Routines....

Oh yes - getting this routine down! Another year is off to a good start.

Stacia and I worked out again. I miss the elliptical. I don't like being 25 min from a gym. I won't let this stop me from working out. We're doing a different DVD each a.m.  We did Body Gospel today. I may never be able to sing in church again without doing some unique moves. ::snort::

We are switching a few things in a few courses in school and doing some review with the younger two to see what summer ground we need to reclaim.

Must get more creative in here....

I've got lots of ideas for the kitchen board. This makes meal planning easy. 

 I simply chose a meat (ground turkey in this case), selected a couple entrees and let them vote. I noted the two nutritarians and the herbivore abstained....but then our choices were firm. LOL

The kids went to the "Red Park" today. I waited for Michael to get home. We met another neighbor!!! Then we headed to the park to visit the kids. I had to bring Stacia back right away, which worked out well as I needed to cook dinner. Michael grabbed a few shots of the kids.

Showing Stacia how

 

Jump STACIA! 

The kids made their first "neighborhood kid contact" today. Unfortunately, they were riding bikes home from the park and some boys yelled at Zander, "Nice helmet, Lady." I guess he had Stacia's helmet on his handlebars. He is greatly offended.

My boyfriend suggested we soak in the hot tub....great idea...ease the aches of that Body Gospel stuff. ::snort:: Arielle joined us and it was sweet to visit for a bit.

This is better - I followed Stacia's lead

Good day...and tomorrow...I get to meet a friend who is driving in from NV for the day.

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

Seasonal Race?

We're spending this week establishing new routines. I'm making the kids go to bed a bit earlier and get up earlier. We're eating regular meals. I'm discussing chore rotations for our new home. We've begun a bit of school and we've all started working out again. Michael is in the middle of a base exercise...though it does seem more low key than exercises in Japan. Yes, life is settling into "normal." 

Family circle, games and connecting with friends are our evening norm. 

A few days ago, during my personal private time with Jesus, I was thinking about the seasons changing (it's only 80's now instead of the triple digits of earlier weeks).  As I sat on the patio there was even a nice WIND...it felt like fall.  As I continued to think and pray I sensed  the season changing spiritually for us, as well.  God is doing something new in our family (and I didn't sense it was just for the 6 of us in CA)....I want to be alert and watchful. I want to join Him in the new season and not assume the new season will  look like past seasons. I also believe there will be a fresh wind of His spirit blowing through our midst.   One thing I know beyond a shadow of doubt - He is faithful, He is good, He is God in each and every season.  

A friend sent this video when I mentioned on Facebook that a new season had arrived. "I will offer thanks for what has been and what's to come." Beautiful song. 

Of course, those who know me are going to laugh right out loud at the next sentence. I began to wonder if "spiritual seasons" are even Biblical. Possibly, a better analogy would be our faith life is a "race."  I came up with many passages to support this line of thinking. Many. It fits my personality better. I like the analogy...run to win. I get it.   I'm still contemplating...maybe it's a "seasonal race." What are your thoughts? 

I am laughing at how God keeps putting verses in my path about "seasons." I seriously think He likes to play this sort of "game" with me.  Is that heretical?  In any event there is Ecclesiastics which was quoted in a FICTION book I'm reading.  There was a verse yesterday talking about showers of blessings and showers in their seasons (Ezek 34:26).

ginnerobot via photopin cc

I'm reading the Bible chronologically this year and today read  from Zechariah. Zech. 10:1 says, "Ask the Lord for rain..." It jumped off the page. Really, God? Ask for RAIN? I dislike rain. I love the sun. I kept reading...and my mind kept going back to "rain."

I read four more chapters. Did I mention I dislike rain?

"Ask the Lord for rain...."

It IS a new season and I suppose you do have to have rain to get rainbows. I did learn two years ago to Dance in the Rain.  I don't see how rain can be NEW really...have had a lot of rain in the past few years....

 "Ask the Lord for rain..."

It would be o.k. to dance a bit longer in the rain. Well, o.k. I'll ask the Lord for rain when I'm done reading.

And then another nugget in Zech 14:17. Those who refuse to worship the King of Kings, the Lord of Hosts, will not receive rain.

