Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 5

Today we woke up around 7:15, had breakfast (a biscuit, strawberry yogurt, an orange, potato cubes, milk), loaded everything up and checked out, and were skiing at Sunlight Mountain Resort near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, by 9:20.  Both yesterday (Snowmass) and today were places we had skied at before.  It's always good to go back to places you enjoyed in the past.  Amazingly, for the fourth day in a row, we had sunshine, no clouds, no wind, and temperatures from the mid-teens to about 30.  WOW, what a blessing!

Sunlight has three fixed-grip chairlifts, a lot of nice terrain for beginners (greens and blues), and plenty of ungroomed blacks and double blacks to provide a wide variety for everyone.  Many of the greens and blues are rolling traverses or big, wide, gently-sloped runs.  I particularly enjoyed Zephyr, a black, which was the last run of the day (and of 2016!) for us.  It had some nice bumps/moguls and a few trees to skirt around.  I also really loved Heathen, which at a 52-degree pitch at the top, is one of the steepest runs in Colorado.  Get on down a little ways and it turns into a pretty gentle slope with some nice powder, trees, and quiet peace.  My final "favorite" (not that I disliked the others) was a black called Sundown Glades.  Tree skiing is so good for honing your perceptions, skills, and technical abilities, and this provided all of that in a glade with just the right amount of trees.  The end of the run required an interesting traverse literally through a pine tree (I skied over/through it), followed quickly by an 18-inch jump down onto the main trail.  So much fun!

Lunch was black bean-chorizo-rice soup in a bread bowl and hot chocolate at the base lodge.  We skied right to 4:00 p.m. close...in fact, past it.  No better way to close out the old year and bring in the new one!  By 4:45, we had stowed all our gear safely away and were on our way to I-70 east.  This trip must have been for breaking records, because for the first time ever, our entire drive up, over, and down Vail Pass was on perfectly clear roads...no snow...no wind...nothing.  It was just us, a few other cars and trucks on the road (it's New Year's Eve), a clear sky full of stars (Big Dipper!), groomers at work on the multiple ski resorts we passed, and a torchlight parade making their way down one of the runs on Vail to celebrate the new year.  It was the most peaceful, stress-free, and enjoyable drives over the 10,000-plus foot mountains we've ever had.

Supper was a chicken-avocado burrito and water at Del Taco in Aurora.  We're now on our way to a Quality Inn in Limon to spend the night.  Happy New Year 2017...we'll be celebrating by driving home tomorrow!

Looking out from Heathen

Sunlight Mountain, fourth consecutive day of sunshine and gorgeous views

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 4

Today we were up before 7:00 a.m., had breakfast (a cinnamon-raisin bagel with cream cheese, strawberry-banana yogurt, lemon-herb potato cubes, milk), and were skiing at Snowmass, an Aspen resort, by 8:50.  It was another clear, sunshine-filled day, although we did have some stronger wind gusts toward the top of the mountain, flat light late in the afternoon, and grass, rocks, and dirt on many trails due to early season conditions.  Temperatures ranged from the low teens to the mid-30s -- overall, another very pleasant day.  We rode a six-pack three times and a poma that took us to 12,510 feet twice.  We cruised many blues and blacks, and aside from the previously-mentioned bare spots, they were nice.  I especially enjoyed our almost-non-stop run from the top of the mountain all the way to the base, over 4,000 vertical feet of elevation change that covered moguls, groomed runs, and nearly-flat traverses.

Lunch was a veggie burger, shared fries and popcorn with the rest of my family, and a huckleberry shake at Ullrhof's.  We skied until about 3:45 (so quiet and peaceful), loaded up, and headed to the town of Aspen to visit and enjoy supper with some friends at Bangkok Happy Bowl Thai Bistro.  I had a chicken-broccoli-rice stir-fry in peanut sauce and lots of water.  Even though it's wintertime and cold, it's so easy to get dehydrated in the dry, crisp mountain air!  Now we're at our hotel (same one we stayed in last night), ready for bed and a nice final day of skiing tomorrow.

I left my camera at the hotel, so no photos today.

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 3

Today we woke up a bit before 7:00 a.m., had breakfast (plain oatmeal with fruit, a piece of cinnamon-raisin bread, orange juice), loaded everything up since we were checking out of our room in Ridgway, and were skiing at Telluride and by 9:20.  We were incredibly blessed with yet another perfectly clear, sunny, wind-free, day...temperatures even a bit warmer than yesterday.  We even saw some mountains in Utah far off in the distance!  Once again, it was crowded but we did a better job of staying higher up on the mountain and had just a handful (out of necessity) of longer lift lines to wait in.  We found some more great lines with soft, sweet moguls in Revelation Bowl, and also cruised some nice double-blues and blacks with great, steep pitches.  I know I've said it before, but it is really nice to confidently and strongly ski this sort of terrain.  It makes everything so much more fun and enjoyable.

Lunch was at Gorrono Ranch Restaurant -- a yummy bread bowl of chili/macaroni and cheese and some hot chocolate.  We quit skiing around 3:40 so we had time to load up, go down to the town of Telluride to take some pictures (and for Matthew to get some new hiking boots we found last night), and head for Carbondale, Colorado, just after 4:30.  The drive was incredibly desolate as we wound through national forests, past a coal mine, through tiny mountain towns, and over a pass.  Even though it was in complete darkness, I loved the drive: seeing the Big Dipper and thousands of other stars, gazing at the silhouettes of soaring mountain peaks, and wondering about the lone houses and the lives of the people who live in them.

Just a few minutes before 8:00, we arrived at White House Pizza in Carbondale for dinner.  My dad and I split the individual (8-inch) Get Your Goat (goat cheese, onions, olives, pears, and Alfredo sauce) and White Way (chicken, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, smoked provolone, and Alfredo sauce) pizzas, which were delicious and unique in their flavor combinations.  Then we drove another mile to the Comfort Inn & Suites, where we are spending the night.  They offer free hot chocolate, white chocolate-macadamia nut cookies, and fruit 24/7, so it's a pretty great hotel in my book!  Now it's time for bed before another great day of skiing tomorrow.

