A Bunch of Little Blessings!

Wow! Last week was long and it seems like forever since I blogged. I was so busy there were several days that I never got on the computer.

Back to the blessings. We've had snow, cold and ice for several days. The roads have been slick. I always come out of our residential area at a set of lights that you can turn right on red...two mornings someone actually stopped to let me in. Then we had a special sales blitz and we had a team come out to help us sale into this House to Home magazine. The director of the team looked familiar...it turns out he had been a rep for circulation supplies and we had done supper together back in Wisconsin. We wen finished our appointments on Wednesday and grabbed a quick lunch before I handed him off to another one of our reps. Blessing two; he picked up the tab. Went out to eat after church Wednesday night, and blessing #3, one of our youth picked up the bill. Friday Jenna, Jessa, Josh, Jackie and I went out for dinner, blessing #4 the waitress was on my side...she brought Jenna an extra plate and told her she was making it easy for her to give me a taste of her lasagna (I couldn't decide between the Alfredo or the Lasagna).

The best blessing of all was blessing #5...I got my driver's license. Brother Nowling actually sent for a duplicate of our marriage license and it came so I was determined to get my license (even with my ugly haircut). We walked in and took a number and we got #183 and they were on 143. Ouch 50 people ahead us. We (Jenna and I) sat down and Jenna knew the guy in front of us from work. We were chatting and laughing and complaining about the wait, and then this native man sitting next to me, reached over and handed me a number 159, someone had left and given him their number (152) so he gave me his. The guy in front of us that Jenna knew, his number was 156. Just 3 before us and he'd been there an hour and we were in and out of there in 1/2 hour.

Then we went shopping to get Jackie a skirt for her birthday, ugh! She doesn't like shopping for clothes. But I insisted and she found a khaki skirt. Then we game home and played some games and blessing #6 took place. After after many months, many games from "I Buy", "Monopoly", Rumikube, and SkipBo...I finally WON Skipbo. Josh and Jackie tried hard to still the win from me but it didn't work; no matter how mean they were...I WON ~ smile. But ugh, the winning only lasted for one game. I thought ok I won Skipbo let's try Rumikube...I would be so ready to go out, but somebody would go out before me. So the basking in the glory of the win was short lived but it was there.

Oh by the way, Jenna found out that "ugh" is a word... it means grunt. I told her for ME it is a "feminine" grunt.

Blessing #7 and tops the charts in my blessing. Back at the assembly God laid on my heart an individual to be our ladies retreat evangelist. She got back to me a few weeks after the assembly and said she didn't feel she could leave her church. I put a couple more invites out, and it looked like one was going to work. OK Lord maybe this is who want, but when things then began to fall a part on that one, I couldn't get away from the first individual God had placed on my heart. So I emailed her again and laid everything out for her. She called and said she really begin to pray again about what God wanted her to do...and Sunday night it was settled, the Lord help her find someone to cover her church and she's coming to Alaska. Sister Georgia Williams is going to be our guest for ladies retreat. They'll be coming up early, and Brother Jimmy will be coming with her as well as maybe a couple of others. I was thrilled to have anyone of the ladies that I invited and I know that they would've blessed us abundantly. But I never got away from the feeling that Sister Georgia was suppose to come.

So now another week began and today my boss was on vacation and I got lot done. After last week, I am looking up and seeing the small blessings that the Lord allows us to experience. Today's blessing...my husband called me at work and said let's spend some quality time together tonight. We'll get a bite to eat and go grocery shopping together. I really thought I'd come home and "chill" but who could pass up the blessing of grocery shopping with their husband. Not me, I always have to do it by myself. It was a good evening, now I think I'll head to bed.

Good Weekend!

This weekend was busy, but busy is good. I'm doing considerably better but this bug just likes me a little to well, and seems to have made itself at home, but...the little by little it's being exterminated. Still a little congested, and my voice isn't totally back to normal, but it's getting there. Thanks for the prayers. As busy as I was this weekend, it was a good thing.

Saturday, we decided to go out for breakfast. I then went grocery shopping and after that came home and worked at putting the finishing touch on the youth service that God had on my heart for a very long time and the SS class that I was excited about. We then had our activity night and Jacob Grant was in charge, and we had game night at the church. We played Clue (Joleesa and I set out of that one) and then Cranium.

Sunday morning came and I felt the Lord in SS and in our our worship. My voice wasn't back full strength but the second song really spoke to my heart "More About Jesus" The 3rd verse really had a message, especially after our SS on wisdom; "More about Jesus in His Word, Holding communion with my lord, Hearing His voice in every line, Making each faithful saying mine." Think about those words...communion, His voice in EVERY line...Making each faithful saying mine. Anyway, not matter how much I croaked my heart was so full of desire. Then Brother Nowling preached on the tongue. It was very good.

