the course of our day we had to stop and always take photos of any vanity plates we could find. I heard Alaska has the highest rate of vanity plates and I believe it. It is fun to find them and to try to figure out what they mean. It brings much laughter, and photo shooting as we are driving around.

The three pictures are of:

1. a MOOSE.... it walked slowly right in front of us on Diamond Blvd tonight. You can barely see it, but it is there!

2. My favorite license plate thus far. I am a fan of Greta Van Susteren so this is for her!

3. My sisters with Aaron. Sharing with him the photos from this weekend in Homer.

Always an Alaskan by heart, Terry

Alaska Day #6

2009-08-03T23:58:00.001-07:00

What a special day! We got up early and headed out to the Engebretsen homestead for breakfast with the clan. It was such a treat to be with them all again. We laughed and hugged and told more stories... What an incredible gift the Lord has given to me to allow me to attend and be a part of this special occasion. When I think of the Engebretsens, I think of family. They are so much a part of my young life. And each of them have impacted my life to some degree or another. I will always be grateful to the Lord that He brought our family to Alaska, to the River Bottom, and placed us in the path of this family. Today would be Edith Engebretsen's birthday. It is also the anniversary of the first day my own family moved into our homestead, August 3, 1965. Edith brought us down some green jello as a welcome. We were SO excited. As we didn't have electricity so we didn't have a refrigerator, so jello was such a treat for us. I am now even more motivated to write my own story of my childhood on the river bottom on the Anchor River.....

We spent a couple hours this morning looking over the old Engebretsen homestead and taking more pictures. After the last goodbyes and hugs and promises to keep in touch..... we loaded up in the car and headed back to Anchorage. We made a stop in Kenai to see our sister Vicki and had lunch with her. It was great to see her again.

Then we hopped back in the car, headed up the Sterling and Seward Highways and got back into Anchorage in the early evening.

I am in Anchorage for a couple more days and we have some things planned. One thing for sure is we are sleeping in tomorrow.

Alaskan By Heart, Terry

The top picture was taken at the end of the Spit. It is a sight that I will never tire from. The second picture is of all four of us sisters in a Time Bandit Crab Pot....

Alaska Day #5

2009-08-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

I am sitting at Safeway, Starbucks, free internet Wi-fi tonight to post this blog. Today was such a great day to add to the weekend. Kenneth and Theresa, Debby and Marie...we are all sitting here eating pretzels, sugar free fudgsicles and laughing...so, I am going to try to attempt to write this blog.

Today, I was able to attend Church on The Rock..... It was WONDERFUL... what a blessing to be able to attend, and to worship with so many that I love. I love the heart of Pastor Aaron and how the Lord is using him. How special for him to preach while his family was attending today. It was biblically based and sound and given from the heart of a shepherd to the sheep. What a good word he gave, now may I be obedient to walk in it... I am so thankful the Lord allowed me to attend, as I had been hearing so much about it this last year. If I lived in Homer, I would most definitely attend! I took a lot of pictures, that will soon be posted on my facebook account. It takes a lot of time to post pictures.....

The first picture is of all our family that attended church together this morning. What an incredible experience it was to sit with a lot of my family....

The second picture is of me and Dr. Raymond. I worked for him for 8 years in Homer and he always has a special place in my heart. It was a blast to stop in and see him.

This weekend in Homer has been incredible. Much family time...much laughter.... many new memories and many stirred up old ones..... The Lord is faithful...

Always An Alaskan, Terry

Alaska Day #4

2009-08-02T00:03:00.001-07:00

Actually it is Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Today was the day we had all waited for....and it was worth the wait..... there were so many people today at the picnic, that it will take some time to upload all of the photos I took. It is late tonight,so I don't have time....I have just added these two for now. The top one is of all the Engebretsen children, plus Harold with six of the Fitts/Halpin children with our dad, Ken. We are in the SWAMP BUGGY... that is what we use to ride in to catch the bus..... REALLY..... It was a memory and we all had to climb into it again ....but this time none of us hopped right in like we did 40 years ago...we all had to use a ladder. We were laughing so hard....what a special memory.... It was a blast to see so many people from my past. I think I took 104 pictures.... they will be up soon.

How special to hug Harold. That is the bottom picture. He is definitely someone important in my heart from my childhood. Him and Edith(his wife) who is with Jesus now were very instrumental in our family coming to know Jesus so many years ago....

