Celebrating Arielle

Arielle chose a Matron of Honor (BreAnne) and a Maid of Honor (Krista). Bre planned her bridal shower and Krista planned tonight's bachelorette celebration.

We met at Krista's for dinner! She served us homemade yumm bowls. While she was preparing dinner,  Larissa and I made Snowball cookies.

Krista

Alicia, Stacia, Bre, Larissa

This sounds cut and dried - but there were "details." Krista had planned a limo ride for us to too view Christmas lights.  The original company she hired for the ride called to say they could not drive into the mountains of South Eugene to view lights with the ice. Later they called to say their garage door was frozen and they couldn't drive the limo that day.  Larissa and Krista are our go-to, get er done, gals. They found another company which had a cancellation, they were given a coupon and arranged it all while they cooked and prepared games for the evening! They rock. We all pitched in to purchase time with Sunshine Limo Service. Our driver was excellent.

We had dinner. We told Arielle we were taking her somewhere special and Krista wanted to blindfold her before we left. This took a GREAT deal of trust as the stairs were icy.

Alicia, Arielle, Me

 We finally got her situated - with blind fold in place. 

Her excitement was PRICELESS! 

Then she was told we were going to go look at CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! 

The first company did not provide snacks so Bre and Alicia brought snacks. 

Gemma and Bella had their first limo ride together

THIS company provided drinks and chocolate - we were well supplied

We didn't make it up to the hills of South Eugene - but the Crescent area has some GORGEOUS lights!

Our ride lasted about 1 1/2 hours, he took us back to Krista's where Larissa had us ready for a few fun games.... The first one was to determine who knew Arielle best.

In the next game we chose our lip color of choice, lathered up, was spun numerous times and attempted to kiss Olaf. 

Good thing Terrah is doing her make up for the wedding

Larissa gave Arielle a cute robe

We had thought we'd be picking Emily up early in the evening, but her plane was delayed. She did make it late into this night - her luggage did not. Alaina was able to join us in time for the movies. We ended the night with more snacks and Disney movies.

This was a great night and it was fun to be invited to join the girls for the fun.  Thanks to Stacia for the loan of her camera for these photos!!!

Busy Day

Doctor's....

Alicia made it here, after being diverted to Portland and then taking a bus down.

Moved some of Arielle's things.

Bachelorette Party

Emily made it in at 11:00 p.m. - her bags are en route....

Details to follow.

When the Trip to the Shower House Becomes an Adventure

There is a special thrill to sliding your feet into ice-covered shower shoes! Everyone should try it once or twice. Yes, I did stand outside in pj's and a sweatshirt to grab these photos.

With the advent of a freak cold snap, we learned a lesson about our RV.....if there is any chance the power may go out, the propane furnace needs to be on.....the power went out several times last night as well as the frozen incident when we got home at midnight.  BUT STILL NO SNOW....

So nice of Oregon to celebrate CoRielle's Winter Themed wedding.

Now we're off to a very full day...doctor's visits, church visit, Bachelorette party, final bridesmaid arriving, Cory's family and WA friends arriving...big day ahead! 

ICE and Gherkin Fun

In 2011, at a PWOCI Vision Weekend I was given a ballet slipper. This slipper reminded me to "Keep Dancing with God." The challenge was to keep our eyes on our partner (God), to follow His lead, to dance with confidence in places which seemed unsure, and to dance in the rain. I danced through a rather momentous 2011 - earthquakes, tsunamis, career changes.....and I learned if I trust His lead and remain focused on my Dance Partner I can dance.  Somewhere along the way this little charm was lost.....in Japan....and today it was found...4 years later, in America, in the back of a  van that was in storage in America when the charm was given to me. It is a reminder to continue to trust His lead, to dance in the dark places, to keep my focus on Him.

Michael had two appointments this morning....we stopped in at Mom and Dad's to see what Josiah and Jamin were up to and to pick up some wedding clothes.

We came back to the RV, where Michael spent 3 hours revising the script for CoRielle's wedding ceremony. With the 3 Gherkins in tow, we headed back to Mom and Dads. By this time Josiah had brought JaRissa over too. We all spent the afternoon playing games. This cold and ICY day was perfect for games.

