The Green Machine

We drove to Davis. I drove home from Davis alone. I nearly had a HEART ATTACK driving in six lanes of traffic, overpasses, swirly bridges....but I knew if I had a heart attack I'd wreck the van...and Michael was right behind me. That wouldn't do at all. I kept reminding myself to breathe deeply.  I finally saw our exit and thought, "I'm home free now."   I couldn't BELIEVE all the insane drivers driving towards me in my lane...oops....maybe THIS will be the last time I drive in the wrong lane of traffic.....in any event, I'll soon get more practice on American roads, with American speeds in the 15 pass van because today we purchased this commuter for Michael.  The kids and I will no longer be house-bound, though school has begun. 

It's ugly (top and hoods need painted) but it's SWEET....rides well, immaculate maintenance records, one owner (verified)....it may be ugly but it's PAID for and way under the budget we'd set for a car....$500 under blue book. I'm going to start getting quotes to have it painted "soon." We can hopefully find another economical ride all of us will fit into and still stay within the auto budget. If we don't find a second car we are WELL under budget and that's fine too...but we're spending about $80 a week on gas in the van. OUCH.  The salesman we dealt with will call us if someone turns in a mini-van before it even goes to the service department. Thanking God for this little car...and a fun car salesman. 

Michael  said he couldn't even tell I was nervous driving home. I wasn't driving like I was petrified....somehow he was far enough behind me when I exited the freeway that he didn't see my lane issues. ::snort:: 

Renée S. Suen via photopin cc

We celebrated at Chipotles. Oh.my.heavenly.word. I love their vegan menu and everyone but Zander seemed to enjoy their meal. Zander separated all the food into piles and then ate the chicken pile. He doesn't like restaurants that "mix food" - but from time to time the rest of us like to eat dangerously. 

BTW I was told, by someone "in the know," our little town has the highest Sikh population in America. I was then told that is why there are so many vegan restaurants in the area. I need to go find these restaurants!!! Anyone want to go exploring with me? I have a 15 pass van at my fingertips now. LOL  

We explored historic Marysville after dinner. Ellis Lake is a man-made lake that has been the centerpiece of Marysville since the 1930's.  

Ellis Lake is home to all sorts of geese, ducks and birds. We noted these ducks (as opposed to the rather stand offish ducks in Northern Japan) are more than willing to preform for food. 

Arielle got to "Skype" with Alicia and Emily today. They didn't get the video working but could at least talk....That was a very good thing.

Yuuki welcomed us warmly when we got home.  OH, she howled again when we got home from buying the car. Poor thing...watching the kids is wearing her out. LOL  She still had energy to play kill the pink flamingo! ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Hypothetically Speaking...

I went to work with Michael this morning. The highlight of the day was meeting Diann, "in real life." We've known each other online for 15 years. She and her husband, Tim, met us at the club for lunch. Michael had to rush back to work, but at least we met. ::grin:: It was fun to sit and visit...and I look forward to more visits in the time we are in CA. I visited a bit longer with Tim and Diann and then headed off on errands - mostly unsuccessful - But I WAS OUT OF THE HOUSE!

We continue to try to track down why our insurance all of a sudden will not cover Nolan's meds...our military insurance...the same insurance we had when we began treatment in Japan. Still no resolution. They insist the drug he takes is not on the market. I assure you, it is. Please pray with this about this. I'm actually fairly upset about it. He needs to finish the course of meds he was on...and he has less than a week of pills left. We've been trying to get this taken care of for two weeks. 

We have a couple of leads on commuter cars...maybe we'll have another car before the weekend is over? 

Yuuki took seriously her role as "watch dog" while Michael and I were both gone. She spent her day roaming from one child to the next. When they went out, she insisted on going out (and she doesn't like the heat). When we walked in this evening, she looked at me, sat down, and HOWLED. She'd never done that before. I think I look the same some nights when Michael comes home. I assured Yuuki I know how she feels. 

Stacia posed a "hypothetical" question to Zander today. 

"Hypothetically speaking, who is your best sister?" 

Wow.....there's a no win situation. He explained he has lots of sisters and couldn't choose between them. ::snort:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Routines....

Oh yes - getting this routine down! Another year is off to a good start.

Stacia and I worked out again. I miss the elliptical. I don't like being 25 min from a gym. I won't let this stop me from working out. We're doing a different DVD each a.m.  We did Body Gospel today. I may never be able to sing in church again without doing some unique moves. ::snort::

We are switching a few things in a few courses in school and doing some review with the younger two to see what summer ground we need to reclaim.

