THE 49TH STATE

The Husband and I have just returned from a summer vacation!  Together!  About a dozen or so years ago, we visited Alaska--The Husband, The Girl, and The Me.   (See "An Alaskan Adventure", 8/20/13 on this blog.)  The Husband and I had always hoped to visit this fair 49th state one more time.  The visit is now a memory, an iphoto series of events of a thousand pictures, and a good dose of major jet lag.

Being that my blog readers are ever so faithful, I knew you would enjoy seeing and hearing about our trip.  Since I gave The Husband a crash course of the operation of my newer small easy nice camera, he really got into the photography as well.

I will apologize if this VERY long blog post makes you bored.  I have so much to share!

When our seven hour flight to Anchorage was about an hour away from it's destination, The Husband pulled out his assigned camera and took some amazing photos from the air.   Wow!

After landing and retrieving our baggage, we found a close Tastee Freez restaurant and had a hot dog.  Being as the time difference between here and there is four--yes, count 'em--four hours difference, we were pretty exhausted.  The motel bed felt pretty good that night.

The first full day of the trip, we headed south to Homer.  Homer is a small fishing town on the tip of the southwestern part of the state.  After leaving Homer, our trip took us to an overnight in Palmer, then on to Valdez, on the opposite side of Prince William Sound.  From Valdez (yes, that's where the oil spill was), it was back through Palmer to Wasilla, a morning trip to Talkeeta, and then to Anchorage for a day of sightseeing the day of the night we were to fly home.

The rain came at some point each day we were there except the last.  The weather was coolish--50's to 60's.  We grew accustomed to it.  I liked it.  I would have liked it better dry.

Alaska has some beautiful natural sights with mountains, glaciers, and beautiful landscapes.

This was a city park in downtown Wasilla...how about a large beautiful lake with mountains in a city park?

We saw many different animals....about eight or nine moose.....

caribou.....

rabbits...

Dall sheep.....

and sea birds.

We visited a Musk Ox Farm (they are interesting...google them if you are interested)....

One of my hopes for this trip was to get a picture of a bald eagle.  My heart still flutters when I look at these pictures.....

We saw beautiful boat harbors with mountains that touched the water...

and we ate Alaska food...sometimes.

I ordered duck....just because I'd never ordered duck in any restaurant and why not?  It was brought to me medium RARE.  I had to send it back because I never eat ANYTHING medium rare, even if the chef says it's supposed to be that way.  He stuck to his idea because when it was returned to me, it hadn't been cooked much.  Needless to say, that was NOT my favorite meal of the trip even though it was a very nice place.

An Alaskan food....reindeer hot dog.....cooked on the cart on an 5th Avenue in Anchorage...sounds pretty high-class, huh?  5th Avenue....

And yes, a couple of our "restaurants" had nice views...

One of the most beautiful mountain range sites I saw were these on the Aleutian Range.  We could never get a photo to do them justice.  I was amazed at their beauty.

Waterfalls....

The only fee trip we took was a day trip on the Lu-Lu Belle, the limo of boats.  There were us and about 35 or so more passengers.  The trip was to Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound.  It was a fantastic day in spite of the rain.  The captain was informative, funny, and patient.  The crew of two college girls were great as well making for a nice trip.  I recommend them highly.

On the trip, we saw sea otters that looked liked stuffed animals in the water...

We spent time watching fishermen pull in their heavy nets full of fish.

Yes, that's me taking pictures on the boat.

There was a lot of time spent whale watching and trying for the perfect whale picture.

There were smelly sea lions....

and puffins.

We spent over an hour within l/4 mile of Columbia Glacier.  It is hard to describe the magnitude of such ice.   Pictures just don't show the "big-ness".   The silence and then the sound of "calving" of the ice was something to always remember.

Here's the splash of a large piece of ice.  When a large piece would hit the water, the water would begin to make "waves" and the boat would feel the effect.

There were Dall porpoises.

Since we were in Valdez, there were oil tankers.

In Alaska, wildflowers grow everywhere.  The most seen one was lupine and a kind of flower resembling Queen Anne's Lace.

