July 19, 2009~Sunday We’re headed north! On Thursday (16th) we pointed our p/u and camper north on 93, staying in Kootenay Nat. Parks Redstreak Provincial Park just outside of Radium, BC…a nice quiet place with trees and grassy areas. Redstreak mountain is the source of the minieral springs at Radium (not enough radioactive elements to harm or be of good to anyone…except for the good feelings of hot soaks!) Friday morning we drove the Windemere-Banff Highway (93) to Castle Jct., then headed up the Icefields Parkway and over east to Hinton, then hit the Bighorn Hwy. We missed Gregg Lake Campground where we’ve stayed a couple times so backtracked only to find out most of it was closed because of an improved water system that didn’t work. The lady told us there MIGHT be a spot or two at Cache Creek…or…Halfway…or… Graveyard Lake campgrounds, on a gravel road, the farthest only less than 3 miles (well, she was talking Canadian,eh?…kilometers…so that’s an estimate). We did find room…and others found more room…and more room (one big party)…at Graveyard Lake, a grassy area having about 10 campsites with 17 vehicles, but a pleasant stay as was breezy with no bugs OR bears, as was posted. And no big party. Saturday we drove to Grande Cashe, Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John (free wi-fi at the visitor centre), then onto Skianni Chief Campground on the Skianni River, 150 miles from the start of the Alaska Hwy in Dawson Creek. The weather has been sunny…until last night when it started to PLUNK PLUNK PLUNK…the sound of rain in a camper, actually a very relaxing sound. Today we are on our way to Liard Hot Springs for two or three nights. We’ll see what Fort Nelson has to offer in way of the net to post this.

July 14, 2009 ~ Tuesday
DAY AFTER TOMORROW...LEAVING FOR THE NORTH!!! We have reservations at Liard Hot Springs, BC (3 hours south of the Yukon border) for Sunday and Monday nights. The p/u has been 'overhauled' (air bag fixed, tires rotated and oil changed) and the camper was in at the RV 'overhaul place' today for a burned out ("it was toast" according to the serviceman) Happy Jack jack (at least the third time in three years...business is no longer...wonder why!), a new rocker switch for the slide-out, and a 'new' cord for the p/u lights (running over it and stripping it isn't a good idea). So...tomorrow is pack day...before a foot appointment in the late afternoon...then leaving on Thursday after a hand appointment...both for cortisone injections.
YEA!!!

July 10, 2009 ~ Friday
I am retired...the 2nd time in two years...from school food service and crossing guard and have already traveled to CO to see our daughter and then the Black Hills to meet my sisters and parts of their families. While in CO we went to Manitou Springs, a hippy-like town an hour south of Denver (loved it!!1) and then to the Royal Gorge, a gorge over 1400 feet deep where my niece did the bungie swing and we went down on a 45 degree railcar to the river. We walked over the bridge built across the river on the cliffs...kinda windy and a feeling of dizziness when looking down while walking, but so beautiful...God's awesome creation! Next was Mount Rushmore which never ceases to amaze me. How any man (men!) could have the foresight to imagine what came to be from a granite mountain...the brain, another of God's awesome creations! On the way home we went camping in the Crazies with our oldest son and his family and another couple. Flowers blooming in the meadows...tall Ponderosa pines...the sound of the creek...grandchildren playing...relaxing...peaceful... Our next travel??? North to Alaska next week if all goes well...until...probably sometime in September.

FRIENDS ~ MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Saturday ~ May 23, 2009
Friends are like no other...tuned into your heart and knowing you...even if you've only met once for a few days, or have known them for years. I'm blessed to have friends like that...where you can just pick up where you left off, knowing your thoughts and feelings...sooo sooo blessed!
Memorial Day weekend...was to be a camping weekend, but circumstances have prevented me from joining with family. There will be other times...I've come to terms with it and the pity party is over. Now I'm delving into rearranging the garage, sorting thru papers, cleaning the sewing room...and maybe, just maybe taking a ride tomorrow to Canada for the day...AND remembering those who have gone before, whether it be parents, siblings, friends...in whatever circumstances...and those who serve, who have served, and those who have given their lives for our freedom...sooo sooo blessed!

GETTING READY FOR CAMPING!!!

Saturday ~ May 2, 2009
Yup...camping...in three weeks!!! Have you ever tried to take the mattress off an overhead slide-in camper bed? By yourself>>>turning and flipping it>>>by yourself? Actually, there isn't room for more than one, BUT it's difficult! Then there's the mattress pad and sheet...thanks to friends, I now use a dowel to help get the top end under the mattress. That took a couple hours...
Then...mowed the lawn and dug up sod to make life easier...eventually.
Tomorrow we have a voter's meeting after communion worship at 9:30am...first morning service in a year! And then a bit of shopping...for lawn stuff mostly.
And...we await the arrival of friends from Ohio...the dowel friends;-)...later this week...met them in AK in 2006. It'll be sooo much fun!
Have talked several times with our new pastor...God always knew exactly who St. Peter needed...how awesome is that!!!

NEW BEGINNINGS

Sunday ~ April Twenty-sixth ~ Two thousand nine
...with a new pastor installed today...would you believe TEN pastors and a joint choir of three churches...the singing was AWESOME as was the message!!!
...with a friend who is also a pastor leaving his congregation to be a chaplain in the US Army to serve those who protect us!!!
To God be the glory!!!

EASTER...2009

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!!! HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN, INDEED! HALLELUJAH!!!