SO MANY EMOTIONS

Rest assured I won't share all of them. The main one is LOVE! for The Church of God and my family. It was a rough weekend. Nothing like we had planned, but that's ok. My family, not just my husband and I, my family loves The Church of God and the TRUTH. This weekend they showed it. I couldn't be more proud of my girls. It wasn't easy but I think they gained even new love for Christ and His Church. Thanks for the prayers. Continue to pray for Wisconsin. There are a lot of good folks that need God to intervene.

Please pray for my body. I have gotten a horrible cold (sore throat, chest and head contestion) and I feel miserable. Its from the heat and then air conditioning (extremes). Today they're forcast 106 degrees. This is sooooo unusual for Wisconsin.

Hey folks this was the weekend our region was suppose to have camp. Oh how God shows He knows the future!

3 PRAYER REQUESTS

It was 102 degrees yesterday. This is very unusual for us to have this hot of weather and for this long. As you know we don't have ac so it's very difficult to do anything when it gets this hot including breathe. Please pray the heat breaks.

PRAY FOR OUR REGION. It is desperately in need of divine intervention and wisdom from God's people.

We will be in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend. Their youth weren't able to go to convention and seeing there isn't camp (which I now see the hand of God as to why not) they wanted us to come their. I will be having a youth service this evening and then Brother Nowling will be preaching in the morning.

"God answers prayer in the morning. God answers prayer at noon. God answers prayer in the evening, so keep your heart in tune." I'm singing Sister Smith, I'm singing and praying and praising, and it feels good. ~winks and grins~

What Am I thankful For?

I decided I needed to start looking up, not down. Last night I started thinking of how good God is. I began to think of everything I have to be thankful for and decided to do my short list here:
1. I am so thankful for my relationship with my Lord. He is my life and has been since I was 7 yrs. old.
2. I am soooo thankful for my family. I have a husband who loves The Church of God (and has a brillant revelation that he can easily share from the business to Her preciousness to anyone who will listen - or even those don't want to~smile~) and 3 beautiful daughters that I love with my life and I am soooo proud of. They love the Lord and have come to the Chuch of their own accord (read Jenna's testimony on her blog-maybe the other two will follow suit and share there's) and have stayed faithful standing alone.
3. I'm thankful for my friends. Which really means I'm thankful for blog land ~great big grin~ Sister Smith, Sister Tammi, Sister Annette, Sister Julie, Sister Marsha, Sister Becki and others. Your words have beeen soooo encouraging. Even though they're things I already know, sometimes I need reminded. Sister Smith, no wonder Brother Smith says sing, sing, sing during the presbretry meeting (that was the best part of it~worship~ and that's what singing does it brings worship `smile`). Sister Net I don't care for blueberries can have rhubarb instead (I really do love rhubarb pie - but by itself forget it, to sour but make it into pie, mmmmm good).
4. I still have a job. The morning was hard yesterday (tears only came once) but I made it. And now I'll have to continue this another time as because I have a job I have to get ~grin~

Love to all my blog land friends. Even our youth that are lurkers out there. I know you're there, don't deny it. May be some day I'll list who are ;o)

I'VE GOT THE BLUES~~~~

I've got the blues. The tears want to come, I haven't let them but they want to. Just feeling strange. I lose my desk, and my computer tomorrow as we move everything around for the new girl to start on Monday. For three weeks I will wondering at work. It is already feeling strange after 9 years. Everyone is being sooooo sweet. But it feels soooo strange.

I've been trying to find a house for rent. It is sooooo hard so far away. Same thing with jobs. I feel like in a matter of weeks we'll be jobless and homeless. To much uncertainity right now. Certain were suppose to go, but uncertain to what awaits us. I'm one to plan ahead....

I need something to break loose for us. Something to come together for us. OK now the tears are coming....

I've been reading the manuscript of the presbretry meeting. When I got to the third day and they were at the Church and the Lord was blessing so; I went as far as when they moved back to the other building and decided to put it down for awhile. I wanted, I needed to experience the glory for a while.

Sorry for sharing the blues...but that's me at this moment!

