HALF WAY

Joyful Thoughts
1. Wednesdays - blessed to have Bible study on both ends of the day.

2. One of my favorite groups of ladies (Modern Girls) pulled together breakfast today for the rest of PWOC/CWOC - even though I forgot my offering in the van. It wasn't missed.

3. I did not find a snake in the back little room where I have to turn on the AC at Far West.

Wednesday mornings - the designated time when we join together to hear what the Holy Spirit has spoken to each of us through the week as we do "this." (left)

I wasn't excited about this week's work of digging into historical context...BUT God knew it would be a good week for me to sit with Nehemiah for an extended amount of time.  Good stuff.

We packed our lunch and ate with Desiree and her children. While the kids played, she and I talked PWOC and a bit of big family talk....I passed on Rebekah's files and such. Desiree has stepped on to the PWOC board.

Back at the Far West Campus the kids hunkered down to work on school.

I met with Cynthia and we talked timeline, logistics and a tiny bit of budget for a spring retreat.

I did a few odd jobs that needed done around the campus....and then it was time for Family Bible Study.

The men chased a snake.... I dodged a bat.... The boys suggest falcons or mongoose as an addition to the new facility. They helpfully suggest the homeschool room as a nice home for these new critters. ::snort::

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

Dentist, Michael's Mystery Pain and Science!

Joyful Thoughts
1. Texts from adult Gherkins are so much fun - and yeah, I even enjoy the texts from our 9 yo.
2. Sprouts has yummy produce.
3. Closer to an answer to Michael's mystery pain.
4. Fun school experiment today.

Sprouts? Yes, Arielle had to go to the big city again today to see the dentist. They celebrated as this is her last filling. We stopped by Sprouts before coming home.

Michael's Mystery pain. For three years doctor after doctor has guessed. It could be constipation, you may have pulled a muscle, it could be a host of gastro things, it's all in your head,  and the list went on.  The "take anti-depressants it's in your mind" RX from the specialist in Yuba City was irritating!  And the pain increased. 

Michael finally saw a GREAT retired military doc on base. I saw him and knew if  Michael saw him he'd look at the records and figure out what needed to be done.  He sent him immediately for an x-ray. Three years of pain, and they'd never done a simple x-ray. Turns out Michael has arthritis setting in which explains part of the pain.

Michael has been telling them he felt a mass inside of his hip bone on the right side.  They kept telling him he was making things up. Michael didn't TELL this doc about the mass; the doc checked and said, "I think I feel a mass," and ordered an MRI.  The MRI shows a mass.  {Yes, I am a tad bit smug and would love to send the records to one specific doctor in Misawa and one in Yuba City, as well}. The report mentioned the mass could be four things. In laymen's terms - two are cancerous and two are not.  For those who geek out on medical terminology - mesenteric lymphadenopathy (infection of the lymph glands), mesenteric fibromatosis (benign fibroids), lymphoma  or gastrointestinal stromal tumor (often cancerous?). At this point all his records are being requested from various facilities, and he and they will visit a surgeon. He is back on profile for all but his "waist circumference."  This means he can't work out, and he better not gain weight. ::snort::  Our thoughts?  Given his symptoms, I would be surprised if it's an infection.   Given the pain is getting worse, but he's had the pain for 3 years and is still with us, I would rule out cancer which I think is usually faster growing.  I'm leaning towards fibromatosis - but I'm a certified laymen. We won't know until he visits the surgeon.  We're thrilled to be getting closer to an answer and possibly less pain.

God is God and God is good - all.the.time.

In other news - school is fantastic when you have time to sit around and do the "fun things," rather than rush around town.  LOL Here are some photos from today's science adventure.

We explored density.

Yes, he IS in his pajamas. Who cares?

 

It worked!!!!!  Salt water is more dense! The egg floats....

  

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

A New Week

Joyful Thoughts
1. God is always on the throne
2. A full day of school interspersed with laughter
3. Love having a table in a family room that allows for days that go on and on and on

Stacia dressed up to surprise Michael on Sunday

I knew we had to pay for all the mornings out of the house last week. We paid. We got all our couch school (History,  Lit, Science) caught up from last week AND today's  couch/table work done.  Our youngest scholar hadn't done so well with independent study last week. She got to catch up all her table work AND do today's work.....we schooled until 5:40 p.m., but she informed me she will never try to slide things past me again on a busy week. The older kids had a good laugh at dinner over this. They informed her  Mom has been homeschooling 26 years and they've tried all the tricks she may be thinking up. ::snort::

Seriously, this day reminded me WHY I like to school inside our home  - we like to explore whatever catches our fancy. When we are too busy away from home (be that ministry, charter schools, field tips, co-ops), we are rushed during our lessons. Education is far too interesting to sprint through.  We will do all we can to scale things back in the future to what we have discovered to be  a sane level of activity for the way we enjoy schooling. We are growing young characters - and that takes time.

I have to be vigilant or we slide into activity levels which don't provide Stacia the relaxed homeschool which blessed her older siblings. Last week was a good wake up call. We CAN take school on the road - but five mornings in one week is insane! At least for us. I am thankful this is a new week and we enter it with new determination to do a better job of balancing responsibilities.

Michael got home in time for the steaks to come off the grill. I enjoyed pasta with asparagus and homemade-fresh-from-the-garden-basil-pesto.

We enjoyed family circle - lots to pray for these days....and then we prayed some more... yes, for our friends in the Air Force and Navy; but also for the entire military family as things heat up -  once again.

God is always on the throne.