Must get more creative in here....

I've got lots of ideas for the kitchen board. This makes meal planning easy. 

 I simply chose a meat (ground turkey in this case), selected a couple entrees and let them vote. I noted the two nutritarians and the herbivore abstained....but then our choices were firm. LOL

The kids went to the "Red Park" today. I waited for Michael to get home. We met another neighbor!!! Then we headed to the park to visit the kids. I had to bring Stacia back right away, which worked out well as I needed to cook dinner. Michael grabbed a few shots of the kids.

Showing Stacia how

 

Jump STACIA! 

The kids made their first "neighborhood kid contact" today. Unfortunately, they were riding bikes home from the park and some boys yelled at Zander, "Nice helmet, Lady." I guess he had Stacia's helmet on his handlebars. He is greatly offended.

My boyfriend suggested we soak in the hot tub....great idea...ease the aches of that Body Gospel stuff. ::snort:: Arielle joined us and it was sweet to visit for a bit.

This is better - I followed Stacia's lead

Good day...and tomorrow...I get to meet a friend who is driving in from NV for the day.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Seasonal Race?

We're spending this week establishing new routines. I'm making the kids go to bed a bit earlier and get up earlier. We're eating regular meals. I'm discussing chore rotations for our new home. We've begun a bit of school and we've all started working out again. Michael is in the middle of a base exercise...though it does seem more low key than exercises in Japan. Yes, life is settling into "normal." 

Family circle, games and connecting with friends are our evening norm. 

A few days ago, during my personal private time with Jesus, I was thinking about the seasons changing (it's only 80's now instead of the triple digits of earlier weeks).  As I sat on the patio there was even a nice WIND...it felt like fall.  As I continued to think and pray I sensed  the season changing spiritually for us, as well.  God is doing something new in our family (and I didn't sense it was just for the 6 of us in CA)....I want to be alert and watchful. I want to join Him in the new season and not assume the new season will  look like past seasons. I also believe there will be a fresh wind of His spirit blowing through our midst.   One thing I know beyond a shadow of doubt - He is faithful, He is good, He is God in each and every season.  

A friend sent this video when I mentioned on Facebook that a new season had arrived. "I will offer thanks for what has been and what's to come." Beautiful song. 

Of course, those who know me are going to laugh right out loud at the next sentence. I began to wonder if "spiritual seasons" are even Biblical. Possibly, a better analogy would be our faith life is a "race."  I came up with many passages to support this line of thinking. Many. It fits my personality better. I like the analogy...run to win. I get it.   I'm still contemplating...maybe it's a "seasonal race." What are your thoughts? 

I am laughing at how God keeps putting verses in my path about "seasons." I seriously think He likes to play this sort of "game" with me.  Is that heretical?  In any event there is Ecclesiastics which was quoted in a FICTION book I'm reading.  There was a verse yesterday talking about showers of blessings and showers in their seasons (Ezek 34:26).

ginnerobot via photopin cc

I'm reading the Bible chronologically this year and today read  from Zechariah. Zech. 10:1 says, "Ask the Lord for rain..." It jumped off the page. Really, God? Ask for RAIN? I dislike rain. I love the sun. I kept reading...and my mind kept going back to "rain."

I read four more chapters. Did I mention I dislike rain?

"Ask the Lord for rain...."

It IS a new season and I suppose you do have to have rain to get rainbows. I did learn two years ago to Dance in the Rain.  I don't see how rain can be NEW really...have had a lot of rain in the past few years....

 "Ask the Lord for rain..."

It would be o.k. to dance a bit longer in the rain. Well, o.k. I'll ask the Lord for rain when I'm done reading.

And then another nugget in Zech 14:17. Those who refuse to worship the King of Kings, the Lord of Hosts, will not receive rain.

I prayed. I listened. I realized rain doesn't always signify "storms" and "trials."  It brings new life. It nurtures seeds which have been planted in past seasons.  I also recognized God was illuminating obscure phrases and I needed to listen. I began to sense He was speaking to me about seasons again.... a season of refreshing and blessing; not just faith strengthening trials.  I did a few Word Studies (because I always want to be rooted in the Word) and there it is......

Rain - #4306 matar - watering the earth in season, blessing from God (Deut 11:14,17; I Kings 8:35,36), replenishing the earth, refreshing for God's people (Deut 32:2, Job 29:23), can also refer to hardship where God is our refuge from the storm (dancing in the rain - my note).

