Normalcy - Comfort Food

We're entering this week a bit worn out.  Michael was out until 9:45  last night with a base incident...that would be an 11 hour work day on a day off. ::snort:: He's now been gone for 12 hours today....this is going to be a busy week.  The kids and I are trying to double up on school so we can go play next week. 

I was supposed to take Nolan to get labs drawn this a.m. but he woke with a headache and nauseated. I gave him water.....got some food in him and he felt fine the rest of the day. I do believe it was the lack of food which made him feel so crummy. He has an appointment tomorrow; we'll try the labs at 0730 tomorrow.

We took a giant step to normalcy when all this was hauled away from our home.  

We did a couple of hours of school and then raced across to base for a Homeschool Meet and Greet. The younger two knew many of the kids from PWOC  homeschool enrichment class. We all had an enjoyable time. We only stayed an hour as we "had" to be home for cardboard to be picked up and to receive delivery of our farm-fresh produce.  Our farm-fresh produce hasn't been delivered. I'm not sure this is going to work for us.  Missing fun to meet a driver who doesn't show is simply not cool. ::snort:: I have been given several other CSA farms to contact. I may do so. I'm still weighing if I want less ORGANIC/NON GMO produce or more produce.

Speaking of groceries...I found my marching orders for the week on the pantry door. What a hoot!  I was grateful for this after a couple more hours of schooling....I did indeed opt for number one on the list...Having the list saved brain cells.

Comfort food - Yakisoba. I wasn't the only one considering it to be comfort food. Stacia began to talk about the first time Akikosan showed us how to make Yakisoba with her first bite.

Arielle had the best comment of the night, "It's funny how one dish of food can take you back to so many places."  Yep - Akikosan, festivals, cold winter nights....love our yakisoba....and the 100 Yen store dishes too!

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

Settled?

"Are you settled?"

Via Google Images

I'm not 100% sure what that means.

Our boxes are unpacked, the house is in order, we are buying vehicles, the cupboards are full and we are starting to walk out our fall schedule.  This seems to be what people are asking.

"Yes, we're settled."

I woke up at 0500 with dreams of the children and myself saying goodbye to dear friends. Many faces paraded through dream land. My eyes were leaking and my pillow wet. (No, all moves don't hit this hard).

I don't think our hearts have completely settled, yet.

It is GOOD to have had such dear friends.

We are choosing to look for such friends here.

We are choosing joy.

We are remembering to cherish memories, people and place -  without clinging to them.

We miss family-like friends for the kids to play with every afternoon.

I miss people who know my story. I miss those who know my passions for the kingdom. I miss those who KNOW when I'll be rolling my eyes and slyly check to see if I am.  I miss friends who  know where God has granted success and failure. I miss people who know what "I can do" and what I can't.  I miss people who know my struggles. I miss those who know the demons I fight and drop all to go for a walk when I want nothing more than to consume a pan of brownies.

It IS a glorious sorrow. It is good to have loved so many, so deeply.

Ps 63:8 "My soul clings to You {God}; Your right hand upholds me."

I will cling to Him; not to a face, an experience, a group, a season, a location. I will cherish these. I will hold them fondly in heart and memory. Ah, the memories.

"Even here!"  This morning I remind myself, "Even here, His hand will lead me, and His right hand will lay hold of me {settle me in the land}".

He is still our home - in all generations. He is our dwelling place. (Ps 91:1). He graced our lives with dear friends and experiences. He will do it again - in His timing. I'm content in the wait. I'm content to sit with Him and see where He will lead. I've learned it's best to wait for Him rather than rushing to create the "norm" - or so He whispers in this season. He is leading differently in this move - that's o.k. He leads, I follow...or so it should be.

I will give thanks for the previous season. I will pray for those we love. I know how to settle my soul. Jesus is near.

"Yes, we're nearly settled."

{Note: It may be normal for me to have dreamed of loved people this morning. I spent the weekend catching up with dear friends, I went to church on Sunday and missed our Misawa Church family, Joretta preached on loving God and loving our neighbor - which makes me smile big and sweetly  reminds me of PWOC Asia Region and a season of ministry in Misawa. 

