I'm OK

Thanks for all the emails asking if I drove off a cliff....I didn't. I DID discover that if one drives on Hwy 199 - they CAN make THEMSELVES carsick.

I'll blog later. We are busy. Mom's Internet has been down. We're having fun and we're also coming down the home stretch here.....for instance I'm off now to complete that ill-fated shopping trip of months ago....and I need to buy some sort of gift to give out to those we inconvenience when we move in (a Japanese thing)....

The girls are in their apartment.

The boys are by Mountain Home AFB in ID and plan to be here tonight...I cannot believe they've driven all the way from TX in such a short time.

Boys just called and they are in OR - better hurry to the mall.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Goodbye and Hello

Today we say "goodbye" to Dad Earl and Mom Mary.... This is tough and I've been working hard to find the "beneficial" side of it....remembering that we could also think of it as "God Be With Ye".

Dad Earl made a big speech last night. He said he wanted to be sure to say that I've become a wonderful woman, wife and mother all these years. I was a bit blown away, touched and sad, as I think he's saying those things he wants to be sure to say in case....

Hello - to my folks and the girl's new campus apartmet.

Once again - bittersweet....and once again I'm remembering to CHERISH our memories of times well spent with Mom and Dad G.....Cherish and not Cling.

We're off to say goodbye, then come back and hook up the trailer....do pray for us today. This will be hard for those of us who are old enough to understand long term goodbyes...and especially hard for Michael.

I'm not sure I'll be taking photos - here are a few shots. I've been capturing "sights of home".

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Sights from the day...

Mike, the native, taught us that it is MUCH warmer to get down on the ground.....we climbed this grassy hill to get a view of the Point St. George Lighthouse and beach.






Windy....




Pelicans



Battery Point - Crescent City, CA














Cutting ivy away from the front of the house....





Um...did I SAY the house is built RIGHT on the river bank?

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Work & Play & Work Some More

Here are some photos from yesterday in no order.....

Today, we visited with the folks.

We went out to lunch with Earl Jr. and then took him to the airport.

We went out to an old Coast Guard Station, drove along the coastline, took a zillion photos, walked on the pier and the beach. (Photos when I have the cord to load them to the computer/photobucket). LOL

Back at the folks' I made dinner while everyone else worked at various jobs still on "Mike's List". We had a taste of ice cream, visited a bit and then I brought Stacia home as she has had IT.

Stacia was up 4 hours last night crying for the older boys and saying she wants to go home....I'll be very happy when we are "settled" in Japan and she can begin to feel "secure"....though it will have to be a new security as Josiah and Jamin won't be there. ::sigh::

Oh yeah...photos from yesterday.

Jared, Mike and Earl Jr work on a plan to haul a tree they felled earlier up the bank where it will be easier to cut up.


Zander displays bugs under a chunk of wood....


Part of it is up....the power of a Ford - 15 pass van. ::snort::


Uncle Earl & Zander








Uncle Earl and Bre - he liked playing ferry....honest. LOL


Sweet - summertime photo


The Drunken Duck ::snort::


Zander swims from big rock


Krista


BreAnne


It floats...


Krista hitches a ride


Krista was about Zander's size when she got the wet suit. LOL


Zander took to this


One last chess game - Grandpa was too tired tonight.


Singing around the Summer stove

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Balancing Act

Know why Zander is balancing so well?

He's using Jared's new and improved "Balancing Shampoo!" ::snort::

Yesterday was full. Rebecca went home to OR in the afternoon.

Mike, Earl, the kids and I spent the majority of the day hauling trees up the bank, splitting wood, cutting logs up etc.

We did hit the river with Uncle Earl...and had a blast. Lots of photos to follow.

We all split more wood and cut up more logs.

We had a cookout...and sat around the fire with Grandma Mary and chatted.....while Jared and Granpa Earl played another game of Chess.

Earl goes home today. This is our last day left before we head to OR. There are LOTS of things left on "Mike's List," which was handed him when we arrived....but honestly we've spent at least half of our days here working full days.....so there is only so much you can accomplish. LOL Not sure if we'll work or play today....my guess is both, leaning towards work. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Japanese Adventure?

New readers may be confused, old readers may be perplexed...let me explain.

Our family is in the process of moving to Misawa, Japan. Mike is an Air Force chaplain. Our older two daughters, BreAnne (24) and Krista (22) will be entering college in OR. Our boys Josiah (20) and Jamin (18) are attending a university in TX. Five children and two adults are moving to Japan.

I began titling our "random Japanese trivia" as "Japanese Adventure" so that we could easily find the info when we want it. I debated how to title our PCS (permanent change of station - move) photos. Are they "Vacations" or "Japanese Adventure" and decided they are both, as they are our trip to Japan. This way when I go to compile an album or print out the blog, I'll be able to easily find the posts about our home repairs, our trip etc.

Which is why photos of Mt Rushmore, ID or CA are listed as Japanese Adventures. Would you like me to explain my filing system? ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Our Father's Day

The day began with work around the folks' house.

Mower Races


More Wood


Zander's been shadowing Uncle Earl....and figures he can do this too.

Jared began to feel bad. Stacia was out of sorts, as was I. We went to the trailer and took naps....sort of. Stacia talked in my ear for 1 1/2 hours while I tried...and Jared stayed down for the day. The rest of us had reservations at the Beach Comber for dinner. Our van load showed up early so we took advantage of the location of the restaurant.



Looks like I have a couple of converts to the Ocean. ::snort::


Brothers


Sisters


Sisters


THIS one loves water of any kind.
She biffed. Face first...the wave caught her....and NOW our table is ready. ::snort::
At dinner we (Stacia and I) had several drink incidents. It became apparent who in the restaurant had raised children. ::snort:: One elderly gentlemen came up to Stacia as he left, knelt down and put his arm around her and said, "Part of being a little girl is to spill, don't feel bad." I thanked him - greatly. Rebecca (Mike's sister) took the folks home after dinner. Our family and Earl Jr went to play on another beach.


Stacia's makeshift outfit after the first biff....she's game to try again.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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