Us - Alaska 2026
This man is my favorite!
There is something special about celebrating Independence Day. It's a day that reminds us of the incredible blessings of freedom, family, and faith. This year, although none of us celebrated in the same place, it still felt like we were together.
Scott and I enjoyed a peaceful Fourth of July. We filled our home with patriotic music which is some of our favorite music! The songs always remind me how grateful I am to live in this beautiful country. Later, we joined Scott's sister and her extended family for a fun hot dog barbecue. Good food, good conversation, and good people—it doesn't get much better than that.
Happy Birthday, America! 250 Years
GJ even got into the spirit with a hat and new Americana earrings.
We went to the farmer's market.
Kiara and her family celebrated with a fun-filled day of games, delicious barbecue, and plenty of patriotic music. I love knowing that they are creating traditions and memories that their children will treasure for years to come. Red Skittle and Red Jellybean enjoyed dressing for the occasion and watching the fireworks.
Cody, Kiara, Red Jellybean, and Red Skittle
My adorable red heads!
Meanwhile, Katia and her family headed into the great outdoors for a camping adventure. The highlight, of course, was almost two-year-old Mango experiencing camping for the very first time. She absolutely loved getting dirty, sleeping outside under the stars, and sampling all the delicious camping food. Childhood is meant for moments like those, and I smiled just imagining her little adventures.
Katia, Skylar, and Mango
She thrives outside.
Too much cuteness!
Even though we were separated by miles, our family group texts and photos reminded me that love isn't measured by proximity. Home isn't always a place—sometimes it's simply the people you love, wherever they happen to be.
Then, just two days later, another adventure began.
Scott and I boarded our very first ocean cruise, an unforgettable trip to Alaska with my dad, my sister GJ and her husband Ken, my brother Zane and his wife Tara, and my brother Ben and his wife Kristi. None of us had ever been on a cruise before, so everything was a new experience.
It begins....
Scott - Sundy - Ben - Dad - Kristi - Zane - Tara - GJ - Ken
Love these crazy siblings of mine!
I'll admit, I wasn't entirely prepared for the motion of the ship. The first few days I struggled with a little seasickness, but thankfully the medication did its job, and before long I was able to enjoy the incredible adventure ahead.
Our first stop was Ketchikan, and what a way to begin! I danced with the local native performers, laughed more than I expected, and then attended the famous logging show. Of everything we experienced on the cruise, the logging show was my personal favorite. It was exciting, entertaining, and unlike anything I'd ever seen. I didn't expect it to be so fun.
Yes, Scott brought his gnome.
It travels with us everywhere.
Sooooo cool!
These totems tell a story.
Contrary to what most people think, they aren't religious.
I had a raven on my outfit.
Dancing with the natives.
Our next port was Icy Strait Point, where we spent time hiking together before facing one of the biggest challenges of the trip: a gigantic zipline. I had absolutely no intention of riding it. Standing there looking down (apparently I'm terrified of hights), every excuse seemed perfectly reasonable.
Then Kristi quietly reminded me, "You can do hard things. Your grandchildren are watching the example you set." Those words changed everything. So I made the trip to the top of the mountain, climbed in, took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and went for it.
To my surprise... I actually enjoyed it! Well, as much as someone can enjoy flying down a mountain with their eyes mostly closed! Sometimes the best memories come from doing the things that scare us the most.
I hope years from now my grandchildren will remember that Grandma wasn't afraid to try something new, that she loved her family deeply, and that the greatest adventures are always the ones shared with the people you love most.
Proof!
Hanging with my sister!
Juneau brought another unexpected twist. Our planned excursion was cancelled because of heavy fog. While it wasn't what we'd hoped for, we made the best of it. GJ, Ken, and I wandered through the shops looking for treasures to bring home to our grandchildren. Honestly, is there anything more fun than shopping for grandkids? Meanwhile, Scott joined Ben and Kristi for a hike, and Zane and Tara enjoyed an somewhat humorous whale-watching excursion.
Some of my favorite memories, though, weren't made on land at all.
They happened around game tables.
Over long dinners.
In conversations that somehow covered every subject imaginable (including books, movies, music, our children and their lives, how to be a grandparent, and the gospel of Jesus Christ).
There is something wonderful about having uninterrupted time with family. We laughed, shared stories from every season of life, reminisced about childhood, solved the world's problems (or at least thought we did), and simply enjoyed being together.
These two often looked out at the ocean and
talked together from our adjoining balconies.
Dawes Glacier
Yes, it was cold!
Ben wanted candy, so GJ and I got him a backpack full of suckers.
Zane got one from us too!
Dinner each evening became one of the highlights of the cruise, thanks in no small part to our incredible servers, Miguel and Benjie. They remembered our favorite drinks, celebrated with us, laughed with us, and made every evening feel like a family gathering.
Scott, Miguel, and Benjie with the gnome.
Our final international stop was Canada. By then, however, Scott's knee was causing him significant pain, and I was feeling a bit under the weather. We took things slowly, grateful simply to be there and to soak in one last glimpse of the beautiful scenery before heading home.
with the gnome.
As I reflect on these two unforgettable weeks, one thought keeps coming back to me: life's greatest adventures aren't really about the destinations.
They're about the people who share the journey.
Whether celebrating America's birthday from different corners of the country or exploring Alaska together for the first time, I am profoundly grateful for family. They encourage me when I'm afraid, laugh with me through the unexpected, and remind me that life's sweetest memories are almost always made together.
Here's to freedom. Here's to family. And here's to saying "yes" to hard things—even if you have to close your eyes along the way.
