Saturday, September 12, 2009

The end and the beginning

We have come full circle in our trip to honor a great man. And I took
this picture to represent the end of that journey. But something quite
profound happened at the end of this journey.

When I was at Arlington national Cemetery I got a call from one of our
emplyees - Roxana at Ft. Bliss, Texas. Her husband, while on his third
deployment to Iraq, sustained a brain injury from a road side bomb and
was send back to a Warrior Transition Unit. They are struggling to
regain a normal life. Roxana and her husband wondered if their ongoing
journey might help others also struggling to recover.

As a minster and a human, Henry had a laser like focus on serving the
suffering. So while on the phone with Roxana, we resolved to start
another blog dedicated to telling another story of about the jouney to
resilience, recovery and the return to wholeness in mind, body and
spirit.

At fitting beginning to the end of Henry's Yellow Truck Road Trip. See
the next posting for the blog link to "the road to recovery."

Arlington Dedication - Part II

The video is a bit long so comes in two parts. Here is part two.

Arlington Dedication - Part I

The video is a bit long so comes in two parts. Here is part one.

Henry's Grave

Back at Henry's grave at Arlington.

We sprinkled the last bit of dirt taken from here last month and
spread across the country on our road trip.

We put the grass and dirt from his parent's graves in St. Anthony,
Idaho here.

We honored all our ancestors and courageous heros here with a song and
dedication.

See the next video posting for a dynamic view.

The Yellow Truck at Arlington Cemetery

Henry's Yellow Truck is paying a visit to Henry's gravesite at
Arlingtion National Cemetery. He was glad to see it and that it is
being used.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Proof of Faith in Yellow Trucks

For all skeptics (including me) that thought Henry's Yellow Truck
would not make it across the country here is proof of faith.

Parked in front of our house in Virginia.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Emily's after picture.

Ahhhh!! My bed!

Wayne's after picture.

Ahhhh!! Home.

We arrived at midnight.

On the day planned, even with two breakdowns.

Grandad's song at the end.

You should hear Emily sing it.

Last stop before the final push

Emily was a driving champ!

Back East of Chicago

Green is still there. Now we will just keep driving.

To Chicago

Only one day left on our trip (sniff!)

On the road again.

I drove the West. Emily is doing the East.

Kate's place

We got to visit our adopted daughter and sister, Kate. She is a second
year law student at Drake. Showed us her school, apartment, friends
and birthplace. All very nice! Saw Jake too!

Good luck this year Kate - and Jake.

Emily and the Boar Hog

1,117 lbs!

Iowa State Fair

Wow! Largest in the nation.
Butter and ice cream
Meat and livestock
Plants, pies and corn
Large machines and corn
Families, fun and rides
Butter cows, astronauts, TVs
Live music and shows
Free samples of a above
Lots more
Did I mention corn?

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Sunset behind us.

Time to find a hotel with the iPhone

The Missouri River

Wow!

Music and singing kept us going.

See the video clip.

South Dakota

And lots of it.

Wounded knee

A most sobering and seminal event in American history.

Wall Drug Store

Where Grandma and Dick's car broke
down once.Our Truck is doing fine now.

Wayne and Fred

Flintstone Land

Awesome!!

Woodcarving Museum

Since we lost time, we had to run through the other essential sites
like this amazing wooodcarvimg museum.

Our car doctor - Ski

Robert Kaliszewski (Ski for short) got us going again with skill and
prayer. Now it hums like a top!

Car is fixed again!

Emily's Tattoo

People have been asking what Emily's tattoo looks like. Here is a
closeup. It's on here outside back foot area and about 2" long.

Mount Rushmore at Night

Very patriotic!
What a day.

She did it!

And it is beautiful!
Mike Trike is a real artist.

Keystone Tattoo, Keystone, S. D.

Emily has wanted to get a Lightening Bear tattoo in honor of Grandad
for years.

Here is her chance!

Wayne loves the Black Hills

A special land.

CraZy Horse Mountain

Big dreams still in progress since 1948. It's about the jouney - as we
are learning too!

Custer State Park - 2

Other local residents were a bit more nosy.

Custer State Park

Is beautiful, as attested to by some local residents seen here.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Thank God for car rentals

Even if they have 136,690 miles on them.

Prayer answered?

Rental company said call DJs. He can take us at 2. Turns out "DJS"
stands for "Doing Jesuses Service". He works Dad's truck all
afternoon. Thank you Lord!

Truck broken again

Truck vibrated terribly coming into Custer. Coolant pooring on the
ground.
Called AAA - "Where you want it towed?" Called 3 places without luck.
Guess it is time to pray harder.

On to Custer City, S.D.

Emily at Bear Lodge (Devils Tower)

At Devils Tower (Bear Lodge)

This is a pretty special place! We walked, looked, prayed and chanted.

On the road again.

It's a big country.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

It is done!

John has run JRs Towing and Repair for nearly 15 years with wife
Bobbi. Met their son Quinton too. Great kid about to start school.
Thanks John!

Fixing the truck

John got a new water pump from Billings, MT.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Lisa's Wild Woman Restaurant and Bar

Food was fair. Margaritas terrible. Service great. Weather perfect. No
rattlesnakes seen.

Discussed how to take time and act to help people who spontaneously
appear in need. Recalled examples - including Larry, who picked us up
today after the truck broke down.

Antler Inn, Greybull, Wyoming

It's air conditioned too!

Yikes! Water pump blows

Well, I suppose it had to happen at some point. Five miles outside of
Greybull, Wyoming the water pump blew. Fortunately, a nice man named
Larry picked us up and took is to Jrs Towing and Repair. Won't be
ready until morning. Time to look up Greybull on the iPod.

It's a big country!

Here we are on the way to Custer, S.D.

Indian Museum

This brought back memories for Wayne

Cody, Wyoming

Here we are at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. It is amazing! Art
and history, old and new, all together. The Charles Fritz paintings
are remarkable.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Cody Rodeo Night

We ended the day at the Cody Rodeo. The kids were really cute.

We are really tired and there is no signal here so hope you get the
these.

Friend on the road

Bill (the Yellow Truck) meets Bob (the Buffalo) on the road!

At the Yellowstone Canyon

Yellowstone Falls Video

Check it out. Awesome.

Emily and the Geyser

Old Faithfull still works. Each geyser is unique.

Old Faithful Inn

We stayed here last night. Looks like Disney World.

Old Faithful going off at midnight


Trust me. It was beautiful. As were the stars



Uncle Bob's Cabin


Here we are at Uncle Bob's Cabin near Fishing Bridge They made it
into an office. We left some of Henry's Grave-dirt there.