Sore in Body but so grateful to Many

Just a quick post. With Micah, Megan, Tim, Matthew, Joleesa's boyfriend Dallas and the girls everything was over to the new house last night. Furniture is put in place, kitchen put together (thanks to Megan; I marked the cupboards on Wednesday night and she unpacked things on Thursday while I was at work). The garage is full of boxes. We still have a lot to do, but the place is amazing. Several are at the duplex and cleaning there.

The young people have been determined to help us get it all done. We are so grateful to them all.

Please pray for Brother Nowling and I though. Our bodies hurt so bad but we have to keep going. Yesterday I had to move my desk, file cabinets, etc at work from the 2nd floor to the first. My co-worker was great and did alot of it. But after all the packing and moving I came in tired and hurting. I have rheumatoid arthritis in my lower back, and the bending and lifting has it just on fire. Then I came to the duplex after work and Brother Nowling was sitting amongst all kinds of heavy stuff in the living room that he had moved by himself. He was saying we still had so much to do, I wrapped my arms around him and he started crying saying he hurt so bad (especially his knee that he hurt in a car accident years ago and continues to have problems with). When Micah got there I asked him to help to insist that he not do the heavy stuff and of course he said he would but no matter what Micah said, until the other guys got there, he was right in there. Eventually he just had no more in him and he sat on the couch and let the guys finish. They were great.

Now today he's over cleaning while I've been trying to put stuff together here. I've got a couple more things I'm going to do here and then I'm going to see what they need. Please pray for our bodies.....

Got the keys and met the owner

Well tonight Brother Nowling went and picked up the keys. So when I got home after grabbing a quick bite to eat Jenna, Joleesa and I headed over the house to walk through it again. And the owner was there. He is a nut and very nice nut at that. He showed us all kids of things. Told us to make it our home. Told us different things we could change if we wanted to. He also said they've got someone coming either once a week or every other week (he couldn't remember because his wife made the arrangements) coming do the yard. How cool is that. That was one of Brother Nowling's concerns. He told me about the neighbors. Gave me his and his wive's cell numbers and email so if we wanted to get approval on something from them we could and then he would contact the management company to do it...he kept naming things that he hadn't done when they lived there but he was more than willing to do it now as it would be a tax write off. They're actually moving to Australia as he is Army Intelligence and has been assigned for 3-5 years in Australia which works out great as his wife is from Australia. He did kind of give me a scare as he started off our conversation saying something about "when we come back in a year". He must have saw my face and said he was joking that it would it be at least 3 years but most likely 5 years. The thought of moving in even 3-5 years is like YUCK! But who knows what the Lord will have for us by that time.

It's amazing though as you really walk through knowing it's yours it's like "where is this going to go?" The bedroom that is the master bedroom was a room they never finished, as far as painting that is. So hopefully tomorrow night after the church Jenna and Joleesa (and maybe a couple of the other youth0 will go over after church and do a quick paint job. Nothing fancy, just clean. I would really like a peach colored room but we don't have the time to tape off everything so white it'll be. But it's kind of a dark room so probably for the best.

Well go to Jenna's blog for a video clip that crazy Joleesa took of the place. I'm headed to do some stuff in my room and then go to bed. I may or may not post again before moving in.

Busy as a Bee

I just keep flitting from one thing to the next. I got the State church books done for convention so all I have to do is drop in the May numbers. Ordered more checks for the church, only to have the bank cancel the order due to I had them coming to my place instead of the overseer's, even though I was told that was ok. Ugh...so placed the order again to be delivered to the overseer's home.

Camp - grocery list, schedule done and printed, went through the camp totes to see what was left over from last year that can still be used, found the folders and notebooks, got the crafts from Oriental Trading (got love Oriental Trading, even got pencils with special print on them). Tomorrow morning I'll go get the rest of the things that I need for the banquet, pick up the rest of the notebooks from Jackie, and get them put together.

Moving-is going well. I'll be packing the pots and pans, serving bowls and food cupboards tomorrow. I got the electric and heat scheduled to start the 28th at our new place and turn off on the 1st at the duplex. I couldn't get cable and Internet scheduled because the current owners has put their disconnection in. Oh and get this, we weren't going to get a land phone because only telemarketers use it, but IF we don't get the package that includes a land line we actually will pay $30 more per month AND we won't be able to have unlimited usage. Ugh! They get you any way they can. I now need to do a change of address. Post office said if done on line it'll be effective immediately but will cost $1 (ridiculous) otherwise it takes 7 days. So I got do that and rent the U-haul trailer tomorrow.

Jackie came over tonight and Josh and I helped her transplant my indoor plants. I had purchased some from work as they will be leasing out the 2nd floor so they got rid of all their plants. I purchased 4 and two of them were small leaf philodendrons that had vined together. All of them needed re potted and that's her speciality so we got them all done. The two tangled plants were placed together in one big pot as they were so tangled and it makes for one huge, beautiful plant.

