THE LEE FAMILY

Zippity Doo-Dah!!!

2010-04-20T23:08:00.003-07:00

I have less than succeeded at my intentions to consistently update our family blog. Be that as it may, hockey is over--now we can actually watch the NHL playoffs--the kids are on home school spring break, and I'm on leave as well. Our latest venture, as you can see, is the installation of our very own and first, Zip Line! I had promised the kids last fall when we bought the place that I would eventually put in a zip line. With a little help from our tax return, Walah! And for those of you viewing from the lower 48, yes that's still snow on the ground, 12-18 inches depending on where you're standing. Temperatures are warming however, as today was in the upper 40's, but we are anxious for the day when the snow is finally and completely gone.

In other house news, the remaining two bathrooms have now been drywalled, sprayed, and textured, and now await the application of paint. Our bathroom will take a bit longer as we again delve into the tiling of our shower. Be that as it may, the end of our renovation is actually in sight! Spring is here, sort of, and the fish will be running soon. The ice is still on the lakes however, but I did kill my first mosquito of the year today! Looks to be a good year for them so bring your repellant if you plan on coming our way. Blessings to all!

The Lee Family

Organized Chaos or Chaotic Organization

2009-12-21T23:53:00.004-08:00

As if our renovation weren't enough to deal with, last Friday we had our household goods delivered. And as our military friends know household goods delivery day is stressful and exhausting. Add to that our recent Alaska weather and the hill that we live on and that made for an interesting day. We picked last Friday as according to the long range forecast that was the warmest (high of 20) day in the 10 day window. Not to mention there was hardly any snow forecasted either. Once again, my theory that meterologists are more accurate in restating yesterday's weather than forecasting tomorrow's holds true! Within approximately a 72 hour period we had somewhere between 20-24 inches of snow on the hill where we live. Thankfully, my plow handled our marshmallow world of snow quite handily. On moving day itself however, the high was 2 degrees. So much for the long range forecast. And given the logistical challenges the moving company encountered the first box did not get unloaded until around 2:00 p.m. Needless to say, it was a long day for us and them, but we do have all of our household goods now which now means that instead of a fiberglass castle we now live in a cardboard castle!

Although life has been busy with the house, homeschooling, the Army, hockey, and snow removal (noted above), we have managed to maintain a few of our meaningful family traditions. We attended our annual Nutcracker ballet performance in fine fashion on the first Sunday of Advent no less--notice our non-trailer trash attire! And speaking of Advent, boxes or not we now have a living Christmas tree noted in the background as we lit our own Advent wreath on the fourth Sunday of Advent!

Blessings to all this Christmas season,

Brad, Lori, and the Elves

An Emerging Kitchen

2009-12-21T23:23:00.003-08:00

It's been a while, and it's been a long ride. I liken it to riding a bull but for much longer than 8 seconds and the bull doesn't throw you off, rather it just continues to toss you aloof. Occassionally, you end up on top of the bull, but more often than not the bull just seems to drag you along. At any rate, as you can see from these pictures it seems that we may have the bull by the horns for the first time, at least upstairs. The kitchen should be fully functional just in time for Christmas. The downstairs was just sprayed and textured today, but that's a good thing as it should mean that we'll be painting over Christmas! And that means carpet sometime around the New Year!!!

With Yuletide Cheer,

The Lee Family

Getting There

2009-11-16T10:09:00.004-08:00

Just a quick note and pictures to update our progress. In our last blog I showed a picture of Chainsaw Tom as he was doing his work. At top, his creation: Bob, the moose (the girls named him and would rebuke me if I failed to mention that detail). For those of you that will come to visit us, you will be greeted by Bob as you enter the driveway. The bears are named Koda and Chestnut, and greet visitors as they walk up the front steps. If you recall previous pictures, the new additions now "live" where spruce trees once resided that have now been put to better use! And as you can also see, the ground has now turned to magical white as the kids have immediately enjoyed the nice slope in the front yard.

In the other pictures you can see the house is coming along. The drywall crew is in full swing and should be here today to begin sanding--Yuck! But that's a good thing as not long after sanding comings spraying and painting. And not long after painting will come carpet. And after carpet will come shouts of joy as we frolic in our bare feet down the hall to the bedrooms where slumber will occur in a real bedroom! In fact, the children have now officially moved to the garage for their sleeping quarters. The low on Friday got down to 3 degrees so Mom and Dad decided it was time. Good call as last nights low was -5. Mom and Dad however, continue to survive sleeping in the camper until said carpet arrives. More to come.

Blessings to all,

The Lee Clan

Of Moose and Men

2009-10-31T23:02:00.003-07:00

I'm attempting to make use of my "extra" hour of sleep tonight by blogging and attempting to catch up a bit on our progress. As many of you know by now, we finally own our house, or at least made our first mortgage payment this past week. As you can see however, we have quite the mess and are not yet living in the house. The 26 foot metal castle is still our nightly solace for slumber and functions as the galley for our regular vegetating and sustenance. Our "schoolhouse" is temporarily in the garage by day. Beyond that, we have tried to make life as normal as possible given our circumstances. We have had some interesting visitors recently. Mother moose and her young adult offspring paid us a visit a little more than a week ago. Kavan and I stumbled upon them in our woods while gathering firewood that we had previously cut. We quickly made our way back to the front of the house where Tara and Marissa were washing the Burb. I had all of the kids climb into the back of my truck where they could see and eventually both creatures ventured across the lawn stopping to check out both the Burb and the camper. Needless to say, it was quite the exciting moment to have had our first moose visit, although we had noted tracks in the garden spot just a couple of weeks before. Speaking of moose, the top picture is Chainsaw Tom. Space limitations do not allow me to add any more pictures but I promise we will soon show the amazing work of Chainsaw Tom and the new wildlife additions to our premises!

Blessings to all,

Brad, Lori, and the Clan

AAAHH...Alaska: Home, At Home, and Buying a Home!

2009-08-29T16:32:00.002-07:00

So sorry for the lag in time since our last post, but the Fort Richardson Black Spruce Campground lacks wireless internet service. The nerve! At any rate, much has happened in the little more than a week now that we have been here.