Looking way down at the town of Telluride

Family picture with a lovely background

Revelation Bowl

The main street in Telluride...late afternoon light makes for nice photo opportunities.

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 2

Today we woke up around 7:00 a.m., had breakfast (two pieces of cinnamon-raisin toast, mixed fruit, orange juice, water), and headed to Telluride Ski Resort for the first day of skiing.  We parked in Mountain Village, rode the gondola to the base of the mountain, and were on the lift by 9:30.  Fortunately we had sunshine, clear skies, essentially no wind, and very pleasant temperatures (mid-teens to upper-20s).  Unfortunately, it is the week between Christmas and New Year's, so even though Telluride is remote, there were still plenty of crowded lift lines (especially at the lifts servicing beginner and intermediate terrain).  Waiting 10 to 15 minutes feels so strange to us!  We did manage to find some nice terrain that was more advanced and farther up the mountain, thus escaping the worst crowds.  We found some nice lines in Revelation and Little Rose Bowls, and enjoyed a long, winding, relaxed traverse later in the afternoon that took us past beautiful aspen trees and mountain lodges.

Lunch was at Alpino Vino, the highest restaurant in North America at 11,966 feet.  Instead of the $1,600 bottle of wine (seriously), we settled for $5-per-cup hot chocolate (complete with whipped cream and marshmallows), and my dad and I split an eggplant-Parmesan panini/arugula-blue cheese-walnut salad combo, and a turkey-apple-Brie cheese panini/tomato soup combo.  Yes, expensive, but delicious food in a beautiful setting!

Our first day of skiing concluded with the traditional hatpin purchase, then we drove down to the town of Telluride for supper and exploring.  It's a gorgeous, historic, quaint community full of old buildings, cute shops, and friendly people.  We had dinner at Steamies Burger Bar, boasting "Colorado's #1 Burger" -- I had a chicken/cheese/jalapeno dressing sandwich, a shared order of fries, and a mint-chip shake.  We hit the Black Bear Trading Company and a German shop afterwards, perusing and admiring the many amazing items available for purchase, then headed back to our hotel in Ridgway for showers and bedtime.  It felt great to ski on a real mountain for a full day...in sunshine, no less!

Alpino Vino, the highest restaurant in North America

Beautiful views from Telluride

More beauty from Telluride

Alpenglow at the end of the day

~Anna

Colorado Ski Trip -- Day 1

Yesterday (Monday, December 26) we left our home around 12:30 p.m. for my mom's family Christmas gathering in southwest Missouri.  We spent the night at my grandma's home in Ozark, which put us closer to our intended destination.  Nevertheless, we still left at 5:30 this morning, which was necessary to arrive in Ridgway, Colorado, at 8:45 (Mountain Time...16 hours on the road!).  Highway 50 all the way to Montrose, then 550 down to Ridgway.  It was extraordinarily beautiful all the way, especially when Highway 50 winds next to the Arkansas River for miles.  Surrounded by towering rock cliffs and jagged snow peaks in the distance, it's breathtaking to say the least.  We only stopped twice for fuel/bathroom breaks in Hutchinson, Kansas, and Pueblo, Colorado.  Light "meals" for breakfast and lunch, and some water, were the only other events of the day besides logging over 900 miles.

We did have supper at El Jimador in Montrose, Colorado (shrimp-chorizo tacos, rice and beans, chips with salsa and Mexican coleslaw, water), then drove another 20 minutes or so to the Ridgway Lodge & Suites for a nice shower and bed.  Tomorrow we'll be tackling Telluride, yet another new resort on our list!

The beautiful Arkansas River and surrounding mountains (in twilight, no less) on our drive to Ridgway, Colorado

~Anna

Kansas City Trip

Throwback to four months ago when we all went on a very quick jaunt to Kansas City, Missouri, for a birthday trip for my brother, Matthew.  Sorry I didn't have time to post sooner...college started and life became much busier and more hectic.

Friday, July 29, 2016 -- Woke up nice and early (around 6:15) so I could run, take care of my horses, grab some breakfast, and finish packing before our 9:00 departure.  A few hours later, we had arrived at the Harry Truman Library & Museum.  We had a picnic lunch on the beautiful grounds (tuna-cheese wraps, watermelon, water), followed by an entire afternoon exploring the expansive museum.  It features practically every aspect of Harry's life -- growing up, farm life, military service, failed business ventures, marriage and family, judge of Jackson County, U.S. Congress election, vice presidency, presidency, and life in Independence afterwards.  We saw three of his old cars, a replica of his Oval Office, a 45-minute film of his life through the end of his presidency, and the burial grounds of him, his wife Bess, and daughter and son-in-law.  We stayed all the way to (even a bit past) the 5:00 p.m. closing...it was that good.  There was so much to see and take in, perhaps even a bit too much, but I am grateful they were so willing to open up and preserve their lives for future generations to learn about.

Next, we headed for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, mainly to see the four giant shuttlecocks.  My mom and I are borderline-professional badminton players (really...you should come see us play in our front yard sometime!), so that was very special and fun for us.  We also took a bit of time to walk through a gallery with some beautiful religious art.

Being a Friday evening, we sort of failed to realize how popular restaurants would be, so after driving around for quite awhile, we finally settled on the Classic Cup Cafe in Country Club Plaza.  Upscale yet relaxed, we shared an appetizer of roasted goat cheese and garlic on crusty bread, followed by the Spring Green salad -- grilled zucchini, asparagus, peas, kale, pistachios, goat cheese pesto, and salsa verde all mixed together.  Delicious!  Finally, a little mint-chocolate-Oreo concrete at Sheridan's and bed at our Drury Inn at 11:45.

