Reality Is Not Where We Want To Be

Life can be trying at times when you are faced with the reality of where you are currently and look at it in relation to where you wanted to be at this point in your life. The saying goes about the best-laid plans of mice and men….
Through it all, we have to realize that God is in control and there is a reason for our struggles that will benefit his purpose for our current situation in which we find ourselves living.
We have to look and see the larger picture and many times that picture is so blurry or abstract that it is difficult for us to discover its purpose or meaning. However just because we cannot make out the picture does not mean that God cannot see beyond the muted lines and abstract figures. It is He who is the master artist and he knows what he wants the final picture to be.
God’s plan is perfect and he has a master plan for each of our lives. The job that has been set before us is to give praise to him no matter how we perceive the current picture. Many times, it is difficult because we find ourselves in unwanted situations some that break our hearts and causes us to ask the age-old question… Why?
Of course, when we ask that question we have to take a serious look at the life we are living and examine to see if it is pleasing to the Father. If we are not living a God, centered life chances are the rocky paths are the paths back towards the father.
Sometimes we live the life that is pleasing to God yet we are still faced with tremendous upheavals in our life. Tragedy strikes even those who belong to the Father. In Romans 8 it is explained that everything that happens to those who love the lord happen for his glory.
So when tragedy strikes we need to continue to give praise to our loving father. For it is for his ultimate glory that all things happen. We must hold tight to our faith ~ knowing that what ever happens happens for the greater good.

Freedoms ~ The Blood was Shed

It is a sad state of affairs when the freedoms our forefathers fought the Revolutionary War for are being taken away year after year by judges who think they have the rights to write law. Every time one of the judges sitting on a high court write another law to make the original law void they are taking away the freedoms for which blood was shed.
In the speech Thomas Jefferson who was one of our founding fathers gave during the opening of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in July 1776 he expressed deep concern while praying asking for God to “bless our land with honorable endeavor, sound learning, and pure manners.”
Where have we as a nation come? Jefferson in the same speech asked for God to “Endow with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in your name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice…through obedience to your law we may show forth your praise among the nations on earth” All we have to do is turn on the television and watch our society crumble in front of our eyes.
It is imperative for the success of our representative government to prosper we must have a society with a moral character. There is a responsibility that goes along with service to our country. Immoral and overtly evil individuals should be confronted by moral men who will remove them from power.
Our troops fight the battles today so that our tomarrow's can continue to be free. Stop a soldier and tell them thank you. Visit a Veterans center and listen to the stories the men and women have to tell. They fought the fight so we could live the life the way we want. Tell them thank you and next time our flag passes take your hat off and salute. The blood that was shed to keep our flag raised reflects in every soldiers' eyes that has seen battle.

Adjusting to "Tulsa Time"

After staying in the great white north for over 40 days it was time for the Dermody's to go home. To acclimate ourselves back to "Tulsa Time" we stayed awake for 48 hours. I figured this way we would be able to get better adjusted ~ does anything ever work the way we want them?

We left Anchorage on the 4th of July at 12:45 am. The sun sent us off into the brilliant blue sky as our plane climbed heading towards the lower 48. Before long the darkness encased us but it did not last long as the sun ~ wanting continue to shine on our vacation, chased us and once again and lit the sky. When we landed in Salt Lake City where the snow covered mountain tops glistened in the sunlight.

After a couple of hours it was time to embark on the final leg of our journey. Oklahoma here we come. Excitement began to make our tummy's tingle. Just four more hours and we would be home. As excited as we were it was impossible to keep the sandman away and slumber over took the weary travelers. For at least an hour we all slept cuddled under our blanket using each other as pillows.

The flight attendants began gathering the trash in preparation for landing. We looked out the window and saw the familiar landscape of OKLAHOMA! We are home! Oologah lake with its azure blue waters captured our eyes. It was so small if we had only been a little closer we might have been able to see our house. With seat belts fastened, and tray tables up, our plane began descending towards our final approach.

THe heat of the Oklahoma sun hit us when they opened the doors of the plane. For just a moment I longed for the cooler tempertures of Alaska. We deplaned and headed towards the baggage claim. Joyce took off in a dead run when she spotted Charlene and Grandma. They along with Richard, Keshia, and my new nephew Gabriel were waiting for us at the end of the hall.