Above, the children at home with the Scott family. The top picture denoting the result of dress-up with Aubrie, now a school teacher but former baby-sitter for the girls during our last stint in AK. At least Kavan wasn't wearing a dress! The very bottom picture is the kids making cookies with the Scott's other daughter, Megan. Picture number #2 shows my "chops," of which the family is glad they are now gone as I have officially signed in for duty at Fort Rich. And of much interest is picture #4, which shows our "new home," at least we're hoping so as we have a contract and now await a VA appraisal and the other minutia of detail involved in purchasing a home. More to come on the house but upon closing we will move our camper to our new front yard and continue to live in it while we begin some much needed renovations!

Blessings to all and thanks for your continued prayers as we continue to transition to Alaska and Army life once again!

The Lee Family

Welcome Back...Almost There!

2009-08-18T21:57:00.003-07:00

Welcome Back! Those were the words that the customs agent said to me as he handed back our passports crossing the border into Alaska. That could easily be the phrase of the day although I'll get to that shortly. From Haines Junction this morning we trekked the nearly 300 bumpy but beautiful miles to Tok, Alaska. Note the fourth picture of Kluane Lake, the largest body of water in the Yukon spanning some 150+ square miles of surface area. It truly is massive and amazingly beautiful. Although the kids paused occasionally to enjoy the joy and a couple of moose, they were appropriately engaged in the 3-D version (noted above with their spectacles on) of The Polar Express. The top two pictures were obviously taken at the border. The second however, is unique in that it is the international boundary marker. In essence, I stood with one foot in the Yukon and one in Alaska.

We entered Alaska at 1400 hours local time. Alas, our last time zone change, and we are now four hours behind the East coast. From the border the road increasingly got better although there were still a number of frost heaves left over. For those that have driven in the North, you know what I'm talking about. For those of you that do not heaves occur when the road settles due to the perma frost. At any rate, it makes for a bumpy ride. The two unlucky passengers in the back of the Burb look like bobble heads when we go through the heaves.

We arrived at Tok in ample time set up camp and make a run to the local grocery. In celebratory fashion on the occasion of our arrival in the motherland, we had grilled steak and chicken tonight. Lori will be embarrassed as I share that we had instant mashed potatoes but nonetheless, they went well with superbly grilled steaks on our first night in Alaska!

We are staying at the Sourdough Campground. A rather nostalgic place along the ALCAN noted for its nightly ritual of pancake tossing. The object is to toss the leftover morning pancakes into a bucket. Each contestant gets two pancakes/chances and upon successfully hitting the target, the lucky thrower gets free breakfast. Of all people, our non-breakfast lover, Tara, completed the feat in one toss. We told her she at least had to try a pancake tomorrow morning. The rest of us will pay to watch her eat her free breakfast I suppose. At any rate, this has been a fun campground to stay in. We enjoyed fellowship with two other contestants from Florida, traveling in their retired years. On a side note, I've determined that one must have gray hair in order to own a full size RV. If you don't believe me, just notice the hair color of the driver the next time you spot an RV.

Well, tomorrow our ALCAN journey will come to an end and a new journey will begin. We are slated to look at houses all day Thursday. We do appreciate your prayers as we will soon be faced with decisions concerning where we will live. The blog will continue although possibly not as intensely regular as it has the last two weeks. In any case, thanks again for those of you that have followed us along the way and have lifted us in prayer as well. Blessings to all, more to come from Eagle River/Fort Richardson!

Goodnight,

Brad, Lori, Tara, Shayna, Marissa, Kavan, & Reba too!

Phrase of the Day: "Get in Mommy and I drive you to Alaska." (Kavan speaking to his mother shortly after his picture above was taken as she attempted to remove him from behind the wheel. This photo was taken in Beaver Creek, Yukon, 20 miles from the border in Buckshot Betty's parking lot.)

Good Morning from Haines Junction and the Kluane Range

2009-08-18T07:50:00.003-07:00

Good morning from our stop here at Haines Junction where the temperature is currently 37 degrees. Above are a couple of shots overlooking our "residence" with the Kluane (pronounced kloo-WA-nee) mountain range in the background. And yes, those white patches in the upper valleys are snow. The long white strip along the top of the mountain is a cloud patch. Although there are prettier mountains, this is a pretty cool sight to wake up to.

Well, the morning bustle hasn't quite begun yet, although Marissa is up enjoying the raspberries that we picked yesterday. Lori and I are moving slow as we stayed up too late looking at houses online as we anticipate our soon arrival in the motherland. We are currently three hours behind most of our family. Upon our entrance into Alaska, we will once again "gain" another hour making the time differential of four hours between us and the East coast. Thanks again for your continued prayers as this has truly been a great trip so far. More to come with our next planned stop in Tok, Alaska, which will put us 328 miles from our final destination. Blessings to all.
The Lee Clan

At Home in Watson Lake

2009-08-17T22:36:00.003-07:00

How do I describe our stay in Watson Lake? For starters, our arrival there was the usual. The kids ran off on their bikes, Mom sets up in the camper, but Kavan and I went for a drive "downtown. Mind you, Watson Lake boasts a population of 1,563. Watson Lake is also home to the famous "Sign-Post Forest," interestingly started by a U.S. Soldier, Carl Lindley, from Danville, IL, during construction of the ALCAN. He posted a sign noting the distance from Watson Lake to Danville and thus began the practice of posting various signs, particularly license plates, all through a forest of sorts made of wooden posts that host the more than 65,000 signs. Noted above is the sign that we posted (NC: CH LEE) on our way to Alaska back in 2002. Marissa is frowning because I had offered a loonie to the first child who could locate my old license plate when we visited again on Sunday afternoon. At any rate, Kavan and I stopped by the visitor's center for a few minutes. The host there was beyond informative. I inquired about fishing and she drew me maps to at least four different places and even offered to allow to dig for worms in the compost pile in her back yard. She also invited me and the kids to pick raspberries from her garden as well, more on that in a bit. Meanwhile, back at the camper all is well. We opt to eat "downtown." I do not recommend Tags Restaurant and will not waste time explaining why. Our return to the camper was met by a celebration of sorts as today is actually the Yukon holiday known as "Discovery Day," noted for when gold was first discovered in the Yukon. There seemed to be several locals staying at our campground and at first, we thought they were actually shooting firearms into the air. Thankfully, the thunderous booms were merely fireworks mixed with old Hank Jr. hits as well.

Sunday morning, 0700 hours, Albert Creek. The lady at the info center had directed me to this spot. Minus a handful of cars that passed in nearly an hour the spot was quiet and serene. No fish however, just a beaver that let me know--by slapping his tail--that he was not happy with my presence. Heading back toward the camper I stop at Ratina Lake, stocked with Rainbow trout. A pair of loons, one of which is noted in the picture above, seemed to welcome me, unlike my beaver friend, as I began my quest to land a fish in the Yukon. In short, no fish but sheer pleasure in the serenity of the moments spent there. The best however, was yet to come.

