Monday :: Part 2

Well I wasn't intending on having my Tuesday play out like a Monday... but I set my Monday "work from home" alarm so I got up when I should've been halfway to work already.

Then there was road construction and a detour.

Before I left work, though, I was going to be wife of the year and finally pick up Buffalo Wild Wings on the way home – since hubby hinted I drive by there every day (not really) and never bring it home – then remembered halfway home that he golfs on Tuesday nights. Good thing he is not opposed to leftovers.

But the sticking point was...

I feel like I got the best car wash ever on Sunday and when I saw the dust storm, I probably said out loud, "Are you effing kidding me?" to my audience of no one in the car. Ugh.

When I got home, I followed Taylor Swift's advice to shake it off.

I grabbed a t-shirt and took a walk...

It was still windy (obviously) but not dusty. Also, the t-shirt brought back a lot of great memories! 

So it turns out that only about 30% of people hoping to see Denali – the biggest mountain on the planet as far as I'm concerned – actually get to see it. And my sister Renell and I did when we were there about 5 years ago.

The day we were actually in Denali National Park, we did not see it. We're like, how can we not see it if it so huge? We see all these mountains, but that's not it? No, said Mr. Park Ranger, you'll definitely know her when you see her.

And when we did see her the next day, it was like wow, she is three times the height of these "normal" mountains and impressive as heck. 

Today's life lesson: So if you're experiencing a Monday repeat, just remember, there could be something great lurking in the clouds, just waiting to reveal itself!

May we all be part of that 30% Club!

Faith to Move (or See) Mountains

Most people know I like to take pictures of sunrises and sunset and yes, even clouds. When I pulled up to a stoplight on the way home and saw this, I immediately thought, "Hey, that looks like Denali!"

If you've ever been to Alaska, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, here's the legitimate scoop from Robyn-pedia.

Denali (aka Mount McKinley) is the tallest mountain in North America, rising some 20,000 feet. I can't think of anything to compare it to, but that's huge. Yet, sometimes you can't see it.

What?! How does a massive pile of granite play hide and seek? Well, in simple terms, it's so tall, it can create its own weather pattern and therefore, clouds to hide in. I'm serious! When my sister Renell and I were in Alaska a couple years ago and touring the national park named after Denali, we didn't see it all day. And then, when we did see it the next day, we exclaimed, "How the heck could we miss THAT?"

Well, all those mountains just above the trees in this photo are pretty big mountains. They just aren't "The Big One," as they call her, in the background. Since only 30% of tourists actually see Her, we felt extremely fortunate. As for the other 70% .... I mean they don't doubt Denali exists, do they?

It's like our current family situation is filled with big mountains right now. But even though we can't see God – the real Big One – we believe He's there. Thankfully, He shows Himself to us often enough, we don't forget.

How does He make His presence known? Oh, when Mom or Rachel have good days. Or even on bad days when He puts the right medicine in the doctors' hands to fight the next mountain of infection or other steep climb.

Thanks for working hard, Big One, even when we don't see You!

Tonight I saw a special movie that further reinforced my faith in, well, having faith!

Our local theater had a special preview showing of Unsung Hero – a remarkable true story following David Smallbone as he moves his family from Down Under to the States, searching for a brighter future after his successful music company collapses. With nothing more than their seven children, suitcases, and their love of music, he and his pregnant wife set out to rebuild their lives. As the story unfolds, Helen's faith stands against all odds and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs. And while their own dreams are on hold, the parents discover the musical talents of their children–who, of course, go on to become two of the most successful acts in Inspirational Music history: five-time Grammy Award-winning artists for KING + COUNTRY and Rebecca St. James.

Wow.

Even that was the Big One peeking out from His own weather system to say, "I'm here! I've got you."

Great story, great movie, and great music, too! Spoiler alert: The mom is the Unsung Hero. Find the song and listen! And, if you need a pick-me-up or reminder of how faith can move mountains, go see the movie when it comes out this weekend. And bring tissues!

Hopefully that's the only tears I'll need to shed today. My two favorite patients had pretty stable days today. 

Thanks, Big Guy.

Good Old Rocky Top

Every year of our sister weekend, my twin and I have an opening act. This year we created our own lyrics to "On Top of Old Smoky" but also had a random dance to "Rocky Top." Here are a few images to accompany it! 