The Bishop - The Bank Robber

Nothing much happening here. Not necessarily a bad thing. Although I did get a big scare and then a bigger laugh today. Remember I work for a newspaper. Newspapers have scanners. All of a sudden someone came from the news department and said they just heard "the vehicle is registered to Jody and Jada Nowling" that was all they caught. Panic, imagination going wild. It's the truck. It's Jody. But he doesn't answer his phone. DAH! I keep calling in between pacing. I finally get through and I asked him what happened and he non-chalantly asks what do I mean. I tell him what was heard. He says "Oh that, I just had a gun pointed at my face". 'Cuse me! He works part-time doing light maitenanace at a bank. The silent alarm got tripped. He had been painting trim at the back of the bank. His truck setting somewhere that brought suspicion. He has no idea anythings happened. He walks around the front and turns around to have a sheriff pointing a sniper gun in his face and surrounded by several other officers with guns. I asked him what he did and he said "wet my pants (I hope it's ok that I say that ~grin). No really what did you do, "Put my hands up in the air and moved away from the building like they told me too, until they found out who I was". UNREAL. Not in my wildest imaginations did I expect that. After the initial shock I laughed and laughed and boy did I have fun telling the News room and then the publisher. Now they're saying that's really why were moving to Alaska, running from the law because my alias Bishop husband is really a robber.

You know what, I'm sure glad my husband has a strong heart...who's to say that all couldn't have given him a heart attack or something. I do believe God was on the scene! In the background, but on the scene ~grin~

17 YEARS AGO

Where were you at 17 years ago today? I spent most the day up until 3 pm laying on the couch miserable as I was 9 months pregnant. At 3 pm Jessa went and got her dad to help me off the couch and take me to the hospital. On Monday, July 24, 1989 at 6:30 pm a beautiful little girl with lots of brown hair was born. She was such a good baby right from the start. Rarely cried and as she got older allowed her imagination to entertain whether we were grocery shopping or moving. As the years have gone by, she has been the one to say the things that you really wondered "where did that come from" as you grinned or laughed. It didn't matter if it was Sunday School, church, or in a serious conversation. She is our sanquin/phlematic (spelling?).

God, please protect our baby in her 17th year. Keep her heart and soul safe and full of Your love. JOLEESA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! YOU'VE BROUGHT US JOY AND TEARS. WE CAN'T IMAGINE LIFE WITH OUT YOU.

Lots of love Dad and Mom

A BIG BLACK "HOUSE"

Well as Jenna told you (and should be posting a picture on our blog soon) we got our trailer yesterday and it's parked beside our house. In a few weeks it will BE our house as it will have everything we own in it ;o( and ;o). It is 8 1/2' wide by 24' long. By itself it's length is the width of our house. Hitched to the truck the two would probably be as long as our house. It's unreal! I ran into a co-worker at the grocery store and told we picked it up and she asked how I felt...my response was I felt like I was about to lose my breakfast. How a person can be so sure of something and yet be so anxious over it ~shaking head~.

Then we headed downstairs and attacked our storage room. Now that felt good. We probably have about 20 bags of garbage. Lots went to the garage for the thrift sale and a "few", yes just a few boxes got stacked in a corner to go with us. It's amazing how many books we have. We could start our own library! That's even after putting several boxes in the thrift sale and having already sold several in our first sale. Amazing. By accomplishing the basement it gives us a better look as to what all will fit into the trailer.

The packing will continue, as will the house hunting. I sent out several emails Friday to property management companies in Anchorage. If we don't become active in our house hunting, our home may be that pot at the end of the rainbow...smile.

Next weekend will be headed to Iowa for a youth day on Saturday as their youth didn't make it convention. The following Friday we have our thrift sale. That weekend will be used clearing away anything that didn't sell, and more packing. August 19th we have to head to Southern MN on the Iowa border for my niece's wedding. And then the following weekend we leave for the assembly. Stop the clock but spead up the packing. It feels like time is getting away from us, yet why aren't we there yet! Go figure.

Hee hee hee!

FINALLY SOMEONE HAS FOUND THE POT AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW~
It has been suggested that it may be Sister Annette's "THRONE". hee hee. Love you Sis and I love the Sister who suggested it. lol

Finally!