I prayed. I listened. I realized rain doesn't always signify "storms" and "trials."  It brings new life. It nurtures seeds which have been planted in past seasons.  I also recognized God was illuminating obscure phrases and I needed to listen. I began to sense He was speaking to me about seasons again.... a season of refreshing and blessing; not just faith strengthening trials.  I did a few Word Studies (because I always want to be rooted in the Word) and there it is......

Rain - #4306 matar - watering the earth in season, blessing from God (Deut 11:14,17; I Kings 8:35,36), replenishing the earth, refreshing for God's people (Deut 32:2, Job 29:23), can also refer to hardship where God is our refuge from the storm (dancing in the rain - my note).

A season of replenishing, refreshing, watering.....seeds continuing to germinate and sprout.....and if the rain gets overwhelming -  because too much blessing can feel like a storm...and sometimes blessings  present themselves as trials. I'll keep dancing. He's my refuge in the storm.

But those who refuse to worship - to surrender, to bow before their superior, to humbly beseech the King will not receive the rain (Zech 14:17).

Worship and rain....

I'm asking the Lord for rain in this new season. I'm asking for myself, my kids, my husband, our extended families....refreshing times of replenishment...and if we face storms....I'm believing He's our refuge and will give us the trust to continue dancing in the rain...as we continuously live a life of worship.

Just some thoughts I'm having....

 (Worship def based on #7812 Shachah)

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~

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

Glass Beach - Fort Bragg, CA

Glass Beach was mentioned when we researched the closest beach to Beale AFB.  

This area used to be owned by the Union Lumber Company. Fort Bragg residents used the site as a landfill It was routine in the early 20th century to simply drive up and toss your trash over the cliffs. The dumping was stopped in 1967. Over time the ocean has done what the ocean will do.  It is interesting to find bits of old cars, spark plugs etc embedded in the rocks....and the glass? Its turned into SEA GLASS. 

We  set out to find this spot. We overshot the beach on our way through town. I began asking others at the Ward Ave Beach how to get to the Glass Beach....Coming from Beale....driving through Fort Bragg on the main street you  turn LEFT at Denny's. There are SMALL signs that say "glass beach." Drive down to the end of the road and you'll see a parking lot. This is before the entrance to  MacKerricher State Park. You can also park along the streets. You are NOT supposed to collect sea glass (or wildflowers etc) on State property.  

We knew, from reading tips on Trip Adviser, if you go straight ahead or to the right you may be  disappointed when you don't find a beach covered with sea glass. This seems to be where most stop. Still glass to be found...but...nothing like the treasures which await.

 The reviews said to go left, the climb down is steeper but the beach is COVERED in glass. This was taken right before I sat down and slid. ::snort::

 Once you master the steep, slightly uncomfortable climb down you discover a beach that IS covered with glass....that is not sand people. Fine, smooth glass....mostly white, brown and green. We did see a few slivers of cobalt blue. No reds.

 

My mind went directly to a new entry for "That'll preach." Most were content to stay where it was comfortable and complain the treasures weren't as easily reached or abundant as they expected. Those who went further found treasure of all hues. See? That'll Preach. I win for the day!

My sea glass hunting partner was ecstatic! She kept saying,
"It's much easier to find sea glass in CA than Japan." 

 Reviews also said if you go far enough left you are no longer on state land and you can collect sea glass. We have plenty of sea glass and found no new colors to tempt us. These pieces, for the most part, are much smaller than the ones we find in Japan.  It WAS incredibly fun to see this spot.

Just laying there...about 80 - 90% glass

Why can't you collect sea glass? It seems folks have been hauling buckets and coolers of glass out. Over time that has depleted the glass on the easiest to reach beaches. This is a huge tourist attraction for the area. The glass will eventually be gone, or ground to sand and then what? Are you ready - evidently there is a movement afoot to "seed" the land with more trash  glass. We found this ironic. 

It was unsettling to see folks  ignore the signs and fill water bottles, buckets and pockets with glass. Some did it on the sly...some were very open. "Mom, can I get two more pieces of glass?" I guess most don't realize you can simply drive off state land, take your chances and by George, you may find a piece you can legally keep...After all the ocean doesn't KNOW this glass must be washed back on this beach....we DID see a piece on another beach. 