Saturday, July 30, 2016 -- Slept in until 8:00 a.m., had breakfast (scrambled eggs, potato cubes, half of a plain bagel with strawberry jelly, an orange, orange juice, and water), and headed for the Kansas City Zoo.  Our hotel had an awesome deal with them, so we ended up getting tickets for only $5 per person!  The main reason we came here was for the koalas -- Burra and Coedie, on loan from the San Diego Zoo.  It also happened to be their birthday party weekend, so besides taking plenty of pictures and adoring their cute little faces, we had mini cupcakes, posed for some fun photo ops, and bought koala ears.  Of course, we also enjoyed viewing all the other critters, too, but the koalas were by far the highlight of the visit.  In case you didn't know, they're a big theme in the Kelpe household.  We have five stuffed ones and are always looking to expand our collection.

After an enjoyable morning at the zoo, we headed to our next stop, eating lunch on the way (tuna wrap, watermelon, banana, a Clif bar, water).  Our next stop was the Steamboat Arabia museum, beginning with a guided tour and video, then allowing free exploration of the THOUSANDS of items they have cleaned and preserved for display.  Everything from dishes and French perfume to boots and axes is on display.  It's incredible, and minimal signage allows for a comfortable pace to explore the many display cases.

Finally, we got some barbecue to go from Winslow's BBQ (pulled turkey sandwich, baked beans, fries) and headed home, arriving around 8:45.  It was a very, very fast trip...we could definitely have spent more time.  It was still nice to have some last special moments together before Matthew and I began college, though!

Bess (left) and Harry (right) Truman's graves

My mom and me enjoying the world's largest badminton shuttlecocks in Kansas City

Koala fun at the Kansas City Zoo

Koala, Matthew, Koala, and me!

A real koala (Burra or Coedie, they're kind of hard to tell apart)!

Hundreds of dishes at the Steamboat Arabia museum

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #14

This is super late in coming, but I did get back to St. Louis safely!  I'm not trapped in Portland forever!  My flight was only 10 minutes late and ended up arriving a little early, and it was a beautiful morning/afternoon to be in the air.  Alaska Airlines has a wonderful assortment of snack boxes, too, and the "snacks" actually make a full meal.  I tried the Northwestern Deli box, with smoked Gouda cheese, crackers, salami, Alaskan-made potato chips, trail mix, a chocolate truffle, complementary pretzels, and water.  Enjoying the views, resting a little bit, and finishing a book got me through to landing, and by 5:45 p.m., I was back at my home.  The very first thing I did, even before taking any baggage out of the car?  See my horses, of course!  It felt great to be back, see my family and friends, and settle into my room and routine.  But as the days have passed, I really do miss Alaska, even more than four years ago.  I know that if God ever presented an opportunity for me to stay there for an extended period of time, I would take it.  It's not just the beauty and uniqueness of the state, it's the people, the food, the incredible feelings I experience when I am drinking in the whole picture.  I really don't think words can express what I am trying to say.  I am extremely grateful for yet another opportunity to travel, learn more, and share my faith with the campers.  I hope I can return again someday, and I'd like to share this well-known verse that was in my prayer journal the night I returned home -- Philippians 1:6, "...he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  I was privileged to volunteer, even for three short days, at the Bible camp, and I owe many thanks to many people.  My deepest appreciation and gratitude goes to my grandma for sharing her love of Alaska with me and being a great travel buddy for two weeks; Our Savior's Lutheran Church (George & Karen Sonray) for providing our housing in Nome, shuttling to and from the airport, and your genuine kindness; all the campers -- for your childlike joy and fun-loving attitudes; the wonderful counselors who did a great job of motivating and encouraging their teams (especially my team's co-leader, Laura Anderson...loved getting to know you!); MANY more people from Anchorage, Nome, and the surrounding areas; and most of all, Jesus Christ.  He has given me a passion for service, love, and children, and I cannot wait to see where He leads me in the coming years.  I strive to live each day of my life as a light for Him in this dark world, responding to his forgiveness and grace that I don't deserve.  Please join me in praying for not only the hardworking pastors in Alaska, particularly the Seward Peninsula, but for the world and Christians as a whole.  Alone, we are weak; with Christ, we are strong, no matter what comes!

If you have questions about vacationing in Alaska in general, or more specific questions about Nome, the Bible camp, or ways to support/get involved with mission work, I'd be happy to answer them to the best of my ability (or point you to someone who can)!  Feel free to email me, message me on Facebook, or post a comment below.  Please continue to check this blog, as I will soon be adding a post about my family's recent weekend trip to Kansas City, and undoubtedly other adventures as they come.  Thank you so much for reading!

On the airplane, somewhere between Portland and St. Louis.

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Days #10-13

I am back and coming to you from the Portland airport as I hang out during my five-hour layover...this last leg will finally get me home to St. Louis!  Here's a recap of the past week's activities and menus. :)

Sunday afternoon/evening (July 17) -- We arrived at Salmon Lake Bible Camp around 3 p.m., helped unload supplies and boxes, and I worked with Grandma to fix the treat bags that all the campers receive at the end of the week.  Agnes fixed a delicious supper of sausages, cold pasta salad, garlic bread, applesauce, grapes, and that cold water straight from the spring in the hillside.  We hit the bed early at 9:15.

