Monopoly winner!

As you all know I have not won a lot of games over the last several months. Monopoly has never been "my" game. I've got to be in the mood to play it for one thing, and I so rarely win it. And these days, I don't win any game but Monopoly...won't happen. Well Easter Sunday afternoon we Josh, Jackie, Jenna and I played. And I WON! But not because of my skills. Let's just say Josh and Jackie are equally stubborn and they didn't want either one to win, so I was the beneficiary, they gave everything to me. So I didn't feel like I won.

Then last night Jackie called wanting to know if I was up to playing games seeing as she had to work Friday and Saturday. I said sure. But let me back up a minute. Several weeks ago during our youth Bible Study I assigned prayer buddies to everyone. Asking them to remember each other in prayer but also with encouragement and even little gifts (if they felt led). Well Josh and I were buddies and Jenna and Jackie were buddies. So when Josh and Jackie walked in last night I was handed something I actually asked from my husband for Valentines day (something similar that is) and that was a heart wind spinner. I was really overwhelmed. It was so cool that they not only remembered, but they got me one. So very cool. Then they pulled out the game they wanted to play...yeah Monopoly! They had bought the old 1933, classic game in a beautiful case. It looked antique. The properties didn't have the price on them. The money colors were different. There's no dog, money bag, or sports car. It has a rocking horse, a purse, and antique car. The houses and motels are wooden. It is so cool. But best of all I WON!!! And I won fare and square. Now my husband felt I should have let Josh win because it was a treasure that he bought! But he wouldn't have wanted me to and I WANTED the Win!

Oh and by the way, Jackie's gift to Jenna was a animal balloon making a kit. AND a BOYFRIEND. Yeah a boyfriend...perfect. Jenna, I told you I'd get you for that picture ~ smile. She'll have to explain. Although, maybe Jackie will ~grin.

Josh and Jackie have been family to us. They're fun to be around and I can't praise the Lord enough for the spiritual growth these two have experienced over the last year. I feel like Paul...I thank God for them. Not only them but our youth in general are great. I have so much fun with them. They show me so much respect. They all are a part of me and I thank God for them.

Now I Remember....

why I don't like living in a duplex or in the city. At 1 am I heard some screaming. I was in this sleep where I heard the screaming but I was having a hard time seperating it from dreaming and reality. Then I heard movement in the hallway. On Friday and Saturday nights Brother Nowling AND Joleesa both work nights so I'm here by myself and it was that movement in the hallway that pulled me out of the place between sleep and awake. I asked who's out there and there came a voice saying "me". Oh that's right Jenna spent the night. I forgot. Then my mind settled on the screaming, "I'm going to kill you. Don't go. But I love you." And the cursing and I mean CURSING. I walked out to the living room with Jenna. They were on our deck. Our porch light was on but our blinds were pulled. We could here them clearly. I grabbed the phone trying to decide whether to call 911. Then it got real quiet. The wierd thing is we never heard a car leave, and there's usually a little girl next door that cries a lot...but she wasn't crying. I figured she must not be there. There are so many people in and out of that place other then the older native woman that goes to the Moravian church, and her granddaughter, we don't know who actually lives there. There's different cars under the carport all the time.

Any way, this wasn't the first time. The people that lived there previously fought during the night also (Sutton's were here one time when it happend). And they had young girls that played their music so loud that one time the bass vibrated our walls and caused a plaque to fall.

Part of me wants to find a house that's bigger than this place, and doesn't have that close of a neighbor. BUT that means higher rent, a deposit again and MOVING and the thought of moving even down the street is not appealing at all. But maybe this is sign that we really do need to consider it. UGH!

The weather's been nice here and it feels like Spring. I wish I could get to feeling good enough to enjoy it. My nose is running like a sieve, I still have a cough that rips my chest a part, and my chest feels heavy. I am doing better by far but I have a long way to go before I'm well. Tonight we have our youth gym night. We're going to be playing basketball and volleyball. I should say they're going to play basketball and we'll play volleyball. I've never been into basketball and I'm too old to start now (especially when I don't even have the desire too). I know Joleesa's bringing a couple of friends from McDonald's and I hope there'll be other visitor's. We're meeting at the church for a devotion and then heading over to the rec center for two hours. We sold calendars in 2006 and never used the money so this is how we decided to use the money. Two hours of good clean fun for individuals with lots of energy. I pray it goes well. I know our young people will make the visitors feel welcome...and then maybe they'll come out to church or at least future youth events. It's a small step but it's a step.

