Ummmmm

Not a whole lot to blog about. This week has been a week of feeling a heavy burden for so many people. It seems like on every turn someone is suffering physically. Jeremy and Heather Adams have been hit with so much but I know that God has been there for them. Then there's different ones at work, friends around the country that have been need in prayer. I thank God that there is power in prayer. So many times we feel ALL we can do is pray. Do we realize PRAYING is the best thing we CAN do.

There are a lot of things on my heart and mind that I long to share but I know I can't because though there are those out there that would understand and encouraging, there is always that don't. Don't you ever wish you could ever just say what you want to say and not worry about others. Some day....

Tomorrow I'm headed to Bethel to preach as Brother Grant is in Idaho for their convention. I'm looking forward to visiting with our Saints in Bethel. It's probably going to be pretty cold as today the wind made it really chilly here so I'll be pulling out the winter coat and wearing sweatshirts and sweaters. Remember me in your prayers if you would. I want to be a blessing to the Bethel people.

I'm getting a Granddaughter

Yep, another girl. Today Joleesa had her ultrasound. My how advanced those things have become. And the little one wanted us to know she was girl as she was positioned perfectly with her little legs up for us but she also showed she was embarrassed as she had her arm over her face. It was so obvious and cute, especially when they did it in 3D. Jessa and Jenna got to be in the room with us along with Dallas of course and his mom came too. They were all pretty confident it was a boy. Joleesa had our co-workers assuring her it was a boy as well as the customers that came in. I wouldn't make a guess as that's truly all it is a GUESS. It was fun watching the faces of everyone in the room. The ultrasound doctor wasn't the friendliest man in the world but the first thing he did was find out the sex so we didn't have to wait. This is one excited grandmother (that sounds so weird).

I had and have so many emotions going through me right now that I can't even begin to put them into words. As a mother you take so many things/people into consideration when thinking about things. I am so thankful that God is control. So far we know everything is showing we will have a healthy granddaughter. Her name (at this moment, who knows if it might change ~ grin) will either be Savannah Lynn or Isabella Lynn. I'm thrilled with "Lynn" as that's my middle name. It's fun listening to people give their thoughts on which one. Dallas wants Isabella, I think Joleesa likes Savannah. Jessa and Jenna like Isabella (I think) but Jessa had a good idea, wait until she's born and see if she looks like a Savannah or an Isabella.

On another note; my heart and mind has never been off Heather Adams during this time. We are waiting for a miracle and I know that God can give it to them. Last night in service we had prayer for her and Brother Nowling had told me our Bible Study was going to be on the priest's ephod and going on into the putting on the "garments of praise and of salvation". As I was asking the Lord to show me what songs to lead I truly felt Him guiding me to songs of praise. As I was leading, singing, and praising Him; Heather's name and face was there constantly be lifted up through the praise in my heart and mind. I was reminded of a time Sister Tami Adams shared how she was really sick and crying out to God to touch and God told her to praise Him and as she praised Him she received His healing touch. I praise the Lord for breathing life into Heather. For being with her through this. I know He has a plan for her and her family and we're going to watch it unfold before us.

In other news we had our minister's convention last week and it was good. Due to some misunderstanding we didn't have a guest evangelist. Everyone dig a great job on their boosts. Megan had us laughing as she shared her childhood experience of harvesting ocra (and I actually learned some things) and she used that as her analogy. Jenna did great with her cpma boost reminding us that Christ sees His bride as Perfect. Levi preached a message that got right to the point about being used of God. I preached the Saturday evening message on "despise not thy youth". Though several things were pointed out the main thing was that we need more Elijah's and Elisha's.

Well I'm going to go get some supper and go shopping with Joleesa for GIRL things.

For Jessa

Jessa is telling me I need to blog so she has something to read at work...I love you Jessa.

I haven't blogged as there hasn't been too much new to blog about. Ever since getting back from the assembly and then Juneau I have been swamped at work. More accurately put I feel like I have been drowning. All newspaper businesses is full of deadlines. With the economy in a down slope we are trying all kinds of things to help the businesses to continue advertising so they can still grow their business and also ours. The last two months have very slow on my desk but this month it seems like it's raining down ads. I have to watch that I don't complain as this is a good thing. Couple this problems with our press causing my clients ads to run dark (thus having to gravall and give credits) and with yahoo sales that are tedious and a moving target of inventory, there have been days that I've had things given to me and said I need it before the end of day. Friday our Financial analyst that's office is right next to mine, came out and told me to remember to breathe. I have been going 100 miles an hour plus and by the time I get home the stress release takes several hours. I'd like to say next week should be better but I can't as my co-worker is on vacation and I have to cover his desk while still dealing with my own work. BUT God ALWAYS gets me through.