Flying in.

From our cabin/vacation rental. 

Just Smoky Mountain views out the van window...

And the reason they're called The Smokies.

Of course we had sunset views, too!

And normal "these layers are pretty awesome" views, too!

By the end of our week, I learned that just hanging out with mountain views was pretty awesome and NEEDED for a vacation vibe. I also realized there is a certain relaxing Zen feel in the mountains.

Thanks, mountains, for secretly providing this for me!

Close to Home

Hard to believe a year ago today was when my sister and I first laid eyes on the majestic Denali mountain. And we've never been the same. Still gives us goose bumps when we think of how big that mountain is! Crazy.

Now this summer we're just close to home. Her Friday was spent working at a lake in Minnesota somewhere and mine was watching a baseball game. Of course!

I know. A free night and I grab my camera right away. But it worked out I could watch one of our Legion teams in action. The 16U team coached by our Assumption baseball coach was playing down in Nekoosa. I knew more Nekoosa kids than Rapids kids because only one Royal – the coach's son Nolan – is on that particular team.

So I got some nice pictures and had a nice visit with another member of the Coaches' Wives Club and got to see a win. Cool! 

It's still windy and still dusty around here! So I'm going to have to figure out how to really clean my camera lenses before other photographic fun begins for the summer. 

Even though there's nothing like last year's scenery in Alaska, I bet there are plenty of photo-worthy sights to see close to home.

I'll be looking.

Good Ol' Rocky Top

The landscape of America is so diverse. I am fortunate I've seen hills and valleys and both sea shores in my various travels through at least 36 of the 50 states. I might have to recount. My favorite landscape is the mountains – not so much the Green Mountains of Vermont or the White Mountains of New Hampshire, but he Rocky Mountains. And hopefully the those in Alaska. 

And in close competition is the rock formations and various color schemes found in area like the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Sedona and other canyon areas in the desert Southwest.

When we were flying out to Phoenix, we saw a bit of each. After I work up from my flight nap, that is. Since we were up at 4 a.m., I zonked out quickly on the plane. But suddenly I awoke and turned to Raylene and said, "We should be seeing mountains at some point."

I literally pushed up the window blind and this was our view! Whew. Timing!

So I want to share some of those Rocky top scenes since we don't always get God's view. 

See the juxtaposition of red desert and granite mountains? So cool.

And what's the deal with the crop circles? Is it secret code to aliens?

Of course I had to look it up and of course there was an answer on the internet. They're from irrigation systems that pivot in a circle.

Crack-a-lackin'! Is it sand or a river?

And this little mountainous area popped up in the middle of nowhere. Reminded me of pictures of craters on the moon.

I bet the river running through that horizontal "crack" in this picture is gorgeous to kayak on!

Desert sands. Reminds of Red Sands Beach right here at Lake Wazeecha. But bigger.

And we landed in the populous desert area with mountains in the distance.

There's so much to see in this beautiful country – from the ground up. Thanks for flying with Robyn's EyeView Tours! ha.

Got Itinerary, Will Travel

Felt normal today and that was good because I had a huge to-do list! How do you hunker down at the kitchen table to plan for an Alaskan trip? The easiest way is to be at the same kitchen table (thanks for coming, Renell) and promise to reward yourself with King Cone.

Well we had lunch and King Cone around 1:30 ish after getting halfway through our plans. Then we hunkered down and got our 9 days loosely planned – just enough to know in general where we wanted to start and end each day with some possible activities or scenery in between. 

Timed our late dinner at Anchor Bay just right to see the sunset afterward and get a selfie (of sorts) in the cold rain! Yup crappy weather, but we did get a short walk in around the neighborhood and a run in when we dashed off this floating dock and ran to the car to get dry!  

Jim had a full day away, mainly visiting aunts and uncles, so he got home just in time to lose, er play, the 3 to 13 card game with us. Food, entertainment, laughing... just like a sister weekend – but with a lucky bearded guy as a bonus!

Now that we have our trip planned out, we're pretty excited to just get going. Only 51 days away! I don't doubt I'll be dreaming about glaciers tonight.

The 27-degree temps outside may really make it feel like Alaska, too. Enough of that, Mother Nature!

9 Weeks and Counting... Down

Two months or 9 weeks. Either works for me. Just can't believe I'm already this close to my Alaskan adventure!