Tonight the last of Joleesa's school work is going into the envelope and will be put in the mail. The homeschool struggle will be ended. I have spent the evenings this week and last Thursday doing nothing but working with her on her school. It's not all her fault. She doesn't have the drive for school. Some kids do but some just don't and she doesn't. Homeschooling has been tough with my working full time. It was to easy for her to let it go and though I would be on her at times, if I didn't follow up and stay on her she'd get behind. Though she's done alright with her grades, I feel like she really hasn't learned much as so much was jammed in at one time that she would memorize just long enough for the quiz or test. Homework is not graded or turned in.... so did I do her justice this year? I was watching out for her soul.

But what about next year? She'll be a senior. Our "baby" actually turns 17 Monday, July 24th (same day as Brother Sutton ~smile~ obviously he's not turning 17). She absolutely does NOT want to be homeschooled and I don't know if I can take on the responsibility with all the changes in our lives. Bottom line academically I don't know that it was the best thing for her...spiritually ~shrugs shoulders~. Brother Nowling and I have been praying. We are probably going to let her go to the public school. I pray the young people in Alaska will be close and active and that will make a difference.

Anyway, one more thing completed, done, and I don't have to think about it any more.

AND FINALLY it cooled off! It's awesome today. It rained (not enough to do the grass and crops any good) and cooled it off. It's been only in the low 70's. After almost 100 - SWEET!

A Fragrance of an UNPLEASANT Kind

It has been sooooo hot here for several days but usually it cools down enough at night that our window fan brings in the cool night air that we can sleep comfortly under light covers. That wasn't the case Sunday night and I probably only got a total of two hours of sleep. Last night I worked all evening with Joleesa trying to finish up her schooling and I was totally exhausted. But the Lord was good - He cooled the night off beautifully and the fan brought in the cool air. Brother Nowling was in the bathroom next to our bedroom and he hadn't closed the door tight and the light was shining in my eyes so I yelled at him to close the door. WELL I must have startled something outside that we usually don't have in town. It was a "flower" of a different kind. LOL and it must have been right below our window. Our room begin to smell of skunk! And that fan that was soooo nicely bringing in the cool night air, also began to bring in that "lovely" fragrance. It kept getting stronger and stronger. I felt like that black and white creature must be in our room. So that fan had to be shut off. Fortunately had cooled off the room enough that another fan on a table was able to keep it cool enough and eventually the skunks' gift began to dissipaate ~smile~. I did sleep well but I still haven't caught up from the sleep lost over the weekend. Hopefully it will stay cooler for a while.

Everyone have a great day in the Lord!

Convention, youth program a thing of the past....

Wow the convention is now in the past. It was a very different convention then I've ever been to, for many reasons. One, we didn't get there until the afternoon session. Two, we hadn't seen or even talked with many of the people since February or March. Menomonie was on for the afternoon devotion. We got there while everyone else was at lunch so we were able to get unloaded and practice the songs for song service. I've not been that nervous in a loooooong time. The Spirit was there, but it wasn't "free". Sister Dee Wilson, our SS coordinator preached an awesome message on Ezekial and the dry bones in the desert and compared it to the Church. I was both shouting and crying. Before we knew it was supper time. I had to meet with the youth about there roles and then we had to get things set up for the youth program and we were all very hungry.

