Wednesday Already?

The pace DID slow down after this weekend.

The Chaplain Spouses started our week with breakfast together, hosted by our Wing Chaplain's Wife. I do wish each chaplain's wife could be blessed with support like Annette, but since we aren't....I'm thrilled God saw fit to give her to us! ::grin::

I worked on and finished two more PORFs for regional travel. It would appear I'm really going to be traveling a lot in the near future. This caused me great angst. I do NOT love looking for airline tickets...and it's only harder when I have no clue when I'll be able to BUY the tickets. I hope I guessed amounts right. I went with the mid-high price tickets, as the cheap ones may be gone when we get approval.

This reminds me that I need to book a ticket for Nate, the GREAT, who is going to watch the kids for a couple of weeks in March.

I started the selection process with our local PWOC board. They requested I help their team.

I wrote a President's Letter for PWOC. Go check out Asia Region's Blog, find a post and leave a comment...even if you aren't PWOC. Tell Lauren what a great job she's done. It's very warm and welcoming. I love my tab....I didn't want "President," because I didn't. ::blush:: So she made me a tab that says, "What's De'Etta Up To?" I keep hoping the answer will be up there one of these days. ::snort::

We've gotten three days of school done, piano lessons, drama and Japanese lessons.

I've loved Polish Pottery for years but couldn't see spending so much for plates. Then Windy and Annette both told me they USE their Polish Pottery and it holds up well. Our BX doesn't often carry it. At the spouse breakfast everyone was talking about the pottery over at the BX. After breakfast I found 4 plates. I was shocked at the price. Renee assured me mismatched is the rage. ::snort:: I decided I'd buy the 4 plates they have and see how they old up. THEN I remembered I had three electric blue plates which haven't broken (3/16).

From 2010-01-27

From 2010-01-27

I baked bread today - *Hamburger Buns for our BBQ Chicken Sandwiches. This is HUGE...baking bread signifies that I'm HOME, I've SETTLED, a new ROUTINE is established (as scattered as it is). ::snort::

From 2010-01-27

*I can't believe the recipe isn't on the blog. I'll have to fix that some day soon. It's a good week....and it's over 1/2 over. OH, an exercise began today...that should make the rest of the week interesting.....and....and....:::drum roll::

My college friend, Kim, and her little girl are coming up this weekend from Tokyo. I can't wait to see them.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Birthday Photos

I did mention I've gained 20 lbs with the PCS? ::snort:: Here I sport our new Pig Party Hat - Japanese style. The wings - which flap - are a nice addition.

My first Kokechi Doll - I'll have to blog about them.

Now this is a thoughtful gift. Noise Reduction headphones from Zander, Arielle and Jared.

I do have a photo of baby Steven, but I haven't asked if I can post it...

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Such a Good Mommy

I heard a sweet little voice, sing-songing.... "Ah, you're such a precious little baby. You're a cute little bear. Smile for Mommy." And she got a great photo of her babies....though I'm not 100% sure of her methods of keeping the herd together. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

School

This eager student was VERY interested in how the tape runner works, and how to re-thread it. Sherri, maybe I won't have to learn how to thread my own tape runners....even over here. ::snort::

We are back in the saddle again....so completely in the saddle that we worked on our science notebooks. These are their Apologia Learn N Folders. The technique combines lapbooking with notebooking. As I watched the kids work, talk, enjoy.....I contemplated. They are getting older. I can't find file folders. We are playing catch up after our CRAZY move this fall. I thought I'd skip lapbooks this year.

They enjoyed science today. They love science. I don't. I need to enjoy it. All that aside....they love working on the mini-books. This technique will work while we're in Japan. We can make the mini-books, mount them on card stock and slip them into a notebook. It will certainly be easier to store too.

There are several freebies at Live N Learn Press. Maybe we'll find some lit books or such to do too..... Hmmmm....