Tomorrow night Brother Nowling and I will be going to the BBQ for Jenna's friend who's wedding she is in and we'll be going to the wedding on Sunday.

Monday I will be doing my camp shopping. Yippee, Memorial Day celebration. I'll probably be doing it by myself as I don't want to take anyone from their day's plans. I'm going to store the stuff at the church and in Jessa's freezer so I don't have to move it to our new house.

The wedding has had some great strides. I was stressing over the need for kitchen help when I realized there are ladies that I work with that would probably do it. It was so awesome as one even started to cry, honored that she was asked and the other ones hugged me and said tell me where, when, what you want me to wear and what you want be bring and what you want me to do and then don't give it another thought as she hugged me. Now that's the way I remember weddings being, a display of recognizing that it's an honor to be in a wedding. It's been awesome. Then Jenna worked things out for the three girls and I to have hair done at 8:30 am on the wedding day. They salon will be all ours as they are not opened to the public. They have promised that we will be pampered and I tell you we will need that. Also, we have a back up plan in place for some things that are uncertain at the moment. Lastly, my dad, brother and nephew have their standby tickets bought. Brother Nowling got all the time he needs as to fly to Mpls to get his mom and bring her up. She'll be staying for several weeks and will even be coming to camp.

I have to get my VLB service for Sunday night together, plus my camp and ABM boost for convention.

We still have so much to do but it's coming together. I just keep going over things day after to day and say what do I tackle today?

Everyone have a great weekend, I thank God for the extra day to get more accomplished.

Another Beautiful Day

We have been blessed with several beautiful days of weather in the high 50's, 60's and 70's the last couple of weeks. With lots of sunshine. Mixed in there were a few hours of rain to make everything green up real nice.

Today we went to the huge Kampden Hills annual garage sales. This is in a higher income part of town. I went last year with Tim Osborne and I found my kitchen table and chairs, bookcase and a night stand. This year I asked Brother Nowling to go with me because there wasn't anything we actually "needed" and with moving into bigger place I thought we may see things that would work but that I would feel better with his opinion present. MISTAKE! He hates crowds and traffics. We got there about 7:45 am and apparently they were suppose to start until 9 am so people were just putting things out. At first though there were definitely people out and about it wasn't bad. But in no time at all it was shoulder to shoulder and bumper to bumper. No big deal to me, you just patiently work your way from sale to sale but he was miserable. The neighborhood is huge too so he kept moving the truck every so often. Not a good idea. One cul de sac area the cars were parked every which way it was very difficult to get out and patience in this kind of a thing is not one of his virtues. Finally he parked the truck and I went by myself for a little bit as Jenna was cold (she wore flip flops and it probably wasn't even 50 degrees yet). Then she went with me. No huge deals. We both got some games (some of which were brand new and hadn't even been open), a brand new bath fragrant set, frames, I got some glassware to match some that I already had, a full size ironing board (now that I'll actually have a laundry room), a girls tea set, cotton batting, a roll away bed (only $5) and artificial flowers. Other then the bed and a couple of the games no real huge deals. We stopped at a sale that wasn't a part of the neighborhood sale and they had a beautiful secretary desk for $75. It was definitely worth and I think they would've taken $50 for it. I knew just the spot in our new house and I could keep my church stuff in it. BUT he wouldn't let me. We really didn't have the money to spare with the move, camp and the wedding. But I really, really wanted it (can you see my bottom lip is sticking out :o( ). I'm sure I could've pushed him and got my way, but I knew we really didn't have the money. But I'm not saying he's right...I just knew we didn't have the money ~ grin.

Any way we came back home after dropping Jenna off at her place to work on her cpma service and get the local books ready for business conference (when she really slept 2 hours instead ~ how fair is that), Brother Nowling and I packed up dishes in the kitchen. After about 2-3 hours of packing he went to take a nap and I'm working on camp stuff. Really I am, I'm just taking a break. But I'm thinking that break is calling me to take a nap as I can't hardly keep my eyes open. This evening is our monthly youth activity and everyone is suppose to meet here and then we're going to play mini gulf. One of my favorites.

Everyone have a great rest of your Saturday and a blessed Sunday

My job has been slow; but evenings full.

Well this past week in the midst of the business we determined we were going to take the time and enjoy the beautiful weather. Thursday night we went for a walk on the trail near our current house. Brother Nowling, Jenna and Matt kept pushing me. There were times my hips hurt so bad I could cry. I would stop and massage them and then continue on. I actually slept pretty good that night but when I woke up my lower back where I have severe arthritis was really paining. But it felt good to be outside with family enjoying God's beauty. Jenna got some great pictures.

