Merry Christmas from the Nowlings

I'm guilty of not getting Christmas cards out and thus no Nowling letter reviewing 2009. 2009 was a year of much excitement.


God has blessed us all with good jobs in a time when people have been laid off God has taken care of us. Jody and Jessa continue to work at Alaska Airlines. Jenna is still a definite valuable employee at The Hotel Captain Cook (5 star Alaskan hotel), I'm still at The Anchorage Daily News and in May Joleesa came to work at the paper in the classified department.


In January Jody went to Colorado as the evangelist for their men's retreat. He preached at several of the churches in that area. He truly enjoyed the fellowship of the precious brothers and sisters in that region.

In April I had the chance of a life time in going to England on a mission trip. It was an experience filled with many memories and new friends. On the trip almost the whole team got sick and whatever we had it passed through the churches that we visited but fortunately our brothers and sisters still love us. The Lord bless wonderfully and hopefully they are reaping some results from the teams work.

Upon my return we went full swing into getting ready for camp with Griffins as our evangelist and the Anders as our guest AND the excitement of Jessa's wedding. It was such a pleasure to have Brother Tim, Sister Sharon, and Victoria in our home. We shared so much together and then to have them be a part of this big day. Sharon played the piano and sang and Victoria was one of the flower girls for Jessa's wedding. What a beautiful wedding it was. I know as girls we dream of our wedding at a very young age. I don't know if this was all that Jessa dreamed of but it was a beautiful and LOVE prevailed both in the form of the love between Jessa and Levi AND the love of the Lord. We were privileged to have not only the Griffins and the Anders with us but I am so thankful that my mother-in-law, my dad, my brother Kelly, and my nephew B.J. were all able to share in this special day. Along with sharing this special day, they were able to share Alaska with us. My dad is going blind and I'm so glad he had enough eye sight to enjoy the beauty of Alaska.

Shortly after Jessa and Levi's wedding we received an announcement that Joleesa is pregnant. This is always a life changing experience but for Joleesa, God is making her into HIS young lady. The baby's daddy, Dallas is still very much in her life. He's a good young man but doesn't know Christ as his personal Saviour so we covet your prayers for him and for Joleesa's future. We'll be welcoming a new granddaughter on March 13th (but I think she'll come early). It has been quite the experience watching our little girl becoming a mother.


I believe it was in August we had the privilege of having Keven Lewis from Pueblo, Co hold a weekend revival for us. Keven is like family to us as we pastored him and his brother and sisters when they were teenagers. He was a great blessing to us and once again it was fun to share Alaska with him. Hopefully some day his wife and children will be able to come for a visit as well.

Jenna has been had a year with a camera forever in her hands as she found herself being able to put her passion for photography into use. Weddings, baby bumps, family, friends and Alaska memories have been caught through the skills of Jenna's eye for photography. I am so proud of how she is using this God given skill. Also, Jenna recently accepted God's calling on her life not be a teacher like she had thought, but acknowledged and accepted that God has called her to preach.

Then December brought another exciting announcement. Levi and Jessa are expecting their first child! Can it get any better!!!!

A wedding, and two grandchildren in the year that Jody and I turned 50 made for a year of all years. 50 is a 1/2 century, the year of Jubilee and we are so blessed to have our children near and serving God and growing. We covet your prayers for 2010 and the babies that will be entering the world as well as the lives that have been changed.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all of our dear family and friends across the world.