Camp Site

I went to work with Michael this a.m. He worked on tying things up for the week. I ran to the lab and radiology and then back home.

The kids and I packed, packed the trailer and then I did a bit of PWOC "stuff," answered a few emails and made a sign up sheet for a Parish Town Hall/BBQ.

I ran back to base, hugged a friend who has been gallivanting in AK and picked Michael up.

Setting up camp at midnight

We hit the road.

We arrived here at 11:45 p.m.  It's now 1:16 a.m.  and we are set up.

Tomorrow Brezaak and Dakota will arrive and we'll go visit Mom Mary.

We still miss Arielle - off getting grown up practice

Hmmm....if we'd remembered to grab the lawn chairs from around the fire pit at home, this would make a nice spot to sit and visit while we grill. ::snort::

It's been a long day!

Wednesday Adventures

I enjoyed Bible study this a.m. We talked about worship and began to look at the Tabernacle and the New Testament passages which correlate with the Tabernacle.  I was especially hit by the fact that the Israelites moved when God moved. They didn't move when He didn't move. Total surrender...and the awe-inspiring fact that the presence/glory of God now dwells in believers. 

Nolan and Alex helped with PCOC and Stacia was IN PCOC (Protestant Children of the Chapel)....after study we ran errands getting ready for tomorrow's adventure.

Picture with me a cart in Walmart full of snack/trip/camping food. Stacia finally looked at me and said, "I think we need to get out of here. We look like a redneck family." ::snort:: ::gasp::

Love these faces!

Tonight was Family Bible Study. I was thrilled to find out  Beverly has been researching how to get some hard white wheat and has an answer. I may begin baking again in the near future. LOL

Joy, missionary to Mexico, sent this photo....the Gherkins all arrived at the meeting point. Jamin drove from TX and arrived in AZ last night. The girls arrived this a.m. and then they all went across the border. They spent the day at a prison and an orphanage and are settling in to the orphanage.

Long day - and tomorrow is going to be longer. It appears I must run to the base for labs to be done precisely at ten hours after I eat and I need to stop by radiology too. I'm debating the consequences of ignoring the last minute summons. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

They're Off

Krista stopped by yesterday afternoon. She wasn't feeling great, but we had a good visit. We also ran to Walmart for the final things Arielle needed for their upcoming trip. 

Arielle requested Veggie Pot Pie for dinner. We were happy to oblige. 

This morning Yuuki KNEW something was up....it was cute to watch her. 

Stacia's love language is "touch" and she tells us Arielle's is "don't touch," but this a.m. Arielle let Stacia touch.  Stacia is having a hard time with Arielle gone. We're moving Yuuki's bedtime kennel to their room. 

Loading up - and there's Yuuki. 

A couple of last hugs

They're off. They hope to make it into AZ today and into Mexico in the morning. 

We are praying this is an amazing summer for the kingdom and in their lives. Praying God plants new seeds which will blossom into awe-inspiring fruitfulness. I just realized I'm not sure either of them has a camera! 

Things seem  quiet around here. Arielle's leaving hit us hard. I'm considering it a dry run for next summer/fall. 

Jamin is driving from TX and will meet them in AZ. He'll be in Mexico until he feels it's safe to leave the girls. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sunday

In an effort not to get any further behind I will just start blogging now and will "back date" the blogs from 3 weeks ago that I need to catch up. LOL 

Today was   Family Sunday - as well as Volunteer Appreciation. I knew there was SOMETHING going on. On family Sunday our children's ministry workers join us for service - one big happy family.  We said goodbye to Ashley and her family. She's been one of our great workers for several years. 

After service we headed over to the club for the appreciation luncheon.  It was a nice buffet. It's always fun to have a chance for leisurely fellowship with each other

Arielle has a following wherever she goes. LOL

Stacia was excited to have Maya sit with us, ride over to the club with us and then she sat with HER and her grandparents at lunch. I could tell it made her feel grown up. I only had to remind them not to talk in church once or twice. LOL 

 SHOOT. Missed opportunities. Angel and I realized we should have been taking Arielle over to visit with Karen all these months. His wife, Karen, doesn't speak English yet. She moved here from Puerto Rico when they moved to Beale.  She could have really taught Arielle some Spanish and it would have blessed her too.

Little bit of last sister time for a couple of months. 

We spent the afternoon reading news reports, checking State Department sites, maps, talking on the phone with missionary friends,  Skyping with boys and Krista and praying.  Just off the last Skype and we're going to bed.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

He Loves Me Well

This weekend was Beale's PWOC Board Training and Planning Retreat. It was a lot of work  to get to the start line....always is.... but this is the first weekend I've organized a "board retreat"  post PWOCI and WILD training.  This HAD to be not just planning, but training.  I am AMAZED we got through five training sessions (Beale's Vision (My vision), PWOC 101, PWOC 201, Dressed for Success, Team Work) AND planned an upcoming year, complete with reports from several ministry team leaders! Totally amazed....

The board retreat was here in our home - and it worked as well as I'd prayed it would. It was intimate, close for those with babies who wanted  to run home, allowed plenty of room for those who wanted to spend the night and I think all feel they know me more for having been in our home.  I planned simple meals and did what prep work I could before the retreat and during the times when the gals were working in small groups. This saved us TIME as we didn't have to break for meals.

Those who still had the energy DID go for dinner Saturday night before we "broke."  I had very, very few words left. Time and touch are my love languages and I feel connected to this group after this weekend. I felt a bit disconnected from my family. LOL

While I did this -

Michael took the kids with him to a resiliency event the chapel hosted - white water rafting!  They spent the night in the trailer at fam camp. Saturday they went bowling, to the mall, wal-mart and I don't know what all.

I got home at 9:30 p.m. to a waiting family, lots of excited stories AND flowers and a dvd of a movie I had really wanted to see but missed when it came out. This man loves me so well.

PWOC - Protestant Women of the Chapel - Military Women's Ministry

WILD - Women in Leadership Development - training previously provided by PWOC Region and International leadership. 

PWOCI - used as a stand in for regional and international leadership teams in this case

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

She Did It and a Quick Update

Look at this! I remember how to blog! I promise to update next week.  However - TODAY....the boys saw the dentist in a town 50 minutes away.  

She DID IT! 

She won the challenge and got the bucks....though she shared the picture.

The kids and Michael are going on an adventure tomorrow. 

I will be hosting and training our local PWOC board Fri-Sat.  Michael will keep the kids at fam camp. They have fun things planned. 

Sunday will be busy - I can't remember what but I remember something happens the 29th. LOL 

Arielle leaves the 1st. 

I'll be back to blog - soon! 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Dental Trip

This is VBS week and I'll write a VBS post at the end of the week. ::snort:: 

HOWEVER - today - with the help of a dear friend - we pulled off VBS AND a trip to the dentist for three of us - AND getting the boys home so they didn't have to spend the  day at the chapel. LOL 

Arielle had 3 cavities filled, Stacia 2 and ME _ THREE!!!! I have a terrible time numbing...and have had several dentists tell me I don't numb and just work on me anyway - so this is NOT something I look forward to. 

These guys are good. It did take 1 hour and 40 minutes for ME...and that was just a bit too long....you can play waterfalls on my headphones, turn up the massage and I still no THIS IS ENFORCED CAPTIVITY. ::wink:: 

In only a De'Etta Dental type of way....something went  a bit awry with the numbing...it zinged across my lip (and the gal apologized so I know it's not supposed to), numbed my tongue and my eye.....hoping to be back to normal by VBS Day 4.  All in all I was thrilled to be numb....and the work is done. I really DO like this office a lot. Doctor Mrs. is great with the kids. All good. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...