Home Again

My boss called about 5:45pm last night to see how I was doing. I'll I had to do is say hello and he knew I was still doing terrible. He assured he would cover for me so I wouldn't get behind and insisted I stay home. He also went on to tell me I sold about $50,000 in National advertising (obviously he took care of it for me) so I was off to a good start for P4 (April). He was really great and told me not to even worry about calling in he would just plan on my not being there. I was so trying to not miss a single day of work. When you go 6 months without having a sick day, you earn a vacation day. March 18th was 6 months but I'm not sure how it works.

A friend of mine in MN a while back pointed out to me that after every church event, I get sick. She is so right. All I can think of is when I'm with people I don't see very often I push myself and don't get enough sleep. Also, if I'm on program I give out so much that I am quite spent afterward. Friday I was in bed by 11 pm but we had to up at 3:30 am to catch our flight. Saturday night I didn't go to bed until after 1 am when I'm usually in bed by 10 pm at home, the fact that Brother Nowling made himself at home with his snoring didn't help any. I could've taken a nap, but I hate missing out on a chance to visit. Then Sunday we got home about 10 pm but I was up until about 11:30 pm sharing the weekend with the girls. Monday I felt fine but I was feeling like I was losing my voice. Tuesday morning I was worse and it has progressively got even worse. Today at least I'm not fevoring but my head throat and chest hurts and it still feels like my throat and chest are being ripped apart when I cough.

Jody's usually a real champ for me when I'm sick but he's too stressed about his training to think about anything else. He's been sleeping on the couch so he won't get sick. Him and Joleesa have gone to take their Alaska driver's test (Joleesa will have do her permit first). Then he has to take his highschool diploma down to AA as when they called his school they told them it would be a few weeks before they could get his transcripts to them. They call everybody and then some. There are no secrets from them that's for sure. He has a workbook he has to complete before Sunday and he was freaking out that he wasn't going to pass (Jenna started helping him as to try to calm him down). Top that with the fact that he's not fond of flying and he'll have to fly by himself this time, and the fact that he hates not being here for us and for the church. I just pray the Lord calms him down.

Jody has gone many places by himself, retreats, BTI, Canada, etc. We're just a very close knit family and if it's possible for one of us to have another go with us we do. He'll do just fine on all counts if he'll calm down. I believe he's going to get to the place that he even enjoys flying~grin. It may take a few more flights for that to happen, but it will.

Well, my body says it needs sleep now. Thanks for the prayers, please keep them coming.

Infested With Germs

Our house is so infested with germs. Joleesa was sick then Jessa and now me. I actually called in sick today. I've felt rotten all week but I woke up this morning at 4 am burning up with fever,every joint in my body hurt, and I had a hard time breathing and when I cough it feels like its ripping my chest apart. I've slept literally all day and my body still wants to sleep. I don't remember the last time I was this sick. I need to be able to go to work tomorrow because I'll get to far behind.

Also, pray Jody doesn't get down with this. Not with having to fly to Seattle for his new job.

Jody's Leaving Me.....

For two weeks. He has to do his training in Seattle and leaves out Sunday afternoon. This is not nice. We have not been a way from each like that for YEARS. I hate it, hate it, hate it. He thinks he'll be able to fly home on the weekend. I have to be careful not to say too much because he is stressed enough and I know he doesn't want to be gone either. It'll be wierd having him gone....I just want to cry! You can't go, you can't go. I know, I'm pathetic but I don't care. It never fails too, when he's gone things go wrong. Real optimistic aren't I. It is wierd as he doesn't care to fly either.

I feel rotten today. I went to bed feeling fine but woke up at 2:30 am with a terrific sore throat then when I got up at 7 am my throat, my head, my chest, they all hurt. It came on me that quickly. I still went to work, as my co-worker still isn't doing well physically (please continue to pray for Ronada).

I've got so much to do this week and I don't feel like doing any of it.

Great Time in Bethel

Yesterday was the last session of the convention. Brother Sutton preached on Joseph and how because Joseph loved God with his whole heart God used every trial, test and temptation for his good. It was encouraging to say the least.

