Treasures

Job refers to snow as "treasures". Well this weekend we received LOTS of treasures. It has been beautiful to look out on but treacherous to be out driving on. I still can't use to the fact that Alaska just doesn't do much plowing and NO salting and very little sanding. Yes, we're allowed to have studded tires, but when you have to plow through snow the studs aren't enough. We have had our fill of having to unbury our cars wherever we go as the snow has been like the energizer bunny, it just keeps coming and coming. I had to go grocery shopping and I didn't think I'd ever get the cart out to the car as I pushed, and shoved it through the snow. I was so afraid it was going to tip over and by the time I got to the car I was breathing so hard I felt like I had ran a mile.

So what happens when the snow stops? Below zero weather. I'd rather have more treasurers then the bitter cold. And if anyone tells me what do expect you live in Alaska, I'll, I'll, I don't know what I'll say or do ~smile. I've said it before, Alaska's weather (Anchorage any way) is not much different than Menomonie, WI. So I'm use to it, but it's a longer season here than in Wisconsin. Considering we got our fist snow in October, we're in for a lonnnnnnng winter. But with it comes so much beauty.



Have a good week everyone.

The Weekend Ahead

I had a good Thanksgiving. It started at 8 am. I made homemade cranberry compote (a first for me) using a recipe one of the ladies at work brought for our potluck, then added a little bit of my own creativity. It had granny smith apples, orange zest, orange juice (and I added chunks of oranges), golden raises, and chopped walnuts. It was tart and good. I set that in the fridge to chill and started on the dressing and stuffed the turkey (I use the turkey bags so I didn't need to start it just yet), I peeled potatoes, made my Waldorf salad, then put the turkey, and the squash in the oven. By this time Joleesa was up so we headed to Fred Meyer to pick up a couple of things that I needed and do a little shopping of course (in Wisconsin I did Kmart and they had gifts to the first 100 customers on Thanksgiving day-not here). I was surprised how busy it was. Jenna met up with us at Fred Meyer. Joleesa actually found some things to put on her bedroom wall. Here is my daughter, 19 years old and bare walls as she never bought anything for them and I had no idea what she would like. We're going with the theme "Live, Love, Laugh". We bought a variety of things that say that on it. So we'll be fixing her room up for Levi ~ you should feel special Levi ~ smile. Then back home and the girls set the table, made the punch and started dishing things as they were done and I continued the cooking. The day at first started out kind of lonely, thinking "I have 3 girls and not a one of them were in the kitchen with me". But in the end we put it all on the table at 3 pm just as was planned. I love it when I can make that happen and have everything hot. Our company arrived about 10 minutes late but no problem. We quickly overate, they then went to the living room and watched Wall-E while I cleaned up (Joleesa took a nap, Jenna and Jody helped out some) and the kitchen was put back in order. Then about an hour later we had some Boston cream pie that our company brought. Josh and Jackie showed up for the basketball game and quickly fixed plates of leftover (they were working). The four left for the game, our company left, Jody went to lay down, Jessa got off work, fixed left overs, I had some of the delicious pumpkin pie that Heather Adams made and brought us (it was so sweet of her), Jessa took off to spend the rest of the night on the phone with Levi while I had a relaxing evening watching The Ultimate Gift (a great movie that I saw last year, but didn't remember a lot of it). The girls got home from the game, Jessa and Jenna left for home, Jody for work, Joleesa to bed and eventually I went to bed as well.

A very different Thanksgiving then what I'm use to but yet a good. I am sooo thankful for my family.

Now I have a weekend of shopping and getting my hair done. Yippee!!! I love to shop and find those perfect gifts. No gift cards from me ~ smile (inside joke).

Happy Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is a day to look forward to. And I do, but for some reason I really am missing going to be with my brothers, sisters and dad that we have done several years. Though I've not been close to my family we always had Thanksgiving and Christmas to come together with some of them. Just knowing this year it's not even option (as it wasn't last year either) just is leaving a little longing. Then add to that the fact that Jody has to work tonight and tomorrow night so we're having a late dinner. And no matter what time we tried to have it Jessa can't be there because she works noon to 8 pm (or something like that) so any way it's going to be different which I should be used to by now. We did invite a couple of people to join us and then after we eat Joleesa and Jenna are going to go to the Alaska Shootout college basketball tournament. Jenna got two free tickets as did I so Jackie and Josh are going to join them and it's in the evening.