We spent the whole day with family.... later on in the evening my family got together to play games...but we never did play...we just sat around the living room laughing so hard about our childhood and stories about people that are special to us.... as we were growing up ...... So much laughter....so many memories....so many side aches from laughing....

My feet are tired from standing so much today, my eyes are sore because of lack of sleep, my heart is full because of so much love of family and friends....

Alaskan By Heart, Terry

Alaska Day #3

2009-08-01T01:14:00.000-07:00

Really Friday Evening, July 31st, 2009

Here I sit at a hotel in Homer that has the SLOWEST internet possible. I cannot download any of my 100 pictures that I took today. I was wanting to put a few on this blog. Tomorrow morning we are headed out for coffee and a place that we can get on the internet with some speed that will allow us to post pictures....so pictures will have to wait till morning...
We left Anchorage at around 10:30am and had a leisurely beautiful drive of 220 miles to Homer. I took some great photos. My sisters were laughing at me at what I was taking pictures off... We stopped in Soldotna at the Moose is Loose Bakery so I could see some special friends. Then we stopped in Clam Gulch at the mile marker post and put up a purple ribbon in memory of mom....near the site of her accident almost 17 years ago. We also stopped at her grave that is in Anchor Point. It is a beautiful spot that overlooks Cook Inlet. We put a purple ribbon on her cross that marks her grave and had some pondering moments there.....
We headed to Homer and found our hotel.... then we took a drive out to the Spit and went through town.... or as Homer teens call it, We did a town lap.... Then headed out to my brother, Kenneth's house and his wife Theresa and had a HALIBUT dinner. :} Uncle Mark and Isi and my dad came over too. We had tons of pictures and much laughter. I was able to see Samantha, my niece, and see her new engagement ring!!! She will be a beautiful bride this November. There is nothing and I mean nothing like family..... I am so incredibly blessed and thankful for the family I have and the relationships the Lord has built among us as adult siblings.
I better get to bed as it is early morning already...we might look for a different hotel room for the next few nights as this one doesn't have some of the necessities that the brochure said.... we will see....
p.s. Homer is incredibly beautiful.... I am going to take a walk on the beach in the early morning as Debby and Marie go for a run.... a good time to ponder, pray, think and listen.....

An Alaskan By Heart, Terry

Alaska Day #2

2009-07-30T22:53:00.001-07:00

Today....I was on the hunt for Sarah Palin...a dream of mine is to meet her and to give her a hug!!! From the moment that John McCain introduced her to the world almost a year ago, I fell in love with this lady that lives by her convictions and stands up for righteousness and truth. My sisters, Debby and Marie and I headed out to Wasilla, Alaska. It is about a 35 minute drive east of Anchorage...I had my camera in hand as we walked around Target in Wasilla just in case Sarah happened to be in there... Every where we went we kept our eyes open to find her.... We didn't see her, so I finally got the nerve to call her. Her number is not unlisted. The phone rang and rang, no answer, no answering machine...boo hoo....So, off we went to hunt out her home.... we found the driveway going to her home. It is in a beautiful spot on Lake Lucille.... the driveway is long and signs are posted everywhere that say NO TRESSPASSING and PRIVATE PROPERTY.... So, we didn't drive down the lane.... BUT, I did get out and go stand by one of the signs as you can see by the picture above. That is the closest I was going to get to Sarah UNTIL.......... this big black truck drives up to go down the driveway....the truck stopped, the window unrolled and there I was standing face to face with Bristol Palin! She is more beautiful in person than what you see on TV. Anyway, I chatted with her a little and told her my heart for her mother and that I was praying for her and I asked her to share it with her mom. She said she would. I didn't know if Sarah was home or not and Bristol didn't give any information out. I didn't want to push my luck. She was very gracious to me and such a sweetie she is. So, I am thrilled!

Another memory is that we were able to see our nephew Aaron in Eagle River. What a treat that was. Can hardly believe he is 18 now. He was such a little boy last time I saw him. Now he is a handsome young man!

What a special day it was..... time for bed..tomorrow is a big day...heading to Homer.....YEAH!!!!!

