A New Week

We had a good day of school.

We had piano lessons.

I worked on a bit of regional PWOC and more local PWOC stuff.

I talked with Nate via Skype and worked out the final details for his trip.

I talked with Mom and Dad via Skype.

Stacia had 3 small cavities filled. She USED to love the dentist. She's not 100% sure any longer. She was doing fairly well until they put something in her mouth that made her spit...not a good thing at the dentist. BUT they'd not told her to use the magic straw until after she spit. ::snort::

The dentist asked Stacia, "Are you the one with all the brothers and sisters?"

She said, "Yes, and my Daddy's gone too." ::grin::

We dropped Jared off early for Youth Group.

I was glad to get a call and be able to pick this up....

From 2010-02-22

It's much bigger but I had to crop out the name on the uniform. I didn't get a photo of her hugging the thing. We had the base media center mount it and they were much faster than predicted. I had planned to make it more life-like by cutting around the shoulders and head....but it may be sturdier if I leave it as a block.

Murphy's Law says that the minute I leave home Mike will Skype. ::snort:: OR that when I do make contact with him the mic or speakers won't work...but we had a nice IM.

Spur of the moment I invited Windy to drive to base with me so we could visit. That made the drive back in to pick up Jared much more of a social outing. THEN I realized that I could probably ARRANGE a bit of social interaction during youth group. Hmmm....I may not want to give this perk up when Mike returns.

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

Safe Wars and Roses

Renee told me she understands today...so we're either both psycho or I'm o.k. Sunday's are simply hard when your husband is a chaplain and away. Most the week you simply move on, get a routine...but on Sunday so many things remind you that your husband is not with you.....and while this is NOT the real thing yet...it feels like the real thing. I love our chaplains. We had a great service today....but knowing that we're gearing up for a longish separation, it was hard.

Mike always gives the girls and I "Deployment roses". I get 1/2 a dozen. I always dry them. He gives me the remaining 1/2 dozen when he returns. I didn't get roses this time...because again...he'll be home in a few weeks. I have realized that the roses are a nice touch in that first week of adjustment. I hadn't mentioned this to anyone.

Kyle came and called Jared away at the end of worship. I figured they needed him in the sound booth or something. It happens. At the end of the service, Jared walked up and gave me THESE.

From 2010-02-21

Arielle, Jared and Nolan had purchased them. They thought I may be lonely at chapel. Isn't that incredibly, amazingly, sweet?

 

At a chapel service we take prayer requests. Zander has been telling me each day how many days it will be before Uncle Nate arrives. The kids are SO excited to have time with him. I'm so very thankful he's coming and that Mike suggested he come visit. Zander raised his hand. I asked him what he was going to say - just sort of a good idea with Zander. He said, "Pray that Uncle Nate has a safe trip." I agreed. He left his hand up and was the last one that was called on. He must have spent the time thinking.

"Alexander? What would you like us to pray for?"

"Pray Dad has a safe war."

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

Living all of life before the face of God...

*Blogger in draft is making me daft! WHY is it rearranging paragraphs and centering things though it looks fine on the preview?

Routines

No photos to share as life has been too busy, crazy, boring, routine really.
~Thursday~
MOPS.  Renee, our speaker this month, did a great job of challenging us to teach our children to pray.

 BIBLE STUDY - we finished Esther. Good study.  LANGUAGE LESSONS - Akiko made my day when she reached out and gave me a HUG as we said goodbye. We won't have lessons in March due to my travels.  I promised to send her postcards...and she'd love me to get a photo of Korean Idols....like pop idols....

~Friday~
 SPOUSES BREAKFAST. I enjoy meeting monthly with this group of ladies. Both Renee and I will soon be without our husbands for a bit of time. We have made plans to drive to the Cherry Blossom festival in April.  It seems to have become a "habit" for me to go to the BX and find Polish Pottery after Annette feeds us our lovely breakfast. The very things I didn't buy at $20 a pop last month, were clearanced at $2.77 or $4.17....what a deal. I wouldn't have known of this if Connie hadn't mentioned it. I hope that they'll be bringing more pottery in...more plates. I need plates....

 DENTAL VISIT - Jared had his consult for getting his wisdom teeth pulled. What are they teaching doctors these days? "So, after seeing the clip on risks, is this what you want to have done?," and "Which anesetia would you think is better for your situation?" Um......I'm not the oral surgeon. ::snort::

FAMILY NIGHT - yep, our family size is shrinking but we persist in setting aside Friday night for US. Pizza and a movie this week.

~Saturday~
FRIENDS - Nolan, Jared and I met Erika, Twyla and boys at the Sushi-Go-Round for lunch. Both Twyla and I have husbands who are not here.  There was a paint ball tournament on base. Erika is a young lady who is INTO paint ball and so she took the boys to watch the tournament. THANKS! I ran home to pick up the other children. We had hoped to run errands, but ran out of time.

MOVIE - Erika dropped Nolan and Jared off at the movie theater. We all vegged in the theater...not often something comes to base that I think "may" be o.k. to go see. It is CERTAINLY cheaper ON BASE than off base to catch a movie.
That's about all for now..... OH, After 3 days I was able to hear Mike's voice. That's all I needed. The 20th is Jamin's birthday, 19 years old. We'll try to reach him some more, however, this is rodeo season in San Angelo and I'm sure he's busy. LOL

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G.

