Mt Redoubt Volcano

First let me thank you for your prayers. Both Brother Nowling and I are feeling much better. I slept real sound last night and it felt good.

Now for my title. Mt Redoubt is a volcano that has been having a lot of rumblings and the snow is all melted on top of it. Seismologist are saying that they expect to erupt within days. Mt Redoubt is only 103 miles from Anchorage on the Cook Inlet. The last time it erupted was 1990 and much damage was caused and lives even lost. The ashes from the volcano is supposedly like glass. People are encouraged to have goggles and masks on hand. They are saying we are to be prepared to cover all vents and if driving to immediately when it takes place to immediately to turn off your car. I'm not one to easily be scared. I have had tornado sirens go off and tornadoes hit around us and not really been afraid. I don't know why this has me really concerned. I think maybe it's because it's something I'm not familiar with, have not been around and haven't talked to anyone who does. So do I go out and buy the supplies that they are telling us too. Home Depot sold 100s of the masks. The military gave them out to Heather and Jeremy. So I really think I need to take this serious. I at first told Jody not to get worked up over it and his comment was "I don't want to be caught with my pants down". I do think maybe God would want us to use wisdom and be prepared. No matter how prepared we are we still need God's protection. Another thing that bothers me is whenever I have thought of a volcano I have thought of the scripture "that hell is enlarging herself". It's really an erie thought. Please do pray for us and all of Alaska.

Tis The Season

for colds. Brother Nowling is down sick with bad head cold, stuffed up head, and cough. Me...the pain behind my eyes is so bad I just want to keep my eyes closed.

It's already be a long week. Two more people quit this week. I've got this deep feeling that I'm suppose to take the job with Mr. Wong. He'll be here in February and I'll be talking to him some more. Please continue to pray.

Just an Another Weekend

This weekend was just another weekend. We did start out with having breakfast with Josh and Jackie, which we really enjoyed. We don't seem them very often as they both are putting in a lot of hours at work and then they went to Hawaii for their vacation. She invited us to to go for breakfast and I jumped at the chance as I really miss having them around. Though she probably didn't think I remembered, it was her birthday so I was glad I got to share a little bit of the day with her.

Then I went shopping with Joleesa as she needed some new work clothes. She had been living in one pair of khakis and she asked me to go. I didn't get anything special for myself. Oh I take that back I found fleece Winnie the Pooh and Tigger sweatshirts buy one get one free ($5 each).

We then came home some of the youth gathered at Tim and Larry's for games and movies. I stayed back to work on the bulletin and finish studying my SS. Joleesa had a friend and her 7 month old baby boy Cameron over. He is such a doll. They stayed the night and went to SS and church with her. We also had Tim's uncle there so we had 3 visitors. It would be great if we could just get our own members out. Several were missing and we don't why. It's frustrating that they don't have the courtesy to even call. Ugh! Oh to just have them all there at once. I could say a lot more here but I better leave it alone.

I need to get on to work but have you ever wonder what inspired some of our hymns? While I was googling graphics for our bulletin I came across the inspiration for one of my favorite hymns "Precious Lord, Take My Hand". Here's the link and bring a box of Kleenexes. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http: //my.homewithgod.com/kylady4/miptop.jpg&imgrefurl=http://my.homewithgod.com/kylady4/PreciousLordtakemyhand.html&usg=__qfp8A2Y9hXkNTtvFOBSgVt77Aec=&h=397&w=327&sz=24&hl=en&start=1&sig2=K6MhTNx02G_jRY23M8R77Q&um=1&tbnid=qMCYdEVqH0BrnM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=102&ei=wOV9Se74MYyYsQP2mrUY&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtake%2Bmy%2Bhand%2Bprecious%2Blord%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1W1GGLL_en%26sa%3DN

Oh please pray for me regarding my job. Things are changing majorly again and Mr. Wong has come back and made another offer to me (this is the 7th time he's contacted me). I met with his son on Thursday and I'm seriously considering it...a lot depends on this week. Fortunately he's not in a hurry, so I'm really wanting to pray this through.