Frequent stops were made to port-a-johns and outhouses.

You can thank me for taking a picture of the cleanest one.  Use your imagination for the worst and then imagine a lot worse than that.

We saw where the wildfires had come...

Alaskans used anything and everything for flower containers.  The phrase "you might be a redneck if" comes to mind.

This decor had a matching one on the other side of this driveway....an exact matching set.

They used unique ways of irrigation...

and made homemade ice cream in an unusual way.

There was downtown Talkeetna.

The technique of taking a selfie was practiced.  The not-so-silly expressions were hard to master.

An Alaskan prestige car..or truck...tag.

And of course, any photo album of mine must contain flower pictures.  With the mega daylight hours during an Alaskan summer, their flowers in the summer time are just as big as their snow is in the winter time.  It would get "dark" about 11:00 - midnight and was never REALLY dark.  The light would be back by 4 a.m.  Luckily Alaska motels have thick liners behind their curtains.

These petunias were salad plate size.

This picture was taken...

at 6:50 p.m. Alaska time which equals 10:50 p.m Eastern time.  Time difference was an adjustment for us Eastern folks.  It still is.

The view from one of our motel rooms showed beautiful sunset color on the mountains...

and the taking off of a float plane, a normal mode of transportation of Alaskans.

And yes, we actually posed for a few shots.  Not many...

The final day in Anchorage showed Alaska city sights and reflections.

Our flight home was delayed because of bad weather in the East.  The Husband captured this photo of the moon and also the cloud that caused our plane to take a detour home.

I apologize for the great length of this post.  I know that sometimes one gets tired of looking at other people's pictures; however, I couldn't seem to find a stopping place.  I actually have several hundred more, you know?  

No, we saw no live bears on this trip but thanks for "bearing" with me as I shared.  

Happy Anniversary from The Girl!

Hello, friends!  This is “The Girl”, and I guess you can call me “The Guest Blogger” for the next couple of days.  When The Mama asked if I’d fill in for a few days, I agreed, then started wondering what in the world to blog about.  Then it came to me.  The perfect topic…. the 36^th Anniversary of The Mama and The Daddy.  Today is the big day – 36 years since they said “I do” and started the path to wedded bliss.  And I think they’d tell you, while situations may have not always been blissful, their relationship with each other and Their God has been.  Before I go getting all sentimental and mushy - we can do that later -  let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

Just look at that white tuxedo.  I can distinctly remember being at the mall with The Mama while My “The Husband” (Mama calls him “The Son-in-Law”… how confusing is this?!) and I were engaged.  We passed by a formal wear store with a white tuxedo jacket proudly on display.  I said “now, who in the world would put their groom in one of THOSE?”  Obviously I hadn’t studied The Parents' wedding album in a while!   However, I think The Daddy carried off the white tuxedo quite well :).

Lace was also popular in those days… however, The Mama made a lovely bride.

So here they are, then...

And now.

36 years.  That's a lot of suppers cooked and yards mowed and burdens shouldered and joys shared.  I’m sure if they went back to tell the stories and relive the memories of those years, there would be days of sunshine and of rain, of laughter and of tears, of sickness and health.  There would be days of activities together and apart (can you really see The Mama happily hunting or The Daddy happily scrapbooking?).  There would be times of understanding and times of uncertainty.  However, the most important things were - and are still - constant.  

Faith.  

Family.  

Friends.  

Church.  

  Love.  

GOD. 

I'm so thankful that they are MY The Mama and The Daddy and have set such a good example for me over the years.  I wouldn't trade them for the world!  So, Happy Anniversary to The Mama and The Daddy!  Love you both!

"Love never fails."  I Corinthians 13:8

<3 The Girl

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO.......

....this blog!  Yes, I let the days slip by without taking the time to offer the recognition.  I knew it was the birthday but just was busy and didn't take the time to give my wishes.  So I say to the blog, "Happy Belated Birthday, Blog!"

For you three faithful blog readers of mine, can you remember what my very first post on this blog was on June 21, 2012?  Don't look back quite yet....see if you can remember first....do you know?

