"Life on earth is simply a string of consecutive moments, beginning on the day of our birth and terminating at the moment when God takes us home. Think of those moments - those precious moments of life - as pearls on a string, each loaded with potential and opportunity. The thief wants to rob you of as many of those pearls as possible. And he does that by causing you to live life in the rearview mirror, or concerning yourself with future scenarios that most likely will never occur...We can't help glancing behind us at times to consider where we've been, and it's natural for us to wonder what awaits us around the bend. In fact, it's a wise activity to plan ahead. But remember this: There is no more important moment in your life than this one.

When will we poor time-bound creatures learn? Life is lived in the moment. Praise ascends to God's throne in a moment. Self-pity, lust, and idolatry are defeated in a moment. Courage seizes an opportunity in a moment. Love reaches out in a moment. Faith takes its stand on the moment. Ideas that can impact the world flash by in a moment...moment by moment. One day at a time.

~Joni Eareckson Tada~

~Photo above by Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News~

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens

Captain Terry Smith

Captain Terry Smith, a most exceptional aviator and friend whom Doug has known and flown with at Alaska Airlines for more than fourteen years, was the pilot of the downed single turbine Otter float plane that killed himself, Senator Ted Stevens, and three others. Terry was the father-in-law of another pilot friend from Alaska Airlines, Major Aaron Malone, who was killed just two weeks earlier in the crash of an Air Force C-17 aircraft on a training mission out of Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. Please pray for Terry's wife, Terry, and for Aaron's wife and three young children.

Major Aaron Malone

In July two of Doug's aunts, Mary and Joan, died within days of each other. Mary was the wife of Russ, Doug's father's brother. Joan was the sister of Wanda, Doug's mother.

God blessed Doug with a short and special visit to see Wanda, his mother, and a day with Aunt Joan, his Uncle Walt, and cousin Pete at the hospital in Butler, Pennsylvania. Aunt Joan died just days later. So many experiences in life are very difficult to endure. The loss of loved ones is especially hard: seeing a good friend depart this world to never return gives us pause for overwhelming sadness. For a good friend, however, if only enjoyed even for a short time, what could possibly replace that gift from God? Aunt Joan was a joy to be with and provided Doug with many blessed memories since childhood. She will be missed until we see her again in heaven.