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My Favorite Sport

The Iditarod

I don’t remember when or why The Iditarod became something I began following.

Alaska 2003 – Part 1

That’s why visiting the headquarters in Wasilla was important to me when Cerwin and I visited Alaska in 2003.

We had fun getting a short dog sled ride while there.

The team that pulled us finished fifteenth out of forty-eight in 2003

I will always remember how quiet it was.

We also stopped at Susan Butcher’s house and kennel during a river boat trip.  She was a four-time Iditarod champion.

She and her husband were not home that day, so skilled musher, Jesse Royer, introduced us to the dogs.

In this scene she explained the responsibility of each dog in the team.  These dogs could hardly wait for the word that told them to go.  The entire kennel was going crazy because this team was hitched up and ready to race.

A short time later, we got off the boat and visited an Athabascan village.  Jesse was there to give us more details about sled dogs.  For that reason, she is a musher I enjoy watching.

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The race began yesterday, and as of today there are ninety-five mushers.

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These are a few of my favorites, and their current standings.

Left to Right:  Jesse Royer (21), Mitch Seavey (2), Jeff King (4), DeeDee Jonrowe (7)

Aliy Zirkle (9), Lance Mackey – last year’s winner (11), Martin Buser (13)

Paul Gebhardt (15), Jason Barron (38), Ray Redington, Jr (41)

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These are familiar names to me, but I enjoy following the entire race, learning about the leaders, the rookies, and those who race year after year.

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I admire them for the training and stamina it takes to race across frozen land in freezing temperatures for so many days.

God’s Word stands firm and forever.

Isaiah 40:8 MSG

Photo Shoot at Cabela’s

My favorite part of visiting Cabela’s is that I can take unique pictures without scuba diving, or going on a safari or hunting trip.

The Aquarium

Now that catfish has a pair of lips!

Taxidermy Displays

I love just standing and admiring these magnificant creatures.

I’ve read that zebra’s stripes are never the same.  These three prove that.

 There were so many people admiring the elephant, that I settled for a photo of its eye.

It’s always fascinating to stand and observe everything that is going on ~ not only in the foreground, but also in the background.

This is my favorite scene at the Hamburg, PA, location.  It reminds me about the lesson oxen teach us – the principle of never turning our back on our enemy.

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Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7 

(Notice satan does the running – not us!)

I was again surprised at the small features of the antelope.

It took some talented taxidermists to do the layout and design for this place.

This describes the previous deer.

I had a great time traveling through Cabela-land and experimenting with my new flash, and overheard several people say, “I wish I had brought my camera.”  I was glad I had mine.

Get down on your knees before the Master;

it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

James 4:10 MSG

Hanging Out With the Boys

A day with boys is certainly different than a day with girls!

We were off to Cabela’s by 9:30 a.m.  This picture is a bit deceptive, because I think it was the only time they were quiet.

They are so much fun.  Today they were asking questions about our dating and Grandpa’s cars.

Discussing lunch plans before leaving Cabela’s.  Since this was Josh’s birthday celebration, he got to choose – and the choice was Burger King.

Our next plans were to go bowling, however every alley we tried was hosting leagues, so we just came home.  Cerwin and I relaxed while the boys enjoyed more GameCube time.

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I took lots of pictures at Cabela’s, and will post them tomorrow. 

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Tonight I Had a Date.

(with Cerwin’s approval)

Someone trained him well – he even brought me a flower.

The other week when our son, Jere, called to see if I had a certain evening open, he said, “I’m trying to plan a date night.”

I asked, “A date with me or Kristen.”  (I knew he wanted me to babysit.) 

His reply, “I must do that sometime, Mom – take you out on a date!”

He even borrowed a friend’s Cadillac.

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Cerwin took the boys to Two Cousin’s Pizza.  After supper they came here, and the boys cleaned up, packed their bags, and headed home.

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Jere and I went to T. J. Rockwell’s

We shared this plate of fries (smothered in bacon and cheese) for our appetizer.  Yum!

 Both of us chose “Lobster Bisque in a Bread Bowl” for our meal.  It was delicious.  We discussed dessert, but decided we’d had enough.

 Thanks, Jere, that was a neat evening.

Use wisdom and understanding to establish your home;

   let good sense fill the rooms with priceless treasures.

Proverbs 24: 3-4 CEV

They’re Here!

Here they come.

Our three oldest, Pennsylvania grandsons arrived on their own – with Jordan driving.

It’s the first time that we didn’t have to pick them up for a birthday sleep-over.

What fun to see them arriving in Jordan’s first set of “wheels”, his dad’s 1979 Chevy truck.

Overnight bags were in the truck bed.

It didn’t take them long to take over the “kids” room.

After supper they competed in a GameCube game.  It must have been fun, because there was a lot of noise and laughter – music to our ears.  I love watching and listening to children and teenagers having great fun.  It creates fabulous memories for adulthood.

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They have big plans for tomorrow:  Cabela’s, eating, and bowling – and probably more eating.

This sleep-over is to celebrate Josh’s thirteenth birthday, and Jordan’s sixteenth-and-a-half birthday.

Love endures through every circumstance.

I Corinthians 13:7 NLT

Chapel Construction

Communications Meeting

Today was a milestone for the chapel which is under construction for TransCanada Truckstop, Lickman Road, Chilliwack, British Columbia.

Cerwin pulled the rig out of the shop and took it to be sandblasted – then to the paint shop where it will spend the next two weeks.

This is what it looked like in October when it arrived at the TFC shop.

Our grandson Jordan and Norm Getz began removing decals at the end of December.  Cerwin and some of the volunteers spent several days removing the rest.  He said it was one of the most time-consuming jobs of this construction.

The interior is almost finished.  Cerwin expects it will be ready for its trip to the west coast by the end of March.

I love seeing a tractor (or “prime mover” as they call them in Australia) in our driveway.

It was here for several hours – until the sandblasting was finished on the trailer.

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I go to the International Office (Marietta, Pennsylvania) about once a month – and this was one of the few workdays this month that Cerwin wasn’t there. 

Mike Hayden, Inge Koenig, Lynn Kolb, Howard Moses, and JJ Landis

The Communications Team uses this time to brainstorm, share ideas, and stay in touch.  (Notice the flowers and birthday cake on the left.)

This happened to be the day after Inge’s birthday, so we were able to help celebrate.

She thought the pretty roses from her brother, Werner, in Brazil, would add some beauty to our meeting room.

Werner, you made a great choice.  They are beautiful.

So closed the day of February 28, 2008

Love always hopes.

I Corinthians 13:7 NIV