Re-Living Alaska 2011 in 2026 Monday and Tuesday July 13-14

What do I mean re-living the 2011 trip?  In 2011 we went to Alaska with Michel and Stephen.  Stephen had just been diagnosed with ALS.  He could still walk and talk.  I took lots of pictures as usual, thankfully.  I had a ruptured brain aneurysm 11 months after the trip.  The only thing I remember from the 2011 trip were things I took pictures of.  So here we are in 2026 creating new memories and re-living old ones. Things were different this time than the pictures I took in 2011 for sure. More rain, more clouds but I didn't care.  It's really impossible to describe what it felt like to know that I had been in Alaska before but have only memories because of pictures.  Here I was again and I was more than excited!  

We landed in Anchorage and drove to the White Moose Lodge in Healy, Alaska. Healy is about 11 miles beyond Denali.  On our drive we saw a beautiful rainbow. God's promise! What a glorious representation of God's promise not to flood the whole earth again. 

Our first wildlife sighting was on the road to our destination.  

Not ol

We made it to Denali. This is one of the shopping areas.  We did do some serious shopping here. Onward to the White Moose. 

Here it is, simply beautiful.  A small room with two beds, a bathroom, microwave and a small refrigerator.  It was perfect.

Might Mike!

Mike made a quick trip to the store which was about a half a mile from where we were staying.  More wildlife right by the White Moose!

On Tuesday we headed to Talkeetna for our plane ride around the mountain range and a glacier landing.  Neither happened.  The weather got in the way of our ride in the plane and the landing.  I wore the exact same clothes I wore in 2011 hoping to recreate a picture I took on the glacier in 2011.  That didn't happen.  We booked the plane ride on the first full day we were in Alaska so we had room to reschedule.  We decided to get some breakfast in Talkeetna at the Homestead. 

Here he is again.  Mike!

We did some shopping in Talkeetna!

If this isn't precious I don't know what is.  Mike had a real fondness for this hat.  He really did!

I think he came close to buying it and he really thought long and hard about it.  He is adorable. He never bought the hat.  

There is a story here.  I was on the other side of the street and Mike was outside this store.  There were two women walking behind me.  I looked at the store and I remembered it! I shouted to Mike, "I remember this store!"  Pretty sure I shouted that twice.  I had to explain to the two ladies behind me why I was so excited.  I gave them the short version of my aneurysm.  They were amazed.  I didn't remember it because of a picture, I just remembered it!  I was so excited and I actually teared up.  God is good!  I wish I could describe how that felt. 

We headed back to our home base. We rescheduled our plane ride for Thursday.  One memory came back and several more created.  I am so thankful!! Words on a page can't describe what being back in Alaska was like!

Learn to Burn Concert May 30, 2026

I finally did it.  My guitar teacher, Roy, has asked me several times to participate in the recital he has for all his students.  It was really a concert.  All these songs were played by bands that were put together from students Roy teaches.  The concert was held at my Roy's house.  It was so much fun.  I played Made in America by Toby Keith. 

We had a practice before everyone got to the concert. We estimated about 250 spectators. They are staring to file in.  

Can you see Mike?  Arms in the air.  I didn't invite anyone except Mike because I didn't know how it would go.  I will invite anyone who wants to come next time! 

The stage.

A pulled pork potluck before the music started.  So good! This was a big party. Lots of good conversations happening. 

Above are all the people that helped set this up.

Here we go! 

These girls were great singers! 

 

I was nervous driving to the house but once I got there I wasn't nervous at all.  It was so much fun. 

Here are a couple of videos Mike took of the band I played with.  This was the first time the singer had performed in front of a big crowd.  There were several first timers at this event. 

This was a such a good time and I look forward to doing this again.  Lots for great food, conversation and music.  

2A Fastpitch Softball State Tournament 2026

The Deer Park Stags fast pitch softball team qualified for the 2A state tournament.  I am looking from the outside in but what I see is a team that truly works together, loves softball and they really care about each other.  So fun to watch! I say that all the time, fun to watch. Mike and I took off early Friday morning to get to the team's first game.  After all the pictures I have taken I learned something new.  I put the camera on repeat and it keeps taking pictures as long as I hold the button down.  When Lucy does something great, which she does a lot, I want to see exactly what she did so I take the my finger off the button.  That's OK but sometimes I miss capturing a sequence of what she was doing.  

This field was a bit challenging for pictures in some ways.  I kept trying from different places.  I went to  the opposing team's side for some pictures.  I didn't like that.  They probably didn't either when I said GO LUCY! I got a couple of looks. 

This is one where I missed the whole sequence.  You can see the ball in the lower right corner. 

She got the ball and threw it.

A bit blurry but this was the celebration for a successful throw that resulted in an out.  

Lucy had a lot of hits.  This was one.  

The supporters!

Love this picture.  Lucy had 2 successful bunts for singles.  Off she goes. 

The ball was in the glove but it was too late. Lucy was safe at first!!! Impressive. 

Scooping up the ball!

Getting ready to make the throw. 

The throw!

Another out!

I missed the sequence here too.  

I got Lucy fielding the ball and missed the throw.  This was right after that throw.  She made some amazing plays all throughout the tournament.  

Kristin got a great video of Lucy's longest home run!  Click on the link below to watch it. (Lucy's Crushed Home Run).  The ball goes a long way. It hits the roof a building behind the field after it goes over the fence.  We are all in awe!

Lucy's Crushed Home Run

I got pictures of Lucy's swing after the ball was launched. 

And her trip around the bases. 

Love this.  Lucy has a big smile. I am not sure what she is looking at, maybe the ball being crushed over the fence.  It was CRUSHED! 

Lucy hit 4 home runs in three games.  Her total for the entire season is 24 home runs. WOW!

I was taking pictures and Kristin asked if I got the ball.  I thought she wanted to know if I caught a picture of one of Lucy's home runs.  Nope! She wanted the actual ball.  They haven't been saving the balls from home runs but the state tournament was different. Those needed to be saved for sure. We found it under a car. 

Kristin's home run poses.  

They didn't go all the way and that didn't matter at all.  It was truly a fabulous experience seeing the Lady Stags come together to play softball.  It is a special team.  They help each other and encourage each other. Lucy was so good!  Her defense was above and beyond what anyone would expect.  One of the players on the Deer Park got injured during the game.  A player from the other team slid into her her with her metal cleats.  It cut her leg open and she went off the hospital for lots of stitches.  On Saturday morning we went to breakfast at the hotel. We met two parents from the team Deer Park was playing and they saw the injury.  Our player was taken to the hospital. She will be fine thankfully.  The parents gave the Deer Park team a great complement. The dad said he sort of expected retribution of some sort. No verbal comments or shenanigans on the field.  His words. There was nothing.  He was impressed. They truly are a special group!!!