Short blog - I'm Home

Had a good visit with my folks on Saturday and Sunday. I saw my brother Norris briefly on Sunday. Had breakfast with my mother-in-law and her friend that came to AK with her last Summer on Sat. and then lunch with her and then left for my parents, and then to Thompsons. I LOVE MY GPS JANE! What peace of mind it brought me. It was awesome. I want one!!!

I had a great time with Thompsons. They are so precious. I don't have family that I'm close to and I was reminded how blessed I am to have Sister Mitzi as a friend. I had a great time with all of them just not enough of it. A WONDERFUL spirit in church. Went to CARIBOU coffee and picked up some to take home. Went to my favorite store Christopher and Banks and got some great deals. Bible store where things are much cheaper then here. AND I got the cutest haircut. Though my hair was short it now needed some style and the lady did a great job and all of them at the salon were so friendly.

The only thing bad about the trip was I had to sleep and I didn't get enough of it!!! Ugh.

Brother Nowling is in Juneau for Alaska Airlines until Wednesday, Jenna leaves out for Phoenix tonight, Jessa leaves out (as do Josh and Jackie) I'm not sure when and Joleesa leaves out Saturday morning to join them in Sandiego. Life will not be normal for awhile. I'm excited for the girls. This is the first trip just the three have taken. I so want them to enjoy themselves.

Big sigh...off to work I go. Everyone traveling have a safe trip.

Gone for few days

Even though blogland's been quiet even for me. I wanted to let everyone know tomorrow's the day I leave for MN to see my parents. I did rent a car with GPS. I'm taking maps and addresses. I really need your prayers, me on little sleep don't operate well. Plus my nerves on edge on finding my way around by myself. Add to that the desire to see my brothers and sisters and I don't know if they'll come. Then concern about some things at home, I really need God to give me peace. It will definitely feel good to get away...but I want my husband and/or daughter(s) with me. AND I'm looking forward to spending time with Mitzi Thompson, she's precious.

Any way, I'll appreciate your prayers. See when I get back

Jody's Insisting I Post!

One of the things you may not know about my husband is collects things. He loves Church history books. Over the years several people gave us their collection of White Wing Messengers, Joyful News, and Happy Harvesters. We had boxes and boxes of them that we had to leave behind household items as to bring to Alaska ~ smile ~ I love him though and it's fine. Anyway, David Bock from Minnesota is a major collector and Brother Nowling had borrowed some "old" Joyful News and copied them. Well he was missing his 1949 ones and asked if he happened to have them. So he invited the youth over to go through ALL these boxes and sort them as to see if he had them (which he didn't) and he would feed them. We had almost our whole youth hear. The young men really worked hard, the girls helped a little but left it to the guys. We have a couple from the '60's, some from the 70's, lots from the 80's and some from the 90's. We had lots of doubles and triples that we sent home with Jacob Grant and Tim Osborne. All and all I think everyone actually enjoyed. Many hands make work light, AND FUN! Good food helps.

I'll be headed to Minnesota to see my folks a week from Friday. It's my dad's birthday on the 24th so I told him I'd be there. I'm taking the red eye and then renting a car, heading to my mother-in-laws to grab a couple of hours of sleep and do lunch. From there I'll stop into the nursing home to say to my parents for a couple of hours. Then I'll head over to Mitzi Thompson's house for fellowship and laughs (time with Sister Mitzi is always lots of fun). I'll be there for church Sunday morning and then the rest of the day will spend with my parents. I really hope my brothers and sisters will meet me for supper. My one sister and brother live about 3 hours different directions from my parents. I really want to see them because I don't know when I'll see them again, but no one would commit to being there. I'll try not to be disappointed, so I'm not planning on them being there. Anyway, then Monday is my time with Sister Mitzi. I asked her to make me a hair appointment with her stylist (my hair has grown out to the length that I just need some style to it)...she said she would but wanted me to promise if things went wrong that she wouldn't be all over my blog...so I'm just letting you know if I'm silent about the outcome of the visit to the hair salon, it's because of my promise. ~ smile ~ Love ya Sister Mitzi. Anyway, pray for my trip...two concerns, I'm not a night person and after working all day taking the red eye, I hope I can sleep on the plane, as I'm not good at driving when I'm tired. Secondly, I don't want to get lost. I'm going to have to have Brother Nowling get me directions from the airport to his mom's, his mom's to the nursing home, the nursing home, to Thompsons, Thompsons to the nursing home, and Thompsons to the airport. All other driving, I'll have someone with me that knows their way around. Seriously, unless your directionally challenged you don't know how scary driving around places like this is...I may check into seeing how much extra a GPS is just in case!