The props for the youth program were awesome. They turned out better than I could have hoped (minus just a couple minor things). Bottom line they looked thought provoking before you even knew what the message was all about. Here's how it went. (pictures will be on Jenna's blog with her take on things I hope) Rough crosses at the end of each pew with worldy signs above them (drugs, alchohol, sex, power, rebellion, etc-8 altogether, was suppose to have been 10 one of the minor things ~smile~). White runner going down middle aisle with "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil". At the end of the runner a big cross (which stood great in a christmas tree stand with a blanket wrapped around it). Going across the altar, on each side of the big cross (forgot the crown of thorns, another minor thing ~shrug shoulders)white crosses with the Church flag beside each one. Behind the cross hell's flames. All soldiers experience walking through the valley of the shadow of death, The World. Some succumb to the world, rough crosses. As our youth led by Sgt. Donte walked the valley of the shadow of death shining their lights (flashlights, not all had one - understand that message) on the crosses and their signs singing I have decided to follow Jesus with the last verse being the cross before me, the world behind me once they all got to the front pew. I spoke to them the soldier's dress, the armour being "one size fits all". The soldier's talk being confident and various soldier's shared their words of confidence (from the scripture), then the soldiers walk being a walk away from the the world, keeping the cross in focus. More than anything I wanted enough time for our soldiers to recommit themselves at the foot of the cross without going over time. I was petrified of going over time and I wanted the Holy Ghost to have His time with our youth. I only had an hour and then Brother Jackson was on to preach. PTL He did. After about 35 minutes I called the soldiers that would to the cross and the commander and chief took over. We had some of our soldiers wear the red, black and white and others wearing the t-shirts. Right at 7 pm we turned off all the lights (get this the altar work was done right at the close of my hour ~great big grin~). Throughout the program we had just stage lights on and the very back lights on, but I had them turned off at and asked what the people saw...the crosses on the t-shirts glow in the dark ~cool~ Even in the dark we must keep our eyes on the cross.

Did it go smoothly? Absolutely NOT! I was so nervous and about 5 minutes before we were about to begin 3 of our young ladies from the same family just got news that their grandfather passed away. They were sobbing hysterically (understandably). Brother Aviles had the whole congregation pray and then the service was turned over to me. Because of that the youth weren't organized, (another minor thing~grin~). Then as I went along I found myself changing how I brought things across ~ maybe over doing yelling out to our youth "I CAN'T HEAR YOU" ~smile~ Jenna can probably expound on that. Did the message get across, I think so. Bottom line the Lord took the altar service and that was my goal.

Then I ended telling the congregation about our call to Alaska and letting them know how much I loved them. Watching there faces was sooooo difficult. Then as I was cleaning up the props Bro. Aviles called Sis. Brenda Albizures up front and she had me laughing and crying both in the honor she gave me (Jenna will have to show you the gift of pigs I got ~lol). They also signed a card and took a love offering for me. All VERY unexpected but I sooooo appreciated it.

Then we decided not to stay for Sunday so the hugs and tears came. Each one cherished but very difficult. The Lord has someone else to look after our lambs though (Marissa - the daughter of Brother Blythe, former overseer of CA). I also hugged and cried on her neck telling her to take care of the precious youth in this region. I know God will help her.

We headed out with our hearts full but feeling the strings cut to this region. Forever in our hearts, minds and prayers though.

I'm sorry this is soooo long. There is sooo much I left out even (I know hard to believe). But I wanted you to know. All is well though. A new chapter will be opening.

By the way the heat was unbearable. They have just a room air conditioner and we were in the high 90's. It was miserable! After the youth program I could ring out my t-shirt and dress (I know TMO~grin). Anyway now were home in the heat with fans.

Please do pray for this heat to break and for rain. We have really been feeling miserable and we have so much to do.

ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PROGRAM TURNS OUT

I got the t-shirts for the youth today. We always do shirts for camp and even though camp was cancelled the youth wanted to use their deposits to get t-shirts. Jenna did the design. We always know the graphics change some because of different programs but when the owner of the t-shirt place came in with the proof he suggested some additional changes. I was ok with that but when I got the second proof and talked to him I wasn't able to picture how it would actually look on a t-shirt. We went army green with black print and we're doing a glow-in-the-dark outline. He suggested only doing the outline on the cross and not on the text. I just couldn't see how the black would show up on the army green without some sort of outline. Then he was telling me the outline would only show up in the dark. He assured me it would be great and he's the pro but I was stressing big time and went balistic when telling Jenna as she wasn't seeing it either. BUT they turned out AWESOME! Mind you the army green is NOT dark, hunter green. It's fatique green and is better then I ever imagined. Jenna wanted to take a picture and put it on her blog but I asked her to wait until after convention. Sorry, but I want it to be surprise for our people and though they don't comment, we all know there are lurkers out there ~smile~ which is fine. But I don't want it ruined.

