Super Size Saturday Schedule

I have decided to do some "backwards" SSS until this move is a bit more underway. This will make hosting SSS easier. If time is short I can simply post the topic and a Mr. Linky on Saturdays. It is also easier for YOU because it gives you a "writing prompt". ::snort:: It also lets you know which weeks you'll be sure to want to check back for links to entries on a topics that interest you. Remember, write a post (or find a post in your archives) on the topic and then come back and link it to that week's SSS post. WHY would you want to link? Because readers will then follow the link to your blog to see what you have to share on the topic. Eventually, I'll have the link to me button ready to go and you can help get the word out by hosting the button on your sidebar....until then please do feel free to use the graphic and link it back to the "guidelines" page.....let people on your blog know you've posted here and that they can read more on the topic here.

9 May - Tips for road trips with children - What has worked really well for you? What doesn't work well at all? What did you hear about that you thought might be a good idea?

16 May - Favorite Family Games - games for all ages....

23 May - Birthdays - Share how your family celebrates birthdays, tips for affordable parties, gifts, gifts to take to parties, charity parties etc. (Arielle's birthday is 23 May).

30 May - "Mom, I'm bored!" Share how you handle this phrase.....discuss your plans for summertime or any thing that you can tie in.

6 June - Favorite Family Vacation/Staycation Share your best tips for planning, saving, picking a vacation spot. Share your favorite family getaways. Obviously, a couple with no kids may take a different type of vacation than I, but I bet if you shared tips, what you learned, how you packed etc....there would be something that my family could glean. Large families...how do you keep vacations affordable and enjoyable? Write about anything to do with Vacations or Staycations.

13 June - Summertime Reading What do you plan to read? What are your children reading?What books do you recommend? Do you have a family summertime reading program? Feel free to share anything to do with books/reading.

20 June - Flying with Children - Give me your best tips!

27 June - "Don't you KNOW what causes THAT?" Share your best stories, comments and comebacks. C'mon, I KNOW I'm not the only one who gets these comments.

4 July - Independence Day - What does the holiday mean to you? What does freedom mean to you? How do you celebrate? What are your plans for this year? What are your favorite fireworks? Write whatever comes to mind and ties in with the 4th of July.

Is there a topic on which YOU would like to hear a variety of opinions? Leave your topic suggestions or questions - writing prompts - in the comment section.

Super Size Saturday Archives/Purpose
Super Size Saturday Guidelines

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

We've Made Contact

It's been difficult to reach someone in housing as we are on different time schedules. LOL

However, Mike did talk with the housing folks in Misawa again. We had heard a rumor that we could get two apartments...and they'd make a door between them for us. This was a reliable rumor....coming from several places and we had names to contact etc.

It turns out that it WAS the policy. In fact, 6 months ago a family was able to do this...but they have encountered "problems" and so now they absolutely don't do this any longer. They were sorry to tell us this, we were sorry to hear it. The only option would be for us to appeal to the Wing Commander for a waiver. We have this "thing" about moving on base and our first contact with a commander being a whine session. ::snort::

We DO have floor plans now. The biggest is 1585 square feet. It's a 4 bdr, 2 story, 4 plex. It has a small yard....the bedrooms ARE quite small (9 x 9), small enough that we aren't sure the bunk bed with the double mattress will fit and we certainly won't be taking desks.....we are wondering if a 3 bedroom with bigger rooms would work better.... It DID have a small dining room and a small family room - both rooms we didn't expect to have. They also said there are some bigger homes out in the area...so we'll keep praying about where to live...and see what is available when we show up. At least now we "know" the smallest to expect and the layout...because really it isn't about square feet as much as HOW it's laid out.

Back to the planning and sorting...oh WAIT it's time to run to piano lessons.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Krista

Krista (21) blessed my heart yesterday. She called as soon as she got the text saying our moving day was put off and said, "Good, I'll be able to get a stool for Zander made and sent with your goods."

Isn't that sweet? BreAnne (23) flies in on the 18th and will bring it so that it is HERE to put in on the 21st when the packers pack our Japan stuff....Krista arrives the 22nd.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Quick Morning Update

Janette, at PWOC last night several said the same thing you did, "Better be ready on Monday in case they show up!" ::snort:: I was greatly blessed by a couple who stayed late last night and simply talked with me...both vetran movers, both with overseas moves under their belts.....things such as "Pack up all your knick knacks for storage and buy what you want THERE - because you'll get what fits and have keepsakes from Japan," and "Consider getting rid of desktops and buying one or two laptops," and "Don't take the computer desks - buy something there that will fit the rooms"....that sort of thing.