Everyone have a blessed Easter.

Remember When....

Totino's Pizza fed more than one person. I stayed home from work sick today and I put in a Totino's pizza and was shocked how small it was, I remember when it fed at least two people. It got me thinking of the past. We so often say "I remember when...." I find myself at least thinking that a lot lately. Ugh! Proof that I'm as old as the girls make me.

Just a thought!

Went to Bethel...and back

We had youth convention in Bethel this weekend. Sister Kim did a great job. Unfortunately I came down Wednesday late afternoon with this horrible bug that put 8 of our graphic designers out in the same day. It came on real fast. Chest, throat, head, eyes, sinuses the works. Ugh. I was so looking forward to convention and fellowship with the Bethel saints. I called Brother Bobby to find out there feelings of my coming if I was sick. I didn't want to offend anyone for being there sick (taking the possibility of spreading it). They said if I felt up to it to come ahead. So, though several times I had second thoughts, and the people at work I thought I shouldn't go. But I went. I enjoyed the preaching and the Spirit. But all my body wanted to do was sleep. Any way. I was miserable physically but my spirit was blessed. The ladies worked so hard putting on a luncheon Saturday afternoon and then Sister Connie and Sister Jacquelyn put on a caribou feast in celebration of Nathan and Rusty shooting their first caribou. A celebration of entering into manhood (poor Rusty). It was a true feast, I wish my taste buds would have allowed me to enjoy it. It was neat to watch it all come together as the ladies gave out "useful" gifts to all present as part as the traditional celebration. Those ladies out did themselves. Sister Jacquelyn's chocolate cake, that Rusty tried to convince everyone that it wasn't any good (so he could have it all to himself), it was awesome cake (if my taste buds were having problem on that cake, it was even better than I thought).

Brother Mojin's last words to me at the airport when several were seeing Sister Kim and us off, was that he was glad that I came even though I wasn't feeling well, meant so much to me. I was constantly afraid that there would be some that wouldn't appreciate my bringing "the cold" with me. Sister Connie tried to help me with her homemade cough syrup, which may very well have worked, but Garlic doesn't settle well on my stomach.

Flying home I thought I broke my right eardrum though. I have never felt so much pressure in my ear like I did taking off. I just fought the tears as the pain was so excruiating but after about 10 minutes it finally let up. It didn't pop, but it the pain subsided. The landing hurt too but not as bad.

Bottom line...I'm tired of being sick this winter. I think this is about the third time I've had this same bug!!! I had to go to work today because was on vacation, but if I'm not feeling considerably better tomorrow, I'm staying home. I am not carrying this bug with me for weeks as I have before. Sleep is going to make it leave.

Thank you Brother Bobby and Sister Annette for putting up with my coughing and sniffles (and Sister Kim). I look forward to coming again to enjoy those precious girls that you are so good with. Thanks to all the Bethel folks, I'm glad I went.

HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY JENNA!

On March 13th, 1986 we ended Bible study and headed to the hospital to bring our second baby girl into the world. Jenna Rae Nowling blessed this world and our home at 11:45 pm in Janesville, WI.

We love you honey and we're very proud of the young, beautiful, Godly woman you have become.

Our prayer for you is that God will bless this year with many precious things.

The Lord is So Good!