The ladies then put on an awesome pot luck. I had salmon made by Sister Mojin (which I liked-didn't love; Joleesa tasted it after much pushing and declared emphatically she didn't like it~smile), salmon pasta, guduc (salmon berry & blueberry ice cream), a delicious salad, celiaks (?), chile, awesome desserts, I know I'm missing things because it was quite the spread and I tried EVERYTHING!

Then the Mojins took us the frozen super highway of the Kuskekwim River(I know that spellings wrong but I don't have time to look it up)showing us the villages and fish camps along the way. It was wierd, wide open space as Brother Mojin said they needed to stay on the road of the river, I'm thinking, what road. Then Isaiah, Micah, Nathan and Joleesa met up with us and I first had Isaiah take me for a ride on the snowmachine and then I drove it around a little bit while Mojins and Jody parked the truck and watched. Joleesa then drove it pulling Micah on his ice skates behind and we went back to town. Mojins then had us over for afternoon tea, which I didn't know was an eskimo custom.

We then headed back to Suttons to visit some more with this precious couple and their foster girls which we fell in love with. Little JoeAnn adored Jody as did he her.

It was then time to go to the airport and it was snowing and blowing hard. All the Peters and Cabellas met us there as the Grants and Tim were on the same flight with us. It was quite the send off as we walked onto the tarmack in the blowing snow thinking it was going to be a rough flight. Joleesa actually took the window seat and as we got up to 35000 feet there was blue skies and sunshine. It was beautiful and Joleesa pulled out her camera. The landing was the smoothest ever. We had a tail wind pushing us and we made it sooner than expected.

It was great weekend and we look forward to VISITING again in the summer.

Bethel

We are really enjoying ourselves here in Bethel. The Suttons and their foster girls are so precious. We never dreamed we'd ever be in Bethel and here we are...it's bigger than what we imagined. Suttons took us to Saturday Market (craft show they have monthly)and they had some really neat things but the costs were huge. I did find a parka that I fell in love with it but...we didn't have $850 in our pocket and even if we did, I would never be able to justify that kind of money even though it is probably worth every penny. We also ate at Datu's, authentic chinese restaurant it was really good. We haven't found that good of Chinese in Anchorage. The think that is so strange to me is the house being on stilts and the huge sewer pipes wrapping around the houses in plain view, and the grated sidewalks and ramps. Last night it snowed and after playing games I came back to the parsonage. Joleesa was ahead of me and went into the house. It was very slippery under the snow and when I went to step up on the wooden sidewalk my feet went out from under me. I wasn't hurt but I couldn't get up as my feet continued to slip. I yelled for Joleesa but didn't think she heard me. I crawled and got one knee on the sidewalk but still couldn't get up because I was tangled in my long skirt. Joleesa did hear me and came to the rescue. She had heard me, threw her stuff in the door, and literally jumped all the steps and in turn twisted her ankle. I feel really bad as I couldn't get but I didn't get hurt and here she did.

Services have been really good. Before we left for the morning service we had prayer at the parsonage as I wanted to be sure I had found the direction God wanted me to go. God blessed wonderfully. I spoke on Nehemiah and I literally laid out the gates having a youth hold a sign that represented the gates and spoke on the purpose of each of the gates and compaired to the spiritual. I randomly handed out the signs, if you studied Nehemiah you'll know what the gates are...in random order Brother Bobby became the "old gate" and Isaiah was the "dung gate". We had a great laugh with those. But the whole purposee of the message was that though the gates may not be burned down or the walls broken down, we need to examine our lives and what we're doing and make sure there's no cracks and shore them up so the enemy can't get in.

Brother Nowling preached a great message last night "What doth the Lord require of you?" It was about those that ALMOST made it in but spiritually ALMOST doesn't cut and he used different examples. Both sessions we have had great worship time and the altar service have been filled.

This morning we have the camp boost and Brother Bobby preaches so I'm ready for another wonderful time in the Lord.

This afternoon I'll hopefully go snowmaching with Isaiah and Micah (Joleesa had a great time on the river with them crashing).

