The Trailer's Loaded-GOD IS GOOD

Everything made it in the trailer except the sofa and recliner which we expected. The muscles the Lord provided were awesome. We had the assistant editor from my work, a young man from Jody and Jessa's work, two friends of ours and then my brother and his son. They worked great together. Our clothes are stuck everywhere through out the trailer to fill holes and things were taken out of boxes ... bottom line it'll be interesting unloading. But IT ALL FIT!

Brother Nowling says were now homeless, the girls yelled, we're not homeless! I say we just actually haven't met our new home :o)

We have about an hours work of cleaning back at the house and then we're on the road to assembly to arrive by Monday.

Godspeed to everyone who hasn't left yet-see you at the assembly.

Last Day at Work, Last day of Packing

Wow. It was finally here. My last day after 9 years at The Dunn County News. I did ok. Steve, the publisher, my boss, pulled off a pizza party, cake, a card with a gas card in it (didn't want to buy something that I'd have to leave behind), almost everyone from the office was there, and the biggest surprise of all, my family was there. He emailed Jody to be there at noon. My family has also done a lot at the News office. Jessa actually got a paper route and that's how I got my job. I was so frustrated with the circulation manager when they advertised for a circulation clerk (6 months after we moved to Menomonie) I was bagging Jessa's papers when I saw it, dropped everything, went in and filled out the application, got a call that night from the publisher, interviewed the next day and started part-time and two months later was full-time circulation manager. The other two girls also got routes, they all helped with "down" routes, Jody drove the truck from the printer to the News, did "down" motor routes, and he and the girls have cleaned the office for over a year. So it really became a family affair and Steve, the publisher wanted to honor that. There was tears from different ones. Most importantly Steve and I shared some kind words between us and some more tears. He started just 6 months before I did. We had been through a lot of changes together. Any way it was a good day and a sad day. He told me I could go home early but I didn't have a car because the oil was getting changed. So he actually brought me home (I only live a mile from work). Now a new chapter will be starting and I truly felt the best wishes from most all of them.

So now we have the last of the packing. We tare down the beds in the morning. Our helpers arrive at 9 am so we have to have the beds down before then.

The internet goes off tonight but we'll be at a hotel tomorrow night so we'll let you know how trailer loading goes. I keep reminding myself of all the prayers and I know the Lord knows what we need to take...so it's in His hands.

I Am Really Ashamed

I thank you all for your sweet, and encouraging comments!

I was commenting to our editor at work about my concerns about travelling through the mountains and she really reprimanded me asking me Who is watching over me 'and more importantly, you of all people where is your faith?" Ouch! This was a lady who is a feminist and an earth worshipper. I am soooo sorry for my doubting. Especially with all the prayers going up.

I had been dreading going back to work today, not sure how it would feel. It felt like I had just returned from vacation, no difference, except people asking how things were going. Tomorrow will be the goodbyes, but I'm ok with it, I think ~smile~ Tomorrow will speak for itself.

Well, I better go help everyone. We're trying to prioritize and I hear Brother Nowling and Jenna arguing about a box of OLD White Wings, he says we're not taking, she says we have to...we'll see who wins on Saturday actually.

ALL IS WELL!

Nothing really new going on here. We're on the final stretch in packing. I'm sick of boxes. I'll be glad to see the house empty, oh yeah! That means the worst is done. I go back to work tomorrow, and Friday I say my goodbyes there. Saturday we load the trailer. Finish cleaning the house Saturday night and Sunday. We'll be staying Saturday night at hotel here in town thanks to our member Sister Bev. Then we'll be pulling out some time Sunday to head to the assembly. Should arrive some time Monday.

Our family has been experiencing so many emotions, but we know we'll get to relax, fellowship and feast on the things of the Lord at the assembly. I'm confident that will strengthen us for the journey to Alaska.

ANY SUGGESTION WELCOME!

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what to do for swollen feet and ankles? I usually get them midway through the assembly but this summer has been terrible and the last few days actually painful. I've been trying to drink lots of water. They are so swollen I dread standing or walking and they are even like that when I first wake up. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

This weekend was busy. Wedding Saturday, church Sunday morning, went out to eat then mowed the church's hills (I mean hills; I have to sit on the side of the rider as to keep from tipping~grin), and church last night. We all got transferred out. That always has felt strange but last night was really wierd. Then the packing continued today. All of us really pitched in starting at 8 am. I've decided the kitchen is the worse to pack AND the worse to clean.

