My Exciting Day...

...seriously, I tend to get more done on the weekends when Mike isn't home. We have no reason to break our routine of work and play and work and play. LOL

This a.m. found the chaplain spouses from our base at Denny's. It's amazing how we seem to congregate once a month at a breakfast hot spot. ::snort:: The big news today (if you didn't read the chat box in the sidebar) is that I will NOT be going to my number one hoped for spot - Italy. How can I be so sure? Another chaplain found out two days ago that he is to report to Italy ...and they weren't even expecting orders. Soon.....very soon....we'll begin making a lapbook of our new location....or so I told the kids. ::Snort:: Anyway, I told them to cross Italy off their dream list as it is unlikely the AF would send TWO chaplains from our small base to the same follow on base. I also explained that our best bet for an overseas assignment would have been when Mike was a Captain. There are simply more captain slots in general...than Major or etc. Trying to prepare them for Oklahoma....but they'll have none of it...sorry, Liz. Jared said if he has to leave his friends he wants to move FAR AWAY....not sure how to fight that sort of logic?!???!!

Zander told us today he is no longer praying for Paris. He's praying for Alaska. I smile and tell him, "We'll see."

Dinner is done. Kids are in bed....

Before bed Zander lets Stacia read his dragon book


I'm still working on HOW to make a book big enough for all the mini-books shaped like a longboat...this was playing around and the boys tell me it will not do at all.

They are heading for a boring folder book - whoever told them they could make them any shape they dreamed up???? I need directions. I made this shell and 4 inserts...but it's still not big enough for all the booklets....and I can't figure out how to join it all together anyway. I think I need to go look for the right tool in Mike's workshop. ::snort::

I have a new book that's calling my name...I think I'll sleep on this viking problem and go read, "Desperate Pastors' Wives". Catchy title, isn't it? ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Vikings and Spies...Oh My!

We've spent a good part of the day working on our "Viking Books". The boys ASKED for this. I can never seem to find time to work in all the hands on things they want to do during the school week...so this works well.

I'm trying to figure out HOW to make a lapbook in the shape of a Viking Longboat and STILL have room to get all the little booklets attached. If you cut the SHAPE you just won't have much room to attach extensions. Ideas? We may settle for a nice photo or drawing of a longboat on the front. ::snort::

Jared has been valiantly working away on school all day. We had a 2 hours history discussion today. Good stuff.

Spies? The kits from Rainbow Resources and Home Science Training Tools arrived for Nolan and Zander's birthday. They have a new game - Spy Ally, fingerprint kits, spy handbook, kit that teaches codes and a kit with a zillion projects to do and supplies. I thought it may be better than all the plastic spy kits we've invested in. I am seriously thinking of buying CSI/Forensic kits for science next year. ::snort::

Time for dinner...and then we may try to finish Viking booklets so that we aren't distracted for "school" on Monday. ::snort:: I found a TON of stuff I'd like to do on the Internet...dye some cloth with beet and onions, make a sail, make a daub and wattle model hut...but honestly...we are 6 weeks behind where I want to be...and it could very well be that all these bunny trails are going to have to dwindle until after our move. Can I have a bunny trail award? ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Care to Guess....

...when we'll know where we are moving this summer?

We had been told early - mid February. All around us others are getting orders. Now that Mike is gone the kids (and I) are worried that someone will forget to tell us where we are moving....or that we'll hear where we are going through the grapevine.

Maybe a contest would help pass the time. ::snort::

Leave your best guess - and really it's totally random here - as to when we'll find out the location of our next home.....

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Two Earth-Shattering Comments

1. Yes, Bre....I remember that black is an "old lady" color and brown is the new black....but I like this look for now. Never fear, I am not wearing this color combination. ::snort::
2. 2. My memory is SOOOO bad. Honestly, it's worrisome. I've been informed that JAMIN was NOT hit on the head by a brick resulting in stitches (see birthday blog). Jamin threw the brick that landed on JARED'S head...resulting in stitches.
3. 3. Mike is asking me to figure out how to back up/save the blog. Any ideas? I don't want to necessarily make BOOKS - far too much money..... Of course, if everything we write on the web is archived...it is a simple matter of finding the archives. LOL
4. Did I warn blog readers that when Mike is gone I suffer from a severe word usage deficit? Expect more verbiage than strictly necessary.
5. This is more than 2 thoughts.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Friday Update

Jamin is 18! He and I went to the gym.

Nolan, Zander and I worked on our Viking Lapbooks.

We picked up produce. The kids enjoyed a power play date and I enjoyed a power "mommy date". LOL

We picked up Jamin and Jared and went to Jamin's favorite Chinese restaurant. Josiah called when he got out of his last class and joined us for lunch.

