Not a lot happening. My job is busier then I ever dreamed. I feel buried because the girl that was there before me was really behind. Then working for a daily paper with 165,00 circulation is majorly different than working for a twice a week paper with a 4500 circulation. And deadlines mean nothing to the advertisers. I spent 75% of my day today getting late ads in, killing ads and changing ads. The only 25% was trying to get the ads in that deadlined, giving quotes, and dealing with errors from my predecessor. I thought I was taking the less stressful job...but I'm beginning to wonder. I am working a4 hours overtime on Saturday with hopes of getting dug out without phones or emails. Hopefully this will save time as my boss and I won't spend so much time hunting for things. I had orientation with the publisher yesterday (first time even saw him). We went around and introduced ourselves and I said my husband was a minister and accepted a church here. Today in the lunch room, one of the girls that were in orientation was asking details. She is going to a huge church that doesn't even know she exists. So she wanted the details. Pray she comes. That would really be awesome!
Brother Nowling is waiting to hear when he starts at Fed Ex. Joleesa had her orientation at McDonald's. Jessa is looking at taking a job working at a ski resort about 30 minutes away. As you know Jenna has a job interview at ADN on Monday, please pray for her. She really needs to get work.
Church is going well. We're having our first "scheduled" youth function Saturday. I wanted a gym night but I'm having difficulty finding a place so we'll have a game night here with homemade pizza. I hope the youth bring visitors.
Have you ever wondered when things are going so good and keep feeling overwhelmed with God's goodness, how long will it last. I love the Lord so much and I know were in His perfect will. He's proven Himself over and over. But I know the enemy is still present...things by no means are perfect...but they're good, and it's been a long time since it's been like this for me and to have it last so long is scary. At the same time I have felt quilty thinking it, yet a lone actually mention and yet I can't get away from t
Well Jody had the most beautiful lilies and roses delivered to my office (I'll try to get Jenna to post a picture). I don't know flowers these are really big with the black dots on it. I was totally surprised as I thought it in the past we talked about his not spending that kind of money on something that would die (but at the convincing of the middle daughter, he did) and I DO love them. There are 11 lilies and 2 red roses. I guess he only requested 3 lilies (representing the 3 girls and the two of us, anyway that's what he usually has done when he's gotten me flowers) but for some reason they put in 11 and several of them are buds. They are the most beautiful flowers ever...BUT they are also VERY fragrant and within abouat 15 minutes I had the director's secretary telling me one of the other directors were miserably allergic to and as she was telling me, the poor girl who sit a few feet from me said she was too. She has asthma real bad and has been out sick the last 5 days with bronchitus and yesterday was her first day back. I didn't drive to work, Jody dropped me off so I told them I didn't know what to do. She went and talked to the director and he was going to keep his office door closed (I wasn't sure if that was going to be enough as they were really potent) and I felt so sorry for Rhoda. Jody was over at Fed Ex filling out paper work for the job it looks like he got (PTL) but he didn't know if they would have him start right then too. I decided to go ahead and call and he wasn't working he was at Long John Silver's eating lunch, so I asked when he got done if he would come pick up the flowers ~big sigh~ I too, have problems with strong fragrants and they were even beginning to effect me. So they were brought home to offset the smell of the pink salmon that Matthew fixed the girls, Micah, and Josh for dinner (which didn't take place until after we got back from our dinner as he took Jessa to get us an anniversary gift ~giggle). Anyway, we ate at the Cattle Company and had the best food since we've been here. I don't remember the last time I was that full. We shared the most awesome piece of cheese cake with strawberry sauce on it. We then came home, walking in the door saying how full we were to groans of Jenna in particular telling us to be quiet because the chef went to get spices over 2 hours ago ~grin~ I then gave Jody his gift (we had gone right from his picking me up from work) a palm pilot, that is how Josh come to take me mudding and grocery shopping on Sunday. He really took me to Best Buy and the rest became our excuse as to why we were gone so long. Anyway, Jody was shocked. He must have said a dozen time to Josh, Micah and Brother Grant how he wanted one and was asking questions. When I gave it to him he said he had been joking (yeah right) now he's got to get one of the boys to help him figure out how to use it. He had to charge it last night so after church tonight- beware.
