The Thirteenth

WoW! This little airport takes their security seriously. That's a good thing...but a bit frustrating when the airline is insisting they will take off if the 3 passengers in security aren't cleared. ::snort:: Yes, one of them WAS Krista. I had given the girls each a little antique cast iron tea pot from Japan....and Krista travels only with carry-ons....but the little round metal thing with the spout caused quite the delay. She DID make it back to OR and was picked up by grandparents. We miss you honey! We are so glad you could get the time off to come down - even if it was short! It was PERFECT! 


I have stacks of airport farewell photos and simply wasn't in the mood to take more.  


Eight Gherkins left in TX.....it was COLD and drizzly - so we went to Mr. Gattis. We were pleasantly surprised that you now ORDER the pizza you want and it is FRESH - tasted much better. Josiah and I came up with a business plan that would save them....but you know how that goes. ::snort:: 

Stacia had begged for "chucker cheese" since she saw one in Eugene over a month ago. I had told her we'd try to go to Mr. Gattis in TX when we were all there and Mr Gatti's had BUMPER cars. She was ecstatic when she saw them. I think these would be a great addition to Misawa. LOL 

After lunch we went to watch the new Muppet movie. It was a nice diversion...."Are you a man or a muppet?" - Or a manly muppet or a muppet of a man? ::snort::

We rounded out the evening with dinner out at the Hardings. The Harding family was part of the GAFB parish when Michael was the Sr. Prot. chaplain here.  Steve taught the boys' youth RE class, our boys were friends....their son Michel and Jared are both Seniors this year. I didn't take any photos at dinner....but there is one of the family in the graduation post. Steve and Debbie have "adopted" our college aged sons. They've had them over for holidays and dinners, called and kept up with them.....it was pure joy to visit together again as families. Jared stayed after the rest of us came home and played games with their boys and Josiah and Jamin. He spent the night at the boys' house.  Jared enjoyed spending time with Steven and Michel. Jake, Josiah and Jamin's roommate, came home and so Jared got to reconnect with him as well. 


We're very aware we have 2 days together before Bre leaves on the 16th and the kids and I will begin our trek back to the West Coast and Asia on the 17th.  I've chosen to live these moments FULLY HERE. 


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

A Bit of Fun

The 12th - Krista was due to fly out the 13th. We went on the light tour (but the photos are on Jared's camera and we don't have the cord to load them).

The girls let off steam with music......

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

2011 Gift Exchange

For the past several years our family's gift exchange has not fallen on Christmas. We like it that way. We focus on gift for Jesus on Christmas.  This year we had the rare pleasure of all being in one place for 3 days - so we used one of those days for a gift exchange.

The day began early with Michael, Krista and I heading for the BX - then walmart. Mike had pity on me and we went to the "small" walmart....where I couldn't buy granola bars or cereal because the choices were too overwhelming... ::snort::  We found the last few things we wanted....and enjoyed talking with Krista.

We all met for lunch at Schlotzky's....they've changed. I thought their new motto was "Running our bunz off" or something to do with bunz....everyone else says it's "lotz better". ::snort:: This is Michael's favorite deli joint.

Josiah and Michael

Krista and Josiah

De'Etta and Stacia

Arielle, Nolan and Jared

Jamin and Shelby were off work about the time we finished lunch so we went to the boy's  house for a gift exchange. Always fun.

Krista and Arielle - hats made by Bev E - family friend

Stacia's music box from Gpa

Jamin - running gear from all

De - Josiah got me a pillow thing w/ heat and massage
Great for planes...

Zander

Jared

Nolan totally surprised by Camera

Stacia got Bre AND Krista a princess ballerina cuz it will
make them happy. 

Josiah's money jar

We thought this would be great for a Children's Minister

Josiah and Shelby left for work. The rest of us enjoyed games and visits.....

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~

Living all of life before the face of God...

SURPRISE

The party was GREAT. Josiah was totally surprised. We were all very proud of pulling this off. LOL  Also very thankful to Shelby for her hard work and planning to make it happen. 


We had cake, snacks, games and visiting.....another late night.....

Deb and I

Josiah and Shelby

Steven, Michel and Josiah

Unique decoration

Real cake

Mafia

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sweet Sunday

Sunday morning saw the entire family occupying the same pew again - at Goodfellow AFB chapel. LOL We took advantage of the Christmas decorations to get a few shots.

Nine Gherkins ~ 6 - 26 years old

 We continued our "diversionary" tactics and gave Josiah his card and gift back in our room.

 After lunch we went bowling....

We were STILL a bit early and so I insisted I needed to go to the TLF and plug in my ipad before we went to the boys' home.....then I drove slow and "lost" my turn...giving everyone else the time to get to the house before my carload with Josiah in tow.

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Graduation!

Jet lagged -  but HERE.  I'm so thankful that all eleven are us were able to attend Josiah's graduation. It really was a miracle. We are thankful to staff and leadership who made it possible. 


Yes, he graduated....debt free! Working 40 hours a week...and DONE. Josiah hopes to do an internship this summer in a corporate office and then begin his Masters of Business Administration in the fall. He's faithfully following  the path God laid out for him when his personality and talents were breathed into him.  Josiah does plan to be a business success...the motives of his heart are a blessing. Years ago as he wrestled with either Bible College or Business College it was confirmed to him in several ways that he would be a minister of God regardless of which route he went. I believe he chose the route right for him...from the wheeling and dealing as a toddler...to now....and I do believe he will be a success. His heart is to bless his future family, care for his aging parents (::snort::), and shine for Jesus wherever he may find himself.  He's a blessing to us all.  It was pure joy to have all of us on hand to celebrate this accomplishment. 


My only regret is I neglected to grab a photo of this year's THREE COLLEGE GRADUATES together....all for His glory. 

Debbie in white - through Jared.....way at the end

Receiving his diploma

Josiah walking towards camera

Mike, Cy, Me, Bre, Jared, Arielle, Krista, Nolan, Jamin
Stacia, Zander

Josiah and Jamin's second family

Nolan 

Josiah

Jared and Michael 

Bre & Josiah 

Arielle

Krista and Michael 

Random group shot

Zander still isn't impressed with college graduations

Stacia requested a photo hugging Shelby (Josiah's friend)

Josiah and I....and they said he had no brain stem! 

The rest of the evening was a diversion. Shelby had planned a party for Josiah's friends. We had planned on planning a party, but having her do it sure allowed us more time to focus on spending time together. The party was a surprise and was kicking off on Sunday night..... but if we did nothing we KNEW Josiah would guess there was a surprise party afoot. 

Families at the boys' church here in San Angelo had gone together and given a gift large enough to take our family to Logan's Steakhouse. We invited Shelby and the Hardings to go along.  I begged Debbie to go pick out the ugliest cake she could find and then have them write Congrats Joshua on it (his name is Josiah). My thought is we'd divert him. He'd figure - "Well - dinner with friends and a cake - shoot they didn't even spell my name right." 

Logan's was great and let us bring the cake in

Deb came through! Ugly isn't it. ::snort:: 

After dinner we headed to the boys' house. We had fun playing games....enjoying each other...celebrating...

Jamin and Bre

Krista

Face of Jet Lag

This was a fun game...I think we'll order a copy for game nights

We called it a night - LATE - as we had a full day planned for Sunday - to include the surprise party Shelby planned. 

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...