International Travel/Move SOS

Dear, crunchy, San Angelo friends....ANSWER.....I KNOW many of y'all haven't moved internationally but you are uniquely qualified to help me with the foodie questions. ::snort::

The military will allow us 14 70lb bags....and I'm at about 9. Heather, sil who is moving to China, began to talk of the things that she has been told to bring. I had been given such a list but I assumed we'd have all our school books and such in our suitcases......I can take 5 more suitcases.

I'm shopping TOMORROW.....Mom's living room is full of suitcases, clothes, debris.... I am dreaming of plopping myself in an airline seat with a good mystery book, a bag of almonds and a tall glass of lemonaide.....and veggin.....not sure who will be watching the younger jet setters in the row. ::snort::

Questions:

1. I need plane, Tokyo and Bullet train food that I can put in a carry on for Zander. The rest of us have been eating almost anything the past 6 weeks...but we've kept him on his plan. We won't be able to tell what the ingredients are in Tokyo...so..... I'm thinking granola, sharkies, granola bars, small bags of nuts... any other ideas?

2. What things should I buy to take....I've bought a few under garments, books, we'll buy Mike and Jared extra running shoes....I'm going to buy some make up and Burts Bees things.

3. Food - I'm going to try to fill a few suitcases with food that we like since I have the free shipping space....Annies, Agave Nectar (sealed and in Ziplocs?), REAL salt, Rapadura.....I am drawing a blank on other non-perishable food items I used to get from United co-op....Any ideas?

This is the organic mecca of America, I'll be able to find most anything.

Any other tips for flying with this crew?

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Oregon Coast - Saturday

Guys - My brother Nate on the left in front of Mike...and Dad in the middle...Mikhail, on the right, is our nephew via Russia...there loss our family's gain.








Jared with mussels upon muscles




















Uncles are grand...Nate spent lots of time explaining the tide pools to Nolan....

...and reassuring Stacia.

This was a great day. I'm glad we broke away to have FUN...and I'm very thankful Nate knew right where to go on the coast.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Sunday at Will and Sherri's

There is always something incredibly refreshing about visiting our home church. This Sunday was no different. Great worship, great message, old friends....After church Nate & Heather, Mom, Dad and Mikhail, and US all converged on Will and Sherri. We spent a relaxing afternoon together....and I kept shaking my head at the thought that we'd be flying over the Pacific in a week.

Sherri (Our sister in law)

Mike and Will tried their hand at welding with some humorous results...

Around 5 p.m. Aunt Heather took Arielle shopping, the rest of us headed to EBC to put together a final dresser....Krista and Bre showed us some playgrounds on the campus. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

She Has a Dance Partner

Josiah and Jamin arrived....wow....that was a LONG drive to do....but they filled the cooler, the tank and drove....

Josiah and Stacia


Josiah and Jamin showed up with cowboy hats...and brought one for Jared.


Ah....after hugging she said, "Jamin will you dance at the ball with me?"....and they danced in the front yard. She's talked non-stop for days about going to the ball and she would NOT let anyone but Jamin dance with her at the ball....she's at peace....


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Moving In

We spent the 25th and 26th at thrift stores, combing Craig's list, at Walmart etc......and reconnecting with my family.

Hmmmm.....the ole' height challenge again


ST. Vincent de Paul's gives a military discount here! NEW mattresses....Krista and Heather (sil).





Mom and Dad's garden


Will (my brother) and Mike


Mom threw a party for all the birthdays and Stacia loved her "Baby Annie".


Dad rescued these two chairs which the girls are redoing to match the "retro" table they scored from Craig's List for $20.

Shopping at Walmart to fill in the things that we couldn't find other ways.....

We all trekked to their apartment at 9:00 to unload the loot.....





Mike put one of two dressers together...we left when the neighbors complained. ::snort:: Just like old times....getting in trouble at EBC.


Everyone enjoys the nook.....

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Apartments & Carousels

These girls are so sweet! They drove up from CA ahead of us so that they could sign for their apartment, open a bank account and sign up for electricity.....BUT they waited for US before they went into their apartment. It has been so FUN and a joy in the midst of a somewhat sad season to be able to be here and participate in the girls' first apartment.






At the end of the hallway above is a little study nook (Internet, phone etc) with a great view.....they put a chair/ottoman and end table in there. Great spot to relax, skype with Mom in Japan and read the word. Mom and Dad took us, the girls, my brother Nate and his family out for pizza this evening. Roaring Rapids is built right on the McKenzie river and features a carousel from 1923.

Heather (sil) plays with kids.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

I'm OK

Thanks for all the emails asking if I drove off a cliff....I didn't. I DID discover that if one drives on Hwy 199 - they CAN make THEMSELVES carsick.

I'll blog later. We are busy. Mom's Internet has been down. We're having fun and we're also coming down the home stretch here.....for instance I'm off now to complete that ill-fated shopping trip of months ago....and I need to buy some sort of gift to give out to those we inconvenience when we move in (a Japanese thing)....

The girls are in their apartment.

The boys are by Mountain Home AFB in ID and plan to be here tonight...I cannot believe they've driven all the way from TX in such a short time.

Boys just called and they are in OR - better hurry to the mall.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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