I am so thrilled. The hotel that we have had ladies retreat at in the past is under new management and wanted to charge us $300 per day for the conference room; don't think so, so they would discount it to $150 per day; still don't think so. I was really getting concerned (notice I didn't say worried but it really on verge of "worrying"). I spent last night searching the internet. Everything was looking way out of range. But I thought let's try Eagle River (about 15 miles from Anchorage). Basically only two hotels, one didn't look like it would work at all but maybe the Microtel would. First I called the Holdiay Inn Express where the men had their retreat in January. I wasn't feeling real good about it because they had to pay $100/day for their conference room and it was more like a board room (so I heard). I wanted a place that we could set up chairs like you would for church and have the electric piano...but if that's where we were suppose to be. Don't think so. They would give us the rooms for $89 but the conference room at this time of the year was now $139. Unlike the Best Western's new management, this lady was really nice so I told her I'd get back to her. I then moved on to calling the Microtel. The lady was fantastic. She asked me what deals I had gotten from Best Western in the past. She gave us the exact same deal. We blocked off 6 rooms and I can turn back two rooms the week prior. They usually charge for more than 2 to a room but she won't charge us. They have a continental breakfast (Best Western didn't). Brother Nowling and I drove out to check the rooms and the conference room. They are great. Not fancy but nice. The conference room is smaller than the one at Best Western but it'll work fine for us and we can have our coffee and tea. The lobby has a nice fire place with leather sofas (real quaint). The hotel is only 5 years old. Yeah it's not in Anchorage, but come on, 15 minutes away. There's restraunts all around it, there's a Walmart, grocery stores, gift shops, it's a great town. AND it'll allow the Anchorage ladies to feel like they've gone somewhere too. I really hope no one complains that it's not in Anchorage. But you know what, I truly feel it is a gift from God. Two phone calls is all it took. God knows what we need and knew I was running out of time to have search for a place. He is so good.

By the way, the dates are April 18-20; cost is $85 (lunch and dinner on your own); Sister Georgia Williams is our evangelist. We'd love to have anyone that feels led to attend to come on up. We're going to have a great time in the Lord.

To top that off, I've been really praying for Joleesa to be able to get McDonald's covered Friday night so she can go to youth convention in Bethel. It wasn't looking to promising, but PTL, she just called and she got it covered. Have I said God is good!

Now for Brother Nowling to get Saturday covered. It'll happen, because God is Good!

Please rememeber the convention. I know God is going to bless because THE LORD IS GOOD!

I'm So Glad It's Saturday

It has been a VERY stressful week at work. I've been tagged the online queen for selling the most online dollars out of anyone. This week came back to bite me because of the Iditarod. It's a long story but I spent the whole week dealing with upset customers who were'nt seeing their ad. Because of the Iditarod the traffic on our site spiked so high that though they were getting what they paid for, it didn't seem like it because they couldn't see for themselves. Anyway, yesterday I put in 10 1/2 hour day trying to get caught up with other things. I was ready for the weekend.

Today is the first Saturday I've been home with no plans but clean house and do the state books. I slept in until 9:15 am (and I'm still tired). I think the stress is wearing me out. I'll probably even take a nap today. It feels so good to just "chill".

We've been in the high 30's and 40's with sunshine so the snow's been melting (the poor dogs on the Iditarod are really having problems).

Next weekend is youth convention in Bethel. I'm really looking forward to that. Please pray Brother Nowling can get someone to cover so he can go.

Please pray for our ladies retreat. I'm getting very frustrated with the hotel. We (Brother Nowling's been helping me). They're under new management, at first they said the conference room that we use for our services would cost us $300 per day (ugh I don't think so). But then they said if we commit to a minimum of 5 rooms we could use for free and they just needed something in writing confirming. I sent the letter with how I wanted the room set (like I did last year) and she calls saying they thought we only needed the room for a couple of hours and they didnt have the staff to set things up. HOW did she ever get that idea. No problem we'll set up, but she continued to say they'd have to charge the $300 a day. Of course I told her couldn't do it. If the room is empty anyway why with the commitment of 5 rooms can't we get at least for this year? She said she'd be back to me in 2 hours, had my work number but called home. UGH. I still don't know what's going on and I can't get a hold of her. Please, please pray. We're going to have a great ladies retreat as I have had so many obstacles put in my way.

Well I better get some cleaning done. Have a great day and better Lord's day tomorrow.

Enough of Flying and Airports

I use to enjoy flying but it gets old these days. Jessa and Jenna went to Phoenix for Gracie's wedding and then flew to Seattle. Let me side track here a minute. Saturday morning I got a call from Jenna they were going to miss their flight as they had a flat tire on their rental car in Phoenix. Jenna had called the Avis road assistance and was told it would be 40 minutes so they wouldn't make it. But God had other plans for them. A grandfather type man came with the tow truck and asked what time their flight left and when he found they had such little time he said he'd just load the car on the truck and take them to airport and he would take the car to Avis for them...wow. They were going to make their flight after all. To top that off, after they got dropped off, he found Jessa's cell phone in the front seat (of the car I think). He called Jenna and asked her where they were at at the airport and met them with her cell phone. (I may not have the detail exact) PTL. There are still good people in the world today.