Life is full of changes. And as your family grows up the changes keep coming. Levi will be here for a visit for about 8 days. We'll be meeting what will probably be our first son-in-law. I'm looking forward to it.


Today I worked 12 hours. Our graphic design department is so short staffed and whenever there is a holiday the paper still has to get out. So I volunteered to step in and do whatever I could to help out. I couldn't believe how appreciative so many people were for my doing it. And though I was more than happy to help out, it was overtime for me. So that means money to put away for my England mission trip. It wasn't tough work so yes it was a long day. But it felt good to be helping, to be appreciated for helpingn AND for the extra money.

Well enough of my rambling. Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Please Pray

For the Dorn and Mitzi Thompson family. Dorn's sister passed away on Friday. They won't know until after the autopsy exactly what the cause of death was but she wasn't recently diagnosed with diabetes and was having a difficult time regulating her blood sugar. I remember Julie from when we were just young people ourselves. She is a just a few years younger than I am and I don't believe she ever married. Though she was raised in the church she was not saved, unless in her last minutes she called upon God. She met Connie Wilson during one of the times she was in Minnesota and stayed in touch with her, so Sister Connie is travelling up to do the funeral. This is very close extended family. This was so sudden it really has got to be difficult for them.

Oh for the Lord to bring some good out of this. Lord give Sister Connie the Words of Life and comfort for this family.

I'm Excited for Today!

Today I'm going the Arts and Craft Emporium. Yeah, not show it's an emporium. Don't ask me why they call it that except that it's a little classier and it's going to be in our new, beautiful Deni'na Center downtown. This is a beautiful building with lots of windows. My work is having a booth there selling their Moose calendars and needed volunteers. I love craft shows (even if I never buy anything as costs are usually high. Not that the items aren't worth it). Anyway they needed volunteers and seeing as I had no plans, love crafts shows and can get in free this way, I thought why not. So I'll be working the booth from 2 pm - 6 pm. Our moose calendars are a hot item every year. ADN sells thousands of them. The newspapers photographers, as well as readers pictures of moose throughout the year are looked over and an committee decides which 12 pictures will go in the calendar and ADN prints them. They have done it for years and have quite the following. So I expect the booth will be quite busy. So here's my plan for the day....
-clean house
-go to the 5th Avenue mall to JC Penney to look for winter boots and possibly some Christmas shopping.
-get some lunch
-head over to the Emporium a little before I start so I have a chance to walk through before I have to work the booth.
-drop the booth money at the safe at the office
-fix supper for my husband and whatever girls are there
-work on the church bulletin
-try to convince someone to play some games (I really want to play games and everyone is working these day - the nerve of them)

Tomorrow we will have a very skeleton congregation. We'll have 4 (possibly 5 out because of work), 2 out because of anniversary...Happy Anniversary Micah and Megan! And another 5 that we don't know for sure as they don't always come; so yeah a very few...but where two or three are gathered together in My name...Jesus will be there and that's what it's all about.

Have a great weekend and a blessed service.

So Very Tired.

Please pray for me today as I slept rotten last night. I feel like I didn't sleep at all. I actually am so tired I am feeling nauseated. With this being the busiest time of the year at the newspaper, and us being so short staffed. There's no way I can't go in...not that I wouldn't any way. If I go 6 months with out a sick day, I earn an extra vacation day and with going to England and all the different things going on this next year, I need as many vacations days I can get.

Today is our Thanksgiving potluck luncheon with Turkey and Ham (and then everyone brings a dish to pass). I'm looking foward to that, but then you know how turkey makes you feel after you eat it...So any way, I would really appreciate your prayers.

What Would Jesus Do?