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

I Live in a House Full of Clowns

Quips from Jared's Facebook:

Jared David was playing the piano, I'm learning something new and so it didn't sound that good...my little brother walked into the room and watched for a minute and then said, "Oh thank goodness, it's just Jared playing the piano, we thought a donkey was in the house."

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

Today....

Mike was able to Skype with us quite a few times. He arrived three hours EARLY in OR. Not a bad start to a separation.

I pulled out Step into Fitness by Becky Tirabasi. I realized that I first did this thing 19 years ago....and today my knees creaked when I did it. I certainly am not going to be able to do that 6 days a week. LOL Friends loaned us an exercise bike which proudly sits in the living room. I get a harder workout with something like the video - but my knee doesn't ache as much with the bike. I'll alternate.

We had a good day of school.

Piano lessons went well. Olivia came along and that play date was just about right for Stacia.

We had a pancake dinner and I told the kids Lent was beginning...but I'd missed the REAL pancake day...since all of you are just about to wake up and celebrate - it worked. LOL I've not really been led to fast any differently during Lent than I do year round. When I start hearing folks saying they are giving things up for Lent, I start feeling, "I WANT TO GIVE SOMETHING UP TOO." I had a V8 moment. It's fairly obvious what we're called to give up for Lent this year....Michael. ::snort:: I'm sure God will continue to speak to me about how He'd have us best focus on His death and resurrection. This also means it's time to prepare for PASSOVER.

We ran out of time to read about Nate Saint today, but we did have family time and a piece of chocolate.

Kids are in bed, floor is swept and mopped, bathroom is clean, downstairs is dusted....I'm ready for a busy Thursday.

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

Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

This book is AWESOME! There, I gushed. ::snort::

Joshua Harris has succeeded in writing a primer on orthodox doctrine and theology in Dug Down Deep: Unearthing what I believe and why it matters. Theology - the study of God. Doctrine - Teachings of the gospel. These are things that EVERY Christian should know and be concerned about. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Josh has written a book that is EASY to read (and many theology books aren't), is sound, is rock-solid and personal.

I loved Joshua's honest sharing of his journey with God. I wholeheartedly agree with his premise that orthodoxy, doctrine and theology matter! However, more than having it right, we need to apply what we know! We need to be more concerned about "getting it right" and "living it right" ourselves, than we are about judging others' orthodoxy. Josh brings these points home.

I planned to share extensive quotes, but after listening to my thoughts on this book, Mike packed it. I plan to have all my children read this book. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy to giveaway, but this book is well-worth the price to have in your home library.

Author Bio: Joshua Harris is senior pastor of Covenant Life in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which belongs to the Sovereign Grace network of local churches. A passionate speaker with a gift for making theological truth easy to understand, Joshua is perhaps best known for his runaway bestseller, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, which he wrote at the age of twenty-one. His later books include Boy Meets Girl, Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is), and Stop Dating the Church. The founder of the NEXT conferences for young adults, Joshua is committed to seeing the gospel transferred to a new generation of Christians. He and his wife, Shannon, have three children.

This book is on my 2010 Reading List.

Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I receive no payment, other than the book, for posting this review. If you'd like more information, click the link in the sidebar.

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

He's Off....

From 2010-02-16_mike flies

I think I've spent a lifetime lagging behind at airports. ::snort:: There was a bit of drama when we arrived at the AMC terminal.

"Major G, is that you?"

We were congratulating ourselves for arriving 20 minutes early, only to find out they'd moved the time up 1 1/2 hours and the message hadn't reached Mike. LOL

From 2010-02-16_mike flies

Stacia was VERY preoccupied with making sure that Mike knew...." it's time for a last hug."

From 2010-02-16_mike flies

I do think it is good that Michael is coming home for a few days in March. I know it will be tough to say goodbye all over again, but it does two big things: 1. Let's me pretend this is not a long trip at all, and 2. Let's Stacia see that Dad leaves and Dad comes back before Mike's more extensive travels.

I have been tasked by Michael to keep a list of everything I think of that we've not done yet and he'll take care of it in March....and the list is growing.

Has Arielle been driven to chocolate at Mike's departure?

From 2010-02-16_mike flies

At MOPS a few months back, Melissa shared that they have a candy jar that starts full and goes down as the days near for Dad's return. I thought this sounded like much more fun than a paper chain. Of course, I think Melissa waits until near the end of the countdown....but we wanted to count the whole thing down....we figured a nice little chocolate after family circle would be a great way of bringing Dad into our family prayer....but um.....

From 2010-02-16_mike flies

THIS is enough for each of us to have a piece nightly until he returns in a month....to do 200 days...well....honestly....I'm going to either have to make the kids share chocolate, get smaller chocolate OR buy a 25 gal aquarium!

We are brainstorming about various ways to count time: weekly celebrations, various places we want to visit, and ways to surprise Mike in the upcoming months. We'd love to hear your ideas. Our Flat Daddy is at the base's media shop...they said it would take two weeks...humph! BUT they were very impressed with the size (20 x 27) and the quality of the photo. LOL

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