Recently Pastor Pat decided that we should start reading Scripture out loud every day at church. So Monday-Friday from 12:15-12:45 you can find us in the Sanctuary reading a chapter of the New Testament, a chapter of Proverbs and a chapter of Psalms. If you care to join us you may. If you cannot make it in person click here for the reading schedule.

This has been such a blessing and a great time of conviction for me. God keeps showing me through the Scriptures we read exactly what I need to work on. Today I was asking Pastor Pat about an area that I was confused in and it turns out I was only confused because I didn't want it to apply to me the way it does. It makes a lot more sense if I don't try to fight the conviction!

I love God's Word! It may be painful at times but I know it is for my best.

This is kind of a random post but to really explain everything would take up so much more space. So, instead it is as the subtitle of my blog says, "the random ravings of a lunatic." Did you expect anything less????

This post is for a couple of reasons...the first is to update on the play. It went amazing!!! I am so proud of the entire cast and crew. Everyone gave their best performance ever and nobody forgot a line!!! I was very blessed.

Secondly Juan came again. I did not see him until after, which is fine because I could not have signed tonight anyway. But I was blessed to see him. He will be here Sunday so pray for more translation miracles!!!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!

I don't really consider myself a writer but for the sake of this post I will refer to myself as one. Many of you know I have written several plays for my church which I then direct and produce for either Easter or Christmas. Well this Christmas Eve is no different. I have rewritten an older play of mine that we performed for Easter quite a few years ago.

Sunday morning I woke up with a mindful of tasks and things that I needed to remember to accomplish. That afternoon was one of our more important practices and so I was beginning to feel anxious. Then as the day progressed and different things happened my anxiousness started to grow. I actually started feeling panicky at some points. I could blame it on a few things that went wrong that day, some miscommunication, and the fact that I felt we were behind in our preparations but it really was not any of those things.

During second service I was in the office working out a few details and just talking to God about my anxiousness. I realized I was not anxious about the cast or crew. I knew they would do a great job. I was VERY nervous about the play itself. What if it turned out to be a flop? It feels like I am taking my baby and showing it to the world, what if the world hates it? God very clearly asked me, "do you trust me for the outcome?" I began to answer as I always would, "Yes, of course," when it hit me that I didn't. Of course I didn't. If I did I would have no reason to be anxious. But my panic, my anxiousness was a clear sign that I did not trust God to take care of this for me. I realized that I was expecting to fail. This was obviously an item for prayer so I spent the rest of my time in the office praying.

Later I had to go to Pastor Pat and ask for prayer as well because I was really struggling with this. The verse "be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and petition let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" kept running through my head. I knew I needed that. I prayed, confessed my lack of trust and asked God for His help.

God has given me a peace. Tomorrow night is our dress rehearsal and then Christmas Eve is our final production. I do not need to worry about how the world will view my baby, because its not really mine in the first place. God has made it very clear that any writing I do that is any good is only through His strength. I cannot write on my own (thats a good story for another post). I have to trust the fact that He has shown Himself through every detail of this play. I have to trust His heart for the people that will see it. I have to trust that even if it does flop He will take care of me. I have to trust.

This is a statement that people often use when they are feeling down. I have begun to realize something about this statement, it is an excuse not to listen to the comfort God has granted. Think about it, anytime you may have said it, or someone else said it to you, it is after someone else was offering comfort.

Granted nobody truly can get in your skin, think your thoughts, and see things with the exact same perspective that you do, but that doesn't mean that they don't have a clue how you feel.

I started thinking about all the times that I have said this and realized that I use it as an excuse to negate encouragement offered. That is a lie from the enemy. It is taking the iron sharpening iron, the comforting others with the same comforted that you have been comforted with, the encouraging others with Psalms, hymns and Spiritual songs and all the other Scriptures about exhorting each other and saying "nope, its not enough."

Please don't negate that which God possibly intended for your help and encouragement. Even David chose not to silence a man who was slandering him because he said, "if he is sent by God then I have something to learn." How much more should we be with something uplifting? Would you look Christ in the eye and say, "You just don't understand how I feel?" If you did, He would extend His nail scarred hand to you and say, "I know the plans I think towards you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope."

Karen came into the office today with a camera. She said, "Look what I found in one of the church Christmas tree boxes." We pulled it out and a small thought started forming in the back of my mind. I looked at the camera to see if there was anything familiar about it but it was wholly unfamiliar to me. We tried turning it on to look at the pictures but the battery was run down. I was still considering this idea that was seemingly unreal to me. Then Karen pulled out a memory card adapter out of the camera case. My idea seemed a little more realistic. We took the card and the adapter and plugged them into my computer. We were looking at pictures of people from church, scrolling scrolling, then there it was...pictures of my grandmother! My idea was correct.

