Fur Rondy, Sunshine and cold weather

Not a lot happening on the home front. We have been having lots of beautiful sunshine but with the sunshine comes below zero weather. Friday was the beginning of Fur Rondy which is the kick off to the Iditarod. It was very cold but we went downtown to see the fireworks (seeing as there won't be any on the 4th of July as it doesn't get dark enough). We sat in the parking lot and watched the 15 minutes of fireworks (yeah a whole 15 minutes) and most of them didn't get high enough to go above the buildings (probably because it was too cold). Once Joleesa's new boyfriend (yep-pray,pray, pray), Joleesa, Jessa and Tim all got there I insisted we walk down to the Ship Creek area (several blocks) to try to find the snow sculptures. We never found them. Brother Nowling wimped out and went back to the mushers diner while we kept walking but still never found them and we were afraid if we didn't find some heat we may turn into ice sculptures ~giggle. But we did find a carnival with rides and everything. Only Alaska would have such a thing in the dead of winter and yes there were people on the rides. We too turned around and went back to the "mushers diner" which is a Mexican restaurant that apparently just opened. Everything we ordered they were out of...so Jody got free enchiladas and our drinks were all free. What we did get was good so we'll have to make it a point to go back.

Saturday was Jody's last run to the Kenai...yippee! I enjoyed it but it was getting old and it's been 5 weeks since I've been home on a Saturday.

Sunday was a good day. Except Jessa fixed some soup that was sooooo spicy it burned my throat. I have no desire for spicy food for a long, long time. She accidentally picked up "hot" sausage instead of mild. Then Josh and Jackie moved Jackie out ~ family is good ~smile. Services were good and now its back to work again. I'm looking forward to the Iditarod starting this Saturday.

BEWARE!

Several weeks ago I declared passionately (and what wasn't meant to be turned out to be)publicly to someone that "I don't trust the enemy". It wasn't that I don't trust people, I don't trust the enemy. He sneaks in at volital moment's and in just a minutes times can destroy someone. Ever since then I have been facing battle after battle. About 3 am this morning, I woke up crying still fighting one of those battles and ask God "why". It doesn't make sense, I was standing up for Him...and He quietly reminded me I WAS STANDING AGAINST THE DEVIL! Did I really think he'd "take it sitting down" (as the saying goes). We're not fighting people! We're fighting an enemy that will use anything, and anyone to get his work done. After I finally fell back to sleep, when I woke up with the song "A Voice of Truth, tells me a different story. The voice of truth says do not be afraid". PTL!

Sunday night was youth service and I preached on "Land of the Giants" (this was planned before I watched the movie. The movie just confirmed it.) One of the scriptures I ended with was Psalms 84:11 "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

I did get good news yesterday; at work I get commissions and spiffs on the various goals that are set for me to sale at. January was the first month that I was really involved in it. My boss Friday night had told me what my commission would be and it was way off from what I figured, so I asked the payroll person what exactly I'd be getting (thinking he was just giving me the straight commission part and not the spiffs), anyway to make a long story short, they mad 100's of dollars in errors in their figuring and I'm getting a commission as big as my 2 week net paycheck! Ain't God good! After Uncle Sam gets a hold of it it won't be that big...but PTL we have 3 tickets to buy to Bethel for youth convention in March at $350 each and God has provided.

I will NEVER stop trusting my Lord

Great Movie!

We watched "Facing The Giants" tonight. Not only did it not have any cursing, killing, or sex in it...it had God all the way through it. It had us (Jenna, Jessa and I) crying. Joleesa, Jackie, Josh and Tim watched it last night as Josh rented it. If you haven't seen it, please do so. It was a great encouragement. We're going to buy it. I know the Adams showed it at a youth night, great idea. There's another movie in the theatres right now call "Thr33". It's taken from the book written by Ted Denken (I think that's his name). He's co-authored books with Frank Peretti. Has anybdy read the book? I'm anxous for it to come out in video. I know Fox Studios has created a new studio called "Fox Faith" and they're producing more face based movies for theatres. They're one of my accounts at work and when I spoke to the agency that handles their advertising I made it known that I was thrilled to hear of it. I'll try to let you know when a new movie is ocming out so we can all watch for the video. Are their any other faith based movies out there that anyone can recommend? It was great to view a clean movie and be up-lifted at the same time. Not only that, we want the studio to keep making them. So fill me in please.

I Did It Myself

As you can see my blog has changed and I did it myself. It's obviously not the creative work that Jenna's done but I figured Jenna will not always be with us and I need to know how to do SOME things on my own. The new blogger is so easy to navigate even this illiterate can change colors and fonts. Peach is my favorite color coupled with mint (or seafoam green) so I just used my favorite color with a splash of light purple. That's as far as my creativity goes. I assure I'm determined to learn more. The previous pictures and graphics were done by ME (once Jenna showed me). She's one that usually just DOES, but I insisted she SHOW me so I can have a little fun to.