Church time

Changes and youth convention

I have felt like the last couple of weeks we were on the steps to some major changes for our family once again. The girls and their new jobs. Jody's new job, Joleesa graduating, the girls moving out...WOW! God's been good but when He starts moving things in our family, He does it all at once and I just want to say just slow the wheel down a little bit, or fast forward so that we can be settled into our new routine.

We have our youth convention this weekend. Unfortunately Jessa and Jenna won't be going as they just couldn't afford it and we couldn't afford to pay for 5. It's ging to take getting use to the fact that though we're travelling less miles then we did to the various conventions we went to in Wisconsin, it's costing us more to get there then it did for our family of 5 to travel, stay at a hotel and eat out. Though it will get cheaper in the future, PTL, but they have to be able to have the time off work to go. Anyway, we have to be at the airport at 4:30 am as our flight leaves at 6 am. We get in to Bethel at 7:30 am and service starts at 10 am. I'm on to preach right away too. I've been praying and seeking the Lord as to what to preach and NOTHING. I've tossed around several thoughts, searched the scriptures and NOTHING. I preach in less 48 and I had a thought but it didn't feel right. Tonight I pulled out my notebook and found some notes...and the Lord has spoke loud and clear to me about Nehemiah and building/shoring up the walls. Please pray that the Lord annoints and speaks to our hearts.

Pray for Joleesa and Jody. This will be Joleesa's very first time flying and Jody is not fond of flying. It's a short flight but I'm not sure if that's good or bad. But they're going to have to get use to it aren't they ~grin. I love to fly.

I'll give you a report of the convention when we get back.

Jody Didn't Get The Job, BUT....

Well Jody had his agility test yesterday and though it was really tough until the very last test. He had to crawl in the belly of a plane and try to lift a big box. He tried three times and couldn't do as they wanted. He was exhausted. So he actually didn't get the job. BUT they asked him to come back today to interview for the Cargo Customer Service Agent. Office work instead of manual, heavy lifting, YES! He wasn't sure he could do it. BUT after driving again last night he went straight to the 2 hour interview and they asked him to come back at 3 pm for the one on one interview and they offered him the job. He goes back tomorrow for the agility test for this position. He feels confident he can pass this one because it's basically lifting and bending. And he doesn't have to lift anything over 70 lbs. I believe this position pays more, but we still do have the issue of hours. But we've said all along it's in God's hands.

Well last night I took Joleesa to get her senior pictures taken. My little girl was a beautiful, sassy looking model and she knows without doubt, a model she doesn't want to be but it was fun for her and it was fun watching her. I picked up the proofs today. Overall they turned out good. I was disappointed in the one in the dress as he had her in a wierd, twisted pose and it showed in the picture as such. But the rest turned out great. How could they not Joleesa is a beautiful, fun, sassy young lady and she always takes good pictures. Seeing how Joleesa is not one for dresses much anyways its ok that that didn't turn out. We've ordered her graduation announcements and next week we've got to pick up your cap and gown. She still has to take the math part of her Alaska exit exam (as she didn't pass that part the first time-she did awesome on all the rest)besides completing her Science, Math and English classes. But she can do it. There is a little concern about her exit exam as it's the geometry part that she's having problem with and I was NEVER good at geometry and neither was Jenna. She takes her exam April 3rd (I think) so we need to get it figured out.

Well I need to work on my message for youth conventin this weekend. Thanks for the prayers regarding the jobs. Please continue to pray for the hours to come together for Jody. Even more so please pray for our youth convention, I'd really like to see the Holy Ghost be free.

What Kids do Say

Becki it doesn't matter how old your kids get they still come up with some of the funniest things some days. Jessa was on her way to church with Devon and Joleesa and Devon was asking why we were so concerned with Jody going by himself to Kenai? Joleesa shared with him the two times about 3 years ago when Jody gave us such a scare and wound up in neuro intensive care with what we thought was a stroke but turned out to be migranes. They came on him out of nowhere and so that's our fear. Any way as they were getting out of the car at church, so were we and we heard Jessa tell Devon "so it's not a good idea to love my dad". I'm like, huh! They explained their conversation but I was still "huh!" She explained that its scary to watch somebody suffer and fear they're going to die when you love them. OK! Wow! We understand what she was saying but its obvious you can't live life that way and poor Devon didn't know how to respond. I told her and Devon it must be ok to love me though cuz she didn't say anything about me ~ wink.