2 years ago I used some bonus money to purchase a camera for myself. I was so excited and loved using my new digital camera. Around this time we had a big windstorm and the wind tweaked my car door enough that I couldn't open it. For quite a few weeks I was crawling in and out of the passenger's side door. Then one day the horrible happened. I couldn't find my camera. After scouring my house, the church and everywhere else we could think of I could only conclude that in my crawlings in and out of the car I must have dropped it in a parking lot.

I was devastated. Have you ever lost something so valuable and had that horrible sick feeling in your gut? I kept all the batteries and cords and such because I was so sick about it I kept hoping it would turn up. About a month later someone blessed me (anonymously) by giving me another camera. I cried and cried. But I still had that horrible feeling every time I thought about it.

So, you figured it out by now I'm sure, that was my camera. Somehow I dropped it into one of the Christmas boxes two years ago at Christmas and it turns up now!!! Praise God!!!

This is a song that the Lord gave me on Tuesday. This really explains what I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving:

I don't deserve Your presence
Yet You desire mine
I don't deserve Your notice
Yet You've seen me throughout time

I don't deserve Your forgiveness
Yet You shed Your blood for me
I don't deserve Your love
Yet You've loved me eternally

Nothing I've done or could ever do
Could make me deserve anything from You
Jesus My Lord and My Savior too
For what I don't deserve, I thank You.

When we were in Alaska I bought a Sourdough starter. I was so excited because I LOVE baking! Well since then I have been researching sourdoughs and starters and all the amazing things you can do. I now have my own starter that I made myself (maybe it will still be around 100 years from now!) and I have the original starter that I made from the batch from Alaska. Plus some in the freezer (you can freeze it! AMAZING). I am waiting for a day when I have time to bake and I will test my latest batch which I think will have a fabulously sour flavor as the yeast is very active.

Sorry, thats all I have to say for now. I need to update about the worship conference (I have pictures) but I'm exhausted right now.

I was interpreting for Juan on Wednesday night and Pastor Pat used the phrase "May the fleas of 1000 camels infest your armpits" Of course everyone was cracking up, including me. I had no idea how to sign it! Juan was looking at me waiting to see what was so funny and I was trying to figure out how to explain fleas!

On a side note Juan is profoundly deaf, he uses no voice at all. It is very rare when you hear a sound coming from him.

Finally I figured out a way to do it. I told him "You know the bugs on a dog that make you scratch? Well 1000 of those from a camel living in your armpit" He instantly put his Bible up to his mouth trying to stop himself from laughing out loud. Even then a small laugh escaped. It was really funny to watch as he tried to be quiet.

Later in the message Pastor Pat was talking about God's care of us being like nursing mothers. I did fine with that. I just said a mom with a baby. But then he started explaining it. How moms eat meat and then give the baby milk. Fine, I signed that mom's eat and it changes to milk for the baby. Then he started explaining the bond that mom's get because the baby is literally attached to them.

You must understand, sign language is all about pictures. You act out stories and explanations.

I looked at Juan and said, "I'm sorry, a guy needs to sign this for you." He laughed again.

I have the honor and blessing of heading to a worship conference in Murietta starting Monday.

For all my family in SoCal, I apologize that I won't get to see you. We are carpooling and the conference begins every day by 7:30 and ends at about 10 each night.

I am so blessed though to be able to go. Things have been very busy here. We have had multiple events happening, sometimes on the same day, so much lately that I had to buy another calendar for the church office. Now we have a 1 year calendar that is the largest I can find (those squares are small even when its several feet by several feet) and a 90 day planner that is normal poster size on the wall. I need them both because the 90 day gives me more room for details while the 1 year allows for more months. Its pretty crazy! So what does this have to do with the worship conference? I am SO looking forward to just doing 1 thing all week! YAY!

My last post was regarding my concern for this next week. This morning I got up and read October 30 out of Springs in the Valley (compiled by Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman) and realized that I need not fear tomorrow. I need simply do what God has made clear to me to do (eat properly and take those thoughts captive!!!) but the battle, the emotions, the isolated feeling, that battle is not mine! Here is the devotion I read:

"Not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15)
There are times when doing nothing is better than doing something. There are the times when only God can do what is needed. True faith trusts Him then, and Him alone, to do the miracle. Moses and Jehoshaphat knew this secret; they knew the same Lord and the same divine grace.

