I Love You Lord....

I had a day yesterday when I was feeling lonely. Longing for a "best" friend" beyond my husband. For some reason over the years I've never received that privilege. As a child we moved around so much that I didn't go to the same school two years in a row until 10th grade and we jumped from church to church for years. Then when I did find the Church and married, we continued the pattern of moving. Any way, my husband is my best friend but some times I long for that lady friend to hang out with, shop with and laugh with . His idea of shopping is sitting on a bench in the mall, or in the car and waiting for me. He wants to go target shooting with his gun, and he wants me to go too, I'll try it but it's just not me.

Don't get me wrong, there are those that have come into my life that are "special" to me and when I am with them we have the greatest time, but those people are few and not nearby. There's been many times I've realize it's my own fault as I don't allow myself to get close because I don't want to get hurt, or they'll just be taken out of my life some way, some how. Any way, last night was one of those times I was longing for someone to call and just say, "let's go shopping and have lunch", and there's no one to do that. Some of the youth have "put up" with me being around them and I love them all the more for it as I truly enjoy it, but where is that person my age, that has similar likes as me...any way last night, it really hit me hard. Then today, God showed me once again who my best friend is, HIM. He is so good to me. He laughs with me, cries with me, is there with me wherever I go. Just the time I need to feel "special" He makes it happen. Not in the way, I maybe thought it should be, or wanted it to be...but He does and I love Him all the more for it.

Well sorry for the...I'm not sure what you'd call it! It probably has a lot to do with the weather. I don't know when the last time we saw the sun. Rain, rain, and more rain is what we've had. The good thing about blogs, if you don't want to hear it, just stop reading ~smile.

PFDs

Jessa, Joleesa and I didn't get our dividend (PFD) but Jenna and Brother Nowling did. But Joleesa and I finally got a letter explaining the status. Mine said they couldn't find my direct deposit account at Alaska Pacific Bank so they'll be mailing me a check. That's fine, but I didn't put Alaska Pacific Bank as my bank (and actually there isn't any such bank), so that's why my account number didn't match up. UGH! Joleesa's had something to do with her direct deposit and they said she too, would be receiving a check. That to is fine, but we don't even know what that problem was. But with Jessa, she didn't receive anything and when we checked the website it said "not found". She was feeling really discouraged and thought for sure she wouldn't get it. I assured we'd find the paper work and get it worked out. Find the paper work Brother Nowling did. He handed it to me and the minute I looked at it I knew the problem. Her last had changed, she had a typo, Jessalynn Nowlind. Sure enough I go into the website under Jessalynn Nowlind and it says "pending" assigne to case worker....So Brother Nowling and her will be going in tomorrow morning and wait in what should be a very long line and get it cleared up. At least we all know what's happend.

Josh Grant is going to be holding Brother Nowling's hand as he buys himself a hand gun. A dream he has had for some time. It's actually been fun watching him with these young men (and ladies~Jackie) discussing which gun he should get. I asked Josh if I should go with so he doesn't spend "too much". His response, tell me how much he's allowed to spend and I'll make sure he doesn't go over it. We sat visiting with several of them Wednesday night and the discussion centered around "guns" and what he should get. They looked to me...my words, he knows what bills we have, what we want to put in savings and what he has left. If he can live with his concious and feels like God approves with how much he spent, who am I to stand in the way. Ohhhh...pretty clever. But you know I really meant it. He wants me to go with him target shooting some time. I probably will borrow a gun some time to see if it's something I'd enjoy, but I don't forsee me getting one.

What I did get is a small antique "looking' stand to sit where the piano was, along with a tricyle planter. I needed something to put my state books, and youth things in as Brother Nowling has the small office. I really love it and I got it for next to nothing. I'm going to get new glasses (but those I would've gotten any way, but we just don't have to budget for it this way).

Well, gotta run. We've got to go pick up Brother Mack from the airport as he preached in Bethel as Grants went to Seattle to celebrate their anniversary and Heather is in labor.

By the way, this morning attendance was small due to those working, some being out of town and other's in or at the hospital so we had a two hour long Sunday School on "Restoring Abraham's Wells" I so enjoyed it and I think others did too.

2 Years Today

At 6:30 pm Alaska time, 2 years ago to day we arrived in Alaska at this place we call home. We wondered if it would ever really be "home". I am still in awe at the beauty of Alaska. I still get "lost" in town, but it wouldn't matter where I lived that would happen. I am considered one of the "veterans" at the office (only two other reps have been there longer than I and only by 2 and 3 months). I have had a good 2 years on the job with much growth, and having won many prizes and bonuses.