Monday, July 18 -- With a good night's rest, I was awake at 7:15, figured out how to change my clothes without getting out of my sleeping bag (hey, it was cold and my clothes were cold...no need for undue suffering), and headed to the dining hall for a breakfast of a cinnamon roll, banana muffin, and milk.  The rest of the morning was spent waiting for all the campers who had arrived around 2 a.m. that morning to wake up and come down.  After a lunch of chicken-noodle casserole, carrots, and water, the group headed down to the lake for water playtime.  Another counselor, Laura, and I took a camper out in a canoe, along with several other groups.  Much laughter ensued as the other two canoes we were with ended up tipping their canoes over, then we got to freeze our toes helping to empty them!  By the time everyone was back to shore, most of the kids had shifted to swimming and were having a blast splashing and running around.  After a full afternoon of waterfront time, it was time for supper (hot dogs, chips, carrots, leftover casserole, Kool-Aid), camp rules since all the campers had arrived, a session taught by Pastor Brian, canteen run (I helped Grandma, and got a Butterfinger), Capture the Flag on the beach, songs and snacks (cupcakes with banana frosting), and bed at 11:45.

Tuesday, July 19 -- Woke up around 8:00; waited for all the campers to arrive for breakfast (pancakes, hot dog "sausages", oranges, milk); helped with our team chore (washing dishes); did cabin inspection with another counselor, Lillian; helped with a session and craft Grandma taught; had lunch (hamburgers, carrots, apples, water); did chores (hauling water); assisted with a canteen run (grabbed a Kit-Kat bar); and sent the kids off to Pilgrim Hot Springs.  Seats were more than filled, and I had gone four years ago, so I was happy to let others go who hadn't experienced it.  I spent the afternoon relaxing -- visiting with the other counselors who stayed, playing Skip-Bo, and even trying my hand at adult coloring (probably not patient enough to try it at home).  Then the kids were back for supper (salmon, rice, stuffing, fruit salad, water), games and a lesson, another canteen run (peanut M&Ms), songs and snacks (chocolate cake), clean-up, and bed at 12:45.

Wednesday, July 20 -- Each day's wake-up time gets a little later as the week goes on...today was around 8:45.  After breakfast (French toast, oranges, milk) and chores (we had set the table the night before), there was a session/craft time while I did cabin inspection with two other counselors, the ever-popular shirt signing, lunch (salmon salad sandwiches, chips, Nestle Crunch bar, water), final canteen run, and then the kids headed off to Pilgrim Hot Springs again.  It ended up raining yesterday and today, which prevents the campers from spending any time on the beach, so Pilgrim is a good "plan B".  Grandma and I spent the afternoon busily working on making canteen change for all the campers, finishing the treat bags, and packing away everything from the canteen.  What time was left I filled with reading my Bible, playing another game of Skip-Bo, finishing my coloring page, and helping set the table (we try to do that so when everyone gets back, they don't have to wait for supper).  Indeed, when everyone pulled in after their busy afternoon, supper (ham, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, water) was much appreciated.  After our chores (hauling water), I ended up quickly packing and catching a ride back to Nome with Grandma, Agnes, and a few other people who had come out to camp just for the day.  It was unexpected but nice to get back into Nome, take a shower, talk about camp over the leftover chocolate-peanut butter-candy crunch ice cream, and go to bed at midnight.

Thursday, July 21 -- I woke up by 8:15, got ready, and had loads of fun fixing omelets for the three of us for breakfast.  I stuffed them with ham, cheese, and onions, and there wasn't a speck left on anyone's plate.  A little bit of a banana bagel with peanut butter and milk went with it really well.  After cleaning up and washing dishes, we hit several places for various errands, "just looking", and shopping -- Nome Senior Center, Nome Nugget newspaper office, Nome Post Office, Miruskiya's (I found a very pretty ivory ring), Hansen's, and two unsuccessful attempts to hit up Chukotka-Alaska (it hadn't opened yet).  A couple hours later, it was open and we marched in with high hopes.  I found my dream Russian nesting doll, which I had set my eyes on last week and really loved -- it's about one-and-a-half feet tall and pretty heavy.  I was obviously meant to have it, because my fairy godmother Val texted me saying she wanted to buy it for me, and it was still there after five days!  Along with it, I grabbed a few other small items (mostly free), and we headed back to the apartment.  Grandma got some great bargains, and Agnes nabbed all 413 Russian cards (assorted Christmas, Easter, etc.) for free!  She filled four bags full with them and didn't pay a penny!  We laughed and treasured our bargains over a picked-up lunch from Pingo Bakery & Seafood House (crab pizza -- crab meat, spinach, mushrooms, and garlic on sourdough crust; a lemon curd bar; water), then I carefully wrapped up all my delicate items and packed them strategically in my suitcase.  Hopefully the TSA in Nome, if they had to open and inspect my bag, replaced everything exactly the way I had it!  For my final hour or two in Nome, before Pastor Karen took me and two other counselors to the airport, Grandma, Agnes, and I had a little birthday cake ice cream with pieces of chocolate-chip and peanut-butter cookies from Pingo, then said our good-byes.  The flight from Nome to Anchorage was right on time, arriving just before 10 p.m.  I grabbed an Unalaskan Carry-On (a veggie-filled pita pocket) from Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Company in the airport, and enjoyed it (along with a little bread from a loaf I bought at Pingo, a Snickers bar, and water) while people-watching.  My flight from Anchorage to Portland took off at 12:45 a.m., which I was able to catch some sleep on despite less-than-comfortable seats on the plane.  I have now been at the Portland airport since about 5 a.m., and my final flight to St. Louis leaves around 10:30.

