Thank You MJ!

What a TREAT! Thank you, MJ, for the surprise you sent Stacia. She was very excited to get a package addressed directly to HER from ALASKA.

They fit perfectly - and match her new coat much better than the big black ones mom purchased. ::snort:: In my defense I KNEW they would be too big...but followed the size charts on the website. I should have gone with a size smaller. I DO miss Fred Myers! Thanks for picking these up for Stacia.

We even got the photo of MJ off the box and Stacia now has it in her room.

Thanks Darshia. You bless me in so many ways!

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

HOSTING....

This week has been full.

Mike and I were not home before 10 p.m. any night this week. Jared and Arielle did a GREAT job holding the fort down. My kids ROCK!

I attended more dinners with Mike this week than I may have in a year. ::snort:: I'm not really an official dinner sort of person....but I wanted to show full support for this. It was important. I think I got over some of my fear of fancy dinners with people I don't know too. We shall see. ::snort:: I KNOW I ate more this week than I have in a month. We had dinners with the local Jewish community, with the ASU President (what a HOME!!!), with the Chiefs, with chapel staff...Mike had breakfasts and lunches with Hebrew Linguists, commanders - well you get the idea. Evidently there is a LOT of food involved in official hosting duties. ::snort:: There is also a lot more dressing up than I do in a typical week. ::snort::

I attended 5 sessions where I was privileged to listen to Wanda and Walter share their first hand experiences during the Holocaust. I have more thoughts to share that were generated in the sessions. I know that my new friends will continue to reside in my thoughts, heart, and prayers. I have attended these events for the past 3 years. I've always KNOWN the sessions were an amazing opportunity afforded by base leadership to witness history...but hosting our guests this week, interacting on a personal level with them, made the horror of the Holocaust much more personal and real for me. I saw, through their eyes, the importance of the American military and the need for vigilance in protecting the freedoms that we enjoy in America.

I attended Yom Hashua - I'll write a separate post about that.

Jamin and Jared were able to hear Walter's story. He was almost 15 when he was sent to a German Labor Camp. He was blessed to find his way to his brother at a camp. His brother died 6 weeks before they were liberated. I know that they'll remember Walter when they are faced with situations in life that require courage and strength and humor. The love of the brothers spoke to my mommy heart.

We found time to enjoy some of the local area. I took the younger four to meet and visit with Walter and Wanda, but didn't take them to a session.

We made two trips to the airport this week...this a.m. to say goodbye.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Profoundly Amazing Things I Witnessed

The schedule is far to full for me to give a detailed listing of what we did yesterday, however, I was honored to witness a few things that I need to write down so that I can process later. {That's the way I am.}

• I witnessed an American liberator meet with a Holocaust Survivor. I saw Walter thank the liberator, with tears in his eyes; we all had tears in our eyes. They will meet again at the Chapel's Yom Hashua service tomorrow.
• I witnessed a survivor of the Cambodian Genocide attempt to ask a question of the survivors; and not be able to find his voice. This young man later talked with some in our group and was convinced that Walter would like to talk with him. I witnessed two survivors of the same sort of pain meet, embrace...and I saw that the problem continues....that a new generation of survivors is finding it's voice as they witness the strength in the voice of an older generation. I was honored to be there as questions were asked and answers were wrestled with.
• I witnessed 50 school children from Ballinger swarm the stage with books on the Holocaust for Wanda and Walter to autograph. We joked later at their new rock star status. It was a bright point in a very difficult evening for my new friends.
• I witnessed two very normal humans willingly step back into hell so that they could give a voice to those who no longer have a voice. I watched what it cost them to do so. I was amazed and profoundly thankful.
• I watched a Protestant Chaplain and a Jewish Chaplain wrestle with questions of where God was, what faith means in such circumstances and I was amazed.

Please pray for Wanda and Walter by name in the next few days. They will have 4 more sessions in the next two days. This is very difficult for them. I'll leave you with a few photos. I'm off to take the boys to hear Walter's session this a.m.

Green Room before ASU session

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Random Misawa Trivia: Miss Veedol

This will be something we explore soon after reaching Misawa. The first non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean was from Misawa, Japan to Wenatchee, Washington in 1931 in Miss Veedol. The men, Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon dropped their landing gear over the Pacific Ocean belly landing in Wenatchee.