My boss suggested using a Christmas tree stand for the cross to be able to stand by itself. I want to try it so I don't have to worry about it possibly falling if we were to just set against the pulpit and the "flames of hell" and it will be more effective if stands away from the flames. But I've got to find it ~shrugs shoulders~ I'm sure you're all just picturing it aren't you ~great big grin~ Jenna will have her camera so as you well know they'll be pictures. lol

So now if we can get Brother Nowling to cut the "good" crosses for her so she can get them painted (he said he'd do it after work one night). I so hate last minute things.

Then the only thing I have left to do is get some batteries for the engraver as I have dog tag key chains for everybody (part of camp) and I still have a few names to engrave. Then of course pack.

So tomorrow, I help Joleesa with the last of her school (she's worked every night this week) so we can get it off in the mail and pack. It's suppose to 100 degrees here Friday and Saturday. We have no air conditioning. We'll be looking forward to the 4 1/2 hour drive in the "air conditioned" truck and then being in an air conditioned church. Yup, yup!

Have a good night.

TIME IS GETTING SHORT

Boy that title covers a multitude of things. The first thing that comes to mind is the Lord is coming back. But I was referring to my youth program being finished. Jenna's got a lot of the props done. She needs Brother Nowling's help on some things. But I have to get the message together. I so don't want to go over in time. Last night I worked on it and reworked it and reworked and something still doesn't seem right so I'll have to work on it some more. and TIME IS GETTING SHORT, it's this weekend. So please pray. I want this to be God's program for the youth and God wouldn't allow me to go over time...now if the Holy Ghost takes it over time, that's not my problem. Actually that's not a problem in my mind. But I want it to be obvious that it's the Holy Ghost.

Time is also getting short when it comes to our move. Check out Jenna's counter at the top of her blog. It give me a reality check every time ~smile~

And reality check righ now, Time is getting short for me to get to work so I suppose I need to get dressed.

God bless all.

My Job ... even on Sunday

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I will NOT work at any newspaper in the circulation department ever again, that is if I have my way, I know Brother Nowling is total agreement after today. Because my DM was on vacation this weekend, I worked last night (11pm-12:45am) and Brother Nowling always goes and helps me. Plus, I was on call this morning and sure enough during SS my phone rings. The store route driver never showed, and one of the Colfax drivers totaled his car and quit without getting his route done. I leave for the office and find out a walk route also didn't done. Called the carrier, she's out of town, and her dad hangs up on me. I call the driver that totaled his car because he still has all the papers, there's no answer. I try a couple of other drivers to see if they'll do the store route, no one's home. I get a hold of one guy to do the paid product, The Dunn County News, as we have enough extras of those and he's willing. Got my clerk to go do the walk route. But no one to do the stores. So how did Brother Nowling and I spend the afternoon, delivery about 1200 papers to the stores. I was so sore (from climbing in and out of the truck), hungry and tired after 3 1/2 hours. I'm so grateful for my husband's help. He has always been willing to help (and when he does I can pay him, as I'm salary so I get nothing extra-except mileage, big deal when it comes to the monster truck).

He took a nap, the girls and I went to get something to eat, and then I actually took 1 1/2 nap on Sunday (I rarely do that).

So that's why NO, NO to circulation in the future.

By the way we did have a good service in the evening.

Another Step of our Journey Accomplished

Well we did it. We bought the trailer. We had been looking at a 26' trailer and after selling so much furniture and talking with my brother we decided we really didn't need anything that big. So Brother Nowling and I went back to the trailer place again this morning. The 26' was gone but they had a black 24' "V" trailer (20' of storage). They got us the numbers, we decided to head to the bank and got approved no problem. So the bank now owns a trailer in our name ~smile~ We even took the check to the trailer company. We actually accomplished all of this before noon. Go figure. My thoughts...I just kept saying, "we're committed". Not that we weren't before, but each step makes it more difficult to turn back if the enemy tries to tell us too. We won't pick up the trailer for two weeks. We're waiting until after the convention as we won't have the time to get the hitch, brakes, etc set up, and we'll be parking it beside our garage and would rather not be gone with it there.

