Letting Go of Stress!

I've been so stressed for a couple of weeks now. With Joleesa's graduation, trying to get everything done on that and make it special. I took Friday off and I was going to get my SS card so I could get an Alaka driver's license but after "stressing" trying find the SS office and hen finding a parking spot, I go in and take a number and find I have over an hour wait. Not happening, I'm taking Joleesa to get her driver's license. How cool would that be to get your driver's license on the same day you graduate. Not happening. They had no openings. The graduation was great. And then there was Saturday. We went to get her graduation gift (we carried on my parents tradition) and we get each of our girls a Thompson Chain Study Bible. From there we go to the party craft store to by decorations for her party and some things for camp. I then head to pick up her cake along with other decorations and as the store clerk is bring out my groceries, the cake slides off the bottom and lands, of course, upside down! I have to take a cake from the cooler and have them put her name and all on it. Stress has become my unwanted friend.

Then I have to close out the church books for the year. I continue to plan for camp. Around every bend stress is present as an unwanted guest. Now home, church and work have become partners with stress. How do I get this unwanted visitor to leave. JUST LET IT GO! It tries to leave as things I can't control are taken out of my hands, I try to pull it back by fighting to have control, when all that does is bid stress back when really it's trying to leave. Stress has driven me to cry myself to sleep, but through the Ultimates Friend's Help, Jesus helped me realize. LET GO OF STRESS. Don't hold hands with it. If I'll just do what I can, and what I can't don't STRESS it. I like to know what's happening, when and where. I like to have everything in order but when I can't because I don't have control over some things, DON'T STRESS, just let it go and if there are pieces to pick up and pull together, so be it. He'll help it to all come together.

So I'm trying to LET GO OF STRESS! And keep the unwelcomed visitor out of my life. We'll see how successful I am as it comes down to crunch time. Please pray for peace and calm to be my friends instead.

Sister Tammi & Jenna

Jenna is in Washington for her travel experience and visit with a very sweet lady. Any way she WAS a very sweet lady until her and her husband started conniving about keeping her. I am going to be selfish on this one sister. SHE IS MINE! You cannot HAVE her. I was taught to share so that is what I'm doing is SHARING her! Grin. Now when Jeremy comes for revival in July. That's a different story, I'm KEEPING him. At Joleesa's graduation last night, when a young got up to thank his parents (read my post below with details and pictures about Joleesa's graduation), when he got to his mother, he said "I want to marry a woman just like my mother" ahhhhh. I turned to Jody and poutingly said "I want a son." So.....

I hope the two of you have lots of fun. I rather doubt any of us will have time to look at the 1000 of pictures you two photo fanatics will be taking, but we'll enjoy using our lifetime trying to. And Sister Tammi and Brother Ray take care of our girl. We love you both.

INTRODUCING A NEW GRADUATE IN THE NOWLING FAMILY!

My baby girl has graduated. Jody couldn't get off work to get there at the beginning so he wasn't there when she walked with the processional. I was crying. It's my baby, and I had no one to share the tears with (parents sat seperate so Isaiah and Jenna were down front, Jessa didn't get to get off and wasn't able to get there until it was all over; but she made it for the picutures). But it was the best graduation ceremony ever. One girl sang Nicole Nordeman's "Legacy" and did a great job of it. Then there were these two young men that did dueling duets on the piano and it was a comedy. It was great. There a guest politician who did the shortest speech I ever heard a poliician give and then what everyone was waiting for the students were presented their diplomas, but not by the school staff. The assistant superintendent handed the diploma to the parents and the parents presented it to the student,while the student presents the mother a rose (given by the school). Some of the students went to the podium and gave thanks to the special people in their lives. Joleesa chose not to say anything, but that was ok. I was fighting the tears as she hugged us both the first time, but then before she turned to walk back, she hugged me again and kissed my cheek and I lost it (as you can see in the picture). She looks so young. She's been through so much and has grown up so very much, but she is my fun loving, sweet, little girl. She looked so young...but she graduated. And I am so proud of her. She is a beautiful young lady and I love her so much. Lord protect as she goes on from here. Direct her path as only you can do. She knows we did not plan to have three kids, but God knew we needed Joleesa. We've shared many tears, but she has brought us so much laughter and joy. Thank you God for giving us this beautiful little girl/young lady.



Tomorrow we celebrate with her open house. She doesn't want anything fancy, just simple and fun! That's my girl!

I Just Wanted to Cry!!!