Then no nap for me as it was PACKERS and the Giants. I'm not a big football fan. But when it comes to our team being in the play offs...well gotta watch it. Couple that with it being against Zay's team, it's a lot of fun. Anyway, several of the youth Matthew, Jackie, Josh, and Tim were over and we had friendly battles going on. Tim was the only Packer fan, so the bashing went on. But whoever was sitting next me (Jackie and then Matthew) got slugged when they bashed AND when Packers did great ~ they could take it. Then when the Giants kicker missed the kick before going into overtime...I felt so sorry for him and kept voicing it. I had to take it back quickly. I still like the Packers and I had a great time watching the game.

With only about 40 minutes between the adrenalin of the game to our youth service. I was really praying we could switch gears and get serious. "Clay in the Master's hand...vessels unto honour and dishonour" was my theme. For a week I had one batch of clay drying out, then I took another batch and put all kinds of junk it (aspirin, used coffee grounds, hair, lint, orange peels, plastic, tinfoil, dirt...I think you get the picture)it looked gross. The next batch looked nice on the outside but inside but inside was money, a little toy soldier, a little candle and peanut butter....you know the "white painted sepulchres". The last batch was just a batch of clay, nothing added. I called up Jacob, Jessa, Jackie and Joleesa to sit down at the potter's wheel (the clay was in plastic containers and they could only see colors). It was great fun watching them once they sat down and actually started looking at their clay. Jackie had the one with the garbage in it, Jessa the one with nothing in it, Jacob the hardened one, and Joleesa with the things inside that you couldn't see. (It was fun watching Jackie's face - it was pretty gross). They had to take their clay and make a vessel out of it. Jacob asked for water to soften his. Joleesa was pretty surprised as she got into hers and poor Jackie was a good sport and started pulling the stuff out that she could (both her and Jacob had pieces they couldn't use). Obviously Joleesa couldn't get the peanut butter out, but she made a nice vessel that had streaks of brown and she said she like the smell. You can get the comparison I'm sure (in our discussion Jenna mentioned that the peanut butter could represent scars). The one that really went differently then planned was Jessa's. It was too soft. She couldn't get the sides to stay up. It needed some "fire" to strengthen it. I then preached a short message about looking at what kind of clay we are, and what are we allowing HIM to do with what HE finds, or that we give Him. I then took one of the chairs and each youth took a turn in the chair as we all prayed for each other. I don't know what anyone else got out of it, but I really felt the Holy Ghost. It was too bad that Jeremy and Heather weren't there as Heather was sick and Larry was working, but we had prayer for them. It's been a while since we really felt the Spirit move like that, so I pray it did something in everyone.

Men's retreat is this weekend. Please pray for Brother Nowling, he got someone to cover his Friday night but he hasn't been able to get Saturday off. He's on to teach and preach. He really needs Saturday night off. Brother McMahon and Brother Terry Flora our their guests and Brother Nowling would like to be a part of it all. So pleeeease pray that he can go to all of it!!!

Nothing New Here

Literally, NOTHING NEW HERE! Church, work and home. I'm still battling this stupid cold. I actually feel pretty good in the mornings (I only coughed a lot on Monday night). Tuesday was Brother Nowling's birthday. All the girls had to work so the two of us went out to eat. I was pretty tired, but really hungry. BUT nothing stayed down. I think it may have been a combination of sick, exhausted and extremely hungry. Anyway, the next morning my stomach felt fine, I slept well and I felt ok. By the end of the day it seems like everything tightens up. My voice usually is almost gone. By morning it'll be scratchy but not so strained. Anyway, it's been the same all week. So if you would continue to pray I'd appreciate it.

I do want to say my husband is awesome. I was laying in bed one night and I heard him out here with Joleesa and Jessa. I'm not sure what all he was saying but they were really laughing. I laid there praising the Lord for the relationship he has with our daughters. Joleesa's been struggling with things spiritually (please pray for her) and we've been really praying for her and asking Lord to give us wisdom. One morning I came out and there was a paper laying on Joleesa's purse. Jody had left her a scripture that he felt God wanted her to be reminded of. I guess the next day he went out and bought index cards and he's left her others on occasion. We never know how the Lord is going to speak, but he is being obedient and hopefully something will start a spark within her. Anyway, after 26 years of marriage I "literally" felt that strong feeling in my chest, that feeling of LOVE for this man God gave me 26+ years ago. I know God has got young men out there like mine for our three girls. He can send them any time and I would be thrilled (for two out of the three girls anyway). ~ big sigh ~ just waiting for that son. In God's own time, I'm fine with that (most the time).

Not feeling any better, but not feeling any worse!

Thanks for the prayers. I made it through the week. I'm not feeling any better but I'm not feeling any worse and usually it gets really bad before I get better. My head and chest still hurts with lots of congestion. I have nothing planned today, although my house needs a good cleaning and I brought some of my work home as I'm behind, but my body says it needs sleep, so I'm going to let it sleep.