Also, while at the bank they redid our truck loan at a much lower interest rate so our payments will be lower. The Lord is so good.

It feels good to know that's done, but I just pray it is big enough. I'm to the point though, if it's not, just more things will go. That's what they are things.
So it's ok. And I mean that.

Next step, after our convention next weekend I'm going to inundate (?) Anchorage with Brother Nowling and my resumes and letter of references (the girls too if they get them ready and do the research). I'm also going to start emailing for housing. The oodle alerts usually have where you may email them. The Lord's been good at helping us save money. I've very proud of Brother Nowling as to how he's been pulling it together. We're not where we need to be but we're getting there.

A Better Day & My Convention Program

Yesterday was a better day. I actually left work caught up on everything. I finished the last thing right at 5 pm. It's amazing how many times it works that way for me. Best of all, I have to cover this weekend for my district manager. He does any routes that we can't fill as well as other things. Anyway there were two walk routes that were open, and I really didn't want to do another route (we've done them for 9 years). PTL I got them both covered and even filled one for him.

I came home and Jenna, Joleesa and I went out to eat (we've just got to stop eating out ~ shakes head). Then we went to Walmart and I got a badly needed hair cut and some of the things that were needed for my youth program at convention next week.

As you'll find out from Jenna's blog I'm using what was going to be the banquet theme with a twist to it. It's "The Valley of the Shadow of Death" (Yes Psalms 23). What soldier, during war time, doesn't face the valley of death. The world is the Christian's valley of Death. The cross seperates us from the world and hell. That's all I'll share at this time. But please pray that it will have a powerful impact on our youth.

Well I need to get work. I hope everyone has a good day.

Nice 4th of July but I need another day off

I enjoyed the 4th. It felt good to spend the day outside. Sis. Tammi and Annette I actually did relax (for the most part). Until the fireworks any way, we had some situations that were quite stressful. And my arms got pretty sunburned.

Then I my day started earlier then normal on Wednesday as I got called in at 7 am and it was another horrible day. I will not miss the Newspaper here. I am soooooo ready for a change. I ate while taking ads (the lunch that my husband had to bring me because I didn't have time to make one and I was the only one in the office so I couldn't leave). I never talked to anyone about anything other than the customers. It was horrible. I have to go back 6:30 because my clerk's on vacation.

Not much else happening here. Although I've got to get my youth program together for our convention on the 15th. I dreamed about the details (literally on Saturday night). Right down to some of the scriptures. So now it's just a matter of getting altogether which also means going to Annette's favorite store (smile) and getting some things for Jenna to get working on my props. I don't think it's going to happen tonight though. I'm too exhausted.

The weather has cooled off and I'm thankful for that.

What should've been a quiet day at work turned out anything but...

In our department head meeting last week we all thought the Monday before the 4th (see that would be July 3rd wouldn't it) would be real quiet. Yeah right! We had several staff gone on vacation, which still would've been ok except anything that could go wrong did go wrong. I went in at 6:30 am (instead of my normal 8 am) as I wanted to get payroll and carrier billing done before anyone got there as I had early deadline for both because of the holiday. Payroll went smooth (once the supervisors got there to sign off on them ~shake heads~) but our finance office messed up the carrier billing as I was holding my breath that they wouldn't come back to me and say we can''t pay them until Friday, when they're suppose to be paid on Wednesday. When it comes to peoples pay, I am so careful and yet there are those that could careless. But they finally got it corrected and they're suppose to have it in their accounts on Wednesday. We'll see ~raises eyebrows~ Then we had routes that didn't get done Sunday so my district manager was out doing that. Our Reminder paper that we usually put out on Tuesday was suppose to be done on Monday and delivered to the post offices and carriers Monday afternoon. Yeah right. We don't print our own paper our sister paper in Chippewa Falls, about 30 miles from us, does. They called several times changing the plan (and of course the publisher was one of them on vacation and he's the one that would make them stick the original plan, the general manager was there but he's useless). We had carriers quit before they started. We had ads missing for a future paper. It seemed like no matter how simple the job was to be it was complicated by a difficulty of some sort or another.

