Convention Update

Last night was our first night of our state convention and it was awesome. Though it took us while to give the Holy Ghost His liberty (and without a doubt not everyone allowed Him His liberty) our worship service began the breaking through Brother Werkheiser gave two scripture references and read the second one Psalms 119:45 "and he will walk in liberty" he turned the service to the Holy Ghost. It was great. I was so physically tired but His spirit revived me and moved in our midst. I only wish we had a bigger building, it's difficult to move around but I thank God Brother Werkheiser did not allow the lack of an altar or space to inhibit us. I have great anticipation for the rest of convention and I am exstatic as to what's ahead for camp.

Got to head to Walmart and then a leadership meeting, then pack and finish things for camp. Busy, busy, busy but it's a good busy~smile

Long Hours of Light

I have been staying up way to late for several days as it is so hard to go bed when it's still bright out. Like right now it's 10:20 pm and it looks like it's 5 pm. UGH! I've gotten a lot done but I still got so much more to do to get ready for camp. To top that off if I get the Anchorage reports tomorrow I have to do the church state books for May and add it to my annual report. UGH!

After church Jackie, Josh, Jenna, Joleesa, David and I went to Village Inn. I had actually already ate and am really tired (I know, then why aren't you in bed) but my daughters (all three of them, yep, Jackie is my daughter and Josh is my son...their names start with J so they must be) convinced me to go with. I felt in a goofy mood and was throwing straw paper at Joleesa and David, and then sugar packages and then the jelly. That's when the tables turned and Jackie became my babysitter and started reprimanding me and Josh told her she wasn't doing a very good job. LOL. These kids are sooooo precious to me. I forgot to mention that Jackie and Josh also got me a mother's day gift. They brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers (Calla Lily and pink/white daisies) and a card that brought me to tears. I cannot thank the Lord for the relationship we have. They truly are family to our whole family.

Well, even though the sun is shining bright, I MUST go bed. Tomorrow I've got to behave and do the rest of the grocery shopping for camp, finish putting together the camper folders, pull the last part of my class together. Oh did I tell you I'm teaching a weight loss class. Yeah, fat, little oh me teaching on losing weight ~ spiritual weight that is ~ grin. Our theme is "Be Strong in the Lord...." Brother Werkheiser is teaching on the "Work Out", Brother Nowling on "Press On" and Brother Grant on the "Victory Lap". I am really getting into my class. Plus I've got to pack. And we have convention Friday night, leaders meeting Saturday morning, convention Saturday night and Sunday morning and we leave for camp right from Sunday Church.

Any way to bed I really must go. Until the next time.

My Mother's Day Gift

Yeah I know Mother's Day is past. Jenna got me a beautiful fushia plant (as you read, our neighbor girl tried to destroy but fortunately didn't succeed). Jessa will be getting me something later, but I just got Joleesa's tonight. She made me a hair appointment with the gal that does her hair. It's downtown, and is a house that's turned into a salon. It doesn't look like much from the outside but it's very cozy and personal inside. The gal was great. I told her I needed a "style" and she gave me a couple of suggestions. I told her to go with the simplest one. I love it. I hope I can style it as she did, but it didn't seem too difficult so hopefully it won't be a problem. Joleesa and Jenna liked but no matter how much Joleesa tried to get Jody to say it looked nice, all he would say was it was short and ask which hair I cut. He is sooooooo irrating!!! I actually was fighting tears, but do you think he noticed, NO! or didn't care. Any way, I love it.

Well I have lots of things for camp to finish so I need to get to work.

Our Neighbor Girl

Ugh! Our next door neighbors little girl (I think it's their grand daughter) is allowed to just run the neighborhood. Sister Smith, I have bad news for you. The rhubarb has been destroyed. Friday afternoon apparently hera and another little girl decided to ransack our yard and deck. They pulled buds of my beautiful (expensive) fusia plant that Jenna got me for mother's day. She took rock and dirt and scattered it across our deck and she tore up the rhubarb. I'm not sure what other damage she did but Brother Nowling had had enough and went to talk to our neighbor (it was the girl's mother, he thinks that was there) and she didn't seem to care. So he called our land lady. I now remember why I like the country. Or least our own house (not a duplex) with our own yard. We actually had to call the police late one night be cause there were three men outside Joleesa's window screaming and cussing and one was beeing choked. As a general rule they're not a problem but there are so many people in and out of that place that we don't know who they all are. The older lady that actually lives there is rarely there. They're native and supposing most of them are related one way or another. We have visited a little with the older lady and she is very nice...but we told our land lady that something has to be done or we will be looking for another place. Actually I wouldn't mind getting a "house" but now that Joleesa is out on her own, I was thinking, why bother moving again, but maybe we do need to. We'll see.

By the way fortunately, my plant didn't get too much damage. It's still beautiful.

Well I have church and then this week, I have to get everything finished for camp. So a very busy week.

