Getting Acquainted with Beale

We’ve been occupying ourselves doing laundry, organizing the trailer, taking care of “move in” things for the house and acquainting ourselves with the base and local cities.

Good sport - helped me shuttle laundry back and forth

We’ve learned the GPS sometimes gets creative in the routes it advises. At least the instructions are in English. 

Others have obviously come this way.

In our wanderings we’ve seen lizards, ANTS (lots and lots of little sugar ants), pigeons, owls, rabbits, deer, frogs, turkey and hawks and beautiful sunsets.

This photo could work for "culture shock" too....the sign before the light said, "One lane bridge" and/or "narrow bridge." Shoot - this is a highway by Tohoku standards. We are use to smaller than this being two way.

Fam Camp 

I had to convince Stacia and Zander this was NOT swimming water. I had planned to take them to the base pool, but without a car and with the heat....walking was out of the question.

We enjoyed the AC in the Fam Camp lounge when the heat went into triple digits and our AC went on the blink in the trailer. Imagine living in a can of spam in the desert and you pretty much have the idea.

Ah, indulgence without sticker shock!

Driving to the Housing Area...can you imagine how pretty the rolling hills will be when they turn green? 

Michael's office is in the Foothill Chapel in the housing area

We enjoyed dinner with a couple of chapel staff families. I enjoyed the time to visit with Barbara and Valerie and look forward to getting to know both (and many others) in our time at Beale.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

"Settling" In

Michael ran into work. The kids and I continued to try to dig out from under luggage and to create a "home" for the next "however" long we are here.

Last time we used the trailer Stacia still had binkies she desperately needed.  We had a good laugh when  I found one today. Memories...

No, this isn't a good look! 

Around 1100 Michael and Ch. S, our new Wing Chaplain, showed up at the trailer.  I am AMAZED at how quickly we could in-process here at Beale. Ch. S took us to the personnel building and all of our id cards are now entered in the DBIDS system for Beale and Michael met the CPTS commander and scheduled an initial in processing briefing for tomorrow a.m.

We did a windshield tour of main base and then went to the food court. My lands...it's WAY smaller than Misawa....about the same as Goodfellow AFB.  The people were friendly.  Ch. S left us at this point.

We continued on to switch our tricare from Pacific to West and signed  up for Peds and Flight Med. We have the option of seeing a civilian doc if we want as we are far enough from base. We weren't sure so just went with this for the time-being. The clinic IS very nice looking. VERY NICE.

We headed to the house with a load of things we don't need in the trailer. It is a very nice house. I had forgotten we always want/need to do some cleaning before moving in and this time will be no different.  We will not have our household goods delivered until we get some deep cleaning done...but it's going to be a GREAT house  in which to live.

Zander and Stacia love the palm trees..."We've been transported to Hawaii." ::snort::

We are discussing how we want to configure the space...a "projector" room/school storage upstairs and then library/school/office etc in the family room OR projector in the family room and books, office and storage upstairs.....I have a vision for the downstairs to be the hub of family life...rather than an upstairs "school/computer" room.  While all like the idea....Arielle likes having the computer and books sequestered in a room upstairs....we shall see...still thinking, praying and discussing.

It's a BLAST to have options!!!!!!!

This is the kitchen/family room....the room continues and ends with a fireplace.....The left corner of the kitchen is a desk.....and the space to the left is big enough for our "first" table in Misawa. The dining room is carpeted and  we will NOT be eating in it. ::snort:: We think the big table will be great in the family room for projects and entertaining..... but do we want to go ahead and put the bookshelves down here....and make it a family/school room.....or make it more of a traditional family room with the bookshelves up in the 4th room/school room.....so many options. The doorway to the right is the "butler's pantry."

 WE HAVE AN ICE MAKER!!!!

This house is BIG - it's just a matter of figuring out how things will fit best to create the environment we want. We're also trying to figure out what to do about window coverings on these lower arched windows in the living room. It's obvious the previous tenant taped something to the glass....What would you suggest?

Looking down from landing to entry/living room 

We also need to figure out how to CLEAN the upper windows....lots of birds feathers and poop out the windows. The windows are too lovely to allow that. ::snort::  It seems we have some doves nesting up high....what to do....

