Yes, it was a year of tough stuff. However, I cannot imagine what I would have done without the abiding Word of God and the Holy Spirit guiding and changing me this year.
We got to enjoy a trip to Arizona and Chicago before the covid animal hit. So thankful for those walk in the park with Sherry and Jess Case.
Work: James was busier than ever when the lockdown occurred in Anchorage, and I was out of a job. He had to figure out how to keep people connected to the church and God while not being able to meet. The hardest part was when Hannah can't go back to Taylor, and Max and Bronwyn are doing online school. My outdoor activities increased as I had no other obligations and needed the "break" by being outside. So many trails to be grounded on.
Some of my new favorite trips included: Spencer Glacier via Fat Bikes, The Bog trail on Classic Skis, Johnson Pass on Mountain Bikes, and the new Little O'Malley hiking trail. New friend emerges (Becky!!) Since she is also limited in her occupation and enjoys outside. It was fun.
Did I mention we acquired a new business in November 2019 and our first big show was delayed until July 22-24? Alaska Vintage Markets was a miracle to have the success after all the pandemic scares that almost destroyed small businesses especially the ones without a store front but they need the "market" to have customers. Thank you God who carried both shows with thousands of participants and no covid outbreaks!
Summer hit us, and as a church we started Sundays in the park. That turned out to be a huge success and will gladly continue in the future (minus the face mask and the social distancing please).
We did get some biking in as the highways were quieter, James and I and our fellow tandem biker friends Dave and Laurie joined us in a journey from Fairbanks to Willow Alaska. So many good and special memories made on this tandem bike. My favorite was our dear friends willingness to camp in the pouring rain in Talkeetna when they could have gone home. Hardest part, climbing into Kesugi Ken campground when we biked 70 miles that day. Laughing. Scariest part was the crazy hills out of Fairbanks. Best food was in Healy that feed us and many others multiple meals! Best value was the $10 campground in Nenana. Thankful for the cribbage games and sweet talks with James.
Then my precious mom who was dying slowly for three years with increased dementia stops eating, then in just a few weeks later dies during the lockdown. I'm thankful for the facetime calls. I treasure our last conversations. Tears come but, grief has come to me in waves. I cherish the joy and kindness she oozed out of her.
Back to WORK! YIPPEE!! But, I am given the hard task as overnight janitor. It was a humbling job, but, thanks to my super co-workers, I never took the entire time because they helped so much. Super thankful on October 1, to see the hired janitors back. Never take that job for granted.
After the September market, James and I head to Spokane and Idaho on another bike trip. This time, we bike straight from the Spokane airport to a cabin in the woods. The paved bike trails were a delight. Other than google maps turning our bike ride into a hike/bike push into the wilderness for journey on a long lost road, it was incredible. We canoed, drank coffee, and ate well.
Going to visit my dear friend Sherry was a delight as she is such an encouraging person. She is still recovering from a head on car crash, but is growing stronger each day. We got to explore new places to hike "wind cave" and also laugh as our one trail turned into a canal walk (too easy). Bronwyn again enjoyed the company of Ben and the pool since its stunning in Arizona.
Seeing my Dad and cousin Sherry after a LONG time was a special treat to warm up in Austin, TX. Bronwyn loved the pool and Austin was so green and fun. So thankful for my family. I got to meet Carol (again) as she has been in my fathers life for a long time and they are together now!
I took some of my travel benefits (thank you Alaska Airlines) and got to see my dear friend Ruth Cunningham in Nebraska! It was so encouraging to see her new life in a new place in the midst of so many changes.
Thankfully, Hannah and Max were both in person at Taylor University. Hannah even got to perform in three different acts. James, Bronwyn, Donna and I got to fly out to see the LIVE theater shows. It felt so good to see and to be taken away on the emotional thrill that theater brings. It was a whirlwind of a trip (less than 72 hours for me), but so worth it. Plus, on the way to the airport, we went off roading and enjoyed some of the towns less visited in Indiana.
In a weird twist of events, we even made new friends! For our last tandem of the year, Tuscon was calling us to come visit. Jack and Julie were the super-host with trail knowledge and bike love. The biking temps were perfect and the hiking Finger Rock was incredible. It astonished me how many living things thrive in the dessert. We also ran into Lael and Rue our biking friends with GRIT in Alaska.
Listening to podcast, I find a new advent adventure called "Shawdow and Light" by Tsh. It was the perfect blend of truth with art and music to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Thankfully, we got to do almost every night as a family. Since hannah and Max came home around Thanksgiving.
Christmas was odd, but perfect as we had Chinese food and went sledding with my weekly adventure buddy Melissa. It was fun to sled down a hill while the Turnagain arm sun set! We added another winter cabin time with the family in Willow and was surprised that it wasn't too hard to get too. We celebrated 23 years of marriage in a two room cabin with a snowshoe hike around the lake. It was the perfect size for our family with two big dogs and plenty warm.
Yes, there are things that I miss and grieve about this 2020. But, the family time, heart changes in my life, and the crazy adventures we were able to accomplish makes me praise my Lord and Savior. I'm so thankful that the outdoors wasn't "closed for covid". We were all safe from Covid virus, but I walked with people who dealt with death, disease, and depression.
Looking ahead...it is still hard to plan for me as disappointment sets in quickly when things get cancelled. But, I will keep looking heaven-bound. God has been the cornerstone the Rock that I lean on.