All and all it was good celebration of 25 years (although I do hope to get away in a couple of months, just the two of us). I do wish I still could have my flowers on my desk at work, but this way we don't need an air freshner at home.
This was on our wedding invitations, napkins, etc 25 years ago and 25 years is a miracle in this day and age, but to me it is a treasure. God has given me a treasure in my husband, Jody. I knew at the time I married him he was minister (in another church mind you) but I thank God that He has given me a man that listens, waits and is obedient to His voice (and not always to mine ~tee hee~). I never would have thought that we would be in Alaska ministering together but I thank God that my husband has said "not my will but thine" through out our life and there has been many times it really went against my will (never).
I also thankful for 3 beautiful girls that we have raised together to love and serve the Lord. I know there are Godly men out there for them that someday they will be able to look forward to spending 25 years with (oh am I in trouble for that one - lol - but that's ok it's fun). Hey guys, whoever you are, you better treat them right though they're not just our's they belong to God.
I love you honey. I'm looking forward to our dinner date. We're going to The Cattle Company for dinner. The BB and/or drive around Alaska will come at another time Sis. Smith. I will be waiting to see what surprise the girls and the young people that hang out at our place will have for us (hint, hint).
Yes, my Sunday afternoon consisted of off roading/mud bogging in Joshua Grant's 4x4 truck. I didn't know that we were going to be having this wild ride but yes, he took his pastor's wife through mud, up and down steep hills, over very bumpy dirt woodsy roads. That is after he had to pull me up into his truck. Now remember this is his mudder truck so the seat belt didn't fit me, I'd grap the seat handle but it was broken. This pastor's wife was bumped around but believe it or not she enjoyed it. And Mr. Josh was grinning the whole time! Would I do it again...we'll see ~smile. I did tell him there's no way I would go street racing with him. I don't even want to know when he goes! In turn he had to go grocery shopping with me...he was a real champ in that and actually a lot of help as I'm still not familiar where things are and what brands are better (seeing as there are only a few that I'm familiar with).
Saturday night was even a different story, Matthew Peter was here and he purchased a pay per view of UFC street fighting. Yes, we had a house full of men (including Brother Grant) watching 3 hours of fighting ~groan/smile~
Then Sunday morning all but one of them were in church (and that one was out Sunday night) and what a service we had. We had 21 in SS, SS was good, worship was great, the message was thought provoking. Sunday night we had 15 out for CPMA service (2 visitors) and Jenna did a good devotion on trademarks, registerations and copyrights. Oh and to back up, Saturday night we had prayer meeting and we had 14 out with 11 being youth. I am just overwhelmed with the youth that are here. They are really wanting to be involved. Several of them live at our house every night. Not only has church grown for us but it seems like our family has too. The girls have "brothers" around on a regular basis and we feel like we have "sons". They have been great in helping out with everything too. And Brother Nowling is no longer out numbers...although when Codi is here they are still out numbered ~smile~ But Brother Ray...Brother Nowling still uses the "man law" as he sees fit.
Oh by the way tomorrow is our 25th Anniversary. It's hard to believe 25 years! And I love him more each day! He is my best friend...I would rather spend time with him then anyone else. He's so easily entertained. He can watch the planes forever. He can spot wildlife in the deepest woods. He can stand and stare at the mountains forever. He loves little children. He (we) looke forward to grandchildren. These have been 25 great years but I am looking forward to 25 even greater years. I love you Jody!
By the way, have I said recently that God is good!
My job is going good. I'm getting a lot of excercise walking around the huge building. Bible study at church was good as was the worship service. BUT I'm sooo tired. I went to bed at 10 pm last night and slept pretty good. I don't start work until 8:30 a.m. so I didn't get up until 6:45 am (although I did wake up several times between 4 am and 6:45). I hope to get up even earlier eventually to spend more time in devotions and ADN has a work out room with stationary bikes, treadmills, etc They have a shower so I can actually go in early and work out and then go to work. But I've just been toooo tired.
We've also got to get the young people on a schedule that means late nights at our house on Fridays and Saturdays and not week nights. I know itll make a difference when the girls are all working. Then they'll have a little more understanding. I love them all and want them to feel welcome but I need my sleep. I do have to say they have been good about being quiet. I just hate going to bed with a house full of people~I might miss out on something.
