What A Week! ~ Revised

This has been a whirlwind of a week. I have been so busy at work. Wednesday I put in 11 hours and today I put in 11 hours. It's one thing to put in a lot of hours, but these are hours where your running against the clock for deadline after deadline. As all have probably heard, Alaska's Governor, Gov. Sarah Palen has been chosen as the VP running mate for the republican John McCain. I walked into the office, thankfully Jody had called me to let me know as I don't have tv or radio on when getting ready for work, and things were already a whirlwind. Partner that with the fact that the dividends that Alaskans will be getting are at about $3200 per person with the first set of checks to go out 9/12 (two weeks earlier than usual), we have a PFD sales catalog that deadlined today. I've spoken with businesses all over the US regarding advertising in this publication. It was insane. I am exhausted and ready for a long weekend.

The good news of this day was the paper was giving away free tickets to the state fair. I haven't been to the state fair for years. So I begged Jody to go with me tomorrow afternoon. I still have two more tickets as I don't think the girls want to go. It's something different. So tomorrow morning when Jody gets home from work after 8 am, I'll get up and clean house, then go get Jenna to go JoAnn Fabrics and Michaels to get the rest of the material for the banners and some other things for church, then go to the fair. Sunday, I believe Brother Mack will be preaching Sunday morning, and then I'm excited about our first youth service in our new building (where I have room to do something) and something we'll be doing. We're going to "Walk In our Brother/Sister's Shoes". I hope the Lord really gets the message I feel He's given me across through many different means. Then Monday, Value Village has everything 50% off and I know there's a set of shelves that I want to get for the church, A big wicker basket to set by the piano for song books, and hopefully I'll find some other good bargains for the Church.

Oh, Brother Nowling, Josh, Matt and Tim got our piano over to the church on Monday (my living room looks strange without but it bigger). Joleesa played it on Wednesday while Micah attempted to play guitar but couldn't as it's about 1/2 octave out of tune. So now we've got to get it tuned. Ugh! I know what it cost in Wisconsin to tune it, so I'm afraid what it's going to cost here. Oh well...And the acoustics is that place makes it so loud....that's kind of a good thing, when Jessa plays, as she plays real soft. I'm going to get some felt to put on the back of it so it looks better and hopefully it will soften the sound as well.

Also, we should be getting our Church flag here soon. Brother Werkheiser said it was mailed out last week. Then we need to get poles, stands and an American flag. We're really excited about that as we haven't pastored a church since our first pastoral that had them (and I'm not sure if Janesville had them or not). Then we'll still have an altar and SS attendance board to get (along with some posters, etc for the SS rooms). Lord, please show us how to do our altar, we so need one.

Yep, I'm looking forward to the long weekend. I hope everyone has a great one.

Thankful!

You know since the assembly the enemy has been trying to steal my victory, but he's not been successful. Though I've been so sick (I have an ear and sinus infection), exhausted, frustrated, discouraged, emotionally drained, etc, I have seen God's hand at work.

The Saturday of my mom's passing the young people were so sweet in their own ways showing their sympathy. Then I went to work today and the concern from managers, co-workers and my clients were overwhelming. I actually received two cards from ad agencies that I work with. The one must have had every person in their business sign it. Then my boss came up to me and apologized for not calling last week and seeing how I was doing. He then asked if my mom had a favorite charity. He wanted to send flowers but felt by the time he tracked down where to send them it would be a waste, as well as they don't last. He pushed me for a place that he could give a memorial to and I know when we were in TCOGP together, she use to do craft projects for World Missions. He said whatever I felt, so he gave me a check with the "to" blank and said for me to put wherever. So I'm going to give it for World Missions. He also came in yesterday to work at clearing off my desk so I wouldn't have quite so much to deal. Considering how swamped I still am, I can't imagine how bad it had looked. The retail sales manager and the ad director also stopped by my desk a couple of times to be sure I was ok. All and all I was overwhelmed by their kindness.