0920, back at the camper, shower, dress, everyone ready. We arrive at the Evangelical Free Church, a mission church in downtown, at 0955. The church is a true log church which had been moved from another location many years before. It reminded me of the one-room schoolhouse on Little House on the Prairie, except with real chairs with arms. We were warmly welcomed and chuckled as there seemed to be no more than four chairs to a row/pew. I've often mused about the family that went to my church growing up. I don't recall how many kids they had, five or six maybe, but we referred to them as the "fill-a-pew family." I now muse that we are the fill-a-pew family. In this case however, we filled a pew and a half. The service was meaningful and enjoyable. Before the sermon the lady seated behind us and with the other half of the family invited the kids to join her in the basement for children's church. I was impressed that a church with no more than 20 or so people would even be prepared to provide ministry to children. At the conclusion of the service the pastor invited everyone to stay for coffee and something to eat. We were especially hooked when he announced that someone had brought Tim Horton's donuts. Tim Horton's is to Canada what Dunkin Donuts is to the U.S. Into the small basement we crammed with nearly everyone. We joined the lady that taught our kids and her husband. In usual fashion it was hard for me to shut up long enough to eat, but the fellowship there among these wonderful Christian people was especially sweet. Near the conclusion of lunch, the lady and husband, John and Naomi Hall, invited us to their home for the afternoon. The Hall's are retired educator's and continue to serve as missionaries both in the Yukon as well as Latin America. The Scripture tells us that sometimes by entertaining strangers we have been with angels. I'm not sure that it works the other way but it felt like the angels were entertaining us. John and Naomi opened their hearts and home to us in a way that made me want to stay much longer than a day. John took Tara, Shayna, and myself out fishing on Watson Lake, where their beautiful home resides. Note picture above. We didn't catch anything then either but the sheer joy of being out on the water in the clean air, well, you just have to experience that for yourself. Meanwhile back at the house, Lori, Marissa, and Kavan, were entertained by Naomi. Our stay with the Hall's was special to be sure (Note the picture with John and Naomi above in front of their beautiful home), and we hope to see them again soon. Thanks again John and Naomi, and blessings to you in your ministry.

Back at the camper, the party crowd has gone leaving their wood to be scavenged so that we enjoy a campfire, our first along the trip by the way particularly as British Columbia had a burn ban in effect. Mommy and I sit by the fire reflecting on the day and the reality that we are barely a 1,000 miles from our soon to be new home.

Monday morning, 0630, the alarm rings. Snooze button. 0638, again. Snooze button. 0646, again. Rain drops on roof. Alarm turned off. Offspring enter bed at 0715. For some reason, I feel free today not to engage in my bustling routine. We only have three days of driving left. Haines Junction will be there just the same whether at 7:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon. Besides, the lady at the welcome center had invited us to pick raspberries. We finally leave the campground at 0930, and though Mom is not at all excited about the venture she offers no rebuttle or even warning not to get dirty. Rain drops are falling. The temperature is barely above 50 degrees. But in the backyard, near the walking trail bordering the lake, is a raspberry patch with berries beckoning to be picked. I seem to be more concerned with the rain than the kids as they begin to plunder the hordes of ripe and oh so sweet berries. I have a bowl for all of us to place our harvest in. However, it seems that I'm the one doing the harvesting and the kids are doing the sampling seeming to ensure that each berry is suitable for human consumption. What a joy. Picking raspberries in the rain. Eating as many as we pick. Mom waits for us in the Burb, as if she knows to be waiting for each child to help dry them off and get dry clothes. But no one seems to complain. We chuckle at the absurdity of what we have just done the taste of sweet raspberries in our mouths, as I try to pick the seeds out of my teeth with my tongue. Life is a Highway plays as we pull out of the driveway. And once again, we are blessed beyond measure.

Tonight we're in Haines Junction, which is still in the Yukon, but we are barely 200 miles from the promised land of Alaska. Tomorrow some pictures of the beautiful mountain range seemingly just beyond the parking lot of our campsite. Blessings to all and goodnight.

The Lee Family

Phrase of the day: "Oh my word, that is a big booger!" (Mommy responding to the shrieks from the back of the Burb as she turned to witness Kavan attempting to share his own Yukon gold digging expedition with his sisters.)

Where the Water is always warm...Liard Hot Springs

2009-08-17T08:06:00.003-07:00

From Summit Lake we ventured on our shortest drive of the trip, 241 miles on our way to Watson Lake, Yukon. Along the way, and certainly a highlight of our trip, we stopped at the Liard Hot Springs. I'm inept at the moment to offer scientific explanation but the springs are a natural hot spring with temperatures ranging from 108 to 126 degrees within the pool. The hottest point of the pool--the 126 degrees or so--is where the water bubbles into the pool. The water cools somewhat as it begins to flow downstream where temperatures are more tolerable, especially for the kids. Lori and I ventured to the initial point and "touched the rocks" where the water is hottest, a feat which now distinguishes us among other ALCAN travelers. I understand that and two loonies will get us a cup of coffee at any stop along the way. At any rate, our experience as a family in the hot springs was beyond delightful and made the trip worth the effort to that point alone. And no, we did not see the problem bear noted in the second picture as we attempted to walk up to a higher point of the springs!

There were ample buffalo along the way after leaving the springs as well noted in the middle picture. And if you look in the mirror, no I did not have both hands on the wheel Mom! Actually, Lori did as I snapped what I thought was a decent picture despite the presence of the mirror. The other animal is a stone sheep, which are indigenous wildlife along the wildlife. Lastly, you will note our ultimate arrival to the Yukon Territory--Woo Hoo! Only 30 miles from Watson Lake, which I will get to hopefully tonight. Right now, the routine is in full swing and it's time to get moving. Blessings to all. Next stop, Haines Junction.

The Lee Clan

Phrase of the Day: "I don't need to go pee, I went last night" (Kavan exclaiming to his mother at her urging for him to utilize the washroom).