He's Home - Check out His Pictures

Brother Nowling's home and he wanted me to post a great big THANK YOU to all those that welcomed him to Colorado. He felt so blessed and appreciated the love and fellowship beyond measure. I know too many of the men look at these blogs but the wives do so if you'd pass on his thanks, though it's not just the men he's thanking. He enjoyed spending time with the different families and he loves the children. He keeps talking about them. To all of you who played a part of his time in Colorado he says God bless you and thanks for the blessings, and memories.

Here's some of the pictures that he (and apparently others for him) took. I got him this Nikon for Christmas so he would have a simple point and shoot camera to use in Colorado. Jenna said it was as easy or easier to use then the Canon. But he had problem. The on/off button was too close to the button that you push to shoot. So he'd go to take a picture and the camera would go off. So funny. Then he couldn't figure out how to get a picture when anybody has any movement as it would blur. So maybe we'll have to teach this 50 year old some things. Any way I am glad he's home.

Here's some pictures...by the way, I love the retreat center that they had it at. That's what a "retreat" should have. Some very good looking families wouldn't you say? My ulitmate favorite one is the one of Brother Nowling and Brother Keven...I would say it looks like father and son but how old are you Keven? They do look so much a like. The Lewis family will be forever special to our family.

New Post

I know, such an original title. What can I say. Not a lot happening around here. It seems like Brother Nowling's been gone forever. It's funny, with our jobs some weeks we really don't see much of each or talk to each other, but just knowing I CAN'T see and he's 1000 miles away just makes me really miss him. He's having a great time. He's at Keven Lewis' right now and I guess Cathy and Daniel have been over there. You gotta understand something, he pastored these two when they were around 13 and 14 years old. He is just loving being there. Cathy, I want to know your secret, how did you get him to play a game? And don't you know you've got to let him win other wise I'll never get him to play. Him, Jessa and Joleesa don't care to play games (Jessa and Joleesa will once in awhile but not often) and I can beg, plead and even try to bribe Brother Nowling and he still won't play. It was so cute, he was texting me and telling me he was playing sequence. His next text was HELP! and then it was "I quit", and then it was "I just burped real loud". I told him to tell them I didn't know him and his response was, "they told me to make myself at home". Ugh! Why does it have to mean that. Next text was "it's movie time with the kids". When I asked what movie, he said "Kung fu Panda". We have that movie and he's watched tons but he loves it and he was in heaven having little kids to watch it with.

He said they've been having some great revival services too. I guess tonight (and at men's retreat) Keven and I think Dustin Hayes did a special "Shut the Door, keep out the Devil", Keven and his brothers had done that when they were kids and we were pastoring so this thrilled him. I think tomorrow night he'll be preaching at Brother Jonathon Smith's church. Then he heads home Friday. The Denver to Seattle flight isn't a problem, but please pray that he makes a Seattle to Anchorage flight. Several of them are overbooked.

As far as my life. Mr. Wong, the man that has been after me to come work for him since before we moved has called me again with a different offer. I met with him last week and tomorrow I meet with his son. This is the 7th time he's contacted me. I don't know why he's so sold on me. I really hate starting a new job but things have changed so much at the newspaper and actually I feel like I have regressed instead progressed in my position. I did talk to one of the managers and let her know about my job offer. I told her I'm not wanting to play one company against the other but I wanted to know what options they may give me. She spoke to the publisher for me and he's suppose to be thinking through some options and then meeting with me. I just can't imagine what the Lord has in mind for me with this, but I'm not going to move quickly as I want to be sure I make the right decision.

Tonight I taught Bible study. I really enjoyed it, and I hope others did. I did it on "tests". I actually found a test (quiz) on accidents in the Bible. After we took the test, which we first did without looking anything up, and then I allowed open book. From there I went into the study on Spiritual Tests. The types of tests, purposes, etc of them. We were missing some members but we had a better turn out then what I expected.