Love ya Jessa and we understand but it's still funny.

Love the New Look

I've been wanting something like this for a long time. One of the guys at the Mac Store was working with Jenna on it. I wanted an eagle soaring the clouds between mountains. Yesterday he emailed her this. Jenna took and in no time she had it up and running and she even liked my suggestion on colors. There's no mountains, but I agree with Sister Tammi, it's gorgeous.

Today has been a beautiful day. 35 degrees with lots of sunshine. I had hoped to sleep in a little today but Jody had to make the Kenai run and was up at 5 am. I woke up and never really got back to sleep as I was thinking of all I had to do. My main goal was to decide on the classes for ladies retreat so I could let Sister Connie Wilson know what she would be teaching on, complete the schedule and when I took Jenna to Kinkos for the interview, get the applications printed off. I laid in bed thinking about the classes and as they all began to come together as did my schedule I finally decided I better get up and get down on the computer (we use to say on paper~grin) before I forgot. I've been praying and seeking about them for some time and I only felt good about the one I had for Sister Grant to teach. All of sudden the rest came together. Sister Connie Wilson is going to teach "The 'spirit' of a Godly Woman", Sister Grant is teaching "911,HELP!-Psalms 46:1" and I'll be teaching a class on the title of Jessa's new blog "God Can I Go Home Now". I've got some unique things planned in between and I am soooooo looking forward to Sister Connie's messages. I know we're going to have visitors and I'm confident that God is going to use this as an outreach tool.

By the way the applications turned out beautiful (costly but worth it). Jenna used something similar to the "Consider The Lilies" heading that was on my blog previously. We printed it on a light pink resume paper in color. Even the lady at Kinkos commented on how pretty it was. I want to send them out visitors and hopefully it will draw their attention. As Jenna was printing it from the jump stick the new ass't manager came out to assist but Jenna actually showed her how to do it as she wasn't sure. Then it turned out she was the one to interview her as the manager didn't show. That is until an hour later as he thought it was noon instead of 11 am Anyway he called her and offered her the job. They still have to do the background check and all but he even said he would work with her to get the hours to work so she would have a ride. She's still wanting the Captain Cook job, and will still try to get it but this doesn't pay bad so she'll have something until the other comes to frutation.

Tonight we have a youth Bible Study on temptation here at the house. Tomorrow I hope to get started on our taxes, Monday I have to take Joleesa to get her graduation pictures done, Tuesday I'm going to a play with my co-worker, I need to prepare yet for my message at youth convention (maybe I won't start taxes tomorrow) and Saturday morning early we leave out for Bethel. I am so looking forward to getting away. We are use to travelling somewhere at least once a month to some church event so it feels almost wrong to have not gone anywhere. Then to actually go to Bethel, a place Jody and I four years ago had more or less had no desire to go to (actually Jody had no desire, I said I wouldn't mind visiting). I know everyone says there's nothing much there and it'll be soooo cold, but you know what, our brothers and sisters are there and they have a church building. We will actually have a service in a church building. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for what we have, but it'll be nice to be in an actual church building.

Anyway as you see I have a busy week next week, and to top it off my boss is on vacation all next week so I have his work to do too. But that's OK. All is well and God is good.

2 at Alaska Airlines

PTL Jody got offered the job. It's not ramp agent, I'm not sure what the official title is but he'll be working at Gold Streak (where Sis. Grant works) loading Cargo into the igloos and then the igloos into the plane. It'll be working inside which he is thrilled about. He now has to pass the agility on Monday which is lifting and twisting. One would think no problem considering all the manual labor he does but he's not a young man any more and he has a bad knee but I know with God's help he can do it. He is so wanting this job.

If I don't sound real excited it's because he still doesn't know what his hours will be and most likely neither him nor Jessa (and we don't know about Jenna yet) will be able to go to the assembly. Once we know the hours for both of them (although it changes 3x a year) we'll know better how to plan. They were also wanting him to go to Seattle for two weeks for training. They do training here and he is requesting to go through the April 2nd class here. His agility test is Monday at 8 am and they said they would let him know then. For him to be gone two weeks like that will be really difficult for many reasons.