Josiah and the older two boys went out to target practice with his new toy.

Mike called. Check the update at the top of the blog.

The older boys called us and we met them at the lake. Photos below. We didn't have gifts or a party today for Jamin. We'll do that when Mike is home. The day was practically perfect. It was a treat to sit and visit with Josiah....always good to get the insight of adult children while you still have children at home to benefit from that input. LOL

We came home and watched El Dorado and Hogan's Heroes.

Photos (tried to limit it to one per subject...I do like the quality of the D70 photos....and I've taken to carrying a back pack so it is a purse camera. ::snort::)

Peaceful Play Structure

The gang hatches a plan.....


Tag - you're IT






















Stacia was clueless most of the game...but she had a blast! It was fun to watch everyone include her in the wild game.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Eighteen Today

{Once again, no digital photos for younger years....}

Jamin is 18 years old today!

There were times many wondered if Jamin would survive childhood. He was in the ER almost routinely...jumped off a picnic table - stitches, brick landed on his head - stitches, jumped off a fence - stitches....and there were the quite frequent trips to relocate his shoulder.....Chick-Fil-A has a first aid kit with Jamin's name on it. ::snort::

I was told by many that Jamin would "never learn to read or write if you don't drug him now." We chose not to. Looking back we now know that Jamin has many of the same "alphabets" as Zander. That gives me great hope and peace as we walk Zander's path. An older friend told me years ago - when Jamin was about 5 - that I'd cherish my relationship with Jamin as an adult because I had "paid the price" for the young man he would become. I wasn't sure exactly what she meant.....may really not be now...but I've got to tell you that I THRILL when I see Jamin calm, collected, reading, writing and pursuing his dreams....because so many said it wouldn't happen. God is good! We often laugh around here when we watch Zander. Jamin finds it hard to believe he was as much of a handful as Zander - but his older siblings guarantee him he was. ::snort::

I love the passion that drives Jamin into any new pursuit.

I love how kind and caring he has become with Zander and Stacia.

Life has not been easy for Jamin in our family. Jamin is an introvert who craves routine. God placed him in the midst of a large and somewhat chaotic family (though we HAVE tried to establish routine and isolation as needed). I can remember when he was YOUNG having many conversations with Jamin in which I would attempt to assure him that God had placed him in our family because he was best for us and because we were best for him. I told him that, left to his own nature, (and if he'd had his heart's desire to be an only child), he'd never learn to interact with all the personalities he sees daily. It was a joy to read his letter to the editor last weekend and see 1. that he's learned to communicate on topics of social relevance in a way that his generation and culture can "hear", 2. that he had the passion to take a stance, and 3. that he said he was GLAD he wasn't aborted and that he grew up in a large family. YES, GOD! You've blessed our lives with our introvert and we've blessed his.

Jamin, we are so very proud of you and the path you have traveled. We are proud of the work of grace that God has preformed in your life. We look forward to see where God is taking you next. I have no doubt that we will one day see your novels carried by a major publisher. I'm also not surprised that you are drawn to intercultural ministries.

I'm sorry that Dad isn't here for your birthday. We'll celebrate big when he returns. Happy Birthday!

Oh, the trials of an introvert with lots of younger siblings....

...but there is always a way to find a spot alone.

Jamin's 2003 birthday - 12 years old

He doesn't even LIKE fishing but does it with his brothers and dad! LOL

Fall 2005

Second novel done - 2008!



Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Be Very Careful....

of the traditions you unknowingly begin. Write one sappy birthday blog and you'd best settle in for months of sappiness. ::snort:: Seriously, I didn't plan to write public tributes for each person - but I'm glad it's a new tradition. I have stacks of journals here - one for each family member - and I'm supposed to be filling them. It's weighed on me each year that they weren't filling up....and so maybe it's the accountability of this that is helping me DO IT - so there you have it. Embrace your inner sap. ::snort:: Yes, we are gearing up for a birthday tomorrow.

Dad Earl update - Be sure to check the text box at the top of the blog for updates...but this is what I know as of now. Mike reached CA this afternoon. He called to say that Dad Earl is out of the hospital. Mike and I've not been able to talk beyond that. I know they are arranging home health care of some sort.

In other news, Jared and I have been in the midst of making tough (for us) decisions. I think we've come through the process. I'll write more one of these days.

Zander learned a lesson today.....and it deserves its own blog... but I may forget by morning if I don't write it now. The bottom line: "Mom, I'm glad that God is like you with a magic eraser for my messes." That'll preach.

My little camera isn't working. The Nikon needed charging...it's taken all day so I figure I've done something wrong. No photos today...but given the day Zander had he's happy to have no photos. ::snort::

I'm flat out exhausted and going to bed.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.