• Alaska, finally!

    ByKristin family, summer, vacation

    We finally made it. I say that because we originally booked an Alaskan cruise in 2020. We all know how that went, or, rather, didnโ€™t go. We rebooked in 2021, but negative COVID tests were still required to fly into Canada and board cruise ships โ€ฆ and one of my kids tested positive for COVID the night before we were scheduled to leave. So we waited a few days then went to Wisconsin Dells instead. 

    Then we planned other cruises with friends, celebrated our high school graduate, went on mission trips โ€ฆ and Alaska had to wait. 

    But now here we are, finally. 

    We love to travel with our moms and family friends, but for reasons Iโ€™m not even entirely sure about, the trip felt like it was meant for the five of us. That doesnโ€™t mean it was all roses and everyone got along all the time, but Iโ€™m so glad we did this trip in this season of life. 

    This trip was a big one with 13 nights away from home in three hotels each for a night, seven nights on the Ovation of the Seas, two nights in a cabin, and the last night on an airplane. 

    We packed seven suitcases for five of us, and I wish weโ€™d packed less. But I did three loads of laundry after we got off the cruise ship. 

    Ketchikan

    We gained another hour to get on Alaskan time, and then went on our first excursion. We canoed around Harriett Hunt Lake in the Tongass National Forest. After a nature walk, we had yummy local snacks such as clam chowder, berry jam, salmon dip, and hot chocolate. 

    Greg, Cate, and Ben got back on the ship for lunch while Rachel and I shared a crab roll from a local food truck. Then we snacked and shopped at Wardโ€™s Cove, which had a great store for cruise tourists. 

    We ended the port stop with the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Showcasing a competition between a couple of two-man teams, it was entertaining and interactive.

    Icy Strait Point

    This port is near Hoonah, and itโ€™s owned and developed by the native people. Itโ€™s authentic and takes into account the salmon cannery history. We rode a new gondola to the top of the mountain. It was a cloudy day, so views were limited, but it was still pretty. We also went on a walk to a pond and meadow. On the way down, the boss of the gondola hitched a ride with us, and we got to chat with him, which was fun. 

    After lunch and exploring, we boarded a whale-watching boat and saw 18 humpback whales bubble feeding and 4 others breaching. Several in my crew consider the whale watching their favorite excursion. 

    We beat the crowds and took the shuttle into downtown in the morning. We walked to the Sitka National Historical Park, which took us by a marina and beautiful, rocky shoreline. Then we shopped and snacked downtown before heading back to the cruise port. 

    Our excursion took us to the Fortress of the Bear, which is a non-profit facility that cares for orphaned bears. We got to see Alaskan coastal brown bears and black bears. 

    This was maybe my favorite day, thanks to siblingsโ€™ moods toward each other, the weather, and the whole experience. Cate and I decided we could vacation here for a few days, and we talked about โ€œThe Proposal,โ€ even though the majority of the movie wasnโ€™t actually filmed there. But nobody there has tiny dogs because eagles are a real threat to them! 

    Skagway

    Further north, this port looked different than the others with more dramatic mountains and views. 

    We had a tour that took us to learn about and meet sled dogs and through the White Pass to Fraser, British Columbia, Canada. We rode up on a bus and down on a scenic train. So beautiful! 

    We had lunch at the Salty Siren near the port. I continued my streak of seafood at least once every day! 

    Seward to Anchorage

    We got off the ship in Seward, which is a couple of hours from Anchorage. We took a tour that was also our transport. Along the way we stopped at so many great places, including Lowell Point, Exit Glacier overlook, The Inn at Whittier for lunch, Portage Valley, Byron Glacier trailhead, and Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center.

    Our guide was excellent, and this was a great way to learn the area and get to where we needed to go. We stayed at the Hyatt Place in Anchorage that night and had dinner The Bear Paw Bar & Grill because it was in walking distance, but it also turned out to be delicious! 

    I did three loads of laundry at the hotel, and Rachel swam. Honestly, I wish weโ€™d packed less. We took a total of seven suitcases, but I think we could have done five with no issues if I trusted the laundry situation!

    Palmer

    Just outside of Anchorage, the boys fished on Knik River from the late morning into the afternoon, so the girls and I had our own fun. We went to the Reindeer Farm, lunched at Turkey Red, and got dessert at Vagabond Blues. 