Jessa passed the agility test (she was pretty sore after lifting a bunch of suitcases) and obviously will pass the drug test; she's just waiting to see how everything else pulls together but I'm confident she'll get it.

It's kind of ironic Jody and Jessa both worked at the same place in Menomonie too. At AA they'll be working for the same company but there'll nothing in common in what they are doing.

It is awesome to think of the fact that we can fly free. Not only that but our parents can fly free, if we can figure a way for them to come. My mom won't be able to because of her health, but my dad would love to but because he's almost blind we would need someone to go with him. Jody's mom's never flown and we'd have to find someone to go with her IF we could ever convince her to come.

Any way, God is good. There's things to be worked out but I know it'll come together.

Thanks for the prayers. Please remember Jody at 8 am Monday.

Jobs - Please Pray for Jody

I don't know how many out there in blogland will see this...but Jody has his interview at Alaska Airlines at 11 am BUT he had to drive all night for Fed Ex so he'll be going only on an hour of sleep. THY WILL BE DONE! He needs Sunday's off. We can deal with Wednesdays but he NEEDS Sunday off. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

JESSA GOT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT JOB! She has to pass the agility test and the drug test today. Shouldn't be a problem. She's a little concerned because they do a DMV check and she just got a ticket a week ago for backing into a police car leaving Fred Meyer (no damage done, just a $75 ticket.) They told her that they couldn't have any moving violations ~ummm~ BUT she's happier than I have seen her in a loooooong time. Once again she is saying "Thy will be done".

Jenna didn't get it but she's ok about it. She really wants the accounts receivable job at the Captain Cook Motel as she wouldn't mind it being a stepping stone into a hospitality carreer. Once again, "Thy Will be done."

Woohoo FREE flying!

Alaska Airlines x 3 and a Prayer Request

Jessa and Jenna both have interviews tomorrow morning at 8:45 a.m. for the customer service agent. Jody interviews with them Thursday at 11 am for ramp agent. Wouldn't that be something if ALL three of them got on. Who knows what the Lord has in His plans for them. As most of you know Jody has been driving the bulk drop for Fed Ex to the Kenai off and on for several weeks. Well the man who owns the route, sister-in-law is the Human Resource Supervisor for Alaska Airlines. God's will be done.

Please pray for my co-worker Ronada. She has had colon problems. This weekend she had major bleeding and had to have a transfusion of 2 pints of blood. She wasn't at work yesterday as she slept 18 hours. Today she looked so pale and was basically drained. She's only 30 and is really struggling. She is planning on coming to our ladies retreat. Please, please pray for her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MIDDLE "J"

On March 13, 1986 at 11:45 p.m. the Lord blessed us with a beautiful blonde baby girl. It was a Thursday and I was teaching Bible study at church. After having stood for several hours I sat down and when Brother Nowling took over and had testimonies and then asked me to lead some songs I shook my head no and said uh we need to go...Jenna was destined to be an integral part in the work of the Lord. Her love for God and His church has made us proud. God has given her creative talents that has been an asset to our ministry time and time again.

Jenna, we love you and so very proud of the beautiful, Godly woman you have become.

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY!

Love,

Dad & Mom

My Week in Review

Nothing major happened this week. It started out with me facing the frustrations of trying purchase airline tickets for our youth convention in Bethel. For weeks the tickets were $351 but several people had told me to watch for web specials and to check on a weekly basis. That I did. Then all of sudden Sunday the tickets were $377 and then on Monday when I finally had the time to purchase them, less than 24 hours later they were $393. Grrrrrrrr. So began my frustrations. After sittig on hold twice (once for 13 minutes and the 2nd time for 17 minutes) I used my 6000+ miles and then purchased 57,000 all for the cost of $1037 for three tickets for less than two days (we leave out Saturday morning because I can't get off work Friday because my boss is on vacation and then we come back Sunday night). We use to go to conventions and our whole family's travel, hotel and food expense was less than that and yet we travelled more miles than it is from here to Bethel.