Right at the water's edge....BEAUTIFUL! 

Personally, collecting sea glass here is a lot like fishing in a farmed pond. We'll keep looking to find our random pieces of sea glass on "normal" beaches...but this was interesting to see and the view was beautiful....we were filthy after our climb down and back up. 

We plan to visit this area again. We will probably take visitors if they promise not to steal glass....and we'll go search for glass where you CAN take it home. ::snort:: 

One last random shot caught by our fearless photographer...in our climbs we came to this spot. I immediately wondered if I could fit through this opening...um..there is NO way I would have fit through this spot a year ago. I hesitated. I told Michael what I was thinking, he laughed and told me to do it....I did....even with my 5 lbs of pcs gain... Easy money...viva la freedom.

At THIS point I was happy I wasn't in beach attire

Do I love sea glass? YES. I've collected it, spoke about it, made jewelry with it, written about it. Our Japanese packers couldn't BELIEVE I was MOVING glass floats and jars of SEA GLASS to America....but I did. This was a fun outing...one I'm very glad we did.

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

Playing at Fort Bragg, CA

We have been working HARD and decided today was the day we WOULD go play. We researched the closest beach to Beale and four hours later found ourselves at Ward Ave Access Beach. 

This trip has cemented Yuuki's status as our family's "best" back seat driver. ::snort:: 

No, she wasn't licking his neck 

She was getting as close to the driver as she could 

The drive was an adventure in itself. A friend shared this quote from Wallace Stegner. He said to appreciate the West, "You have to get over the color green; you have to quit associating beauty with gardens and lawns; you have to get used to an inhuman scale."  I thought of this quote as we drove through the Mojave and I thought of it again today as we drove through diverse beauty. Farmland, golden hills, redwoods and fir and the beach...all in one four our drive. 

We headed to MacKerricher State Park, as Trip Advisor seemed to say that was the launching pad to find Glass Beach (it wasn't - separate post on glass beach). The park was totally full and they wouldn't even let us drive through to check out the park...but they did tell us how to get to Ward Ave Beach Access....and part of that is also State land.  They also gave us a list of camping sites which will accommodate our trailer.  I'm glad we explored this beach.

Initial thoughts: It's not as cold at a CA beach as it often is at a Japanese Beach. It is CERTAINLY warmer here than Florence or Crescent City.  The beaches are more crowded in CA than in Japan. The beaches are free of trash in CA. There are many more posted rules for conduct on the beaches in CA - but most people seem to ignore the rules. We didn't.  We spent a bit of time individually and corporately marveling we were on the other side of the Pacific...right across that ocean is Misawa.

All the signs about this and that rule are a bit unnerving....to be fair there may have been tons of prohibitions in Japan we just couldn't read the signs. ::grin:: 

We had a great day - a long day - 8 hours of driving for 4 hours of fun - but we're used to this from our Japanese explorations. 

We dressed to visit the Japanese or Oregon Beach; though the kids were able to scale down.   ::snort::

The colors are spectacular....blues, reds, yellows, green, white....

The girls reached the conclusion that horse poop must be easier to pick up than dog poop - thus the signs. I explained horses are less likely to attack small animals or people? Not sure my reasoning was sound, but it satisfied their desire for justice for Yuuki. 

It was fun to watch a colony of seals...and we saw some swimming around Glass Beach as well. 

SQUIRREL - Our family Mascot. ::snort:: 

Michael enjoyed taking a few shots of  the kids 

Arielle -  16 yo Junior

Zander - 11 yo 5th grader

Nolan - 14 yo Freshman

Stacia - 8 yo 3rd grader

We all look forward to more time in Fort Bragg. Some are intrigued by camping and hiking, exploring dunes, and watching for wildlife....I must admit I want to explore Main Street. ::wink::  

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

...And it STILL Echoes!

Day 2 of our 4 day weekend.....Michael and Nolan worked all day....they began here....