The kids have chosen rooms.....we think we figured out a spot for all the big furniture....the biggest surprise was the SIZE of the  master bedroom. We had seen photos....but really the photos didn't give us a real idea of the size of the "suite."  We made a video but it won't load...maybe tomorrow.

It has a walk-in closet that is HUGE - big enough to be another bedroom. There is no electric in the closet, but there is a ceiling light. We are trying to figure out if we can better utilize the space. There is a second closet which is normal sized and enough closet for us.

Stacia checked out the large mbr bath and said, "WOW - two can take showers at  the same time." ::snort:: You'll have to wait for the video.

We left the house and headed for our first dinner out....in Linda....and saw a really strange sight as we exited the restaurant. Some of us think it was a gray-haired, naked man sitting in the doorway....others think he had on skivvies....in any event....seriously classifies as strange. We left and went across to Walmart for breakfast food.

As we drove out of the Walmart parking lot Arielle commented there was something to be said to the Japanese culture where all strive to  "fit in"....all this individuality can be a bit much. Michael asked for examples. As she and I supplied examples I made the comment that it was, "Strange beyond all reason."

Stacia piped up with, "And we have to LIVE here for TWO YEARS! Can we visit Tokyo at least one time a year? We need to take lots of trips." ::snort::

Tomorrow we'll tackle the laundry, the rest of the unpacking, take another load to the house, try to schedule the delivery of our shipment and maybe even begin cleaning the new house.  We may not make it beyond the laundry....it's been 9 days.

Choosing Joy!

©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Just the Usual Travel Experience

FB status: "Arrived Beale AFB Fam Camp 12:13 a.m." 

No, as a matter of fact, we did NOT plan a 7.5 hour trip to arrive after midnight the day before reporting to duty. ::wink::  

HOW did a short jaunt down the road turn into this?????? 

We started with great hopes for a 3 - 5:00 p.m. arrival......The boys were happy to step into their new roles on Trailer Prep. 

We ran into a bit of a snafu with the Alaska DMV..."No, ma'am, we don't know someone who can just walk it in."  Since this was obviously taking more than the expected amount of time, I headed to the local Arco to fill up the big red van. 

S*T*I*C*K*E*R shock! Whooee.....and gas has only gotten more expensive the further south we've traveled. 

We finally left OR 2.5 hours after we'd planned...but still projected a 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. arrival. 

A word about "Google maps"....it obviously doesn't factor in  "towing vehicles" which  only go 55 mph,  not 70 mph, in CA.....and that towing vehicles really can't go much more than that anyway over those mountains. ::snort:: 

FB Status - "...wouldn't be a Gherkin trip without a blowout. Running late."

Shore nuff....Yuuki was riding at my feet....we heard a loud pop and a bit of swaying and she leaped to Arielle's side and seemed to give us the Gherkin scowl. She's been a GREAT travel dog.

 We were blessed this happen just a mile outside of the last Roseburg, OR exit.....and we were able to drive very, very slowly to the local Les Schwab. Three hours -  four new van tires later -  we headed down the road again.

 I am so thankful for this man. He's unflappable. We simply kept moving.....and at 12:46 a.m. we had a spot at Fam Camp and were setting up..... It was dark, but we think we drove through some pretty land on our way here. We discovered the gates the GPS selected are closed at night - finally happened upon an open gate.  We're hopeful it will be pretty here.

Somewhere in here we called our sponsor to let him know we'd arrived. We knew he'd be worried we were so late. He's already checked off the base. He hadn't been worrying about us up in Tahoe. ::snort:: Poor man. He DID tell Michael not to worry about showing up at 0715 in uniform.....and with that assurance we continued "setting up." 

We cleared a path, unloaded the beds, found the kids sleeping bags and they were set.  (YIKES someone grab that ipad!)

2013 is the year of the great vandal/mice party at the Gherkins trailer. Mom and Dad had overseen the repairs and mom had washed sleeping bags etc. Michael, Izaak and Nolan spent the good part of a day cleaning the trailer out. Last night I realized we needed sheets and the comforter for our bed was missing.... Michael threw out the foam topper for our bed as it was full of mice dooky.