On the ALCAN and Summit Lake

2009-08-17T07:38:00.004-07:00

Hello again everyone. I can't tell you how liberating it has been to be without "connectvity!" At any rate, this will be a short post as I have to catch up on the last few days. We began our journey from Mile "0" on Friday traveling to Summit Lake, BC. There we stayed at the Summit Lake Provincial Campground. The uniqueness of our stay there is that Summit Lake touts the highest elevation on the ALCAN at 4,250 feet. You can notice the "bald" mountains in the background void of any "green" life. The serenity of Summit Lake was more than endearing. The very top picture was atop a bluff in our vain attempt to find a waterfall that was allegedly nearby. Oh well, we still found a beatiful spot to take the picture.

From there the road gets pretty rough and winding as well. The scenery is astounding and the "residents" along the way are well within range of conversation or well, in range. More to come soon...

The Lee Family

Phrase of the Day: "There are no tame moose!" (Tara exclaimed to Shayna after I offered to pay a loonie to the first person who spotted a moose to which Shayna asked, "Do they have to be wild?")

Glad the Heater Works!

2009-08-14T06:23:00.002-07:00

Good morning all! Just a quick note before we depart. We awoke this morning to a cool and current 31 degrees. And yes, we are quite glad the heater worked and again, that I removed Kavan's light stick from the duct work! Otherwise, we might have had a melted mess.
At any rate, the routine has begun and as usual I will probably want to pull out before that is actually feasible!
Again, no wi-fi tonight so we will make contact again in Watson Lake. Yukon here we come!
Blessings to all.
The Lee Clan

A New Journey Begins...

2009-08-13T21:14:00.002-07:00

I realize as I blog from day to day, especially when I look at the pictures we take, that one might get the idea that our journey is a rosy one. We've seem to hit a routine now to be sure. The alarm usually goes off at 0630, although my bladder is usually going off slightly before then. The first priority of the day is coffee. I attempt to be quiet in our fiberglass haven but that's like trying to quietly crush a plastic water bottle. I even grind my coffee outside the camper but as I "quietly" step outside a loud whisper from the bed urges me to do it quietly as not to disturb the neighbors. Need I say more about that subject? Once the coffee starts brewing I usually start my computer to check email and blog if I haven't done so the night before. Lori's up now that the coffee is brewed. Her computer starts as well. Who would have ever thought camping would include wi-fi as the two of us embark upon our morning ritual together. Time seems to go quickly. I want to pull out by 0830 but the kids are sleeping so well and it's so quiet. Somewhere around 0730-0745, from behind the curtain stumbles out an offspring. Looking dazed and confused about what province we are in. Alas, once one is up the others soon follow. So much for quiet hours. My anxiety begins to rise as in order to pull out by 0830 everyone needs to finish their cereal in the next four minutes. It ain't happening. Today, 0830 was my target for departure. Somewhere around 0920 we finally pulled out of our Edmonton hide away. One of our other rituals includes the playing of "Life is a Highway," by Rascal Flatts, every morning just as we pull out of each campground. Soon after that, devotions and on with the daily schedule. As I think about it, I don't think I've yet heard the question, "Are we there yet?"

So far it does sound rosy enough. Actually, the real fun begins once we arrive at our nightly destination. Letting the kids out the Burb after nearly 400 miles is like opening the can of fake nuts with the spring loaded "snake" in it--BOING! And away they go. The older three usually go for a bike ride while Kavan goes on his rant from one end of the palace to the other. I secretly muse to myself when we have neighbors that seem to be "childless" as our four begin to simply be themselves, which is a delight in and of itself. As I begin the de-hitching and hooking up of utilities, I realize just how un-soundproof our fiberglass castle is. Lori usually needs help with something, usually Kavan as she begins to prepare supper, and needs him elsewhere. Maybe I should try the dog kennel? One of my own peeves is that kids don't realize that living in a camper is not like living in a house. I can hear myself, and will probably be quoted years from now to my grandchildren, repeatedly proclaiming in my lecturing voice, "This is a camper not a play place" (exclamation point intentionally left out). I didn't mention that I had to dig into the heater in order to remove a light stick that Kavan decided to put down inside the vent.

I pause with that thought as I realize however, that in light of my peeves as well as myself, I am a blessed man. I have four healthy, beautiful, talented, witty, sensitive, rambunctious at times, "normal" (in one sense or another), loved and loving children that simply do what they know to do, be kids. And in one sense, to them a house is a camper as a camper is to a house. During the morning movie, which usually equates to a good hour or more of quiet time for mom and dad during the drive (note picture above of offspring with headphones), Lori and I were discussing the challenging circumstances some friends of ours are facing. The thought occurred to me that sometimes we might be tempted to think that being blessed is merely the absence of heartache or trials. But being blessed is much more than that. One of our biggest stressors right now is the fact that we do not have permanent housing upon our arrival in Alaska. I say permanent as we do have housing that currently follows us everywhere we go. The fact that we can even consider buying a house is a blessing in and of itself. And in Alaska to boot!

Back to the kids, take the bottom picture. Mile "0" of the Alaska Highway. The place where it all began March 9, 1942, during World War II. I wanted to get a picture of everyone at Mile "0". Mom thought it a better idea to give Kavan a bath while the girls and I get the photo and run the errands. Smart woman. Once in the grocery store it was apparent that the girls needed to burn off some penned up energy. Even Tara took a parental role as Shayna shook the cart in the produce section. "Stop jerking the apples, you're gonna bruise them," was her stern warning. For a split second, I felt the triangulating conundrum that occurs when two children wonder which side the parent will take. Tara, seeming to wonder if I would back her position, and Shayna, anxiously awaiting encouragement or maybe consequences. The fact that we were nearly by ourselves, aside from a stock boy attempting to arrange bananas while two girls seemed to be flirting with him, was irrelevant as I could not contain my laughter. Lori found the incident worth hardly more than a chuckle, but even in that moment I was blessed to not choose one side or the other but rather, both. My laughter seemed to only fuel the looniness to follow. At one point, while Tara and Marissa found the washroom, Shayna and I hid in a far corner of the store and avoided detection for a respectable amount of time. Shayna, soon after while returning the donuts that she hoped I wouldn't find in the cart, found herself looking for the three of us as well. She exclaimed that it wasn't fair as she was by herself looking for us but otherwise seemed to find amusement at the ordeal.

Well, here I am, late again. An early day tomorrow. 371 miles to the middle of nowhere, Stone Mountain Provincial Park, to be exact. No wi-fi there so no blog until we reach Watson Lake two days from now where we'll take another day "off." I almost forgot, the top picture was in Grand Prairie, Alberta. Another place in the middle of nowhere, but one that was blessed with the nectar of the gods, otherwise known as a Carmel Macchiato with an extra shot! The middle picture is one that we've seen ever since Saskatchewan. Miles and miles of yellow flowered weeds, beautiful and intriguing as I'm not sure what they do with them.