We've had a lot of snow the last several days. I don't know how many inches are out there but it has coated the trees and my winter wonderland is a reality out my window, with the mountains and all. I would really like to take a drive to Aleyska or Eklutna lake because both of those areas (amongst many other of course) are very picturesque during the winter. I have pictures of the girls at Aleyska last year that reminds us of Narnia. Maybe tomorrow afternoon I'll feel like it.

I hope everyone has great weekend.

Feeling Rotten

OK I should be in church but I really feel rotten. The last couple of days I've had a terrible head cold. It then settled into my throat and now today my chest. I went to work today because I had to give a presentation at our Wednesday meeting on closing a sale. I had management reminding me this is important, I felt rotten, I have a huge cold sore on my lip, but I had a great plan, stickers and chocolate coins. It was in the can. Even feeling as rough as I did, I had fun with it and had many compliments. Even ones that really speak to me. I was grateful for not coughing during it. Afterwards my boss said he was going to recommend that I be our representative for Integrity Selling and go down for the training. I told him I would love that. Even feeling as rough as I did, it was fun.

Back to my cold sore. In all 48 years of my life I do not remember ever having a cold sore...ugh! Why now? What causes them? Make it go away.

Well I'm going to bed. Tomorrow I have a luncheon to go to with my boss and his boss, for Conoco Phillips. Yep! Big client, big luncheon, big cold sore and filling rotten. I could use your prayers.

I Passed My Driver's License Written Test!

I know it's pathetic, I've been here over a year but still don't have an Alaska driver's license. But I needed to get a Social Security card (I lost it several years ago) and the Social Security office is always so busy. Before Christmas Brother Nowling and I went down and was there as soon as they open. I should've done that a long time ago as I was first in line and it took all of 5 minutes. I had another appointment too so I just made it work. Anyway, my SS card came last week so I determined to study and go take the test yesterday. I found the place all by myself, (with mapquest's help that is), filled out the paperwork stood in line for about 10 minutes got up there and they asked for my birth certificate. Ugh! I knew I needed that but I was so thrilled to have my SS card and nervous about passing the test, it never entered my mind. They were open until 6 pm so I went home, and woke Brother Nowling up because I couldn't find it. We had taken it to get my SS card and it didn't get put back in the safe. Ugh again. OK God, this isn't something I can chose to do or not do. Especially right now, we can't file for our PFD's (yearly money that Alaskan's get just for living in Alaska, after having been a residence for a year) without AK ID or driver's license. So I really began to pray. And there it was on my nightstand. Oh yeah now I remember putting it there...sheepish grin. I head back, walked right up to the counter, got right in and took the test (praising the Lord thinking, this isn't so bad). I second guessed myself on two, ugh! And two I had no idea on the answers, but I was allowed 4 wrong so I was ok but I still had two left. Thank the Lord they were easy ones and I did it. I passed on the first try. I've heard of some having to take it several times. So I got to finish things up, and they wouldn't give me my license. I needed my marriage certificate. I've been married for 25 years, my SS card has my married name on it...but it was different then my birth certificate so I MUST have my marriage certificate. So another inconvenience you say. WRONG! My marriage license is in a safe deposit box in Menomonie WI. Don't ask me why Brother Nowling chose to not close it, but it hasn't been a big deal. Other than our marriage license and a little money and some keepsake coins, there's really not much in it. But big deal it is, I NEED my marriage license. I walked away fighting the tears. I just want my Alaska driver's license and it's not happening real soon. Brother Nowling's going to call the bank tomorrow and see what he can work out. But yeah, I passed the test but still no driver's license. UGH!

My Streak Continues!!!!

Now Sister Smith, needs lessons in being a gracious winner ~ giggle. The person to teach her is NOT me though. Becki, I feel your pain as my losing streak continued today. I played, and LOST two games of cribbage to my husband. Then I was dumb enough to want to play Monopoly today. Josh, Jackie, Jenna, Joleesa, Tim and I played. I didn't land on any property to buy, everyone felt sorry for me and allowed me to bid on Baltic. So with only one piece of property (I know I'm pathetic)I did NOT LOSE but came in 4th. Tim lost, Jenna came in 5th, myself 4th, Josh 3rd, Jackie 2nd and the one that we BEGGED to play won, JOLEESA! Probably a good thing as she isn't one to play games, and it's even worse when she doesn't win. You can definitely say I don't give up easy. I still enjoy playing games. I think the purpose of my losing so much is to PROVE to Brother Nowling, I am NOT a sore loser.

Oh by the way, I think my husband and I did a first. We slept in until 11 am. We went to bed at 1 am but still, I don't remember ever (in my adult years)sleeping in that late. It felt soooooo good.

We had some of the members over to pray in the new year last year, so I really feel like 2007 went out good and 2008 came in good. Hopefully everyone else did too.