Some Adventures Up North

Hi Friends,

Last week Kendall, Liz & I took the 182 up to Yellowknife and back for some commercial training. It was a great trip. We managed to do it in a day - so no sightseeing this time.


It was gorgeous blue skies up to Fort McMurray and then we entered the smoke from the nearby forest fires.
















This was a great experience to fly in minimal visibility. After a quick fuel stop in Fort Smith, we finally popped out of the smoke just outside of Yellowknife, landed, switched pilots and started our flight back.


The smoke was much thicker on our return trip as we climbed and descended to try to increase our forward visibility.
















As we approached Fort McMurray for the second time, we immediately met blue clear skies. (Look at the wall of smoke!)















We landed and taxied for fuel. Unfortunately, due to the nearby forest fires, our type of fuel was commonly being used for the bird-dogs (those aircraft spotting fires) over the last few days. Thus, one company was out and the other was just about to fill a fuel truck which would have taken several hours. The man we were speaking with seemed pessimistic that we were going to be able to leave that evening. I said a quick prayer that we would find some fuel, and several minutes later, a fuel truck was sent over to us. We filled up and in short time we were on our way.


The weather held out the rest of our flight home. By the time we reached Edmonton, it was night and in those first 30 minutes the sky was BLACK with limited references on the ground. Kendall commented that what we needed right then was a bright moon and some stars. About an hour later, a HUGE orange moon rose and many twinkly stars. It was gorgeous. We touched down in Three Hills at 11:30pm. A successful trip was had by all!

Courtesy of the weather network that evening.

Perplexed

If it were up to us, we would never feel it. We do our best to avoid it. Ironically, however, it is here in this place where we see more of Him. When we are at the end of our own strength, our own efforts, our own resources, it is in our desperation that the Lord reveals Himself to us. We cry out and He responds.

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God. He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears." 2 Samuel 22: 7

He promises, "He shall call on Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble and I will deliver him and honor him. (Ps.91:15)

Why then, after experiencing His closeness do we return back to our own efforts, our own strength, our own resources? Only one word comes to mind...

Baffling.

Three Beautiful Women

On this Mother's Day, I want to honor three beautiful women. Women who have shaped and strengthened me and have helped me to become the woman I am today.

My earliest memories of my mom were at night. I was terrified of the dark and especially thunderstorms and many nights I would stand next to her bed whispering her name and she would open up the covers to let me slip in. I remember sitting on her lap in the rocking chair in the quietness of the living room when I was sick. She would rub my head and I was gone:) In the summers as I got older, Mom would take us down to the pool and on the way we would pick up some white powdered donuts and she would make us some orange tang. I lived on peanut butter sandwiches - yet in her creativity she would make "sailboats" by turning one quarter sideways. I laugh at this to this day:) She put up with all sorts of april-isms....hang butter and rolled down socks. Mom has encouraged me to continue to press on towards my dreams. My mom is caring, kind, and very funny. She works hard to take care of our family and I love her so much.

My Grandma P. has always been very much a part of my life. We spent a lot of time at her house when we were kids. Their yard had trees and a stream and green grass...funny what kids feel are important! I had a ton of eye doctor appointments when I was little and Grandma drove me a lot. If we were sick or had to leave school Grandma always took care of us. I loved going to her house. She would make Sunday Dinner every Sunday for the whole entire family. Grandma is not your typical grandma. She is quite spunky:) Last year I took up Highland Dancing and her and I did the fling together when I visited last summer. She's in her late 80's now. Grandma knows the word of God and is a faithful prayer warrior. It encourages my heart to know that she prays for me every day both morning and night. Gosh I love her!

My sister is 8 years older than I and though it was challenging at times when we were younger, our relationship is much tighter now. Because she was so much older than my brother and I, she became the token babysitter - much to her chagrin.
I remember when I was little, we would wake up at 7am on a Saturday morning and play soccer in the basement. For whatever reason she could not fully appreciate that her door was the best spot for our goal and quite frankly my brother wasn't a great goal keeper. I'm sure you can imagine her reaction ;) It was a long time before I would grow out of being the annoying sister to a friend. I always looked up to her. Just last month I had the chance to spend a lot of time with her and it was wonderful. It blessed my heart. She is a strong and beautiful woman. She keeps her head up even when she's dealing with very difficult circumstances. She laughs easily and looks forward to hearing my stories. I so appreciate her friendship and am so thankful that she is in my life. Love you Lisa:)