It's good to be home! The opportunity to see Alaska will always be forever in our memories. Will we return to the land of adventure? yes but weather we are able to someday make our home in Alaska will be a question God will have to answer. Do I want to return? Yes! WE all really fell in love with the beauty God created in Alaska. My only wish is that we could pack up everything we love in Oklahoma and take it with us. Time will tell.

Sites of Alaska

This lake is along side the road on the way to Matanuska just past Palmer. It is a beautiful place. I hope the picture does it some justice.

Joyce after a Day of Fishing

As you can see she is enjoying the Alaska adventure. This is after a day of fishing at Ship Creek during the Salmon fishing derby. She did not catch anything but a man who was to old for her and to young for me or Vonice.

Glacier Views

Matanuska Glacier.... huge and beautiful... the cracking noises of the ice are so great you can hear them over a mile away. It is the rumbling of water over the rocks that captures attention as it melts at such a rapid pace. This glacier is huge!

Living in the Land of the Midnight Sun

I have been in ALaska since May 22 and have still not been able to get my body to get used to the constant sunshine. THe kids are having the same trouble. I always remember my Daddy saying for us to get up in the morning that we were "burning Daylight". Here in ALaska if you try to rise and set with the sun you will have trouble surviving with out falling down dead tired.

I am missing home. but I am enjoying the opportunity to experience the life here.

Alaska Adventure Begins

Snow capped mountains glisten in the brilliant sunshine. Bald eagles glide with outstretched wings soaring through the sky toward the hidden nests with their bounty grasped in their claws. The quietness is broken by cracking ice and the rushing water as it splashes over rocks and fallen trees. This is Alaska the last frontier a place where the hidden beauty is still waiting to be discovered. The adventure is in the discovery as we explore hidden falls and streams and get to know the real Alaska.

We are truly experiencing the real Alaska. The landscape here is awe-some. It is so amazingly beautiful in every direction. The colors are brilliant and vibrant.

Thoughts of Life~Adventures to the Great White North

I was thinking last night about my life and where I have been and where I am going. I have been living this life for forty-three years now and the experiences, which I have had, are numerous. Many times, I have wondered if this was ‘it’ as I had myself into one or more perilous predicaments. However, I came out on the other side amazingly unscathed for the most part. Looking back at those times when I really should have not survived, makes me more aware than ever that God has specific plans for our lives. Each time I found myself in a spot where the hurdle was an overwhelming obstacle; I would have doubt that I would be able to keep my stride. Many times, I would trip and the obstacle I thought would get the better of me. Hindsight gives me encouragement because along the route I found strength. I may have stumbled along the way but I found that God was always there to help me up and brush off my battered ego. The hills and valleys were tall and deep, yet the one constant through them all was that I did not travel alone. God has guided me through the path and sustained me during the lowest parts bringing me out on the other side stronger than ever.

In my blessings, I count each of you as one. For if our paths had never crossed I would not be the person, I am today. God placed every one where he wanted so that we could learn and experience through happy times and sad ones as well as exciting times and the dull ones. If we look at the annoying obstacles in our lives, we will find a blessing that we may have been very unaware. So next time you are sitting in a traffic jam or waiting in a never ending line at the store, look at it as a blessing. Every time this happens to me I will pass a wreck on the way home or just barley miss having an accident.

We leave for Alaska on Monday evening and I am somewhat apprehensive. We will be gone for seven weeks; that is a long time to be away from home. I covet your prayers while we are off on this adventure of a lifetime. Please pray that we do not wear out our welcome, that we do not get homesick and that our family at home will be safe. Josh wants prayer that he is not eaten by a polar bear. Joyce does not want to be attacked by a Moose and they both want safe flights. I will keep you updated on our adventures so stay tuned to the dandelion gazzette for more…

Boys Will Be Boys

Mothers all around the world who have indoor plumbing continue to have issues with their son’s bad habits. Some Mothers are ready to revert to the old days, and send their boys outside to water the lawn, so to speak.

When boys are young, mothers have been known to toss cheerios into the toilet, allowing target practice to take place. Under a mother’s advisement, companies have developed britght multi-colored target shapes to tempt boys to take control and not miss.
Still, as their boys grow up, mothers continue to clean up all the time knowing their sons aimed better at three than they do at six or even nineteen. Sinking the targets as a youngster may have something to do with the problems mothers encounter today.

Could it be these young men are crying out to garner more attention? Do they yearn to see the targets again? Did they become bored?

Considering documented history, maybe someone should create toilet targets that make bombing noises, as the old saying goes; “boys will be boys”, and they love to make noise.