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

Tracy Hathaway's Pesto

2 cups tightly packed fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pine nuts)
1-2 cloves garlic (I like roasted)
Sea salt and ground pepper
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp nutritional yeast

*Here's where mine's different...
I use 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk in place of 1/2 cup olive oil (makes it creamy & oil free)

I should confess - this is the recipe, but in truth, I don't measure much. I just look at it and taste along the way. ;) Especially yummy on faro.

And so I made it...and it's addictive! I'm eating it by the spoon....but tonight I'm going to toss it with some pasta and steamed asparagus. I can imagine this on a salad wrap. How else do you all use pesto? It's new to me.

I know - sick photo but it's YUMMY!

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

Snakes and Hamburgers

Joyful Thoughts
1. The church gathered - always a time for joy.
2. My man and boys were on hand to sweep the snake right out of our chapel
3. Sunday diner and  NAP

The past week must have left me sleep deprived. I slept 10 hours last night (I usually get 5 - 6 hours) AND I took a LONG nap this afternoon.  I am not made to be out of the home every morning. LOL

Have you heard the rumor? We're snake handlers at Beale chapel. Yep. We are. I may NEVER unlock the buildings alone again. ::snort:: It seems this fellow found his way under a door? He was in the storage area off the "sanctuary." I was SO happy Michael was right there...and yes, he swept the serpent out of the sanctuary - while I helpfully screeched, "I always KNEW it would come down to snake handling in the church."

Now the little guy was also a spiritual word picture for a few of us. We've been involved in some spiritual warfare and watching Michael chase the serpent out of the building is a great picture of what I believe is happening in another realm.

Sunday school and service were both good......Zander chose Lumberjacks Restaurant for lunch. I was happy it was NOT a buffet and that it was a new spot. I suspected portions would be bigger than average....they far exceeded my suspicions.  This is ONE hamburger - The Redwood.

 Yes, I DID say it was disgusting. I find it disgusting on many levels...size mostly. If you want to eat beef - I'm o.k. with that - but to eat what a whole family could eat in one sandwich is - yes, disgusting - and also enlightening as I watched others eat the whole thing....and fries.....There is a reason heart disease is a killer in America. Just saying. Nolan brought leftovers home.  The perspective below shows the size a bit better.

 If the other Gherkin males visit we will be sure to visit this spot and let them have a shot at being disgusting. LOL

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

Chickens and Movies

Joyful Thoughts
1. Chickens in the Winco parking lot
2. Fun movie with the children
3. Sweet sad thoughts on marriage and legacy

I think the joyful thoughts about say it all.  I took the kids to watch Dolphin Tales 2 while Michael spent a bit of time polishing up for tomorrow.

Yes, there were clucking chickens and crowing roosters in the Winco parking lot.

We grilled steaks for the carnivores and had dinner.

Michael spoke with Mom G. She mentioned that she loves Dad G even more than she did when he's alive....that's enduring love.

Stacia kept promoting "Mom's Night Out," so we're going to veg and laugh and call it a night.

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

Pizza and Games at the Gherkins!

Joyful Thoughts
1. Cooler temps
2. Great ladies with which to discuss Good books
3. Pizza and Games with the Gherkins
4. Friends who feel at home enough for me to greet them with sunglasses at 6:00 p.m.

We are incredibly happy to see the prediction of cooler temps....and we're bemused that 90's are now "cooler temps." A year ago 70's were "high temps."

 

 

We thought it was an overcast day and waited for the rain for a few hours. THEN we realized the gray clouds were due to the King Fire and not forthcoming rain. We are praying for rain. These photos were taken by a friend from her base house.

Courtesy of Britney's camera





Cynthia is behind the camera

This morning began by meeting with a few PWOC women to discuss Not a Fan. I really liked this book and have written about it before. . I do know some find him to "hard hitting," but, honestly, this is a message many churches miss. If we are making "converts," but not "disciples" or "fans" and not "followers," we are NOT fulfilling the mission in which Jesus calls us to invest.  I am thankful that PWOC Page Turners allowed us to discuss this one as a group - I know the norm is Christian fiction.

I ran to the Papa's after book club. It IS once again "Pizza and Games at Gherkins" night (otherwise known as Friday).  They were GREAT to me. Threw in an extra pizza - that's customer service. By this time my migraine was kicking into gear for Day 3 and I wasn't really "sharp." THEY remembered that I didn't want cheese on the gourmet vegan pizza. Goldie mentioned a local take and bake - Pops - in Linda or Lincoln. I'll have to check them out.

I  managed a nap...and felt little guilt over no longer making pizza each week. I did feel nostalgic. The truth is the family really likes WHITE crust pizza better than my homemade, whole grain pizza....but maybe we'll begin to slowly bring it back. It was FUN to watch Jamin work the dough and work together to create our favorites in year's past.

By the time our guests began to arrive I was wearing sunglasses (migraine), pizzas were baking, salad was made, watermelon cut, infused water infusing.....

Tonight we invited a few younger families to join us. We invited family's of four deployed spouses over and one young neighbor we've been meaning to invite for a year.....which had the added bonus of a MAN in the mix  - male bonding.  I also had a brief discussion with Goldie earlier in the week and wanted to get to know her better. I'm glad she joined us. We'll get her family next time.  I think I caught everyone in at least one shot....



Liza and Arielle were great help with the young girls

There's Kelsey (adult) - had her wisdom teeth out Monday but brought her girls out

Youth

Another youth - thought he could evade me

De, Steph, Adam & Tim, Goldie, Cynthia and Hollie

 

There's my boyfriend. After Tim went home, the women had girl talk in the living room and he joined the youth. The girls seem REALLY impressed with his instruction. ::snort::

It was a fun night. We're brainstorming for the next "group"  - maybe we'll just do "random fruit basket" next week. Michael says he thinks there's "something" next week so maybe we'll be out and not in next week.

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