The Road to Recovery!

You would think this bug that has taken up residence at our place would be a frozen by now. This deep freeze we've been in has caused to even run a solar heater fan that I brought for Brother Nowling last year for Christmas. It just doesn't seem to be warm here.

I think everyone is on the road to recovery. Jenna and Joleesa are pretty much better. Brother Nowling worked the last nights and had moments feeling rough but said when he came home this morning that he was feeling ok. My chest still hurts and when I cough I feel like my chest is being ripped a part. But really, I too, feel better. Every Friday at work a lady comes in and gives 15 minute chair massages. My boss and a couple of ladies have raved about her massages. I HATE massages as I have so many tender points on me that it hurts more then feels good. I had babyied (is that a word?) my neck so much, between that, the stress at work and just not feeling good my neck and shoulders really hurt. My one coworker gave me her time slot (I'll give her the money for it)and I had the massage. The lady was very tender with the massage, but oh it still hurt and yet kind of felt good. By the time she got done I had a terrific headache. My coworker said I need to drink lots of water now as it some how got the antioxidents out and that was causing the headache. Joleesa and I was going to have a mother/daughter night out so I thought ok. I started downing the water and I have to say after a couple of hours my neck and shoulders (and head) felt good. I don't know if it's something I spend money on again but it do feel better in that area AND I actually slept good too.

Like I said, Joleesa and I had a mother/daughter night out. I don't see her much these days (I need to do the same with the other two girls too). We went out to Sullivan's a steak house that she wanted to try. The bill was ouch but it was the BEST steak ever. Then we went bumming around Penney's shopping. I found some awesome deals. I need a new winter coat as mine from last year was ripped out in a couple of different spots. I found one for $43, regularly $209 (not that I would've ever paid that). Then I found a couple of sweaters that I really liked before but wasn't about to pay $40 for but would be pay $11 and $8 (actually Joleesa bought the one). Then I had to get me gloves and hat to match my new coat, which Joleesa actually picked out for me. When I got my butchered hair cut, I started wearing a hat as my head freezes. I have this black knit hat with a visor, that the young people have laughed at but liked (both at church and at work). But I'll set that aside now for a pretty tan and off white regular knitted stocking cap. Any way, I enjoyed my time with Joleesa. She even put her cell phone away and actually TALKED to me. I thank the Lord for my girls. I don't want to every take my relationship with them for granted. Some times as they've gotten older and get busy with their jobs, we have less time together, but I always want to be there for them but also with them.

Well I need to muster up energy to clean house. Youth Bible Study is here tonight. You know what though, I think I have time for a nap. Thank you for your prayers, please continue to pray for complete healing. Also, I have something really weighing heavy on me regarding our local church. Please pray for God to have His way.

Please Pray! Sickness has Invaded Us!

I haven't blogged for a while as it's been all we could do to keep going. Sickness has invaded our household. To just do a quick update...I had surgery Friday, a biopsy of a swollen lymphnodes in my lungs to rule out lymphoma. Which they did and diagnosed sarcoidosis disease. A disease of the immune system that is not lifethreatening but wears many faces and I don't understand it. But bottom line is it's not cancer and now I just need to heal from the surgery which is taking place slowly. It's been a long, exhausting week.

Along with this we've had the cold being passed around (I had it but supposedly got over it before my surgery) except for my cough, tightness in my chest and exhaustion (all symptoms of sarcoidosis). Thursday night before my surgery, Jody got sick again with it and Jenna and Joleesa came down with the stomach flu (vomiting and all). Jessa wound up taking Friday off to take care of me so Jody could sleep. Now yesterday Jody came down with the stomach flu (vomiting, fever and all).

We need intervention. I can't get sick with the flu as it will rip open the 2 1/2 inch sutures in my neck. We want (need) to get on with life.

Oh by way COLD has also infested Alaska. Deep freeze of approx 20 below zero. Please pray for us all.