    Then we drove up toward Hatcher Pass before picking up the boys and heading to Denali National Park. We stayed just outside of the park in a cute cabin at Denali Grizzly Bear Resort for two nights. 

    Denali National Park 

    Our first day at Denali National Park was really fun! Itโ€™s so remote that itโ€™s not like Yellowstone or even Glacier with all the people in the summer. Plus we had beautiful weather. 

    We visited the working dogs that rangers use to patrol the park, especially in the winter when so many parts arenโ€™t accessible by roads. Then we did a tour of the background just outside of the park with Denali ATV Adventures. We had a six-seater ATV for just our crew and then two guides in their own ATV and another couple in theirs. It was basically like a private tour, and so fun! 

    After the ATV tour, we happened upon a golf course down the road. Ben really wanted to say he played golf in Alaska, so he and Greg squeezed in some holes at Black Diamond Golf Course. While the girls and I were having a snack on the porch there, a worker asked us if weโ€™d been to the petting zoo. My immediate response was, โ€œRight here?โ€ Yep. Right behind the restaurant and clubhouse was a petting zoo with goats, miniature horses and cows, rabbits, and sheep. So random, but Rachel especially had the best time! 

    That night we went to the Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre at Denali Park Village, which was across the street from our cabin. The ribs, salmon, family-style sides, and berry cobbler were so good! And the show about Denali and what brought people there was funny and entertaining. 

    The next day in Denali, we took a bus 43 miles into the park, which is farther than possible in a private vehicle. I wish we had more time to explore, especially once we got to East Fork riverbed, but we had a plane to catch. 

    Sort of. We stopped at Wasilla on our way back to Anchorage to watch the World Cup game at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill. We flew out at 10:45 pm Alaska time and remain confused about what day it is!

    Logistic Recommendations

    • Iโ€™ve probably told you before, but if youโ€™re flying out of the Nashville airport early in the morning, stay at the hotel there. Yes, itโ€™ll feel like a splurge, but itโ€™s worth it.ย 
    • A cruise is the way to see Alaskaโ€™s coast because those towns are beautiful but isolated. But then you should definitely spend a few extra days in the interior exploring other areas. I used a travel agent for the cruise booking, but then I booked our cruise excursions and extra land-based days myself. I enjoy planning trips, though. If you donโ€™t, my girls at Kingdom Seekers Travel can help you with all the things.ย 
    • Get a credit card with good travel perks. I recommend both the Southwest credit card if you fly with even a little frequency and the Capital One Venture card. These help cut the costs in various ways!ย 
    • I also like to book hotels and rental cars through Expedia because that builds OneKey Cash (aka discounts) and allows me to get cash back through Rakuten.ย 

    More travel advice

    Need inspiration?

    *****

    Even though they don’t do the beauty justice, I took a bunch of pictures! You can see most of them on Facebook or Instagram.

    God authors the stories on our porches and wherever we go. If you havenโ€™t already, please subscribe to receive #PorchStories emails with resources and stories like this about every other week.

  • A decade of country living

    ByKristin family, life
    6 Comments

    Weโ€™ve lived in the country for a decade now. 

    When we moved out here, our youngest wasnโ€™t even toddling around yet. Rachel took her first steps here in our one-story house, even though she learned to climb the stairs at our old house in town. Weโ€™ve celebrated all of her birthdays here.

    Our oldest, who is probably currently living here for the last summer, was nine that summer we changed addresses. Our boy, sandwiched between his sisters, was six when we moved seven miles from town. Nobody was double-digits yet, and now theyโ€™re all there; theyโ€™re 10, 16, and 19. Two are driving, and that little one who wasnโ€™t even toddling a decade ago does her best to keep up with them both. 

    We paved the driveway, extended the driveway, finished the room above the garage, filled in a pond, and dug another pond thatโ€™s now stocked with fish. We cut trails and maintained trails. We installed a pool and expanded our porch. We built a barn, but I have no idea why we call it that because it houses the lawn mower, side-by-side mule, ping pong table, and space that doubles as a pickleball or basketball court. 

    As a family, weโ€™ve explored, grown as a people, grown tomatoes, grieved, celebrated, swam, walked, and planned. Weโ€™ve made a billion decisions around our kitchen table or our porch. Weโ€™ve been surprised by life in the best and worst ways. We hunkered down during the social distancing of COVID-19 and several snow days right here on our acreage. 