I really had to ask myself that question today. With the many changes in our office from accounts being switched and commissions being changed things aren't as clear as they use to be. To make a long story short there was an ad that I initially gave the quote for prior to the changes made to my former boss' position. When everything came down today my former boss tried to insist it should be his. He made some very lame reasoning and all. Bottom line was it qualified to be on my desk but I knew if it was to stay there I would have literally fight for it. It was over $7000 of revenue for this month with more coming throughout the next year. It would've made a big difference in what my commission be. Though the facts showed it should be on my I kept hearing Mark's arguments and hearing almost a desperation in his voice (he is experiencing a big difference in pay, I'm sure and has a big mortgage payment as he lives in one of the ritzier parts of town). He's been at ADN for 31 years and though there's several reasons for the demotion, it's still got be rough. BUT the account really was mine. If I didn't just give it over to him, I would have to go to the VP of advertising, who is so overwhelmed that he doesn't have time to blow his nose (and leaves for a week of vacation on Friday) as to keep it. I literally sat at my desk asking the Lord to show what HE would have me to do. Not was fair, but what was the best witness in this. So I gave it to Mark. Though I was really disappointed that he (Mark) made it come to this I felt at peace about having done it. Then only moments later another order came in that has always been mine but they hadn't advertised for months, and I had to ask him a question and after he answered it he asked me if I was going to keep it on my desk. Shockingly I told him it always had been on my desk and never was considered national. His response was just ok. Ugh!

Anyway, every now and then we have to remember good work ethics even need the help of the Lord. I still feel good about what I did and now I need to just keep a good attitude going forward. I know God will provide for me and I will NOT have a dog eat dog mentality. God's been good to me in my job and I know He'll continue as long as I keep a Godly attitude.

Oh to be Young Again....

I am so physically exhausted. It was a busy day. Brother Nowling and I actually slept in. I believe we got up about 8:45 am but we both set to cleaning house, me laundry and then the bulletins, him doing the bills and then vacuuming. Then we had errands to run. We mailed off a box of things for the Williams, then headed to the Sear mall for several things. Brother Nowling desperately needed new shoes. Last Sunday he stepped out the truck and the heal broke of his church shoes and his work shoes were separating from the sole. That man wears the shoes until they literally fall a part. The church shoes he's probably had for 5 or more years. Though the work shoes hadn't been but a year or two he wore them a lot. He had found himself some work shoes at Famous Footwear on Friday and realized he could half off a second pair, so I insisted we go back with his receipt and he get him some dress shoes. Thus we did.

Then we headed to GNC as he was told by his doctor he needed to get some special vitamins to build the cartilage in knee. And I got my blood work results and the average vitamin D level is suppose to be 32 and mine was only 7. What does that mean...I had to google it to find it. Vitamin D helps the bones and lack of it can cause bone and muscle aches...oh you mean it's not just my age and being overweight. Anyway so we picked that up, then Brother Nowling went and sat in the truck well I went grocery shopping.

We then met Josh back at our place as it was youth night and it was to be dinner at Spago. Italian. We went at sat up the church with red and white, candle light and classical music (couldn't find Italian). Then came back and I assisted with the salad and the drinks while Josh prepared spaghetti and chicken Alfredo. It really turned out good. I think everyone enjoyed it, it just got over too soon for some. But by the time we did all that, transported everything there, and then back. I am absolutely exhausted. That's why I say I wish I was young again...although several of our youth are working a lot so they are either working or sleeping to the point that "youth" isn't what it use to be.

By the way, PTL Joleesa got on at Target. They just opened here in Alaska in October. She applied online on Saturday, got called Monday for an interview, got offered the job on the spot, and had orientation today. She officially starts Friday. They actually had her scheduled to work Monday, but she has to finish out at McDonald's this week. She is so glad to be getting out of McDonald's as are we. We pray this works out for her.

In regards to my post for Levi...Levi thanks for allowing me to have so much fun. It was great reading the comments. I wish I could've seen some of the faces as they read the post and heard their on the spot comments. I want you all to know that I kind of got of "taste" of Levi that Saturday Jessa was travelling back home. We were texting back and forth and I got and idea of his sense of humor so I figured he could take. I'm sure we'll have great fun when he comes.

Tomorrow obviously is church. I pray we have a good service. I really long for all our members to be out. Work is keeping so many a way. Please help us pray that changes. For their sake and the sake of the church. Also, tomorrow night is my youth service...usually I have it pretty well put together by now and maybe just have to put some finishing touches on it, or review it, but I have NO idea what I'm going to do. I have been praying and seeking inspiration but NOTHING has come. So please pray for me tomorrow as I have to get it together tomorrow afternoon. I don't want to be doing something just to have something either.

May God bless all the church services tomorrow.

This Is For You Levi

Well Levi wanted something from the parents. He won't get from the dad (he reads blogs, tells me I have to blog, and chews me out if I say anything about him that he doesn't like on my blog but that's as far as it goes) but you'll get something from the mom.

