Transcripts, Repairs and Snowmen

Saturday was FULL.....

It wouldn't be a trip without a bit of pre-trip repairs. Michael and the boys spent the day discovering why the front side siding of the Caboose is pulling loose and fixing it......It would seem someone discovered they'd cut the front piece too short.....so they simply adjusted their cutting and covered it with trim....this would also explain the water damage in the front closets. The men filled it, glued all the siding back on and put the trim back.

Meanwhile, back at home, it was finally time to take the Christmas wreath and snowmen down.....all but this one which Arielle said needs to keep bringing cheer until we move.

The girls and I spent the day talking with neighbors  and working on transcripts.  Our neighbor wants to buy our trailer if Michael decides to buy an RV - oy vey!

Inputting all the grades onto the transcript gave visible proof that Arielle is s stealth student. She'd completed courses I didn't even know she was taking. She went through the shelves and did courses all the others had requested from time to time.....a very full transcript....and a very impressive one as well. She has ONE .5 credit class that was not an A.....she has two more classes to finish but at this point her GPA is 3.96. I hate to award A's because I'm aware of the "Mommy grade" perception among non-homeschoolers.....but when the tests add up to 99 - they do.  The fact that her sisters graduated at the tip top of their class from the college she is applying too - may help to alleviate the perception of mommy grades. Honestly, she'll need to learn a new way of learning to excel in college....lecture and notes.....and she tends to fall asleep. LOL

Past Meets Present or Look at us Then

Our very first assignment was Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT in 1995. Arielle and Nolan were both born in Great Falls.    We met many lovely people at our first assignment. Chapel truly was family  - your family away from home. I know this isn't always the case - but it's been our experience at each assignment.  One of the families we met at Malmstrom was the Lynn Family. Their Christmas Open House was legendary. I've yet to live up to the benchmark Charity set.  This is what they looked like back in the day.....



F - Christina and Angel
B - David, Charity, Timothy

We looked like this the Sunday we prepared to hop in our van and drive to our second assignment: Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX.  (Alex joined our family during our second assignment and Stacia during our fourth.)

Arielle and Jared in Front, Me and Nolan - 3 months
Bre, Jamin, Krista, Josiah and Michael in the back

Michael made a comment about gas prices in CA (they are really high) on his Facebook timeline this week. Charity sent me a message asking which base we were currently assigned to. I responded and found out Dave and Charity's daughter, Angel and her family were recently assigned to Beale AFB. They are here AT BEALE helping  them move into a base house - HERE - at BEALE. (I think this may have just been a good excuse for Nana to visit Triston but nonetheless that is what we were told).

We met for lunch - and it was fun to see Angel all grown up and meet her husband and son. It was pure joy to reconnect with Dave and Charity. Dave had advice for Michael in navigating the VA system and enjoying retirement. I'm so glad Dave and Charity "happened" to be here in the few days we are here before leaving for TX.

 The best part - they'll be back in August.  They may well be at Michael's retirement. I forgot the camera yesterday but I'll be sure to have it that day....and I can snap a photo of the gherkins and the Lynns all grown up. LOL

It seemed very fitting to be surprised at our last assignment by friends from our first assignment. It is also full circle to see kids we had in RE enlisted and visiting as they begin their service to the country. Yep - full circle.

Some Thoughts

We are in the midst of "lasts."  In little and big ways we are reminded  our time of ministry in the Air Force is coming to a close.  Just a couple lasts from this week....

Monday I wrote my last board agenda for a PWOC board meeting.

Tuesday I taught my last PWOC Bible Study as an Active Duty Spouse - possibly forever.

Wednesday I led my last PWOC board meeting.

Wednesday Michael led the last Family Bible study as an Active Duty Chaplain.

In this season the Holy Spirit continues to remind me that Jesus is the GOOD shepherd. He goes BEFORE us and He will reveal His plans to us.

Most know it is our plan to move into our travel trailer after Michael's retirement while we wait for clarity from God on the next season of ministry. For decades the military has told us where our next season of service will be, where we will live, what Michael will wear...you get the idea. We plan to rest as we remember how to hear from God "outside" the military chain. ::snort::

No matter how exciting the "firsts" could be, the "lasts" are never easy for this gal. I reminded myself coming here it would only be for 2 years and roots should not go deep - but those pesky roots of this "peopler"  don't always obey.

Last weekend's pop up  trip to see Mom G was what my soul needed. In the middle of the busyness and the sadness of the lasts, it was good for our family to catch a glimpse of what waits on "the other side."

Full time RVers....I had pictured ourselves living and schooling surrounded by 90 year old RVers. We met a young family who are full time RVers. They need Jesus. We plan to live in this RV campground at least a month. They don't have a car to get the 7 miles to town - we do. Maybe God is arranging an invitation to Jesus for Robert and Jennifer.

We began to really think of what we need to do to convert the Caboose to a home vs. a weekend getaway. Storage is going to be the main issue and we still don't have the answers.

My 3 mile walk in the Redwoods and the fitbit tracking the results removed my concern about not being able to work out when the elliptical is given away.

Silly little things - all assurances that Jesus knows our hearts and our concerns. He will continue to lead....even outside of the military chain of command. LOL

The Good Life

We spent 3/4's of the day (about 6 hours) doing "knick knack" jobs for Mom Mary. Then the kids and I spent a couple of hours on the river and Michael and Mary had a bit of Mother/Son connecting time.

