We're Home

After a great day of Sunday services my hubby and I headed out at midnight to catch our 2:30 am flight to Seattle and then on to Orange County, Anaheim CA to see my college girl friends that I caught up with after 25 years through facebook. Let me just say, I've never been afraid to fly. I USE to love to fly but it's so hard on me physically that I don't care for anything more than a couple of hours. BUT the flight from Anchorage to Seattle was the most horrible ever. We ran in to turbulence towards the end of the flight. I was actually in the bathroom. It was a little bumpy when I when I got up. By the time I got in there...I was being thrown everywhere. I couldn't stand up. I tried to open the door and the flight attendant slammed it shut and told me to stay in there until she said. It probably was the safest place to be, but kind of eerie. After about 5 minutes they told me to hurry back to my seat. The flight from Seattle to Orange County was better but not much. We got in and it was pouring out. This is what it did all week but you know what we had a great time. Susan got us a beautiful room at the Marriott Fairfield Inn (Disneyland hotel fell through the last minute). The Marriott is across from Disneyland and in the midst of downtown Disney. It had one of the most comfortable beds ever. Susan dropped us off leaving us her friends car. We slept for a couple of hours and then the rain stopped and I went for a walk. Susan and her husband picked us up at 6 pm and we went to out to dinner at a Korean BBQ (Susan is Korean so perfect). I was leery as I'm not one for different food. But I LOVED it! There wasn't any of it that I didn't like. It's where you take the raw food back to your table and grill it right at your table. I wish I could remember what any of it was called but I don't. We will definitely be looking to see if there is a Korean BBQ here in Anchorage.

We got to shop downtown Disney. Store after store of Disney paraphernalia but other stores and restaurants too. My favorite was the Anne Geddes store. They had her dolls, her books, her maternity clothes, and baby clothes. After putting 3 books back I came out with some of the darlingest cards and that was it. I was a good girl.

Remember it's still pouring down rain...as we head to Newport Beach to the next hotel Susan set up for us. It was at the Newport Channel Inn. We took the Coast Hwy as be able to see the view. The view we saw was palm trees bending in the wind. All different kinds of palm trees. It was so windy and rainy so hard...when we got to the Inn; it was quaint, nothing fancy but very comfortable. We decided to stay in and relax versus getting drenched (as I forgot to say, we got soaked on Tuesday). We asked at the Inn where we could order some pizza. We ordered from a place that I can't pronounce Big Cheese Pizza and it was great pizza. Then we got to meet Susan's beautiful daughter Elizabeth as she brought us some more gift certificates, this time for Marie Callandear's restaurant. We noticed it stopped raining so we took a drive in the DARK to Balboa Island. The winds were still strong as we found palm tree branches on the roads. We saw the huge waves on the ocean beaches but couldn't go down to them due to them being closed cuz of the storms. We went back to the Inn for the night.

Thursday we had breakfast at Scappy's Cafe and then headed to Susan's house. An awesome historical, Victorian house. It is absolutely gorgeous. Her yard, all of it. It has toilets that you have to pull a chain to flush. Pretty cool. Two sets of stairs going upstairs one steeper then the other but both steep. Cool but I wouldn't want to climb them all the time. The master bedroom has a sitting room off it with a fire place, sofa etc. The house is full of glass bookcases (built in) and her husband collect antique books such as Emerson, and old books on the reformation. I just loved it. We visited with Susan for a couple of hours then went to Marie Callandars for lunch, picked her darling two sons and daughters from school and came back and visited some more. Then her and I decided to do quick stroll down Orange Circle, which is Antique land as I want a Victorian Teapot but no success. We came back to wait for Mary. When Mary got there the four of us (Susan's husband had to work) headed to an upscale Chinese restaurant PF Chang (another set of gift cards) which was in the Garden Walk of Anaheim. This is basically an outdoor, open air mall. Different and cool. Now I see the crazy Susan and Mary coming out. We had such a great visit. Jody just added his quirkiness, keeping it fun. He learned how to use chopsticks (Susan and Mary are great teachers) and was rubbing it in that he succeeded before me. He also was bragging about being a gentleman and opening the car door for me (Susan has an Odyssey van that she pushes a button and the doors slide open ~ smile). These two ladies were bridesmaids in our wedding, so they weren't strangers to Jody or Jody to them. It was so good to be with my dear friends again. Yes, years have aged us as has life but Susan put it best "time didn't cause much distance of the heart". I'm grateful for the short time we had with them and I'm just praying that they'll be able to come to Alaska some day before we leave here (no we're not leaving any day soon that we're aware of, but we never know what God has in mind).

We were thankful for the time away, as always though, it's good to be home. We left behind wind, rain, palm trees, flowers and green grass BUT we were welcomed by sunshine to our winter wonderland.

New Post

Quite the unique title huh. Well it's because not a lot happening these days. I did fly over to Bethel on Saturday as to take the rest of Sutton's supplies to them. I don't what it is about Southerners but 1 thank you is enough. I without a doubt know they were very appreciative as they thanked me over and over, and over, and over, and over again. They just don't understand it's because they're my "neighbor" that I did it. Seriously, it was my pleasure. There was a guy in the security line that I was insane for flying over on the noon flight and coming back on the 9 pm flight, although I think we was finding it hard to believe that I was leaving Anchorage from Bethel. He was kind of strange. I don't mind flying when it's a short flight like to Bethel. It's only an hour. Not what Brother or Sister wouldn't take an hour drive to help out someone in need knowing they'll enjoy the opportunity of being with them as well. My hour drive was just through the air instead of on the ground. I'm blessed to be able to fly for free and I really was blessed to have that time with them. Top that off with the pleasure of seeing my "nephew" Braden again. I love that little man. He is just adorable. He truly has helped me get use to the idea of being a grandma. I wanted to put him in my suitcase and bring him home as I had two empty ones for him to choose between; but I got the "eye" from mommy when I mentioned that and decided to behave myself. I always enjoy a chance to play games with Isaiah so it was a great visit, minus the flight attendant welcoming us to the flight heading to Hawaii and then proceeding to say, I mean Bethel where the temperature is 1 degree and windy. The sun was shining brightly but the wind was bitterly cold. Give me Anchorage, the 20+ degrees, blue skies and no wind. But I traded it for the fellowship of some Bethel Saints.

