Our Anniversary

Brother Nowling and I went to Juneau for our anniversary. It's amazing how, though we've been married 28 years the need for the two of us to get away alone is so much needed. It was a great time, beside the dreary weather. Our flights went well and when we first got there seeing he worked all night before and we couldn't check into our b&b until 3 pm we went downtown, he parked and I walked the shops as I was also making contacts for the paper on before of our Alaska visitor's guide. A cruise ship had come in and the shops were busting at the seams, especially the ones that 60% - 80% off (I got a few great buys too) end of the season clearance. There's all kinds of languages all around me. I walked a long way and when I call Brother Nowling to pick me up his phone went to voicemail (ugh). My feet were killing me and after 3 tries of getting him to answer I started walking. It turned out the last time he talked to me, when he closed his phone it turned it off. We then went to a nice yogurt shop that had great soup and sandwiches and was own by Christians. From there we went to our B&B. We had such a great experience at the B&B in Valdeze I chose this over a nice hotel. Ugh, we felt like we were in a stranger's home. Don't get me wrong they were friendly enough (actually she talked non-stop until we couldn't get a word in edge wise), but our room was across from theirs. The last B&B the guest rooms were on their own floor with their own entrance. I don't know it was just more awkward this time. We felt like we had to be careful not to offend them. I also felt almost claustrophobic as she collects precious moments statues and has over 2000 of them throughout her house. In our room alone I stopped counting at 56. It was a beautiful log house and the walls were so covered with plaques and shelves you lost the beauty of the logs. Any way, we went to our room and I took an hour nap while Brother Nowling slept 3 hours. In the morning they had breakfast for us. She made french toast and eggs. Has anyone heard of spruce tip syrup? She made some, yes from spruce tree needles. It was a different flavor altogether. Not bad. Then we headed back to downtown for me to meet with more businesses and the town was dead. Everything was closed. It was amazing the change overnight because the cruise ship had pulled out. We drove around town and I took down names of businesses for me to call when I got back to the office. We then went to lunch and had some of the best pizza ever at Pizzeria Roma. The service was poor as the waiters were in the kitchen gambling, but the food was delicious. After eating we headed to the Mendenhall Glacier. I had made the statement that all the glaciers were the same, but not so. This one was a gorgeous blue and had a huge waterfall next to it. We went up to the visitor center and technically it closed the day before so it was free and we had the ranger almost to ourselves and I made contacts for our paper with them and we enjoyed looking at the glacier from a higher view as it was built up into the rocks. We then went driving from one end of Juneau to the other. Remember Juneau is surrounded by water, so we drove one way until the road ended and then headed the other way but due to road construction turned around just a couple of miles before it ended. We went to Auke Bay and it was another gorgeous site even in the rain. We stopped at sheep creek, and though we didn't see any sheep we say lots of eagles. I tried to get some good pictures but unfortunately I had some problems but I'll post one of the better ones.

We then headed back to the Hangar restaurant for our anniversary dinner. Juneau doesn't have any "fancy" restaurants just costly ones. We had been told the Hangar had great food and it had a view of the ocean. We made reservations but we got there early so had to wait about 15 minutes. If it hadn't been so dreary out the view would've been nice, it was terribly noisy but the food was absolutely delicious. He had shrimp and I had Parmesan halibut and it was so good. We then did a little more driving around and then headed back to our room. We slept in until 8 am. We had a good breakfast and then decided to take an earlier flight out as it was pouring out. When we got to Anchorage the sun was shining and it was a beautiful autumn day. Levi and Jessa invited us for dinner and we truly enjoyed it.

It was a great time away and I'm thankful we had the time together and I'm really grateful that the newspaper is picking up most the bill of it all too.

Here's few pictures.

About Me

Let me prelude this post with I usually don't bare my soul on my own blog because I don't want to offend, upset, or disappoint anyone. But I haven't blogged for awhile as I need this blog to truly be MY blog and I need to be able to share my heart and so that is what I am going to do.

As I was spending time on flights and airports on my way to IYC I determined in my mind, this assembly was going to be for me. I was going to be praying for me. Seeking answers for me. The first service at IYC found me praying Lord help me to know how to be there for Heather. Then Lord show me how to share this special time with Megan and Micah. Also, Lord I feel like I've gained a son but in gaining the son I've lost a daughter, help me to find my relationship with Jessa. And my prayers continued through the various people that are so much a part of who I am, Jenna, Lord let her find someone (not just a guy) but someone here to share life. Josh and Jackie, oh how I miss them Lord show me how to reach them so they will draw closer to you. Their faces went before my face one at a time Matthew, Tim, Nathan, Larry, Jeremy, all of them one right after another. Lord help me to serve them truly was my prayer. Always hanging over every prayer was Lord give me WISDOM. I found myself feeling like Solomon as more than anything I want wisdom. My love is so great for these souls that God has put in my life that I need wisdom as to know when, what, and how to be what He needs me to be for them.

In every prayer there was one huge plea for wisdom that was on behalf of a new road that I'm having to walk. A road that is filled with huge amount of love for my daughter Joleesa but a cry for wisdom to help me in being the mother to her and a grandmother to the baby she is carrying. Yes. I am going to be grandmother. Not in the way I had ever dreamed of becoming a grandmother, but none the less a grandmother. God forgives the repented heart and forgets. We are to be like Christ. I had to find my way in forgiving as Christ does and I truly have. Many individuals turn away from God and go into sin. Some sin is easy to forget but sometimes God allows that sin to bring good and all life exists only if God allows. As Joleesa has turned her life back to Him and as she finds her way in her walk with Him she now has a child to lead as she walks that walk and I will be right there with her (as will all her family)helping, rejoicing and loving this new life. Life changes around every corner and I committed this road to Christ a looooong time. As I help Joleesa make preparations for this precious little one, my prayer continues to be for wisdom, not only for me, but for mother-to-be Joleesa, along with a strength that will help her in this time that is very joyous but also very challenging. I am already watching her as she looks at life in a whole different way then she ever did before. My ultimate prayer is that this little life will be healthy and be given the opportunity to know the love of Jesus right from the early years.. Joleesa, with God's help, love and wisdom can give that to this child.

Yeah, this assembly was about me finding all that God has for me as person, as a pastor's wife, as a leader in the church, as a wife, as mother but the biggest goal was finding me as a grandmother. I thank my precious Lord and Saviour that He never fails us...Jada Nowling is going to be a grandmother. Wow!!!

It was a glorious assembly where every message spoke to me. I stand in awe at how precious His anointing was and I thank God that He allowed me the privilege to be a part of IYC and the 104th general assembly.