Childhood Memories: September 4, 1971 . Fifty Years Ago

I was a senior in high school.

As I sit down to write this post, my heart is filled with so many memories from this day. We didn't have TV and only had a small black battery operated radio on the homestead.

I was listening to the radio station KFQD, and the news came on. Alaska Airlines, Flight 1866 crashed into a mountain near Juneau, Alaska. It was a 727-100 carrying 111 souls on board. All on board perished.

Onboard was a classmate that had just graduated from Homer High School that May, and he was on his way to Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka.

I would like to remember Kelly Sutherland tonight. We weren't close, but our high school was close knit. He was only one grade above mine. I remember his smile and black hair with those black glasses. He was a friend with a lot of my friends. I also have a close friend who could of been on that flight with Kelly but circumstances intervened and he took another path in life.

Fifty years is a long time and yet, to those who have left us, no matter how long ago, may we never forget their lives and the impact they have had on each of us. Their lives mattered. Kelly, your life mattered. I remember you and will never forget.

Memories of days gone by: Going Home

I took a trip to my hometown yesterday to attend a celebration of life for someone dear. Our closest neighbor from the homestead where we grew up on the North Fork. Thank you, Harold Engebretsen and wife Edith,  for all the investment you poured into the lives of my parents and into our family. The Lord planted us right beside you because He knew we needed you!

During my 4.5 hour drive, I played and replayed a new CD from Carrie Underwood I had bought. She was singing all the old hymns I grew up with. I was quite surprised that I remembered at least 98% of the words and I haven't sung them for over 21 years. When we left Alaska in 1999 we attended churches that did not sing hymns, but the new traditional choruses. That's a whole other blog...but for now, I loved singing at the top of my lungs as I jetted down the highway in my trusty Subaru. 

Singing the hymns brought out so many emotions and memories. Remembering the days of Christian Community Church and all my years there. I could hear Pastor Ray belting out the songs and sometimes messing up the words, which only endeared us more to him. I could see Galen Gordon leading worship and later on Ken Fisher leading us.

I was remembering Sunday nights and the personal testimonies that many shared. The realness and rawness of people's hearts were seen and we all gathered around and cared. 

I was remembering the times that the Holy Spirit stirred within my heart and I found myself at the altar weeping before the Lord. I remember Marcy Gordon singing a solo and it wasn't even an altar call at the end of the service and yet, I found myself getting out of my seat and walking forward and knelt at the altar and poured my heart out before the Lord. 

Singing these hymns stirred such a longing in my heart to find myself again at the altar before the Lord. I have been back many times since I moved away 21 years ago but this time it was different. This time, there was a longing within my heart to find Him again, hear His voice and weep before the altar. 

There really is something about going home.