In other news I am experiencing my daughters pregnancies at opposite ends of the spectrum. Joleesa's love/hate experience of the somersaults, kick boxing, etc of her little girl and counting down the day she arrives. While Jessa is experiencing the excitement of hearing the heartbeat but facing morning sickness coupled with migraines. I have to frequently take a deep breath and say this the next chapter of my life unfolding and say WOW!!!

Work has picked unbelievably. It's like I've lived through a week in just two days but that's not a bad thing.

Next week Brother Nowling and I going to sneak away to sunny California in celebration of his birthday that is this Friday and my December birthday that we didn't get to go anywhere. We're visiting my college girl friends Mary and Susan Song. They were in our wedding and then I was in Mary's wedding about 4 years later and we lost track of them but found them through facebook. I am so excited to see them again. They have actually managed to get us a couple of free hotel rooms. One being at the Disneyland Hotel (which is a gorgeous hotel) and another at Cottage Inn hotel that Mary's daughter's boyfriend manages. They also got a free gift certificate for dinner. So we'll be in Anaheim, Newport Beach and then we hope to take a day trip over to Catalina Island. The timing for this is great. We need to get away to some sun, spend some time together and do it all before the grand babies and Megan and Micah's baby comes. So Joleesa's little girl has got to behave herself and be nice to mommy well were away and definitely wait until we come back before even pretending to want to make her debut and then when we get back life as we know it will be a thing of the past. But I'm as ready as I'll ever be for the lives God has awaiting for us.

Happy New Year!

No original title I know, I'm following the crowd.

Yesterday was a great day. I got off work at 2 pm and called the Suttons telling them if it would make things easier for them, I'd watch Braden well they did all their shopping. They hesitated at first and wanted to call me back. I am so glad they took me up on it. It made my day and night. I love that little boy. He's my little man and he's such a cute little man and so good. Sorry mom and dad he felt so much love from us he didn't miss you at all ;o) Seriously, the only time he cried was when he was hungry and then had a bit of gas. Later in the evening I rocked him to sleep. As he was sleeping in my arms, I started to doze off and I was afraid I'd drop him. He woke up when I laid him on the floor so I went and laid down with him on the love seat and he slept on (and I took a little nap) until my arm was hurting so bad from being in the same position for too long. Micah and Megan came over to share the last of the old year and bring in the new year and when they came in Micah offered to take him. He picked him the little guy slept on. He continued to sleep on as he was later passed to Megan. We woke him up when his mommy came home. As Brother Bobby and Micah went to finish up the shopping Sister Annette, Jenna, Megan and I played I Buy. Annette got her hopes up that she would win...it was short lived when I went out in the 5th round sticking everyone. We all weren't totally in the game (you know one of those games where you keep having to ask who's turn it was). At about 8 minutes to midnight the guys got back and somewhere in there Dallas and Joleesa came and we counted down to 2010. The icing on a great day was fire works. I was wanting to go see the fireworks downtown but considering the temperture and the crowds didn't even suggest it. We have 4 big bay windows and then a patio door throughout the living room and dining room. We looked up after midnight and saw fire works going off all around us. It was a clear night and you could see the mountains behind the fireworks. The ooohs and ahhhs inside the warmth of my very own home made a perfect beginning for 2010. It was after 2 am before Annette and I went to bed. Sorry sister, it felt so good to visit.

This morning I got up to take Bobby to return the van. Came back and Brother Nowling and I both took our vehicles to take them and ALL their stuff to the airport. Those two have been in a whirlwind with making this move. Their spirit is so at peace as they KNOW they are in the perfect will of God. From a voice of experience, that is one of the best places to be. Because they were over the limit for their luggage, I was given an excuse to fly over to Bethel next Saturday. I'll just take the morning flight over and the last flight back, but it's my pleasure to assist them and be with them and my little man. Maybe I'll do alright as a grandmommy after all (and I also think I found what I want my grand kids to call me, if there mom's and dad's are ok with it seeing as I haven't even mentioned it to them yet).

This afternoon I was a sluggard. I napped off and on and then was going to go to Tim Osborne's wedding rehearsal with Brother Nowling (who's a groomsmen ~ that seems weird and cool at the same time), Jenna who's the photographer and Levi who's doing the video recording but Jessa wasn't feeling well today and had been home all day, so I asked if Levi would drop her off I would stay home. I was afraid I'd have a hard time keeping my mouth shut and try to help when my may not be wanted if I went to the rehearsal so perfect plan. So I got to spend quality time with my oldest daughter, which I rarely get. She had a migraine and throwing up and the baby really doesn't like meat so she asked if I had the stuff to make homemade macaroni and cheese. I had just been thinking about how that sounded good...so macaroni and cheese with my oldest daughter. Another perfect part to the new year.

Off and on throughout the date I was thinking about what is my main desire/prayer for 2010. One word came back to me again as it was towards the latter part of 2009...WISDOM. If I could have only one request for 2010 it would be wisdom for ALL the things that 2010 will bring. He's never failed me yet and I know if I will allow Him to, He will give me HIS wisdom when I need it.

So I end as I began Happy New Year, my dear friends and family!