A season of replenishing, refreshing, watering.....seeds continuing to germinate and sprout.....and if the rain gets overwhelming -  because too much blessing can feel like a storm...and sometimes blessings  present themselves as trials. I'll keep dancing. He's my refuge in the storm.

But those who refuse to worship - to surrender, to bow before their superior, to humbly beseech the King will not receive the rain (Zech 14:17).

Worship and rain....

I'm asking the Lord for rain in this new season. I'm asking for myself, my kids, my husband, our extended families....refreshing times of replenishment...and if we face storms....I'm believing He's our refuge and will give us the trust to continue dancing in the rain...as we continuously live a life of worship.

Just some thoughts I'm having....

 (Worship def based on #7812 Shachah)

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~

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

Glass Beach - Fort Bragg, CA

Glass Beach was mentioned when we researched the closest beach to Beale AFB.  

This area used to be owned by the Union Lumber Company. Fort Bragg residents used the site as a landfill It was routine in the early 20th century to simply drive up and toss your trash over the cliffs. The dumping was stopped in 1967. Over time the ocean has done what the ocean will do.  It is interesting to find bits of old cars, spark plugs etc embedded in the rocks....and the glass? Its turned into SEA GLASS. 

We  set out to find this spot. We overshot the beach on our way through town. I began asking others at the Ward Ave Beach how to get to the Glass Beach....Coming from Beale....driving through Fort Bragg on the main street you  turn LEFT at Denny's. There are SMALL signs that say "glass beach." Drive down to the end of the road and you'll see a parking lot. This is before the entrance to  MacKerricher State Park. You can also park along the streets. You are NOT supposed to collect sea glass (or wildflowers etc) on State property.  

We knew, from reading tips on Trip Adviser, if you go straight ahead or to the right you may be  disappointed when you don't find a beach covered with sea glass. This seems to be where most stop. Still glass to be found...but...nothing like the treasures which await.

 The reviews said to go left, the climb down is steeper but the beach is COVERED in glass. This was taken right before I sat down and slid. ::snort::

 Once you master the steep, slightly uncomfortable climb down you discover a beach that IS covered with glass....that is not sand people. Fine, smooth glass....mostly white, brown and green. We did see a few slivers of cobalt blue. No reds.

 

My mind went directly to a new entry for "That'll preach." Most were content to stay where it was comfortable and complain the treasures weren't as easily reached or abundant as they expected. Those who went further found treasure of all hues. See? That'll Preach. I win for the day!

My sea glass hunting partner was ecstatic! She kept saying,
"It's much easier to find sea glass in CA than Japan." 

 Reviews also said if you go far enough left you are no longer on state land and you can collect sea glass. We have plenty of sea glass and found no new colors to tempt us. These pieces, for the most part, are much smaller than the ones we find in Japan.  It WAS incredibly fun to see this spot.

Just laying there...about 80 - 90% glass

Why can't you collect sea glass? It seems folks have been hauling buckets and coolers of glass out. Over time that has depleted the glass on the easiest to reach beaches. This is a huge tourist attraction for the area. The glass will eventually be gone, or ground to sand and then what? Are you ready - evidently there is a movement afoot to "seed" the land with more trash  glass. We found this ironic. 

It was unsettling to see folks  ignore the signs and fill water bottles, buckets and pockets with glass. Some did it on the sly...some were very open. "Mom, can I get two more pieces of glass?" I guess most don't realize you can simply drive off state land, take your chances and by George, you may find a piece you can legally keep...After all the ocean doesn't KNOW this glass must be washed back on this beach....we DID see a piece on another beach. 

Right at the water's edge....BEAUTIFUL! 

Personally, collecting sea glass here is a lot like fishing in a farmed pond. We'll keep looking to find our random pieces of sea glass on "normal" beaches...but this was interesting to see and the view was beautiful....we were filthy after our climb down and back up. 

We plan to visit this area again. We will probably take visitors if they promise not to steal glass....and we'll go search for glass where you CAN take it home. ::snort:: 

One last random shot caught by our fearless photographer...in our climbs we came to this spot. I immediately wondered if I could fit through this opening...um..there is NO way I would have fit through this spot a year ago. I hesitated. I told Michael what I was thinking, he laughed and told me to do it....I did....even with my 5 lbs of pcs gain... Easy money...viva la freedom.

At THIS point I was happy I wasn't in beach attire

Do I love sea glass? YES. I've collected it, spoke about it, made jewelry with it, written about it. Our Japanese packers couldn't BELIEVE I was MOVING glass floats and jars of SEA GLASS to America....but I did. This was a fun outing...one I'm very glad we did.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Playing at Fort Bragg, CA

We have been working HARD and decided today was the day we WOULD go play. We researched the closest beach to Beale and four hours later found ourselves at Ward Ave Access Beach. 