We have minister's convention this next weekend. So I also try to pull the state financial report together (thus why everyone else is taking their Sunday nap and I'm not as I need to work on that as soon as I get done with post). I have my ABM boost to pull together. God has put something on my heart that may seem quite different but I know that if God is in it it will minister. Then shock of all shocks, Brother Grant put me on to actually preach the Saturday evening message. "Let no man despise thy youth". Someone said but you're not a youth...oh Lord why did you give me this burden for youth so late it my life. I've tried to lay it down and relinquish it for someone else to pick up the mantel because my body is just not allowing me to do all that I need it to, but God WILL NOT release me. As I prepare for this message I truly feel the Lord is so many directions. I desire God to use me to minister as He desires to through me.

Friday night I would not allow myself do anything but relax as well as yesterday morning and afternoon. I went out to eat with Brother Nowling only to have him go down a one way the wrong way. He caught himself right away and was backing back into the road he turned off and it was a police car that let him in and then proceeded to pull him over as well as have another officer pull up. He told the officer the truth and said he just spaced out which road he was turning on and PTL they checked his license and told us to be careful.

Yesterday I did some shopping, nothing major just felt good to get out. Last night I worked on the bulletin, the monthly state books, played a game of bowling on wii and went to bed but was up until the wee hours of the morning praying for one of our young people who was in desperate need of God's intervention.

This morning we had a good SS (I really miss teaching the youth though), worship and message. Now I must get the state finance report done. If I don't do it today I'll be having to do it in the evenings after hard days at work when I'm brain dead. So until the next time.

Wisdom

I sure know why Solomon asked for wisdom when he could have asked for anything. It is the most needed attribute (if that's the word to use) ever in the Christian life. Wait a minute, even if you're not a Christian, wisdom is needed. As parents, as adults. In Christian service it is a must. I so need wisdom. It's the cry of my heart constantly these days, for home, church and work. For LIFE in general. Please help me pray for wisdom?

PTL it's Friday.

Our Anniversary

Brother Nowling and I went to Juneau for our anniversary. It's amazing how, though we've been married 28 years the need for the two of us to get away alone is so much needed. It was a great time, beside the dreary weather. Our flights went well and when we first got there seeing he worked all night before and we couldn't check into our b&b until 3 pm we went downtown, he parked and I walked the shops as I was also making contacts for the paper on before of our Alaska visitor's guide. A cruise ship had come in and the shops were busting at the seams, especially the ones that 60% - 80% off (I got a few great buys too) end of the season clearance. There's all kinds of languages all around me. I walked a long way and when I call Brother Nowling to pick me up his phone went to voicemail (ugh). My feet were killing me and after 3 tries of getting him to answer I started walking. It turned out the last time he talked to me, when he closed his phone it turned it off. We then went to a nice yogurt shop that had great soup and sandwiches and was own by Christians. From there we went to our B&B. We had such a great experience at the B&B in Valdeze I chose this over a nice hotel. Ugh, we felt like we were in a stranger's home. Don't get me wrong they were friendly enough (actually she talked non-stop until we couldn't get a word in edge wise), but our room was across from theirs. The last B&B the guest rooms were on their own floor with their own entrance. I don't know it was just more awkward this time. We felt like we had to be careful not to offend them. I also felt almost claustrophobic as she collects precious moments statues and has over 2000 of them throughout her house. In our room alone I stopped counting at 56. It was a beautiful log house and the walls were so covered with plaques and shelves you lost the beauty of the logs. Any way, we went to our room and I took an hour nap while Brother Nowling slept 3 hours. In the morning they had breakfast for us. She made french toast and eggs. Has anyone heard of spruce tip syrup? She made some, yes from spruce tree needles. It was a different flavor altogether. Not bad. Then we headed back to downtown for me to meet with more businesses and the town was dead. Everything was closed. It was amazing the change overnight because the cruise ship had pulled out. We drove around town and I took down names of businesses for me to call when I got back to the office. We then went to lunch and had some of the best pizza ever at Pizzeria Roma. The service was poor as the waiters were in the kitchen gambling, but the food was delicious. After eating we headed to the Mendenhall Glacier. I had made the statement that all the glaciers were the same, but not so. This one was a gorgeous blue and had a huge waterfall next to it. We went up to the visitor center and technically it closed the day before so it was free and we had the ranger almost to ourselves and I made contacts for our paper with them and we enjoyed looking at the glacier from a higher view as it was built up into the rocks. We then went driving from one end of Juneau to the other. Remember Juneau is surrounded by water, so we drove one way until the road ended and then headed the other way but due to road construction turned around just a couple of miles before it ended. We went to Auke Bay and it was another gorgeous site even in the rain. We stopped at sheep creek, and though we didn't see any sheep we say lots of eagles. I tried to get some good pictures but unfortunately I had some problems but I'll post one of the better ones.