As the pursuing Egyptians trapped the helpless Israelites at the Red Sea, Moses said: "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD . . . The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." (Exodus 14:13, 14)

As the Moabites and the Ammonites, a vast multitude, closed in on Judah, King Jehoshaphat said to the helpless people: "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD." (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17.)

When God alone can win the victory, faith lets God do it all. It is better to trust than to try. - S. S. Times

Faith Is the Victory that Overcomes
---
The battle is not yours, but God's;
Therefore why fight?
True faith will cease from struggling,
And rest upon His might:
Each conflict into which you come
Was WON on Calvary,
Tis ours to claim what Christ has done,
And "hold" the victory.
- H. E. Jessop.

"Hold thee still." "And this," says St. Jerome "is the hardest precept that is given to man: inasmuch as the most difficult precept of action sinks into nothingness when compared with this command to inaction."

A while back I went through a very difficult time in my life. I was struggling with insecurity. God revealed to me that my insecurity was another form of pride. I would be down and feeling insecure so I would seek someone to build me up. When I started realizing it was pride I began to write down Scriptures that showed me how God views me and read them whenever I was feeling really low. It was one of the most difficult times in my life. I was very alone and cried myself to sleep a lot.

As God helped me overcome I would go through spells when it was worse and when it was better. But at least I knew that it was my emotions and I would cling to Scripture instead of what I was feeling.

I remember praying and asking God if I would always struggle with this. I began stashing journals wherever I could so that when I was feeling really low I would pull one out and write out what I am thankful for. Something good about my day. Nothing negative allowed. Well God had mercy on me.

Recently I found out that I am lactose and soy intolerant. So I changed my diet and started taking an Enzyme that helps me digest the little that I still get in my diet (milk and soy are in EVERYTHING). What I discovered through this was that when I have milk or soy in my diet my emotions get all out of whack! The Enzyme helped a TON with that as well. I found this out because I forgot to take my Enzyme and the next day I was an emotional wreck and I was right back in my insecure place. It happened again yesterday.

I would like to ask for prayer at this point though because I am out of Enzymes as of tomorrow morning. I went today to buy more and the one and only place in town (I tried 4 other stores) that carries it is out until next week. This means that I have to go on a very strict diet and I will have to go through a very emotional week this week. Even though I know the cause it will still be difficult so I am asking for prayer. Specifically that I will not cheat on my diet (its hard because milk and soy give me a "high" so to speak, which is why I crash emotionally afterwards) and that I will not use my diet as an excuse. Just because I know what helps doesn't mean that I can't still control it with God's help. Its still wrong of me to base everything on my emotions, its still prideful for me to seek to be built up by others and not look to God's Word for who I am, its all still sin. So please pray for me this week that I will honor God.

My cousin has recently been posting about a dear friend of hers that is now with Jesus. Reading her posts has caused me to remember some of the times that I have had the honor of taking part in the Celebration of Life services of different families. Some I have known very well and was mourning right along with them, and some I did not know and prayed to be used as a tool of God in their lives as they mourned.

Prior to ministry I had attended 1 funeral in my life. That was it. Just 1. I was terrified of losing someone close to me simply because I had no idea what it would be like. Obviously I do not want to lose anyone close to me now but the thought is no longer a terrifying thought. Now I understand the whole idea that death is a part of life and that we have the hope of heaven.

One thing that I have been pondering a lot lately is the fact that I am beginning to look forward more to doing funerals than weddings. Since I am in full time ministry I have had many opportunities to participate in both weddings and funerals. Weddings are beautiful and amazing and I love them. I love being part of making someone's day what they always dreamed it would be. But they are soon over, they are forgotten, they are not life changing for everyone involved, only for the Bride and Groom and maybe some family members.

Funerals on the other hand have shown me that they can be life changing. I have seen more people change their lives and start living for God after a funeral than after a wedding. I have watched more people learn to be more caring and work on their relationships after a funeral than after a wedding. The honor of being part of the day is the same. Whether its running sound, turning on the lights or simply hugging someone who is hurting, I know that God can use me as His arms to hug His children who are mourning. There is something hugely humbling about being used of God through a death than there is for a wedding.