I love this wall grouping...so glad we went Asian in our Living Room

 They also hung a mirror, stained glass window, and a couple of other photos in the living room. Yes, Michael DOES fix all the nail holes each time we move.

Here is the main wall in our room...some of our favorite lighthouses. We'll have to find a couple more in CA.

I went with an onsen theme in the master bathroom....I have another photo coming which I'll hang in here too.  I also have a collage of 4 4x6 photos to hang...but I discovered one of the panes was missing it's glass and I need to return it.

A closer look...these make me smile. I'm glad Mary and Becky were so patient as I took photos.  I really like these new-fangled floating mat frames....they'll match any house we move to in the future. LOL  If any of my onsen buddies want their own onsen photo let me know which one and I'll email you the file.

 This photo inadvertently has a couple of folks in it...it's our new family past time to search to see how many we can find. ::snort::

I handled these instructions out at one of our PWOC retreats. It makes me smile with many happy memories when I see these.

IT STILL ECHOES! We don't have a single thing to add to the room.......and it still echoes. ::snort::  The kids love to demonstrate. If you visit, be sure to ask.

As we worked we realized this is not a child proof home. Our baby is eight...but I always have lots of young moms over....so I need to think this through. The kids told me they always keep the little ones so busy it won't be a problem. As I think back over mentor group and various ones who've visited...this is true.....hmmmm.

We will either play tomorrow or try to find a car. We really need a car. The kids and I are getting cabin fever. I know we're spoiled. I think we'll feel much more "at home" when we can begin to explore and go places during the day. There isn't a bus that comes out to our town - at least not one I've discovered. I suppose we could hitch hike. ::snort::

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

Progress.....

We woke sad not to be going to Crescent City, but determined to choose joy. With four days to focus, we decided to FINISH the house before Tuesday. Surprised? ::wink::

The day began slow...all slept in...except me. I opted for an early morning hot tub session with Jesus. I discovered the hot tub feels much more like an onsen if you turn off the jets....much more peaceful.   Michael turned the heat up last night and it was awesome this a.m. Steam rising....birds chirping.

When all got up - we worked.  Michael and Nolan hung the blinds in the study. The rest of us then got the table and copy machine in place. We also moved the patio stuff from the front of the house to the back...and moved the garden cart back out of the living room to the patio. LOL

 They kept working in the living room while the younger two and I unpacked the workshop area.

I discovered I could order photos online and pick them up at Sam's...so I edited a "few" photos and ordered. Michael and Nolan hung the black out curtain in the dining room.

This house has way more walls than our other homes. We began to consider what to do....I moved all the lodge/pine stuff to the family room. We now have two living areas and I had a few Asian things so we went with an Asian theme (Japan, Philippines, Korea) in the living room....we realized we needed MORE photos for that room. I asked a couple of friends about ordering prints from them and found a few. Michael suggested I look through OUR photos. We DID take some great photos in Japan.

We took a break and went out for dinner at Home Town Buffet...um....every time we go there we are hit anew with how strange Americans can truly be. One note to American women in general...If it doesn't ZIP - don't wear it....and even if it it does zip - it may not fit!

With our tummies full we headed over to Sam's to pick up photos, made a quick run through Lowes and then on to Walmart for frames.....The kids and Michael found a couple of movies in the cheap bin. We put one on and Arielle and I set to work framing photos....

Photos for the living room 

  The Master Suite has to be at least 500 square feet....we have had a beach/lighthouse theme in our room for years.....we kept that....but for the ginormous bathroom I wanted to go with an onsen theme. I found three onsen photos in our files..and the instructions I had printed about using an onsen at a PWOC retreat.

The wall in our sleeping area  is BIG and Michael suggested I print up the lighthouses we liked in Japan....

Tomorrow, we'll hang photos. 

We'd appreciate your prayers as we go car shopping this weekend. 

Personal note - the greeter lady at Sam's recognized me. The check out clerk at Lowes remembered Michael. We ran into a friend from PWOC a couple of times tonight. The waiter was SURE he knew us - he didn't. ::snort:: BUT it is fun to be running into people we know...or who at least recognize us. THAT'S been hard...big box stores where no one really cares if you are there are not....over neighborhood markets. 

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