One in Misawa...

six more to go! I feel a bit like the salmon desperately trying to jump the fish ladder and make it "home". ::snort::

I'll share photos as Mike can send them....
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Oh What We Would Give.....

for our computer techie to be back with us. LOL

Seriously, Krista hasn't been able to get the DSL in their apartment working. THEN we hooked up MY laptop and it works. A neighbor gave them a wireless router that we thought would make it so that either computer would work.....but neither works....and so I'm leaving my laptop at their apartment while she continues to try to figure out why HERS won't work on the DSL...and I've not a clue about the wireless.

Stacia and I ran downtown to get certified copies of "my" marriage license. It was hot for here (and my summer clothes are all gone - I really will need to go shopping soon). This wonderful fountain is outside of the legal buildings.....and kids splash in it. I thought Stacia would love it but the fish seemed to freak her out.

We opted for a glass of lemonade in the shade instead....but it was made from rose water and so Stacia didn't "love it".

We found UPS and mailed things overnight to McChord.

We picked up 2 of my 4 meds...and found BROWN COW....

Back at home we discovered that the kids had decided to make a tree fort. Mom and Dad were at the house and Mom was having fun with them, while dad took a nap.

Mom and Dad stayed for dinner. They went home, we cleaned up, then we went for a walk. We met several of the girls' new neighbors.

Jared practiced his homeless speech for 2029....He seems to think this pcs will make great political campaign speech fodder in the future.

This is a beautiful campus. We're blessed to have some time here.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Be a Man!

©2009 D.R.G.

Exciting Update

I love how God is leading me through this unknown maze a step at a time. I was worried...but He has repeatedly showed me that I'm not to shrink back, I'm not to fear, I'm to walk in confidence.... There's a reason this has all happened....and I believe there are good things happening somewhere because of all this. Seeds are being planted. There will be a harvest. He loves me, he led me to the "wilderness" (which is fairly cushy as wilderness' go ::snort::), and this valley of trouble is a door of hope.

An example...yesterday I began to wonder if I needed to quit knocking on doors and in my reading of the Word (in a new Bible - no well worn passages to pop out) I kept hearing "Knock, seek, don't shrink back". I kept pushing and discovered where the lost birth certificates were and what needed to be done 30 min before McChord closed for the day.

Today, the kids and I worried that it would be "safer" for me to drive up and retrieve the certificates than to depend on Sgt. A Reading this a.m. I came across "cease striving and KNOW that I am God". So I tried to leave it alone. 2 hours later Sgt. A called to report that he has the certificates in hand.

Sgt. A also remembered that he'd forgot to tell me I need a copy of our marriage license. I'll go get that this afternoon - I hope it is that simple and they don't need a birth certificate - which is at McChord. ::snort::

We're waiting for Stacia's certificate and the marriage license and then the military passports can be applied for. We're researching and praying about an alternate option - flying as tourists. McChord continues to tell me it will be 6- 8 weeks. I'm beginning to wonder if it will be two weeks. We shall see.

I was able to have 2 of our 4 stolen prescriptions filled. I need to go pick them up, find a marriage license and maybe go to the lake...or library. Arielle has read all the books given to her as goodbye gifts, as birthday gifts and the ones Jamin left her. ::snort:: I may help Krista paint...or I may avoid the project.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Specific Prayer Requests

The Sgt from Mcchord has agreed to pick up five of our birth certifcates in Fife, WA. They must be picked up tomorrow from the UPS Dist. Center, or they will be sent back to various offices. They've made several attempts to deliver them to McChord.

Please pray that he picks them up, or that I make it up in time to get them. Once we have the birth certificates, we can begin the applications for passports.... Pray for wisdom in choices I must make about our traveling plans.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Random Thoughts & Photos

Random Thoughts:

I've noted how often great intimacy with God comes along with adversity in the Scripture. It's o.k. My word of the year is intimacy and I'm now in a spot without outside responsibilities, no school books, few things to worry about, Mike's gone....and I'm alone...and listening...big time. ::snort::

First Shirts are amazing individuals.

God's timing is always right, even when I wonder. Today I discovered that 5 of our birth certificates have been undeliverable for days. They will be held through the end of the work day TOMORROW.....so...I'm waiting to hear from the Sgt. I'm hoping (since HE gave out the incomplete address) that HE will drive to Fife, WA (Where IS that?) and pick them up. If not, I will and will hand deliver them to McChord. If I'd not reached the helpful UPS agent today, I would NOT have known that they needed to be picked up NOW. Stacia's was sent by normal snail mail and so all are on the alert to tackle any perplexed looking mailmen at the Customer Service mall of McChord. ::snort:: I will still not be able to apply for passports until we can locate hers...and if it gets sent back to San Angelo it will take another week...but if I could have the other 5 in hand.....it's a step.

I read in Isaiah yesterday that those who sow in tears will reap in joy. I'm expecting that there is a harvest in the kingdom that I don't see....but someday I may. I may not. That's o.k. too....I believe that things are going on that I don't understand...that my job is to continue to listen and act....and there will be a harvest.....who knows maybe in Misawa?

Mike is on his way to Japan. He should arrive about 11p.m. pacific time tonight. He said he watched a family go through the process in front of him and well....I think he's worried about all I'll have to do with the kids...but God will clear a way and the kids will be as helpful as they can be. We'll survive...and I'm THRILLED we won't have a ton of bags to deal with on top of the normal stuff. ::snort::

I don't have Internet at "home"...but I'm at mom's on hold...amazing what you can do while on hold.

Last night we had a precious time of prayer...and Mike began to tell Jared how he is now the man (the talk all the eldest boys have received before he deploys or goes TDY)....Bre and I broke out into a rousing chorus of "Be a Man" from Mulan....and we all played hokey pokey....because we are a bit of a hokey family. ::snort::

Random photos:

I love these two men.


Um....we discovered there are a few problems at the house. LOL


Stacia seems to thinks the sticks will stop the rain - time to introduce her to an umbrella.


This deer in the front yard also likes to come on to our patio.



Time to call the Sgt again.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Safety First - More Prayer Needed

I keep remembering Rose's advice to remember Safety First...."Bend your knees before you bang your head against the wall." ::snort::

The Sgt who is handling my case is NOT returning my phone calls. He gave me an incomplete address to have our birth certificates shipped to...and now they are all being sent back. I have talked to UPS and they can't do a thing....other than send them back. I would think they could have tried a bit harder to find the "suite" number that was missing...like ask at the Customer Service desk...but I DID give them an incomplete address as that is what was provided to me. After having tried 2 days to reach the Sgt, I finally sent an email to the First Sgt who met our kids outside an office in McChord and told them to have me call him anytime I needed help. He has called to say that the Sgt will be contacting me shortly.

Seattle office has said they'll work with me to get tourist passports, but I NEED the birth certificates.

The First Sgt just called and is trying to help. He's going to call me by late morning tomorrow. The prayer is simply that the birth certificates are delivered to McChord. THEN they'll apply for military and I'll go back to Seattle and stay until I can get tourist passports and leave.

Another prayer request - Mike leaves tomorrow.

The girls are looking for jobs.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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