I used to be unable to live in the now.  I lived with regret of the past and full of fear for the future.  I now know that the past is my greatest asset.  The good and bad in my past are all lessons learned.  Experience and knowledge are things no one can ever take from me.  But it is a great gift for me to be able to give of them freely.  I no longer have any real fear of the future.  Those terrible things that I used to worry about happening in the future are mostly just in my head.  Now is where reality lives.  Now is where the enjoyment in this beautiful mountain scene is.  Now is where I live.

    No Militias, No Health Care Debates, just some natural beauty, that's all.  I'm in touch with what people like to call the "Real World."   It often seems very "Surreal" to me.  I am very grateful that we have the Smokies as a retreat from the crazy stuff going on out there.  I hope that when you stop by this website it is a short retreat for you.  We can't turn our back on what's going on in the world.  But we should occasionally take a moment and step back for a breath of fresh air. 

    As I looked through the trees at the beautiful sunset out on the horizon I couldn't focus on the intense beauty right in front of me.  Just like so many times in life when I am looking for the answer.  When I feel like I need to understand "it all."  The truth is usually right in front of me.  It is is simple and beautiful and close to me that I look right past it.  I'm looking out on the horizon for some large Earth moving deep understanding.  All the time it is w

    What an inspiring sight to behold!  I think that the clouds settled down in the valley so that the setting sun could put on a show just for those of us crazy enough to be in the highest elevations in the ice and snow on this evening.  The colors dancing across the clouds was indescribable!  It was a difficult climb to get up to this spot in the ice for sunset but it certainly was freeing and refreshing to be able to do it.  Storms are blew into the Smokies last night and will be with us today.  Tomorrow they will clear out and leave us with clean, fresh air and plenty beautiful views.
    A grand view like this makes it clear to me how equal we all are.  to see something awesome like this reminds me that no matter where we come from or where we have been.  No matter what we have or don't have, in the grand scheme of things we are all the same.

    I feel the need to share as much of the spring snow with you as I can before it's gone!  I will be spending the first few days of April down in the lower elevations and I have the feeling that before I get back up high in the Smokies the snow and ice will be gone.  Maybe not though!  It's so hard to tell this year.  The light and shadows that play across the snow will surely be missed.

    Unbroken snow seems sacred.  Scenes like this make me think,"Don't walk there!  Don't disturb that special place!"  I remember a photographer telling me that we don't photograph objects, we photograph light.  That's what I found so special in this scene, the light framed by the shadow.

    Here comes the full moon!  Just a couple more days and the moon will be full.  I hope the skies will stay clear so we can enjoy it.

100 Days Of Snow! Sunday March 28, 2010 Ober Gatlinburg's Celebration Helps Friends   Dear Mr. McFalls, Ober Gatlinburg & HEAD brand skis have just announced an opportunity to have fun this Sunday, March 28, 2010 and help Friends of the Smokeis raise money at the same time.   This is a win-win.   Sincerely,   Holly Scott Ober Gatlinburg's 100 Days of Snow!
Where & When Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010 Time: 9:00 a.m. start/ 5:00 p.m. drawing Location: Ober Gatlinburg One Day Only- THIS SUNDAY!   For the first time in Ober Gatlinburg's history, they have had 100 days of good skiing snow this winter,   To celebrate, beginning this Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. you can donate $5 to receive a free lift ticket, and you'll be automatically registered to win a HEAD snowboard or a pair of HEAD skis!   All proceeds benefit Friends of the Smokies and Cool Earth.   Free t-shirts will be given to the first 100 donors!  Special prizes will be awarded to non-skiing/non-snowboarding guests who donate!   For more information, call (865) 436-5423 or visit obergatlinburg.com

    It was exciting to be able to catch the snow melting and falling off the mountain ash.  There seems to be a battle between spring and winter in the higher elevations of the Smokies.  Yet there's no stopping it.  Spring will come eventually to even the highest elevations in the Smokies.  Today is a new day, filled with change and freedom and new opportunities.

    I had the opportunity to watch a helicopter land in the back country of the Smokies.  What an amazing sight!  The woods with their trees full of snow and ice are beautiful.  But to put the stark contrast of a bright, shiny, colorful helicopter in the natural beauty of the frozen mountains was impressive.  When the helicopter started landing I could see the snow and ice in the trees like I never had before.  And what a frame for that big chunk of technology.  If I took that helicopter and placed it in front of a city scape it wouldn't be nearly as beautiful.  It's the contrast in life that reminds me of the vibrant beauty all around me.

    We won't get to enjoy the fresh snow much longer this year.  There's still plenty snow on the ground in the higher elevations but it's melting fast.  I really think that we'll get some more snow before spring really takes hold but it may not be this light, fresh, pretty snow.  I look forward to the warm, sunny days but I will miss all the gorgeous scenes the snow has painted us this winter and spring.