Last night I didn't sleep well. I had a concern that was weighing on my mind and I went to bed praying for someone in particular. I woke up dozens of times throughout the night and every time I had a song right there in my head...do you think I could think of what that song is now, of course not. But I'm not kidding, the same line of this song kept going over in my head. At least seeing as I couldn't sleep it wasn't because of a bad dream, but it really was do to this song. Having said that, my head hurts and my eyes are burning I'm so tired. So goodnight!

Beautiful Weather

I've done so much complaining about the weather I thought I better do a quick post and let everyone know it was a gorgeous day today. I don't know what the high was but it had to be close to 50. The sun was out. We went to a wedding show at the new Denina Center and it has a beautiful view of the skyline and mountains. On top of that one of Jenna's former co-workers were there with her 10 week old baby girl. What a doll and great baby she is. I held her the most the time. Once she fell asleep I finally put in the stroller as it doesn't matter how tiny a little one is after awhile your arm still feels the affect. It was so great. Some day :o). I did have to keep telling people she wasn't Jessa's. It's a sad thing how common that is.

Gotta head out to our youth activity. Remember me in your prayers tomorrow as I'm preaching while Brother Nowling is gone.

49 degrees above zero and schools are closed

How wierd. States that are usually warm are getting our below zero weather. We are really at 49 degrees above zero, but we have gusting winds of 50 miles phr and more and the combination is taking our raining and melting snow and making it treacherous out there. I'm afraid to see what our driveway is like. It was horrible last night and I dumped kitty litter up and down it. I was going to get put salt down this morning but I don't if I can or should considering how winding it is.

All you that are having the unnatural cold, don't envy our warmth as they are warning everyone to stay off the roads and such because of how dangerous it is. Though we are kind of warm in the house (the winds don't make it seem so) we haven't been able to enjoy the warmth. I'll be praying for you as you pray for me.

Oh no, I just heard our garbage can take off again. Ugh! Brother Nowling sure knew when to get out of Dodge (grin).

37 degrees in January in Alaska

The weather all over the United States is so crazy these days. We are basically experiencing a spring thaw, high winds, a ice laden roads, drive ways and parking lots. It's unreal. Sister Tammy, sorry about sending the cold weather your way, but the little bit of warmth here has been great! Our driveway was so icy I couldn't get up, so I had to park on the street and then brave walking up the drive way. Our driveway is on an incline so I was slipping and was so afraid I would fall. Joleesa was home so I called her cell to come help me...she didn't answer. I get in the house and I understand why, her cell is in the living room, she's in her bedroom and her stereo (bass in particular) is so loud she couldn't hear me yelling for her. UGH!

One of the sad things about the thaw, is the melting ice sculptures. Downtown center park artists spend hours and hours even in the bitter cold sculpting beautiful things from horses, to eskimos (I don't know what all this year as I haven't seen them this year yet)and they are melting. They had a "freeze" sculpting out at the air strip downtown also, and they are melting. These are gorgeous in the day light but I love them at night with lights shining through them.

Brother Nowling made it to Denver. Overbooked flights and him and Brother Tim still got on each flight. He's exhausted because he worked all night Wednesday night, caught the first flight from Anchorage to Seattle at 9ish, waited several hours in Seattle and then caught the Seattle to Denver flight about 6ish. So he had several hours in the airport, but when I talked to him about 15 minutes ago he was waiting for Jonathon Smith to circle around to pick them up. They'll be staying with him as he's closest to the airport I guess. Some time tomorrow they'll head off to men's retreat. Please remember him in your prayers. He so wants God to just annoint him and use him for His glory. He for so long has felt committed to his local church and didn't feel led to preach revivals when asked, but this time he is so certain that God wanted him to go. Now he just wants to get out of the way and let him have His way. Along with that, he needs to have some great fellowship and laughs.

