I spent ALL of Wednesday in military briefings. There was information that is the same on every base (leaving one wondering why we have to sit through briefings each move ::Snort::), but there was a LOT of info unique to this base. I'm glad I went.
I have a better idea of the things to do in the area and the services offered on base. I tried to sign us up for a city tour that would occur today - but we had too many in our party. We DID sign up for a tour of Hachinohe for Friday and will do the Misawa City Tour in two weeks. LOL
Jared was a champ and watched all his siblings quite well. He attempted to attend CAP; evidently they don't meet at the time listed on their website. ::snort::
I took the kids to the playground outside our TLF (Remember what that stands for? C'mon if I can attempt Japanese y'all can attempt military speak. LOL). Once again the same group of teens were dominating the play structures. Once again, their topics of conversation were shocking and what I consider to be quite inappropriate for any, but especially for a children's playground. If they intimidate my children again today, I will talk to the front desk. This experience HAS made me crave an off base home even more.....the thought of living in close proximity (apartments) with such inappropriate intimidation for the children day in and day out is not nice....but I do keep affirming that God knows exactly where we need to live, which neighbors we need to impact or whom will impact us, what "works" He has created for us to walk in in Misawa, etc. There are pros and cons for all living situations.
Homes - since I've gone there....there are 13 desks our exception letter must pass over ....and its made it through 5 of them in a week and a half. This is frustrating. Another young family who came in the same day we did are moving in to a house TODAY. There ARE renovated 4-plex 4 bedroom units available....but they won't offer them to us. I have MET families with 5 children LIVING IN THEM...but they continue to say they have no housing "adequate for your family". NOW it COULD be a real blessing if they end up offering us 2- 3 bedroom units in a 4 plex...but my sneaky suspicion is that once this is approved we may be offered two really crummy, unrenovated units...the squeaky wheel does get the oil...sometimes it isn't top quality oil, if you know what I mean. ::snort:: We continue to look off base. We MUST move out of TLF within a month of Mike's arrival. At this rate we don't know if the base will offer anything before that date.....and if we found a place that would work, off base, we'd grab it. LOL We continue to address the issue of large families and base housing, as this will be an issue that housing needs to think through, with the change in policies requiring newcomers to live on base. They better figure out where they will put those with more than 3 or 4 children......honestly, God seems to be moving a lot of "large" families to Japan. LOL
The kids and I were desperate to get off base last night. We drove off in search of a house that was rumored to be available. We didn't find it (remember the post below about street names and numbers). I did hear a young man talking about the perfect house he found last night, I assume that the house is gone. LOL We DID enjoy driving around off base....it wasn't real impressive but it WAS dark....
I now have a driver's license and will be driving our "junker van" when I work up the courage to give it a whirl. I'm still attempting to load the kids from the wrong side of the vehicle....I may not be ready for the Left side of the road yet. LOL I'm praying that I NEVER have ANY sort of accident off base...and this is another reason to seriously consider living on base. LOL
I did make my way to the computer room to check mail. I met a new chaplain's family. They seem delightful and have 3 children. They arrived the week we were meant to arrive and so Connie had more info for me about the commissary. They are moving into a home off base today.
That was Wed....and I'm sure today will be full of new adventures as well.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.
~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...
