It's done....

What a busy day!

Mom, Sherri, Heather, the girls and I met for breakfast. YUM and organic food too. ::snort::

Heather and Krista grabbed $ and headed out in two directions to run errands for us.

Many of us worked to get the trailer cleared and cleaned.

Mike and the boys took the majority of the rest of the day dealing with dumping, winterizing and storing the trailer.

Heather and Krista took all the younger ones to the lake. What fun. This was WONDERFUL as it allowed me to FOCUS without guilt on "the list" and it gave the kids the chance to make a fun memory and not focus on the trauma that it evidently is to pack. Stacia unpacked as fast as I packed. My goal was to finish shopping and have everything packed before they arrived. I didn't quite make it...but close.

Krista worked on loading A in O and Hank the Cowdog etc on to MP3 players....we'll work on THAT some more in Seattle. I purchased them today.

Sherri, Will, Nate and Heather joined us at Mom's for dinner. Mom made some yummy brisket. We talked with the Realtor for a bit and then enjoyed unwinding and laughing with the kids and family.

Then we weighed suitcases..... (Renee in Misawa....this should give you some idea....13 suitcases...and quite a few carry ons, 7 people...)



The Girls went to their apartment with Arielle and Nolan in tow. The rest of us will bed down here. We packed suitcases into the van. The last load of laundry is in the dryer.....

We're really doing this. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Praise & Prayer Request

Praise - I found most of our favorite organics at Fred Myers and loaded another suitcase with a few things...I had just found REAL salt (and was excited) when Mike called on the cell.....

Prayer - We have an offer on our home. It's from a realtor in another town....and they low balled....offered $12K below asking. We LOVE our Realtors...such sound and godly advice...praying with us every step of the way....we rejected the offer, lowered our price $2K from asking and invited them to resubmit an offer. Being Realtors, such they DO get a commission back on the sale and all....I think they were trying to see if we'd be intimidated....but we shall see. Homes in the price range our home is in, are averaging 9 months on the market.....Matt and Leslie said that if we agree on an offer after 3 weeks, it will be a miracle and an answer to prayer.

We'd love to leave America knowing that the home was going to close by the end of July. Please pray with us that if it is God's will for this buyer to buy....it goes through. If not, we'll wait. LOL

Here's the virtual tour of our home.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Starbucks, Shopping, Creditors & Suitcases

SHEW.....

I broke away for Starbucks and shopping with BreAnne this a.m. I discovered I've gained a LOT of weight...not just one size up but two...I nearly had to call the jaws of life or is it death, to get me out of a pair of jeans in the dressing room. Honest. I have a bruised tummy to show where the button was stuck...and now I get why Stacia is fascinated with my size the last couple of weeks. She keeps saying, "I have a little fat, but YOU have a lota fat". She loves it. I don't. ::snort::

Mike, Krista and Heather drove to a nearby town and picked up their futon - another free find.

I spent the rest of the day TRYING to get creditors to accept our new APO address....Grrr....I DID load photos and blog while on hold.

Krista and Bre got "Seattle" and "Tokyo" bags packed for us. Two each - boy and girl. LOL

Note the Almond Roca - apology gifts for our Japanese neighbors...struck gold out shopping today.

Josiah and Jamin took the younger set to the park, because Stacia found it VERY traumatic for her things to go into a suitcase and was NOT settling down.

Will and Sherri and Nate and Heather came over for dinner and visiting tonight.

Mike and I went for a walk. I came very close to losing my "gracious move" status today.....but I'm o.k. now.

I took time to photograph the daisies.....with the silly camera...but this is my own version of taking time to smell the roses.

I have lists (and will add your suggestions to the list in the a.m.). BreAnne, Krista, Mom, Sherri, Heather and I are meeting for breakfast at 7:30 tomorrow....and then we'll tackle the lists.....

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

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...