I am so glad you have come into Jessa's life. You have made her very happy.

As the mom, I want you to know in a world where everyone thinks they have to live together before getting married to decide if they're right for each other, I'm so grateful that God has made it clear as to he right way to "be sure". A loooonnnnngggggg courtship. The more time you can spend together, in a group and with chaperones of course, the more you can be sure.
Because as you know marriage, is for life.

I also need to be sure you can lead her Spiritually first and utmost. Support her financially and be "the man" of the house as well. You need to know how to work on cars so her dad doesn't have to work on hers any more. You also, need to be able to fix things around the house, so her dad doesn't have to any more. You see her dad has had to take of 4 women so, we want to know he can turn at least one of them over to someone else to relieve him of some of the responsibility.

IF you do plan on marrying, as much as I look forward to being a grandmother, it is very important that you two allow yourselves time to get to know each other. Get settled in and have some fun together. So I strongly recommend you wait 3-5 years before you have children.

Having said all that, I must tell you Levi....I'm JOKING!

Seriously now, I thank God daily that He has brought you and Jessa together. There is not a single person that has said anything negative about you. Your testimony goes before, literally because most of what we know of you is from other people. That says so very much. I am confident that it won't be long that I will get a son-in-law, and from what I hear, you'll make a good one. Her dad and mine heart's desire for our girls is that they find a Godly man and what we have heard, is that she has found one. Wherever God takes you in this relationship, I know that you will be good to her and she will be good to you. Enjoy yourselves, but keep God as the main focus in your life.

A good weekend!

It was a good weekend, it has just ended too soon. I woke up yesterday morning to my cell phone ringing at 7 am. It was my dad. The time difference has made it very difficult for me to catch him. He is doing good and keeping busy, so he's not in his room very often. I'm a morning person, so though I planned to sleep in until at least 8 am it was ok.

Brother Nowling then got up and the two of us worked on cleaning the house. Then we went to Golden Coral for their breakfast buffet. It was awesome and the price was cheaper then any other place that we would have gone (except I do have some buy one get one free coupons ~ oh well, it was good). We then headed to the Book and Bible store to see about getting the communion things as we were having communion today...OUCH! Each piece was over $40 and we just couldn't do it. So we bought the disposable communion cups and I used the plastic tray and bowl that we've used before. We then went grocery shopping and then came home. Brother Nowling is walking with a cane. Though his knee is doing somewhat better, he still experiences bouts of excruciating pain.

I then worked on the state books...ugh. It is soooo frustrating when you're off! I knew where the mistake had to be but I couldn't figure out why. After sever hours I got them to balance and then Josh and Jackie came for dinner and we talked a little about the next youth activity that Josh is in charge of. We're going to turn the church into an Italian restaurant, Spago, and put on a spaghetti dinner with an ambiance of Italy and Chef Joshua doing the cooking, Brother Nowling and I and probably Jackie doing the serving. I'm really hoping the young people will invite someone out. We have these monthly youth activities for the young people to keep busy but also so that we can have an opportunity to bring our friends to fellowship with us. This is something totally different for us but I know Josh can pull it off and I'm excited to help him.

Then this morning's Sunday School lesson was great. I got a lot out of it and I spoke pretty strong and clear to the youth. We are always talking about God's faithfulness to us, but what about our faithfulness to Him. We are more faithful to our jobs, family and friends then to our Lord and Saviour. It is so easy to leave Him out of plans. To have excuses why we don't have our devotions, aren't in church, etc. We desire faithfulness in our relationships be it work, family or friends AND we desire God's faithfulness to us...but what about our faithfulness to Him. Brother Nowling then preached a good message from Ezekiel.

This evening at 5 pm we had our first communion and feetwashing in our new building...that is it was suppose to start at 5 pm but some had to work and just couldn't make it that soon so we started at 5:30 pm. I, myself had a hard time getting into the right spirit as I was really frustrated for those that were missing. Whatever their reason, it was a great disappointment from me, and I can imagine from our God that we were honoring, that I had to fight to rise above, but once I did. A sweet spirit settled over us. It was a good feeling. Our God is soooo good and He deserves everything from us. Then Jessa had her WMB service. It was short but encouraging as she reminded us that we all have "a story" of things that have happened in our lives that we can use to share with someone and help them to come to the Lord. Then we went to a little restaurant and fellowshipped and ate.

