Family Rocks

We had only one thing we had to do today - Jared and I spent the early hours waiting for Fed Ex to bring his luggage. He's happy to have his clothes back. They did sit it in water and most needed to be washed and dried - but it found him!

Nothing more on the day's agenda led to a day of games - RISK (Arielle repeatedly wins), laundry, grocery shopping for the next couple of days and cooking and such. 

Jamin, Nolan, Alex, Arielle

 Michael encourages the "kids"this evening.... our only expectation is for  you to be able to  look yourself in the mirror and know you've done your best.....progress, obedience...not perfection. 

What could make her THIS happy? 

She has finished reading, The Two Towers. The rule has always been they can watch the movies when they've read the books....tonight.....we watch The Two Towers.

Alex, Jared, Josiah, Jamin, Krista, Arielle, Stacia, Michael, Nolan 

Game Night at The Girl Gherkins'

Tonight was game night at the Girls'. Arielle ended up having to go to work - she switched with another employee so she could take New Year's Eve off. Krista invited several friends, Gma & Gpa, all of us and BreZaak for Yumm! Bowls and games. Each brought a topping and Krista made up a huge pot of rice and bought Yumm! sauce. I thought this was a great idea for feeding a crowd.

The centerpiece of the night was to be a Lord of the Rings Trivia contest. Knowing that not all are Lord of the Rings Trivia aficionados, Krista set up Disney Scene it and other games as well.

Table - various Gherkins/ Couch - Kent, Shawn and G'pa

Disney Scene It Crowd

L-R  Kent, Bre, Krista, Lindsey, Stacia

Marca (Shawn's wife), Lindsey and Krista

Nolan, Jared, Josiah, Jamin

 Lord of the Rings Gang

Josiah and Jamin won the LOTR trivia...and were rewarded with giant ring pops. Stacia & Bre won Disney Scene It and earned a fun  mask.... 

Sean and Marca needed to leave after the big triva match ups as they work this week. The rest of us began epic rounds of Mafia....the game where pastors and their family sit around and try to murder each other and deceptively pin it on others. ::wink::

Krista narrates a scenario

Mafia is great fun. This night wasn't quite as fun as the game where Izaak proposed.

Gherkins Visit a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Krista and Arielle gifted us with a family outing this year. Krista bought us all tickets to Star Wars - The Force Awakens, and Arielle bought us treats!  It was  a great outing, resulting in fun memories. 

All loaded into the van - they fit better when they were at home LOL 

We met up with Izaak, Bre and Dakota at the theater

Even Gma and Gpa joined the fun!

 I recently realized I prefer movies much better if I sit in the very last row. Michael likes sitting near the middle/front.....and when I discovered I really liked the back - we discovered we're about evenly split on where we like to sit. I suspect this is another quirk left-over from Mindanao. In a restaurant my back must be to the wall so I can see all exits, in a theater I really like the back row with the exit. ::snort::

All that to say - WE SPLIT UP! This group sat right behind the wheel-chair seating. 

This group and me sat on the very last row.....

Regardless of the spot in the theater (and it filled up around us) - we all agreed - this is an AWESOME movie! We're eagerly waiting  the next one....and I won't say much more - though I really, really could. LOL

Thanks again, Krista and Arielle.

Gherkin Convocation

The great Gherkin Convocation has begun. All nine Gherkins are now in one spot - Eugene/Springfield area.  We had everyone here at the house when the final two drove up.

 

Jared was supposed to arrive earlier, but there were a few tornadoes yesterday. in the Dallas area....they had said it looked like he wouldn't get here until Wednesday. We talked late last night (or early this morning) and he said to go ahead and post on FB and ask for prayers. He was trying to surprise the family, but wanted prayers.  He was able to get out at 0600 TODAY instead of Monday night or Wednesday.  He had lots of stories to tell us when he arrived - and we enjoyed hearing them all.

 We had dinner, Sunday night ice cream and talked some more. All are settling down now.  We are house-sitting and eight of the nine Gherkins are here with us - we gave BreZaak a pass. LOL

This mama is over the moon content to have all the Gherkins in the same area and eight of them under "my" roof. 

