Thursday in San Angelo

Geocaching

Recreation at South-side Recreation Center

Ultimate Frisbee Outside the Rec Center (Reconnecting with Jonathan and Penny C)

Games, cookies, Tim Hawkins and fun at the boys' home


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

The Fourteenth

We got an INCREDIBLY late start. To be accurate Michael and I got up early but the children slept in VERY LATE. It's been fun and funny to watch Michael morph into a morning person due to jet lag. ::snort:: We enjoyed 5 quiet hours this a.m. to talk and laugh before we woke all up.

On the agenda for today was SHOPPING. Both Jared and Arielle were given $ to buy what they'd like before returning to Japan. Arielle hasn't found a thing. Jared found quite a few nice things. The rest of us wandered around Academy.....we do a lot of wandering as actually making a choice is overwhelming. I tried on 9 pairs of jeans and decided to keep my favorite pair and just add another round of patches.

I promptly got a migraine after going into one of my favorite stores. Evidently fragrances of all kinds in concentrated doses without proper ventilation will cause that and not just lit candles...but you know- Bath and Body - lots of smells....small area.  So....I laid down with meds at the boys home while they all went and played some ultimate Frisbee.

The Winning Team 

 Bre amused herself this evening by reminding Arielle of the 12 years between them and how she used to hold her and pinch her chubby cheeks etc.... ::snort::

I'm going to give Jared the chair that turns into his bed (by the either net modem) and go enjoy a nail session with the girls in their room.

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

The Thirteenth

WoW! This little airport takes their security seriously. That's a good thing...but a bit frustrating when the airline is insisting they will take off if the 3 passengers in security aren't cleared. ::snort:: Yes, one of them WAS Krista. I had given the girls each a little antique cast iron tea pot from Japan....and Krista travels only with carry-ons....but the little round metal thing with the spout caused quite the delay. She DID make it back to OR and was picked up by grandparents. We miss you honey! We are so glad you could get the time off to come down - even if it was short! It was PERFECT! 


I have stacks of airport farewell photos and simply wasn't in the mood to take more.  


Eight Gherkins left in TX.....it was COLD and drizzly - so we went to Mr. Gattis. We were pleasantly surprised that you now ORDER the pizza you want and it is FRESH - tasted much better. Josiah and I came up with a business plan that would save them....but you know how that goes. ::snort:: 

Stacia had begged for "chucker cheese" since she saw one in Eugene over a month ago. I had told her we'd try to go to Mr. Gattis in TX when we were all there and Mr Gatti's had BUMPER cars. She was ecstatic when she saw them. I think these would be a great addition to Misawa. LOL 

After lunch we went to watch the new Muppet movie. It was a nice diversion...."Are you a man or a muppet?" - Or a manly muppet or a muppet of a man? ::snort::

We rounded out the evening with dinner out at the Hardings. The Harding family was part of the GAFB parish when Michael was the Sr. Prot. chaplain here.  Steve taught the boys' youth RE class, our boys were friends....their son Michel and Jared are both Seniors this year. I didn't take any photos at dinner....but there is one of the family in the graduation post. Steve and Debbie have "adopted" our college aged sons. They've had them over for holidays and dinners, called and kept up with them.....it was pure joy to visit together again as families. Jared stayed after the rest of us came home and played games with their boys and Josiah and Jamin. He spent the night at the boys' house.  Jared enjoyed spending time with Steven and Michel. Jake, Josiah and Jamin's roommate, came home and so Jared got to reconnect with him as well. 


We're very aware we have 2 days together before Bre leaves on the 16th and the kids and I will begin our trek back to the West Coast and Asia on the 17th.  I've chosen to live these moments FULLY HERE. 


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

A Bit of Fun

The 12th - Krista was due to fly out the 13th. We went on the light tour (but the photos are on Jared's camera and we don't have the cord to load them).

The girls let off steam with music......

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

2011 Gift Exchange

For the past several years our family's gift exchange has not fallen on Christmas. We like it that way. We focus on gift for Jesus on Christmas.  This year we had the rare pleasure of all being in one place for 3 days - so we used one of those days for a gift exchange.

The day began early with Michael, Krista and I heading for the BX - then walmart. Mike had pity on me and we went to the "small" walmart....where I couldn't buy granola bars or cereal because the choices were too overwhelming... ::snort::  We found the last few things we wanted....and enjoyed talking with Krista.

We all met for lunch at Schlotzky's....they've changed. I thought their new motto was "Running our bunz off" or something to do with bunz....everyone else says it's "lotz better". ::snort:: This is Michael's favorite deli joint.

Josiah and Michael

Krista and Josiah

De'Etta and Stacia

Arielle, Nolan and Jared

Jamin and Shelby were off work about the time we finished lunch so we went to the boy's  house for a gift exchange. Always fun.

Krista and Arielle - hats made by Bev E - family friend

Stacia's music box from Gpa

Jamin - running gear from all

De - Josiah got me a pillow thing w/ heat and massage
Great for planes...

Zander

Jared

Nolan totally surprised by Camera

Stacia got Bre AND Krista a princess ballerina cuz it will
make them happy. 

Josiah's money jar

We thought this would be great for a Children's Minister

Josiah and Shelby left for work. The rest of us enjoyed games and visits.....

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~

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

SURPRISE

The party was GREAT. Josiah was totally surprised. We were all very proud of pulling this off. LOL  Also very thankful to Shelby for her hard work and planning to make it happen. 


We had cake, snacks, games and visiting.....another late night.....

Deb and I

Josiah and Shelby

Steven, Michel and Josiah

Unique decoration

Real cake

Mafia

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sweet Sunday

Sunday morning saw the entire family occupying the same pew again - at Goodfellow AFB chapel. LOL We took advantage of the Christmas decorations to get a few shots.

Nine Gherkins ~ 6 - 26 years old

 We continued our "diversionary" tactics and gave Josiah his card and gift back in our room.

 After lunch we went bowling....

We were STILL a bit early and so I insisted I needed to go to the TLF and plug in my ipad before we went to the boys' home.....then I drove slow and "lost" my turn...giving everyone else the time to get to the house before my carload with Josiah in tow.

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...