I'll make a brief final post when I have arrived home, but I'd like to give my "closing profound thoughts" (or something like that...I'm not really that eloquent) now.  This was a truly wonderful experience.  It was so lovely to come back to Alaska, spend some time in Anchorage, learn new things, try new foods, meet new people, and then see Nome again.  I got to be a part of what will hopefully positively affect 32 young people's lives.  I may have only had three short days with them, but they were days full of fun, laughter, and teaching them about Jesus Christ's love for each of them.  I didn't teach any lessons or crafts, or lead any games, but I was able to interact at mealtimes, during chores and canteens, and use my position as a counselor to show them my love for Christ.  Sometimes what we do means more to them than we realize...when I was getting ready to leave Wednesday evening, I was running through the dining hall and saying farewell to anyone with earshot.  One of the boys on my team was sitting by the door, and he stood up, moving toward me without saying anything but acting like he wanted a hug.  When I opened my arms to him, he just melted into them.  In this instance, actions spoke louder than words.  I didn't need to say anything, and he didn't need to say anything -- we just understood each other.  I probably won't ever see him again, but the sweet boy wanted to show his appreciation nonetheless.  Gosh, I won't hide the fact that I was fighting back some tears as we drove away!  It is as I said earlier before I headed for camp, if I could influence even one life, it was all worth it.  Considering I also had several girls hug me enthusiastically as I headed toward the van, I would say I accomplished that!  I loved being around all the fifth and sixth graders, meeting awesome people with a deep passion for sharing their faith with young people, revisiting with people I met four years ago, and drinking in the peaceful solitude of the camp.  I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back, but if I don't, this couldn't have been better.  Praise God for his many blessings!

Sleepy Dog Mountain covered with fog

Capture the Flag on the beach

Shirt signing

Almost all of the group -- campers and counselors

Our plane from Nome to Anchorage

On the way to Anchorage!  We were flying over the Alaska Range at this point and there were some mountains visible in the distance.  It was so pretty!

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #9

Today I woke up around 7:00 a.m., did some exercise, had breakfast (peach turnover, oatmeal, milk), and read awhile until the church service at 11:00 a.m.  It was so nice to visit with the same people we saw four years ago, and they remembered me.  After church was fellowship hour, where we shared a wonderful lunch of caribou stew, fresh bread, crackers with caribou sausage and cheese, and lemonade.  Now we are getting everything packed up to head out to camp in about a half-hour, so this is the last post I will make for several days.  I ask for your prayers for all the campers' and counselors' safety, and for us to be effective at sharing Christ's love and forgiveness with all the children who attend.  As I remember saying four years ago, if I can even affect one life for Jesus, it's all worth it!  Blessings to all of you, and I will be back Thursday or Friday (July 21 or 22) with a full report on the week's activities!

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #8

Today I slept in until about 10:00, which is so unusual, but a week of less-than-great sleep and getting stung by a bee yesterday can contribute to extra-tiredness.  After a quick breakfast of grapes, a peach turnover, and milk, I spent awhile on indoor exercise and Bible reading.  That felt great!  Then Grandma and I walked to Pingo Bakery & Seafood House, a tiny little cafe with three tables and 12 chairs.  Parties of two are asked to share a table, so we were seated with two nice ladies who work at the Nome hospital.  One of them was originally from Columbia, Missouri, so we had a good laugh over it being "a small world", and enjoyed visiting while we ate lunch.  I had the halibut pizza, which was really more like a flatbread -- fresh fish, tomatoes, cheese, spinach, and bell peppers on a soft, airy crust.  We split two cookies, peanut-butter and chocolate-chip, and took fresh cinnamon rolls to go for breakfast on Monday.  There is no scheduled breakfast time since many campers are still traveling in.  Across the street from Pingo is Chukotka-Alaska, or "the Russian store" as we call it.  Unfortunately, it is in the final stages of closing down, so everything was 75% off.  We were able to nab some fantastic deals on Russian-made products, so now I have a few surprises for my family when I get home!  Upon my brother hearing about the sale, I had to make a second trip back to get him a Russian nesting doll as he is "fascinated by them", in his own words.  I got the second-to-largest one they had, so it's pretty good!  There's 10 individual dolls; the largest is about 10 inches tall and the smallest is a tiny 1/2-inch (at most).  I have to admit he's not the only one fascinated by them...I love them, too, so we'll both enjoy it!

By about 6:45, it was time to start fixing dinner so it would be ready by 8:15 or so, when Agnes arrived.  She is Grandma's friend from Minnesota and the fabulous camp cook.  It was great to see her again and brought back tons of memories from four years ago!  We enjoyed visiting and reminiscing over a supper of chicken seasoned with Parmesan and sweet basil, peas, cinnamon applesauce, garlic bread, and ice cream.  Now it's time to go to bed!

Russian nesting dolls

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #7

My apologies for being a day late on posting this.  We arrived in Nome safely and on time, but I was unable to have access to Internet until this afternoon.

Friday, July 15 -- Our week in Anchorage is over!  We woke up at 6:15, had a quick breakfast (yogurt parfait, fresh fruit, a croissant with slivered almonds on top, cranberry juice), loaded all our bags, and drove to the airport to return our rental car, check in, and wait for our 9:50 a.m. flight to Nome.  By 11:45, we had landed, picked up our bags, and were at our apartment in Our Savior's Lutheran Church, which is the church Salmon Lake Bible Camp is run through.  We have plenty of bedrooms, a living/dining room, and a bathroom, and we can use the church kitchen for any cooking or baking.  It's great to be back in Nome!  After lunch (peanut-butter/almond-butter bagel, pretzels/crackers, water), we spent most of the afternoon settling in (or napping).  I helped Grandma unpack a lot of the boxes she had mailed up here, and finally we headed out to walk around a bit, go to supper at Milano's Pizzeria (I had the eggplant Parmesan, served with a salad, spaghetti, and garlic bread), and come back to the apartment for a little ice cream.  Bed in our cozy rooms was around 11:00.

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #6

Today I finally got to sleep in until about 8:30, which felt really nice.  After breakfast (yogurt parfait, an oat-raisin muffin, fresh fruit, orange juice), we drove north to Wasilla and visited the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters.  Highlights were riding in a "summer dog sled" (aka cart on wheels) pulled by Alaskan malamutes and Huskies that competed in this year's Iditarod, holding a little Husky puppy, and meeting Joe Redington, Jr.  He took us on the cart ride and is the son of the man who developed and organized the present-day competitive Iditarod.

