Monday, May 18, 2009

Alaska Bound, 2009

Today is my first opportunity to down load photos and send a blog. I've been on the road in my motorhome for two glorious weeks. Photos and a digital recorder enabled me to take lots of notes for writing.
My first overnight stop was at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Tx., where I hiked to the river to see the dinosaur foot prints fosselized in stone.
The following morning I visited the Creation Evidences Museum also located on the Puluxy River. Dr. Carl Baugh presented an informative talk on research that shows how God created the world in six days, and that our Earth is "young", not billions of years old.


After a visit with the Parkers in Paris, TX. I followed their directions to Chisom Trail Cowboy Church where I worshiped with music from a six piece cowboy band, and met many families from the area.

A wonderful visit with old friends, the Stoningers, in Antlers, Ok, and place to park in their yard, I followed their directions to Turner Falls, State Park. Due to excessive rains the falls were full and flowing.
Arrived in Teton National Park on May 7 after a climb from Casper, Wy. to the Continental Divide at over 9,000 feet with snow flurrys. Was greated by the sight of the Teton Mountains beyound a frozen lake.


On May 8, the sun woke me to 17 degrees.
The Teton Mountain range reflected in a section of the lake that was not frozen.





Sassie, my collie and I waited for the South Entrance to Yellowstone to open in several feet of fresh snow. Park Rangers were sanding higher elvations of the roadway where ice had formed. The East Entrance was closed due to a rock slide.


Old Faithful Gyser erupted thirty minutes later than predicted but the sight was worth the wait.Gibbons Falls cascaded in a deep canyon to the river far below.



These bison are only a few of the many small herds of bison I saw along the roadway not only in Yellowstone, but in Canada and the Yukon.






Many of the mineral pools and fumerols were closed to closer inspections due to bears feeding in those locations. There was a "bear jam" at one location were cars were parked along the shoulders as visitors watched a grizzly in the forest.
At Mammoth Hot Springs, mineral laiden hot waters boil to the surface and coat the rocks with colorful mineral deposits. Smells like sulfur.


I met my friends, the Martins, at Wal-Mart in Great Falls, Montana. They live in Manteo, North Caroline in the winter and have spent the past eight years on mission to Alaska.


Sunday, Mother's Day, we attended Fairview Baptist Church in Great Falls. This lovely building was built in 1910. After the service, Dale took Lynne and I out to lunch for Mother's Day. Later we visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Records of their exploration make my travels seem puny.

At noon on Monday, May 11, we caravaned across the US/Candadian border to Lethbridge, Alberta. At the border my GPS, which had not been set, spoke up "You have reached your destination." Little did that unseen navigator know that I wasn't even half way there!


This wind gage was at the Visitor's Center in Lethbridge and was an indication of the winds we were to fight as we headed north.



Two days drive across Canada and we finally arrived at Dawson Creek, mile "O" of the Alaskan Highway. Built in 1942, the year I was born. the lure of the route enticed my first trip in 2002.



This black bear, grazing alongside the highway is the first of the four that we saw along the AlCan. Also spotted were stone sheep, caribou, a moose, porcupine and an eagle.
What a place to camp! The frozen Muncho Lake within feet of my front door. Spruce trees, mountains, Ravens and even a sea gull.




A must stop for every Alaskan Highway traveler is Liard Hot Springs Provencial Park. Even though the air temp was in the 40's, the hot springs entices swimmers with it's waters. We chose to explore the boardwalks and upper springs rather than strip to swim suits.




Another obligatory stop is the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake. A homesick soldier helping to construct the AlCan nailed a sign to a post indicating how far he was from home. Other soldiers and construction workers followed suit, as have many thousands of travelers since.

Many miles, adventures, and days later we arrived at the Alaska border.
Another 100 miles and we arrived in Tok for gas and 100 miles further we arrived at last at Camp Baldwin, Delta Junction, Alaska.
4,678 miles from Beaumont, I thank God for safty and memories of a lifetime.
Until I can email again, Carol






















































































































































Thursday, April 30, 2009

On the Road Again


Sunday, April 26, 2009, Pastor "Big" Jim Salles and my church family at West End Baptist Church, Beaumont, TX, presented me with a love offering to help with gas on my missions trip to Alaska.
After prayer, we enjoyed a pot-luck dinner.
My itinerary includes visits with friends in Paris, TX, and Antlers, OK. then a stop in Yellowstone NP before meeting up with fellow volunteers, Lynne and Dale Martin in Great Falls, Montana.
From there we will caravan through Canada and the Yukon.
While at Camp Baldwin, Delta Junction, AK, I will be joining short term Campers on Mission volunteers to provide maintaince, cook, teach crafts, and do other custodial chores. Lynne and Dale are camp directors. I'm just a general go-fer assistant.
As I travel, I follow the Roman Road that I'm sharing below:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
All means you and me.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. The consequences of unbelief is death, but
"...God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." John 3:16a










"But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.
God provided a substitute, Jesus, who died for our sins.
"...that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16b




"...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
"For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation." Romans 10:10.
"For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
Dear Lord,
I admit that I have sinned and need your forgiveness. I now turn from my sins to folow You. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that He came back to life after three days. I invite You to come into my heart and life. I confessYou as my Savior and Lord.
Thank You for Your love and the gift of eternal life.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Expect to be Empowered!