We didn't do much with all those knick knack jobs: we hauled trash, unloaded a credenza, unloaded a desk and coffee table, moved a whole lot of bedding to a new location, moved all the lamps upstairs downstairs, moved a couple of trunks downstairs (full of papers and pictures - Mom G is working on various albums and stories. It's always a big moment in our home when we get a packet of copied letters from the 60's and photos.) We cut back some "jungle," hung a bird seed bell and a suet thing. Dug some holes, placed a soaker hose, moved a few things here and there, placed new house numbers and mail box numbers ....I can't remember what else we did.

And at 7:30 p.m. we headed back across the river to the campground to fix some dinner and reflect as a family.

Hot chocolate, tea, s'mores and conversation

Yes - I KNOW the sweatshirt is too big and makes me look fat - but it makes
me smile.

 

Getting ready to pull up stakes and head south - we'll be back after retirement. LOL

Yuuki Does the Smith River

And while all the other dogs chased sticks, swam in the river and retrieved rocks....Yuuki explored the river in her own unique style.

She enjoyed the river - from her perch as navigator

 

SHE was in Beagle Heaven with all the new things to sniff

 

She even did the kayak

 

All the exploring wore her out

We had a scare this evening. She HAD been sleeping IN the van. We got back to our campsite, began preparing dinner, and realized she wasn't under foot. She wasn't in the van or running around the campground.  Arielle and Nolan drove back to Mom Mary's. She had come up from the river and discovered us gone. She sat on the porch and howled - Beagles' reputation for separation anxiety is real y'all! Mom Mary let her in and she sat by the door and waited for us to come back.

Arielle has been debating if she will take Yuuki with her to college or if Yuuki will get to live with us in the trailer. We got her to BE a trailer dog....Michael and I planned for her to be our retirement dog....but Arielle said her anxiety was pretty high thinking she'd lost her puppy....we told her maybe that's the answer she needs and Yuuki should do college next. LOL  She's already done the international flight scene twice.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Somehow I missed the fact that we were going on a trip to Crescent City until about 16 hours before we got in the trailer and headed up the highway. ::snort::  Michael's unexpected preaching last week - resulted in the possibility of a CTO on Friday - a 3 day weekend.  We don't often miss chapel - even when not preaching - but it was time to have a bit of family time to regroup.  And so here we are ensconced in what we know to be, "The Happiest Place on Earth." ::wink::  (Whole lot cheaper than that other counterfeit too. )

Grandma Mary's Backyard

We spent the a.m. walking around the campground where we plan to spend a bit of time after retirement. We decided to move from where we were to a new spot to give it a good try for a few days. We have a duck pond behind us, a fire pit, wifi and we're enjoying meeting others who live here year round. In fact, I met a young gal and her two boys and I think I am going to have great fun getting to know her more when we move up here.

We packed a picnic lunch and headed over to spend the day with Grandma Mary. The weather was beautiful - perfect for sitting on the patio and catching up.

Yuukie proved her loyalty to the kids, when Nina raced up on Alex - growling.  She jumped in between Nina and Alex - complete with her raised fur and  beagle growls.  Within a few sniffs Nina seemed to remember Alex and was encouraging trips to the river.

 

We brought the kayak up and the kids were eager to give it a try. I was eager to grab some photos. Michael was eager to have them carry the row boat down the bank.....they had let Stacia sit in the kayak grounded in the sand. I figured she could learn how to zip around in it while they brought the row boat down......but first a photo of her river hairdo for the day. We're going to miss Arielle.

I showed her how to use the paddle and how to balance - not that I've EVER used a kayak before. ::snort:: She did great. I pushed her out and she came back to me several times.  She was doing great. We were both fairly proud of our accomplishment when we heard the kids coming back down the bank. Then she got a bit unbalanced. I was laughing so hard I couldn't yell any possibly helpful hints - but I did take photos.

 

There she Goes! 

 

 While Stacia happily paddled around the river, I threw sticks, driftwood and logs for Nina and Arrow - our river dogs. ::snort::  We weren't able to see their owners today - but these two are always welcoming.

Eventually, Michael came down and played with the dogs a bit too.

He and I went out in the row boat - its always fun to see how various swim holes, beaches and such are changing each season.  Arielle hitched a ride with Stacia - doesn't she look thrilled about it? I took this as a sign the kids were comfortable with Stacia's ability.

Michael instigated a ginormous water fight

 

Went after the kids on shore too

 

 

Alex switched out with Nolan...

 

Um - preparing to send their brother as a live missile into the battle.

 

Stacia paddled out to Michael to talk....

 

She requested, and received,  lessons on how to splash with the paddles.

 

She informs me that Arielle is heavy! LOL

We took the kids back to the campground to clean up and change out of their suits. We picked up Mom G and headed to Crescent City for dinner and a movie.  We all enjoyed dinner at The Good Harvest café. Mom G and I were a bit confused with the movie plot, but it certainly kept our attention even from 8:00 - 10:20 p.m. Yes, we did take the kids to see Avengers  - no lines at all in Crescent City.

 

It was a practically perfect day. 

Dejavu of the Critter kind

This has happened before.

 

Photos from the chapel.....Michael seems to have a ministry of chasing serpents and vultures from the chapel....and that will preach. ::snort::