A little before noon, we headed north again on the Parks Highway, stopping briefly to eat lunch (bagel with peanut butter/tuna wrap, banana, peanut-butter bites, water), and eventually arriving at the Denali View South.  Four years ago, despite entering and spending quite a bit of time exploring Denali National Park & Preserve, we were unable to see the crown jewel due to such thick cloud cover.  This time, it was brilliantly clothed in sunshine and the crystal-white peak was perfectly clear.  A short hike up a trail brought us out to an unobstructed view of the highest peak in North America (20,310 feet or 6,190 meters), Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley).  The sheer size and power of it, even from so far away, is utterly breathtaking.  For awhile, all you can do is just stand and reflect!

Finally, after drinking in the gorgeous views, we started the long drive back to Anchorage, stopping for maple-nut ice cream at Millers Store in Houston, Alaska.  It's really good, especially on an 80-degree day (not kidding).  We got back to our B&B around 6:30, got most of what we could organized and packed up for flying out tomorrow morning, had supper (various leftovers), and are now getting ready for bed.  We'll arrive in Nome around 11:30 in the morning tomorrow.  It's been a great week in Anchorage, albeit too warm!

Ready to "mush"!

Loving on a little Husky puppy

Mt. Denali

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #5

Today we were up at 5:45, got ready and had breakfast (the rest of the yogurt parfait and cinnamon roll, assorted fresh fruit pieces, orange juice), and headed to the Alaska Railroad Depot in downtown Anchorage.  We boarded a little bit before 8:00 a.m. and were heading north by 8:20.  We saw several moose, which unfortunately I was unable to get any pictures of because they were always running away from the train!  We also saw many beautiful mountains, including Mt. Denali way far off, and glacier-fed streams rippling with icy water.  It was a clear, sunny, warm day, perfect for enjoying a short train ride to Wasilla.  Once we got there around 9:45, we walked to the Dorothy G. Page Museum & Visitor Center, operated by the city.  I think it will be my most favorite museum of the trip...nothing against the other ones we have visited, but this one hit my sweet spot.  There wasn't information overload or vast, seemingly-unending rooms full of outstanding relics.  It is small and simple, yet portrays the history of Wasilla, the area's gold-mining past, and the Iditarod connection extremely well.  It is divided into two levels, and I especially love the entrance to the basement exhibit room.  It has been painted to look like a mine shaft (see the picture below), and it's so realistic that I did a double-take when I first started down!  Across the street from the museum is a historic village display, with homes, shops, a school, sauna, and post office moved to their current locations when the city began expanding and "modernizing". They are very well-maintained, and it is a joy to see the city and individuals taking care to preserve their past.  We were able to eat our lunch (a bagel with almond butter, chips, an orange, a homemade chocolate-chip cookie from the Krazy Moose Subs shop -- housed in Wasilla's former country store, cranberry-grape juice) on a nice picnic table in the midst of all the beautiful buildings.  Finally, with some time to spare before our train came to take us back into Anchorage, we just browsed through a few shops, then went back to the depot.  It turned out that our train ended up being an hour-and-a-half late -- due to the unrelenting sunshine and unusually-high temperatures, the track was literally warping, and driving a train over it at high speeds could cause it to break.  Obviously, for safety's sake, they had to slow it down quite a bit, which delayed things.  It all turned out okay, we boarded and enjoyed dinner in the bistro/cafe car (Alaskan cod, rosemary-roasted potatoes, coleslaw, and splitting a lemon-lime tartlet and chocolate moulton for dessert), and by 9:00 p.m. we arrived in Anchorage.  It was a lovely day to ride the train and explore yet another Alaskan city.

Beautiful Alaskan wilderness on the Denali Star train ride

It is very hard to see since we were so far away, but in the middle of the picture, way off on the horizon, is Mt. Denali.

The stairway down to the basement of the Dorothy G. Page Museum.

Inside the Denali Star train

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #4

Today we woke up around 6:30, got ready and had breakfast (some yogurt parfait, half a cinnamon roll, pineapple, cranberry juice), and headed to the Alaska Native Heritage Center to spend the morning there.  We went there four years ago, but there's always more to see and pick up on the second time around.  It is a non-profit educational and cultural center celebrating 15 years of preserving the history of the native people of Alaska.  There is a walking path that leads past six replica native dwellings of the Athabascan, Inupiaq/St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Yup'ik/Cup'ik, Aleut, Alutiiq, and Eyak/Tlingit/Haida/Tsimshian people; indoor exhibits; stage with ongoing demonstrations; theater with various shows; and much more.  We walked around the "village", watched impressive native games and song/dance demonstrations, caught a show in the theater about the native winter games, and enjoyed a beautiful day full of sunshine.  Then we went to a nearby park to eat lunch (tuna wraps, a banana, carrots, honey-oat bars, water), followed by a drive down to Alyeska Ski Resort.  We also visited there four years ago, but it was a lot warmer and way less snow-covered this time.  I hiked around for quite awhile at the top of the tram, dreaming about the day my whole family can come ski here and see this beautiful state that I love so much.  We purchased "ride-and-dine" tickets, so we got our suppers to go (Italian sandwich, fries, a pickle, "mystery bar", water) at the deli at the top of the mountain, then headed back to Anchorage around 5:00 p.m.  It is always wonderful to see more of God's beautiful creation, especially the mountains that I adore.  I could never get tired of seeing them!

Native Heritage Center

Driving out to Alyeska on the Seward Highway

At the top of Alyeska 

A view from the top of Alyeska

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Day #3

Before I begin today's blog, I would like to recognize this post as my 100th entry!  I am so blessed to have enjoyed many amazing trips, and to be able to share them with all of you.  I hope you like reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.  Here's to 100 (and many more) posts!