Brother Nowling and the girls went to a job fair today and he has lots of potentially good opportunities so he'll be filling out applications tomorrow.
I'm really looking forward to this weekend. To have time for....whatever I want to or need to ~smile.
This morning I met Mr. Wong (the job I turned down) for breakfast at 6:30 am as he insisted he still wanted to meet me and share with me some more things in case things didn't work out at the newspaper. It was his 84th birthday today and he shared that it's time that he give instead of receiving and his vision for the store buildings he owns is to help rehabilitate native Alaskans that have lost themselves in alcohol by opening up space for them to sale their arts and crafts at a major profit. There's a lot more to it but that is it in a nut shell. I finally came out and asked him why he was so sold on me (he never even called any of my references). He said with my skills and my husband being in the ministry he felt I would be able to share in his vision. WOW! He'll be back in October (he lives in Hawaii) and will be in touch with me to see how things are going for me at ADN. I'll be praying!
My first day started with me going past the office twice...but I was still there 10 minutes early. It was a good day except for those STUPID POINTED SHOES that I thought were comfortable. The building is huge with 2 floors and lots of steps. Of course they gave me a tour and my feet were killing me. I walked stocking foot around the immediate office when I had a chance as my feet just throbbed. Jessa looks are not everything. It'll be flats tomorrow. I'm short, and so what. Other than that everything was good. A lot of it I'm already familiar with. The only thing is the inside sales girl quit recently so I'm actually being trained in for two jobs (I wish the pay reflected that) but it too doesn't seem too bad. The people have stayed with the overall reception we have received from Alaska folks, very friendly. As Brother Nowling keeps saying, they're so friendly you're afraid they're going to give you a hug ~giggle (you've got to get this picture of Brother Nowling and this new acquaintance standing close to him and him inching his way back - not really but that's what I picture). I told my boss about my meeting with Mr. Wong and he said that he can't have me because of my newspaper experience. Anyway, thank the Lord for another good day.
Please pray for Brother Nowling, it turns out this bus driving job is requiring over 40 hours of training without pay and fees that he has to fork out of over
$250 that he won't get reimbursed for. There's other hidden things that makes him question whether he should continue on. He applied on line for two Fed Ex positions tonight so we'll see what the Lord has for him. Also, remember the girls as they try to find jobs.
Have you heard of an unspoken testimony. I want to PTL for a HUGE blessing that we received Sunday night. I can't share the details because we've been asked not to...but have I said lately that GOD IS GOOD!
Besides all the frustrations Sis. Smith listed in her comment I am so short and misporportioned (in other words, fat) that it is so hard to find anything that fits properly. Then add to it the lack of stores as Jenna said, (ie Fashion Bug, Christopher Banks, etc) it really becomes a nightmare. Basically I shopped Penny's and Sears. I did find about 3 outfits but I had hoped to get more for the amount that I spent. Sister Smith I wish I did sew. I've tried several times in my lifetime and I don't have the patience. Let me cook any day, but sewing's not for me. I do hem but that is a problem for me when it comes to things that are lined or cuffed! Besides all that, we left our sewing machine behind. But God is good. I did find things that were modest, looked professional and I felt comfortable in them. And I made Jessa real happy as she insisted I needed pointed toe shoes as to make my legs look longer. I said no way...then I went to payless and found some semi-pointed toe shoes that are really comfortable and actually don't make my legs look so thick (another way of saying fat ~smile). She's even wanting to borrow them!
Anyway, today was our first Sunday service. We had 16 out and there was a really good Spirit there. With out a doubt we will rapidly out grow the Grant's garage as it was pretty tight quarters. Tonight I'm doing a youth service. It is so great as this church has more youth than anything. There is so much potential here. Have I said God is Good!
First off - Sister Tammi the jacuzzi was ok but I wasn't impressed. I think I would like a massage chair more. Also, I didn't change my blog, it was a blogger problem. I'm going to pick a picture from Jenna's and have her change my blog some day.
Mandie - I enjoyed being with you and meeting Caleb. I just wishe we would've had more time.