Here's a quick update...while Mike was being told not to expect to be done with packing until "into June," I was receiving phone calls from a company in Abilene who plans to be here next week. It appears, at this point, that instead of ONE WEEK of packing and then repairmen .....it will be spread over two weeks....but the house should be empty by Memorial Day Weekend. Instead of one company, there will be three. AND....since they were calling Mike at the office and me at home with different dates....who knows WHEN they will show up. ::snort:: This is what we THINK will happen based on piecing all the calls together...and I DID get more gypso (probably not the right initials but it works for me - I feel like a gypsy) emails confirming the pack outs for 2 of the 3 companies.

12 May - reps from one of the companies will actually come and see what we have (this is common and usually happens early, so we are glad to hear at least one of the pack out folks are thinking to do it). ::snort::

13 May - Hold Baggage (God is SO good because that frees up the 12th for us to watch Arielle, Nolan and Zander in a play. I hadn't been overly upset about all of us not making it - and here you go - it changed so we can. )

14 - 15 May - Pack and move out goods that are going to storage.

21 May - they INSIST they can pack and move all that we are taking to Japan in one day. Maybe.

There will be nearly a week between the two pack outs. I think we could move everything going to Japan into our living room/kitchen (which won't be painted) and get the painters in here. If we can move stuff quickly, so it would give the painters time to have it painted before Memorial Day, we'll do that. That means WE will be taking apart all the beds, packing up fragile stuff etc....so maybe those packers CAN get in and out in a day. ::snort::

It looks like we may be a week "late" leaving TX...but we should be out of here before mid-June. We are nearly certain our Alaska trip is out - but not 100% certain until the dust settles a bit more. {::snort:: I KNOW some of you, who don't live our nomadic/military lifestyle, are thinking, "The dust never settles for those people!" It will. }

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Murphy's Law of Moving

Our packers are due on Monday. By Friday we have painters scheduled. Our home was to be on the market by 15 May. Bre flies in 18 May, Jamin graduates 23 May, our last Sunday is 24 May, we drive out 1 June. We were going to visit family and friends in Alaska before heading to Japan. ::drum roll:::

NOW the movers aren’t coming next week. They “may” get someone here on the 13th to do the hold stuff ONLY. The earliest possibility that they’ll have someone here to pack the stuff for Japan is 21 May – THAT IS THE DAY BEFORE A 4 DAY WEEKEND…..This means they will probably pack the 21st, 26th and 27th for THAT.

They can’t find anyone to pack the storage stuff and that may push into June. We can't leave until everything is packed...and we'd like to stay and sign off on the contract work that is being done on the house. Meanwhile Krista has given her notice based on our timeline. Apartments have been rented in OR, based on the timeline. Painters etc were scheduled that have to be rescheduled, our home won’t be listed NOW, which is prime time for military buyers…..

Ladies – pray for me. I’m looking for the joy…it is mixed with a good bit of frustration. It appears we will be packing right around graduation or the week after, instead of kicking back with the girls. Our stuff will NOT arrive in Japan in July/Aug....more like Sept/Oct. It looks as if we won’t be able to make it to Alaska (this is why military folks have a hard time taking advantage of early bird prices on airfare!). If they bump it much more it will cut into the time we have to spend in the NW with family…. Dad Earl is 93 - we need to see him before we go overseas. We think we NEED to see everyone else but most likely it is a want. ::snort:: The date that will not change is the date we fly out of Seattle to Japan. ::snort::

Positives in not packing on Monday:

• Jamin will NOT move out on Mother's day!
• I'll have more time to work on photos.
• I have more time to sell books/curriculum etc.
• I have more time to organize.
• I'll have less time without Internet (I don't think that's available at the fam camp).
• We'll be able to go to the kids' drama performance (Jamin wrote the play that the kids are performing).
• Our last Bible study won't be while the packers are at our house. ::snort::
• I don't have to have EVERYTHING done by Sunday.
• This will save Jamin money.
• The girls wanted to help with the move and we had planned to have it all done before they arrived. ::snort::
• Krista can make a new stool for Zander and we can pack it with our household goods. ::snort::
• The urgent pace of sorting abates if they are arriving the last week of may instead of the 11th.......guess I can procrastinate a few weeks? ::snort::
• We have more time to transfer VHS to DVD.
• I think we'll have the boys' portfolio's mailed before we move into the trailer.
  

Ah - listing those positives really does calm one down.

In the end, the house will sell when God wants it to sell, the packers will pack when God wants them here, we'll leave town when God wants us to leave town.....We'll adjust....we REALLY wanted to take a mini-vacation to Alaska and visit friends and will not receive PFD from here on out since we can't make it up there in 2009 but honestly....it's OK....we still have email and God will figure out a good time for us to make it to AK for a visit.

Krista's on the phone - no time to blog!