It seemed simple to buy a 3in memory foam topper....and Bre and I picked up a "complete bed set" to throw on. The foam topper was smashed in a box.....and had to be zipped into a liner - which was NOT easy but WAS fun. ::snort::

Finally at 0200 our bed was MADE......and I KNOW it doesn't match the headboard and curtains...maybe I'll  make curtains and a headboard from the bed skirt and pillow shams we don't need....and maybe it simply doesn't bother me enough to warrant the work. ::snort::

I woke full of hope this morning (23 July). I remembered the orchards and fruit stands 20 miles away....surely it would be pretty....... I stepped out to enjoy the early a.m. cool and view before anyone else was up....

 
I believe I found the "Golden Hills of California." Looks a lot like San Angelo to me.   This cheery sign greeted me at the bathhouse....

Stacia and Zander woke up and immediately went for the fridge. I could have warned them....instead I watched. ::snort::

They looked at me, shocked. I couldn't help laughing and asked them, "When do you think food would have been purchased and stored?"

We've got a full day ahead of us..... the immediate challenge is finding the bag or box with clothes which can be worn for the day....and clearing some of this out by tonight.

I'm blogging from the end of this roll of carpet

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Miracles, Packing, Softball and Goodbyes

It was a MIRACLE which began in a rather odd way. 

The girls woke up late...really late. We're ALWAYS up early. 

We woke up - got ready and were out the door for church  in 11 minutes! (No photos available)

The boys left this morning for TX. Bre and Krista had obligations until 1 p.m.

We began packing things over to the trailer. We took a quick break for lunch and then went back to shopping for things needed for the trailer - and packing things out....this took us right up until 5:30 p.m.  I must say I wonder how we'll sleep in the trailer with all the suitcases etc in the trailer. LOL

We  headed over to South Eugene for Krista and Andrew's softball game.

LOVE Krista's expression 

Our family and a few friends and cousins went out for dinner after the game...and then on to DQ for dessert.  We said goodbye to Bre for this time around....she'll drive down to CA in 9 days and drive out to TX with us for the wedding.

It was 9:30 p.m. and we thought we were ready to climb into bed...but Michael needed to add new tags for the trailer and THAT has mushroomed.....he's left to go over to get the license plate numbers off the trailer. ::sigh::

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Family Celebration

I hesitate to post about today's celebration as a photographer took photos and we'll have a CD of photos soon.....but here are a few snapshots..... 

It was a great day. It was fun to reconnect with  people who went to college with Mom and Dad, current friends, past friends, church family, ALL kids and grand kids, uncles, cousins and even  fellow missionaries from Liberia and friends from the Philippines.  It was also fun to watch a plan come to fruition. Sherri was our "officer in charge" and she did a great job of tasking each with manageable tasks and then letting them run with their vision.  The final product was fantastic. 

I think one of my favorite parts of the day was the slide show. Nate (and Heather) did a great job of documenting Mom and Dad's lives and marriage. 

There were a few tables set up with mementos...and Krista and Nadia made this great "family tree" wall hanging.  Mom and Dad and their parents were the foundation and bottom trunk...it branched into three branches for Nate, Will and I and then smaller branches for each of our children. I WANT something like this on a wall in my home....while we are leasing we could do something like this, stretch it around a frame and hang it.....I'll have to think about this a bit.

Bre made a tri-fold of showcasing their ministry. Heather grabbed mementos to display (and did much, much more). Amy made some great "Canvas art" - I'm sure there will be some cool photos coming of all this; as well as the great decorations.

Sherri and her grand Harmony - Mom and Dad's Great Grand

Mom, Dad and Heather 

Nate (Baby brother)

Nolan and Arielle

This is my cheesy dork look. Michael snapped a photo while I was sharing about Mom and Dad - with my granny glasses on....This was the one he took when I took off the glasses. LOL

Josiah (getting married in 2 weeks)

Mikhail (Nate and Heather's Son) 

My Uncle and Cousins with Mom and Dad 

After cleaning up the church some of us went out to Will and Sherri's to relax and enjoy a BBQ for dinner.

The kids played a game called "smash face"....

Zander sits in the middle 

It was fun to find this bus at our hotel as we drove up. Evidently a tour of Japanese teens were sharing the hotel with us.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...