Don't get me wrong, I still love weddings and I don't wish pain on anyone. But given my choice, I would prefer to be a funeral director rather than a wedding planner. Strange to say but it is true. If you think I'm crazy it may just be you don't understand. But think of it like this...have you ever had a life changing painful time that brought you so close to Jesus. So painful that you would never want to relive it but so intimate with Christ that you never want to forget it?

Its like that.

So what was previously on my top ten experiences of my life has quickly become a norm for me. Tonight was the 3rd time I interpreted for my deaf friend Juan. He has been going to the library and studying ASL and we are communicating now. During service I was able to truly relax and enjoy my time interpreting, I slowed down a lot and didn't feel a rush to sign every word Pastor Pat spoke but was able to convey more of the concept. After service Juan and I were able to talk and visit. I think I will finally be able to start asking some of the questions that have been driving me crazy. For instance, I haven't a clue how long he has been in the states or what brought him here. I don't know what type of Mexican Sign Language he knows (or else I would be studying as well). I am very curious what part of Mexico he is from and what brought him here. And so on.

I forget who it was that said that this is truly the gift of tongues at work. I agree. Please keep praying for miracles. I need fluency and he needs understanding. I truly think he is a Christian because of the joy that just exudes from him. Several people have commented on that. Also, because tonight during our closing song he was worshipping. It was absolutely beautiful to look back and see him with both hands raised and eyes towards heaven just worshipping. Praise God!

Ok, these posts are getting old so I will make this one shorter. This day we went to Skagway where my mom and I were going to take one of the infamous Alaska train rides. We loved it! Afterwards I got my first towel person which was a huge blessing!!!!

Worship practice was getting a slow start because of some sound issues. So, when Chris came up to me at about 6:30 stating that he needs my translating skills I was somewhat taken aback. Chris speaks Spanish fluently so he didn't need me there, all I could think was Sign Langauage. Chris helps oversee the children's ministry so I couldn't help but wonder why Chris had waited until the last minute to have me translate something for the kids. These were my confusing thoughts as we walked out of the sanctuary. Then Chris explained, "theres a guy here that I think needs food but he's deaf so do you think you can talk to him?"

A little more back story here, the last time I signed with a deaf person was about 9 years ago. Since then I have signed with a few hearing friends but that's different because we can always revert to talking when we don't understand each other. I haven't been in a formal classroom in about 10 or 11 years. To top that off, 10 years ago I was not very good. I was ok with classroom sign language but in real life conversations I struggled.

Ok, so needless to say I was slightly nervous but thank God I didn't have much time to think about it. I went up to him and began signing. He was obviously having a hard time understanding. Then he said something and I struggled catching what he was saying. Finally I realized he was telling me he's from Mexico.

Another side note, Sign Lanuage is not universal. I learned American Sign Lanuage which is one of several sign languages in USA. Mexican Sign Language, while similar to ASL, is a different language with different signs and grammar rules.

So, then Chris, who is fluent in Spanish, wrote down ?puedes leer? (can you read) and showed it to him. He said a little. It was crazy. I was signing, he would understand a little, he would sign I would understand a little, Chris would speak and see if he could read lips in Spanish, then write...etc. etc. etc. It was quite confusing.

The miracle however, was the fact that he was sitting through service, I sat near in case he wanted to try and have me translate. Halfway through he asked me to sign and so I did. Remember, my signing skills 10 years ago were average, add 10 years of forgetfulness, a gentleman who signed a different language and the fact that Pastor Pat was teaching on the validity of the Bible and the Tribulation. Not the easiest topics to sign!!! During this time, he was nodding and understanding and repeating back some of the things I was saying. God was performing a miralce!

As soon as service was over...still couldn't understand each other. It was totally amazing!

Please pray for him. I do not know if he knows the Lord, I do not know if I was signing things properly enough for him to understand but I am trusting God for that. Pray that he understood what God wanted him to. Pray that he will be able to find a job and get his feet under him.

Thanks!

Day 3 of our cruise began with something I had never experienced before...ROOM SERVICE!!! OH YAY! It was fun! Well...ok...honestly it wasn't that exciting because the food was kind of blah and eating it I was a little rushed as we had to be off the ship soon. But it was fun to try it for once!

Once we had eaten and the five of us were off of the ship I was finally able to snap a picture of this sign, which I kept seeing in all the ports and thought was hilarious!