If it was slow we were allowed to close the "front office" at 4 pm instead of 5 pm. 4 pm came and everyone BUT myself and my dm left. I finally put the phones to night as no one was there in the other departments to take the calls.

I did leave at 4:45 pm and Jody took me to the clinic to get my B12 shot. I have been so tired, no matter how much sleep I get that I was desperately needing it. Well, he got his first lesson on giving the shots. I'm asking my doctor to give me a perscription (for a year) and just having Jody give it so I don't have to go through all the tests again in Alaska. I had that option all along but it was just easier (and I felt safer ~ for me~ smile) to go to the lab monthly. Next month he'll go with me and the nurse will actually have him give me the shot. It's such a tiny needle it shouldn't be too bad. Actually I'm kind of proud of him, he use to be really afraid of needles. But again that could've been only if they were coming at him ~laughing~ He had never seriously been too anxious to do it. Some have asked why not have Jessa do it...trust me I would, but I know she won't always be with us and Jody has no choice. He's stuck with me until death (don't worry, I'm safe, an overdose of B12 can't kill someone. I'm not sure what effect it would have but not death--I hope not any way. *smile*)

Then we went to our treasurer's house to do our minister's reports, etc We also took her the hamster that she had given Joleesa a few months ago. We won't be taking it with us to Alaska and none of us really take the time to enjoy it any. Jenna and Joleesa did on a rare occasion. Although I guess Sunday night we had taken it to the basement because it was cooler, and it decided to get out and visit Jenna in her room. She was up (surprise) so she didn't get scared. It just sat in it's cage and it's been so hot here. Any way she said she'd take it back, so we took it to her.

It took a little bit to unwind from my stressful day but when my head hit the pillow I was out.

I'm grateful I'm off today. We'll be working the Junior Olympics and the Dunk Tank for the optimist club at our Freedom Fest and then the fireworks tonight.

Then there's Wednesday...I hope it takes it's time in coming as I am not looking forward to going to work.

Now that I've bored everyone with my day, I think I'll go do something I don't do very often any more, make us bacon and eggs for breakfast.

Have a fun 4th of July

Furniture gone & got to talk to Sis. Annette

Well my brother came today and loaded up his truck and trailer with a good share of our furniture. It was a bitter sweet feeling. I'm ok though because when I came in and saw how empty our house is once again I realized, less is better. Some of these things I don't want to replace...and the girls keep telling us no more being pack rats (Brother Nowling). It was really hot and humid and my brother was pretty miserable with us having no air conditioning. He was actually looking forward to the 3 hour drive home with the air conditioning (glad we could make his drive home something to look forward too - grin). Anyway, since the dining room and family was so empty; after Brother Nowling, Jenna and Jessa took a two hour nap (Joleesa and I couldn't sleep, so we went to Caribou). I got them up. Each one took a room and the house has a semblence of being clean. We have no dining room chairs and the hutch is gone so we pushed the table back in the corner and have stacked our boxed dishes, books, etc in the corner of the dining room, instead of the middle of it. We sorted through all kinds of things (I can actually see the table now). Monday we hope to hit the storage room some more. All is well, I feel like we're making process. Every now and then reminising takes place (like when I was getting some of things out of our bedroom). But...all is good.

Sis. Annette called tonight. They should make Seattle tonight. Things have been going fine for them. She hopes to share on her blog tonight. I enjoy sharing their journey as there are things that they are experiencing and so are we; or they have already gone through it and our turn is yet to come ~smile~ To see how God got them there safely is an encouragement for us. When I hung up with her they had just come across a bad accident but the Lord has kept them safe.

She is so fun to share with too. We had Brother Bobby grinning as we talked about the need for a "honey bucket" for us when we travel the Yukon. lol

Your prayers are obviously being heard so keep them coming. I'm praying for you folks that are in the midst of conventions. Ours is July 15th, Brother Aviles is our overseer. Brother Lester, Brother Dan Lira, and the Jackson family are our guests. We really covet your prayers. We'll only be able to make the Saturday afternoon, and evening session (don't know about Sunday yet).

God bless you all. Have a great Sunday.