Phrase of the day: "Look, it's Chewbacca." (Kavan, pointing and commenting as we passed a herd of buffalo.)

Blessings to all, and thanks to those of you praying for us on our journey. Pray that we keep warm tonight as Lori just informed me it's already 44 degrees outside. In fact, it hardly got above 60 during the drive today. I'm glad I found the light stick! More from Watson Lake in couple days.

The Lee Clan

Where All the Money Went...

2009-08-12T20:54:00.003-07:00

Play day at the Edmonton Mall. Did I mention that "playing" in Canada isn't cheap? The exchange rate when we crossed the border was $1.055 Canadian to $1 American. For those of you that have ever been north of the border, you know that's not the greatest exchange rate. On our first trip to Canada back in the early 90's with Jack and Linda C., the exchange rate was nearly $1.45. At any rate, our day was a great break from traveling. We started out with a morning skate, noted above with a couple of "friends" who momentarily joined us for a photo op. After lunch, we ventured to the indoor water park, home of the world's largest indoor wave pool. The park itself is approximately five acres in size, and again, that's indoors! Needless to say, after skating and the water park the kids were pretty well tuckered. We quickly took advantage of the food court nearby where I particularly enjoyed the uniquely Canadian treat of poutine fries. Poutine fries are french fries with cheese (mozzarella or provolone I think) and gravy poured over them. They are divine and the real Canadian flair is adding vinegar over the whole thing. If you've never had them, they are a real treat. Just for fun, ask to have your fries poutine the next time you order at your restaurant of choice!

Well, the kids are in bed, the laundry is now done and folded, and tomorrow begins another day of our northward journey. We'll be traveling from Edmonton to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, where the ALCAN (Alaska-Canadian) Highway truly begins. After tomorrow's journey, the drive, particularly the roads, will become a bit more challenging, but more visually engaging as well. More from "Mile Zero," where the ALCAN and the next journey begins.

Blessings to all.

Goodnight from Edmonton,

The Lee Family

Over Half-Way There!

2009-08-12T07:15:00.002-07:00

Somewhere between Saskatoon and Edmonton, we reached the halfway point between Fort Benning, GA, and Fort Richardson, AK. Above is our beloved afghan flag as we entered Alberta, less than 150 miles from Edmonton.
We arrived at the Glowing Embers campground yesterday, 11 August, at 1600 hours giving us enough time to make an evening trip to the West Edmonton Mall, which claims to be the largest mall of its kind in the world. Our main stop was the indoor amusement park, Galaxy Land. Unfortunately, the batteries in our camera were dead so we have no visual proof that we actually went there. Aside from that, the girls enjoyed the roller coasters while Kavan and I enjoyed the the four-story plus play place. In fact, he did not want to leave or even ride anything else. For that matter, neither did I! Marissa and Shayna joined us for a while as Tara and Mommy went shopping. In fact, Tara was actually "too big" to enter the play place and was denied entry! I sat and chatted with an older lady that worked there while the kids played on the lower level for a few minutes. My mind raced to the past when she asked if we had ever been there before. I briefly told her of our first move to Alaska and how we had enjoyed the Edmonton Mall the first time. In my mind I could see Tara, days from turning four, and Shayna two, barely big enough to climb through the tunnels and netting on their own. Marissa was three months old and Mommy sat with her while I played with the other two. Kavan wasn't even an intention at that point. And now, 2009, on our way again. Shayna and Marissa made their way through the maze of tunnels and netting like adept monkeys. With no training Kavan wasn't far behind and quickly caught on to the intricacies of playing here. And now, my first born "little girl," was too big to even play on this play place marvel. And even at the risk of being too sentimental, even I managed to be a kid again despite my knees and elbows reminding me they are not!
Well, once again the morning solitude has been broken by the gradual awakening of the small herd of offspring. And there is even more energy stirring in their bustling about our 26-foot fiberglass palace as today we return to the West Edmonton Mall! This morning will find us ice skating at the NHL sized rink in the Mall. And later this afternoon we'll embark upon the indoor water park that is phenomenal in size for an indoor facility. And the batteries in the camera are charged today! More later.

Phrase of the day from yesterday: "Mom do you have a kleenex? (Mom: No) Well then I'll just have boogers in my nose! (Marissa declaring her plight while in a store to the amusement of undisclosed passer-bys.)
Another one that I can't resist: "Did you just soil yourself?" (Tara addressing one of her siblings who will remain nameless while in the Burb somewhere after the above picture was taken.)

Blessings to all,
The Lee Clan

O Canada...

2009-08-11T05:53:00.004-07:00

If you've ever wondered what wide open spaces look like, the top picture pretty much sums that up. That picture was taken within 10 miles of the border but the whole state of North Dakota pretty much looked like that. And for the weather buffs among you, it was 50 degrees this morning as we awoke to a beautiful and quiet morning near Minot. That stillness is usually broken as the children awake however, need I say more?

Some of you would not be surprised to learn that we have a daily schedule, printed I might add, to help the kids, and us, have some structure and hopefully help the day go faster. We've been trying to pull out before 0830-0900. The formal schedule goes something like this:

0900-Prayer and devotion

0930-Movie #1 (Mom chooses the movie list on a daily basis

1100-The Little Man Show (usually a Disney short)

1130-Story Time with Mom (Mom is currently reading "Nim's Island")

1200-Lunch

1300-Movie #2

1430-Break

1500-Movie #3

As with most things in life, flexibility is the key.

Speaking of flexibility, after probably the easiest and friendliest border crossing I've ever experienced, we witnessed the moving of a house in the small town of Estevan, Saskatchewan. I couldn't resist snapping the pictures at what was a most peculiar site noting the man riding on the front of the house. I strategically noted the price of gas as well. And for clarification, that's $1.039 per liter. Translated that's about 3.75 per gallon--Ouch!

I should mention the second picture with the flag was just before crossing the border, and the afghan flag was made for us by a dear lady in our Columbus church, Lorrie M., as a going away gift. And yes, there are 50 stars in it as well! The other flag picture was at our campground, the Saskatchewan 16 West, on their play structure with some other kids playing there.

We've already jumped two time zones, it's 0720 locally, and my body still thinks I'm on the last time zone as I awoke well before 0600 here. And before any of you think otherwise it has nothing to do with age!

