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

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event -- Day 3!

Today we woke up at 7:00, got ready, enjoyed breakfast (such a good variety of yogurt, eggs, sausage, fruit, breads, and juice), and headed for the Kentucky Horse Park for the cross-country phase.  Everyone else was excited about watching it, too, as evidenced by the fact that our exit for the Park was backed up quite a bit.  We had to get off on the shoulder to wait.  Once we finally got through the gates, we headed for the start box and finish line (they're right next to each other).  We got to see several horses start and finish before we headed for other jumps.  We didn't get to see every jump, but we saw most of them and we definitely saw the most exciting ones!  We loved the incredible photo opportunities despite the constant drizzle.  It never poured, but it maintained enough to saturate everyone and everything.  We both worked hard to keep our cameras in plastic bags, safely protected from any droplets of water, but we did pull them out anytime a horse was coming over a jump we stationed ourselves at.  My poor camera's battery obviously got a tiny bit of water in it around noon, so we headed into the bathroom to use the air dryer and get it clean and dry.  After that, it worked perfectly.  Whew!  We had lunch in the Rolex Stadium (tuna wraps, trail mix, fruit, and water), which was nice because the big screen was showing the live stream of cross-country, so we could keep watching the riders, even while we ate.  Cross-country wrapped up over an hour early, so we walked around the trade fair a bit, then headed to our car to drive around the area and admire the beautiful, expansive horse farms.  After a quick stop at our hotel to change out of wet clothing, we had supper at Ramsey's.  The food was very delicious (I had lemon-yogurt chicken, yellow squash with onions, sauteed spinach, apple fritters, cornbread, and water), but we did have to wait over 45 minutes.  I think it was worth it, though, especially considering we walked about 11 miles today!  We ended the day with frozen yogurt at Orange Leaf...pineapple topped with strawberries, chocolate topped with hot fudge and cookie dough, and red velvet topped with white chocolate chips was my choice.

We really enjoyed watching each competitor fly around the course today.  The extreme athleticism of the horses and riders is astounding, really making you appreciate the work that is put into this event.  After the last team went through the finish, we were allowed to walk around on the cross-country course, and I must say that no photograph is able to accurately depict the massive size of each jump.  Even the "simplest" ones are huge -- in terms of width and height!  I am amazed, in awe, and humbled at the talent that I saw today -- just three or four feet from my face, the best eventers in the world were galloping by.  Yet another reason why, despite rain and foul weather conditions, it's the "best weekend all year!"

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive (USA) start the cross-country course

Tim Price and Bango (New Zealand) have a mishap on the next-to-last jump.  He ended up falling off and is finished for the weekend.

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless (USA)

Post-cross-country cool down -- Phillip Dutton and his team with Mighty Nice

Val and me at the final Rolex jump, fashionably decked out in our rain gear

~Anna

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event -- Days 1 & 2!

I cannot believe it, but 2016 is my senior year of high school!  For my "Senior Class Trip", my godmother, Val, and I headed to Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.  Just click on that link if you're not aware of this amazing four-star event (the only of its kind in North America).  As their motto says, "Best Weekend All Year", and we would definitely agree with that after just one amazing day at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Thursday, April 28, 2016 -- We decided to head out around 4:00 p.m. this afternoon, arriving in Evansville, Indiana, to spend the night at a Comfort Inn.  It was a good idea to break up the drive and enjoy a relaxing evening.  We had supper at Stoll's Country Inn Amish Buffet, which offered a huge variety of food for a very reasonable price.  We went to bed at 10:45, excited for the next day!

Friday, April 29, 2016 -- After getting ready and having a quick breakfast (banana, biscuit, chocolate-chip muffin, orange juice), we headed for the Park, arriving around 11:00 a.m.  We parked (best parking job all day, according to the attendant), entered, and headed straight for the Walnut Ring to watch a demonstration.  Elisa Wallace and her Mustangs, Fledge and Rune, were showing off their incredible skills and bond.  She is the one who inspired me to adopt a Mustang way back in November 2014, and I admire her devotion to her horses, incredible training talent, and the fact that she is competing at Rolex this weekend with Simply Priceless, an Australian Thoroughbred.  They also competed here last year and did very well.  I even got her autograph at the end of the demo!