Well I've got to take Jenna to work as some inconsiderate young man myspaced her at midnight last night saying it's too much of an inconvenience for him to take her...grrr. Pray for Jenna please, and for Brother Nowling and myself, we're going on very little sleep today.

The Day After

It's amazing all the complaints you hear about Valentines Day. Those that don't have that "special someone" hates Valentines Day and those that do have someone dislike it because they feel "obligated" to do something. My day wasn't anything special a work, or at home. I enjoyed surpising Jody with a gift and card when he got up and then another card in his truck. He's been putting in long hours and with church I knew we wouldn't be doing anything special. He did get me a beautiful card and a package of gum (he keeps taking my gum and I told him he owed me pack~grin). But all day at work I was feeling achy, freezing and nauseous so I was glad we didn't have a big dinner planned. I didn't even go to church. The girls werelooking at the messages left on their myspace and commenting.

All and all Valentines day is a day to show your love and Jenna said it best, we should be showing it all year long. By setting a day aside for it we give big business big bucks for things that cost half the money the rest of the year.

Let's celebrate our love for each other and God's Love everyday in small simple ways.

Sorry about the rambling!

HAPPY VALENTINES TO THE MAN AND THE THREE GIRLS IN MY LIFE!!!

I thank God every day for giving me a Godly, loving, hardworking man. I can't imagine life without you. I pray the Lord will some day give each of you girls a man like your dad!

All three of you girls are very different and very special. I love you all so very much and Joleesa, the calendar will not change after July 1st. That's MOM LAW!

Love you all forever!!!

I'm Lovin It

Yesterday our trip to the Kenai included fog and then sunshine. Today it's goregous sunshine. The trees have had light covering of snow or frost on them making them beautiful. You know even though we've had snow since halloween...I can't deny how beautiful it is around here. We were in the 40's and 30's the last couple of weeks and the plows finally cleaned our road up just within the last hour, so all is good.

On another note...we watched the pre-assembly rally this afternoon and Sister Wilson had us all sing "Spirit of the Living God Fall Fresh On Me". As we watched the altar call we saw our family go up and Jessa made the statement, "You know mom, we really prayed make me, mold me, break me...maybe that's what He's been doing since we've been here." Oh how true. He has been allowing us to be broken so that He can mold us and make us into what HE wants. Yes, it's been painful but we are seeing the results within us. He is drawing our family closer than we have ever been. When we've wanted to turn and run, we have found us running to each other. all of us. The girls are growing closer than they have ever been to each other. Jessa's and Jenna's sharing a room has been a good thing like I had hoped. They are becoming friends and not just sisters. The Lord uses the battles of life and brings victory but not always the victory that we think it should be. I praise the Lord for our girls. We (including them) have experienced many hurts over their life time, though there were moments of time that they took their eyes of the prize, it's been temporary and today they have the drive to reach the prize of Heaven more than ever before. Our prayer still needs to be keep them Lord. Don't let the enemy divide THIS house. He has been ever faithful to us, let us be forever faithful to Him.

What's New - Daylight

Not a whole lot new this week. The first three days were horrible at work but was better on Thursday and today. The best thing about this week is I actually see daylight now. I actually leave and its dawn and when I come it's still light out. YES (pumping my fist into the air)! I have had several months now in which I don't see daylight at all during the week. It's great.

Tomorrow is another trip to the Kenai. It's been snowing today and I sure hope it doesn't continue. I've enjoyed the time with my husband and I really enjoyed last Saturday because I had Friday off. But when I go with him that means I don't have any days at home to clean like I would like to have it done. Jody usually has a day or two off during the week and he stays on top of it so it doesn't look really bad. The girls will pitch in and do what absolutely has to be done. But I try to really dust and wash things down (or stay on them to do it when it gets to be too much for my arm) when I have a day to do so. I admit, last Friday, I didn't do any cleaning even though I was home so it's really needing done. I think he has tomorrow and one more Saturday. The 24th of February is Fur Rondy celebration and then 3/3 starts the Iditarod. I am so siked to see both of them. It's looking like because ADN (the newspaper) is a major sponsor of the race that we may get tickets to be down t the dog pits for the race. That would be AWESOME!

Other then surviving 6 people in our home, one not being our own and having boyfriend (forget the gray hair, my hair is going to white before you know it ~grin) survival has been attained but not much more this week.

Winter in Black & White

None of these pictures had special affects done...these were how I actually saw them.





Ok I don't if the problem lies with blogger or me. Yeah, I agree it has to be blogger. There's no way it could be me as I've posted pictures so I am a pro. I'm going to try this one more time.

