I don't know where I'm-a gonna go...

...when the volcano blows!

As many of you know Mt. Redoubt has been rumbling and threatening for a month now and earlier this week she blew her top and has erupted several times since then. Wes and I were out of town during the first few eruptions in a little southeastern coastal town called Seward. It was a nice little getaway, but more on that later.

Between our drive home from Seward, and staying put here in Eagle River we've had plenty of opportunity to encounter ash fall but luckily have not. As you can see Redoubt is about 100 miles SW of us, and so far the wind has not been blowing it this far. This mornings most recent eruption went to 65,000 feet (I think the biggest so far).

Of all the natural disasters I least expected to ever deal with this is probably near the top of the list! (I would kind of like a little lava if we're going to have a volcano) It's a little exciting, mostly because it's pretty far away and has not interrupted my life yet. But pray for safety, I don't want to get too excited while everyone is covering their windows and cars in plastic!

I'll keep you updated (probably through "comments" on this post).

Love,
Elaine

Mush!

Another uniquely Alaskan opportunity. This past weekend were the ceremonial and official starts of the 2009 Iditarod, with 68 mushers and over 1,088 dogs it was quite an event! Saturday morning we drove down to Anchorage to stake out a spot along the 11 mile route through town. We ended up around the first bend about 5 blocks from the start. It was a great vantage point, as we were right up along the berm and could have probably touched the dogs (which would not have been a good idea).
A few Airmen braved the cold to join us (they were of course from PA, MD, and IA so they know what winter is about- it was 11 degrees Saturday). It is always fun to help folks get out and enjoy local "culture". After all, it's not every day you get to see dog sled teams embark on a 1,000 mile journey!

Enjoy the video clip (I just learned how to use this feature).

Elaine

p.s. Track the Iditarod at the Official Site or at Alaska Daily News.

Crisis Week

In the past three days we have received four phone calls from families in crisis situations. The privilege we are afforded of being that support for people in times of great need is one of the things I love best.
In a society that stresses independence, we often lose sight of our own inadequacy to deal with life. We deny that we need the strength of Christ, the grace of God, the support of a community and the shoulder of a friend. We are supposed to be proud, strong, self sufficient, and well acquainted with our own boot straps. But I don't believe those things (at least I try not to).
I believe that nothing good comes from my own strength, but is provided for by the grace of our Creator. I believe God has worked for his purposes in history through communities and families. When God had made Adam, something was "not good", could it be that Adam needed someone else? Of course we know that to be the case.
Satan desires to isolate us in our loneliness and sin. He wants us to think we are alone. But God will not leave us, we are not alone, and we do not have to overcome our sin, our struggle, our pain, or the affects of others' on us, alone. Nothing has seized us except what is common to man. So let us help each other in our struggles together.

Just some thoughts. I love being part of the body of Christ on earth.

Elaine