Brother Nowling preached a message Sunday about the "perfect bond of LOVE" that the Church needs to have. It's sad to say that some times people in the world show up some of God's people in the area of love. There are some in the Church that have done so much damage by the way they treat others. As I have been hurt by some of those very same people, I so want to remember the importance of the "bond of love" that I need to show to others, no matter how difficult it may be. Some may say the world can't really show "love", what they show is just kindness, but you know there's genuine caring there. I'm not sure I can separate the difference as the expression was so genuine whatever one wants to call it.

Bottom line, I am so thankful to all that showed their love and kindness to me. God has blessed me some precious people in my life and I am truly grateful.

First Sunday!

Well as you all know today was our first day in our new building. We had 5 missing but we had Heather's parents, the Macks there. We had a good service with a sweet Spirit. We still have things to do. We need to get our paino moved over there, Jacob Grant is making us a cross for the wall. Several of the girls are making auxilary banners, Jessa's making a mission wall, the youth room still is in need of a "coffee corner" (Josh did bring us donuts), we want a cross for the pulpit, a cabinet for storage, a bigger table for tracts but all in all I was very pleased for how our first Sunday turned out. Go to Jenna's blog for the before pictures.

My Family!

I wanted to post the picture of my brothers and sisters and my dad. It's the first time in a good 10 -15 years that we were all together. Back row, r-l (oldest to youngest): Carol , Mackey (Bert Jr. ), Darla, twins Norris and Norene, me, dad and Kelly.

On My Way Home!

I am sitting at the Mpls. airport with Jody, Jessa and Joleesa. Jenna is already in the air on her way home. It has been a very loooooong week. Thanks to everyone for their prayers. Things went better then I expected. All my brothers and sisters were at the funeral. 22 of the 27 grand kids and I think 3 of the 20 great grand kids. There were also several of our friends from The Church of God of Prophecy that I have not seen for years. I had so many people coming up to me and hugging me that I knew I should know, but had to take time to place them (family and friends a like). My oldest sister's first husband (her kids dad) was there and got in my face, and was hugging me and I'm like, "I have no idea who you are". When it finally clicked as I saw my nephews and niece by him, it was wow, you've got to be kidding...when he said he didn't remember me being this short, we then figured oh yes I was because the last time I saw him I had to be about 8 years old.



We haven't had ALL 7 kids together for YEARS so we actually did a family picture. I'll post it later.



Let me start from the beginning...the Lord worked a miracle as I got on the first flight out Sunday, the only available seat for a couple of days. Jody, Jessa and Jenna wound up flying to Fairbanks and then Mpls on Monday, getting in Monday evening. I rented a car (and a GPS-we bought a Magellan from Brother Werkheiser, and I brought it but we couldn't figure it out in Alaska as it didn't have any AK maps on it; I was so exhausted Jody just told me to rent my favorite Garmin). My dad was exhausted from the stress of meeting with the funeral home so I just went on the Thompsons where these precious people allowed my family to take over their home. Monday, Mitzi was dealing with the doctors setting up Autumn's consultation. The phones were something as Mitzi's, Autumn's and my phones were ringing like crazy that morning. When they headed out to the doctor's I headed out to Walmart to buy my dad some new clothes for the funeral and then over to my brother Norris' house where dad and my sister Darla were staying. About 4:30 pm I headed to get Jody, and the two girls. Like I said I rented the car so I had to do the driving. Tuesday we headed back to my brother's then to my mother-in-law's, then to the airport to get Jenna and then back to the Thompson's to their almost empty house as Autumn had her surgery and they were keeping her overnight. She came through it good, though they not only took thyroid because of the cancer but two lymph nodes that looked abnormal.