Megan - I worked until my body felt like there wasn't a part that didn't hurt to get unpacked before I started work. I absolutely can't stand having things in boxes. I hope this weekend to help Brother Nowling get his office up.
Speaking Brother Nowling got a job today. He walked in to the school bus company today and they didn't even look at his resume, when they heard he had driven school bus they just said he was hired, sent an application and book home with him and told him to bring it in on Monday when he starts. To top that off, he called Brother Grant and Brother Grant went over and after he completed the application and went down and got his CDL permit he too starts Monday. God is good.
I also have a beautiful 5 piece living room set. We've been looking for a couple days and we came across a place that had a great sale going on and we got a recliner sofa, a recliner/rocker love seat, 2 end tables and a coffee table at a reduced price. When we first put it in the living room, I was like this is too clutter than Brother Nowling had the boys (Micah and Josh) move things around and it looks awesome. Yes, Brother Nowling figured it out...he amazes me these days. It nice having the boys around. I know Brother Nowling has enjoyed having the extra muscles and I'm sure the boys have enjoyed the food ~smile~ and the girls have enjoyed having youth around as you've probably found out through Jenna's blog.
Tomorrow I go shopping for some professional clothes for my new job. I should be excited but really I'm not. I hate trying to find clothes that fit and look good. My current wardrobe is way to casual for my new job and Brother Nowling is insisting. Please pray that I find the right clothes at the right price without it being too miserable.
Well, I think we are pretty much unpacked. Even my our bedroom is finally put together (with the exception of a few clothes that need hangers as to hang). We really like our house. There's a lot of amenities that we didn't have in the past. Small isn't so bad once you get it all figured out ~smile~
We had our first service last night. Brother Grant first opened it up for business conference and we became official members of Anchorage. Then we had a good time of worship and Brother Nowling preached a short message. We had a good turn out. It felt...I'm not sure I can put it into words, but the fact that we're finally here...is well, you know what I mean.
We went looking for an inexpensive sofa today. I have never been in a place where the people are so open that in a half hour time you get life stories from business acquaintances. It happened yesterday with Joleesa's school and today with a salesman. We didn't get anything yet though. I am so wanting furniture in our living room. It's hard being patient as we sit in camping chairs (two of which have broken now). But we don't want to just waste our money.
Well I'm going to take advantage of one of our amenties, our jacuzzi tub ~sheepish grin. That really seems strange!
Yesterday I kept pushing to get things done. I longed to have at least the kitchen and the living room put together, but I only got 50% of that as the kitchen is done! Brother Nowling and I went grocery shopping at Fred Meyer and at Walmart. I haven't taken on driving around town myself yet and I'm too physically and emotionlly overwhelmed. I long to be able to have someone know where a particular item was packed, or where to put something, or make the various phone calls, or do the grocery shopping without me, but it's NOT going to happen. Not that they haven't tried...it just doesn't seem to work that way. Anyway, we had our first home cooked meal in weeks! Homemade chicken noodle soup. We even ate at the small kitchen table (Jessa's table that is, as after arguing to bring our big oak table, it's 2 feet too big even without the leaves in it). I don't know if I told anyone but we left almost all of kitchen stuff behind. That means no dishes, glasses, spices, can goods, or boxed goods. I have our small appliances, our good cookware set, two plastic bowls, silverware, and crock pots. When we went grocery shopping we bought microwaved items, forgetting we didn't have a microwave. Because of that we headed to Walmart and bought a small inexpensive microwave that was replacing our 19 year old monster one. We also bought some corelle ware plates & bowls, pizza pan, cookie sheet and me a tea kettle. So now our cupboards aren't empty of dishes or food. The quantity is low...but it's there ~smile~
Then as Jenna said, I pushed on as Brother Nowling had Micah hanging pictures for me. I think he thought we were done but were not! The rest was going to have to wait. The kids (I don't know what to call them any more), I should say Micah, Josh, Caleb, Jessa and Joleesa all stayed up and watched a movie with threats from both my brother and I that they better be quiet. Brother Nowling was already sleeping as you know he wasn't feeling good. He seems to be a lot better today but not totally.
