An Alaskan Memory Book
The Master Designer's brilliant watercolored creation was fully on display in all her heaven on earth glory . . . and these pictures are a frail attempt to capture just a tiny glimpse of it.
Good breezy afternoon from the porch.
It feels almost tropical today which is kind of odd since I’m sitting here in New England. The calendar says it's summer yet whiffs of fall are all over the place. Recent days have left us wondering whether to reach for a sweatshirt or fling open every window wide.
Go figure.
Capturing life’s daily joys with simple snapshots is one of my therapies of choice. I’m totally in the moment when I’m focusing on an ideal vista, captivated by what I’m seeing, noticing the whiff of a seratonin rush that ushers in a calmer soul.
Our recent trip to Alaska was a long-awaited milestone journey. I’m happy to have sorted through a million and ten photos to share these few with you. Needless to say, they fall far short from doing this magical land justice.
But a girl can try, right?
This mighty mountain shoots skyward right at water’s edge, heading straight up into the awaiting heavens. A waterfall tumbles down, having created a well-worn crevice over time. If you can spot the tiny vehicles on the narrow road, you might be able to begin to imagine the grandeur of this majestic sight.
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A 10-seater float plane took us on an awesome trip to view five massive glaciers in the Juneau Icefield, 1,500 square miles of solid ice. I think I saw a wild goat or two along our 40 minute journey. Tim cheerfully occupied a front row seat, balancing out the pilot’s weight in the cockpit of our tiny aircraft.
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‘You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.’
- Isaiah 55:12
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Built during the 1898 Klondike gold rush, our afternoon jaunt in vintage railcars on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway took us by this abandoned, collapsed section over Dead Horse Gulch. Transported back in time, this was a fascinating journey up through this legendary mountain pathway.
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Our hours near the Hubbard Glacier were probably the only time that thousands of people on the ship shared in quiet awe even as they jostled to capture this indescribable view as chunks of ice silently flowed by. Unspeakable beauty.
‘Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art.’
- Carl Bobert, 1886
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I was strangely moved at the image of this unnamed saint of old at St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church. It was like a divine appointment to spend a few sacred minutes in her presence on my 70th birthday. And I could have sworn I heard Julian of Norwich whisper straight to my transitioning self, ‘All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.’
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No, we didn’t indulge in the world’s longest zip-line, but instead walked the mossy nature trail, spying an eagle’s nest and hearing her beckon us with her call. We wandered through the old salmon cannery, creatively reimagined as a delightful multi-purpose museum/shopping/eatery.
Leaving Tim to poke around onland, I took a solitary walk on the rocky beach and finally spied one lone piece of the ever elusive sea glass. But only after getting all brave and immersing my feet in Alaska’s icy water. It felt a bit like a sacred moment, a solitary baptism of sorts.
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How fitting that my favorite evening photo was taken as the ship began our journey home.
‘Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.’
- Psalm 113:2-4
Thanks for joining me on our Alaskan adventure. I’ve felt blessed and encouraged by your interest along the way, dear friends.
I’ll see you sooner or later. We’re off to see the baby. To say I’m excited would be a vast understatement.
Linda
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Thanks for sharing and loved the Bible verses you chose to accompany them. Gave me chills. 🌟
What a beautiful experience for you and Tim to get away and see the beauty of Alaska! Thank you for sharing the highlights of the beauty there and how precious that you spent that time on the beach and found that piece of sea glass. God's creation is so incredibly inspiring and we are in awe of its magnificent beauty!