Between Monday and Friday nothing else really took place. Friday night Connie and Natan Peter flew in to town as part of a long lay over before returning home to Bethel from Montana. Matthew called and asked if they could stay at our place for the night. They were going to just stay at the airpot...don't think so. It was a short, quick visit and they were on their way, leaving at 4 am.

Then this morning I actually had my first day in a very long time to sleep in. Jody had to go the Kenai again, and I felt bad to not go with him, but I needed to get some things done. I awoke at 9 am, cleaned my room, then headed out to pick up Joleesa and her boyfriend from work and headed to the mall. About a month ago I got my hair cut by the same guy that did a beautiful job on Jessa's and he chopped it up. I absolutely couldn't stand it so seeing as I had to go to Penny's to check out their sales for Jody and I, I decided to try out their salon. The lady I had was from the Ukrain. She's only been here 1 1/2 years, and speaks broken English but I could understand her. I told her I didn't want to have to keep getting perms as they cost so much around here. She cut my hair quite short but shaped it nicely. I don't think I'll grow it out as long as it was but I definitely will grow it out longer than it is. All Jody would say was that it was short. He just doesn't get it. My hair is so gray and thinning on top it's really difficult and besides the perms being expensive, they are causing my hair, which is already thinning to break off. So I like it better than it was and hopefully it will "grow" on him.

Anyway we came home and Devon helped me make homemade pizza and now I'm going to head to bed and we set our clocks forward tonight. Yuck, we lose an hour of sleep.

I hope everyone has a great Lord's day tomorrow (or for some of you today).

Mountain Pass Closed

Jody was suppose to do the Fed Ex run to Kenai again last night through Saturday. Well we got snow and bitter cold winds and the the Mountain to the Kenai was closed and remains closed today. I thank God the men that he works for checks the with the troopers on a regular basis, even when they're not doing the driving themself. About 8:30 last night his cell phone rang during church (oops he usually turns it off but obviously forgot). It was in his coat pocket hanging up and Tim was standing beside it. Jody ran to quiet it and realized it was them so took the call. I am sooooo grateful because had he left, he would've been two hours out only to have had to turn around. I wouldn't have gotten any sleep worrying about him. God is good. The pass is still closed today but the troopers say the winds have died down and the plows are out so he will be making the run tonight with a double load on it. So please pray for his safety.

While you're praying for him, next Thursday he finally has an interview with Alaska Airlines for a ramp agent position. The job does pay very good but his family get free flying...that would be great! We need it to be truely God's wlll because usually you dont have a lot of say in the hours and he still needs to be available for Wednesday night and Sunday Church. We only want it if it's God's will.

Everyone have a great day.

HAPPYY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FIRST MIRACLE!

Isn't she a beautiful young lady.
Jessa deep in thought in Alaska.
Isn't this a great picture? It's with some dogs that were "watching" the race, not in it.


JESSA HAPPY BIRTHDAY. WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH! Dad & Mom

Iditarod Memories

This was in the dog pits before the race began.
One of the many dog teams. This was the Wisconsin team that we had never heard of the town.
I told you we dressed warm for it.
Yeah...we saw many of these. You could own a cheap one for about $300.

Volleyball and the Iditarod

Last night some of us got together and went to the Alaska Club and played volleyball in a racket ball room (quite the experience with the walls and all). It was Jody and I, the girls, Joleesa's boyfriend Devon and Tim Osborne. We first played the girls against the guys and uh the girls got whipped. Then I insisted we mix it up. We had 3 on one team and 4 on another until a man named Eato asked if he could join Jessa, Devon's and my team to make it even. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Devon didn't want to play but I paid for him so I said he had to. He was always using too much power and even kicked the ball and his shoe went flying and the other team was running for cover. It was great, clean fun and my body felt the fact that it hadn't had much activity for a very long time.