To top everything off I have this rain lamp, that has oil in it that runs down plastic wires. It probably was one of the best Christmas gifts Jody's gotten me and it was probably about 15 years ago. Anyway, I've never emptied the mineral oil out of it. I've added oil to it once but that was a long time ago. I was trying to pack it in a box that it would stay upright. Joleesa was helping me but it tipped just the slightest and I had mineral oil everywhere. It was horrible. So I took it to the kitchen sink and dumped it all and washed and washed and washed it. You wouldn't have known it by looking at it but it needed it. Now I just hope it'll work again~puckers bottom lip out~. It's my favorite.

All and all we got a lot done today. Now I'm going to go put my feet up for awhile. That is my legs, as my ankles are sooo swollen you can't see my feet.

MELT DOWN

Ok. This morning I had a royal melt down. I slipped off the end of the robe in trying to get ready for my niece's wedding. The dress I was going to wear was too tight so I decided to wear my black dress slacks instead. But I couldn't find them anywhere. I thought I had washed them along with a black tank top. But they weren't in the clean clothes. I was going through packed totes. Jody went through packed totes...I sat on the bed and bawled. I didn't want to go but I knew I would regret it if I didn't. I hated everything about myself at that moment. Anyway I finally found a different outfit and we were finally out the door. I'm glad we went. Almost my whole family was there. It was a simple but pretty wedding and they even had a time of worship in song. But most of all it was so good to be able to see my brothers, sisters and several nieces and nephews and even dad before we took off. All of them do think they'll never see us again though ~shakes head.

As we were driving to the wedding it dawned on me I didn't remember seeing some of Jody's dress pants that I had washed either. Jenna and I did nine loads of laundry Thursday night so I got to wondering, did we miss one? So as we pulled into town we went to the laundromat and sure enough as we pulled into the parking lot we saw a basket of dark clothes by the window. I go in and there's my black slacks, Jody's dress pants and a WHOLE load of dark clothes. NOW I KNOW I OFFICIALLY HAVE LOST IT ~laughing~. I don't know if I can trust myself in anything these days. But I am greatful that they were all still there. But by the way, this reinforces how much I hate going to laundromat. And I know I'll have to go one more time before we move. YUCK!

Hope everyone has a great day in the Lord tomorrow.

JODY'S LAST DAY

Remember a post a while back "The Bishop - The Robber" This was Jody's last day at the bank and they didn't want him to forget the incident. Just to refresh our memories...Jody was painting at the back of the bank when a drawer inside the bank triggered the silent alarm. Jody knew nothing about it but when he came around the front of the bank, he was met by the sheriff and guns. The picture below says it well. See the July archives for the whole story ~grin~.



They gave him a great send off. They actually got somebody (not with the bank) to draw this picture. He said out of all the places he's worked, this was the place that treated him truly as one of them and they made it known that he'll be missed. To the point that he was almost to tears, but he said he couldn't 'cuz he's a man ~shaking head and smiling. Only the Lord and his family can bring him to tears.

This was so funny and so great we had to share it. (If some of you read this post earlier today, I had second thoughts about the title and decided that maybe not everyone had seen the previous post, so I changed the title and briefed everyone of the incident).

IT'S OFFICIAL.....

It's official, THE PURPLE HOUSE IS OURS~great big sigh and grin! I know I shouldn't have worried, but it was taking so long, I just started imagining the worst (and honestly I didn't even know what the worst was because we have A+ credit). Forgive me folks, forgive me Lord!

I feel better today as I see the big dent that was made. The bedrooms are pretty much all packed (except for Jessa's ~groan~ but she really did work on it alot today). The big bathroom is cleaned out. The linen closet is cleaned out. Tonight I have to do laundry and then pack more.

You know the most difficult thing is we need to pack seperate for the assembly. Seperate for the trip to Alaska and then everything else. Oh how much easier it would be to just pack all our clothes in boxes and just have a small suitcase. Easy, that's not in the vocabulary when it comes to long distance moves.

Tomorrow the kitchen. We will be using paper goods and eating a lot of frozen foods and things that don't need spices. I want the WHOLE kitchen packed. Room by room. That's the only way I know to do it. With 4 bedrooms and a full basement...ugh!

Thanks for the prayers. Please keep them coming. Still need jobs.

ONLY 5 DAYS TO PACK

I know our counter says 9 but I only have 5 days off between now and our leaving and the weekends don't count because, we have my nieces wedding to go to Saturday in Southern Minnesota. We've church Sunday and the afternoon we're going out to eat with our treasurer and then church again. I go back to work Thursday and Friday of next week. And we load the truck Saturday and take off hopefully Sunday when Matthew and Micah Peter get here.