Today was a different sort of a day. Brother Nowling and I got up and started trying to sort through our room and put some clothes away there before I called the Anchorage Daily News to let them know I was in town, and the IDEA homeschool people to get Joleesa enrolled (I'll tell you about that in a moment). As for me to employed at ADN everything is tingent on a drug test (I don't think I need your prayers for that one ~lol~). I've never done one of these before and I felt like a criminal almost. I understand all their percautions, but it was definitely uncomfortable.
That didn't take to long and I came back and Jody and I took Joleesa to get her enrolled in school. Here's another answered prayer. Joleesa's been homeschooled the last 4 years, but we didn't have the money for another year and she wanted to have a regular graduation ceremony, so we had agreed to let her go to the public school and I just succumbed to the fact that I would constantly be pleading the blood over her. Well, we live near East High School, over 2000 students and I had her transcripts sent there. Cody, one of the girls that go to church here, goes to West. She really wanted Joleesa to go there and her dad said he'd pick her up and bring her home. They had nothing good to say about East. I called West on Wednesday and they are closed to out of the area students as they are more than full! The principal was really nice and tried different ways of getting her in but it wasn't working. Well, our landlady is a Christian and homeschool's her five kids through IDEA (I don't remember what it stands for) and she was telling me about it and even printed off info for me (I had also heard about it through the Grants). So Joleesa had the option of East or homeschooling and she chose homeschooling. IDEA is awesome. They pay for up to $2000 for her homeschooling. She get's a lap top, she can take various PE activities and they'll pay for it. Photography class as well. She was set great credit wise (they accepted 2 of her 3 Bible classes) so she just need an English, a Science, 1/2 credit PE and 2 electives. So she is taking Gold English (a basic English that covers a little of everything), Geology, Meteorology, Alaskan History, and various activities for her 90 hrs of PE for sure. Then possibly digital/video photography and piano. The people were so helpful. There were several that came into welcome her and us to Alaska. They spent a lot of time going over her options with her. They did come on strong about an academic decathalon that I think she would have enjoyed if she would've gave it a try, but it merited a lot of reading and she was confident that she could do it. A land lady's son has done it for 3 years and this year will be the captain and he just happened to be there and he even tried to convince her (he was a "Hot" young man as the girls would say. Had the surfer boy look) but that wasn't enough. She actually started crying as she was afraid I'd make her and she really felt she couldn't do it. I really think she could, and I so wanted her to, but we left it to her. Through IDEA they have various activities that keep the families and 900+ kids Anchorage kids enrolled connected. Friday from 11 am - 2 pm there is a potluck lunch at the park. What better way for us to meet people.
To say the least nothing more has been done on the house as Jessa, Jenna, Caleb and Kelly all went to the coast while we were enrolling Joleesa. I didn't mind, nor did Joleesa or Jody as the thought of another 100+ miles on the road didn't thrill me. After all, the coast isn't going anywhere and neither are we for a very, very long time. Then of course we have service tonight (which they better be back for) which I'm really looking forward to and we then take my brother and nephew back to the airport.
Overall the people here in Anchorage have been very friendly and helpful. God continues to be good to us.
I'm sorry for the long post. I haven't allowed myself the time to read and post on anyone's blog until now and it felt good to put down what's been going on. Tomorrow it's back to working on the house. I won't be at peace until everything's in its place and a place for everything ~smile~
Emotions of all kinds flowed through me as we pulled into Anchorage at about 5:15 pm. Thankfully the tears flowed while I was still in the car. When we pulled up to the house Micah was waiting with our first welcome. Then Brother Grant and his son Jacob. Pretty soon Larry Willoya and Tim Osborne showed. Last but not least when Josh Grant got off work he arrived too. A total of 13 people unloaded the truck in about an hour's time. It was awesome. BUT we had no heat or hot water. But that's taken care of as well as a new washer installed today. All is overwhelming BUT all is well!
