Is it Saturday?

I'm SOOOO tired....but honestly....in a week this will be a funny pcs story. It's already fairly funny.

The painters refuse to wait until next week to paint. We'll spend tomorrow trying to empty closets and furniture from the younger bedrooms.... and then WHAT? Put it back for the packers. Grrrr.... Honestly, if we lived in a town with lots of options for contractors, I would be very tempted to tell these guys they were coming AFTER the packers or not at all...and I'm tempted anyway - but I'd like to spend a few days relaxing when the girls are here and not painting. ::snort::

We had a funeral this a.m. - for Jerry. Yes, it is a home going...but shoot....it's hard to say goodbye. I think it's a testament to Jerry that both Chaplains (who are used to speaking at funerals) choked....as for me... watching Jerry's mom simply did me in....way before the funeral started.

Arielle and I went through our scrapbook hoard and thinned things down. I'll take it to church and PWOC and that should take care of it.

I talked with a friend, who I've not talked to for far to long, today.

Mike and Jared are rewiring the garage. UM......didn't we all KNOW it would NOT be as simple as tearing a "non-weight bearing" wall out????? ::snort:: We have this jinx thing going on....so Mike discovered stuff that needed fixed....and we are ethical; so we fixed it...maybe they can tear the room out tomorrow.....

I loaded out all the office supply stuff. Surely, we can buy office supplies in Japan and there is no need to lug it across the pacific. (This is the same thinking that allowed us to pare down our massive sticker collection).

Now - I'm thinking about two big things....will the packers pack my spices that are in Tupperware? I plan to tell them NOT to pack any food except some rapadura, spices and 400# of wheat berries.

Will my beautiful memorial painting, to our babies waiting in heaven, get ruined in the move? Should I have sent it to storage? NO, that's not safe. Should I leave it with the girls or Mom? I really want it with me. Joneille and Mom gave it to us with the idea that we'd have something we could take WITH us of our babies.....I don't want to leave it...but I really don't want to find a big tear in it when I unpack it. Anyone moved art before?

I worked on THIS today....because it made me feel more in control to do something pretty for the house and take my attention off the killer West TX dust bunnies that were lurking behind the hutch, the bookshelves and the piano. ::snort::

Heather, my sister in law, called. THEY are moving to China around the same time WE are moving to Japan. They are finishing the last bit of moving out of their home today. Soon - we'll be there soon.....hopefully by next Friday night.... I swear I'm about ready to rent a bulldozer....

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Super Size Saturday - GAMES!

Today's SSS topic is favorite family games. You can write about games you loved as a child or games your child loves. You can write about group games, solo games, card games, board games, game etiquette, tips to keep young ones happy during family game time, computer games, online games....the list is nearly endless.

Write your post, mention Super Size Saturday in your post (and link back to this post so your readers can come read what everyone else suggests), come back here and leave the link to your post on Mr. Linky...then readers here will see that you've participated and visit your blog. Tip - when you link leave your name and a 2 - 3 word description, i.e. De'Etta (family games) or De'Etta (young players) or De'Etta (chaotic game nights) or De'Etta (travel games), or De'Etta (Vintage games).....

We love to play games. We do have a bit of challenge to find games that players 3 - 48 yo can enjoy. Here are some of the favorites around here:

Young Men - RISK, AXIS and ALLIES

Zander - SORRY

All - LIFE, Settlers of Catlin, Castle Keep, Spy Ally, Monopoly

Mike & I - Scrabble, Acey Deucy

Games we all enjoy to play together:

Twister (Krista made a board for us)
Charades (GREAT fun)
Pictionary (use a big dry erase board)
Duck, Duck, Goose (Yes, we do!)
Tickle Little Kids
Kick ball
Basketball
Bocce
Volleyball with a big beach ball
Dominoes
Rag Dance (while not really a game we love to dance while Mike plays)

If our older ones REALLY want to play an "old" game, we set up a game the youngers will enjoy to run at the same time. We also keep (that should read USED to keep) spare parts that the yonger ones can "play". We enjoy the group games, often.

Sometimes wrestling is the best game...and results from other game attempts gone awry.

Super Size Saturday Archives/Purpose

Super Size Saturday Guidelines

Super Size Saturday Schedule - 9 May - 4 July

Join the fun! Play along! If you really don't want to write a post, but have a thought to share, leave it in the comment section.


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Progress

Zander doesn't like change....or strangers....so today was a bit unnerving for him. I loved the close eye he kept on everyone coming and going in the house.