Wednesday was the funeral. Oh how stressed I was starting out. We got my brother's a little after 10 am, I hemmed my dad's pants (he's the same height as I am, and like me all his pants need hemmed~although he usually rolls them, but I wouldn't let him). The dad, Jessa and Jenna and I headed to the church while Jody (who now had his mom's car, headed to get his mom). My mom loved stuffed animals, dolls, and toys that sang, danced and made noise and she had quite a collection. We displayed them in the church foyer as whenever went to see mom, she always had to show you her newest toy. We also set out several pictures. Then the people began arriving. The hardest part of the whole day for me so the viewing. I didn't want to look at her, and remember her that way. Jessa and I sang "Near the Cross" with Joleesa playing the piano and Jenna read a poem that my wrote. When my brother and sister asked about the girls singing, I wasn't sure Jessa would do it alone and I said I would sing with her, their response are you sure you can get through it. Have you ever had something you just felt you HAD to do. This was it for me. Though the tears fell as I was singing, I was able to keep my composure and sing ok and it reminded me that I had to stay near the cross as to be able to see her again some day. My nieces read scriptures, my one nephew played my mom's 1912 saxophone, though he struggled in parts, he made that thing ring out as clear as my mom had done for years. He did awesome. My one nephew was asked by my dad to pray and share comments. He started out struggling through tears with the prayer (he's a youth minister for the community church where the funeral was), but then he had us laughing and crying later. He did great. My niece and nephew (Darla's daughter) who are worship minister's (I think that's what they do), led the congregational song. Then a former pastor of my dad and mom's from TCOGOP

We then had a short interment at the cemetery and then back to the church of a luncheon. Several had assisted my nephew as he put together a slide presentation of my mom. Once again the tears fell. My family then went out with my oldest sister's family from Oklahoma to Caribou coffee and visited for a couple of hours. We had many laughs reminiscing but more importantly, I feel some things were cleared up that had separated us over the years.

Thursday we headed to Wisconsin to close our safety deposit box and visit with our dear church sister there and another friend. Then we headed back to Thompsons where Autumn was just getting home as she had a rough time with the pain medication so they kept her another night. The Thompson house is always open to friends and family (just as is ours) but they had a revolving door as different ones check in on Autumn. Continue to pray for her though the final diagnosis is good, this girl is use to being strong and active and this has taken it's toll on her and she's not use to being so weak and having the tears come so frequent, but she's strong in the Lord.

All in all, the week held many miracles, and the presence of God. Thanks again for all the prayers. Please keep them coming as we get through this day. We've got the keys to the church building waiting for us when we get home. We are anxious to get back to normal, with great anticipation for the church as we WILL have our first Sunday in the building this Sunday.

Then my dad wants to come visit us. He couldn't before because of my mom but he asked if maybe we could pull it off in Oct. That means someone having to go down and get him and take him back, and NOT flying standby with him. But he is so excited about it that he was telling everyone. Remember he has immacular degeneration, so he is almost blind. We want him to see God's beauty in Alaska while he still has some sight to do so. So though flying is the last thing I want to think about, I've got to get him up here.

Thanks again, and the next time you'll hear from me I'll be home. YES!!!

My Mom went to be with Jesus this Morning!