But the reason we came is for the work of the Lord and pastoring the Anchorage church. This last year was definitely full of ups and downs for this church. But it has been awesome seeing these young adults exercise their faith. The relationships I've built with several of them are so very precious to me. These last few weeks in our new building have been exciting. The new year holds so much anticipation for me. I believe our young people are going to really grab hold and work for the Lord in ways they never have before. Every year I think maybe I should let go of working with the youth, but God will not release me. The last few weeks my body has been feeling it's age (and weight of course) and I wonder can I really do another year. But my heart is still 100% in there with them. I just pray they aren't tired of this "old lady" attempting to lead them. I can only pray, that with God's help, I can help them to reach for greater faith and produce fruit from their labors. I love them as if they're all my own. I share their heartaches and their joys (and some of them don't even realize it). But I try to allow them to be youth and just be their when they want me, or when they need me.

The last words my mother said to me when I spoke to her the Tuesday she passed away, was "I love you, and I'm praying for you but I'm not worrying about you because I know you're doing God's work". Alaska is definitely where He's placed us beyond a shadow of a doubt. One of my greatest joys was hearing Joleesa say that she really loved Alaska (she really didn't want to move). Alaska is definitely home. I have no idea for how long, and I know their be more frustrations and sorrow, but I'm where the Lord wants me for however long He wants us here.

God has been good to us in this beautiful state of Alaska and He has sooooo much ahead for us in this next year.

A Relaxing Weekend

After a hectic, waring week on the job, I've had a relaxing weekend. With our governor becoming VP running mate for McCain, the newspaper has been busier than ever. This is a superbowl experience for our Newspaper and ADN.com. The nation is hungry for news on our governor and with The Anchorage Daily News and ADN.com being Alaska's major newspaper, we have had to have the news. ADN.com usually gets 300-500,000 page views each day (less on the weekend) and since the announcement of Palin; in 7 days we got 11.7 million page views. It's been unreal.

Anyway, I was very much needing to relax. I slept in until 9 am on Saturday. Then I worked on our bulletin. When we first came to Anchorage we did bulletins, but after months of them sitting on church chairs, we stopped. Such a waste of money and time. We (meaning "me") are doing them again but Brother Nowling made the announcement to use them for their purpose and take them home. Refer to them as reminders, please don't leave them behind!!! Cheers from me!

At about 3 pm I got Brother Nowling up (he works Friday nights) we went out to eat then he dropped me off to go grocery shopping while he vacuumed out my car. A fair trade in my mind. Then I headed off for our monthly youth Bible study. We've been studying Brother Covey's "Delving into the Depths". This is an awesome book and has proven to be a great youth study and last night was not exception. We have such a great group of youth. They really participate and we were on chapter 4 "Consider your ways...." on examining yourself. It was a great study. Then Jackie and Josh met me at the church with the cross that they and Jacob made. It looks great. We've bought stain on three different occasions for different projects and it has turned out that they're all different shades with the cross being the darkest but you know what, it needs to stand out and it really looks good. So we have our cross (I'll post a picture soon~my camera batteries are dead). Now we're waiting on our flags.

Then this morning we had a wonderful Sunday School, worship and service. There is such excitement in the air. In the past it wasn't unusual that people would be late. But not now. We are scampering to be there early enough to beat our people, who are now early, as we are only allowed two keys. Then we also have a pass key to get into the building, so no one can even get into the building until we get there. We have always hated being late and strive to be early, but now we not only have to strive to be early but to be earlier than everyone else, which is turning into a challenge and its great. It's great to fellowship before and not be "waiting" to start because several have gotten there yet.

Fall is here and came quickly. I looked out the window in the morning and our tree outside our window was full of leaves with just a little gold, and then by evening the leaves were falling and gold was the main color. The air is very crisp and fresh. Autumn is so my favorite time of the year if I can keep my husband from reminding what's shortly behind it. We all took naps this afternoon, so maybe we'll actually get a fire going in our fire pit and enjoy a fall evening.

The Piano and the Altar

Click on the picture to get a better view!