Jody and I went on awesome date today. He got up at 5:30 am to take Joleesa to work and I got up and started picking up the house. When he got home we worked together on the house until Jessa dropped Jenna off for the day. We took off at 7:30 am and headed to Seward, AK (Jenna stayed at the house until Joleesa got off work and they then went and did their own things). I wanted to go on the boat cruise but Jody wouldn't commit. But we did. We went on the Kenai Fjord 5 hour Resurrection Bay cruise. It's been a picture perfect day. Not a cloud in the sky. Temps in the high 60's. The Chugach boat pulled out at noon and we stopped Fox Island for a salmon buffet that came with the cruise (I had chicken because I'm still not real keen on salmon. The chicken was horrible, the salmon was great). We then headed back out towards the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean. Mountains AND ocean, it doesn't get any better. But it did...we saw Orka whales. A school (I think that's what it was called) of residential miniture orcas (means this was there territory). Jody even saw go right under the boat. I videotaped it my new Canon Powershot S3 IS 10x 6.0 pixel camera (more about that coming)as you never knew where they were going to pop up. Then we saw sea lions. Yeah Sea Lions. We got really close. There were three huge rocks that probably altogether there were a good 30-50 sea lions. I got some awesome pictures with my fabulous camera. Oh and eagles were everywhere, I got some cool majestic eagle pictures. Then there more whales. I was taking pictures and nothing was happening. It said "memory card full". I screamed "oh no my memory card's full" (lots of laughter around me ~ grrr). But how could my 1K memory card be full, I'd probably only took about 30 pictures and the short video. But I'm not done this camera thing...Jenna and Joleesa always have. Soooo I started looking through my pictures and deleting ones that didn't turn out or multiples. Good I freed up some more space, took a fear more pictures and then started reviewing some and OH NO...NO IMAGES. I HIT "DELETE ALL" accidentally. I deleted all my beautiful Resurrection Bay, Gulf of Alaska, Pacific Ocean, Waterfalls, eagles, whales, sea lions, Fox Island pictures. I JUST WANTED TO CRY! I was so heart broken. Can I take the memory chip in my brain out and put in my computer. Please, please! When we went to disembark, I took another picture of the captain. He looked at me strangely because I had already taken one early of him steering the boat with his feet and then the whole crew at lunch. I looked at him and said "I accidentally deleted all my pictures". His response, "Oh no, we better just turn this thing around and start over" ~ smile. I actually was too exhausted to really even want that if it would have been possible.

I thank God though that I had the most wonderful day with my dear husband. We have not had a day like this together in such an activity that we BOTH mutually enjoyed in years. So my own personal memories will have to keep until we can do it again.

Although, maybe we'll do a cruise in another part of Alaska. Alaska is one of the most beautiful states, if NOT the MOST beautiful state ever. Though I'm loving the green, even in the winter it's beautiful.

Now I hunker (is that a word) down and finish getting things ready for Joleesa's graduation and open house next Friday and Saturday and then convention AND camp. Seeing all the campgrounds and camps a long the way, I'M READY FOR CAMP TO BE HERE!!! Oh wait, no I'm not, I've still got a lot of things to get ready. But the excitement is growing.

I really needed this day and I thank the Lord for giving us a Georgeous weather for it. I'm re-energized to work!!! Hey and next weekend I have a 4 day weekend 'cuz I have Friday off for Joleesa's graduation and Monday's Memorial day. Life's good! I'm tired and my face and lips are windburned. I'll sleep tonight! But first I need to go finish studying my SS lesson.

Have a great day in the Lord tomorrow.

PS By the way, the reason my memory card was full is Jenna thought she do me a favor and set my camera on high resolution so I could get a better picture ~ ugh. I WILL be reading my camera's instruction from cover to cover before Joleesa's graduation!!! Help, I need more time!!!

I'm Glad This Week is Over.

I am sooooo glad this week is over. My week started on Monday with my boss gone on vacation (which I knew was covering his desk) but then my co-worker called in sick, so I had to be three people, Ugh! And I got hit right away with the fact that my graphic artist dropped the wrong ad in Sunday's paper and then dropped a color ad on Wednesday in black and white. Big credits to write...not a good thing.
It was Health week at work so the imaging unit was there for mammogram's so I got that taken care of conveniently (yeah right, I had to find a doctor first because they had to send the results somewhere, so I went around the office asking for recommendations). Then Wednesday they were giving free blood tests (diabetes, thyroid, anemia, a whole gammet). But first you had to have your blood pressure taken. She tried four times and couldn't hear it. It use to run low so I didn't think much of it. We went into the weight room where it was quiet and it 156 over 102. Not good I guess. I've been having headaches alot (and actually had a bad one on Wednesday) but thought it was just a tension headache or allergies. Anyway they went to take my blood and the first poke didn't produce. I wound up having to soak my hand in hot water and wrap it in a warm towel for a few minutes and then they used a special needle. Meen while the office was wondering where I was because what was to take 15 minutes, and I came in early to work, wound up taking 50 minutes and I never made it upstairs to my desk to clock in. The headache continued throughout the day and the last part of the day I'm sitting at my desk and my lense popped out of my glasses along with the screw. Help I'm blind without my glasses. Found it and someone finally fixed it for me. The headache was so bad and I had to teach Bible Study at church. I so wanted to cancel. It was a good study, but oh how I hate rude people who talk and laugh during Bible study, church or whatever. It's even worse when one is an adult and I have this MAJOR headache. I had no supper so afterwards a few of us went to get something to eat. I had hoped that would help but it didn't. Home and a restless night of sleep ended my day.