Snow, Freezer, Hoar Frost, Melting, Freezing Rain

I wanted warmer weather and that we got. The high actually got to 37 degrees. That means major melting, freezing rain and the streets and parking lots were ice rinks. Brother Nowling sat on Spenard for two solid hours due to a city bus not being able to get traction (he called me very frustrated complaining that he was right next McDonalds but he couldn't even get over to go in and get coffe ~ funny and sad both). Eventually the city buses were all called off the streets. The Glen Hwy was closed, as were the schools, the military bases, the college and I guess this is the first time since 2006. It took me 20 minutes to go 1 mile, and took me almost as long to walk the Alaska duck walk through the parking at work. Pretty much everyone showed up to work and the publisher, who this is his first winter in Alaska (although he's from Wisconsin, he knows my former publisher), was really surprised. So we wouldn't have to go out to lunch and as thanks for everyone braving the roads he ordered pizza for all of ADN. About 50 pizza. He got them from two different pizza places in two different shifts. It was good. We did cancel church tonight as now the temperatures are dropping and the winds are picking up.

Pray for Brother Nowling as he and Tim Osborne leave out for Colorado tomorrow. First that he can get on a flight, as that they were looking pretty full and then second with all the strange weather going on everywhere, that they have a safe and smooth flight as he really doesn't like to fly.

18 degrees above zero...

And it feels like spring. Well not quite. But it is nice to be out of the freezer. Regarding the smell in the house. It is so weird...it comes and goes. Some times it's so strong and then there are times we don't smell it at all.

In other news, we (being myself, and 8 of the young people) surprised Brother Nowling with a little surprise party. I had text everyone Saturday telling asking them to plan on going out after service to Village Inn (Brother Nowling's favorite restaurant as he likes the coffee). I asked them to bring cards and if they did get gifts, make them funny as after all he needs to know he can still have fun at 50. They did great. First off it was easy to make it a surprise as it wasn't unusual to go out after service, although it had been several weeks since we all did it. The only unusual part was no discussion as to where to go (we would some times be tired of Village Inn). Any way the cards were presented and they were hilarious. Then Micah and Megan got him and old person's survival kit (Raisin Bran, prunes, post-it-notes, a whistle, play money, rubber bands and I too close to 50, I can't remember the rest). He loved it. Then the girls I got him a new cell phone. A Leap frog one in an AT&T bag. He wanted a specific blue tooth ear piece and when he saw the AT&T bag he was so excited and he looked inside and what a sport, he didn't show a single sign of disappoint but cracked up laughing. But because I'm not that mean I then pulled out the real gift, his blue tooth ear piece. The girls and I went in together on it. I brought a DQ cake and gave it to the manager when I first came in (he went to the restroom making it so easy) so on my signal the waitress brought it and the manager brought out some chilled plates. All it went well. To top it off he had declared when we left the church that he wanted to leave by 10 pm and that we did.

We've got a great bunch. Oh and another neat thing. On February 7Th we would usually have our monthly Bible Study but we're having an Alaska USA financial advisor come in teach a class on finances. Getting out of debt, establishing good credit, fixing bad credit, and savings. Alaska USA is one of my advertising accounts and I met with the marketing director a couple of weeks ago and I was joking about needing an ATM machine at the church so our young people had money for the offerings and some how it led to the fact that they do these classes for all ages, all types of groups at no charge. So it's set. I hope to have more than just our people come. With the economy in the state it is in, the businesses that are prospering are your credit counselors. So this is very timely and I'm very excited.

Still Waiting for the thaw!

Every day this week it has still been below zero. My week didn't have much excitement in it. We dealt with cold, my car struggling to start. We finally had Jessa's car towed and though it was several different things wrong (which I can't even begin to remember them all), some of them were do to the cold and unfortunately it cost her quite a bit. This weekend it was suppose to warm, which supposedly it got up to zero. A warm spell~yippee. By next weekend it's suppose to get into the 20's. I hope so as Brother Nowling leaves for Colorado on Thursday, get this, he's leaving on his 50th birthday (anyone from Colorado that reads this, raz him big time about hitting the big 50 AND be as old as Alaska has been a state ~ January 3rd was Alaska's statehood anniversary). Back to the weather, I really don't want to have to deal with the cold while he's gone. He'll be gone for about 8 days, preaching at men's retreat, preaching a couple of nights at Brother Keven's church and I'm not sure what else.

