What I Learned at TAP or EVEN THERE

After the first day I left home each morning PREPARED

I got up early every a.m. this week and attended the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) with Michael.  I was surprised to be the only spouse on all days until the last day (VA Benefits).  This is a GREAT program that the Department of Labor and Department of Defense host to prepare ALL who are separating or retiring from the military. I highly recommend the program. I can't imagine how generations of previous Veterans navigated the system without this program.

What did I learn?   We learned much about translating our experience to civilian speak. We learned about resources, benefits, and job hunting skills. Personally, I learned that I do not want to be out of my home 10 hours a day - full time work is not for me. Part time - I believe is manageable with the ages of our children. I could write a smoking resume from my years as a home school teacher and a women's ministry volunteer. Collecting references to back up my claims could be difficult - military life being what it is. ALWAYS collect references immediately and save them if need be.

We have much to research.  We have many forms and steps to complete in the next few months. We have been encouraged it is important we step back from NOW to prepare for THEN. I think we needed someone to give us permission as the retirement date is now 4 months and 3 days away.

Honestly, we have a Plan A, which our hearts long for and truly is our passion - being missionaries in Japan. However, we also have a Plan B, which would provide income greater than our current income. We are sitting in a good spot  - though nothing is firmly nailed down, we know our passions and have options.  It would have been impossible to sit in hours of discussion about the future and retirement plans without Plan C and Plan D hovering on the edges of our consciousness.  The realization of Plan C or Plan D would significantly impact Plan A and Plan B.

My soul screams, "NO! We want Plan A."  We wait - we do all we need to do to retire, and we seek answers to rule out Plan C or D. The thing is we can't seriously plan for our transition without considering the possibility of Plan C or  Plan D.

My conclusions: There are things far harder emotionally and financially than death - I would prefer not to walk any of these paths.   And here is the biggest thing I learned on a gut level at TAP:

The Spirit whispers to me, "EVEN THERE His strength will guide you and sustain you."

God knows! He knows our daily activities, our thoughts and plans, He scrutinizes our plans and is intimately acquainted with all the twists and turns in our lives. Even before we voice a word or thought, He knows it all. He encircles us, and walks hand in hand with us in the twists and turns.

It's beyond our understanding, so much more than we deserve.

There is nowhere we will go where we will be out of His presence or hidden from His Spirit. Heaven or the grave, East or West, Plan A or Plan D....

EVEN THERE His strength will guide us, His strength will support us and settles us in the place to which He leads. The uncertainty  won't overwhelmingly cover us - darkness is not dark to God!! The darkness  is as bright as a sunny CA afternoon because EVEN THERE- God shines. EVEN THERE - God resides.

We trust in God with all our being, we don't need a clear picture to trust. We'll obediently seek God in the twists and turns, and He will reveal the path we are to travel.

If we have to surrender Plan A or Plan B - EVEN THERE He will walk with us, lead us and sustain us.

We truly are in a good place.

We would appreciate your prayers as we eliminate Plan C or Plan D.  We'll share more info about Plans B - D should they become reality.

Yes, the words the Spirit whispered to me, my thoughts and our responses are based on passages of the word which are dear to me - Psalm 139:1-12; Proverbs 3:5-6

Morning Drive

By Michael

Interesting drive in this am. Turned onto A Rd, drove about a quarter mile, and came across an accident. Two vehicles were in the ditch on the right side. The farther vehicle was at 90 degrees to the other with its nose in the ditch. Saw a young man out in the roadway talking on his cell phone. He was bleeding around his mouth. No emergency vehicles were present, but there was a vehicle ahead of us with the woman driver out of the vehicle. 

We got out to see how everyone was doing. The young man was not doing particularly well, but he was functioning. I then found out that the other guy was still in the other vehicle - untended. I ran up to check on him and found him totally unresponsive slumped over on his right side. The right side of the vehicle was caved in to within a foot of the center console or where the center console should have been. The side airbag was deployed. He was breathing, and there were only minor cuts from flying glass - no real bleeding. He had to be not older than 20 years old.

 De'Etta was calling 911 because the first guy was trying to call his dad instead of 911 - he was much more banged up than he appeared -adrenalin and shock being what they are. 

The second guy finally started to awaken, but he was delirious. His right shoulder was causing him a great pain. I kept him still and in place. The ambulance showed up a few minutes later. I was glad to do a hand off with the paramedics. He was really hurting.

Then the dad showed up... "LOOK AT MY +^#%*^€£#]\+*¥!?#% TRUCK. WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY TRUCK?" Not a good fatherly moment. This kid was really shaken up; he had done everything right. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

I did not get their names, but your prayers are appreciated. God knows...

De'Etta note - we did give them our name and number and continue to pray for the trauma of all involved.  This brought home to me again how much more important relationships and people are than things.

Resurrection Day 2015

We woke up early, took a family photo and headed for the chapel....

Arielle, Staci and Me; Michael, Nolan and Alex/Zander

 

Michael preached. I didn't hear the sermon; I was playing in the nursery.  I know the Holy Spirit was working. How do I know this? Several got saved! What a fun day to enter the family of God!