Yes Thursday the headache was still there. I continued to take my blood pressure at home and it's been 136 over anywhere 94 - 99. Finally Thursday afternoon I realized the headache was gone. Someone was praying for me. Then Matthew met me and and we went and did 90% of the camp food shopping. YEA that's behind me. Then we played I Buy. My goal was not to lose and I didn't, but I didn't win either.
Now today is over, its beautiful outside. We're going to go get a bite to eat and plan our weekend. I really want to take advantage of Jody's free flying and go to Kodiak BUT Jody prefers his feet to stay on the ground ~ ugh why does he not like flying? So we'll either take a drive to Telkeetna or Seward. MY boss says take the cruise at Seward. So he won't fly for free, he can pay to take me on a cruise. Watch we'll probably not do either. BUT I want to, I need to get out of Anchorage. I also need to clean house...but my house cleaning will still be there when I get home. So we'll see what we'll actually do.

Everyone have a GREAT weekend. I know I hope to!

What's Happenin'!

What a week at work. Things are insanely busy again. I don't know if any of you follow the news about the pipeline going in here in Alaska. But Gov. Palin had a bill before congress called AGIA. It has something to do with the specifcations for companyies bidding on the work of putting in the pipeline. I don't follow politics very closely. But apparently there are 3 major gas companies that want to play a major role in this and Conoco is my account. Well the last minute on Friday all the gas companies were pulling their ads. What a mess we had trying to fee spaces. Between that and the controversy of the International Whaling Committee that's in town, the advertising world has been going bonkers. After working an hour late Friday I met the girls at Fletcher's, an Italian Restraunt in the hotel Jenna works in. Awesome food. ALMOST as good as Olive Garden. The waitress asked if Jenna was my daughter and I said "Ah yes, they all were". She went on to comment on how much she looked like me and every time she came back to the table she commented how neat it was for the three of us to be out together. And she was right! Then the girls and I walked down to Restoration Park that overlooked the inlet and had the mountains in the background. Awesome majesty of my Lord! It was a relaxing evening after a VERY stressful day at work.

Yesterday was a busy day. Cleaned, did laundry, ran errands, fought the crowd (and I mean crowd) at Cosco, finished grocery shopping at Fred Meyers, and prepared for Sunday School. Then today, Mother's Day has been a good day. Jenna, on behalf ofthe SS got each of the ladies a pkg of seeds and a beautiful plant, representing the seeds mother's plant in their children's life and after nurturing them the hope they will become beautiful in the things of the Lord. It was nice. Then we came home and Joleesa grilled out steak that I bought. Then some other young people came over and we played "I Buy" which they didn't honor me on Mother's Day as I lost terribly when usually I win that game.

Well church will be starting in about an hour. It's WMB service and Jessa had to work today so I'll be preaching for the service. AND then the week starts again. UGH!!!

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day.

Lots of Daylight and Joleesa's Done With School!!!

I'm sitting here at 10:30 pm and it's not quite dusk yet. We're getting about 17 hours of daylight and it is WEIRD. Our bedroom is dark enough with blinds and heavy curtains but it's hard to MAKE me go to bed. I'm one that doesn't take a nap during the day and though my body says it's bedtime, it's like, I can't it's sunny outside. I'm anemic and need to have 8 hours sleep to be able to get through a day and if I don't I have a tendency to get sick.

Joleesa's school is all done. I turn all her paperwork tomorrow. Her graduation ceremony is May 25th and her open house is the 26th. She now needs to get registered with UAA for two basics English and Math. And I have to get her everything for her open house. Yikes. But we'll be grilling out, so that'll be fun!