The only other excitement this week for me happened today. I finally filed for my passport. We'd gone to get before the holidays and the lines were sooooo long as we have to go to the post office, so we just picked up the paper work. We went to breakfast this morning and then headed over the PO but they only do passports from 3 pm - 8 pm. The guy said to expect a long line and he was right. We went to Costco to get my picture (good thing as we didn't see them doing any pictures)then we went over at 3:10 and waited in line for 1 1/2 hours but it was interesting to talking to the people in the line. But any way, I should have my passport in about 4 weeks. Sister Sharon got quotes for flights, we'll be meeting up in Detroit and then flying on together to the UK. Her quote from Anchorage to England is $1500. About what we figured. I am hoping to fly to Chicago on a positive space pass that Jody got for Christmas from the airlines so Sister Sharon is going to get me a quote from Chicago. It'll be interesting what the difference will be.

Oh I guess there was another interesting thing in my week, the man that we rent the building from, that has been after me to come work for him since before we moved here, called me again. I met him for lunch and this time it's sounding more interesting. I would be the general manager of his business. Basically the liaison between him and his businesses. Being involved with the chamber, tourism committee, etc here and do his marketing. He bought the historic experience theatre downtown last year so he is really wants to have someone be more involved in the community for him. I asked him to send me a job description and salary, and that I wanted to meet and speak with his son who is partner with him in the business. They both live in Hawaii. He just hasn't given up on my coming to work for him. I just keep asking God to show me. Things have changed considerably at the newspaper. My commissions have been cut to 1/5 of what they were...so I'm open now more than I was before. Oh I did tell him I would need to have a guarantee that I could have 22 days off with pay for going to England, camp, Jessa's wedding, IYC and the assembly. He sounded like he would work with me on that...so we'll see.

Hey has anyone ever had a smell in your house that you can't figure out what or where it's coming from? A week or so ago we had halibut for dinner. There was some that leftovers that didn't get used that we found when cleaning out the fridge. It wasn't much so it got put down the garbage disposal and the wrapping thrown in the garbage outside. We smelled it that initial day but then it went away, Brother Nowling put Dawn soap down the disposal and all. We've mopped, scrubbed down counters with bleach and it still smells. You walk into the house and it hits you. We've all walked though the house trying to figure where it gets stronger and we can't identify it. I've stuck my nose in the disposal, the garbage, the fridge, the freezer, bags of potatoes, everywhere and some of the others have too (not to the extent I have ~ they are smarter than men) but we can't find it. I put orange peels down the disposal. We've washed out the garbage can and the cupboard that it sits in. It is so frustrating and sickening!!!!

Well I need to start putting the Christmas stuff away. Yeah it's pathetic that's it's still up, but it's been just too cold to get the containers out of our storage, but it'll be nice to have my living room back.

I Did!

When we first arrived in Alaska Micah Peter put together this picture for my blog. I changed it at Christmas time and never went back to it. I've wondered about it for some time and then Brother Nowling had his lap top out one day (he doesn't use it very often as it is soooooooo slow). I decided to see if I could find this awesome background that he put so much time in for me. I found it but I had no idea how to do anything with it. I asked Jenna about making it my background. She looked at it briefly but since blogger has changed since then she said it would take some time to figure it out. Well tonight I was determined to figure out how I could use some how. It took me a couple of tries as he actually had two formats and I wasn't sure which one to use and then I had to figure out how to make it work and I did it AND I DID IT ALL BY MYSELF.

I love these pictures as they are pictures we had taken when we first got to Alaska and they truly represent my title..."This Is My Father's World".

Great Worship!