An Alaskan By Heart, Terry

Alaska Day #1

2009-07-29T23:31:00.001-07:00

Greetings from the land of the Midnight Sun!!!! I have arrived in Anchorage and my sisters were inside the airport to greet me with this sign! I feel so loved!!!! I just asked a stranger who we were standing by, waiting for our luggage, to take our picture. I love my sisters.....

It is 10:35pm here and still light outside. It is so beautiful, and the mountains so majestic. I love this land. There is just something about Alaska.

I must share with you a "God thing" that I experienced on the plane. Out of all the people that I could of sat beside, I had a gentleman from Palmer that knew SARAH PALIN personally. We had a great conversation. I told him to tell her that there is a lady in Oregon that loves her and is praying for her! He said he would....

It is a little cooler here than Portland. 61 degrees when I landed. The coolness felt good. Glad I brought a fleece jacket to wear.

I am grateful for this opportunity to be here and look forward to a fun week filled with all sorts of adventures. I know there will be tons of laughter and hugs....

I will write each evening and share a photo or two of the day's adventure.

An Alaskan by heart..........Terry

For the souls and hearts of my grandchildren.....

2009-05-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am not a mall shopper. I don't enjoy going to the mall. I am not one of those that would just go to pass time. I was given a gift card to Bath and Body Works so thought I would run into the mall and see if there was anything I wanted to buy there..... I found myself so overcome with saddness at the state of our world and what the "world" is saying to our young people.... My heart immediately cried out to the Lord for the souls and hearts of my grandchildren... All over you could see the voice of IMAGE, MATERIALISM, and blarring with unclad manikins and shoppers loaded with bags, of things they probably didn't even need.... What has America come to? I pray desperately for my precious Taylor and Tanner and any others that the Lord would bless our lives with. That despite the state of this world, they would have a revelation to their precious tender hearts of the love of Jesus.... and it is through HIM only that you find your worth and value, not through things of this world, or what they are saying you must have or must be. That they would know that He does have a plan for them and it is for good. That they would value what He values and not what the world is screaming to them at every turn. This is my gift to them...that I have and will continue to commit to pray for them on my face before the Lord every day. I did not buy anything...and the gift card still sits in my wallet....

"What is that to you?"

2009-05-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

I have pondered this verse from John 21:22 for some time now. I can remember the moment, I clearly heard the Lord speak this verse to my heart. I found myself perturbed by a certain individual who was responding in very selfish, prideful behavior.... I wanted to give them a piece of my mind....and I can clearly hear the Lord's voice, still to my heart..."What is that to you, Terry, YOU follow me. It is a continued lesson in my life. Whatever the Lord has asked of me, that is where my heart needs to walk in obedience. Others can choose, what they may...I must remain faithful and true to what the Lord has asked of me. More and more, I am understanding that it is the process that the Lord brings us through, and not the "end" result that is most important.

Waiting.....

2009-03-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

I am finding myself waiting for something specific...... it is a hard place to be.... not knowing and yet learning to trust the One who does know.... Isn't it interesting the journeys the Lord brings us on. Each of us have a different journey, different road maps, different directions, but the Lord's ultimate goal in it all, is for us to find Him in deeper ways. I don't always like this culdesac feeling that I am finding myself in at the moment, but I know I am not alone. He sees every step and understands the anxiousness of my heart. I am thankful for that.

2009 A New Year.... of hopes & dreams...

2009-01-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

These pictures were taken during Christmas at Mike & Laci's new home in Napavine, Washington. Auntie Marie took the family shot, so I had to include her in the other picture. She is wearing my mom's blouse that gets passed around year to year as a surprise. It is such an ugly blouse but we love it, because it was my moms. :}

The first day of 2009 is almost coming to a close...... I have come to a conclusion of late..... that the "process" the Lord has me in, waiting for Him to fulfill the deep cries of my heart, that, that "process" is when the Lord does the greatest work in us...it is not the final destination, or when we think we have arrived...(which we never do) it is the everyday, day to day, being faithful and finding Him in all the little things..... and it is in the "process" that we are changed.... So, it is with anticipation I look forward to this New Year. Recognizing that He is working in me, knowing He has my best interest in mind and knows my heart. What a Savior we have! So, my heart rests and trusts in Him......

Auntie Laura & Taylor

2008-11-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken of Taylor and her Auntie Laura, at Taylor's last soccer game of the season. It was so fun to have Laura home for a few days before she had to head back to the big city of Pasadena.

An Official Oregon Driver's License!!!!!