Many seem to think military families are "shallow" and move with ease from place to place. You could never say goodbye to the people and places you know and love. Many seem to think they love deeper than military families - or missionary families. I share, so you see, it hurts, its hard, we love as deeply as you do. The Shepherd, however, has called us to serve Him in service to the country we love.  We put a good face on it. We make it look easy. Some moves ARE easier than others. I would guess we are not much different than you; we simply serve in a different part of the harvest. We all live to follow His lead.}

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

Sunday's Style

Arielle wanted to try something new with Stacia's hair last night - much to Zander's glee. Stacia was labeled a "straw head." I have no clue what that really means  but Stacia took it personally.

All is forgiven this a.m. as she woke up with CURLS. Joyful shouts of, "I look like Harmony," fill our home and probably woke up Michael.

Happy Sunday.

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

Prepared for Fall

Michael and Nolan spent the day at Lake Tahoe on the PMOC's 11th annual "Advance."

The rest of us hung out at home. Arielle worked on an application for a summer internship. The younger two played games, watched movies, created all sorts of scenarios with Legos, dinosaurs and dolls. I wrote "real emails" to friends.....responses dating back to 3 July. It was good to take the time and write "letter-like emails"  to dear friends.

We also found time to put out the fall decorations.I know it's early....but we see Halloween things up and that's our signal to go fall and Thanksgiving.  I also know we are busy during the week and have been on the weekends too - this was the window I've been watching for.

 Arielle commented that something seems wrong to have scarecrows with palm trees. She may have a point.

The rest of our things went inside. I observed our decorations, which were plentiful for our Texan home, seem dwarfed at this home. Just maybe our over-abundance of Christmas decorations will be right for this house. Then they'll go away before our things are moved again. LOL

In keeping with our commitment to live frugally, I think I will use what I have rather than buy hay bales this year. I'm thinking a box with straw glued on top and front will work fine. ::snort:: Or maybe I'll just leave it with the spartan look.

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

Doing A Few Things

I've stayed on SCHEDULE with everything but blogging this week.  

It's 5:00 p.m. and I have had a quiet time, enjoyed a 3 pile walk with Stacia (not a type o), taught two children History, Lit, Science, Geography, helped two through math and one through phonics, read 40 minutes of "Fellowship of the Ring" with Zander, got one son and a husband off to a PMOC men's retreat, helped one apply for a summer internship, researched a van, had tea with three children at home, and ordered pizza in. I've NOT had a shower...but all I'm o.k. with where I'm at. The main things are done...and most days I get the shower in before 0800. 

In the past year God has truly worked into my heart lessons about doing "A Few Things Well." (Click for a good read.) Ruth says it well, 

And so, I’m choosing to live a quiet life, work (diligently) with my hands, and to strive to do a few things well. The few things that matter. The few things I’ve been given to do. The few things that count for eternity.{Snip}

I’m just picking and choosing; I’m filtering and sifting. I’m discerning and decluttering. I’m moving things up to the top, and letting others work their way down. I’m letting go of fear of missing all the excitement that’s going on out there, and attending to the mission field right here at my kitchen counter. 

We have been AMAZED  how fast AMAZON Prime arrives to our new home in CA. I discovered Subscribe and Save and have been checking prices between them and Vitacost and local stores. I can order the thing or two  I need and not have to take hours to drive to town, shop and come home. We're focused. LOL

Arielle was thrilled with Wednesday's packages

Zander races to meet the Ontrac driver each day. 

Um...glad we like the Rooibos tea - I didn't read close enough to see it was six boxes. ::snort:: These boxes have led to Stacia begging for tea time each afternoon. It's a fun habit to reinstate from decades past. 

Some strange blue eyed animal in CA? 

I realized Tuesday I need straws and clay for Science....Wed. was PWOC and Amazon guaranteed it would arrive on Thursday - it did.  Living the good life....

Stacia enjoys spending time with me. She asked to go on a walk this morning...and we added Yuuki...thus the 3 pile walk; 40 min walk. ::snort:: We spotted a 15 pass van in another part of the subdivision, complete with stick figures in the window. Stacia is sure we should take brownies to them with a note that says, "We are new to CA and have the same kind of van as you. We have nine kids. Maybe you can take a break from homeschooling and meet us at the park."  Funny thing is - I'm very tempted. ::snort:: 

I scheduled Friday for experiments, working on our science notebooks and educational games; along with our Tapestry. This worked well.

