A Mother Wishes

Sam...
I know this must be one of the hardest days you have ever had...and, I might not get the chance to say this to you when we call to say good-bye tonight...
but I just want to make sure you never doubt our faith in you, our love for you, or that you are our first thought every day and our last prayer on our lips every night.
We have so much pride in your strength, courage and valor and we will just keep looking forward to the day of your return and what a glorious day that will be..
God is asking us to be patient, to wait, to learn and to grow and be transformed in all that is possible by knowing Him as we must to get through this absence and worry that we have over our time away from you and the challenges that are asked of you in what you are doing...
but God is sovereign and He blesses us each new day and He will bring you back sooner, than later...I know that.
Be strong, be smart, be alert and don't ever not be the "soldier you"...You are amazing, you are awesome...You always have been Sam...it overwhelms me to watch you and know you and glorifies us to have brought you into this world...such a gift from God and He is in you more each day...We can see it.....
So, know we love you, I love you...you are my son and be all that you are, you do us proud and we will see you just as soon as we can...
You know we will do anything for you...Gretchen included...never fail to ask (except maybe move to Alaska!)...that can be discussed at a later time...but Go with God...have His peace and carry His flame and ours with you Samuel...
I love you, Mom

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Confession and Forgiveness

We confess to you all the ways in which we dismiss the resurrection news. Foolish and slow of heart to believe, we turn from others and retreat in fear. Come into our locked rooms and breathe into us your forgiving Spirit. Reawaken our trust and strengthen our hope, that we may be witness to your saving power.
Amen

Classic Cross Country Skiing- Sam Style

Gretchen Crusing, AK Style

What U Got?

Alaska's newest licensed driver
Surprise!! I passed the drivers test
I'm pretty cool cause' I got an AK drivers license, what u got?

Who's got an Alaskan Drivers license? I DO!!!! HAHAHAHAHA, yeah boy.
No more VA, hello AK.
Enjoy! (Don't be jealous, ok, do be jealous....)
Cheers,
Sam

Change!!

"There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse, as I have found in travelling in a stage-coach; that it is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place."
Washington Irving
Tales of a Traveller

Chugach Mountain Sunday

Yesterday was another gorgeous day backcountry cross country skiing in Alaska. We did about 8 miles out Powerline Pass Trail in the Chugach Mountains, south of Anchorage. It's getting towards the end of the season so the snow is much slower, pretty soon it will all be slush.... Afterwards we devoured a Moose's Tooth pizza and several pints of there fine microbrew!!!!

Enjoy the attached photos.

~Sam & Gretchen