Deployment Messages

During Michael's last deployment to Afghanistan, the kids and I decided to send him a puzzle. He likes to do puzzles.  We chose a challenging puzzle. We added a personal touch by writing notes on the puzzle. We shipped it off and smiled when we thought of Michael putting the same puzzle together and finding our notes. (You should know that HE is the puzzle pro - but this was an act of love).

Michael loved the puzzle....he put it together...flipped it over and wrote us all notes...and mailed it back to us....so this puzzle was purchased in Japan, traveled to Afghanistan, back to Japan, to CA and now will go into storage.

 We were surprised when we received the puzzle back. We put it together, read our notes and glue it together. We weren't sure which side to display - I've been looking for a double sided frame.  However, with the move coming....and everything in the house being either donated, stored or moving into the trailer...I knew something had to be done with the puzzle. We framed it in a poster frame. Arielle and I decided the letters from Michael should be displayed at this time.

The funny thing is that a couple of pieces have been missing....  In the course of sorting today we found this....I guess I'll un-frame it and add the found pieces. LOL

More School Fun

Nolan led Stacia in an experiment....they lit some candles....

 

Then they covered the candles with a jar - sucked out the oxygen....

 

The gas expanded, created a vacuum and  sucked up water....

Interesting Walk

Look what I found when I was out walking one recent morning.....

Arboga Japanese Relocation Center - 1942....I'd not heard of this being part of the local history. I am trying to find out more. This is the one photo I found from the time period.  It seems it was also called the "Marysville Detention Center."  The description of the centers seems to be the same location so I think there was one and it was at this site.

 

Michael and I walked back so I could show him the sign - we enjoyed a nice sunset out there.

Why am I bringing this up? Because I feel this was a time in our history when our government acted very badly. I know there have been books written, but it seems there should be more of a museum/memorial telling this story.  This is a small area - maybe there ARE museums and memorials somewhere - I'm going to look for them.

It seems to me if we ignore our history - we very often repeat it. There are some ugly things in our country's history. I sense "government" could act very badly again - because we are humans and we will not learn from mistakes we refuse to acknowledge.

Note - this find came after being chased by 3 dogs....so it was worth it to face the barking frenzy. LOL

We're Not in Osaka or The Middle of the Story

I've shared our plot twist. We are not spending 13 hours on a plane today and we will not step off the plane into Osaka.  It is totally natural we'd be "feeling it" during this time when we expected to be on a Vision Trip in Japan. It's totally natural I'd be more emotional about it than the rest of the family - I live big. ::snort:: 

God's story has not changed. Our understanding of the story is being refined. His timing will prove to be better than our timeline.

It is still His will we

Rejoice always

Pray without ceasing

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for (me) in Christ Jesus.  (I Thes. 5:16 - 18 and it really goes on but I had to stop somewhere).

We choose joy in the plot twist - in the middle of the story.

I read this on a friend's blog - Ann really voices it so much better than I.

Ann Voskamp

... so look, there's a whole bunch of us who are up tonight and sorta stuck here in the middle of the story, God, and we don't know what the next chapter holds.

We've got no idea how our hearts are about to get broken or when, what the doctor could end up saying tomorrow, how the kids will turn out, or what's on the next page or the one after that.
And when you're stuck in the middle of the story? Well, honestly, it's easy to feel at the end of your rope.

And You pull us close, real close: "I’d never forget you—never.
Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands." Isa49:16(MSG)

You've etched the very letters of our name, of who we are, right into You.

You haven't forgotten us or this chapter or this story, and if You haven't forgotten us, we're not about to go forgetting that Your stories always work out in the end -- and if things aren't working out quite yet, it just means we're not quite yet to the end. We'll literally practice our faith -- we'll practice saying thanks in the middle.

Faith thanks God in the middle of the mess,

Faith thanks God in the middle of the night,

Faith thanks God in the middle of the story --

Because it believes in the relentless goodness of Him who will not stop writing till there's good at the end of this story. 

Projects

One area I knew had to be downsized was my "PWOC t-shirt collection."  My friend Rose suggested making a quilt.  Arielle began making squares from my pile of t-shirts. We added in some other favorite t-shirts that are either showing wear or are too small: Nolan's shirt from climbing Mount Fuji (I need to find him another one), a PMOC t-shirt, a couple of squadron shirts...

Yuuki must be involved in all projects

 I've made quilts before - I just need to remember the next steps....Michael is mentioning a border. I need to think on this.  I feel much better making a quilt than donating our favorites or taking nothing by PWOC t-shirts to wear for our life in the trailer.

 

Michael began his first day of leave today. We are "supposed" to be flying to Japan tomorrow. Instead, we worked on a chart listing  aspects of living in various states. We made arrangements to get an estimate on needed water damage in the trailer.

 

We set a date to move Arielle to Oregon. The 23rd of July. This upcoming Sunday will be her last Sunday with us at Beale Chapel. While I listened to the kids Japanese lessons - I remembered. We googled and sure enough - there is a Japanese church in the town Arielle will be in. She is thrilled to attend.

 

Time is marching onward.

Oral Surgeon Part 2

She's  a trooper. I'm not sure WHY this simple tooth extraction bled for hours beyond when Arielle's did....but we're glad her stubborn tooth is out and hoping the others will move into place quickly.

Arielle saw the Oral Surgeon today, too. She's cleared for moving. LOL

Medical Records and "Plans"

These are Michael's medical records - mostly double-sided. There are still a few things missing. This is keeping Michael busy.  He highlights conditions the VA has listed as qualifying for a disability claim, tabs the records, and lists the condition and page number on a front page.  Blog readers know Michael has outstanding referrals.  Our hope is to be able to submit the records to the VA on 1 Nov - his first official day as a retiree. His VA claim will not be fast tracked because we couldn't get the claim turned in while he is active duty. We are looking at anywhere from 1 -2 years of a wait for a determination.

What this means is we will be living in an RV longer than the 3 months we've been thinking. It will also impact our plans to find a way back to Japan - though we aren't sure at this point how. We'll have to determine what "stay close" means....does it mean "be back in two weeks for a meeting," or "be here in 24 hours."  Still searching for answers.

Our plan is what it's been for months, "Move into the trailer until we can work out details to get back to Japan."  It looks like it will take a bit longer than we expected. Michael and I plan to begin Japanese lessons from Arielle and Nolan's senseis (Hey Ryu and Kim).