My sister Renell and I are meeting up in a week and half to talk strategy and set a very loose itinerary to explore as much as we can – based on a ton of recommendations, thanks – while still relaxing. We don't want this to be stressful! 

We'll be concentrating our fun in the Anchorage-Kenai Peninsula area. It reminds of when I saw the Grand Canyon and thought it was huge. Then looked at the map and realized we'd only seen this teeny tiny part of it!

This is big o' Alaska. The center of the circle is Anchorage and the oblong blob circle represents more than we'll see actually. The top half of the blob is the Denali mountain sight-seeing part. That little peninsula below Anchorage is where we'll see some glaciers, whales and wildlife, and the towns of Seward and Homer, plus the Homer Spit – which a lot of people know about apparently.

Leave 9 weeks from today and have 9 days there. Travel at the front and the back end of the trip and we still have a full week of wild time. I mean wilderness-ish. Not wild women! Well, we are veterans of the annual Hedberg sisters' Wild Women's Weekend.

But wild, really? Highly unlikely. Wild for us will be staying up 'til dark – and that's pretty late since the sun will be out 19 hours and 22 minutes per day. 

Oh this is gonna be wild! 

North to Alaska

Where the river is windin' big nuggets they're findin'
North to Alaska go north the rush is on
North to Alaska go north the rush is on

– North to Alaska (Johnny Horton)

Waking up to subzero temperatures today meant it was actually colder in central Wisconsin than in Anchorage, Alaska. In fact, they got up to 33 and we were most in the teens. However, in both places they predict 3-6 inches of snow tonight.

Why do I care? Oh I don't care so much now, but in a few months I will... Actually 142 days to be precise.

Yup! Major, major Bucket List trip coming this summer! No, not hubby and me. He's not a traveling sightseeing type. I'm going with one of my sisters! 

In mid-June, my sister Renell and I will fly direct from Minneapolis to Anchorage on a Tuesday, then tool around in a camper van until the following Thursday. And in between, enjoying all the beauty that is Alaska and taking our sweet time. Since we'll be there during summer solstice – like I was in Sweden 2 years ago – it'll be the "land of the midnight sun." It's like an extra few days of vacation, in our minds.

So 10 days of little sleep, little showering, but hundreds of miles and thousands of photos, to be sure.

Cannot wait!

We for sure will go north of Anchorage to the Denali area and then south of Anchorage to Homer and Seward. What route we take to get here and there and what we'll see remains TBD. We have determined Denali first since we have some park tour reservations. Everything else is loose.

Two of our sisters have gone and have some ideas for us. If you've been in that area of Alaska – by land – and have favorite spots and sights to see, let me know. We'd love to see glaciers up close, some eagles and other wildlife too, without having to book a bunch of extra tours. 

Plus, we'll likely still want to be socially distancing then. Actually, a few days of non-showers and that'll take care of that! 

In the meantime, don't judge me if I starting singing Johnny Horton's "North to Alaska." I'm just that excited! 

Western Window Seat

My quick jaunt out to the West Coast and back can be summed up in two words: Window Seat. As in pictures out the plane window, the rental van window, and seeing some amazing windows at the customer we were visiting for work.

Your window seat to my quick trip to Portland, Oregon, area...

Mount Hood to the right upon landing.

The football field length green house.

"I don't do windows." Do you?

Fall color were at peak out there. Yay!

Just gorgeous! And temps around 60. Nice!

Saw a rainbow! Well, they "made" one for us!

Candy shop on way back to hotel. Had to pose on Wednesday since it was Dad's birthday in heaven and I needed to show him the nut doesn't fall far from the tree!

Sunset at the greenhouse. Just no words. Other than: Wow. 

Took long way to airport so we could see Mount Hood again – this time from van window in Vancouver, Washington.

Definitely some photo editing here so you can see it through the haze. Darn camera phones!

And last window seat view: I think Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. Mount Hood is just to the right off camera. I did not have the window seat. Just leaned over the guy next to me. Thank god I work with him!

Still, you get the idea. Beautiful area out there. We were about 90 minutes from the coast so no time to run out there. But it was highly productive and we had excellent video shoot so it was a worthwhile trip.

I'm not sure how I can have such jet lag, but my idea of a fun Friday night looks like getting to bed at 9 o'clock! Thanks for riding along.