Well, so much for that morning solitude as one of my offspring is hanging on my leg and the others are beginning to stir. Today it's off to Edmonton, our shortest jaunt yet, 326 miles from here, as well as a "vacation" day tomorrow at the West Edmonton Mall--Woo Hoo! More to come.

Phrase of the day from yesterday: "I would so punch them in the face" (Shayna commenting aloud in response to a scene from the afternoon movie. She must get her propensity to violence from her mother!)

Blessings to all!

The Lee Clan

Next to Nothingness

2009-08-09T21:18:00.004-07:00

The rest stop some 100 miles ago was in the middle of nowhere, at the junction of two "major" two-lane highways. One car with a lone traveler from Florida quickly left and we had the place to ourselves. There was hardly any wind. I stood watching Reba take care of business, without a leash I might add which was very liberating for both of us, and wondered if my game bird of choice, the wary ring-necked pheasant, might be watching us from a safe distance. Though to drive through this state is likened to being in an episode of the Twilight Zone, there is an endearing element to the stillness and the seeming serenity found in the daze of driving nearly without having to turn the wheel. Corn, beans, hay, hordes of sunflowers, and even more corn seem to beckon the attention of the passer-by as if to subtlety welcome those of us from the hustle and bustle of life elsewhere. I drooled at the ducks that seemed to displace half of the water in nearly every lake and pond that we passed. North Dakota, in its own right, clearly declares the majesty and creative design of a Divine Creator. (Editorial note: A refreshing respite from the tree-hugging liberal mire that we were seemingly steeped in during our stay in Minneapolis! And did I mention it never got above 75 degrees the whole day?...)

1820 hours. We arrive at the Minot KOA, barely two miles south of Minot, ND. A quite, quaint, campground. Noted above are the children attempting to set up the TV and Nintendo Game Cube outside. It worked out nicely although they later broke out into gymnastics in the ND grass! Ninety miles to Canada tomorrow morning. Passports in hand. Current temperature at 2330 hours is 59 degrees. No Starbucks but Harry and David's "Moose Munch" brew coffee will work just fine!

Phrase of the day: "I can't believe how well we're getting along...Let's skip the movie and spend some quality sister time together" (Marissa speaking to Shayna over half way through the days trip).

Blessings to all,
The Lee Clan

From Danville to Minneapolis

2009-08-09T05:47:00.005-07:00

We are well on our way now. Leaving Catlin at 0628 Friday morning, we traversed the 540+ miles to Minneapolis where we have stayed two nights. More on Minneapolis in a minute.

Before leaving Danville, I should mention that we were blessed to spend a couple of hours with some very dear friends, Jack and Linda Carder (pictured at the bottom left). We have known them ever since I did my student pastoring at their church during college. Jack and Linda own an island--literally--on a fairly secluded lake in Northern Ontario. We have been privileged to spend more than a few vacations with them there. Time does not permit me to express how endearing they are to Lori and me, and just how much our brief visit meant as well.

Minneapolis, home of the "Ogre" (if you've seen the movie Shrek you'll understand) and his lovely girlfriend Tara. The Ogre's real name is Huck Finn, yes that's right, Huck. Huck and I served together in the 1-501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. One of Huck's distinguishing accomplishments is having gone without a shower longer than anyone else I know during combat. At any rate, Huck is a dear friend and brother in Christ and it was our joy to spend the day with him and Tara yesterday, Saturday, 8 August.

In the second and third pictures we were atop Tara's apartment in downtown Minneapolis. Note the Minneapolis skyline in the background--no it's not one of those wall photos! Kavan's solo picture is standing along a dinasour at Legoland at the Mall of America. Big place! And the two chefs (top picture), Tara and Shayna, are indeed using real knives as Huck and Tara bought all of the ingredients for us to make our own pizzas!

Again, time does not permit me to reflect on how special Huck is and what a blessing it was to see both him and Tara. More on that later.

Well, no time to drink coffee today, at least not in the camper. We'll have to utilize the thermos. We're preparing to wake the younglings and begin the days journey to Minot, North Dakota. Blessings to all. More from ND!

The Lee Clan.

Overwhelmed and Blessed

2009-08-06T12:55:00.002-07:00

The next leg of our journey began Tuesday morning (4 August) at 0840 hours (EST) en route to Illinois. We were somewhat overwhelmed at the thunderstorms that we encountered north of Brazil, IN. I found out just how well the sway bars on our camper hitch work! Nonetheless, we safely arrived in Catlin, IL at approximately 1210 hours (CST).

(The picture above is Lori's maternal side of the family, also referred to as the Campbell Clan. The below picture is the paternal side of the family otherwise known as the LaBaw side.)

Tuesday night was when the real overwhelming event took place. Lori's mom and sister-in-law (and probably others that I'm not aware of!) had organized a "get-together" at Southside Nazarene Church. At our best guess we expected 30-40 friends and family members that would come to visit and wish us well on our journey. What transpired far exceeded our best guess as over 80 friends and family members converged on the fellowship hall to wish us well on our journey. Time nearly stood still for over three hours as Lori and I attempted to greet as many friends and family members as we could. For those of you familiar with Lori's side of the family, the event was reminiscent of our annual family reunion normally held over Labor Day weekend, only condensed by time. The true sense of feeling overwhelmed was in realizing the love that exists in our family and in the realization of that love being expressed to us. I must confess that I initially expressed to Lori some discomfort at the attention being drawn to us as part of me simply wanted to visit quietly and just as quietly be on our way. In retrospect I feel somewhat selfish at the thought of having missed the opportunity to be with family and friends in what was not a "quiet" event.

I'm still reveling in the thought that we are blessed to be part of such a wonderful group of people. Had we simply left "quietly" we would have missed an incredible blessing of seeing so many wonderful friends and family members as well as reciprocating the love that exists between all of us. Thank you again to Lori's Mom and Vicki (and whomever else) for having the vision to see beyond us "quietly" leaving. And thanks to all those of you that came and shared your love with our family. Believe me when I say that it was our privilege to share our love with you. For the rest of you, thanks for letting me reminisce affectionately. The journey Northward begins tomorrow...early...Starbucks awaits.

Blessings to All,

Brad, Lori, and the Clan

There's No Place Like Home

2009-08-03T07:28:00.008-07:00

We arrived "home" in Indiana at Mamaw and Papaw Lee's Friday night. In normal fashion after the barrage of hugs and kisses, the four-wheelers were fired up and the fishing poles baited for the pond. Thus, once again, the Lee offspring turned loose on 40 acres. How liberating to be set free from the confines of American suburbia!