I wish I was organized and loved to clean like Sister Smith, Sister Tammi, Sister Annette, Sister Becki and even Sister Gracie (like normal women I guess). That has always been something I have had to force myself to do. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THE PACKING AND THE CLEANING! I have moved 13 times...but we've never lived this long in one place. The girls were little, I don't know it just seems so overwhelming this time. When Brother Nowling is working with me it seems we just work so well together it just seems to work, but he still has to work. I just want to cry.

Then I still haven't heard on our house. I called the owner and she says oh yeah she hasn't heard back on the credit ap and just now realized it and would call and then call me back. NO CALL. I can't imagine a problem but I just want it settled.

Jobs still neither one of us have jobs. I have a couple of possibility. One is totally out the other one wouldn't be except it doesn't look like I could get off for camp (and I'm the director), state convention, or the assembly because that's their busiest time of the year. I spoke with Anchorage Daily News and they're still reviewing all my paper work. So nothing settled there! The University of Alaska, nothing. I mailed in my resume to the school district on Monday, so that will take some time. I sent Brother Nowling's resume into Alaska Airlines and got confirmation of receipt but nothing more. He'll look into driving school bus when we get there (which probably wouldn't be a problem for him to get) but he needs to do it in person they say. I tell you one thing. I'll be going out of the assembly frequently to check voice mail ~shrugs.

And then we still need man power to help load the trailer. Several have said they would try but no one commits. Please Lord, just let something be solid!

I'm sorry for blubbering, but my heart is actually sobbing and I need some encouragement. I know part of it is just my stupid hormones, couple that with the stress of uncertainity...and you have blubbering! Love you all.

WHITE & POWER SHOPPING

White linen skirt with lining, white long blouse, white comfy linen shoes, all for $22 and found in just over an hour. PTL! I was praying God, You know I can't be spending the money. You know I'm a fat, short, rolly poley and nothing will look good but I gotta do this. He worked the miracle (but He couldn't change the fat, short, roley poley). Skirt at C. J. Banks $9.99, regulary $45.50, Fashion bug shoes regularly $19.99 - paid $4.19, and blouse regularly $34.99 - paid $5.99. God is good.

Last night I didn't sleep well. I kept dreaming I was training the girls at work and they wouldn't getting. I woke up several times frustrated only to go back to sleep and have it start all over. To bad I was getting paid for the work in my sleep ~grin~. Left work and came and got Jenna and Joleesa and then headed to my company picnic. Ate real quick waited to see if I won anything in the drawing (I didn't, that's ok we would just have to find room for it), and then headed to the mall with only an 1 1/2 before closing. Then headed to Walmart to find a wedding gift...now it's off to bed because I have to have Joleesa to work at 6 a.m. (sticking my tongue out, it's just not right, they should have someone who can drive themself start that early).

So anyway, good night to all.

Chase away winter blues! Bright Southern exposure !!

I dont know if this is the view from the side we are renting but it gives an idea of what it looks like- dont ya just love the purple ~hehe~ (btw- this is Jenna)

MAJOR PRAYER REQUEST

We found a house in Anchorage. Matthew and Micah Peter, Tim Osborne and Larry Willoya have all been house hunting for us. Today Micah and Tim went out again for us as I was giving Micah addresses from the internet. So many of the addresses I had previously given weren't for us according to them, for various reasons. The one house today they loved. I called. It was already renter, bummer! Then finally there was this duplex. They really like it, but they wanted me to know the color of the house was purple. I kind of gathered that from the picture but I wasn't sure. But they still liked it. I called and the land lady met them over and took them through both sides as they were both available. One was smaller than the other but had a fire place and big yard. The other side was bigger and had 1.5 baths and a deck. We told them to go with the larger. They both really like it and encouraged us to go for it. They faxed us the credit ap. I talked to the land lady at length afterward and she's a christian and has been praying the Lord would give them the right person. They have to file the credit app (which shouldn't be a problem) and she told me that she would basically tell people the bigger one is spoken for. She did want to make sure the young men told us it was purple ~smile~ but she said they said they said they actually liked it (which they said that to us too). Brother Nowling hasn't said much about the purple...he just grins and thinks of the HUGE rent amount (it's almost 3xs what we've been paying here) but yet it's on the lower end of what rent goes for in Anchorage.

PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY THAT ALL GOES THROUGH! It's in the price range we were looking. The only down fall I can see is there's no garage but there is a carport. Anyway, if we could have this go through it would be a BIG hurdle jumped for us.