Yes, I've tamed the Regional and Local PWOC lists enough that I have time to blog and enjoy school again today. I'm learning how to juggle and it's exhilerating. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

One Day Way Winner

We have a winner - Roxanne! Please email me with your address and I'll get this right out.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Techie Debates

Those who love me best seem to think I would not be happy with a Kindle. I'm torn about it, still thinking after all these months, and so this is most likely an accurate observation. I do love the sensory pleasure of reading...though I'm not so excited about the bottom of my carry on ripping out at airports. ::snort::

I'm on to new techie debates...a mini-notebook or a small laptop? I use our laptop as MY computer. It's got a big screen, I love that for home...but it's HEAVY. I've been eying mini-notebooks.....but again...debating because I'm not sure I'd like a mini for every day use. The girls love their Dell mini-notebook. Mike has found a smaller-than-I-have laptop, probably one size up from a mini, that has 500 GB on the hard drive (I've maxed out my current laptop) and a DVD player....more options than a mini.....still small.....but then do I really WANT small? I mean I wanted it desperately when we were traveling and living in TLF and hauling my big laptop and stack of books back and forth...but now that I'm at home.....

Yes, we will be buying some sort of laptop. It is our understanding Mike can't be patched through to our home phone on DSN lines for moreale calls as we are no longer in America. Therefore, we want to send him with a laptop so we can try to Skype from the rock pile....if, of course, there is Internet connections....which I assume in this day and age is one of the items set up first for official communication purposes. He can't put Skype on an official computer....and this way he can keep up with the blog - which was a HUGE help for his transaction back to family life when he was deployed in 2007. We will be purchasing another laptop....should it be a mini-notebook, a smaller notebook or another BIGGEST-SCREEN-I-CAN-FIND laptop?

Your thoughts?
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

The Week/Weekend/Birthday I'll Never Forget

Where to start?

Last week was FULL of taking care of various PWOC Asia things. I had been "on break" while the boys were here, and things had piled up.

A highlight of the week was hosting our weekly Bible study group in our home again. We are still finishing up Beth Moore's, Esther.

I spent a significant amount of time recreating my notes for a 7 hour Inductive Bible Study Workshop. I have no clue what computer ate them....but it is a computer that I no longer own.

Yesterday was the Bible Study Workshop. I realized, as I began, and Mike was making encouraging signs from behind the women, that he'd never heard me speak before. He isn't usually at Women's Bible Studies or Ladies Retreats. He seemed to really enjoy the whole experience and I must say he was the BEST workshop prep team I've ever seen. The day went well.

As the day wore on, I noted that one lady was standing up periodically and getting a bit red in the face, then sitting down and joining back in. I'm observant this way....us teacher types are. ::snort:: Seriously, Tanya went into labor. It became apparent that the contractions were becoming more intense and more frequent. Mike finished the section on Word Studies (which we'd planned anyway) and I walked Tanya over to the hospital. I could have driven her but I knew if they were false pains they'd go away....and they increased. They were 3 - 4 min apart when we reached the hospital. How fun! I got to walk the halls and visit with Tanya. I got to bounce on the birthing balls between a contraction - because she didn't want to. I left when her dh arrived.

Today, I got to hold a darling 9 lb baby boy - born on my birthday. Mike took a photo. I told Tanya this photo will be shown at every workshop from now on - much like Sarah's James observation sheet is currently shown. I'm going to tell everyone at workshops that I expect great things of them during the day - and challenge them to "try to top this"!

We had lunch at the food court. We had ice cream. Arielle played Happy Birthday and everyone else sang.

A package with goodies for all arrived from Mom and Dad.

I got lots of hugs at chapel.

I received gifts and I'll have to show photos of that later.

I got incredibly sweet emails from Jamin and Josiah.

I was able to skype with Krista and Bre.

I spent the past couple of hours downloading the Digital version of our curriculum. I'm EXCITED. We were able to get the DE for only $20 when we ordered the print version. Mike wanted print in case the company ever goes out of business....we'll still have something. Makes sense...but I think we are going to have the best of both worlds.

I started researching the world of Doulas. Tanya says I'd make a good one...and she should know...she watched me bounce on the birthing ball.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...