One thing has never changed since that date--the gratitude in my heart for the Lord's provision for children of His.

If you don't remember my first post, take a look back at June 21, 2012 to "Celebration".

JUNE MOMENTS

Yes, it's almost exactly the middle of this year.  Unbelieveable!  Does time pass faster now or what? Where DOES it go?

And June....what a month of events around here!  The Mother's birthday along with birthdays of other extended family members, The Husband and my anniversary along with anniversaries of other family members,  VBS week, vacations,  and oh, so much more.  And how about this oppressive heat wave? Nor can we forget the reason I'm even doing this blog--the anniversary of The Gir's diabetes diagnosis hence the birthday of this blog.  Right.  A month of events.

Even with all those events, I have chosen today to focus on happy/sad events.  Sad because June is also the month of the time of passage on to heaven of The Parents-In-Law.  Happy because...duh...they're in heaven and out of the pain of the lung cancer that lived with them.  Happy, too, because we are left with many happy memories.

The Father-In-Law passed on June 12, six years ago if I do math correctly.   The Husband and I always find ourselves remembering the strength it took at the end to help him be comfortable and happy amid such a sickness.  We also remember him in the good times.  He always loved to build.  He always liked to see people working, too.  People didn't always LIKE to work, but he enjoyed working and watching anyways.

The Mother-In-Law passed on June 28, ten years ago in a few days.  I can't believe it's been ten years. Ah, many things to remember about The Mother-In-Law.  Odd things like the fact that she loved wearing the flat thong metallic colored sandals and that her little toe sat on top of the one next to it.   She would love the styles of today.  She was a very hard worker and got much enjoyment from her kitchen work.  Man, she loved to cook and loved to have folks come and eat.  With five children, she cooked a lot.  I can remember she taught me, as a young bride in her family, to use White Lily flour and Martha White cornmeal if I wanted the best results.  I always have since that day just because she said so.  The Mother-In-Law was a very good whiz at math...am thinking The Husband and The Girl inherited that skill.  Most of all, though, she did love cooking.  In honor of that love and this month, I wanted to share her Pecan Pie recipe.  Another tidbit of trivia is that when she made desserts, she rarely ever used an electric mixer.  She just stirred.  And stirred.  And stirred.  Amazing.

Happy June!

They're baacckkk......

My love of and joy in watching the birds intensifies daily.  Yes, I do love watching these creatures.   It is so amazing to me how God has instilled in them all that they need to survive and care for their own.  (See my previous post of BIRDS on July 2012.)

Back the week prior to Mother's Day of this year, I sat at my kitchen table for almost an hour and watched as a batch of bird siblings took their first flight.  Ahhh...be still my heart.  I watched as the mama wren brought in the food and little wren mouths opened as they were near the door of the wren house.  I watched as the first little wren made it's appearance in the door of my wren house.  It stood there just a second and courageously flapped it's wings and flew away.  Just like that...here, then gone.  The mother wren kept bringing in worms to feed the other little ones.   It wasn't long until the second little wren sibling appeared at the door.   This little one was not so brave as it stood there and was absolutely shaking all over....like me sometimes when fear gets a hold.   After what seemed like a very long time, the little bird flew, only to land on the porch floor.  My heart sank.  Deep.  The little one seemed to have some trouble flapping one of it's wings.  Finally, it managed to get both working and it, too, flew off into the green sunny world.  The third made it's way to the house door and like it's first sibling, flew away. Amazing.  The next day, I took the wren house off the wall of the porch and cleaned it out.  Let me tell you there was a lot of twigs, dirt, and bird nest building things in that wren house.  I cleaned it out and hung it back up.  According to my math, that was about a month ago.

Here's the wren house as it is located on my porch, slightly above the center on the edge wall of the porch above the swing:

It wasn't but a few days that I noticed more twigs and such in the wren house.  I didn't see the birds doing the building, but it was full.  Amazing that a little bird can find the strength to find, move, and build such a nest.  It.  Is.  Amazing.  