Thanks for the prayers. We love you all
I am finally getting to post. My nephew got our internet working on our lap top so I no longer need to share with Jenna - yippi ai aye! Though I've posted tid bits I decided to post from the beginning here...if you don't have the time, don't start, because it's a long one *smile*
An Experience of a Life Time
DAY 1
After driving through the night Sunday from our general assembly in Tennessee, where we received such a refreshing from the Lord, we picked up our trailer. We found it was 7,000 pounds overweight. OUCH! What do I leave behind? Chest freezer, dressers, pots and pans, T.V., a Gander mountain tent, the list goes on. I’m numb but not as much as Jody is as we leave almost ALL his books as wells as the girls and my books. The furniture is left with a friend to sell and get what he can out of and he’ll send us the money. All the books will be shipped up by another dear friend, Larry Doupnik, a little at a time. Matthew Peter also stopped into help and took a few things of Jessa’s and will try to ship them out when he can. How can we thank these? God will bless them we know. We take off still being about 3,000 lbs over but everything is looking good. We go to my brother’s house in MN for the night (3 hours away).
DAY 2
We head out at 6 am the trailer wheel is constantly hot. We call the trailer place, and they say it’s possible the bearing or the brake is tight and needs to loosen up. We continue on but we’re concerned and disconnect the brake to that wheel. It’s still hot. Pulling into a station for a restroom break in Steele, ND someone yells out to the guys that they heard grinding of the wheel-bearings (?) and there’s an auto repair 3 blocks away. The guys there were great. The brake had hung up and hadn’t released. When they removed the brake using gloves, it was so hot the metal was literally white hot! Thank the Lord, we we’re there 1 1//2 hours and they only charged us $42.50. The rest of the day goes on uneventful and nothing but flat lands as far as the sights. The first night we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express with a family suite (remember my brother and nephew are traveling with us) at about 9 pm. They had a pool and whirlpool. The pool had an awesome slide but the water was running down it so fast it literally threw you down the slide. I hit my head the second (and last time) going down. The whirlpool felt good for the ending of our second day.
DAY 3
We leave out from ND at 6 am and our first sights of the day are the Painted Canyons of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Awesome! Jenna gets some pictures, but dumb me forgot to get the video camera out. We then cross into Montana and I feel like I’m in one of Western books I’ve read. Prairie grass everywhere along with bales of hay, golden fields, and dried up sunflower fields. Even saw some cowboys (but no Indians *smile*). We met up with our friends Caleb and Mandie Alexander and baby Emily, in Havre, MT at A&W for supper and a short visit which was nice. We then travel on across the Canadian border to be sent back around to the US border to register Jody’s fire arms. Canada had no problem with them but said that the US may not let us back in if they’re not registered. Oops, I checked into what we needed to do to get them across the Canadian border but totally forgot that we would have to enter back into the states. We then go on to Lethbridge AB for the night. It’s about 8 pm but by the time we find a rooms that fairly reasonable it’s 10 pm. Our precious friends from Kalispell, MT the Dorans, (Matthew Peter’s sister and her family) meet us there. Unfortunately Jody and I are exhausted, Jody’s sick (yes, Tammy Jody not me ~smile), we’ve been frustrated trying to find a hotel, starving we say hi and bye to them (Jessa stays and visits with them as they get a room the same place as we do) and get subs at subway and go to bed. This ends day 3 (oh we got a dent in the trailer a dumpster hit our trailer ~smile~ oh well, we’ll fix it).
DAY 4
We take off again at 6 am. We spend a good hour or more getting our money exchanged at a bank and getting some groceries at Walmart (where the prices are outrageous even though the exchange is $1.07 to our $1). We’re missing our Caribou but we find a coffee shop when we’re looking for a restroom (I mean “washroom” in Canada they didn’t know what we meant by a restroom). Alberta doesn’t look much different then Montana and ND. There was lots of wilderness, flat lands, and truckers. We cross over to Grand Prairie, BC for the night. It’s a large city so it shouldn’t be difficult to find a hotel. Yeah right. Everyone’s full. So we finally pull into a gas station and using my brother’s calling card I call around and find one (and I mean just one – price can’t matter), family suite at Super 8 that has 3 rooms, 1 double bed, a pull out sofa, and bunk beds for 3. Price is outrageous but we have to sleep! And sleep we did. Our heads hit the pillows and we’re out at about11:00 p.m. The beds are soooo comfortable that we sleep so hard the rooster on cell-phone actually wakes us up this time.
