Alaska Trip... Day 1

Travis had to make his way up to Kenai, AK for work and I decided to tag along. We were able to take an AMAZING Flyout fishing trip on the south fork of the Big River for Silver Salmon on our first day. It was honestly one of the top ten coolest things I have ever done in my life. We flew out taking off from the water and landed first on a very small stream/river to drop off a group of fishermen. Our wingtips barely cleared the bush on either side of the stream. Then we took off again and landed a second time at our destination- Big Lakes. It was a stunning experience with views and planes reminesent of "Indiana Jones." I will definitely make the trek back to Alaska more than a few times in my life.

The salmon we fished were Silver Salmon and they begin silver, but after spawning, their jaws/faces begin to become disfigured, and their bodies become fire engine red. According to Tony, our guide, the Salmon begin dying a slow death once the redness sets in.

So, we didn't catch any red ones... but aimed for some nice silver ones to haul home. They are STRONG fish and put up a fight. It was quite the workout, but the spoils were well worth the effort! I caught the first fish of the boat, and eventually the biggest catch of the boat. To seal the deal, I sampled some eggs directly from the biggest salmon I caught- now I am truly "one with the fish!" LOL! Intense :)

Absolutely one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.... here are some pictures:

Evyn's Little Story

Evyn snuck in the m&m bag while I was checking my email. She came into the office looking like this and I asked her what was all over her face and she said, "A beautiful smile...."


Hilarious!!!

Drops Like Stars

I had to privilege to read a fantastic book this summer by Rob Bell.... his newest book, Drops Like Stars. It is an interesting look at Creativity and Suffering. I highly recommend it and enjoyed that is was a short, yet thought-provoking read. I was introduced to Rob Bell's material through our church and Aunt Sherry suggested I read his newest publication. Just as Rob's past work, Drops Like Stars encourages one to consider the simplest of stories, occurances, and situations in a new light. Not everything has "a Hollywood ending."

Some of my favorite thought provoking quotes:

-"I've heard people trying in to be helpful in the midst of a tragedy or accident or death by saying, "That's just how God planned it," while I thinking, "the god who planned THAT is not a god I want anything to do with." Others with far more wisdom and experience than me have tackled the "Why" questions of suffering... I'm interested in another question- Not "why this?" But "What now?"

-"That's often what happens when we suffer. We had things well planned out. We knew what meant what. We had all of our boxes properly organized and labeled. But all of that was disrupted when we began to suffer. So there's "out of the box" which is often merely a varation of the same thing. And then there are those who think and feel and live and create from a different place. They've had their boxes smashed and their insulators dismantled until... They had no other option but to imagine a totally new tomorrow."

-"Imagine being at a public event like a movie or game or play or religious service and before it starts, someone says to the crowd, " Please stand if you have been affected by cancer." What would you feel? Compassion? Empathy? Solidarity? Connection? Love? A setting of strangers and you mention cancer- a specific suffering- and there's instantly a bond. If someone said

"Please stand ... if you've been to Hawaii" or

"Please stand... if you've had to fire your interior decorator" or

"Please stand... if you drive a station wagon"

It just wouldn't have the same effect, would it?

But suffering, suffering unites."

I hope that you have a chance to read some of Rob Bell's books, or watch some of his DVDs.

www.robbell.com

Back to Work

Summer has come and gone without a blogpost from me, I am sorry to say :) We had a nice, albeit busy, summer and I am sad to see it end. Evyn begins a new journey next week in the Primary world, graduating from her toddler class to the "big-kid class" of 3, 4, and 5 year olds. She has made such tremendous progress while at Lakewood Montessori in Ms. Seema's class that I can't help but be a little sad that she is moving on. Here is a look at what she can do- and she's not even three yet!!

That looks faint, but I have decided to leave it, because I am so proud of my baby's work at writing her name.

As for Travis and I, Trav accompanied the CFCC youth to the Christ in Youth conference in Missouri for a week, and had lots of fun. I spent the summer teaching a Developmental summer school class for four weeks and remembered why I love teaching special needs children so much. Now, tomorrow, I will begin at a new school continuing to work as a Diagnostician and Case Manager. I am looking forward to new challenges and the opportunity to make some new friends as well.

Here's to a great Fall 09 for the Slagle Clan- Evyn especially. Please keep our transitions in your prayers :)