Saturday was a highlight as Mamaw and Papaw treated the kids to Disney's High School Musical On Stage at the Derby Dinner Playhouse in Clarksville, IN. For those of you that know your history of basketball rivalries you will note the pardox of the Wildcat (Kentucky) logo on what could be an Indiana uniform. Of course, the real question is where the cheerleader's hand is on Kavan's back (side?), noted by the look of uncertainty on his face.

And speaking of highlights, Lori and I celebrated 18 years of glorious matrinomy on Saturday night as well. We went to a restaurant called the Melting Pot, which was a unique fondue dining experience. Our anniversary is actually today (August 3rd), which marks not only 18 years but 6,575 days as well. Needless to say, I am a blessed man.

Sunday was probably our busiest day which began with a photo shoot before church, noted above by the picture of the grandkids with their smiling grandparents. After church we had a potluck of sorts, at home, with several family members coming by as well as my first pastor and his lovely wife, Rev. Morris and Anita Larimore. They are truly wonderful people.

At any rate, Dad is at work today. Mom just left taking the kids for a picnic in the country, and Lori and I will soon join them. Tomorrow it's off to Illinois, our final "stop" before we begin.

Blessings to all,

The Lee Clan

P.S. We learned Saturday morning that a friend from our church in Columbus was killed in a motorcycle accident Friday night. Josh Picard was 32-years old and had just returned from the National Training Center in California. Josh was a 2nd Lieutenant stationed at Fort Benning, and would have deployed later this fall. Remember his wife Angie in your prayers as well as their entire family.

The Journey of 4,000+ miles begins with...Chic-Fil-A

2009-07-31T06:06:00.004-07:00

I'm sitting in the camper near Manchester, TN, along I-24. The children are awake and rambling about, anxious for the day's journey to begin again. I'm still amazed at how blessed we are as well as how technology has changed the face of camping. Our 26 foot metal box (its actually fiberglass) is complete with electricity, a refrigerator, a stove, a microwave, running water, complete with a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink, a shower (my favorite part!), and even an outside faucet (hot and cold) for hosing down the kids if they're too filthy to enter the fiberglass sanctuary! The campground we're staying at is a KOA along the interstate and less than a mile from Starbucks. Our "neighbor" laughed as I returned and fumbled to open the door juggling two latte's and my filled thermos with nectar of the gods, otherwise known as Pike's Place blend.

At any rate, the journey has begun. We left--for good--our rental home at 1320 hours yesterday en route to Atlanta where we dropped off my car for shipping to Alaska. At approximately 1800 hours we ate our "last supper" at Chic-Fil-A near Cartersville, GA, no doubt in the top two of our favorite dining exploits while living in the South. (Note picture above.)

Well, despite enjoying the modern conveniences of camping, not to mention the central air-conditioning which is cranked right now at a comfortable 70 degrees, my Starbucks, and free wi-fi, I have to get ready and re-connect the camper for the day's journey. More to come in the journey ahead.

Blessings to all,

Brad, Lori, and the Clan

Love My Precious Family!

2009-05-04T11:31:00.003-07:00

It is lazy Monday, my day to do close to nothing (well, maybe laundry) after a busy weekend! We had a great weekend! My Grandpa and his wife Joy visited us this past weekend on their way back to Illinois after spending a few of the winter months in Florida at Joy's house. They got here Friday night as we were surprising our kids about the soon coming Disney trip. (Can't you hear the high-pitched screaming at I write!) Needless to say the house was wild and crazy for a while after they arrived! We had a relaxing Saturday with a little yard-sale time for Brad, the Grandparents and girls, and then out for Georgia BBQ for lunch! yum! We watched the KY Derby that evening and then had some family singing time around the piano! We had to practice for Sunday since our Pastor was out of town and we were in charge of the Service that day. We even had Grandpa sing two songs with us in the service and boy was that fun! He does awesome for an 80 year old, I must say!!! I love him so much, and he has been such a Christian example to me over the years of my life. Thank you Grandpa!!! I am so glad that my children have had the wonderful opportunity of knowing him as well and listening to him sing, and pray! What a true blessings!

Brad also got to preach the message yesterday and it really touched me I must say. (He doesn't get the opportunity to preach much in this program he's in.) He brought a sermon on the Prodigal Son, but gave a couple of angles that I hadn't really thought much about. If anyone wants to take in the service at Harvest Faith you are welcome to at www.harvestfaithcommunity.org Just click on Sunday services and then the date that you want to see. (I don't guarantee the sound quality!) And yes, they left the song specials on there that we sang right before the sermon and at the very end. You can see my precious Grandpa!!! Oh, and Shayna played her piano solo! Our Pastor's wife is her teacher so she had scheduled her to play a recital piece that day.

I just want to say, don't take your precious family for granted! Make life long memories with them and love them with open arms as the Father loves you!!! May you have a blessed day today!
Lori

Still in Georgia!

2009-04-30T09:24:00.004-07:00

Ok, everybody. . . I'm new at this blog stuff so be patient with me!!! My husband is the writer in the family, but with his school schedule and work schedule it has been a little hard for him.

Many of you know we are now living in Georgia near Ft. Benning. The Army has sent Brad back to school for a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and we will soon be on our way back to Ft. Richardson, Alaska where he will be the Family Life Chaplain for three years. Needless to say we are all very excited to be on our way North! Brad's last day of this semester is today so we will be celebrating tonight!!! This has been a challenging semester for us all, but praise God it's over. He has a nice break from school until the summer session starts!

So, the Hockey season is over now, or so I thought!!! Between school and work Brad also coached Tara and Shayna's team this year and helped out with Marissa's team as well. Tara and Shayna's "House" team won the championship this year. The travel team had a great time doing tourneys in Nashville and Huntsville! Now we have decided to be a part of "Team South" which is a regional program. Thankfully it is only two weekends so not a huge commitment or anything. They asked Brad to coach a team, and Tara and Shayna will be playing. Basically, it is a weekend in Franklin, TN for practices, then a weekend in Decatur, AL for a tournament. All the kids are split up into teams so they are playing with kids from all over the region. We will be taking the camper on both weekends and making it a fun family affair!!! Pray for no more accidents in the camper!!