Of course, there's also plenty of opportunities to browse the booths housing horse industry mainstays, pick up the good freebies, and find a good bargain (hot pink English saddle pad for $15, anyone?), so we did that next.  We enjoyed lunch (tuna wraps, apple, tapioca pudding, water) as the Pony Club showed off their skills, browsed the booths a bit more, watched some dressage competition and warm-up, watched some competitors in the Retired Racehorse Thoroughbred Makeover, and experienced the Land Rover Test Drive.  When else do you get to drive a minimum-$85,000 Range Rover Sport, get it muddy and dirty, and not have to pay for anything?!  Land Rover is a huge sponsor of Rolex, and this was so much fun.  We went up, down, and across hills; through two feet of water; and over a bridge.  I highly recommend it. :)

Finally, to end the evening we ran in the Rolex Kentucky Twilight 5K Run.  I set a new personal best (by minutes) of 21:28 minutes.  Wow!  That was a super fun run on a beautiful course in perfect weather conditions.  I cannot believe I actually ran that fast.  I was third in my age group (female), and I actually beat all but one of the males in my age group.  They provided grilled cheese sandwiches, bananas, granola bars, spicy pepper snack sticks, and water for a nice dinner, then we walked around Rolex Stadium (where they will be holding the show-jumping on Sunday), and finally we headed back to the car and our hotel about 20 minutes south of the Park.  All of the incredible events that happened today definitely proved to us that we are at the "Best Weekend All Year!"

Elisa Wallace with her Mustangs, Rune and Fledge

Getting Elisa Wallace's autograph and meeting Fledge

Dressage warm-up

I drove this Range Rover!

Thoroughbred Makeover demonstration

Val and me after the 5K

~Anna

Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #9

Today we woke up at 5:45, had a quick breakfast (cereal, an egg, a cinnamon muffin, a doughnut, milk), loaded up, and were heading for home by 6:35.  We drove without stopping to Grand Island, Nebraska, where we got fuel and went to the bathroom in less than 20 minutes.  Afterwards, we made and ate lunch on the road (peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich, nuts, an apple, IKEA cookies, water), then drove on non-stop to Kingdom City, Missouri, for our final fuel and bathroom break.  At 8:20, we pulled in our driveway, a beautiful site for a somewhat-homesick girl.  I immediately went out to see and feed my baby girls (aka my horses, Pearl and Blondie), then came in for unpacking, organization, supper (pasta, homemade bread, juice), a shower, and now a very late bedtime.

I truly enjoyed this trip, as I do every other one I have been blessed to go on.  I am thankful God gave us the time, ability, and finances to take off for nine days.  We skied for six days in a row, four in sunshine, which is a new record for us!  We tried new foods, skied at four new resorts and one "familiar friend", reveled in the beauty of God's amazing creation, and enjoyed quality family time.  I thank our Lord for keeping us safe and healthy, especially since we logged over 3,000 miles on the road.  As I said above, I enjoyed this trip, but since this was the first time all four of us left since getting horses, I think I really gained a deeper appreciation for the simple pleasures of home.  Getting up each morning and going out to feed my girls, sleeping in my own bed, having everything in the familiar locations -- these and many more things mean more to me than ever before.  I have been given a gift of gratefulness and I will never look at my life at home the same way.  Even when things get very hectic and stressful (hello, tomorrow!), I know that I will be able to remain peaceful and calm (mostly).  I will remember the wonderful memories of yet another lovely trip, but I will also be content and happy in "daily life".  I encourage you to take a broader look at your life.  Even if you're feeling down and stuck in the same old routine, look up at the world around you.  Be positive and count what Jesus has given you, not what you don't have.  Maybe you can't take that vacation to some exotic location, but you CAN be a light for the Lord in your everyday life.  Remember whose you are and that He loves and cares for you beyond comprehension.  It is the amazing Father God who gave me a new perspective on life through a nine-day ski trip.  He is who I cling to day in and day out, no matter what.  And when I fall, He's there to pick me up, help me, and forgive me.  He will do the same for you if you believe and trust in Him.  It is my sincere hope and prayer that you already or will experience this.  Thanks for reading, have a blessed day, and until next time....!

~Anna