By the way we actually DID make our goal on our thrift sale and a little over. PTL. Once this prayer is answered the next one is jobs. I actually have had two offers. But I want to send out my resume to the college and then call ADN back before I make the decision. I soooo need God to show me which one to take. I also need to get Brother Nowling's resume out to Alaska Airlines and the School district for bus driving.

Please keep those prayers coming, they are soooo needed and appreciated.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL GARAGE SALE

Well our last garage sale is now a thing of the past, PTL, Hallejehah. We sold the major things we had to and alot of other things. We just missed our goal of $1000 by about $40. God is soooo good. We are all so exhausted and our bodies hurt. Autumn has been here from Minnesota and she has been a great help.

Now tomorrow we load all the stuff that didn't sale and take it a place the profits go to the domestic abuse shelter, and then I can move the stuff in boxes and empty boxes to the garage and we can CLEAN! YIPEE! My house isn't just cluttered, it's dirty and I can't stand it but it was impossible to clean. Once we clean then we can do more packing and then it'll get dirty again ;-P

Anyway this has all been another step closer, and it feels good!

Jada

SHORT BLOG - PROMISE

One of the girls on vacation today. Trained two people at the same time. Family kept calling on update on how our thrift sale was going (washer/dryer sold - 16 days without a washer and dryer, ouch but PTL we even got what we were asking for). Had a job interview over the phone. Looks very promising (more details later). Came home and covered garage sale. Big snowblower sold (yeah we sold it, too big to take with). Successful 4 hour sale turned into a day sale. We start again tomorrow at 8 am.

I'm going to go sit with my husband outside by our fire pit...quiet, relaxing and just him and I. Pray for him, he did a lot of heavy lifting and is really hurting.

God bless.

I AM THE VINE, AND YE ARE THE BRANCHES...

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:4, 5

I actually read this in the novel that I've been reading for weeks before I go to bed (I'm usually so tired I don't read but a couple of pages, but it shuts my brain off). I haven't been able to get away from the message in this. The fruit we produce is "OF CHRIST" if we're abiding in Him. Without Him we can do nothing. Lord don't let "me" show forth, let You. I want to represent all that you are.

It's been a slow but busy week. I've been training the girls at work. It feels wierd as I find myself there but not there. Having been a manager for so long it's very hard to sit back and not put my two cents in and just let them make the decisions. They're really doing a great job...but I feel very disconnected.
Today my brain was mush and I told them I wasn't responsible for anything I taught them wrong because of it, so they started blaming all their mistakes on me~we actually we were having a lot of good laughs over it. Actually the publisher came in and said we were all just having too much fun, and to keep it up ~ smile~ I asked him to fire me because of all my mistakes (then I could collect unemployment) at first he said he could do that, and then it dawned on him and he said he's already reached his quota for people collecting unemployment because of his firing them ~another good laugh for us all.

Home's been busy getting ready for our last thrift sale that starts tomorrow night. My house is so, so, so, I don't know boxes everywhere and it feels sooo dirty but it's hard to do anything about it. Can't wait to get the thrift sale behind us.

I've been house and job hunting via the internet. Called on several houses and someone in Anchorage is going to drive by them and see if it's something that will work for our family and then I'll take it from there. I received a possible job offer. I don't know the details because the father is out of town until next week, so we'll see. Next week I'm going to spend time sending out resume's for both Brother Nowling and myself. I have to keep reminding myself, one step at a time. Thrift sale, then house/job hunting and then some more packing when I'm on vacation.

Anyway, don't forget to think on "I am the vine, and ye are the branches".

Belated Pictures

This is Jenna- I'm invading my parents blog to post the pictures I promised them a while ago and just now remembered to take- sorry

our big black house

Front of the Trailer

Inside looking

at the front of the trailer

Inside looking

at the back of the trailer

COMPUTERS ARE NOT MY FRIEND

Computers and I do not have a very good relationship these days. At work I lost a major folder filled with files for one of the girls that has taken over some my duties. Our IT person tried to recover them and after about 6 hour recovered basiscally two...so I spent today recreating spreadsheets.

Then last night we received and email from someone and now we have received the same email 20,000 times (slight exageration). It keeps sending it to us over and over and I don't know how to stop it. We've shut down many times and it just starts again. YIKES...GROAN...I HATE COMPUTERS! I know we're not suppose to hate but may this be an exception since it's not a human being?

I also am beginning to hate boxes...more accurately I am sooo tired of boxes. They are everywhere either empty, taped up for moving, or storing things in them for our thrift sale.

Speaking of thrift sales, I'm beginning to hate thrift sales too. I think this is the first year I didn't go to a single one...I can't wait to have them in my past!