Today we woke up around 6:45, greatly appreciating eight or nine solid hours of sleep instead of four!  After a good breakfast (English muffin with wild Alaska honey, blueberry muffin, fresh fruit, cranberry juice) and getting our stuff in order, we headed to the Alaska Experience Theater to watch the Earthquake feature.  It's a short, informative show on the Good Friday 1964 earthquake that was just unimaginably powerful.  It's hard to believe how much our planet can shift!  Next we walked to the Alaska Law Enforcement Museum, a free spot housing lots of great information and artifacts from the history of policing in Alaska.  A highlight is the restored  1952 Hudson Hornet patrol car (yes, like "Doc" Hudson in Cars!).  We also went to the Alaska Veterans Museum, another small non-profit (admission is $3) with information, photos, and items recognizing Alaska's involvement in military history.  The 1:72 scale model of a WWII-era aircraft carrier is especially impressive.

Following the "morning of museums," we went to the Anchorage Museum for the afternoon.  Prior to entering it, though, we ran into the Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall to go to the bathroom and get a little pistachio and vanilla frozen yogurt, topped with blueberries and cookie dough, to go with our lunch (a banana bagel with peanut butter, carrots, an orange, water).  The museum is the premier one in the whole state of Alaska, covering thousands upon thousands of square feet...and currently undergoing construction to expand it yet again!  Spread throughout the four floors are Alaskan art galleries, over 10,000 years of history, a discovery center, and much more.  It could be considered information overload at times; there's just SO much to see and read!

After spending our afternoon in there, we went to the Brown Bag Sandwich Company to get supper in said brown bags to-go.  It was only about 4:30, so we decided to drive down to the Hilltop Ski Area, the Anchorage community hill.  Its charming one chairlift, two surface lifts, 290 vertical feet, and handful of runs made me think about Hidden Valley, my home hill.  We met a summer operations manager, Rick, who was SUPER kind and unlocked the lodge so I could go in to get a trail map and brochure for my brother.  He also took us all the way up the mountain in his utility vehicle just so I could take pictures of the amazing views!  It was cloudy, so we couldn't see Mt. McKinley, but if it's a clear day, you can.  What ended up being a quick "picture stop" turned out to be an incredible adventure!

Finally, after a wonderful second day in Anchorage, we headed back to our B&B to eat our brown bag suppers (I had the Day After Thanksgiving sandwich, multigrain bread loaded with turkey, Havarti cheese, and cranberry relish; chips; a pickle; chocolate chip cookie; and water).  Now it's time for another day to end so tomorrow can come with more exciting adventures!  Blessings to you all...and if you are friends with me on Facebook, you can see more pictures and videos from yesterday, today, and the coming days as I add them to my album.

The 1952 Hudson Hornet patrol car at the Alaska Law Enforcement Museum

The view out of the fourth floor of the Anchorage Museum

Hilltop Ski Area

~Anna

Alaska Trip -- Days #1-2

I am back again, this time coming to you from Anchorage, Alaska!  Four years ago, my grandma, brother, and I were driving here for our seven-and-a-half week trip of a lifetime.  This time around, we just took the airplane.  Grandma and I are spending several days touring around Anchorage before flying to Nome on Friday for the Bible camp she has been helping with for 26 years.  I will be a counselor for the first week of camp, then I'll fly home alone.  She will follow two weeks later.  I am so excited and blessed to be able to get away for two weeks, and I owe a huge thank you to my mom for caring for my horses, and to my family for supporting my desire to get away one last time before I begin college in August!

Last night (Saturday, July 9), we flew out of St. Louis at 6:30 p.m., arriving in Seattle, Washington, around 8:50 (Pacific time).  Our flight from Seattle to Anchorage had a gate change, so we ended up walking around quite a bit of the airport.  We had just a few minutes before they started boarding, and by 12:30 a.m. (Alaska time), we had landed in Anchorage.  Getting our suitcases and rental car was a breeze, followed by a very short drive to our bed-and-breakfast, Bach's Bed & Breakfast.  Glenda Bach, the owner, was so welcoming and kind, even at such a terrible hour!  Please consider supporting her if you are ever in this area.  After settling in, showers, and bedtime routine, we were asleep at 2:30.

Just a few short hours later, we were up to have a delicious breakfast (blueberry muffin, yogurt parfait, orange juice), get ready, and go to Anchorage Lutheran Church for the 8:30 service.  We so appreciated the welcoming members and staff.  After a quick stop by the B&B to change and grab a few items, we drove to Kincaid Park to walk on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.  We logged about three miles, saw two moose, and enjoyed beautiful views, sunshine, and perfect temperatures.  Then we headed to peaceful Sitka Park to eat lunch (tuna wraps, carrots, a banana, cheese curds, water), and back to downtown Anchorage to rent bikes for the afternoon at Pablo's Bicycle Rentals.  They were very nice and helpful, and we quickly set off for a fun few hours.  Grandma went on a three-wheeled bicycle at her pace, and I took off for somewhere between 25 and 30 miles.  I did the whole Coastal Trail, plus additional miles from where it ends in Kincaid Park.  We both had a fantastic time and are so glad we decided to do it!  It really gives you a different, greatly-varying perspective of Anchorage.  Of course, we were hungry after that, so we picked up a Hawaiian pizza at Uncle Joe's Pizzeria to take back to the B&B.  Yummy food to fill our tummies, a forthcoming shower, and early bedtime tonight will end the first day of our Alaskan adventure.  Please check back each day to see what else we do!

A moose on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

Looking toward downtown Anchorage on the trail

Bicycling along the trail

Grandma and me at the end of our rides

~Anna

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event -- Day 5!

Sorry this is late to be posted!  I got home and was very busy unpacking, organizing, and getting back into the swing of life.  Hope you enjoyed reading about my Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event trip!

