Specific Prayer Requests

The Sgt from Mcchord has agreed to pick up five of our birth certifcates in Fife, WA. They must be picked up tomorrow from the UPS Dist. Center, or they will be sent back to various offices. They've made several attempts to deliver them to McChord.

Please pray that he picks them up, or that I make it up in time to get them. Once we have the birth certificates, we can begin the applications for passports.... Pray for wisdom in choices I must make about our traveling plans.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Random Thoughts & Photos

Random Thoughts:

I've noted how often great intimacy with God comes along with adversity in the Scripture. It's o.k. My word of the year is intimacy and I'm now in a spot without outside responsibilities, no school books, few things to worry about, Mike's gone....and I'm alone...and listening...big time. ::snort::

First Shirts are amazing individuals.

God's timing is always right, even when I wonder. Today I discovered that 5 of our birth certificates have been undeliverable for days. They will be held through the end of the work day TOMORROW.....so...I'm waiting to hear from the Sgt. I'm hoping (since HE gave out the incomplete address) that HE will drive to Fife, WA (Where IS that?) and pick them up. If not, I will and will hand deliver them to McChord. If I'd not reached the helpful UPS agent today, I would NOT have known that they needed to be picked up NOW. Stacia's was sent by normal snail mail and so all are on the alert to tackle any perplexed looking mailmen at the Customer Service mall of McChord. ::snort:: I will still not be able to apply for passports until we can locate hers...and if it gets sent back to San Angelo it will take another week...but if I could have the other 5 in hand.....it's a step.

I read in Isaiah yesterday that those who sow in tears will reap in joy. I'm expecting that there is a harvest in the kingdom that I don't see....but someday I may. I may not. That's o.k. too....I believe that things are going on that I don't understand...that my job is to continue to listen and act....and there will be a harvest.....who knows maybe in Misawa?

Mike is on his way to Japan. He should arrive about 11p.m. pacific time tonight. He said he watched a family go through the process in front of him and well....I think he's worried about all I'll have to do with the kids...but God will clear a way and the kids will be as helpful as they can be. We'll survive...and I'm THRILLED we won't have a ton of bags to deal with on top of the normal stuff. ::snort::

I don't have Internet at "home"...but I'm at mom's on hold...amazing what you can do while on hold.

Last night we had a precious time of prayer...and Mike began to tell Jared how he is now the man (the talk all the eldest boys have received before he deploys or goes TDY)....Bre and I broke out into a rousing chorus of "Be a Man" from Mulan....and we all played hokey pokey....because we are a bit of a hokey family. ::snort::

Random photos:

I love these two men.


Um....we discovered there are a few problems at the house. LOL


Stacia seems to thinks the sticks will stop the rain - time to introduce her to an umbrella.


This deer in the front yard also likes to come on to our patio.



Time to call the Sgt again.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Safety First - More Prayer Needed

I keep remembering Rose's advice to remember Safety First...."Bend your knees before you bang your head against the wall." ::snort::

The Sgt who is handling my case is NOT returning my phone calls. He gave me an incomplete address to have our birth certificates shipped to...and now they are all being sent back. I have talked to UPS and they can't do a thing....other than send them back. I would think they could have tried a bit harder to find the "suite" number that was missing...like ask at the Customer Service desk...but I DID give them an incomplete address as that is what was provided to me. After having tried 2 days to reach the Sgt, I finally sent an email to the First Sgt who met our kids outside an office in McChord and told them to have me call him anytime I needed help. He has called to say that the Sgt will be contacting me shortly.

Seattle office has said they'll work with me to get tourist passports, but I NEED the birth certificates.

The First Sgt just called and is trying to help. He's going to call me by late morning tomorrow. The prayer is simply that the birth certificates are delivered to McChord. THEN they'll apply for military and I'll go back to Seattle and stay until I can get tourist passports and leave.

Another prayer request - Mike leaves tomorrow.

The girls are looking for jobs.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Saturday at Sahalie Falls

Rebecca, Mike's sister, suggested a drive up to Salem to see some falls. Somehow we adjusted and ended up going up the McKenzie River Hwy to Sahalie Falls. My folks came along, as did BreAnne and Krista. Here are some photos and comments in no particular order.

Losing a pet, a van, passports...obviously not enough excitement. Mike and Mom tempted "fate" by climbing beyond the barriers to the top of the falls...here Mike walks on a log across the falls.





I feel like this little green tree on a rock in a storm of water.


Gorgeous water








A Whole LOT of water - power.





I dropped my water bottle....and it survived all else...I wanted it...Jared retrieved it...earning him favored son status for an hour. ::snort::


Sahalie FAlls...see the log at the top?










I've not asked Rebecca if I can post photos of her and Sherlock on the blog...but imagine a darling dog happily trotting along side. LOL

We went to church this a.m. We stopped by Mom and Dad's so I could get a connection to download form DS 3035. We had lunch and now we're off to buy some things for Mike. He'll need a few civilian things to go with the uniforms that are unscathed. Mike flies Tuesday. Prayers for safe travels for him are appreciated. The kids and I will say goodbye down here.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Our Boys

The boys left OR on Thursday and have arrived safely in TX. Life is getting back to normal for all (except possibly the six of us in transit). ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Opinions?

Has anyone done the study Sweeter Than Chocolate from Precept? It's written by Pam Gillaspie and has 3 levels of study built into it.

I had purchased it and it was in my suitcase. I'm wondering if anyone has done it and if it is worth replacing before I arrive in Japan. I had planned to use it as a personal summer study.

Has anyone used the How to Study Your Bible for KIDS DVD? Opinions?

I wish I knew how long I was going to be here. I'd hate to miss things in transit. ::snort:: These were TLF (temporary lodging) treats that I'd squirrelled away for use in Misawa.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Clothing is Optional?

Clothing is apparently optional in Eugene, OR.

I hesitated to mention this abnormality, but I've witnessed it myself and it has been witnessed several times by other family members. I'm quite used to seeing topless women and men in g-strings in AFRICA...but it's a bit alarming to see on your way to buy groceries in the good ole' US of A.

I realize I've been living in the South and in Alaska...and both are more Conservative in morals and such...but honestly....when did topless become acceptable in mainstream OR?

As Jared said, after witnessing one "lady" on a bike, "Where I come from it's socially unacceptable to walk around in such attire." ::snort::

Maybe the loss of 13 out of 14 suitcases won't pose too much of a hardship if we stay in OR. No photos to accompany this post - yet. ::snort::

Yes, I've accepted our fate and have gone grocery shopping. We really are NOT going to make it in time to fly with Mike....and we need to get back into some sort of routine. BTW, milk is MUCH cheaper here - $1.99 a gal.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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