Then Friday night we took a driver to Hatcher's Pass. I couldn't believe Matt hadn't been there. Jenna hadn't as she never seemed to be available whenever we went. Every season of the year Hatcher's Pass has a different beauty. The snow wasn't totally gone but the snow was melting off the mountains and the Little Susisitna (sp?) was beautiful and the trees were budding. Jenna got great pictures there too.

Then Saturday meant doing the church books and starting our packing. We boxed up all our books. All the knickknacks in our bedroom and office, stuffed animals, sheets and blankets, some of the towels, my tea cups and tea pots, and misc things. I really think it's easier just to pack and move all at one time. We stopped about 2 pm and Jenna and I went shopping for Jessa's shower and camp while Joleesa took off to be with her boyfriend and Brother Nowling napped. Oh by the way, I don't think I ever told you how I got a call from Alaska Airlines on Wednesday night just after hanging up from Brother Nowling. They told Jenna that he needed me to come pick him and take him to the hospital as he hurt his thumb bad. As I headed out I called him and apparently he somehow hurt his thumb in his locker at work (he had no idea how) and it was bleeding heavily and his nail was just barely on. I took him the urgent care. Matt, Josh and Jackie met me there. Matt stayed in and helped the doctor take his thumb nail off, clean out the broken cuticle and put his thumb nail back in so his nail would grow back. It was gross and painful. I guess when the nail was taken off and it exposed all those nerves ending that never are exposed to air and he felt a fire on his thumb. It was quite painful. Anyway, he had some nights of a throbbing thumb but it's doing much better now.

Then today, mother's day. We had to be out of the house today for the land lady to show it so Brother Nowling went to the girls apartment to sleep while Joleesa, Jenna, (Jessa had to work), Matt, Megan, Micah, Josh and Jackie helped me celebrate Mother's day with a picnic at Eklutna Lake. Once again it was beautiful. We picked up steak, chicken, potato salad, chips and Jenna bought watermelon (but we saved that) and chocolate cake that I won at the grocery store during a cake walk. Oh yeah another story. I was grocery shopping yesterday and their pictures of cakes with numbers on them on the floor throughout the store. I heard them announce for the kids to find a cake picture and stand on it to win their mother a cake. A boy won a cake and I thought that was it. Then I was standing by the milk cooler and talking to a man when they called the number 14. I look down and right by foot was the number 14. The man told me to step on it, but I said it was for kids, then the employees at the bakery were yelling at me to step on it and stay that someone was coming. So I won a chocolate fudge cake. It was a part of our picnic and it was so good. After eating we walked down to the lake it was gorgeous with the glacier above it and some ice still in it, surrounded by mountains. Kershaw, Matt's dog went swimming in it. I tell you Alaska IS the most beautiful state ever. You never get tired of seeing it's beauty. I feel like I stepped into a picture or painting and I have to pinch myself as a reminder that this real. I'm really here. I just love it. Though I know we probably won't be here forever, I don't want to leave this beautiful country that God has placed us. And I love the people that God has placed us over. Every day they all grow dearer to me. I want to thank ALL the youth at church, they made me feel so special today by sharing this day with me.

On one last note; I missed my mom today. It's the first mother's day that I didn't go see her or call her. I truly felt she was smiling over me today and I'm so thankful that she knew that it was God that had sent us to Alaska and had prayed for us until her last day on earth. I am so looking forward to seeing her some day.

Count Your Blessings, name them 1 by 1....

1. I'm feeling better
2. We got the house
3. The house we live in now looks ready to show. Thanks to those that helped (now we got keep it that way ~ smile)
4. Brother and Sister Anders, Amy Anders and her friend Beverly are coming to camp. A teacher, kitchen help for Sister Connie Peter and a worship leader...I was praying for new blood and I got it.
5. Brother Nowling's new schedule at work gives him Thursday, Friday and Saturday off.
6. He needed Sunday - Wednesday off for camp and in 2 days he had people signing up to cover his shift. He won't be tired at camp this year.
7. It looks like we'll have close to 40 at camp.
8. Our congregation. God is bringing down walls.
9. My dad, brother and mother-in-law will be hear for Jessa's wedding.
10. I've been making commission on my job (it's been about sixth months since I met goal, thus little or no commission).
11. Jessa's wedding is coming together.
12. Joleesa starts work at ADN on Monday.
13. It's been beautiful weather in Anchorage for several days. Even hit 70's.
14. I got to go work so my list will have to continue another time.
15. The list goes on....somebody want to pick up where I left off?

It looks like the house is ours

The realtor has to talk to the wife of the owner per the husband's request but everything else is a going good and the realtor doesn't think they'll be a problem. She's also going to request for us to move in on the 28th of May at no extra charge seeing as the house will be empty any way. We are so excited. God is soooo good.

Now the work starts in packing and cleaning. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Sister Smith I am definitely praying for you and I wonder how you do it all.