Send Dennis and Patti to Alaska!

I was approached with an amazing idea to honor Mom and Dad.

I’m very transparent on my Facebook and have been open about the trials and victories in our family. My parents been married for 43 years, and have wanted to take a trip to Alaska for at least 35 of those. Not once while growing up did they leave us overnight for a trip. They took us to all of their destinations.

We would load up in the station wagon or van and haul off to the mountains or lakes, pop a tent and soak up nature. Their date nights were often spent at the house and occasionally included a babysitter for a couple hours (but even those nights I can count on one hand).

After we were all out of the house they began trips together. Driving around the US. But have saved up funds more than 4 times (that I know of) to go to Alaska. Once it was crushed by an online scam, once a surgery, once cancer and a house being destroyed, and most recently broken appliances and unexpected medical expenses.

What I cannot count on one hand are the times that my parents sat at our kitchen table, doing the math, bending expenses to help others. We have saved up as kids and added to their trips nearby, but haven’t had the ability to go BIG for them, and help fund something like Alaska!

I know times are hard, and it may take a while to gather this, but Misty was so kind to give this idea a try! I don’t even know how much this trip will cost so I set the bar high.

This is a SURPRISE and we hope to have it together so that after dad beats this cancer, it will be ready to give them. He still has a road ahead of him, but ideally March is their anniversary, this clinical trial should be done and the opportunity to go make new memories will be present!

If you aren’t blessed to know them personally and found your way to this page, let me catch you up.

Dennis and Patti married in March of 1980 and immediately started their family. They have been in music ministry for 45 years, the most recent 30 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Longview. We were raised where if the church doors were open, we were there. Dad has spent 35 years of their marriage working at churches and working in the same company, as a loyal team member at a computer networking company to make the bills. They both have a love of photography. They have preserved wedding memories, nature and family portraits. Maybe yours?!

We never had an exuberant amount of money, but us kids never did without and never knew a day without love. Not only did they raise three kids of their own, but countless cousins, friends and neighbors knew the love of a family because of the home they provided. They have provided an impeccable example of what a relationship can be and what Faith in God can overcome.

They depended on God to provide in every way. When there was a need in another family that was in anyway less fortunate than us, they met that need.

Dad developed a scary medical condition that had us fearing the worst in 2017. Renal Cell Carcinoma, Grade 2. Stage 4. Where most families would understand this death sentence as a darkness, they took it on like a blazing light to show our God’s strength. He has still been on that stage every Sunday leading worship, his retirement was pushed out further and he continues to work, and best of all, he and my mom continue to load up their tiny camper, hook up to the truck and find a new state park to disappear to on the weekends.

They DESERVE this trip! So give! Give from your heart, share the fundraiser (but block them from posts). We want to give them the surprise of a lifetime. An opportunity to renew their batteries and take photos of the beautiful world God has given us!

If you have a story about their love and selflessness, please share it here!