Misawa and Wenatchee are sister cities. I've been to Wenatchee several times. I can't wait to visit the museums in Misawa.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

This is where I am!

Hey - my schedule has made the front page. THIS is where I was yesterday. Our first service in the new Chapel will be the Yom Hashua service on Thursday afternoon 3:30 p.m. Our first Sunday service is this upcoming Sunday.

The rest of my week is full doing a small part in hosting THIS....though the community is having one day of remembrance - today.....the base will have several days of sessions and activities. This is one of the most meaningful things I've been blessed to be a part of in the Air Force. I love that our base commanders have paid to bring these guests to the base...and that they share the guests with our community. I'm honored to be a small part of hosting them. What a precious gift for one like me who has always been fascinated with the history of WW2 and the Holocaust. In fact, I know I don't need to say this to *my friends*, but if you are local and enjoy the sessions at ASU or the base...a Thank You to our wonderful base leadership on the editorial page or even thank you cards (I can deliver them) would be a nice touch. ::snort:: BTW, if you need a name to address your card to - click on the first link. ::snort:: See, I didn't give out private info.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Let's Think About My Colors

Stacia ran up to me and said, "Let's think about my colors!"

I said, "Ok," wondering what she wanted to talk about.

She proceeded to chant, "pink, blue, orange, red, green, purple, yellow...that's all!"

If you've not noted the new prayer requests in the side bar, please do send a few extra prayers Jamin's way. He's wrestling with some decisions about his future. It's after 11 p.m. - Mike is burning a few CD's of things Dr. Wallen needs for tomorrow....Jamin just got home. I'm off....5 a.m. will come early. ::yawn::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Busy Monday

9:15 and we were gathering shoes and such to head to the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new base chapel.

I'll have to get better photos of the chapel. I was a bit preoccupied with Stacia getting on and off the top of the bleachers....

Still my favorite man in uniform (Michael - the one in glasses).

But I did get this shot of the official moment.

Yep, I'm learning how to use the big lens and didn't have the setting right. ::sigh:: The ribbon is cool...the fog I don't understand. It was fine in the first two shots.

Jamin got to talk to TX Congressman Conway. He told him the best new feature of the chapel is the padded seats. ::snort:: Jared (15) plans to go into politics and he also got to speak to Congressman Conway. They discussed survival tips for political life.

We toured the chapel. Stacia and Zander inaugarated the new Fellowship Hall floor with cake and punch. I cleaned it up - along with many willing helpers.

Mike spent the day tying up loose ends for the rest of the week with the Holocaust Survivors (food and such in rooms etc). We met up and picked them up at the airport. Then we got everyone settled in their rooms and headed for Zentner's Daughter for dinner. Several others met us there. I found it fascinating to listen to the stories, visit with our guests, and participate in a bit of the Jewish culture. Of course, discussion did turn briefly to recent Passover celebrations.

Tomorrow is a full day around town. I *think* I will stay home and meet up with everyone in the evening for dinner at the ASU President's home and then the session at ASU. I WANT to participate in all the festivities of the day but I know that I'll be out a LOT this week and think it may be too much for Jared if I'm gone from 7 a.m - 10 p.m. tomorrow.

For those of you who are local and don't have base access - tomorrow night; 6:30 p.m. Junell Center at ASU. I recommend arriving early. Last year they filled up the 200 capacity room, moved to a 500 capacity room, and were still at standing room only. I know that a school from Wall is coming in and another local high school is bringing students as well.

If you have base access consider attending the Yom Hashoah service on Thursday at the new chapel at 3:30 p.m. This is a memorial service for Holocaust victims.

There will be four additional sessions on Wednesday and Thursday on base. Dr. Wallen will give a history of the Holocaust at each session and one of the survivors will speak at each session: either Wanda or Walter. The sessions are: Wed 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Thurs 8:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. The sessions are geared towards youth/adults....yet younger children who are familiar with the Holocaust may be o.k. I've taken 5th and 6th graders after we had studied WW2. Do be aware that there are some graphic slide clips during the sessions and the survivors DO tell their stories.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.