A Venture in Faith Texas to Alaska, A Road Trip to Recovery, my first contemporary Christian novel has been released by Publications Consultants, Anchorage, Alaska.

Writing non-fiction was a challenge, but after four published books creating fiction has been, and is, a demanding and stimulating undertaking.


Excerpt from the back cover:


"Stalked by her abusive ex-husband and in fear for her life, Leah Gray plans an escape. Leah's faith in God and in humanity shatters when she is forced out of her comfort zone. She secretly purchases a used motor home as a mobile hide-out and prepares to pursue a search for a meaningful life.


Intrigued by her father's stories of building the Alaska Highway, Leah determined to flee into the Alaska wilderness. On her road trip from Texas to Alaska she encounters empowering women who encourage her on her road to self discovery. Leah's fear of men intensifies when she is forced to trust Barrett, an Alaskan mountain man. Can Leah stop running and find healing and love, and return to her faith in God?"


For intrigue, romance and an Alaskan experience, A Venture in Faith is a read that is hard to put down. Available at local bookstores, Amazon.com and from the author.


Follow my blog as I travel back to Alaska for book signings, and to volunteer.


Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Way to Go, Chelsea!

Chelsea is my 14 year old grand daughter. She won an all most all expense paid scholorship to participate in the i-sweeep science fair in Houston. I-SWEEEP, the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering, and Environmental Project Olympiad is the largest science fair of its kind in the world.
I went along as Chelsea's supervisor and chaperone.
Chelsea flew from Orlando, Florida, by herself. Here she is exiting the gate tunnel calling her mom, my daughter, Colleen, to let her know she landed safely.

Chelsea's first chore was to unpack her project board and notebooks, and to set up her display.

Chelsea and I met with over 600 students from around the world, from 60 nations and from 40 states. These girls are from Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany, and France.

On the first night welcoming event, students paraded with flags of their respective countries, through the large auditorium and packed the stage.



Chelsea standing by the large poster welcoming students to the George R. Brown Convention Center.



This photo is a partial view of more than 600 project displays on the floor of the convention center.


Students were treated to a field trip to the Museum of Natural Science, the I-Max and the Planetarium.



And to NASA. Here Chelsea is with a new friend, Piper, from Austin, TX








On Awards Night, Chelsea won an Honorable Mention and $100 for her environmental project in the junior category. She is the tiny white spot between the two men left of center. Proud grandma couldn't get closer to the stage!
With a big grin, Chelsea shows off her certificate.
Way to Go Girl!
To learn more about isweeep, go to www.isweeep.com.
























Friday, April 03, 2009

Art in the Park

Sat. March 28th was the annual Art in the Park in beautiful downtown Orange. The skys were clear. The temp in the very low 40s with high gusty winds and a chill facter that felt like zero. Mother helped man my book booth until the cold and wind forced her inside. The wind blew several tents over.



The young ladies below took shelter in empty Waste Management boxes.



A Barbershop Quartet braved the cold to doff their jackets and sing for us.







Due to the weather the shopping crowds were thin. The beautiful Stark Mansion and other historical building added to the fun.


With paintings, sculpture and jewelry, as well as a variety of other crafts, I heard that there was only one other author on the opposite side of the park. Is reading becoming an eccentricity?


Interrupted narative is common: ie TV movies rudely split by commercials. Has the silicon chip interfeared with our ability to consentrate on reading? iPods, BlackBerrys, and email slang has broken narrative into shorter and cruder sequences. Can our brain endure sustained reading?


I, and all writers, certainly hope so.












Sunday, March 22, 2009

Crystal Beach, six Months after Ike


Last week I joined Texas Diaster Relief teams from several states to cook for youth volunteers who gave up their Spring Break to help clean up the debris along the Texas Gulf Coast.
These flags were attached to one of the pilings that was all that was remaining of someone's beach house.




First Baptist Church of Crystal Beach was the location of the feeding units. The church experienced severe damage and extensive flooding but was still standing. The church made the area news as it was refuge for a resident and his lion. The lion rode out the storm with human evacuees in the sactuary.The picture on the right is of me stirring a tilt-skillet to cook chili for 700 youth that came from Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma and distant areas of Texas to help out.





Notice the long line of hungry workers to the left of the servers. The line waiting to be served seemed to have no end. We often served for 1-2 hours at each meal to get every one fed.


Some of the student volunteers worked in the church hanging sheetrock and painting, while others cleaned the fire station, individual homes and businesses. Other teams cleaned up trash in the area as well as in Galveston.






Of course all work and no play makes for a tiring day.Even the sea gulls got fed!




Volunteering is a satisfying experience wherever you go and whatever you are led to do whether cook, paint or pick up trash.









Saturday, March 14, 2009

dogtober parade

Sassie and I braved the unseasonably cold damp weather to attend the
Beaumont Dog-tober celebration.
Postponed due to Ike until March, the festivities was a time of meeting folks and trying to take pictures of cute dogs, inspite of Sassie pulling on the leash as she tryed visit with all the other dogs.

Here we are visisting with Sparky the fire station mascot.


This little lady has the right idea.

I'm not sure the doggie below is very happy in her
outfit,
but the poodle looks lovely.



All dressed up and ready to go. My camera batteries died before I could capture other fasinating pooches. What fun being a writer. Now if I can think of a story to incorporate the adorable dogs.