 Somewhere along the line we realized tonight would be our last dinner with Arielle before she is MARRIED - she may not eat after that? I don't know why it seemed significant, but it did. We all went over to the Girl's and I made her favorite dinner - Veggie Pot Pie (one Chicken as a compromise).  While Krista, Larissa and I cooked....Michael, Josiah and Jamin went to retrieve Arielle and drive her car home on the icy roads.

She's always been mostly Arielle's dog! 

Chow line...

We had to start eating before Cory arrived. He was waiting for things to settle down at the airport so he could leave and then it took quite a bit of time for his car to thaw out enough to drive. We missed BreZaak tonight, but understand it's a very busy season for them as they try to finish this semester of their Master's program. OH - reminds me Krista took 2 tests and began research on her final paper of the semester. She has to have that done by Friday.....

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

  We four looked at the flower materials Arielle had collected. Larissa is a whiz and is sprucing up bridesmaids bouquets and flowers. Krista had some various pieces from past weddings which were PERFECT for making Arielle's bouquet. Arielle bought the flowers and bows and such for $25 from a lady at Krista's church.  It was good to get an eye on what was there.

Not all bridal suggestions are great ones....and we're not quite sure how this one lone fern will fit into a winter wedding theme. 

The guys continued playing Nintendo....and the girls took the opportunity to do some odds and end shopping we needed done for both the bachelorette party and the wedding.

Nintendo Zombies

Check out the ice on this tree - but no SNOW. 

Michael shared the revised ceremony script with the groom and bride. 

 We were waiting up to hear what happened with Alicia's flights. Alas, she was delayed and then diverted to Portland and will take a bus down to Eugene. Praying Emily makes it in Thursday night with a bit less adventure. It is supposed to be a bit warmer on Thursday.

We got home around mid-night to discover the power went out and our tanks and pipes had frozen. That was a bit more adventure than we wanted to tack on to the end of the day....but all is well now.

Shopping, Cooking and Visiting

Yes, there WERE other happenings today.

Some went to Portland, after Krista's commissioning. JaRissa miss Chick Fil A....and off they went.

Michael and I spent the afternoon with things....baking, shopping, cooking dinner... we even got to bake with Bella and Bre.

Dipping the last of the buckeyes

Today's haul

Cooking with the big pans again - glad I had the foresight to give them to Krista when we moved into the Caboose. LOL  

Many Gherkins love Chicken Divan

Mom, Dad and Lorri came over and we had dinner, visited and played games.

Card playing Gherkins

Nintendo Playing Gherkins

A New 2nd Lieutenant in Our Midst

Krista came by the motor home bright and early! With DOUGHNUTS! 

JaRissa, Josiah, Jamin, my parents, Lorri and all five us us piled into cars and headed to Corvallis, OR. Home of the OSU Beavers. It turns out the nearest active duty Air Force Officer is assigned to the ROTC at OSU.  Krista had an appointment with Lt Col Brainerd. As they talked, Michael  couldn't help himself and had to straighten out the flag so it was laying right.

Ah, they had  a set of the material he has been talking to Jamin about - diplomacy, DOD et al. 

BUT the purpose of our journey and meeting was for Krista to be sworn in as a 2nd Lieut. She's been licensed, ordained, serves on staff at a church and is 1/2 way through her M Div....now she's also an officer in the Air Force Reserves, accepted into the Chaplain Candidacy program, and will be attending OTS (Officer Training School) this summer.

Lt Col Brainerd was GREAT. He took the time to explain the oath she would be taking so that all attending understood. Her oath is not to a man or a service....but to a piece of paper...the Constitution of the United States of America.  He also had some kind words for the Air Force chaplaincy.

"I, (name) do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God. "

The journey comes full circle as Michael watches Krista begin the journey he has ended. 

Kirsta shared words for Michael, myself, her siblings and grandparents. There may have been some wet eyes in the room.  

Lt Col Brainerd gave Krista a pocket-size copy of the constitution and there was paperwork..... 

While we took photos, Michael and Lt Col Brainerd established that they had been at Malmstrom AFB at the same time. He grew up in the area and graduated from Thurston high school. It's a small world.

2nd Lt, Chaplain Candidate  Krista G & Me 

G'ma, Krista and G'pa

 Seven Gherkins

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

2nd Lt, Chaplain Candidate Krista G and Chaplain, Major (Ret) Michael G

  

Josiah, Nolan, De'Etta, Jamin, Krista, Michael, Alex, Stacia, Jared, Larissa