I have been noticing that I hear the wrens again.   Their sound is so distinct and loud, I can hear it if I am in the back of the house.  Every time I hear that sound, my heart gets joy.    Last night, The Husband came through the house and said, "The wrens have babies again.  They are bringing food."   I mean now really, can you believe that?  In that short amount of time, these birds have been miracles again.  And just look at that cozy nest.  Rebuilt for the little ones.  I watched even this morning as the mama wren flew off the porch rail to the tree and walked, pecking, up the tree looking for more food.  Diligent in her efforts for her little ones.

I wish you all had a wren house like mine and that you could feel my sense of excitement, amazement, and delight.   And yes, this blog post is full of sermons I don't even have to explain to you.

Most of all, I am grateful for the assurance that I feel from The Heavenly Father as He speaks peace to my heart through these amazing little wrens.  Granted the song talks about sparrows, but I have to mention the lines from one of my favorite songs:

"I worry about tomorrow until I hear the sparrow.
And I'm reminded of the promise--He'll take care of me."

So be encouraged and know that HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AND ALL OF HIS CHILDREN.
He promised.  

MEMORIAL DAY

Remembering today all those who have fought for and those who have died for my freedom that I enjoy on this day and each day....those who left home and loved ones and fought and died for us all.  Even if I imagine how it must have been, my imaginations can never scratch the surface.  A heartfelt thanks to all these brave souls.

HE Knows....

Wow, two new posts in two days.....

I'm thinking that you, my six faithful blog readers, are probably wearying of the medical posts lately.   I find that my mind works with what I have and lately that's been it.  Feels like all I've done is go to the doctor....last Monday, Tuesday, and then Thursday before ending at the emergency room in the early evening.  Yes, I was admitted and left the hospital late Sunday morning.

This time I had an intestinal obstruction.  Not fun.  In all my medical business through the years, I have never had that.  I never want it again.  I don't like a diet of "nothing by mouth".  When they say that, they mean NOTHING.  I don't like IV's but I like a tube in the nose pumping out the stomach for two days even less.  I like none of it.  But you know, you gotta take what life dishes to you.  And yes, attitude makes a world of difference  as that wise rheumatologist told me years ago.  I tried.  I REALLY tried but have to confess that by Saturday afternoon, my nerves were not happy.  I just want to love Jesus and love people and on Saturday afternoon, I just loved Jesus.  Luckily, I got over it and loved people again.

The Husband is really good to me during these "sickness and health" times of the wedding vows.  I'm going to owe him big.  He brought everything I asked for to me to make my hospital stay easier.  Even as we sat waiting for discharge on Sunday morning and I told him I felt compelled to go to the Sunday service at church, he didn't bat an eye but said, "We won't get out of here till after lunch."  See we have learned that life in the medical world moves slowly.  I replied that if we did get out in time, maybe we could stop by church on the way home.  We could be late--which we never are--but this time it would be okay.

Now understand that I was still kind of weak but much better than I was Thursday and Friday and at least things were not blocked anymore.  Well, lo and behold, we drove out of that hospital parking lot at 10:30 and arrived at church at ll:02 a.m.  I somehow knew the Lord had something for me.  It was just one of those things that I KNEW because God let me know.  HE KNOWS.  I will admit here that I would have discouraged this action fresh out of the hospital in others that I love but I did it anyway.  It didn't matter that I hadn't washed my hair in 4 days nor used deodorant in 4 days (somehow it was not in my travel toiletry bag and I was sickly and it didn't register that I needed it).  It didn't matter that I was wearing a homemade tshirt dress that had a spot on the front nor that I had no jewelry or makeup on.  Shucks, I didn't even know where The Husband had stored my pocketbook at home.  (I've learned a girl is lost without her pocketbook.)  We went to church.  As we were getting out of the car, I asked The Husband to put a couple of kleenex and my chapstick in his pocket.  As we walked in the foyer, The Husband said that I was wearing the evidence (as if the look of me wasn't evidence enough) and I looked down at my two hospital bracelets.  I asked him if he had a knife (you know those things don't just tear off), he didn't.  Then I asked The Son-In-Law in the sound booth if he had scissors.  He didn't.  So I just used the hospital bracelets as my jewelry.