So recipes are typed and sent to Sister Smith (sorry Sister Smith, I didn't mean to make you fret), Joleesa's school is done,camp applications are done and out, camp staff is put together, and camp schedule is done. I still have to figure out transportation for everyone, buy the groceries, plan the banquet and find an icebreaker. Any good icebreaker games suggestions are welcomed. Also, I have to do the state treasurers report for convention and get our house ready for the Smiths and Sister Bishop. But things are getting checked off and that's good!

Work's back to being so fast paced again that I'm really hating DEADLINES. I get so many things thrown at me at once and everything is on deadline and I just have to scream at myself..."stop, finish this first", yeah right. It rarely works. I really love Friday's at 5:30 pm. Last weekend I don't think I even thought about work once. Which my boss always tells me when I leave to forget about the place and high fives me when I come back on Monday saying I did.

Well it's 10:45 pm, so much for 8 hours of sleep~grin.

How Precious!!!

Life is precious. And I saw this picture a while ago and with Joleesa (actually all 3 girls) wanting a dog so bad, even though I'm not too fond of dogs in the house, this picture was so adorable. I just wish it was a picture of a girl.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

It sounds like everyone is so busy these days. Why couldn't some things be spread out a little bit. I hate feeling overwhelmed that I don't enjoy planning or even have time to look forward to things because they're so close together.

We have had gorgeous weather here. Yesterday Jody and I took my car to get the studded tires off. It turned out to be about a 5 1/2 hour wait. Fortunately we near the Dimond mall, Best Buy and Barnes and Noble so we walked over to those places. I walked a lot yesterday...yeah, my body knew it too. But it felt good to be outside. Even after going all those places (and Starbucks) we still had to wait a couple of hours. I HATE waiting. Especially when there's so much to do. Why didn't we take two cars? Why didn't I just stay back (because I had errands to run with Jody and I hadn't had much time with him all week). But I should've.

Then I came home and our land lady was there working on the yard. She helped us make the decision to find a house (a bigger place then this duplex). She doesn't know yet but when I asked about a dog for Joleesa's graduation she was quite rude and told me not to even go there. So yeah, Jody even said we'll be looking. Our lease was up in February so we're on a month to month basis. So ugh! Just one more thing. But we WILL NOT RUSH IT! This place we will stay in until we leave Alaska ~smile.

When she FINALLY left I went and got a Cosco membership and then took Joleesa to go get rollerblades like I promised. Then I came home and Jody and I went to visit someone but they were about to leave so we just said hello. Then we took a drive up to see the houses on the mountain. All three girls went with and oh I forgot about the arguing. Ugh! I should'nt have gone but by this time I couldn't get motivated.

Then today I told the girls that could only come for dinner with one stipulation and that was they help address Jolessa's graduation announcements. Faith and Isaiah came too. Jody and Tim took Isaiah to an air show of old planes so us ladies made a quick work of the announcements (any way Jenna, Faith and I did; some how Joleesa and Jessa got out of it). Now we just need to call for a couple of addresses, get stamps and get her pictures printed and stuffed and that's done.

We're off to church now. Love ya all.

Ready Or Not Here They Come!!!

Yes, THEY are coming. Brother AND Sister Smith AND Sister Bishop. I didn't get Sister Smith's email until 10:30 pm our time, which means several of you had a chance to see Sister Smith's request for prayer for me to stay calm. And calm I was. I know God wants the Smith's here and Sister Bishop will be an additional blessing so I knew it was going to happen. Before I went to bed I actually went looking at flights and I literally watched one flight turn from $549 to $701 and then a message appear about seats or something. I went to bed leaving it with God. I actually slept better last night than all week once I got to bed. I got up and went for my email the very first thing and there it was "Ready or not here we come." Sister Smith said the only bad thing was that they have to come in on Wednesday instead of Thursday. Just think, we now have put up with them all for an extra day ~ I don't know if we can handle it but gla to try.

I feel like I living several different lives as I change responsibilities from work, to home, to church work. My job is picking up again and things are getting hectic, but so far so good and I'm making some good bonuses. Then I come home and not only the regular household duties but I'm trying to stay on top of Joleesa to finish her school as I was suppose to have everything in May 1st but they said it was ok to get it in next week. Her graduation is May 25th so we have to get her announcements addressed and out, but before we can do that we have to get her graduation pictures printed (we both got real sick right after we picked up her proofs so we haven't gotten the prints). Then I have got to plan her open house for the 26th. During all this I still have camp planning to do. Actually the staff and schedule has come together, but I've still got figure out some things and get supplies. I absolutely HATE doing things the last minute. Plusin the midst of all this, continue on in our regular church responsibilities.

But God's plans are amazing and some times we just need to take a big breath and remind myself, one thing at a time. Yeah Right!!!