Mike had to get a new battery for the van. I have a PWOC event tonight, but since I can't leave until I have a car.....here are some photos.

Zander began shadowing the truck


Mike helped him look








These were the BEST packers/loaders we've ever had


About this time you can see two painters to the right and Josiah showed up.


Zander was sad about this bird egg that got smashed during the moving....


We registered Cy's car in AK and so we are signing it all over (it's now fully Texan).


I don't know... ::snort:: Too much moving fun?

Still keeping a watchful eye....


Man in the white is our realtor...


Um....why isn't the couch WRAPPED? Oh, oh. Leather....no wrapping...could be interesting in three years.

Two thirds of our packing is now done. They will come for the things that are going to Japan next Thursday. We are busy trying to get the house repairs done, clean, pull all this stuff away from the walls so painters can work on Mon - Thurs.....

Someone asked how all this stuff will get to Japan....none of the stuff that left today will. It's all going to storage in TX... AND only about 1/4 of the truck was full. Everyone is estimating that we are coming in at or below our weight allowance. One more shipment and then we'll have a better idea. We're usually right on as Mike drove truck for North American and so.....he's very good at estimating household weight. ::snort::

Now....I'm taking all the magnetic albums left in the house, all my photo supplies and going to the chapel. I plan to make HUGE progress. If I could even get all the photos into the black storage box....I could pack it with a bit of peace....we shall see.

Pssst....Photobucket/blogger aren't playing nice....photos look wrong, publish right, look right, publish wrong...I have no more time...Mike is back and I'm going to spend the next 7 hours working on photos.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Personal Invite

With hearts of gratitude
for God's enabling grace
we are pleased to announce the
Home School Graduation
of our son
Jamin Nathanael Stephen G.
Please join us for a
brief ceremony and a celebration
on Saturday, the twenty-third of May
Two thousand and nine
at five o'clock in the afternoon
Christian Church of San Angelo

Mike & De'Etta G.

This photo keeps flipping, but looks fine on PB - Grrrr..... here Jamin addresses announcements...I had them in a box in the trailer and can't find them this a.m. so I HOPE he took them to the apartment and they aren't in a box.

If you are local, you're invited and may not get an announcement in time.... Out of towners.....they're coming...photos are printed....just have to find the announcements now. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Jamin's Big Week

This is not the first time that graduation has fallen days after packing out of our home. The same happened with Krista. The difference there was that Krista chose to have a personalized graduation and so we were pulling it off all on our own. ::snort::

This HAS been a huge week for Jamin. I'll write more about him as graduation nears....we are all keeping the emotions at bay as much as possible... but take a glimpse into this week.

Official notice in the mail (call had been earlier) that he's been accepted to ASU here in TX.

We were all taken by surprise Tuesday when the moment arrived for Jamin to collect his things and move them out....because we suddenly realized if he didn't...they may end up in Japan. These are SOME of his possessions - certainly not all. ::snort::

Unloading at the apartment complex

Even brothers who can't stand straight are helpful to have...

Hmmm....another one on his side?

We all opted to wait for the family circle and tears for the girls to be here. ::snort:: Seriously, at this point I can pretend that this is simply a stay over at Cy's - like Christmas. Until I type blog posts and tear up...shoot.... packers are here. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Yes, I'm Blogging....

because several in my family seem disappointed that I've not kept up to the minute. ::snort::

Here are some random shots from the last few days.... I love my packers and I think they love me. ::snort:: It's nice to have packers happy with you. All the storage stuff is packed. It will be loaded on to the truck tomorrow.

The kids enjoyed a full and fun day with the A family. Deja - thanks for dinner as well.

Jamin came over to help. He and Jared went out with a friend tonight and ended up over at Jamin and Josiah's apartment. They need some "home boy" time.

Tomorrow will begin bright and early with packers arriving at 8 and a painter at 9 a.m.

Jared poses with our hold baggage

Masking tape "x's" seem to be the universal packer speak...they love all the tape. ::snort:: Thanks Angel and Betsy for the tip. They've not even given my precious books a second glance and went right to the shelf that was untaped to pack for storage. LOL

I don't think trips to Goodwill will ever end....


Take away my exercise ball and THIS is what I meant about pro-gear taking over my bedroom. LOL

Stacia was a bit uneasy this a.m.

Um...Bre? Krista? You DO have more stuff here than you remember! ::snort::


Hmmmm.....how did I collect 11 toothbrushes...amazing what you find when you move....



The younger two enjoyed looking at Stacia's Moving Book tonight.


I'll write a Jamin, Mother's Day and Drama post as I have time.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...