    Welcome to a new installment of "Cool People I Know."  I would like you to meet Scott and Jenn Capshaw with Chugach Ministries in Girdwood Alaska.  I first met Scott and Jenn on Mt. LeConte when they were Chaplains here.  It was a great loss to the Smokies when they moved to Alaska but it's a great thing for the Ministry in Alaska to have Scott and Jenn there.  I keep up with them through their new mailing list and I re posted it here so you could get to know them.

Issue: # 1 March, 2010 Chugach Resort Ministries Contact Information P.O. Box 1054 Girdwood, AK 99587 907-783-0606 (office) 907-244-8155 (Scott's cell) scott@chugachresortministries.org
www.chugachresortministries.org   Online Giving! We now have an online giving option.  Click HERE if you would like to give through a secure online server! Follow our blog: www.scottandjenn.wordpress.com Prayer Requests

1. Jennifer began a new job working at the front desk of the hotel.  She loves her job and she's been able to meet a lot of great new people!  Please pray that she will be able to speak into the lives of those around her.
2. This upcoming Monday (March 22) we will begin a Bible study in our home.  many of the people who will be attending do not come from 'churched' backgrounds.  Please pray that we will be able to sensitively guide them through God's word.
3. Pray for our summer staff.  We will have four students working with Chugach Resort Ministries this summer.  Two of the students are from Georgia and two are from Mississippi. Pray that these students will have a teachable attitude and the sensitivity needed for Girdwood.
4. I recently made a pitch to the General Manager of Alyeska Ski Resort to begin a chaplaincy-type program for their employees.  We were totally shot down.  This helps us know that a direct approach will not be effective.  Please pray for us as we continue to build relationships with the ski area!

Chugach Resort Ministries News   Hi Doug,      We are trying out this new format of keeping in touch with everyone!  Please let us know how you like the new newsletter.  Feel free to forward this on to anyone you think might be interested in hearing about this new ministry in Girdwood, Alaska!   March has been a busy month for us in Chugach Resort Ministries.  Jenn started a new job working at the Hotel Alyeska.  She works at the front desk and really loves it.  She's been able to meet a lot of great people!  We've both spent a lot of time getting to know more people in the community.  I've been teaching Junior Achievement at the Girdwood School (I also got the chance to judge the science fair!).    Jenn cross country skiing with a friend! I have spent a lot of time preparing for our summer ministry.  We have four summer interns coming from Georgia and Mississippi to work with Chugach Resort Ministries.  These students will be involved in summer camps for kids and adventure recreation outings for at-risk teens in the Anchorage area.  We will be housing these college students in host homes in the Girdwood area and feeding them in our home.  One of the ways that you or your church can become involved is by sponsoring one of the students!  We are asking churches to prayerfully consider donating $10.00 Wal-Mart gift cards that will be used to buy supplies to help feed our interns.    Snowshoeing with a friend into Winner Creek Gorge! A lot of the ministry that we do is relational.  It happens over a cup of coffee or at someone's house for dinner.  One friend of ours recently said, "I think I've got you guys figured out... (my mind was racing)"  She continued, "You believe that God wants you to love people unconditionally and how they respond to your God is up to them."  Wow!  What a cool compliment!  We are trying to live authentically in front of people so that they can see God's presence active in our lives!        UAA retreat at Alyeska! At the end of February, I led a two day retreat for University of Alaska, Anchorage students.  The retreat was their winter ski retreat at Alyeska.  It turned out to be a great time of encouraging students in their faith.  I was able to work with their campus minister - Brenda Crim.  She is one of the most active campus ministers I know.  She gets her students involved in missions all over the state of Alaska that produce real, practical results for the people of Alaska!   Jennifer and I have lived in Alaska for four months now.  In that time, we have adjusted to new culture and new geography.  We are still learning new ways to creatively and compassionately reveal the presence of God to those who live, work, and play in Girdwood and along the Turnagain Arm!  Chugach Resort Ministries (CRM) seeks to reveal the presence of God to those who live, work, and play in the resort community of Girdwood and all along the Turnagain Arm.   CRM is a ministry program of caring Southern Baptists who want to creatively and compassionately communicate the Gospel to people at play!     Peace,
Scott and Jenn Capshaw
Co-Directors, Chugach Resort Ministries

    First of all, this was not staged.  I went over to Millie's place and said, "Wow!  Your boots match your bedspread!"  And look at the color!  As you know, I'm crazy for color and pattern.  I guess I don't have anything deep or spiritual to say about this one.  It's probably important to know that Millie didn't go out and buy the boots or the bedspread.  Her sister gave her the bedspread.  It's older and had been in the closet for a while.  Her sister bought the boots for her too.  It does paint a beautiful picture about how Millie's sister feels about her.  I think that maybe her sister is saying, "You're colorful and exciting so put on your boots and go live life!"

    "And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone..."  I read that first thing this morning.  I've read it many times over the last 10 years.  It's definitely a goal that I may never fully attain.  I just want to stay pointed towards it more often.  I just have to ask myself what is required of me, acceptance or change?  It seems simple in print.  In practice it's a lot of work.  I have to set my boundaries and stand up for what I believe in at the same time.  Good thing I'm not in charge all the time!  I'll just do the best I can today and t