CHOOSING Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Monday's Moving Mayhem

I had such great hopes for this day. I eagerly read the Word, headed to the gym, took a shower and attacked the day.....
I thought I'd go through the younger 4's closets one final time.....they've been making cuts, but I knew it was time for the final, ruthless cut.....The boys have a HUGE closet and two shelves that run both sides of it. We've used it for storage.
Here begins the tale of what happened to my leg:
I climbed on Zander's stool. This is the stool Krista made him for Christmas. He usually keeps his running shoes on top of it in the closet. It seemed stead and I could reach the top shelf if I stretched.
"Mom, I don't think you should stand on that, you might break it," worried Zander.
I calmly replied, "It's o.k., Zander. It's steady."
Nolan interjected, "Yeah, Zander, Dad fixed it."
As I heard those words I decided Zander may be right. Alas, the stool shattered into several pieces right as Nolan finished. I let out a whoop of some sort. Arielle and Nolan tried valiantly not to laugh.

Zander's eyes filled with tears. It was a Mommy low. He came in and hugged me. I apologized. I was sore...but nothing seemed sprained. I don't think we can glue this back together. I told him I'd put a hanger on the back and we'd hang it on the wall. Zander gave me a higher "stool". Without thinking I jumped up.
I was saying, "Hey, I can reach the top shelf on this," when I crashed through it.

Yep, the bottom crashed out. See the jagged edges? I'm guessing that is what scratched my leg. The bottom of my foot is cut and hurt. My toe is throbbing (nail is torn). My leg is on fire. I did NOT cry or scream terribly...but I did say "OUCH - that hurts!"
Then I noticed blood and kids staring and said, "Quick, get me a paper towel before I bleed on the carpet!" They began to move with me urging, "Hurry, get me a towel!"
At this point Jamin and Jared came to see why they were hearing repeated squeals. I guess Nolan went and told them, "Mom fell two times."

I'm sitting on the carpet saying, "Ouch....catch the blood," and other such wonderful comments when I realized that Zander has been talking on the cell phone. He told us he had "found" Krista's number. Oh my word. She was at work and got this call and could hear me saying, "Quick, get a towel...I'm bleeding" etc. ::snort::
We moved to the recliner. The kids brought me hydrogen peroxide. Jamin brought me an Ibuprofen and a glass of water. I was balancing the water on my lap. Stacia wanted to help. She let out the recliner for me....the water.....well.....I got wet. I was laughing hard by this time.
The doorbell rang. The painter was here to give me an estimate. I met him at the door.

"Ma'am, is this a bad time?"
"No, I always look like this." ::snort:: I told him the story. We began the painting tour. The doorbell rang again.
I'm still very wet. It was a man from the city. Remember when we had NO water and then LOW water pressure? Lately we've had LOTS of water pressure. Neighbors began to tell us that pipes were bursting. We called them to check. Normal pressure is 60 and ours was 95. They'll be out to dig up pipes or something in our yard. ::sigh:: I didn't explain to him why I looked like this...I had two painters waiting inside.
I got back inside and Zander was telling the painters all our family secrets. "I want a cat. Dad hates cats. Dad once built a catapult and shot cats into the girls dorm." I believe he's mixed up several stories...Kim, Steve????
We finished the tour. I got another estimate. My clothes had dried and I ran out to meet Heather.
Thanks, Heather! Heather, treated me to lunch at the Grill. We discussed a bit how hard it is to find things to write on a "family blog". I told her it was fairly easy for me. She commented that they are boring...and I said...we aren't exciting. Mike says I'm just klutzy. ::snort::
I got home and discovered Jamin and Jared had cut branches back on the back tree....and took some roof shots.

I DID finish the closets this afternoon.

Jared replaced two toilet seats...and found time to take this photo...

Nolan thought this a better pose....

Krista called back to see how I was and discuss how important it was to me to see her new apartment. I'm not sure.
Mike came home and took me to dinner. It seems Krista had called him and suggested it! What a gal. Carino's has a special from today - 8th. Mom's eat free with the purchase of one entree. I had a salad, an entree and a tiny dessert (just right). I brought 1/2 the entree home. If you live near a Carinos check this out.
Jamin just got home from work and wonders if he should move out tomorrow or Mother's Day so he's "out of the way" when the movers arrive. UGH..... ::NO...YOU...CAN'T...MOVE....OUT!:: I told him I was thinking he'd stay with us in the trailer until we left.....hmmm....I guess it's time to face the facts.
A fun day - lots of laughing, lots of bags leaving the house... the kids grabbed the camera this a.m. and said, "This will make a great blog entry". Yes, the blog has become an essential part of recording our family history. ::snort::
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Take Your Best Guess!

Guess what I did? I'll try to update tonight or in the a.m. Maybe I'll pick one of these wonderful books to send to the person who guesses correctly the cause of my owie! ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...