We then headed back to the Hangar restaurant for our anniversary dinner. Juneau doesn't have any "fancy" restaurants just costly ones. We had been told the Hangar had great food and it had a view of the ocean. We made reservations but we got there early so had to wait about 15 minutes. If it hadn't been so dreary out the view would've been nice, it was terribly noisy but the food was absolutely delicious. He had shrimp and I had Parmesan halibut and it was so good. We then did a little more driving around and then headed back to our room. We slept in until 8 am. We had a good breakfast and then decided to take an earlier flight out as it was pouring out. When we got to Anchorage the sun was shining and it was a beautiful autumn day. Levi and Jessa invited us for dinner and we truly enjoyed it.

It was a great time away and I'm thankful we had the time together and I'm really grateful that the newspaper is picking up most the bill of it all too.

Here's few pictures.

About Me

Let me prelude this post with I usually don't bare my soul on my own blog because I don't want to offend, upset, or disappoint anyone. But I haven't blogged for awhile as I need this blog to truly be MY blog and I need to be able to share my heart and so that is what I am going to do.

As I was spending time on flights and airports on my way to IYC I determined in my mind, this assembly was going to be for me. I was going to be praying for me. Seeking answers for me. The first service at IYC found me praying Lord help me to know how to be there for Heather. Then Lord show me how to share this special time with Megan and Micah. Also, Lord I feel like I've gained a son but in gaining the son I've lost a daughter, help me to find my relationship with Jessa. And my prayers continued through the various people that are so much a part of who I am, Jenna, Lord let her find someone (not just a guy) but someone here to share life. Josh and Jackie, oh how I miss them Lord show me how to reach them so they will draw closer to you. Their faces went before my face one at a time Matthew, Tim, Nathan, Larry, Jeremy, all of them one right after another. Lord help me to serve them truly was my prayer. Always hanging over every prayer was Lord give me WISDOM. I found myself feeling like Solomon as more than anything I want wisdom. My love is so great for these souls that God has put in my life that I need wisdom as to know when, what, and how to be what He needs me to be for them.

In every prayer there was one huge plea for wisdom that was on behalf of a new road that I'm having to walk. A road that is filled with huge amount of love for my daughter Joleesa but a cry for wisdom to help me in being the mother to her and a grandmother to the baby she is carrying. Yes. I am going to be grandmother. Not in the way I had ever dreamed of becoming a grandmother, but none the less a grandmother. God forgives the repented heart and forgets. We are to be like Christ. I had to find my way in forgiving as Christ does and I truly have. Many individuals turn away from God and go into sin. Some sin is easy to forget but sometimes God allows that sin to bring good and all life exists only if God allows. As Joleesa has turned her life back to Him and as she finds her way in her walk with Him she now has a child to lead as she walks that walk and I will be right there with her (as will all her family)helping, rejoicing and loving this new life. Life changes around every corner and I committed this road to Christ a looooong time. As I help Joleesa make preparations for this precious little one, my prayer continues to be for wisdom, not only for me, but for mother-to-be Joleesa, along with a strength that will help her in this time that is very joyous but also very challenging. I am already watching her as she looks at life in a whole different way then she ever did before. My ultimate prayer is that this little life will be healthy and be given the opportunity to know the love of Jesus right from the early years.. Joleesa, with God's help, love and wisdom can give that to this child.

Yeah, this assembly was about me finding all that God has for me as person, as a pastor's wife, as a leader in the church, as a wife, as mother but the biggest goal was finding me as a grandmother. I thank my precious Lord and Saviour that He never fails us...Jada Nowling is going to be a grandmother. Wow!!!

It was a glorious assembly where every message spoke to me. I stand in awe at how precious His anointing was and I thank God that He allowed me the privilege to be a part of IYC and the 104th general assembly.

Leaving Tuesday

Well I'm leaving out Tuesday night. I'm flying positive space (secured seat but we pay the taxes. Gift from AK Airlines to employees). I'm hoping to upgrade to first class if a seat is available so I can sleep. I fly to Chicago on the red eye flight, land in Chicago at 8:05 am, leave out at 10 am on US Airways to DC and then DC to Chattanooga to be picked up by the Williams and Sister Debra Perkins will be with them. I'm so ready in spirit to go but I haven't started packing and I'm so physically tired. Brother Nowling leaves out on the red eye on Wednesday red eye (positive space) to Chicago, from Chicago to Charlotte and Charlotte to Chattanooga. Arriving 1/2 hour after Levi and Jessa. They'll drive over to IYC together.

In other news, the bank returned the money to our account that was taken fraudulantly. I don't know what the next step is, we just notice it was returned to our bank account.

Well, I better get packing and I want to try to get to bed early...yeah right.