Moving - AGAIN?

Got your attention didn't I?  ::snort:: Moving is a way of life in the military. Moving offices AGAIN after two months on station seems a bit over-achieving.

While the younger two went to the home school room and I went to PWOC Bible Study, the older two took a break from school to help Michael move his office down the hall.

From no closets to three closets - ah the wealth! 

Dilbert Break 

I enjoyed having the older ones on base with us this week. They really like having the house quiet to get a lot of school done on Wednesday morning. Michael and I are appreciative of their willingness to help Michael move his office - QUICKLY....there's an inspection to prepare for.

We redeemed the afternoon with a bit of school. Arielle is less than thrilled to be doing a Biology lab with Nolan this year....but I told her when she got out of it in Japan that we WOULD make it up later.

The photo cracks me up - it's classic and stereotypical as well! I cheered her up by explaining she'll love it when we get around dissecting things. ::snort::

 Ah - this is better.....

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

We ARE the People of Walmart

Five trips to Walmart - three weeks of waiting -  and we got the call to come pick up Nolan's meds.  I enlisted the girls for this quick trip. 

"Staying Alive, staying alive..." 

I was back in the decade. 

I began to hum  - and  then sing along. 

"Ah, ah, ah, ah...staying ALIIIIIIIIvvveee..."

I glanced up and Stacia was going through her "program" - right there in the aisle. 

It looked like fun.

I joined her. 

We twirled, we bopped, we boogied. 

I thought Arielle would join us. 

I glanced up and she was red and looking down at the wheels of the cart. 

I told her no one was watching.

She informed me they WERE watching. She told me there are security cameras. She told me ::gasp::

::snort::  "Years from now you'll be a mother daughter special on the People of Walmart." ::snort::

She couldn't shame us. We laughed harder and harder.

She didn't join us.

She told us on the way home she saw the exact moment when the idea of dancing entered my mind and she tried to distract me, but wasn't fast enough. I laughed until I cried again.

It was needed.

I wholeheartedly endorse doing something off the wall once in awhile  - especially if you have a young people-er in your family mix.

It made me smile and remember Craig...and this photo....and high school years in Bislig.

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

Meteor Mondays

I dreamed last night of a little attachment to the Bosch which I'd forgot I had. The Bosch French Fry Disc. I used it all the time in TX where we ran a produce co-op and had tons of potatoes.....I never used it in Japan - where Gold Yukons were really worth their price in gold. I dreamed about making oven fries...and tonight we had both potato and sweet potato oven fries.  It's a good Monday.

Family circle reminded us to "stay alert" and we had a nice talk about what it looks like to live with a sense of expectancy....then.....

We headed to the hot tub to watch meteors....yep....we love Mondays.

Now, I'm grabbing a cuppa sleepy time tea.

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

Reconnecting!

We last saw Hous, Tami and kids eight years ago. We were stationed together at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Both families have nine children - both families now have four children at home. It was fun to meet up with them again as they travel to their new assignment at Maxwell with Officer's Christian Fellowship.  We chatted briefly at chapel and then had them over for dinner, ultimate Frisbee, tag, ice cream and lots of talking!! 

Some of us

Richard and Zander opted to eat outside

Our older children have missed having youth to visit with....this was a blessing! Everyone had a great time - though they really didn't remember each other from eight years ago.

Guess what? The Waring girls showed me how to use the timer on my camera! Here's a photo of all twelve of us! Even Yuuki cooperated!

Richard (front) was a baby & I was pregnant with Stacia (front)
last time we were together

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

Japanese Class

Our  high school students wanted to take more years of Japanese. They'd already worked through Pimsleur. Arielle wanted to be "fluent." Nolan was game to give it a shot too.  I began to look for programs.

I found some sites which would work for the younger two. Finally, I called Ryu and Kim. I went to college with Kim. We reconnected again in Tokyo. Ryu, Kim and Jun have since immigrated to America. Kim teaches English to Japanese students. I wondered....would she be willing to teach these two.

Ryu will teach them! He's the native Japanese speaker in their home.  Kim purchased some books for the kids in Japan, a friend of hers brought them over....and they're off.

Ah - the wonder of Web Ex.  They'll meet weekly via the Internet. I promised Akikosan we'd not forget our Japanese. I think it's a promise we can keep.

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

Ending a Week

We re-discovered Papa Murphy's (Thanks Rachel). Much cheaper than Neighborhood Pizza and yummy too. Certainly quicker than making my own.

We've visited a few families at a park. We've had a gentlemen over to our home for a very casual dinner. We've hosted my parents. Tonight, was our first family guest for dinner...I'm not sure pizza and s'mores count...but we had fun! 

Ah, Arielle has missed her kids....I think I see the start of a new batch of kids....this little one was excited to come to "Arielle's House."

Movies, pizza, s'more, exploring new friendships - a great way to end a week!

Pssst - there's been some concern that I decorated without an eye to young guests. Wasn't a problem at all - we keep em busy at our home. LOL 

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

All About Juggling

This was an interesting week of school. I have no clue HOW but we got a full week of school completed. 

It's all about juggling! 

Tuesday was snatched away with a long doctor's appointment. 

Wed was PWOC and more attempts at labs. 

Thursday was finally success with 7 vials drawn.....and great fun with the lab tech. I discerned that the furloughed civilian phlebotomists are usually the ones who draw the "big ones." He did fine. I talked him through it. LOL 

I had a migraine for three days of the week - and kept going until Thursday afternoon as I've not had a knock down migraine for 14 months and I didn't really get what was going on. 

By the grace of God the children kept moving on their independent work. I found snatches of times when my eyes focused enough to work on couch school. LOL 

Here are a few quick glimpses of the week: 

We continue studying the Middle Ages.  We finished King Arthur, read a few more biographies in Famous Men of the Middle Ages, focused on the lifestyle during the period and Charlemagne. 

The younger two are learning a variety of magic tricks and how to juggle. This will allow them to be period entertainers at the Medieval Feast we may throw....sometime....before we move past this period. LOL  It didn't take long before they grabbed costumes.  I let Stacia use scarves instead of rolled up socks - easier. 

We also discussed Coat of Arms and the younger were asked to create one....they both did more than one....but we laminated them and have bookmarks. (They do know their last name). 

Stacia's shows Gherkins and the cross. Zander's  has seven stars for each Gherkin, six jewels for each of us living at home (an extra for God) and a tree symbolizing the faith of the family. He informs me the scratchings on the left are his Japanese name????? All in all I was impressed at how well they picked out key features of what is important to our family. Way to go! 

The older two spent the week studying Charlemagne and reading about Roland in lit. I think Arielle is enjoying Movies as Lit more than her Lit of the Middle Ages.....

Arielle finished an application for a summer internship - and now we wait. 

We are moving into weekend mode. Nolan and I drove over to Papa Murphy's for dinner. That gave us just enough time for our Rhetoric discussions..... all in all a good week of school by and through  the GRACE of God. 

The migraine is easing up. 

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