Well back to Seattle, as I said they were flying into Seattle and as most of you know, they were then going on to San Diego. Joleesa was to meet them in Seattle. Well Joleesa takes after her dad and doesn't like to fly and Joleesa was suppose to meet them in Seattle, meaning she'd be flying by herself. She was really likeing the idea of flying by herself at all. I was afraid she'd back out just because of that and I knew the girls needed to get away and this would be the first vacation of just the 3 of them so we really wanted to have Joleesa go too. So being "mom" I offered to fly with Joleesa to Seattle if they would back up their San Diego flight a couple of hours so we could do Olive Garden while I was there and I wouldn't just have to turn around and jump back on the plane. If you could've seen the expression of relief on Joleesa's face, I knew I would do this no matter what. So after last weekend flying on Friday and then Monday 5 1/2 and 6 hours to Minnesota and back, I was back on the plane to fly the 3 hours to Seattle. Joleesa and I got to sit together in row 6 (right behind first class which still felt like first class). Joleesa slept most the way and I read. All in all good flight and the time passed quickly. Got to the airport and Jenna and Jessa were waiting for us (in skirts, flip flops and no jacket and it was 41 degrees~brrr~their excuse they left Phoenix and we're going to San Diego~giggle. Joleesa and I had light weight jackets and we were cold). Any way we hailed a cab and he didn't know where Olive Garden was but Jessa had been their before and gave him an idea where it was We went about $3.00 out of the way~ugh. But we made it Olive Garden and oh the food was sooooo worth it. We then had the restraunt call us a cab as the one we came in had no available cabs to pick us up. I wish Jenna could have got a picture of this driver in his turban and all. When we were putting our stuff in the trunk I turned to Joleesa and said I got sit next to that (his clothes didn't look the cleanest either). Neither cab driver spoke very good English but we made it back. After about an hour wait at the girls gate all three girls got on AND got to all three sit together. God is good and they were thrilled. I then headed down the corridor to wait another hour for my flight back to Anchorage but that flight was overbooked with several stand bys. All but 4 of the standbys got on and I was one of the 4, so back to another gate and another hour wait. Make that 1 1/2 hours as the plane was late getting in. But I got on the flight and what took 2 hours 45 minutes to get to Seattle was going 5 hours and 15 minutes to get back ~ugh. I'm tired. But after two movies (I finished my book as well as studied my SS lesson, so I rented a digi player) sitting in the middle seat with the man next to window never speaking to me but snoring a lot and the lady on the aisle sharing her home-made chocolate chip cookies I finally land at 9:05 pm. I walk outside to bitterly cold winds (my light weight jacket felt like no jacket at all) to go back to my car, swing into McDonald's for a quick bite to go (we ate at noon and the landing made me realize my stomach didn't have much in it). Came to an empty house as Brother Nowling was working, crawled into bed. Read a couple of pages of a new book and I was out. My day started at 4 am and I was glad to have it end.

BUT the girls are having a great time. The weather is in the 60's, they walked the beach this morning with a golden retriever, rented a convertible, went to the San Diego zoo and are now headed to a mall. Doing what sisters should have the opportunities to do, hang out together and have fun.

We have rarely took vacations outside of church functions so this is great for them, and the fact that they are doing it together is greater yet. It's wierd though, knowing their so far away really makes both Jody and I miss them and feel like empty nesters (even though they do their own things and I may not see them for a couple of days when their here in Anchorage). I just pray they the Lord helps them to strengthen their friendship. They have no choice in the fact that they are sisters, but they do have a choice to be friends. Over the years their friendship has helped them stay faithful to the Lord together. As they have grown up, and as we moved here to AK their friendship has faded as each one built new lives. So this is good for them. Lord keep them safe and bring them back safely and closer to each other.

Now Brother Nowling and I get to have the next couple of evenings to ourselves. YES! We've seen very little of each other since a week ago Thursday. With my traveling to MN, his going to Junea, church and work, I've probably seen him a whole hour total (not counting in church). So we hope to spend some quality time together Monday and Tuesday nights.

Then in two weeks I gotta fly again. Youth convention is in Bethel. Ugh! But that's only 1 1/2 hour flight. Please pray Brother Nowling can get coverage at work so he can go. He doesn't get vacation until the end of April.

So that's my life the last week for anyone that's around to care...I'm praying all those that went to Phoenix will have a safe trip back and then will BLOG!