School is coming to an end for the year here in Georgia. . . only three more weeks! Little do the kids know that we are taking them out of school a week early to take a family vacation to Disney!!! I love keeping secrets! This was the only week that worked in Brad's schedule so we figured. . . why not? They don't do much the last week of school anyway, so let's go make memories! They are going to be so surprised, and I can't wait to see Kavan's face! We will be telling them in the next couple of days so I figure it's safe to post it.

Well, I don't want to overwhelm everyone with too much info in this Blog, but know that the Lee family is doing well! We are enjoying our time as a family here in Georgia and looking forward to new things ahead! Blessings to you all!

Lori

A New Hobby.........For Sale

2008-10-19T19:42:00.003-07:00

You've all been to a flea market and seen those socks that some Grandma spends all of her time in retirement making while her husband plays golf, right? Well, I don't play golf, we're not grandparents, and we're certainly not retired. In any case, the Mrs. recently got this crazy notion that she could make these socks with the dangly beads and frills sewn onto them. Pictured at left, is the result of her recent quest, and summed up in one word, success. She has snagged the secret to the socks feverishly unfurling her frills with fervor and finesse. I myself have been amazed at this new found feat for the feet. In fact, she took two pairs to church this morning to give to one of the babies in the congregation. Mothers, young and old alike, oo'd and aw'd at the sight of these elegant and dainty creations. I must confess however, I was disappointed not once to hear, "Can you make me a pair, I'll gladly pay you?" Or, "I'd like to place my order for X number of pairs in time for Christmas." Surely there must be a way to market this new found venture without spending my weekends on the flea market circuit amongst the throng of retired RV'ers with trailers packed with goods. For the love of Pete, I'm too young for that lifestyle not to mention not even being retired yet!

So please, if you or anyone you know can wear any of these socks please send your order now. And if you order now, I'll even throw in some knives from the kitchen! But do hurry as there are no operators standing by and besides, it may take the Mrs. until Christmas to finish her next pair...

Life on Scooters Drive

2008-10-19T19:16:00.005-07:00

Pictured at left is Marissa 'helping' me change the oil in the car. If only I could get her to do the transmission too!

At right is Kavan sipping coffee...

Actually he had just commented that the Presidential candidate representing the incumbent party has not won an election when the Dow was down 5% or more in the month of October in the 20th century. Not bad for a 2-year old, eh?

Tara is all smiles as hockey season starts tomorrow night. Yeah, baby, yeah!!!

At right are all of the offspring during a recent "Art Show" event held in our home in the upstairs "lounge." Mom and Dad were given "money" with which we could buy selected pieces, barter and haggle for others, and some masterpieces were noted as "not for sale." My kids' imaginations and their creativity ceases to amaze me, not to mention their ability to drive a hard bargain. Wonder where they get that from?

2008-09-19T19:19:00.006-07:00

As some of you know, we purchased a camper back in the spring which was my "home" for the summer as I began the Family Life Chaplain program at Fort Benning. This past weekend (12-14 September) however, we made our maiden voyage as a family less than 30 miles away at the FDR Georgia State Park. Pictured at right is our brood during one of the lighter moments.

At left however, is what I like to call the result of family sculpting gone bad. In marriage and family therapy there is a concept called family sculpting. Think of it as a snapshot, if you will, of what one's family looks like in the normal routine of everyday life. Camping, as I have come to conclude, is a reorganizing of the normal family sculpture. To put in other terms, moving the family from a 2,800+ square foot house into a 26-foot camper is an extreme restructuring of the family sculpture.

As the wife and I were laying on our bed/sofa Saturday morning, Lori lazily perusing a magazine, myself giving the appearance of reading homework, the girls watching a movie in their "room" in the back of the camper, peace and tranquility seemed to be achieved even in the midst of our new found sculpture. As camping fate would have it however, the peace and tranquility that we were enjoying was intruded by two siblings whose sculpture seemed to crumble. One wanted on the top bunk in order to see the movie better, the other refuted the request with vehement and boisterous opposition. Just as I peered over the top of my book the sculpture crumbled. The sibling who was standing on the stool attempting to gain access to the top bunk was unaware that her younger and smaller sibling had chosen to join with on the stool. In that moment the stool gave way to the brewing storm and alas, Kavan's first trip to the E.R. was soon forthcoming as he tumbled in the tight space hitting his lip on the bottom bunk.

As if by design, Mom leaped from her lackadaisical posture to swoop her son into her arms and offer the comfort only a mother could give. The feuding sisters had now turned their energy into tears realizing that Kavan was hurt showing genuine concern for his injury. It wasn't until Lori pulled the boy from her chest that the blood became evident. The sculpture had now truly crumbled. The siblings, regardless of role in the affair, were all sent to the suburban to prepare for the ensuing journey to the nearest E.R. We quickly but calmly gathered necessary items for what we expected to be a typically lengthy E.R. visit.

Upon arriving at the E.R. we entered expecting the typical scene of listless souls aging as they waited to be seen. At first I was pleasantly surprised to find the waiting room empty. "We'll be first!" I immediately thought to myself. However, no one was at the reception desk. Even the admissions window where payments are made was vacant. Now I was concerned, what hospital is not prepared to take money? As I walked down the hall past even the empty X-ray department I wondered if the boys from the horror movie portrayed in the "Dead-Zone" Verizon commercial were soon to appear. My journey took me all the way to the main hospital entrance where human life did exist in this middle of nowhere semi-deserted hospital. We were soon in the triage room and after a short wait escorted to the treatment area. As all parents can attest that have watched their offspring in pain, the next part was painful for Mom and Dad as our job was to hold our little man while the doctor installed the three stitches that would soon be coined as Kavan's whiskers--noted in picture above left.

His stitches came out Thursday of this week. Our family sculpture has regained its original shape just as memory foam that was severely compressed for a couple of days will ultimately return to its original state. We had a good chat after returning home about the overall experience much of which is relegated to the confidence of our immediate family circle. However, I can assure you that our family sculpture is healthy and stable. And as you can see below, the Little Man is no worse for the wear! Blessings to all.

2008-09-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

Already consumed with a passion for the most biblical of sports, the "Little Man" pauses from his workout for this photo op. Many believe that his first words were "hockey, hockey!"

In the Beginning

2008-09-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

In the beginning, that's a good place to start. That's how God started and look how well things turned out.

Pictured right is our new home, or more accurately our temporary place of residence.

As we figure this out we'll add more details and things worth actually sharing as well. Blessings to all.

The Lee Family6