Now I'm off to bed as another week faces us. The Lord has really been helping me to have more of a positive attitude at work. The staff is dwindling as is our commission. I will receive the lowest commission I've had since I started there (and yet this new plan was to help us make more money A good number didn't make any commission. The CFO is actually stepping in and taking a look at things and we hope to re-vamp the plan before we lose any more people.

Oh and by the way, I'm going to England in April Sister Sharon asked me to join the youth mission that's going there in April. Though I'm stepping out in faith for the finances (especially with the lack of commissions). I know I'm suppose to go and I am so excited. I resigned from direct ladies retreat as it takes place the weekend I get back. Things just weren't coming together for me to plan it and I looked at the calendar and realized why...I'm going to England and I'm not the one that is to be in charge this year. So I resigned. I am confident that this is the Lord's will on both issues, England and ladies retreat.

This year and 2009 holds a lot of exciting things for us. Many of you have been reading of the love story of Levi and Jessa....I'll leave it with this fact ~ I'm excited for Jessa and I'm anxious to meet the man personally that God has brought into her life. Then I'll have England and then excitement is all around regarding our camp with the Griffins. Yes, Sister Sharon is our evangelist. Brother Tim and Victoria will be coming. They are going to teach a class on relationships. And our theme is "Waging War!" This is Alaska and we have young people that are in the military here. This theme holds great meaning and I'm excited to see what the Lord is going to do for us this year.

Have a good week everyone.

Please Pray for Brother Nowling

Last week it was his tooth, this week his knee. He is horrible pain with his knee. Some time ago he twisted and then he did it again Monday night. He was in so much pain Tuesday night he couldn't find a comfortable position. He went to an orthopedics doctor (it happened on the job so workman's comp says he has to). They are thinking he tore the muscle (maybe just stretched it, but considering the pain more likely torn). They also found the one side of his knee is bone on bone (no cartilage) nothing to do with the twisting just years. They gave him a cortisone shot and then sent for an MRI. We don't know the results of that yet. He made it through church last night but him and I went out to eat afterwards and we wound up getting it to go because he was in such pain, he was fighting tears and ready to throw up. If it's torn, it means surgery, so please pray for him.

I Asked for a night of Laughs and I Got It!

A couple of weeks ago Matthew Peter and I were texting each other and I asked next time he was home if we could have a game night as I needed a good laugh. He promised me pizza and games...and he kept his promise last night. He brought Nathan, Micah, and Megan with him. Earlier in October I bought UNO attack for a youth night. I think we played about two rounds of it after Jackie's cool group games that she had us do and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I know I did. So that was the game that I wanted to start the night with. A game that took no thinking, didn't last forever, and that I stood a chance to win (remember my losing streak about this time last year). We'll part of that came true. The "didn't last forever" came true for the first game to 500 as it took Micah I believe only 3 hands to hit 500. The second game we played two rounds and no one reached 500 as each round lasted FOREVER. Uno Attack has some cards that regular Uno doesn't have; trade hands with another player, "X" means lay down all your cards of that color. Now remember the name says "attack" so instead of drawing you hit the launcher and it does just that it LAUNCHES cards at you. There's a 2, ? (hit until you get something) and everyone has to hit it. Now see the deal is, it doesn't launch every time. When you hit you may not get anything, or you may get 3 cards, 5 cards, I think the most is 10 (and that I know because it spit 10 at me several times). We laughed so hard. The game changes constantly. You may have UNO one minute than someone trades their hand with you and you have 20 cards, OR you don't have a card to lay down so you hit the launcher and you get "vomited" a bunch of cards. Sister Vicki and Sister Becki, the laughs you two would have would have your sides hurting. It is so much fun....but after 5 hours of it and 2 hands being probably about 3-4 of those hours, I don't mind waiting awhile to play it again. BUT I WON the first game well guess who lost...(my winning score 60, Micah's losing score 619). The second game we called it quits at 1 am Matthew won with 199 and Nathan lost with 425. Oh and Nathan was a laugh in itself, he loved to get the cards. He'd get his hand built up (and never organized the cards) and then get a trade hands and trade someone almost ready to go out, and then do it all over again. That was his strategy and it was great fun for him and us.

If you've never played the game, get it. It's worth it.

Well I got get some work done and then we have youth Bible Study tonight. Everyone have a good weekend.