Garage Sale Heaven!

Yesterday before I left work one the girls in the billing office told me about a neighborhood garage sale that would be going on today and in a wealthy part of town. I actually had an idea of where she meant so I called Joleesa to see if there were some things she wanted me to try to find for her IF I went. I met her at McDonald's and she gave me her list and some money. I got up at 7:30 am ON A SATURDAY mind you. Did a quick cleaning of the living room, kitchen and bathroom (the youth were meeting here for devotions before heading to the zoo for their monthly activity) as I knew it needed to be done. At about 9 am I headed out the door with the monster truck (which I haven't driven for a VERY long time; but I'll start driving it regularly next week as I only work a mile away and we've been spending $100/week for gas on the truck, so Jody will drive my car - Sorry I'm digressing). I'm looking for a night stand, dishes, lamps, kitchen utensils, living room chair, and possibly a kitchen table for Joleesa and a book shelf for Jody. I decided to call Tim and see if he was doing anything as I thought this would be a good way to spend some time with him (as I don't do that very often) and it was a beautiful day and I would be going right by his place. I woke him up but he said he'd be ready when I got there. I picked him up and headed over. Talk about a neighborhood sales. Blocks, and blocks, and blocks of sales. Cars parked on both sides of streets for several miles in a neighborhood with homes worth at least $500,00+. Just looking at the homes was fun, navigating the monster truck through the streets was not. We went a long way before we found parking and then began to walk. It was actually overwhelming. I'm glad I had a purpose...certain things to look for and that was it. I was so good, I didn't look at any clothes. It was awesome. Stopped at a sale before we got to the neighborhood with all the sales and saw a nightstand for $18. It was really nice, but our first sale, $18, told the lady we may be back. Then we got to the main sales the First thing found was a set pans for $5 in excellent shape. The I found Joleesa a glider rocker for $8. PTL! Can't beat that. It was actually funny. We walked up and Tim pointed out the chair. I kept saying, I want it, I want it as we walked. There was another couple looking at it and under my breath I was praying "don't buy it, don't buy it". The lady sat down and Tim walked around them to see the price on the back, he said $8, I raised my eyebrows. Oh how I wanted it. Then the man sat down (no!). Good ole Tim came right out and asked if they were going to buy it. The man asked if we wanted it...I said my daughter just moved into her own apt and didn't have any furniture, he looked at the woman and said good, you can have it, she said I want it, you need it you can have it. PTL! Tim goes and gets the truck and loads it while I keep looking. We then drive through the throng (Tim's driving by this time), stopping and jumping out on occasion and then we found this beautiful oak, round table. Not Joleesa's taste but mine AND it had a large leaf to it. I can give her ours, and we take this one, holding my breath on price, only $30! YES! But what do I do for chairs...a sale or two down the road, 4 chairs that matched the table for $15 total. God you're good. Time's getting away from us as we have the youth activity at 1:30, still need a night stand and bookcase. Bingo, good size book case, $5. It'll work. Just fits in the truck that we have parked in middle of the street loading with a line of cars behind us. What about the night stand...that's the main thing she wanted. We saw several but nothing like that first one for the money. So It's noon, let's see if we can find where the first sale was and pray it's still there. IT WAS!!! God is absolutely awesome. We need to go. There are still lots of places we didn't stop, but I was out of money any way so...on to the zoo! AND there's always next year, as they have this every year the weekend before memorial day. Pretty cool!

This was my first time to the Alaska zoo. It was a beautiful, peace walk around the zoo. It cost $10. Was it worth it, only because the youth were together. No monkeys, no giraffes, no elephants, the list goes on. Micah and Jenna kept telling me it's Alaska. They have to be able to survive through Alaska's winters. I know, but it just didn't seem right. Kind of like the long daytime hours...it's 11:30 pm and still light out. Anyway, some of the youth came back to the house. They unloaded my table, which fits perfect and I love and so does Brother Nowling. Then they headed hiking. Some of them were prodding me to go and I knew my limit and declined. After eating Megan's chile that she was kind enough to bring over and really tasted pretty good, they headed out while I studied my SS lesson and worked on my youth service. Then they came back and Joleesa and I went grocery shopping while the rest went to Micah's and Megan's for snacks and movie. All and all a good day full of beautiful weather and many blessings. Now we just got get Joleesa's stuff taken to her place (up 3 flights of winding stairs~ugh). Oh and by the way, we'll be playing musical tables as our table is going to Jessa and Jenna's place (as it was actually given to Jessa several years (another story) and she really still wanted it. Joleesa will in turn take the table and chairs that Jessa bought. The switch fits better in the apartments accordingly and all the girls are happy.

Oh and by the way, another answered prayer. Joleesa gave her two week notice at McDonald's last night. Her store manager talked to her today and said if she wanted to come back in the fall, he'd be happy to have her come back.

God is really good. We're going to have a GREAT service tomorrow, I just know it. I pray everyone else does to.