Little by little our space is becoming a sanctuary. I have so longed for an altar. Monday we searched and searched for something that would work. Even trying to figure out how to make one. Josh and Jackie came over that evening and Jackie said that Fred Meyer was having a huge 60% off furniture sale. So at 8 pm we headed out and we found what was to become our altar. They are benches for farm tables. They were a lighter wood then what I would have preferred, but Brother Nowling had wanted a small cross on the pulpit and we found one at Michaels, a craft, that he stained a contrasting light stain. We (Jenna and I, Jenna more than I) didn't think it would work, but it actually looked good. I then got a vase with "grass" in that blended well. Then the material on the piano also had some light tan, so we took the chance and got them. It started out costing more than I really had planned on spending and then with Jackie's discount and an additional 10% coupon that she got out of their sales flier, gave 25% off (it wasn't part of the 60% off sale, bummer), whicht 25% made it where I could afford it (and get this, my bonus check for taking second place in sales in June, will cover what we spent this weekend). We took them right to the church and Josh, Jackie and Joleesa put them together and they look awesome. I am so please with them and the material on the piano. I can't thank God enough for making it come together. Now I can't wait to see lives being changed at the altar.

We're awaiting the cross for the wall and then the Church and American flags. I will be sooooo excited once we get our flags up. Does anyone know where to get reasonably price flag poles and stands? I don't think the Church flag will come with one. I've been looking around town and I haven't seen any as of yet. I did a quick search online and groaned at the price. So any suggestions would be welcome.

Well now you have the process thus far (Jenna's blog has some additional pictures). God has been good. We had a wonderful Wednesday night service. A spirit of worship prevailed and that is what Brother Nowling preached on as well. God is just good. My heart is overflowing with what He's done. Oh Satan tries to bring us down...but you know what God is God and He is blessing us so and I really praise Him.

A Great Sunday!

Yesterday was a great Sunday. Our building is really beginning to look like a church. Jenna bought all the stuff to make auxiliary banners and her and Megan worked Saturday and Sunday to get them done. They look great. The two of them (Jenna especially) kept picking them a part finding their errors, though they're not "perfect", they're awesome and they look great on the wall. Brother Nowling asked the church about purchasing an attendance board when the Grants said we already have. Cool!

Oh, I need to back up to my shopping trip on Saturday. I need to get material to cover the back of the piano. I was going to get felt. The first felt we found was $17.99/yard, don't think so. Then down a little further we found some for $4.99 (and it didn't look any different then the $17.99). I was going to get shades of brown. When I went to get it cut, I saw on their cutting table some classy brown with embroidered flowers of shades of brown. It was heavier and gorgeous. It would be perfect. So I asked how much it was, $20.99. Ouch, I want it. She proceeded to say its now remnant because it was the end of the bolt, so I could get it for 50% off. I needed about 1 1/2 yards, so I thought I'd do it. Then as we're talking about needing to cover the piano bench as well, she said if I bought the WHOLE remnant, I could get 70% off. YES! So I got it for $17.99 and I have enough to cover the piano, it's bench and cover a small table. I was so thankful, God knew how much I wanted this. The thing is, sewing is NOT my forte. I'm not set with the tools for it. Jenna bought a sewing machine a couple months back, but just trying to cut it correctly had me petrified. Why didn't I just have JoAnne Fabrics cut for me right there. So, instead of taking a chance of not cutting this costly material right, I'm taking it back to JoAnne's today and have them cut. I can press, pin and hem it no problem. Cutting it was what I was freaking out about. I didn't want to mess it up. So as soon as I'm done blogging. I'm going to shower, head to Value Village, Joanne's and hopefully seeing as Brother Nowling will be with me, head to Home Depot. We're going to try to make an altar by buying a plank and table legs. Jenna was searching Craigs list for picnic tables and she saw someone made something like that, so we're going to try it.

