ON THE ROAD AGAIN

A friend of ours heard about our "journey of faith, fisher, forests, family, friends and fun" and suggested we set up a Blog. A what? So here we are....on the road again with Bocahontas and Buba. Blessed with the freedom of time, we were inspired by two of our favorite causes. So we organized a road trip to Alaska which should not only be fun but also an opportunity to spread the good word about The Fisher Houses , The Orthodox Christian Mission Center/Programs and some of our National Parks. We are participating in a 2 week Mission in Tyonek, Alaska with the OCMC group in June. Feel free to check out the planned trip on the calendar link. Caribou Cabins? Blue Moose? Tundra Lodge? and our soon to be "favorite" Motel 6. Any and all suggestions, prayers and good karma are welcome and very much appreciated....poor Buba, in a car with Pam for 5 months. Lions, and tigers and bears oh my! Toggle down to the calendar and see where we are over the next months. We ask for your prayers.

Grab yourself a cold one and come along for the ride. Enjoy and laugh along with us viewing the daily blogs which are archived on the left side of this page in chronological order. We started April 22- Happy Trails!

THE LONG & WINDING ROAD

THE LONG & WINDING ROAD

The Fisher House

The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The Fisher House Foundation, through the kindness of donations received, provides "comfort homes" that are built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable America's military families to be together during extended treatment for serious illness or lengthy physical sessions....very much like the Ronald McDonald homes for families of children in a similar situation. We were first introduced to Fisher House while visiting Brooke Army Medical Center (Burn Center) in San Antonio. We were so moved by the dedication and love of the staff and volunteers that we returned for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Currently there are 44 Fisher Houses (more in the works) and our goal is to visit all of them and spread the good word to family and friends. Please feel free to peruse their website for a detailed explanation about the Fisher House Foundation and programs. Perhaps you will be inspired by the work this group does on behalf of our Armed Forces.

Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is the official foreign mission agency of all the Orthodox Jurisdictions (i.e. Greek, Russian, Serb etc.) The goal of the OCMC is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ where it presently does not exist and to establish vibrant Orthodox Eucharistic Communities throughout the world. We have had the privilege and pleasure to admire the work of this organization (headquarters located in St. Augustine, Florida) for years and now that we are retired we have the blessing to participate. We are on the road to Alaska to join a Mission Team in Tyonek for a couple weeks to do some construction and teaching in an Athabascan Indian Village. "If I had a hammer"...you'll be happy to know I deep sixed the acrylic nails in anticipation of caulking and painting. :) Please take a peek at the OCMC web site for details on all of the programs they are involved with throughout the world. And do stop in to see Father Martin and his kind and loving staff when you are in St. Augustine! We will also be visiting family, friends and Orthodox Churches while on the road to share the marvelous work of the OCMC.

National Parks

Most people know that the National Park Service cares for national parks, a network of nearly 400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation. The treasures in this system – the first of its kind in the world –have been set aside by the American people to preserve, protect, and share, the legacies of this land.


People from all around the world visit national parks to experience America's story, marvel at the natural wonders, and have fun. Places like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Gettysburg are popular destinations, but so too are the hundreds of lesser known yet equally meaningful gems like Rosie the Riveter in California, Boston Harbor Islands in Massachusetts, and Russell Cave in Alabama.


The American system of national parks was the first of its kind in the world, and provides a living model for other nations wishing to establish and manage their own protected areas. The park service actively consults with these Nations, sharing what we've learned, and gaining knowledge from the experience of others.


Beyond national parks, the National Park Service helps communities across America preserve and enhance important local heritage and close-to-home recreational opportunities. Grants and assistance are offered to register, record and save historic places; create community parks and local recreation facilities; conserve rivers and streams, and develop trails and greenways.


We hope to see you soon in a national park and invite you to explore the ways we can help you preserve what’s important in your hometown.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

DAY 93 FT. NELSON TO JASPER/ALCAN REMARKS ON PALINS RESIGNATION

LIPSTICK ON A PIG?

Back on the Alcan, there is time for more reflecting. while Buba is thinking about the upcoming TV show "The Policewoman of Broward County". I had the opportunity to meet a writer from Alaska, Tom Walker, at the Kantishna Lodge in Denali. He is also a photographer and an expert on Denali history including his books "McKinley Stations" and "Kantishna: Mushers, Miners and Mountaineers". This guy is in the know about sourdoughs, shoutout's and shady lady's out this way.

Tom saw me reading a Sarah book and taking some notes. "What are you writing?" he asked. "I have known Sarah since she was a little girl". Too perfect..."So what is up with Sarah? Someone mentioned that she will be stumping for some Democrats? huh? "The Caribou eating Hockey Mom from the North? Are the designer glasses getting to tight? Are the high heels getting too high? I had loved her ambition, competitive stubbornness and spirit so how did my Pal become a quitter? What is going on with Alaska's Cinderella? Is this populist reformer putting together a 3rd party? Didn't old big ears Perot try that with wretched results?

Sarah's steely resolve and tenacity is what most folks like about her. Ol'Sarah Barracuda's headstrong nature WOULD HAVE been a refreshing CHANGE in Washington DC....yeah of one believing in Less is More-as in less government. And how about all that transparency not business as usual? Working across both parties? Per Tom, she was really doing this in Alaska until she became an attack dog for the GOP. Sarah then lost her "non-partisan" POV (point of view) and base in Alaska.

A quitter? Well yeah, she "quit" 4 colleges (Univ of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific, North Idaho College,Univ of Idaho) before she actually graduated. Tom mentioned she was on the Fishing board and when the going got rough she quit it several/5x. Her husband (part Native) was involved in the Alaska Independent Party (the theme of succeeding from the US?). So maybe her disjointed resignation speech was really JUST SARAH BEING SARAH-CARIBOU BARBIE....."my Caribou need me" should have been the sign off.

As she stated in her speech "God gave us(Alaska) Energy". So what happened to yours Sarah? Further she stated "Only dead fish go with the flow"- you're right, alive and healthy fish face the current to get the bait/food that is coming down-they don't' jump out of the water. Palin then used a basketball analogy to explain her resignation-the point guard drives through a full court press and knows when to pass the ball on for the team to win. Yup, they don't quit during the middle of the game. And adding more to her litany of why not...having just visited the soldiers in Iraq she said "our soldiers who sacrifice themselves in war for OUR freedom-we can all learn from them"- Yup, that's right Sarah,they don't give up.

In closing this resignation speech she quoted Douglas MacArthur,"we are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction". Whether it was Korea or the Philippines he was referring to, we couldn't hold the position so in fact we did retreat. Yup, just like Sarah. So Sarah, about that Lipstick on a Pig-I was hopping more for Lipstick on a Bulldog.

Posted by Sharing our Journey of Faith at 9:14 AM