My phone rang at 3:45 am and I just knew it wasn't good. I missed the call but saw it was mom and dad and my stomach fell. I called right back without listening to the voicemail and a woman who I thought was the nurse answered and I told her who I was and why I was calling and her response was "we went to get your mom up for the day, and she didn't wake up she went to be with Jesus". Mom 5 years ago was given 6 months to live. She was on hospice for over a year, first while still living in their home with just dad. Then my youngest brother Kelly took them to live with him, and that didn't work. Mom always over medicated herself and dad helped her. When Kelly, with hospice help tried to take control of the medication, they both got angry with him. Their are seven kids in our family and we are all spread out, Oklahoma, Arizona, Southern MN, and then other places throughout MN. The boys live the closest. My oldest brother is very controlling and when mom was first given the 6 months he stepped in and made himself power of attorney and things were a mess. My one sister stepped in and helped mom plan her funeral and get things back in control the way mom and dad wanted them. My youngest brother, who they went to live with became power of attorney and my other brother kind of laid out of it all. I went down to my brother's to meet with hospice (this was before we moved to Alaska) and before we met with hospice I was had basically got mom and dad to agree to live in an assisted living housing. When hospice was there, God took everything out of our hands making a real tough situation (with such a big family that never agrees on anything) easy. Dad got really sick during the night, mom thought he was having a heart attack and gave him heart medicine, while hospice was there dad was vomiting so bad my brother took him to the hospital. The hospital they took him to had a nursing home attached...to make a long story short, hospice got mom into the nursing home while dad stayed in the hospital until a room in the same nursing home opened up. The greatest thing about this nursing home was it was a Christian nursing home. They each at first were in different rooms at different ends of the nursing home. Eventually a bigger room opened up and they moved in together. Dad, is going blind, he has immacular degeneration. He's always been very active and at first all he did was sleep. Eventually the home figured out they had to get him busy and they had him doing all kinds of volunteer work (ie passing out mail, making Friday popcorn, taking care of the patio garden, assisting the maintenance man). Dad's so proud of his volunteer hours. Mom was proud of dad. They had a really different relationship. It actually seemed like a love/hate relationship as they always argued and complained about each other to us. But I tell you, after almost 60 years of marriage lived that way, not a one of us doubted that they loved each other.

Mom was such a strong woman. She loved the Lord with her whole heart. We knew she was always praying for us. They both are members of The Church of God of Prophecy. When I first came to the Church she had a hard time understanding that we could be THE Church as we lived in Utah for so many years and that's what the Mormons believed. Then when she wanted to join the church but had been married before (I have one 1/2 sister) she was devastated thinking she couldn't join...but then found out because her first husband was no longer alive that she could join. But dad wouldn't and my dad, though he yelled a lot, is a very meek man. Mom basically made all the decisions. But when mom took her wedding ring off, dad was so angry...so out of obedience to him, she put it back on. In due time dad went to the assembly with me, and at Fields of the Woods, while I was up on prayer mountain praying for him, this man with his 8th grade education, was down below reading the markers. When I came down he wanted to join immediately. I encouraged him to wait until we got home so mom could be there. My mom use to be very jealous of how close dad and I were (that's another story as to why) and was upset that he came without her (she just got stubborn and said she wasn't going and dad didn't give in). When we got back my dad joined the church. At that time it was one brother, two sisters and their husbands and me that were in the church. As time went on the rest of the family were disfellowshipped (one sister and her husband unjustly) but dad and mom were still in TCGOP. When the disruption took place, they really didn't understand much. And as the years went by and their health and minds kind of deteriorated I didn't even try. Mom loved the Lord. She is the one responsible for my being a Christian today. I don't know how God looks at all that took place with the her and the Church but I know she loved God. I remember her telling me she took one of the nurse's aids into her bathroom and tried to help her pray through to the Holy Ghost. Oh how she was always praying for us kids. She use to not like Jody at all. I'm not sure when it changed but I know she grew to love him. She was never supportive of all the moving we did to pastor, but when we went to Alaska she told me she knew God was in it and though we would be a long way away she knew God would take care of us.

When we were in the Juneau airport on Tuesday, I called her (I usually tried to call once a month, and I visited them in February). She sounded really weak but when I asked her how she was doing she said ok. And we just talked briefly and she seemed to gain strength as we talked so I didn't think anything of it. See mom is a breast cancer survivor, but for years she talked about dieing, but as of late she hasn't. Her last words to me were that she was praying for me but knew that God was taking care of us and she ended with she loved me and was praying for me.

Oh my dad, is going to be soooo lost. If I didn't live so far away we would love to have him come live with us and I know he would want to. And with the girls out of the house it would be perfect, but not so far away. I don't know if he can even just come for a visit. Please pray for him, and for my family. Like I said I don't know how God looks at mom's covenant but I know mom loved the Lord more than life itself...but my family has NEVER been close. I don't know how everything will work out with the funeral. It looks like Jody, Jessa, Joleesa (Joleesa only qualifies until 9/30) and I can fly at no charge all the way to MPLS. thru Northwest. Will have to get Jenna a ticket from Chicago to MPLS. I won't know until I go into work today how many days I have off, but the tentative plan is to leave out tomorrow. Jody gets 4 days off with pay and any time he needs beyond that. The girls probably won't have as much time so they'll have to come down later. The thought of being in airport and flying so soon is not appealing. And my desk at work isn't even caught up from the 7 days I was just gone, but I'll get as much done as I can and they'll have to deal with it.