We so need an altar. Last night I had my first youth service in the building and it was great to have space to work with. I had everyone bring a pair of their shoes. This program started out one way, then changed several times over, with even a different end to it, but that's all right, I felt God in it. I had footprints laid out on a street, ending at the cross. I had the shoes lined up across the front. I spoke about those shoes represented lives. Where did those shoes carry their owners? Sometime we look at others and make judgement on them, and then shared a poem and then an Elvis Presley song about Walking A Mile in My Shoes. Then I turned everyone to the shoes out there of the lost...the footsteps leading up to the cross had the scriptures on it for the Roman Road to Salvation which is the goal of Sister Griffen for the youth in winning souls. I was going to turn it into a basic witness training...I had found journals for all the youth at Michaels for .50 each with their initial on it. I want them to use these as their witness journal. I had them take that first page of their witness journal, and write their testimony on it. This was really difficult for some, and some just had fun being difficult, but all and all as they shared them one by one, a message came forth. I forgot to say we had 3 visitors, all youth. One is a faithful Baptist, the other two I have no idea of their background. The young Baptist girl shared her testimony too. My idea is for them to work on these testimonies to the place that is clear, direct, and inviting. That will be in the future. Anyway from there I went into sharing the salvation scriptures. This is where everything began to change, and I put the witness plan into practice kind of in a message. I then so wanted an altar, but because we still didn't have one, I invited everyone to the foot of the cross that I had the footprints leading to. All and all, it turned out very different then what I had planned but I felt the Lord's leading.

Afterwards, Brother Nowling made appointments. Due to the visitors, he used the banners to explain the auxiliaries. There were some changes that may have been surprising but I know he really prayed over them. ABM will be Tim Osborne and Jeremy Adams (he still needs to set up the bands), CPMA - Jenna, Sunday School Supt - Megan Peter, VLB-me (some days I think I'm just too old for this but God won't take the burden in my heart away), WMB-Jessa, Free Literature-Micah Peter, Evangelism-Tim Osborne, Local Website -Jackie Grant. He still has to appoint BTI and clerk/treasurer.

Oh and backing up, Brother Mack preached Sunday morning. Sister Mack sang beautifully too.

All and all it was a great day with the Lord. Watch Jenna's blog for pictures of the banner AND when I get the piano done, I'll post them as I'm really excited to that beautiful material on the piano. The next thing we're anxiously waiting for is the Church flag.

Well off to get this day rolling.

What A Week! ~ Revised

This has been a whirlwind of a week. I have been so busy at work. Wednesday I put in 11 hours and today I put in 11 hours. It's one thing to put in a lot of hours, but these are hours where your running against the clock for deadline after deadline. As all have probably heard, Alaska's Governor, Gov. Sarah Palen has been chosen as the VP running mate for the republican John McCain. I walked into the office, thankfully Jody had called me to let me know as I don't have tv or radio on when getting ready for work, and things were already a whirlwind. Partner that with the fact that the dividends that Alaskans will be getting are at about $3200 per person with the first set of checks to go out 9/12 (two weeks earlier than usual), we have a PFD sales catalog that deadlined today. I've spoken with businesses all over the US regarding advertising in this publication. It was insane. I am exhausted and ready for a long weekend.

The good news of this day was the paper was giving away free tickets to the state fair. I haven't been to the state fair for years. So I begged Jody to go with me tomorrow afternoon. I still have two more tickets as I don't think the girls want to go. It's something different. So tomorrow morning when Jody gets home from work after 8 am, I'll get up and clean house, then go get Jenna to go JoAnn Fabrics and Michaels to get the rest of the material for the banners and some other things for church, then go to the fair. Sunday, I believe Brother Mack will be preaching Sunday morning, and then I'm excited about our first youth service in our new building (where I have room to do something) and something we'll be doing. We're going to "Walk In our Brother/Sister's Shoes". I hope the Lord really gets the message I feel He's given me across through many different means. Then Monday, Value Village has everything 50% off and I know there's a set of shelves that I want to get for the church, A big wicker basket to set by the piano for song books, and hopefully I'll find some other good bargains for the Church.

Oh, Brother Nowling, Josh, Matt and Tim got our piano over to the church on Monday (my living room looks strange without but it bigger). Joleesa played it on Wednesday while Micah attempted to play guitar but couldn't as it's about 1/2 octave out of tune. So now we've got to get it tuned. Ugh! I know what it cost in Wisconsin to tune it, so I'm afraid what it's going to cost here. Oh well...And the acoustics is that place makes it so loud....that's kind of a good thing, when Jessa plays, as she plays real soft. I'm going to get some felt to put on the back of it so it looks better and hopefully it will soften the sound as well.

Also, we should be getting our Church flag here soon. Brother Werkheiser said it was mailed out last week. Then we need to get poles, stands and an American flag. We're really excited about that as we haven't pastored a church since our first pastoral that had them (and I'm not sure if Janesville had them or not). Then we'll still have an altar and SS attendance board to get (along with some posters, etc for the SS rooms). Lord, please show us how to do our altar, we so need one.

Yep, I'm looking forward to the long weekend. I hope everyone has a great one.