I am so proud of our people. Here it was -15 or so and anyone that wasn't working this morning was out. You may say well they've lived in Alaska longer than we have...but not so. We have Jeremy, Heather and Jackie who all came after we did. It was chilly in the church (and the restrooms were bone cold)but only a couple really complained. Not to say comments weren't made but not really as complaints. I felt so bad for Tim, Heather, Jeremy and Larry. The main door is locked after 6 pm and on weekends. We have to prop it open so people can get in (that is really the only complaint we have about our location). We use to use rocks but the snow had buried all our rocks. We have tried all kinds of things. With it being so cold we didn't want it open letting in cold air, we just needed it so it didn't shut tight, so most recently we have been using a plastic fork, which has worked most the time (although last Wednesday Jenna got locked out). Anyway, Brother Tim and text Brother Nowling that he was running late. We appreciated that he let us know. But then Brother Nowling received a call during SS from Tim, my phone is in my purse out in the sanctuary by Brother Nowling during SS and Brother Nowling called out to me and told me that my phone had been going off several times, so I went to check it and Tim had called and text me "If somebody would let me know I'd appreciate it, thanks". It didn't make sense so Brother Nowling said one of us would call him after SS. I go back to class and Micah's phone goes off and he says it's Tim so I told him to answer it. He was locked out. I felt absolutely horrible and I felt even worse when in walks Jeremy, Heather and Lily with him. Ugh! We have got to figure something out for that door. Larry left SS for a little bit and he wound up getting locked out. Was the enemy working or what. All in all we still had a good service.

The afternoon brought hot beef over potatoes, a power nap, Rummikub with Matthew and Jenna (which once again I didn't win even one game) and then we headed to the Dairy Queen before going to Church. Yeah, I've been complaining about being cold, but I've been craving ice cream and I had a coupon for a buy one get one free blizzard. So we went to DQ and I got the chocolate cherry blizzard and I ate the whole thing and I wasn't any more cold then before.

Then servie was great. Every one of our young people were out. With everyone's work schedule it has been a loooooong time since they've all been out. Here we have the coldest day of the year and they ALL were there as well as Matthew Peter (oh Jacob Grant wasn't there but he was in Bethel with his dad). We had an awesome worship service. The spirit was so precious in the place. As almost everyone worshipped. We sang Amazing Grace, My chains are Gone and that's when I really felt the "bonds" fall. Then Brother Nowling preached about King Agrippa and Paul. It was great how the Lord put it all together.

We still need you to pray for a break in this cold. Jessa's car hasn't started. Brother Nowling and Matthew have tried all kinds of things. Right now her battery is sitting in our sink. We need it warm up so her car can thaw out. I'll take even zero degrees.

Enough is Enough!

I am tired of freezing. We have been below zero for I don't know how many days...too many for me. Yesterday the sun was shining and it looked like a beautiful winter day but it never got above zero.At 10 am today it was still -20 degrees. The HIGH is suppose to be -15. UGH! You can't function. Jessa and Jenna's water pipes are frozen, my car will only start if plugged in, we have to wrap ourselves in blankets if we're in the living room, our bedrooms are really warm but I don't want to stay in there forever. I can't even take my Christmas stuff down as everything is stored in our cold storage...which it's too cold to even open that door.
I've lived in cold weather climate pretty much all my life and I know this is Alaska but enough is enough!

I want to get away and do something. But where and what? Brother Nowling leaves for Colorado on the 15th of January to be the evangelist for their men's retreat and then do some preaching there. I am so happy he is getting this opportunity. I would go with him, but I was figuring out yesterday how many days off I need for everything this year. I think it's about 22. I need to go see my dad, which I'm going in February for a quick 3 day trip using my diversity day off. Then in April I need 9 days off for England. Three days off for camp followed by 2 days off for Jessa's wedding. Then 9 days for IYC and the assembly. I get 3 weeks vacation but I earn so many hours per month and you don't get to use it until you earn it. But I also get a wellness day for every 6 months I go without taking a sick day. All of that has helped. I think I have won a contest in December where the winner chooses whatever they want of value of $250. If I have won, I'm going to ask for two vacation days, which I can't imagine would be a problem. All in all though I still need to make sure I have the hours when I need them. So that is why I can't go with him.

Well, now that I'm done whining...I need to get some stuff done around the house.

A Little Late!

Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com

God bless friends and family across the world in 2009!