Long Weekends

"Technically" Friday was Michael's CTO (Time off when you preach) and Monday was a holiday - a four day weekend. Except - um - ::snort::  He did a bit of work on Friday, preached on Sunday and we were tired on Monday. We had talked about going out of town this weekend or next weekend (another 3 day weekend and Michael's birthday). He has a commander's call on Friday and is picking up duty for another Chaplain on one day next weekend, we won't be going away next weekend either......it's a tad bit frustrating to be within driving distance of  family and not be able to get away......however....

By today we are happy to be home. We are happy not to have an eight hour drive ahead of us. There are a lot of deals around town for Veterans - but quite simply - we're tired. We thought about it and decided to sleep in, play with the kids, Skype with the older ones we could catch (all but Josiah and Shelby) and weelax!

Michael taught Stacia how to make really cool paper airplanes. Zander bragged he could shoot them out of the air with his Nerf gun. Game on. Michael challenged him to prove it - and he could and did! Which led to an all out Nerf battle - fairly appropriate for Veteran's Day?  Can you spot the four warriors below?

I'm amazed at how Michael is able to continue with his normal routine in the face of chronic pain. Many remember his emergency surgery in 2012....and then another at the end of the year. The pain has never gone away. They said they could go in again and see if they find something new....but he opted to wait until we arrived stateside.  He has a referral this week to a specialist off base.

In February of 2013 he injured his shoulder. We aren't quite sure how - though we think it involved lifting of suitcases and boxes.  He's had an MRI. The cuff is not torn but it is still very inflamed and he has very little movement. He's saw PT in Japan - lots of torture; no help.   He had a cortisone shot last week.....unfortunately, he's still waiting to feel relief. He's seeing PT again...which doesn't seem to really help the swelling or the pain.

All that to say - the fact that Michael continues to work 40 - 60 hours a week and engage as a dad with the pain he's enduring amazes me.  He deserved some rest today.....and he got it.....it was good to be home rather than traveling.  Yes, I still love to watch him sleep.

Look at this rip-roaring Monopoly game. It appears Stacia and Nolan merged and won it all.  Note the Nerf gone at the ready...Zander contemplated a hostile take over.

It turned out to be the perfect long weekend and I'm looking forward to another one next week. LOL  I am a bit concerned about getting 5 days of school done in 2 and 3 days this week. We usually take PWOC day off I'm debating staying home to get school done or just calling this week a wash! Stay tuned.

Day one of P90 - will I survive? Working towards my anniversary body. ::snort::

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

Lovin CA

 Yes, we did find Brock's Ice cream in Yuba City....and all approved. ::snort::  They even have frozen bananas which they hand dip and roll in nuts.....something for everyone.

Arielle has been playing with a set of new knitting needles she wasn't able to find in Japan. This is her first project.

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

Operation Christmas Child

We have loved participating in Operation Christmas Child for years. This year we deliberately chose to do less boxes (11) so we could put more quality into each one.....

In the past four years we participated with an offering as it was silly to ship boxes from Japan to America to be sent overseas - more bang for the donation to send money. THIS year we're enjoying personally shopping for each box.

We went shopping and  packed boxes this morning. Unfortunately, we needed more things so we went shopping again. ::snort:: We think we need to buy a few coloring books and we'll be finished.

We wanted to be done before tomorrow so we could take any of our extra things to the Chapel Children's packing party in the a.m.

Michael's job, other than financing the adventure, was deflating soccer balls which went in a box with a pump and a few other goodies.

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

K-9 Field Trip

We had a great time learning about the military working dogs on base and throughout the Air Force. This was a home school field trip with a "facebook group" on  base. Taking photos was a bit tough as we had to stay outside of a chain link fence.

These dogs come to the kennel when they are about one year old. They  have a year of training before they are ready for the field. They are AMAZING.....and help the military in many ways. They sniff for drugs, bombs and  bodies. They apprehend those trying to run.....wonderful animals.

Here he was told to catch him...when the man stopped running...the dog stopped and held him.

.....and HERE the man did NOT stop....and the dog caught him.....

 He didn't want to let go when commanded to do so and the handler had to pull him off. 

This dog obviously loves to attack...and is good at it. We learned that it HURTS to be the victim in the training sessions - even with the protective gear.

We also learned to NEVER pet a military working dog - never. They are trained to bite.  This can be a problem when the dogs are deploying and nice families want to pet them in the airports.

I took all four kids on this trip and we all enjoyed it. We also heard of a place in Yuba City that sells ice cream made fresh on their premises. I suspect we'll try that out soon.

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

Shopping Adventure

Nolan and I took advantage of his doctor visit to stop by Sunflower Market. I knew they'd have the produce I wanted and it would be organic. They didn't have some of the other things I wanted - but it was a productive enough trip that I can put off a trip to the commissary until next Wednesday (PWOC day - on base anyway).

We left the sauerkraut juice on the shelf - though I've been contemplating the use one could have for sauerkraut juice.....

 I DID find some Massie's Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds....those who were a part of our Natural Food Co-op in San Angelo will remember we have a love for Massie's Dark Chocolate Almonds.....AND I found Chocolate Covered Bananas...which LOOK just like Chocolate Almonds.....Arielle was the only one who really liked them....

I put them in the dish on the table and we took bets how long it would take Michael to hon in on them. We KNEW he would have one as soon as he did....he wasn't sold on them at all. He told me to find some of those nice, crunchy banana chips and dip those in chocolate. ::snort::

I really need to see if I can find a United or Azure's co-op around here...but I'm not sure they're cheaper than Vitacost or Amazon Subscribe and Save.

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

Tea Cup Story

This story was shared in PWOC today. It struck a deep chord...and I was surprised to find tears spilling down my face.  I may have heard the story before, but I want to save it here to remember.... when He says, "Not yet," there is a purpose. Tsunamis, health challenges, ministry losses, personal losses.....God knows what He is doing.

Teacup Story - God knows what He's doing (for all of us). He is the Potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

“Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” ~ Jeremiah 18:6

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'Let me alone', but he only smiled, 'Not yet.'"

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. 'Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!' I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'"

"Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, 'Not yet.'"

"Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better', I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'"

"Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'"

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and I couldn't believe it was me. 'It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'"

"'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'"

MORAL:

God knows what He's doing (for all of us). He is the Potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not tempt you beyond what you can bear; but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

~ Author Unknown 

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

Science Love

My darling is striving hard for a GOOD attitude about this Biology lab her heartless mother has inflicted on her. ::snort::

Um....Nolan is GOOD....STEALTHY....check out how he is plugging his nose while he observes these new life-forms which they've created in my new vintage Ball jars. ::snort::

Nothing stealthy about Zander...tell us, son, what do you really think? 

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