DAY 5
NO ELECTRICITY, NO CELL PHONES, NO INTERNET SERVICE. As we hit the Alaska highway in Dawson Creek, BC God's awesomeness comes forth. Around every curve is breathtaking views. From foliage colored covered mountains, to stone mountains, to lakes, to caribou, to sheep, to buffalo, to bears. Everything is gorgeous. The day went by fast as we saw the the beauty before us. With those mountains come steep grades to climb and go down. The truck was already giving us whip lash as it crossed bumpy roads with it's heavy load but add the climbs to it and it was worse yet. Going down the first incline left our brakes smoking and Jody a bundle of nerves. He asks Kelly to take over driving, so we go from the jerking truck to the cramped car but it still feels good. Jody especially was relieved as he felt a migrane coming on. The next climb left the engine hot so we had to pull over again but we got to take some beautiful pictures that will be on Jenna's blog and ringo. After that Kelly gets the right gear for climbing and the right tension for the brakes and no problems from there. We stopped at a small station for gas and they have no electricity, phones, etc. Everything is ran from a generator but they have awesome homemade ice cream. When we stop again we decide we better make hotel reservations for us in Liard River as we don't know what time we'll get in. We got in at 10 pm after driving in pitch black around Muncha Lake (which was cool even in the dark when the moon broke though the clouds, although earie at the same time). It was the neatest logged lodge. We had a room that had 2 double beds, and 2 singles. It reminded me of the perfect place to have a retreat. It was by the hot springs but we didn't get to see them as it was raining and it would've been a long hike. Once again there was electricity, t.v., cell phone, etc. all by generator. It had it's own restraunt of home cooking. Both the room and the food was very expensive. By the way gas ran as high $4.99.9. At Watson Lake we also saw the sign forest. Street signs and signs of all kinds from around the world were on post filling acres of land. It was really cool.
DAY 6
We leave out at 8 am today as the gas station and restraunt didn't open until 7 pm and after driving in the dark last night we decided we best wait until daylight any way. We are now in the Yukon and it too is gorgeous. We stopped at the Cutless Falls and did a 10 minute hike back to the falls. It felt good to be out hiking and the falls were pretty. Nothing like the Gooseberry Falls up the North Shores of MN but pretty. The best thing was the trail was prepared for the physically challenged (they had a sign that even said that). We then get in to White Horse for the night and we can't find a hotel that has parking big enough for the truck and trailer. We got in about 7:30 pm but didn't find a room until 9 pm at the Yukon Inn. White Horse is a rough town. Beautiful mountains surrounding it but the town itself seemed really rough. One of the deciding factors for the Yukon Inn was they had a security guard. The rooms were out rageous in price so we wound up taking one room with 2 double beds, and 2 cots. We were wall to wall people, but it worked.
DAY 7
Oops, I thought my alarm was set for 5:30 a.m. but because we haven't had cell service our time didn't change over so the rooster crowed at 4:30 p.m. I reset the alarm, so I thought but forgot to set to "on" and I just happened to wake up at 5:50 a.m. Anyway we were on the road by 7 a.m. and expienced more of God's beauty but some horrible roads. Gravel, rocks, dips, dirt, construction but beautiful snowcapped mountains with a lake around the base, The Kluane Mountain range and Lake left us awestruck for miles. We also see an Elk Buck today. Jody made noises at him and he started bucking and Jenna and I thought he was going to come at the little Nissan and we would have been goners. At Beaver Creek we change vehicles to cross the border. God is soooo good it took less then 10 minutes at the border. The lady was laughing with us as she asked if we we're coming in with more than $10,000 and Jody said no but we were definitely coming in with less than we had left with. We then called for hotel reservation from the border pay phone for Tok Alaska. Finally reasonably prices and two rooms. It was great seeing miles instead of kilometers. MPH instead of km. I started singing "I'm glad to be an American". Best of all we are now in our home state, Alaska. How wierd does that sound. Any way the roads were much better and we actually pull in at 6 pm (although we gained another hour which helped). We pull into Tok and Jody tells Joleesa to check her cell and a scream comes forth. We all have messages and we're all standing outside on our phones. Jody calls his mom and I call my mom and dad. It's mom's birthday so Kelly and I wish her happy birthday.