I Stand In Awe

Ok today was one of the most relaxing days I've had in a very long time. I made my second trip with Jody to the Kenai. If you remember two weeks ago I went for the first time and it was blizzard weather...but today was absolutely gorgeous. It was in the 30's and the sun was shining. This amateur photographer got some pretty decent sunrises as we hit the road at 6 am (remember sunrise is about 9 am here). After we unloaded the Fed Ex truck (and yes I do mean "we" as Jody hands everything down to me except the heavy big stuff and I seperate them by zip codes)we headed back. It was gorgeous out! I found myself singing "I Stand In Awe" as I looked at His handiwork I saw my Lord. And He leaves me speechless!

I've put some pictures from both trips. Note the black and white ones...they weren't taken in black and white that's truly how it looked and then note the blue sky and water one. I wonder which trip they were from~smile.

Sister Smith, note the fisherman...Brother Nowling wants you to be sure and show Brother Smith. We saw them on both trips. The first trip the temp was about 5 degrees, this trip in the 30's. Either way FREEEEZING when you're in the water.

Those of you who have access to my Ringo, you can go there and find a lot more pictures of both trips. I took more pictures than what's on Ringo, but the FED EX truck has a crack across the windshield, along with being dirty for the roads so I didn't put those on.



This was during my first trip to Kenai...this is from Brother Nowling to Brother Smith. There were two guys out there today too.

Alaska has beautiful sunrises, when they have them.

All along the way you see signs telling you to watch for avalanches, this picture shows the possibility of one and there were actually several like that.

OK Blogger is being stupid. Becki Horne's picture thieves stole 4 of my pictures. So I'll try to get them on later tonight or tomorrow. Other wise view our winter wonderland at Ringo.

Where is "Home"?

Jessa, Jenna and I had a discussion about whether Anchorage was feeling like home. Joleesa had made the statement that she knew that Menomonie wasn't home any more, but neither is Anchorage and Jenna agreed. I at first was very angry but then I was honest with myself and realized they were right. It's not "home" yet...but my family is here and they are what makes it "home" but Anchorage is NOT home that's going to take time. It took time for Menomonie to become "home" and Anchorage is bigger and drastically different then what we are use to.

Top that off with adding another individual to our house before we have fiqured everything out here and we've got quite the challenge ahead of us.

If you really want to know how much Anchorage isn't "home" yet to me ask Sister Debra Hart from Alabama. You don't have someone show a visitor around town when she doesn't know her own way around. The advantage to it is she got to see more of the town then she would've had I known where I was going~grin. She also told me about an ice sculpture park downtown. I had heard about it but didn't know where it was but she had an idea because of their taxi driver...how funny is that. I got to see some of the shops for the first time that she was seeing and we did have great time together and once we found the park, she really experienced "cold" as she sat on the ice sculpted turtle (0r should I say slid off). I was trying to take a picture but she was slipping and I was laughing so hard I couldn't keep her camera steady to get a good picture. Then the walk back to the car...uh not only is it not safe for me to drive and talk; walking and talking doesn't work for me either! Let me put it this way, we walked much further then we would've had to ~ shaking head and grinning.

Back to a more serious note...No matter how I look at it I am so "home sick" but not for any place in this world. I want to go HOME to see my Jesus. I'm tired of facing off with the enemy and trying to protect those I care about. "Please Lord Jesus Come Quickly" but bring those I care about to You first.

Sunshine and Sunsets

Yesterday I walked into work and there was a note from my boss on some paperwok that had a minor error on it and he was chewing me out for it. I had been so stressed the night before and woke up stressed and that was the key to turning the faucet on and I couldn't get it to turn off. I went to the restroom and cried a little, washed my face and came back and someone asked me if I was ok and the tears started again. I left for the restroom again and two of the ladies from my dept were coming in and they asked if I was ok and I just shrugged the one turned around and said she was following me. She went to the lounge with me and sat and put her arm around me and I vented and sobbed and then she left me alone. I washed my face, went back to my desk and my boss came out and said we had a meeting then asked if I was ok and asked if I was upset about his note and the tears started again. I apologized for the tears and said I couldn't do the meeting and I left for the restroom for third time. This time I couldn't shut the tears off so I went in and got my coat and left a note on my coworkers desk to tell my boss I went for a walk (I was afraid he'd think I quit). I walked around the ADN property for 1/2 hour just sobbing and crying out to God, The stress from home, church and work had gotten the best of me and I was pleading with God to release it...show me if I should quit. Though I couldn't get the tears to totally subside I heard His voice telling me He was there for me and He would get me through! I finally headed back the office. My coworker asked if I was ok and I just asked to give me time. I considered going home but I had work to do and I wouldn't be able to stop crying long enough to explain it...so I absorbed myself in my work and the tears finally stopped. Several were so sweet throughout the day. My poor boss didn't know what to do with me...

But back to my headline...the sun actually did shine. It was a beautiful day and then as we were dealing with a bad copy of an ad we looked out the window and the most awesome sunset. I wished Jenna was there with her "forever in your face" camra ~smile~ as the sky looked like it was on fire. So the day started in an emotional storm but ended with a gorgeous sunset. Thank you Lord! But please don't let the rain come like that ever again!