The service was good and from a different view sitting with The Husband on the back row.  I noticed three young people there I had not seen in a long time so I wondered if maybe the Lord just wanted me to see them again.  Then during the song service, someone led "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine" and my tears began so The Husband pulled out a kleenex.  The rest of the service was good, but I think maybe the Lord wanted me to be encouraged by "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine....filled with His goodness, lost in His love."  That's where I want to be....filled with His goodness, lost in His love.  What a blessing!

I'm still a bit weak-eyed but feeling better....learning to take a bit more care of myself rather than pushing as I've been accustomed to.  I do have another doctor's appointment on Friday morning with an endocrinologist as three thyroid nodules have been found a couple of weeks ago and recommendation is to needle biopsy the large one in the right.  This doctor will consult and then do the biopsy in his office...a one-stop shop.  I'm not excited, I won't lie, but am assured that HE KNOWS.

Aren't we blessed that through all things, HE KNOWS exactly what we need and will work that together for our good?  Where would we be without that blessed assurance?  All I've heard the past couple of days over and over in my spirit is "Trust me".  "Trust me".  So that's where I'm going, blog friends.  I'm going to trust him with all my life because HE KNOWS.  In all of life things are best when I realize He IS all I need!

And all God's people said, "Amen!"

A WAY

Well,  in my Bible time this morning I read a scripture that was index card worthy.  Yes, I took Beth Moore's advice and began writing some scriptures I want to remember on index cards.  I will have a large file as time goes on.  Anyways, the one this morning goes like this:

"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations."....Deuteronomy 7:9

That was such a blessing and then as if that wasn't enough, The Girl sent me an email with three songs to hear.   I liked all three but I wanted to share the words of the last one.  Yes, today I have been doubly blessed.  Coincidence?  Nah.

"God Will Make A Way"

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

---lyrics by Don Moen

                       

ARTIFICIAL

The "Free Dictionary" online defines "artificial" as "Made by humans, especially in imitation of something natural".

Artificial.  Artificial flowers.  Artificial sweeteners.  Artificial limbs.  And now....the artificial pancreas.  Or can I say, "And NOW, the ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS!!!"

Face it, I'm human just like all the rest.  I get excited about a lot of things but especially about things that affect me and those I love.  There was a much publicized news program last night about a new breakthrough for Type l diabetics....the artificial pancreas.  The Husband and I listened intently.  Often we have heard of various "things" that research in the world of diabetes was "discovering".  Almost 25 years ago as our family was at the local children's hospital learning to live with Type 1 diabetes, the big deal was a new blood sugar monitor that was greater and more advanced.  Well, since that day, there have been many even more and more advanced.  Even I, a Type 2 diabetic, have a new monitor that my insurance recommended and supplied that can do far and above what I know how to do with it.

The artificial pancreas is so much more.  The thoughts of The Girl being able to live a "normal" life without adjusting insulin doses and counting carbs and such of everything that goes in her mouth seems like a miracle.  Yes, one of those miracles that we think we don't see often.  In fact, the news program says it is the biggest breakthrough in diabetes research since the discovery of insulin in the 1920's.....even bigger than the wonderful insulin pump The Girl wears all the time now.  The Girl calls it her "pancreas" in a box.  This new breakthrough would be a artificially "real" pancreas in a box.  BIG DEAL for sure.  It could be FDA approved as early as next year!

So we continue to carry on as we look forward to the day this becomes a reality for so many millions of young and old alike.     And can I recognize the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) for their efforts?  Yep, I can.  And can I say thanks to the Lord for giving the knowledge to those who research?  Without a doubt, I can.

If you want to read the story or see the news clip, you can to to www.wsbtv.com (search for artificial pancreas) or find it here (will have to type in browser as I don't have mental technology to make it a link on my blog):

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/medical-breakthrough-could-help-millions-diabetes-/nmDYw/

Happy, happy, happy.