PRAY FOR JOLEESA!

Please pray for Joleesa. She is experiencing so many things at once and puts so much pressure on herself to please everyone. She is still working two jobs and it is beginning the busiest time of the year at the hotel for her and they are putting a lot of pressure on her. She moved out into her own apartment with a friend about two weeks ago. We didn't want her to but she was insistant. She has a boyfriend. And all and all is stressed to her limit. She has cried a lot the last couple of days. She's seriously considering giving her notice at McDonald's tonight. She really needs to. She's 18 and working herself to an ulcer. That's the other thing for a couple months now she has been having severe stomach pain. Whether she eats or not, but it's a lot worse when she eats.

She really needs our prayers, spiritually, emotionally and physically. I think often how when Jesus went about healing, He took care of the spiritual, and in that they were healed!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Busy doing my regualr church things, then working on state books, camps and trying to keep my house in some semblence of organization. Every night I've been busy with somethng and then spent the WHOLE day Saturday shopping for camp. Josh Grant was great to go with me. Now my house is full of those groceries. Yesterday was mother's day and it was good mother's day. I had to do May's church books as I just got the reports on Friday and Saturday. I still don't have them all done, ugh!

Anyway, I'll try to post more later. Another week is upon us and God is so good. It's raining outside so maybe that will take whatever's in the air that has been making it so hard for me to breath. Last night my chest hurt so bad I couldn't sleep. PTL it's feeling much better this morning.

Have a good day everyone.

On our way HOME to Alaska

It has been a great trip. We left our jobs behind, and did our best not to talk about burdensome things but enjoyed the beautiful city of San Diego. I only have one complaint about this city. It smells of SMOG! I can't wait for the fresh air of Alaska. My chest has bothered me the whole time due to the city smell. Oh, I guess it could've been warmer by the ocean, but that was ok. I LOVED my time with my dear husband. We both really enjoyed the sites. I shared what yesterday held for us. Gaslamp quarters last night wasn't what we were hoping for as it was Cinco De Mi and it was full of loud music and drunks. Pretty sad actually.

Today we slept in until 8 am. It had rained for the first time in 6 weeks. It was dreary and cold, but that was ok too. We had to get on the internet so wound up going to Starbucks as the hotels internet went into a secure mode (go figure, I was on it throughout our stay, and they said it wasn't secure, but it said it was). After paying for internet service and getting booted out a dozen times, we checked in for our flights and then we headed to the USS Midway. A retired carrier ship. It was awesome. Although, the stairs, ugh, between having a hard time breathing and my legs...but it was worth it. We learned a lot and even look at and saw the USS Ronald Regan (and another carrier) in port as well as a Princess cruise ship. It was just all around cool. The only problem we had was not enough time to really see everything before we had to leave for the airport.

The highlights for me were spending time with my husband #1, the palm trees (all different kinds), beautiful flowers, the housing (I felt like I was in Mexico), Old Town and all the shops, my favorite site was Seaport Village (a touch of New England).

I thank the Lord for this time Jody and I had together. The relaxing, and the beauty. Now full boar ahead preparing for state convention and camp (I did work on camp while Brother Nowling slept~smile).

Here's some pictures for you to enjoy. Order is all messed up as I don't have time to organize what blogger scatters.

Out Of Alaska

I came home from work I think it was Tuesday night and Brother Nowling said he needed to get out of Alaska. He hasn't left Alaska since we moved (except to go to Seattle for training and all he saw then was the hotel and the airport). He said he needed to get away. For him to be willing to fly, he really needed to get away. So I worked thongs out with my boss and Brother Grant covered service Sunday night and we left on a jet plane to...San Diego. We were trying to figure out where to go and the girls kept telling us San Diego so we flew first class, first row of the plane from Anchorage to Seattle. Had a great flight, then we flew in the LAST row of the plane from Seattle to San Diego and had a bumpy but not to bad flight (though we were by the bathrooms, we had the whole row to ourselves). We got to our hotel at 11:45 pm as they were just about to lock us out. We're staying at the Vagabond Inn in Point Loma. Nice room, nothing fancy, but a COMFORTABLE king size bed. We were so tired, especially Brother Nowling as he worked the night before, we were afraid we'd waste the morning away sleeping but we woke up at 6:30 am. Showered got dressed head to the Red Sails for breakfast, then to Seaport Village (a little bit of New England, once the stores opened at 10 am ugh!), then on to Corondo Island. It started out cloudy and windy, the sun broke through and it warmed up (in some places, but not by the ocean). We've enjoyed just being together and seeing the beautiful city with all the palm trees and the taste of Mexican architect. We didn't plan ahead financially so we're taking it easy and just enjoying it here.

We leave out tomorrow, but for now I'm going to wake Brother Nowling up and we're going down to the Gaslamp Quarters and walk around and enjoy the evening together.

I'll post pictures and give you our final update later.