Eugene Japanese Baptist Church

We continued our tour of Eugene/Springfield area churches this morning. The body at Eugene Japanese Baptist Church meets in the fellowship hall of Rivera Baptist church on River Road.  This small fellowship welcomed Arielle with open arms from the first time she stumbled her way into their meeting. No, she wasn't drunk. She had worked closing the night before, got lost, the ushers of Rivera sent her to the wrong service, and finally she realized the service didn't appear to be a Japanese church and so she walked out. On her way out she heard Japanese, investigated and ultimately found the Japanese church.  

Arielle loves the Japanese food on birthday Sundays, she's been introduced to Japanese exchange students and is motivated to begin her Japanese lessons again now that she has a semester under her belt.

Arielle's family also felt very welcomed on our first Sunday. Our eight were noticeable in the group of 30. The service is Japanese/English and the word was solid. Hayashi Sensei spoke from Romans 5 - his title was "Keep Standing in God's Grace." We discussed the Principle of Earned Wages, the Principle of Grace, and the Results of Suffering. All very good.  He shared how there are many gods in Japan. Each one guarantees happiness, wealth, health etc......but the Bible tells us we will suffer and that in suffering we receive an outpouring of God's grace.....and endurance, character and mature faith are built in us.  For me, this illustrated how important it is to TEACH THE WORD in Japan (and everywhere).....that if we say "God guarantees you health, wealth and happiness" -  our God appears no different than their many gods.

I enjoyed talking with several of the men who had served as Japanese missionaries, hearing a solid sermon and hearing Japanese again. All in all, it was another great Sunday in OR. 

Jamin's Arrival and Jared's Surprise!

Jamin arrived at the airport EARLY today. So early the girls hadn't made it and we spotted him in the parking lot as we pulled through the gate!

A quick phone call diverted the girls to Mom and Dad's. We went over so they could visit with Jamin - and we shared leftovers for lunch.

We had great fun visiting and playing with Gracie and Layla back at the house. Unfortunately, Gracie is paying for her play time. Poor thing.

 The girls have decided to come spend the nights over here with the rest of us. We picked up some Papa Murphy's and settled down for the evening. Bre was able to join us.....

TOMORROW - Josiah was due to arrive. The SURPRISE is that Jared was flying in to SEA today and would be with him when he arrived. No one took tornadoes into account when these plans were made....truly a big surprise.

From Dallas

 Jared is still in Dallas. He's been told there will be no flights out until Monday. He's still waiting to see a rep and hear his options. Maybe he'll be able to fly to Portland or out of another TX town.....or maybe he won't be able to make the trip home and they'll refund his ticket.

I'm up late waiting to be sure he's settled with a plan tonight....poor Gherkin....it's 2 a.m. for him.....been a long day and it's not over. 

Christmas 2015

Christmas morning got off to a nice, leisurely start for most of the family here in Eugene, OR. I wake up early - REGARDLESS of what time I go to bed or where we are.  I got up, spent some sweet time in prayer, study and writing and then made cinnamon rolls. I'm still not quite sure HOW that tradition started, but the Gherkins all assure me it IS a long-standing tradition they would miss.

 

 After a bit, BreZaak came over. We actually READ the Christmas Morning Advent reading in Ishtar's Odyssey - ON SCHEDULE!!!! AND we opened Christmas stockings. We are keeping to our 7 year tradition of saving our family gift exchange for a day other than 25 Dec. 

Knife Sharpener

 This year we have lots of family to join in celebration. We went to my parents and enjoyed a great dinner. 

Mikhail and Nolan plot Battleship

Arielle, Krista & Elizabeth 

Mom and Dad exchanged gifts with all. Mikhail and Elizabeth (Nate and Heather's children) received their presents from all their family far from here. It was fun to celebrate with them.

I'm not sure how it happened but a huge paper fight began....Grandma and all the kids.

 

 I wasn't going to show any of the "odd" photos. I noticed, however, this family thrives on odd - and the oddity is truly the best part. Here are a few glimpses.

I'm sure I had nothing to do with Sherri's expression

We have moved over to Will and Sherri's to house-sit while they all go to visit AMY in AZ.