 

We had decided yesterday afternoon to enjoy a relaxing dinner here at home! I'm so glad we did. John and Nadine joined us. Stephanie and her children joined us. Praying Brenner has a great Easter where he is. Rob is home on a mid-tour. His parents are in for a week. They all joined us...and the fellowship was sweet. It was fun to hear John and Bernie share their stories (both are retirees).

 

When we made the plan it was bright and sunny. Today we enjoyed some much-needed rain....Michael was prepared.  I had lots of help pulling the sides together.



Steph and kids

 Arielle, Nolan and I had prepared some eggs for the kids. We put non-edible stuff in most the eggs, but each child had their name on two special eggs - one  with chapstick and another with candy. They all had fun looking. Rob and Michael hid the  eggs for our young adults and they were quite a bit harder to find.


Clara Beth finds her egg



Cole finds HIS egg



Elise.....

 

Stacia finds the egg with her name



Arielle FINALLY found hers



Nolan's was high



Zanders was also high

 Here's a shot of all the "kids"

Front - Clara, Elise, Arielle, Stacia and Cole
Back- Zander, Nolan and Daniel

Left-Right - John, Nadine, Michael, Rob, Bernie, Mary

Cynthia

Once again God confirmed people are more important than a perfect meal....and  it pays not to wait until things are "perfect" to invite others over. ::wink::

March was an INCREDIBLY busy month.  Today was a wonderful day of connecting with old friends and new ones too - being an extrovert it did energize me. 

Tomorrow begins another busy week. I thought it would be a lazy week as PWOC is on spring break - but I'll be busy from 8 a.m.  - 4 p.m. every day outside of the house. This will be new.

Adventures with John and Nadine

Each Chaplain is endorsed by a denomination to represent that denomination in the chaplaincy.  And each denomination has a person who oversees this process called an endorser. For most of Michael's career John has been his endorser.  He and his wife, Nadine, are just starting a four month trip to visit all the chaplains....and we get them this weekend.  We visited last night.

Today, we took them sightseeing - though it seems there is a lot of eating involved in sightseeing.  We stopped by the German POW cell block on base.

We went to the little town of Grass Valley and walked the streets. True to the norm the only store we entered was a candy store.

After a couple of false starts we found our way to Big A's - yummy freshly made root beer and giant burgers - even the veggie ones.

 

Our next stop was the Empire State Mine - where Stacia was happy to be our guide. She loves maps.

 

Wisteria tangled in Ponderosa Pine - very pretty

 

Arielle had just said she was waiting for Mr. Darcy

 

The reflecting pool

Bourne Family Cottage

 

Our final stop was the SR 71

 

Somewhere along the way we all decided it would be much more relaxing to eat here at our house tomorrow than to fight the crowds at a restaurant. This necessitated a trip to Walmart. We decided we needed a bit of an Easter Egg Hunt.

Fantastic Family Memory

Yes, Michael did get us all up at 4:20 a.m. to watch the lunar eclipse.  All but Arielle - she woke up at 3 a.m. and we found her waiting on the patio.  I tried to take photos and my camera wouldn't do a thing.....so I settled for some night portrait shots of the crowd.  Doesn't it look like we are making fantastic family memories?

 

It would seem all are not appreciative of the bright flash for nigh portrait whilst they try to focus their fancy schmancy cameras. ::snort::

He did get some good photos. We all enjoyed looking through the telescope. AND we ended the night sitting in the hot tub and watching the moon when someone suggested it would be more comfortable.

When the moon was done showing off, we slept a bit and then headed for fam camp to begin the next adventure in the day.

Encouraging Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is a foreign concept to Yuuki.....but we try....

 

"I don't think so"

 

We finally put her green treat in the bristles. . .

 

At least she's learning to be comfortable with the brush but we're not getting far on actually brushing her teeth! Do you brush your dog's teeth?

Revenge of the Sink

Doesn't it always happen? If there is going to be an appliance or automotive breakdown it will happen when it's least convenient....or when your husband deploys and then it comes in threes. 


We invited a family over last Friday night and sure enough - just as I was preparing salad and such.....I noted a pool of water in front of the sink.

A few days earlier I'd seen a small puddle and Stacia said she'd splashed water whilst doing dishes.

Earlier in the day Arielle noticed a small puddle and thought  the same.

By the time I checked......inches of water under the sink. The veneer blistered. Metal things stored under the sink - rusted. This had been a problem for a bit of time.  Our company arrived to this scene....though they are more family than company by this time and took it in stride.

In a truly amazing show of speedy service, a representative of our landlord (one with a spectacular tattoo of a samurai which can dance) showed up during dinner to take a look. They wanted to shut off the water - but I balked. I promised to be careful and dry whatever escaped my pan ASAP but I needed water for dinner....they showed up bright and early on Saturday to fix it - while Stacia and I were still out to breakfast.

Morals of the story:

• Small puddles bear investigating early
• Assumptions without investigation can be costly
• Semper Gumby - Flex, hold your plans lightly and enjoy the new plan
• People are more important than details

That'll preach.