    For 10 years, Iโ€™ve wanted to name this property, but Iโ€™ve never found the right name. Even so, this place has given me life, or, rather, God has sustained me and rescued me over and over again, here in the country. Iโ€™ve become a plant lady and a cat lady. We have dogs now. The wild turkey and deer are still near, and I try not to think about what else lives in our woods. 

    After my dad unexpectedly passed away in 2019, I bought myself a sign that hangs in my kitchen and says: โ€œAnd so they built a life they loved.โ€ And itโ€™s true. The decade here on Wright Road has shaped me and grown me in ways that echo Godโ€™s faithfulness over and over again. Our family has walked through some winding roads that have challenged us, but we still choose to sit down to dinner together. 

    This is the life we built in the country. Thanks be to God for every moment, all 315,532,800 seconds. 

    *****

    This isnโ€™t the first time Iโ€™ve written about our country-living life. I wrote about it in my book, โ€œBringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories About Gathering & Nourishing People,โ€ and shared that excerpt. I also wrote about what I learned after a year of country living.

    God authors the stories on our porches โ€“ in every season, wherever we live. If you havenโ€™t already, please subscribe to #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.

  • Splash into Scripture

    ByKristin books, family, Rachel

    My 10-year-old girl has a lot of questions these days that lead to meandering faith conversations. Recently, she asked about why God didnโ€™t give Satan a second chance. But who is to say He didnโ€™t? Of course, Satan is a fallen angel, so He wasnโ€™t created in the image of God like humans are. 

    As we talk, more questions come, so Iโ€™m thrilled to have a new resource to help me with answers for my curious girl as we splash into more Scripture this summer!

    Rachel and I spent some time looking up words and ideas she had questions about in the Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids. Itโ€™s an alphabetical listing of lots of people, places, and promises in the Bible. 

    I know reading may not be at the top of your kidsโ€™ summer bucket list, but I think these resources will make them willing. Iโ€™m a firm believer that sharing Godโ€™s Word with kids in ordinary ways is how they are able to write truths upon their hearts. God has to repeat truths to me, so I know our kids need the same anthems.

    These help bring the Bible to life for kids with the award-winning CSB Explorer Bible for Kids & companion products! Share these biblical resources with your curious and creative kids: 

    • CSB Explorer Bible for Kids includes book introductions to help kids understand the key truths and takeaways for every book, applications about how everything points to Jesus, illustrations and real-world images to help connect the dots between important archaeological discoveries and the Bible, facts and images connecting modern-day objects and things in the world today to God and the Bible, illustrated timelines to survey key time periods and events in biblical history, profiles with fun facts and insights about important people in the Bible, topical concordance to help with some of the big words found in the Bible, and QR codes placed throughout the Bible with online videos and activities for home or church.
    • Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids accompanies the CSB Explorer Bible for Kids. Its full-color pages include 750 common Bible terms paired with concise definitions to enhance their understanding of the people, places, and things of the Bible. Fascinating images, illustrations, maps, and reconstructions are featured throughout. โ€‹
    • Scripture Memory Cards are another companion resource to the CSB Explorer Bible for Kids. Engaging illustrations on the 100 cards match the Bible and are designed to help kids continue to know Godโ€™s Word. Each full-color, pocket-size card includes a verse on the front and a corresponding illustration on the back, organized into these categories: Scripture, God, Creation, Humanity, Sin, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Church, and New Creation.

    Think about your summer bucket list: Pick fruit. Swim with friends. Visit an amusement park. Bake cookies. Grill burgers. Have a campfire. Play cards with friends. And add this one: Develop joyful Bible study habits as a family! Trust me, we all want to get kids excited about spending time in Godโ€™s Word. 

    Shop Explorer Bible resources for kids.

    Enter to win a grand prize

    Lifeway is giving away one GRAND PRIZE bundle worth about $150! The Explorer Bible for Kids + Toddler Theology Series Bundle includes two copies of the Explorer Bible for Kids, two Explorer Bible for Kids Dictionaries, Explorer Bible Stickers, an Explorer Bible T-shirt, and the Toddler Theology Series six-book set. 

    Giveaway winner must be a U.S. resident and complete THIS FORM by June 11, 2026. 

    *****

    Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing this dictionary for me to review and the bundle that I hope one of you wins. The opinions expressed here are 100 percent my own. 

    Discover more Bible resources here as well. Even in summer, God authors the stories on our porches. If you havenโ€™t already, please subscribe to ย #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.