"Settling" In

Michael ran into work. The kids and I continued to try to dig out from under luggage and to create a "home" for the next "however" long we are here.

Last time we used the trailer Stacia still had binkies she desperately needed.  We had a good laugh when  I found one today. Memories...

No, this isn't a good look! 

Around 1100 Michael and Ch. S, our new Wing Chaplain, showed up at the trailer.  I am AMAZED at how quickly we could in-process here at Beale. Ch. S took us to the personnel building and all of our id cards are now entered in the DBIDS system for Beale and Michael met the CPTS commander and scheduled an initial in processing briefing for tomorrow a.m.

We did a windshield tour of main base and then went to the food court. My lands...it's WAY smaller than Misawa....about the same as Goodfellow AFB.  The people were friendly.  Ch. S left us at this point.

We continued on to switch our tricare from Pacific to West and signed  up for Peds and Flight Med. We have the option of seeing a civilian doc if we want as we are far enough from base. We weren't sure so just went with this for the time-being. The clinic IS very nice looking. VERY NICE.

We headed to the house with a load of things we don't need in the trailer. It is a very nice house. I had forgotten we always want/need to do some cleaning before moving in and this time will be no different.  We will not have our household goods delivered until we get some deep cleaning done...but it's going to be a GREAT house  in which to live.

Zander and Stacia love the palm trees..."We've been transported to Hawaii." ::snort::

We are discussing how we want to configure the space...a "projector" room/school storage upstairs and then library/school/office etc in the family room OR projector in the family room and books, office and storage upstairs.....I have a vision for the downstairs to be the hub of family life...rather than an upstairs "school/computer" room.  While all like the idea....Arielle likes having the computer and books sequestered in a room upstairs....we shall see...still thinking, praying and discussing.

It's a BLAST to have options!!!!!!!

This is the kitchen/family room....the room continues and ends with a fireplace.....The left corner of the kitchen is a desk.....and the space to the left is big enough for our "first" table in Misawa. The dining room is carpeted and  we will NOT be eating in it. ::snort:: We think the big table will be great in the family room for projects and entertaining..... but do we want to go ahead and put the bookshelves down here....and make it a family/school room.....or make it more of a traditional family room with the bookshelves up in the 4th room/school room.....so many options. The doorway to the right is the "butler's pantry."

 WE HAVE AN ICE MAKER!!!!

This house is BIG - it's just a matter of figuring out how things will fit best to create the environment we want. We're also trying to figure out what to do about window coverings on these lower arched windows in the living room. It's obvious the previous tenant taped something to the glass....What would you suggest?

Looking down from landing to entry/living room 

We also need to figure out how to CLEAN the upper windows....lots of birds feathers and poop out the windows. The windows are too lovely to allow that. ::snort::  It seems we have some doves nesting up high....what to do....

The kids have chosen rooms.....we think we figured out a spot for all the big furniture....the biggest surprise was the SIZE of the  master bedroom. We had seen photos....but really the photos didn't give us a real idea of the size of the "suite."  We made a video but it won't load...maybe tomorrow.

It has a walk-in closet that is HUGE - big enough to be another bedroom. There is no electric in the closet, but there is a ceiling light. We are trying to figure out if we can better utilize the space. There is a second closet which is normal sized and enough closet for us.

Stacia checked out the large mbr bath and said, "WOW - two can take showers at  the same time." ::snort:: You'll have to wait for the video.

We left the house and headed for our first dinner out....in Linda....and saw a really strange sight as we exited the restaurant. Some of us think it was a gray-haired, naked man sitting in the doorway....others think he had on skivvies....in any event....seriously classifies as strange. We left and went across to Walmart for breakfast food.

As we drove out of the Walmart parking lot Arielle commented there was something to be said to the Japanese culture where all strive to  "fit in"....all this individuality can be a bit much. Michael asked for examples. As she and I supplied examples I made the comment that it was, "Strange beyond all reason."

Stacia piped up with, "And we have to LIVE here for TWO YEARS! Can we visit Tokyo at least one time a year? We need to take lots of trips." ::snort::

Tomorrow we'll tackle the laundry, the rest of the unpacking, take another load to the house, try to schedule the delivery of our shipment and maybe even begin cleaning the new house.  We may not make it beyond the laundry....it's been 9 days.

Choosing Joy!

©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...