So we arrived in Juneau and were headed to our excursion of Salmon Hatcheries and the Mendenhall Glacier. This is a photo of us as we were waiting for our bus to arrive. We had the best bus driving...but more about that in a minute.
The following video is of the Salmon Hatchery. It was my most favorite of all our excursions. I had not really expected much from it and it turned out to be very fascinating. One thing I did not say in the video was that if you buy salmon you should look for salmon that says either Alaska Salmon or Wild Salmon on the packaging. The reason for this is that it is illegal to do Fish Farming in Alaska, so you know for a fact that if it comes from Alaska it has not been farmed. Fish farming is bad because they raise the fish in little nets and the fish aren't in a natural habitat. This causes the fish to get sick so they inject them with antibiotics (steroids too???). So Alaska Salmon is not only more humane it is going to be free of any man made junk.



Inside the building of the Salmon Hatchery there were many crazy creatures to look at. These were some of the coolest aquariums I have ever seen!!!

These particular creatures they had in little tubs so you could feel them. They don't always have them in these little cages.


You might not be able to tell from this picture but this starfish has many legs. You can see younger newer legs growing like nubs in between the older longer legs. I had never seen this before. These thigns looked like octopi. They were pretty crazy!!!

From there we went to the Mendenhall Glacier. I preferred the Hubbard Glacier but this one had some unique features. It was kind of eerie looking though!


They had some trails outside of the Mendenhall Glacier building. Some of them were closed off due to bear activity. This is a nice little sign that was right outside of the building. Can someone please explain the significance of the date, other than the fact that it was a day old?


Our bus driver was an adorable young girl (ok, not that young). She had a very dry sense of humor and we all really liked her. She was young but her driving was very good. Towards the end of the trip we were sitting at a stoplight and the bus engine stopped. She started saying, "oh my goodness, I'm so embarrassed!" None of us knew why until she said, "I was trying to turn off the windshield wipers and turned off the bus instead!" We all laughed and nearly 2 minutes later she finally had the bus started again and we were off!


Back on the ship we had to get ready for dinner. Prior to that though we tried to take a picture using the auto shoot mode on my camera. I cannot upload all the pictures to tell this story properly without getting into trouble with my family so I must apologize for the lack of visuals. The first picture I didn't think to use the autoshoot so we decided to retake it. Then my mom felt that she was too fat looking so we reshot it. The third picture I messed up and wasn't in it, the fifth picture my mom and aunt both said they looked too fat so finally I realized no one would be happy unless they were covered, so....

This was the night that Alissa was wearing her strawberry pajamas. The reason this is important was because this was the night we met our head waiter (our waiter's boss). From this night forward he would always come looking for his "little strawberry." He was very sweet and loved Alissa. Of course, everyone on the boat did. Especially at dinner, we had a late dinner so I don't think they were expecting children and everyone there would always ask about her if she wasn't there. The waiters would always bring her milk and food and ask if she wanted anything. They would all try to talk with her but she's a little shy of strangers. It was cute.

I HAD to put this picture in. I'm not sure what was in her mouth but boy I don't want any!

This is our waiter. He was very nice, somewhat shy. He didn't do that many tricks or anything for us but I still really liked him. He was always very good and pleasant and would laugh and get embarassed pretty easily.


Of the trick he did, this was one of them. This was to show us how the ship's stabilizers worked. Though, I'm still not clear on the stabilizers, this was amazing. Yes those were normal sized toothpicks. That was a pretty amazing balancing act!!!

Ok, to end this day I had to put this picture in. They both look so adorable! Mom and daughter!

We have started a new type of relative in our family. Second cousins are CCs (Cousin Cousin). My CC Nathan is a beautiful boy of 3 years old. Somewhere around 2 years old Nathan was diagnosed with Autism. I could not describe the journey that this took his family on without pages and pages and possibly a book (maybe his mother will write one someday) of explanation. But after a completely whirlwind of lifestyle changes, therapies, prayer prayer and prayer this video was made.

The long awaited Day 2 Part 2 is here! Aren't you excited??? The second half of the day we explored the ship. It is an amazingly large ship with 13 floors! Our cabin was floor 3. We were above the water level so we had a great view. But let me start at the top.



Floor 13 and 12 merge in some spots. Like the outdoor swimming pool. There is also a mini golf course (9 holes), a climbing wall and a random fake rock with a hole in the middle.



Floor 11 had the buffet restaurant that was where we ate most of the time (every day around 3 we would have soft serve ice cream, nachos with some AMAZING sauce, and play cards). This was also where the spa and the gym were. Or was that floor 5? I'm not sure anymore. I'm getting mixed up. Anyway, we explored from the top down, played golf and exhausted ourselves until it was time to get ready for dinner. It was fun!