This has been a week of trials after a fabulous victory, but I do, PTL, feel His love and peace in the heartbreak. What a wonderful way for her to go, just go to sleep and then be with Jesus. But please pray!!!

Disappointed But Not Discouraged!

We can't get into our new building yet as they don't have it finished. They can't get the carpet laid until Monday. I was really looking forward to that but in all honesty with all the busyness of the week and my having to work tomorrow, I felt like there was so much I wanted to get done before we moved in (signs, altar, pictures on the walls, a cross, etc) and I just haven't had the time or energy.

It has felt like Satan has tried to rob me of all the blessings of the assembly by the complications, etc that followed right afterwards. Tonight I was looking through Jenna's pictures and it brought me back there and I really praised the Lord for so many things that took place. I want to highlight the things that meant so much to me.

-First off-spending time with Brother and Sister Williams and the precious ladies at their local church. If ever someone has become family to us it's these two special people.
-Fields of the Woods and the plane flying overhead...it was awesome. I don't think a lot of our young people know the meaning behind it, so it showed me one more part of our heritage that we need to share. Along with that, the feeling that FOW always gives me because it does represent our heritage, no matter what some of tried to do to change it.
-Then I can't remember what night it was, but when we spent time at the altar with Joleesa. Within the last month the enemy has disrupted her life and tried to discourage her as she tried to get closer to God. Our precious Brother Keven Lewis and Chris Clarkson were determined to help her get what she needed. It was great to see her go through to the Holy Ghost, but was even more precious to have our whole family together with her and then others that mean a lot to us to help us to victory.
-Then spending time with Brother Dupre after one of the services at Steak N Shake. We started off reminiscing about when he and his wife came and held revival for us in MN right after the re-organization. Then enjoying the stories of his trips abroad.
-Message by Sharon Morrow, especially her testimony about her dad.
-Song by Sister A. Cox, "I Still Believe In The Church"
-Brother Hawkins and the testimony and slides of the African overseers. I really loved that time. It actually took us there. When I saw the water baptisms in that dirty water, I thought of the people that have told us they would only be baptised in a pool...Lord help us to not be so spoiled. I loved hearing them singing.
-Sister Maudy Woods and the "chains". So many chains that try to bind us.
-The Spanish overseers and their singing. It is something how you don't understand a word but oh how the Spirit ministers.
-The Parade of Nations...the moving of the Holy Ghost, the flag waving, Brother Castro holding the Church flag. When Brother Anders knelt praying with him, I thought "this is our spiritual Iwo Jima".
-The VLB march and program. I always love the march whether I'm in it or watching it. The preaching was so pointed and timely and then to see the altar flood with youth. I wanted to pray with one of our youth but I couldn't get up there to. I actually wished I was a man that I could climb over the seats as I saw several do. Also, praying with Sister Sharon Griffin's nephew for sanctification and the Holy Ghost. My throat was so soar, and I was coughing so but she called me up there, I didn't know what she was wanting but it's amazing how when I was praying God held off the cough. Anyway, seeing her sisters and mother so desiring Cody to get what God had for him and see Sister Sharon getting so blessed was awesome. Also, watching Brother Ryan Peter working with altar with his little daughter on his shoulder. I so praise the Lord for the young couples that aren't allowing their children to hold them back but are taking them right there with them. What a great way to begin their lives.

Take the time to browse through Jenna's pictures and allow them to take you back there; www.photographybyjenna.myphotoalbum.com.

Everyone have a great weekend.

We're Home!!!