We have traveled about 3200 miles and I know we have 328 miles but I am soooo thankful to God for a safe and beautiful trip thus far. He didn't bring us this far to leave us before we get to Anchorage. It's been more expensive then we planned but the Lord has been good He'll see us through.
Thank you all for your prayers. Please keep them coming for the last stretch. We'll let you know as soon as we get there.
First let me apologize that I'm not able to look or comment on blocks. Our internet time is limited.
Jenna has covered most the things on her block. The Canadian border was frustrating for me as I could've prevented some of the hassel if I would've thought of the fact that we would be re-entering the US in Alaska. As Sis. Tammi knows I checked the regulations for fire arms for Canada but I didn't for the US. So we got sent back to the US side to register our guns (which are soooo old that we couldn't find #'s on some of them). Then had to go back through Canada and file them with Canada. Both sides were very nice and helpful but we lost about an hour and half therefore missing out on time with the Dorans that met us. I was so exhausted that I think I said only a half a dozen words to them. Jacob and Bekah, thanks for meeting up with us. I'm soooo sorry it didn't work out better. We did get to do lunch with Caleb and Mandi Alexander in Montana and that was really nice.
North Dakota was barren until the last few miles of painted Canyons. They were breath taking. Montana was golden fields of prairie grass for miles and miles. Then in Canada there's been nothing spetacular until the last couple hours tonight. We stayed in Lethbridge last night and Grand Prairie tonight. It is very difficult to find hotel rooms and they are costly. We began the foot mountains tonight and will continue through them tomorrow. We have been trying to travel 600 miles each day, but the mountains will slow us down considerably. That and the fact that we must stop at about 4:30 pm for safety purposes as well as to be able to get hotels. We hope to travel to Laird (sp?) where there are hot springs.
Each day we have lost time one way, or another, day 1 - brake problems, day 2 - border, day 3 - finding a bank to convert our money and finding a grocery store to buy sanwich makings as to save money. Though we lost time, the breaks helped a very long day in the vehicles.
I thank the Lord for His safety. I will say four days in small spaces, tired, bored, etc. calls for a bit of getting on each others nerves. The Alaskan Highway starts tomorrow, so we'll actually get to SEE things and feel like this is more than a race to the finish.
Thank you all for your prayers...I miss your blogs; but I'll have lots of reading to catch up on. *smile*
We are 622 miles closer to our destination. We have landed in Dickenson, ND for the night. We ran into trailer problems...one wheel was hot. We called the trailer company and they said it may be a bearing is tight or a brake is tight, either way it should loosen up. By the time we got into ND Jessa had to have us stop and when we pulled in a man told us he heard a grinding that sounded like the bearings were going out...PTL there was an auto shop just 3 blocks a way. The brake had gotten hung up and wasn't releasing. The wheel was actually white hot. The Lord spared us and it only cost us $42.50 but we did lose some time.
We saw hills, open space, and sunflower fields. But my personal rainbow followed us out my window. Jenna wouldn't believe me and yet Jessa saw it. It turns out we have tinted window and with polarized sunglasses it makes a rainbow of colors. I've been saying it's my personal rainbow and the Lord is reminding me He is with us.
We have to cover a lot of territory tomorrow. I'll hopefully post more tomorrow
Well we're back from the assembly and on our way to Alaska after having unloaded half of the trailer and leaving it behind. We were over weight by 7000 lbs. :0( Go figure. We're still over weight but the tires look good and they weren't hot. So that's good. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!
I know God will get us there. He's worked several miracles already. My brother and nephew are traveling up with us and we'll fly back. That is soooo awesome. Also, I had two job offers. The second one counter offered but after talking with my former boss I'm going to go with the Anchorage Daily News. Great pay and awesome benefits. I have to call tomorrow and accept the offer at ADN and email the decline of the 2nd one.
We made it to Minnesota to my brother's house for the night and we'll travel 10 hrs. a day. We'll keep everyone posted.
I PTL for the refreshing of the assembly. As you pray for our trip, please pray for our bodies. My feet and ankles are so swollen and painful.
God gave us a rainbow...so I know we'll get there!