Then we were up at 7:30 this morning to blue skies, bright sunshine and about 5 degrees weather. We bundled up and headed out for the iditarod. I really was trying not to expect too much because I didn't want to be disappointed. But it was AWESOME. Over the years I've read about and watched on tv the Iditarod. But we were actually here. Taking pictures of the dogs. Listening to commentary right above us, watching the fur clothed people go by, hearing the yapping of the excited dogs and seeing the grins on their faces (I do mean the dogs and the mushers faces both). We were bundled up so the chill wasn't too bad. We saw the very start of the race and even though there was quite the crowd we were still able to get fairly close to the trail. There were even times that some men would actually be gentlemen and move away from the fence and motion for the girls with their cameras and short me, get up close. Jessa and Jenna took turns in the dog pit taking close up pictures of the dogs (the only disappointment of the day is Joleesa had to work so she couldn't be there~real bummer~I really tried to push her to find someone to cover for her but I didn't think about it soon enough and she didn't think of it at all). We wandered down the trail and snapped pictures of the teams at different places along the trail. Some time into the day we went into office depot to warm up. We wanted to be sure and be out there fo #51 Hershey Bar which was Andy from Bethel and we cheered him on in Nowling style ~grin. Following him was a musher from Wisconsin but we had never heard of the town he was from but we cheered in Wisconsin style for him. Then we went into a nearby Mexican restaurant to eat and they had a large screen tv so we continued watching the race. After eating the guys wimped out and went back to the car while the girls and I went back to find the hospitality room (which was at the starting line) because I had a free pass to go in there and felt guilty for not using it. I am soooo glad we did. As we were walking back we stopped along the trail again for the various teams. There were 83 teams in all and team number 82 (I think) was a farmer from Rice Lake WI which is just about 30 miles from where we lived in Menomonie. We (I) cheered him on loudly and then we made it back to the starting line just as the last team pulled out with a camera man on the back of its sled. To say the least when he went to disembark from the moving sled he took quite the tumble. A great ending to the race. It was everything I remember reading about or seeing and more. It'll be so much fun to track them on their way over the next week to 10 days. The actual start of the race is at 2 pm tomorrow in Willow AK which is probably about 50 miles from here. I think will stay in the warmth of our home after church and watch it as we celebrate JESSA'S BIRTHDAY with a nice dinner.

It is so good to have days like this. It is something I'll never forget. When my memory goes we've got tons of pictures to remember it by. I hope to post a couple here and I know Jenna will post some too, and then of course they'll be on her Ringo.

Everyone is sleeping now. I just had a hot soak in our jacuzzi tub with lots of bubbles. My lips are chapped, my face feels wind burned or chapped, my body hurts, but I feel good. I'm going to study for SS and feel confident in my spirit the Lord is going to give us a wonderful service tomorrow.

Day's like today, I'm glad I live in Alaska ~smile.

Why CONSIDER THE LILIES

First let me say thanks to Jenna. She did a great job on my messed up blog. I was pretty proud of myself for changing things on my own...um...I guess I some how really messed things up for her. But she came through fantubously (purposely spelled this way)!

Jenna HAS taken the basic design for our ladies retreat invitation (that she's creating for me) and made it into my blog. So that's why my blog heading is now "Consider The Lilies"! That's the theme for Alaska's ladies retreat April 20-22. I'm so excited as Sister Connie Wilson is our guest speaker. My goal is to have a time of being taught "not to worry" and while being taught not to worry, actually have a WORRY FREE weekend. A weekend of feasting spiritually, but also being pampered with a tea and an actual time of being pampered. We'd love to have any of our sisters from the lower 48 join us. What lady doesn't find herself worrying.... BUT WE SHOULDN'T, God always comes through! Please pray for Sister Wilson and our retreat, though it seems like a long way off, it'll be here before you know.

On another subject, this weekend is the Iditarod and I got a pass to the dog pits, so we can go right down with the dogs and the mushers (actually the girls will probably share that pass) and then I got a pass for two to the hospitality house which is right above where the race takes place, inside with warmth and food (Jody and I will take that pass; because Jody wimps out in cold weather ~ in his defense remember he wanted to go South ~ grin). I've been so looking forward to this. I hope it warms up some as we've been having below zero weather and high winds...please not Saturday. I'll et you know how it all goes. Actually I'm hoping for just a day of enjoying being outside and anything else will just be extra! I've been fighting a sinus cold...can't happen!