That night we went to the club and had virgin margaritas which were YUM!

Pastor Pat gave me a box of Christmas Nerds. I have been sitting here eating them. I was on the phone and I separated them by color and size, in pairs of two. Then I counted the pairs and ate until there were equal amounts of each color. As I eat them I have one on each side of my mouth (that truly is something I ALWAYS do...I have to have the same flavor on each side. Thats also why I separate them by size. Size is more important than color because the amount of taste and the colors taste the same). Now I will figure out how to finish the rest but WHATINTHEWOLRDISWRONGWITHME?!!!

I do this with skittles and MnM's too...

If I have an odd number the last one gets bit in half so I can still be balanced.

How I wish I could describe the awesomeness of God. He is more than I could ever dream of. The fact that He loved us enough to provide salvation for us truly does blow me away. Then the fact that He gives us His Spirit and helps us through our daily walk is astounding. But I don't even have a word for the last part...He calls me His friend. 'Lil ol me. Briana. The crazy one that is weird to the point of annoying. The one who doesn't do much. Just lives her little sheltered life. She's not famous, or talented, or even a Spiritual Giant or anything. Nope, simply a plain Jane that struggles her way through every day of trying to die to self and live for God. That girl, that simple girl, is the one the God who created the earth and all its fullness, the starts and the galaxies, the far reaching universe and who knows what else beyond, He calls her His friend.

Truly no words can describe my astonishment. Nor can I gather that I even truly fathom the amazingness of this fact.

All I can say is, "Lord help me to be all that You have created me to be. More of You and less of me."

The Hubbard Glacier is not a port but it is a cruising site. Your boat never stops moving but you get to get pretty close to it depending on the weather (how much ice is in the water). We started off the day by finding a good spot with a view and camping out until we got to the glacier.

We spent a lot of time waiting, playing cards, eating, waiting, waiting, waiting...

While we were waiting lots of ice started floating by. Some small little pieces and some huge! But mostly small.

This is not the glacier but a mountain that looked amazing!

This is a very zoomed in picture of the glacier.

I kept zooming out until I got to the widest possible. The glacier is amazingly blue and gorgeous! I loved how blue it was. The water was kind of murky because the silt in the glacier gets into the water as it melts.

Jessica and Alissa together, Jess is the cutest Mom!
This was funny because I kept trying to get a good pic of my mom and my Aunt like this and it was not working. Finally they were like, we are done! And I said, "One more" and it worked that time!
Thats it for the Hubbard Glacier. Stay tuned for our next episode where we explore the ship!

Hello all and aren't you glad that I am going to give you a day to day description of my cruise?! Its actually going to be very cool. There will be 8 posts regarding this. I will show pics of the places we went and explain what it was like. Don't get bored! It will be fun!!!

Day 1 We were mostly traveling. For those of you who don't know we were starting in Seward Alaska which is North and working our way south to Vancouver Canada where we would end. So day 1 we were traveling from Carson City to Seward Alaska...it took ALL day.

Funny story, that morning I was shaving my legs and the shaving cream splurted (yes thats a word) all over and got in my eyes. I immediately started flushing my eyes out and my big concern on my mind? Blindness? No, I was thinking "gosh I hope I get to drive to the airport!!!" Silly me.

We made it to the airport safe, flew to Anchorage where we got to experience something you guys have not got to experience for several years...my Aunt and cousin were there right when we got off the plane! I miss the pre 9-11 days. They flew into the same airport at the same time so they were able to come find us. We all went together and got on the bus that would take us 2 hours to Seward.

Isn't she precious? This is Alissa Grace, my cousin's 18 month old. She went with us and she was a joy! Takes after me of course!

We made one stop to stretch our legs and then we finally got to Seward to board our ship.

We had a little time to explore and settle. What we had to do once we got settled was to Muster...which is where they make sure you know the safety procedures if you have a Titanic type experience.

This Mustering called for us to put on our life jackets...hence these lovely pictures that I HAD to include!!! The above is my mom.
This, of course, is the lovely Alissa. She was not too happy about her life jacket!

This is my cousin Jessica in her lovely orange hue.

And this is my Aunt Bev wearing her gorgeous ensemble.

Immediately after this we had our first dinner on board. It was fabulous.

During dinner at one point I looked out and realized we were moving! We had embarked on our All Girl Mountain Fest! At least, that's what my souvenier shirt calls it! Not much to tell after that...I will continue this series later with Day 2. Or at least day 2 part 1 because we did so much and saw so much every day that it was amazing!!!