2008-10-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

I now am the proud owner of an Official Oregon Driver's License!!!!! and it is good till August 2016. So, I am now official.... what an ordeal it has been. So, I don't have to go in for another 8 years...and who knows where I will be 8 years from now.... what does the Lord have in mind?

The saga of the renewing driver's license.......

2008-10-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I gathered all my important papers, including my much anticipated marriage license from Alaska, and headed to the DMV during lunch to get my driver's licensed renewed. It was suppose to be renewed by August 11th........It was a DMV close to my work as the one I usually use, close to where I live, is closed on Saturdays and I work Monday through Friday outside the home. So, I go, quite proud of myself for finally having ALL my paperwork in hand, stand in line for 20 minutes (not bad) and then to have the lady tell me at the counter..."I am sorry but the machine for taking pictures is broken statewide, so you will not be able to renew your license today. Well....needless to say, another character building moment the Lord sent my way..... I walked out thinking.... maybe I am not suppose to be driving? HA! So... I will try again...tomorrow is another day, Scarlett......

A New Bible...

2008-10-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

Today, I bought a new Bible.... It is with some sadness that I put away my old one. I have used it for nine years now and it is marked up with all sorts of things that the Lord has shown me during these last 9 years. But, I am in a new season of my life..... a season where the old is good but will not do....I want fresh revelation, fresh insights, fresh touches, fresh annointings from the Lord. It seems like I would always find myself drawn to those marked up pages in my old Bible and reminsce about what the Lord showed me..... that is good, and yet, I don't want to live there. I want to remember, but I want to go on...and so today, I start afresh...and my heart carries so much excitement at what the Lord wants to reveal to me through this new copy of scripture I just acquired. So, I have put the "security blanket" away..... even though I will refer to it from time to time...and now eagerly look ahead.....

No Driver's License This Week

2008-09-30T19:36:00.002-07:00

I was going to go to the DMV on Friday to renew my license, but instead will be going to another funeral Friday afternoon. Our friend lost his precious wife this last weekend to cancer. And then after the funeral I am headed to our Women's Retreat from our church for the weekend. What an array of emotions this weekend holds. I so am looking forward to just being in His presence. I am asking the Lord to speak to my heart clearly those things He longs to say and for my heart to be open and listen.....I'll keep you posted!

Alaska Marriage Certifcate...

2008-09-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

Today it finally came in the mail! I can now go and renew my Oregon Driver's license. What an ordeal. It took the State of Alaska 6 weeks to mail it to me, when it's website said 14 days..... Oh well, must be busy up there in Juneau. So, on Friday, I am taking off of work early and will head to the DMV, take my number, and stand and line and smile for the camera! WALA, it will be another "darling" picture I am sure, that I will be carrying around in my wallet for the next 8 years! ♥

Friendships and Funerals......

2008-09-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

I attended a funeral yesterday. In the last two weeks I have lost two dear friends, who I have been touched by, immensely. I sat through the funeral thinking, "These are getting way too common in my life these days". What is it? Since turning 50, I have found myself in this season of life where we begin to attend more funerals than weddings. It makes one become very reflective. The first funeral I can remember that had a big impact on me, was my mother. It was 16 years ago and I was only 38 years old. As I sit at these funerals, my heart weeps for the ones who are weeping. There is nothing you can say or do to heal the pain. You cannot give them what they really want... their loved one back. All you can do is weep with them and be there. I also relfect on the people that I still have in my life and how much I want them to know I love them. I don't want to wait until it is to late to tell them. I want to appreciate the moments with them, stay in touch with them, pray for them and let them know what they mean to me in my life. We just don't know how much time we have. In a single moment, life can change. In the same reflective mood I find myself in, I also think of, what do I want people to remember me for? As I have dreams and goals in my heart, I recognize I am the only one able to choose to make those come true. .... . well, I just don't wake up one morning and WALA.... I have become that woman my heart desires... No, it takes choices on my part, discipline and a relationship with Jesus that I must keep relevant and real. I must choose to walk in His Spirit. So, again today, I am asking for His grace, repenting of my own sins that would be hindrances and pursuing my heart's desires. Yes, funerals are reflecting moments.... may I have Sally's zest for life and smile and have Willa's sweet spirit as I choose and pursue to make those choices in my life that will fulfill the desires of my own heart.