A new friend stopped by (giving the kids a most welcome break) with this helmet! It's the coolest thing. Zander is thrilled. No one will be teasing him for having a "lady's" helmet NOW....though it wasn't a lady's helmet in the first place. He LOVES it.

Glad it's Friday. Pizza's just arrived - too tired to even make any.  We're going to watch movies, eat, maybe sit in the hot tub.....not a bad first week of "doing it all."  Can you tell which page belongs to which student?

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

I Love My Life

Another fun day of  school. The younger two are really liking Famous Men of the Middle Ages and  Arabian Night Tales.  Nolan is figuring out his new High School Routine. Arielle is keeping us all in line. ::snort:: 

The older three went out of an early morning run. My knees just don't like running so I settled for a step workout....We got a kick out of Yuuki stretching with everyone at the end of working out. 

When Arielle was done stretching, Yuuki was determined to get as close to her as possible. ::snort::

I  love how well the family room is working for us. We've never had one that we could use for "family" gatherings...and I like it. We did our table school in the family room...didn't have to pick it all up at lunch time...it's the little things that make one sing. 

I pulled out the "treasure chest" which came with Sing Spell Read and Write. I've debated long and hard about "rewarding" children to learn....knowledge, pride of learning should be it's own reward...but this came along with the kit and since our youngest is eight...I better use it now or send it to the thrift store. I let her pick out trinket.....I told Zander he could pick something too.

 

Which led to this...and the gleeful observation, "I love my life." I'm not so sure Arielle loves his life. It's a gekko and she's developed a really over-the-top fear of the things. Yes, I talked to Zander. 

After lunch we rode bikes over to the purple park to meet Stephanie and her three darlings. It was GREAT to have adult conversation. Nolan rode over when he was done with school. The weather is cooling off and it was pleasant...a bit hot...but pleasant. It was nice for the kids to run off energy and fun for Moms to have adult talk. It felt like "home"  - at the park with a young mom and her kids - reminded me of my gals in Misawa. I love my life too.  All my other park photos  turned out blurry - guess this is the Arielle post.

I had just enough time to get dinner ready before Michael got home at 6:00 p.m. Brussel Sprouts, Stir fry, Pasta, Salad, Watermelon....I had no clue what some of the things were I threw in the stir fry. I tasted raw and figured if I didn't keel over it was probably good for the stir fry.  Yuuki sits right under my feet while I cook...every.night. I'm telling her here she does not like Brussel Sprouts.

When Arielle keeled over at dinner, I began to worry  maybe something WAS poisonous...but no one else keeled over.

Michael is after the birds....it's a bit ironic to read about God's wonderful, intelligent creation of BIRDS - while they fly into our windows.

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

Farm Fresh

Fresh - picked in the a.m.; delivered early afternoon! Organic. Non- GMO. $20 a week. I was won over with the flowers (though the flowers is what made me wonder about the basil as it was packaged together).

 Michael is not so impressed with the teeny, tiny squash. I ran a produce co-op. I will admit I was thinking much more produce than this, we could probably eat 4 boxes a week...BUT this is FRESH, ORGANIC and non GMO - and came right to my door. *I* didn't have to go the terminal, pick it up, sort it...hassle out the prices.....I may still look into the produce terminals around here...see if anyone is interested in a co-op because a laundry basket full of produce is more what we need.....but I'm happy to have found Reeves Farm.  I think their variety will go down as the season ends...that may be the time to look at more conventional co-ops over CSA...but I'm going to stick with this and see what happens. I can always fill in the gaps. It's certainly less of a culture shock than going to the Linda Walmart.

There are three kinds of squash I've never cooked here...butternut (blush), delicata, and patty pan...and I'm not sure what the baby ones are. ::snort:: One bite sized watermelon and one snack sized watermelon, several kinds of zucchini, Armenian cucumbers, 2 kinds of tomatoes, basil, peppers. I've no idea what to do with the peppers...anyone want some?

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