50+ hours from the time we left Cleveland we finally made it home. I want nothing to do with airports for a good long time. We finally got on a flight last night at about 7:30 pm and flew to Juneau AK and then after a 3 1/2 hour weather delay we were finally on our way to Anchorage. If we hadn't taken the Juneau flight we wouldn't have gotten out of Seattle until tonight. Our first trip to Alaska came back to me, and I suggested we check out Juneau and we made it on because some 5 individuals missed their connecting flight. Their pain became our relief. Juneau was a quiet relief from the busy Seattle airport. I've only been their the one other time, and as before just from the airport to a hotel. This time the hotel was the Best Western, but one of the nicest Best Western's I've ever been in. Queen size, comfortable beds, stove, refrigerator, microwave, small dining area (as if we needed all that). Just a really nice suite. They reduced the price considerably but everything in Juneau is expensive. But bottom line it just felt so goood to have "quiet". Even the 5 hours at the Juneau airport was actually a relaxing time. We got home a little after 2 pm, I got changed and headed right to work and worked until 8 pm. I now have to work Saturday as to make up for Monday. Ugh!!! But they were good to work with me. My boss's boss is still stuck in Dutch Harbor which is not far from the Aleution Chain where the volcanoes erupted.

During all this (both coming and going) I had a couple of times that I had melt downs. I just felt at my limit. Jessa was great as she tried to figure out the routes to go. She truly had a lot of stress on her as she was the one with the knowledge, but so much became judgement calls and all she did great. With me, I couldn't figure out "why" Jody and Joleesa made it home and they didn't have to be at work and those of us who did, didn't make it home. Just before the assembly I had a big question of "why" for God regarding some things. The assembly was great, with great victories but the question of "Why" still hung in my mind and then again regarding this flying experience. I don't how many times God reminded me, "His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts my thoughts". But God takes care of us. He answered a major prayer for me at the assembly and I am so thankful.

Though I am drained physically, my spirit is still rejoicing. We are so excited about getting into our building this weekend. Brother Nowling hopefully will pick up the key tomorrow. We're going to take our piano over, so we'll have to find a moving truck, ramp or something. I'm not sure how will get it all together but it'll be soooooo awesome to be in our own, bigger space.

Well I think I'm going to bed early tonight.

Trip Back from Assembly

3 hour delay in Chattanooga for Jessa and I due to leak in the brake line, sent plane with just us and the crew as they needed the plane in Chicago to go to Jacksonville. Got on in Chicago to Seattle, no problem. Stuck in Seattle for who knows how long as ALL flights are cancelled going into Anchorage due to a Volcano erruption in the Aluetion Chain; wind blowing ashes. Jenna just arrived. Jody and Joleesa some place over Canada. Last word we had was Anchorage wasn't allowing ANY flights in; don't know what will happen with them. Please pray, our jobs are effected as well as my pocket books.

It was cool to sit at the airport and be able to watch the assembly. Caught most of Sister Wilson's, missed the ending because of loading the plane. Caught Brother Chris Clarkson's and the appointments. Just as the appointments finished we had to board. The assembly was great. My Spirit is refreshed, but my body is tired and sick. The first flight my ears hurt so bad I cried. This last flight my ears are so plugged I can't hear....

I called my boss and his boss is actually IN the Aleution Islands over the weekend. He wasn't too happy about my not being there tomorrow but understood it was out of my control...gotta love flying.

I'm going to go meet Jenna in the baggage claim, and go to our expensive Day's Inn room (I'm sure businesses will take advantage of this).

