Our First Float

I wanted to find a float so bad...but we walked 3 miles to the ships and 3 miles back and it didn't look like we'd find one.

We first saw this....half of a float....and then found several like it. 

Then we found this - turned out to be a jelly fish. 

We picked through mountains of trash looking for a float...just a small one would do. We found several light bulbs buried in the sand....I was praying...."God, just a small one? Please, we've waited so long...." turns out everyone was praying...... then Michael spotted it...sitting in plain view....and it's BIG. 

Our first float....as Zander said, "God likes to give you BIG when you ask for small. He's just that sort of God."

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

3rd Time's the Charm

The day began with a workout at HOME on my newly restored elliptical (Thanks, Michael). 


Michael ran in to base with Jared while I showered, started a turkey and packed our bentos.  Our mission today was to find Shipwreck Beach. We'd tried twice before. Several told us this was THE place to find glass floats and sea glass. I collect sea glass and have been dying to find a glass float.  We thought about inviting the C family, but knew that Twyla had to be home by 2:00 to pick up Joey and we weren't able to leave town until 11:30 at the earliest. 


Off we went.....Armed with the determination, GPS coordinates and a couple of set of directions. THIS time I also took enough food that we could be out all day if need be. We found "a" spot and decided to park and hike.  Along the hike we found plastic floats, had our lunch, found loads of sea glass (found a nice COBALT piece)....and talked.....

After a 3 mile hike (yes, we clocked it) we found the SHIPS....

Stacia found a toothbrush and wanted to bring it home....she changed her mind when I explained hygiene. LOL 

Stacia's treasures...check out the sea glass....

We came home to the smell of a roasted turkey. Everyone pitched in and quickly boiled corn on the cob, cooked rice, steamed asparagus and made popovers. Then they cleaned up and told me to blog our day. 

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

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

RECON BABY RECON

I'll look for a minute to blog "the homecoming," before I forget, but for now a quick update. 


Monday and Tuesday Mike went to work 0730- 1630.  Piles of paper must be filed before he is  free to begin Recon Leave - Reconstitution....the 2 weeks you earn of "free leave" after a deployment (where you work 24/7 and have NO days off).  We've cleared our calendars of all but doctor's appointments for the next two weeks. I'm giddy at the thought of family time.  Recon starts tomorrow. 


Monday I took care of a bit of regional stuff, cooked a real dinner, taught a Bible study, baked breakfast cookies and blueberry cake for PWOC.... and delivered kids to physical therapy, human video practice and youth group.  


Tuesday is PWOC day. I taught another Bible study, enjoyed fellowship with friends, went to lunch with MICHAEL and the girls, and then DROPPED ARIELLE OFF AT DRAMA and let Mike bring her home.  I've not shared how proud I am for Arielle taking over the homeschool room on Tuesday mornings. She's doing a good job in there, and learning much. Stacia and I headed to the commissary and came home to prep for another real dinner. ::snort:: I have a raging headache and took a NAP. Can you believe it? And I didn't have to go pick up any children...they showed up with MIKE. I can't get over it. ::grin::  Ah...the details of a truly exciting life. ::snort:: 


Sweet moments: The neighbor kids came over to see what the kids dad looked like. They actually said, "Can we see what he looks like?" Then Stacia told them, "We need to go - we're going to go show off Daddy." ::snort:: Today, as Mike walked away, I told Stacia, "I love your dad" and she said, "I know. He's so handsome ain't he? He's a superhero." ::snort:: 


I've not given Mike the "honey do" list.....but he's busy, busy, busy.....

Jeremy Camp is out of the laptop

He's been introduced to Prince Charming...watching PC stalk and devour a fly

Mike brought some Belgium Chocolate home from his stop in Germany. YUM....we must get an assignment to Germany. 

All manner of games and Daddy time....

We've tried to catch family....and will keep trying.


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

SUCCESS

Totally pulled it off and surprised the three youngest kids. Anna, a friend, met us at the airport and then went to Sunday School to take photos. When I get them I'll share photos and more details of the homecoming.  Here is a video that Arielle took when they realized Mike was in the room.

After surprising the kids we came HOME. I had put a roast in the oven last night.....we enjoyed that. During lunch the neighbor kids dropped by. Jared had hung a big vinyl banner on our carport. They told her they'd like to know what her Dad looked like. Then they invited her to play outside. I told them we were planning to go somewhere and Stacia added, "Yes, we have to go show off dad." LOL

Michael wanted to go to the ocean....of course we did. 

Where we relaxed....

Played Pooh Shells....

And found a RED piece of sea glass.

Michael was totally surprised by Death by Chocolate. 

And we enjoyed surprises from Michael as well. We're trying to decide if we should wear them to chapel next week. 

Ah, it's unbearably sweet. We've played games, watched a movie, walked, talked.....Michael will spend the next couple of days in-processing and then we'll have two weeks of RECON. Yes, yes, yes.  We're so serious about this that I plan to take the time off teaching Bible Studies....something I didn't even do after the birth of children....but it's time. Viva la family. 

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

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

Wonderful Day

Wonderful Day.  Busy planning surprises! I think all will be totally surprised....we shall see. 


I've told the kids that Michael will be home  Wednesday or Thursday.  

We made Death by Chocolate, Michael's favorite,  and have it in the freezer. I made a zillion Chocolate Chip cookies. Stacia actually made "Cookies for the C family" - she'd been asking when we would get the "C cooking" done. 

We also  took a plate to a friend whose dh deployed yesterday. We froze quite a few for snacks during the next two weeks - dreaming about  fun family day trips. 

I've told the kids I want to go to the 0800 service tomorrow so we can go to Towada horse park after church. I put a roast in tonight "so we can eat right after church and head out".  I discovered I'm out of gas......so have set the scene to run an errand after 0800 service and meet them at Sunday School.....I think we're set for the grand surprise.  If you've not a clue what I'm talking about, check back tomorrow afternoon. 

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

Chocolate Chip Cookies (Twyla)

(I first had these cookies at Twyla's so around here they are Twyla's cookies. She found the recipe by searching for cookies here. I've found they take WAY more flour than the recipe called for - so much that I wonder if there is a type o. My changes in ().)

(makes 48-52 large cookies or 16 doz T size cookies)

Cream together:

1 ½ cup softened butter
½ cup oil
1 ½ cup white sugar
1 ½ cup brown sugar  (I used 3 C of Rapadura total)

Add one at a time:

5 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract

Stir in:

2 level Tbsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups wheat flour
2 cups white flour  (I ended up using  8 -9 C of flour; 1/2 hard white and 1/2 soft white wheat).

Knead in:

12 -16 oz. package Semi-sweet Chocolate chips
1c chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts

Add more white flour, kneading it in until the dough is stiff like bread dough, and the chips just begin to fall out as you knead. (I didn't knead but did add WAY more flour). 

Shape into golf-ball size balls (used the big Pampered Chef scoop), flatten slightly between palms, and lay the thick disks on a cookie sheet to bake about 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven before they begin to brown. Cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes before removing. Cool completely on flat surface before storing them in an airtight container.

For more of our favorites, click the recipe tab at the top of the blog. 

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

One Goofball

ONE goofball extremely anticipating his Dad's return....ONE Day - so close you can SMELL it.

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