Sorry about the venting...not really. It actually felt good.

There is something I really like...THE COUNTDOWN IS ON MY BLOG!!! It wouldn't work on Jenna's template so I get it. I LOVE THE COUNTDOWN...AND I HATE IT AT THE SAME TIME! I think you all know what I mean.

Well, I think I'm going to go do something I LOVE, and that is read and then sleep. Have a great night's sleep everyone.

Suttons are Bethelites (and Alaskans) and we can't wait to Join Them

The Sutton's made it to Bethel at about 10 am central time on Friday, August 4th. The van, the last I heard wasn't going to arrive until the 10th due to storms. They have met the mosquitos and Brother Bobby said they're not very caring ~lol~ I won't say what my response was~raising eyebrows~. The temp is in the 50's and their jackets are in the van~poor kids~ They did get internet so Sis. Net hopefully will be blogging soon and can fill you in on more details.

Today we packed, and packed, and packed. By the way did I tell you we packed today ~I know, so annoying~. Brother Nowling's office is almost empty, and little by little the rooms are emptying out. Strangely enough it's really a good feeling. I also did alot of searching the internet for housing and I'll call on them Monday.

I got bad/good news yesterday from my boss. I'm not sure which it is. I have two weeks of vacation coming still. One has been scheduled for the assembly for months now. The second was going to be the week after the assembly, so we would have some extra money once we got to Alaska. That one was scheduled when camp was cancelled. Anyway, my boss told me HR contacted him and said I couldn't have the second one. Technically I shouldn't even have the first one because your suppose to use it all before you actually quit or you lose it. But he convinced them that since the assembly week was approved long before I tendered my resignation that they would pay me for that one but I couldn't take the second one after the assembly. He kept apologizing to me because he had approved it. I told him it is alright and I asked off Aug 17th- 23rd (the 25th is my last day). This way I have a whole week to finish packing and cleaning. I actually feel relieved. I just pray we find jobs right away though.

Well, that's all that's happening here. Have a great Sunday.

God Even Cares About Boxes....

God is so good. We were in desperate need of boxes and packing materials. And really not just any kind of boxes but boxes for our pictures that go on the walls. All sizes. I know from past moves they have been some of things that have gotten broken and the ones I have kept (wedding pictures in particular) I desperately don't want to break. Some of the frames are getting kind of old. Anyway, our assistant editor brought me some boxes and packing peanuts etc and we were talking about actually making boxes for the pictures. Then I answered the phone at work and this guy asked if we still did ads for free for things that were being given away. I said yes and explained the procedure. He then proceeded to tell me who he was because he recognized my voice, and I knew him and he told me he had 30 to 40 moving boxes to give away. I told him to forget the ad I was moving to Alaska and we would take them. I went to pick them up in Jessa's little Nissan and I couldn't get them all in. He has probably 60-75 boxes that you would BUY from amoving company. AND he had the special ones for pictures and mirrors. PTL, PTL, PTL.

I now have almost all my pictures packed. God has allowed the weather to stay cool so every night I've been able to do some and this weekend is major packing and getting the garage ready for our final sale next Thursday night and Friday.
GOD IS GOOD!

Sis. Annette called at about 9 pm central time and they were in Denver. They would leave Denver at 10pm Denver time have a 5 hour flight and get into Anchorage at 1 am Alaska time, Brother Grant was going to meet them and take them to Walmart to fill a bag with items they still need and they would catch their Bethel flight at 6 am. That was after leaving Nashville and going to Dallas. She said it was 20 hours altogether from the time they left Nashville to the time they would arrive in Bethel. They are already so tired as we all know sleep was slow to come with all they had on their minds and all they had to do. So please continue to keep them in your prayers.

SLEEP, SWEET SLEEP!

It's been sooooo HOT and I've been so sick and stressed that I have had a very difficult time sleeping and my body so needed it to heal. (Imagine this, Monday night I slept at the foot of the bed sideways as to get the air from the fans~smile~, poor Brother Nowling slept on the couch, he's so sweet). But at last IT GOT IT! The cold front came it and cooled from the 106 degrees of Monday down to the 70's. It meant big time storm and rain. Yes Rain we finally got REAL rain. The storm brought lots of thunder and lightening and the first big crack made me jump out of bed but then I slept through everything. I was soo tired and today I feel physically so much better. Thanks for the prayers.

I had to share a very deep heart felt email with a dear sister from Kenosha. I pray the Lord will use it to His glory.

Well I need to do some packing while the weather's cool.