This trip has cemented Yuuki's status as our family's "best" back seat driver. ::snort:: 

No, she wasn't licking his neck 

She was getting as close to the driver as she could 

The drive was an adventure in itself. A friend shared this quote from Wallace Stegner. He said to appreciate the West, "You have to get over the color green; you have to quit associating beauty with gardens and lawns; you have to get used to an inhuman scale."  I thought of this quote as we drove through the Mojave and I thought of it again today as we drove through diverse beauty. Farmland, golden hills, redwoods and fir and the beach...all in one four our drive. 

We headed to MacKerricher State Park, as Trip Advisor seemed to say that was the launching pad to find Glass Beach (it wasn't - separate post on glass beach). The park was totally full and they wouldn't even let us drive through to check out the park...but they did tell us how to get to Ward Ave Beach Access....and part of that is also State land.  They also gave us a list of camping sites which will accommodate our trailer.  I'm glad we explored this beach.

Initial thoughts: It's not as cold at a CA beach as it often is at a Japanese Beach. It is CERTAINLY warmer here than Florence or Crescent City.  The beaches are more crowded in CA than in Japan. The beaches are free of trash in CA. There are many more posted rules for conduct on the beaches in CA - but most people seem to ignore the rules. We didn't.  We spent a bit of time individually and corporately marveling we were on the other side of the Pacific...right across that ocean is Misawa.

All the signs about this and that rule are a bit unnerving....to be fair there may have been tons of prohibitions in Japan we just couldn't read the signs. ::grin:: 

We had a great day - a long day - 8 hours of driving for 4 hours of fun - but we're used to this from our Japanese explorations. 

We dressed to visit the Japanese or Oregon Beach; though the kids were able to scale down.   ::snort::

The colors are spectacular....blues, reds, yellows, green, white....

The girls reached the conclusion that horse poop must be easier to pick up than dog poop - thus the signs. I explained horses are less likely to attack small animals or people? Not sure my reasoning was sound, but it satisfied their desire for justice for Yuuki. 

It was fun to watch a colony of seals...and we saw some swimming around Glass Beach as well. 

SQUIRREL - Our family Mascot. ::snort:: 

Michael enjoyed taking a few shots of  the kids 

Arielle -  16 yo Junior

Zander - 11 yo 5th grader

Nolan - 14 yo Freshman

Stacia - 8 yo 3rd grader

We all look forward to more time in Fort Bragg. Some are intrigued by camping and hiking, exploring dunes, and watching for wildlife....I must admit I want to explore Main Street. ::wink::  

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

...And it STILL Echoes!

Day 2 of our 4 day weekend.....Michael and Nolan worked all day....they began here....

I love this wall grouping...so glad we went Asian in our Living Room

 They also hung a mirror, stained glass window, and a couple of other photos in the living room. Yes, Michael DOES fix all the nail holes each time we move.

Here is the main wall in our room...some of our favorite lighthouses. We'll have to find a couple more in CA.

I went with an onsen theme in the master bathroom....I have another photo coming which I'll hang in here too.  I also have a collage of 4 4x6 photos to hang...but I discovered one of the panes was missing it's glass and I need to return it.

A closer look...these make me smile. I'm glad Mary and Becky were so patient as I took photos.  I really like these new-fangled floating mat frames....they'll match any house we move to in the future. LOL  If any of my onsen buddies want their own onsen photo let me know which one and I'll email you the file.

 This photo inadvertently has a couple of folks in it...it's our new family past time to search to see how many we can find. ::snort::

I handled these instructions out at one of our PWOC retreats. It makes me smile with many happy memories when I see these.

IT STILL ECHOES! We don't have a single thing to add to the room.......and it still echoes. ::snort::  The kids love to demonstrate. If you visit, be sure to ask.

As we worked we realized this is not a child proof home. Our baby is eight...but I always have lots of young moms over....so I need to think this through. The kids told me they always keep the little ones so busy it won't be a problem. As I think back over mentor group and various ones who've visited...this is true.....hmmmm.

We will either play tomorrow or try to find a car. We really need a car. The kids and I are getting cabin fever. I know we're spoiled. I think we'll feel much more "at home" when we can begin to explore and go places during the day. There isn't a bus that comes out to our town - at least not one I've discovered. I suppose we could hitch hike. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...