Made It

Well Jessa, Joleesa and I made it into Charlotte at about 9 pm on Saturday. About 24 hours after we left Alaska. Yes, you did hear right, Joleesa too. Circumstances made it that she was able to go (she needs our prayers) so we are thrilled that our whole family will be at the assembly. We left Anchorat at 9:45 pm Friday flying standby on Alaska Airlines. We all 3 sat together on a exit row so it wasn't too bad. Joleesa had shed a lot of tears and was pretty exhausted so our "baby" took turns laying on Jessa and I and at one time was pretty much stretched out between us. Pulled into Chicago about 6:30 am Chicago time and headed for US Airways. I don''t think we'll do US Airways again. We had purchased standby tickets so we knew we'd have a wait but nothing like we had...and their customer service STINK. When one flight was full they were to rollover all the standbys to the next flight. We found out we always had to check as it turned out twice they never rolled us over, and twice they rolled over Joleesa and Jessa but not be. The last time was the last flight of the day. Things were looking really discouraging as the "overbooked" flights were bumping people to the next, and the next, etc. We originally were told the 3:55 flight looked promising then the announcement comes for voluteers as they're overbooked...didn't make that flight. I didn't have my computer as it was at Best Buy getting worked on (Brother Nowling picked it up Friday night) so I called Jenna to check to see what it may cost me if we had to buy 3 one way tickets as we were told Sunday didn't look good either. It was going to be over $1200 (plus the hotel room that night as nothing left out until the morning). I called Jody and he just kept saying, we don't have the money...bottom line we we're going to wait until the last flight and if we didn't get on, there'd be no other choice. Then Joleesa and Jessa are called; Jessa goes running up telling the guy that there's 3 of us, showing him the 3 tickets that she had gotten for that flight. Some how I wasn't showing up...but he got me on. The last seat available, last flight of the day, AND the last seat in the plane (the very back row). I called Williams and they said they had just gotten off their knees from praying for us as they knew we were exhausted after 12 hours in the airport and flying all night. Called Jenna and she said she too had just got done praying, Jessa says she went off to the restroom, it wasn't for the usual reason, she went off to pray. I was praying but felt the responsibility to find another just in case...that's not faith, I know. Anyway, Williams were waiting for us. I tried to get a car, so they wouldn't have to take their van (which isn't running the best) but it was going to be $163 per day as we were dropping it off in another state. We decided to figure things out Sunday (which no matter how we did it was going to cost us about that). We then headed to Olive Garden as we were all saying soup sounded good to us after the expensive airport junk food. We headed to the Williams and BED. Sunday was a great day. The Kings Mountain ladies are precious, small in number,but BIG in Spirit. We had a good SS and morning service. We then at Gondolas and came back to the house and everyone napped except me. I studied first (as I was preaching Sunday night) and then I couldn't shut my brain off to sleep, but I rested. We had a great service Sunday night. This small group knows how to worship. I felt the annointing when preaching and I was blessed abundantly and I think they were too.

When we got back to the house we worked with Brother Nowling in getting on his flight. We were really nervous as all flights out of Anchorage was looking booked, but due to Jessa's inside allies...and the hand of God, they got him on an overbooked flight. He was in a middle seat, which he dispises and said he was a "clam" after the storms they flew through and being the "big guy" in the middle seat, and his anxiety regarding flying, I'm sure he WAS a clam. BUT he got to American Eagle's gate where he was flying standby and they assigned him his seat right away. So all looks well there (as long as they don't cancel his flight because of it not being full).

So now the Williams and us will leave out in their van (car rental was just to high and his mechanic said he felt they would be alright, and if anything happened, he would come get them) , so if we could have your prayers of safety of their van. Brother Nowling should actually beat us to Cleveland so he'll be able to get some rest and then we'll have the evening to fellowship together. Jenna leaves out this afternoon, flying standby only to Seattle (which shouldn't be a problem) and then has a secure flight to Chattanooga getting in at 8:30 am tomorrow morning, so we'll be picking her up and heading to Fields of the Woods, the Nowling family together again. PTL!!!

I'm so grateful that we're all able to be at the assembly. I need to some how get some rest (I didn't sleep well last night, thinking about Brother Nowling). Has anyone found the on/off switch to their brain, if so enlighten me...because it's keeping me up at night.

Those of you that are travelling, safe travels. To our precious children at our house (Josh and Jackie Grant, take care of house, enjoy yourselves and be ready for great things to happen when we get home).