After one amazing weekend packed full of the top equine athletes in the world of eventing, it was all over -- just like that.  When we woke up at 7:45, it was a bittersweet feeling that we wouldn't be heading back to the Kentucky Horse Park for another incredible day.  After breakfast of a sausage, biscuit, muffin, fruit, cereal, and orange juice, we checked out, loaded the car, and headed to Claiborne Farm for a morning tour.  This historic, huge breeding farm for Thoroughbred racehorses has been around for over 100 years and was where Secretariat was bred and stood as a stallion.  We got to see the breeding shed, stallion row, and cemetery over the course of our hour-plus tour.  Our guide, a stallion handler/groom, was a knowledgeable, funny, and personable young man who obviously adores his job.  He pulled out two of the 10 stallions standing at stud for all of the guests to take photos with -- Orb and War Front.  I got to pet each of them, as well as feed a peppermint to Blame.  That was a wonderful opportunity!  Claiborne's breeding program runs from February 1 to June 5 each year, and they allow no more than 150 mares bred to each stallion during that time period, which is far lower than most surrounding farms.  All 10 stallions are assigned their own groom, who makes sure their counterpart gets his daily bath, peppermints galore (they run through about 7 pounds per week for all of the stallions), lots of grazing time, food, water, and everything a horse could want.  The level of professionalism and attention to detail is very evident anywhere you look.

Ending in the cemetery was a fitting way to close out a great tour -- we walked around, looking at the gravestones and taking pictures of many of the well-known racehorses like Princequillo, Riva Ridge, Gallant Fox, and of course Secretariat.  He was fully embalmed, placed in a specially-ordered casket, and buried with his legs arranged in mid-stride and his chin tucked down into his chest.  It was a very special experience to stand where one of the greatest racehorses of all time is now in his final resting place.  For a record side note, his heart truly was about three times that of an average horse.

Finally, we started toward home, stopping briefly at the Thoroughbred Center to find out a little more about its huge training complex, then on to Indiana.  We stopped at the first rest stop o enjoy a nice lunch of leftovers, tapioca pudding, avocados, fruit, trail mix, and water, then drove on (one stop for fuel in Mt. Vernon, Illinoins) until arriving in beautiful St. Louis just before 6 p.m.  I couldn't have asked for a better weekend and a sweeter friend to spend it with than my amazing godmother, Val, and I really hope to go back some day and experience it all over again.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Kentucky Horse Park and/or Claiborne Farm, I highly recommend it.  It truly made this weekend the "BEST WEEKEND ALL YEAR!"  Thanks to my parents for taking great care of my horses while I was gone, Val for being a super-generous travel buddy, everyone who helped us out, and my Lord Jesus Christ for protecting our travels and giving me a fantastic end to my last year of high school.  On to new adventures!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Orb yawning!

I got to pet Orb...

and War Front!

I fed Blame a peppermint!

Me next to Secretariat's grave

~Anna

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event -- Day 4!

Unbelievably, today was the last day of Rolex!  It sure flew by for us, as I'm sure it did for the competitors who have worked SUPER hard.  We were up and going by 6:40, had a quick breakfast (cereal, yogurt, banana-nut muffin, orange juice), and headed to the Kentucky Horse Park just in time to catch the Final Horse Inspection.  A lot of other people had the same idea, so unfortunately we couldn't get near the rail for photos.  Instead, we settled for a nice spot right on the fence which offered incredible viewing of all of the competitors before and after the jog.  To explain what this "jog" is -- before the competition even begins (the day before dressage, Wednesday), all competitors are required to present their horse to officials.  They put on very formal clothes (men in suits; women in dresses or business formal), lead their unsaddled horse out to a short lane to walk and trot, and move on.  Besides a great photo opportunity for fans, the competitors are showing that their horse is sound (no limping) and in good health/condition.  This morning was for the exact same purpose, although the horses were undoubtedly much more tired from two busy days of competition.  There was one horse that wasn't approved, and a few others that weren't initially approved but re-presented and were accepted.  It was a very good idea to get up early to watch this.  There's no other opportunity to see the horses in their entirety, unhindered by tack, gear, or rider.  They are truly beautiful animals -- big, glossy, and pure eye candy for horse lovers!!

After spending our morning enjoying a parade of fashion statements and gleaming horses, we headed for Rolex Stadium.  It wasn't too long before the opening ceremonies started for the final phase of eventing, stadium jumping.  We enjoyed a quick lunch in our seats (tuna wraps, tapioca pudding, bananas, chocolate-nut bars, trail mix, water) before the real action started.  The order of starting was from worst to best, so as each horse and rider finished, the excitement edged up a notch.  When it was down to the final 20 -- the best of the best -- everyone perched on the edge of their seats, nervously waiting for the inevitable rail to fall and placings to change.  Ultimately, the 2015 champion (German Michael Jung riding Fischerrocana FST) became the 2016 champion, garnering trophies, ribbons, a Rolex watch, money, and the infectious cheers of everyone in the stadium.  He and his lovely mare did beautifully all weekend, and it was a joy to watch him ride (along with all the others)!  A full list of results can be found on the Rolex website.  Especially awesome for me was seeing Elisa Wallace ride Simply Priceless around the course with only one rail down and no time faults, boosting her from 26th in dressage, to 14th in cross-country, to 8th overall at the end!  I am so happy for her and in shock that I actually got to see her ride in person!

Following the lovely awards ceremony and victory gallops, and a quick farewell walk around the grounds, we headed back to our hotel to regroup, then off to supper at El Rancho Tapatio (a Mexican restaurant, in case you couldn't figure that out).  The Fajitas Tropical (chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, and pineapple), served with rice, beans, lettuce, and sour cream, was delicious, as was the Xangos, chimicheesecake topped with caramel and chocolate sauce, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar, and vanilla ice cream.  It was certainly a fitting end to a weekend that will never be topped...the "best weekend all year!"

Michael Jung and Fischerrocana FST after their inspection

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless after their inspection

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless in stadium jumping

Victory gallop!

~Anna