Driving Adventures

WOW! Motorcyclists are allowed to pass between two stopped cars. I wonder if they are allowed to pass between moving cars in CA? I had it happen this week. Michael reports that today, while Arielle was driving -and the lane next to them was CLEAR- a motorcyclist passed in THEIR lane. Imagine passing in the SAME lane a 15 pass is occupying with a student driver. Crazy Scary! 

What in the world is our garbage can doing in the road? Michael took time today to teach Arielle how to parallel park a 15 pass van! I don't even know how to do that, yet. 

Just get it between the cans....

She did it! 

Choosing Joy!

©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

That Balloon

As previously noted, we've been amazed and fascinated by  the lifespan of my birthday balloon (Jan 24). It was still up on the boys birthday in February. 

Michael started a contest. We all guessed when the balloon would come down - the day the ribbon would touch the floor. Stacia guessed way after all of us - March 26th or 28th....and it was still up. The top of the balloon has been touching the ceiling, but we began to see movement last night. 

This morning the ribbon was touching the floor. It's a good thing he thought to define so carefully, as someone DID try to get us to wait until it was on totally deflate. 

I don't think we've EVER had a balloon last 2 1/2 months. Stacia tried to get it to go back up. Her new guess had been Easter. She said it had to land on a Holiday.

Careful checking showed Nolan had guessed yesterday and was the closest. 

The kids didn't know there wouldd be a prize. He was happy. 

In other news, I seem to have the flu. I put off admitting it until I began actually heaving....so here I am....the rest went to chapel, had lunch, shopped for a grill so we can have a chapel wide BBQ next weekend, went to see Captain America and practiced driving.  I laid around all day - alone. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Weather Stations and New Friends

Before we moved to Beale I had found a home school Facebook group for Beale. I joined. It's mostly an online discussion group.

One of the members of that group created another Facebook group for school age field trips. We've been averaging about one trip a month.

Today we visited the base Weather Station. We were told we could take photos. I had left my camera at home - but I had my phone. This is becoming far too common.  I don't have permission to share other kids' photos....so this will be the only photo I post.

The briefing was great.  I appreciated all the time the Msgt put into preparing for us. It was interesting to see how so much is monitored from this one room. They monitor weather around the world in support of our flying missions.

We discovered Stacia can blow 18.2 knots of wind and Alex can blow 14.6....though I'm sure both could do more with a bit of practice.

Our plan had been a picnic lunch and outside play after the field trip, but it was raining. We all descended on Burger King and took it over. I met one woman who is new to the area and was homeschooled as a child. She was happy to see all the kids and we had a good chat talking about homeschooling.

I ate lunch with a lady I had met today. She was alone and it was good to sit and talk. It turns out they moved here the same time we moved here.....from Japan. They were stationed at Kadena AB and we were at Misawa AB. Our kids have had the same transitions. It was fun to visit. I hope to have many more visits with Katrina. We are both in search of fun parks in the area.....maybe we'll be able to explore together.

I was able to meet another Facebook friend face to face today this afternoon. I look forward to more time spent with Britney and her children as well.

A quick trip to the commissary rounded out our day.

We've settled down for a night of Prince of Egypt - every once in a while we need to watch a Stacia flick.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

The Area

We arrived at Beale in August last year. The hills were dead golden. I repeatedly commented I was sure it would be beautiful when the hills greened up.

We waited. It didn't rain all winter. The hills stayed "golden."  It's been raining this month enough to begin to green things up - and it is BEAUTIFUL. We need to go out and take photos....I did snap these with my phone.

Rolling hills, fox, cattle, turkey - it really is a pretty base

Wildflowers are beginning to sprout in the fields. There are beautiful poppies out along the freeway. Maybe I'll go for a drive with the camera tomorrow. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

April Fool's Day

We had great plans for April's Fools Day. We planned  jokes for the Wing Chaplain and staff. A long meeting was planned and we were ready with "fake milk spills" for computers, mouses that wouldn't work, cups of water filling a room.

It was going to be epic. Then Ch. S had to go on short notice TDY and Michael was running the meeting...so we didn't move forward. The joke was on US.....Ch. S showed up after all....

Meanwhile, at home, Arielle and Nolan kids taped the faucets and waited patiently....

They were rewarded when Zander went to wash his hands.

It was such great fun they taped the faucets in the  master bedroom and waited for Michael to come home from work and wash his hands.

It was a long night but finally - at about 9:00 p.m. their patience was rewarded.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Family Life

We miss neighborhood kids. The absence of ready friends has caused us to huddle closer.....this is actually one of my favorite parts of moving. The twi-light time when you are "new," not overly busy, and not overly social. ::snort::  We've all opened ourselves to new opportunities of community.

I don't usually condone fighting - but it IS outside, nerf weapons,  away from a screen and they ARE moving. Rest assured, they have rules: No face shots, no head shots and no hitting in places where you're not supposed to hit with your hands... ??? ::snort::

No, Zander does NOT always win.....he's sometimes the fallen foe

Here she is - the warrior princess! 

Board games and family reading are favorite past times (OK - Wii, Play Station, Computer games and movies vie for attention and must be beat back). CIVILIZATION  is a game we've still not mastered. The kids spent TWO HOURS setting up the board....and then it was way past bedtime...and it was a school night....the current plan I've heard involves Nolan  reading and digesting the 30 page instruction manual and THEN they'll try again.

Give a kid a cool roll of duct tape and there's no telling what will materialize

Nolan asked for these for Christmas...and the books didn't arrive. They disappeared in the mail. I contacted the company and they sent out the complete set - again. I am looking forward to some riveting theology discussions when he's through with the books. 

Speaking of reading - caught Zander reading on his knees today. ::snort::

Spring is here. We are contemplating container gardening. We are right on schedule to finish school the last week in May. We're hoping there will be more people out and about this summer....but we didn't see them out and about last summer. ::grin::

We're content.











Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

A Soldier's Faith

Luke 7:1 - 10 - A Soldier's Faith - It is hard to pick a verse out of the context - worth the read. 

The story begins with a Roman Centurion sending Jewish leaders to ask Jesus to heal his slave. These facts alone are odd on several counts....really think about it. A Roman soldier, asking for a miracle, through Jewish leaders -  who for the most part heckle Jesus - from a Jewish Rabbi, for a servant.  Jesus upsets social/cultural  norms.

I'm struck by the different perspectives illustrated in this passage. The Jewish leaders consider this soldier "worthy" of a miracle. No where do I see Jesus setting standards of "worth" to garner His intervention. These leaders consider him worthy because he "loves us and built our synagogue."  He does good things for us (verse 4). Leaders need to beware of assigning worth based on personal relationship or  volunteerism. Our worth begins with being created in the image of God. He declares worth differently than we are apt to do. What we may not value; God values greatly. A post for another day. 

Sending others for Jesus, instead of going  himself, was NOT arrogant. He was insightful.  "I'm not worthy for you to come under my roof...I don't consider myself worthy to come to you..." (verses 6-8).

 Our soldier does not have an over-inflated ego, but neither is he wallowing in low self-esteem. He understands authority (verses 7-8).

Via Google Images

Jesus doesn't comment on the Centurion's "worth." His response is deeper. He MARVELS at this soldier's great faith (verse 9) and he heals his servant (verse 10).

I am struck by this Roman soldier's faith. What kind of faith makes Jesus marvel?

• Revealing faith (he understands Jesus)
• Convincing, authentic faith (I am not worthy)
• Trusting faith (say the word and it will happen)
• Acting faith (he built the synagogue)
• Transforming faith (Roman soldier loves and builds Israel)

This soldier's faith is a  picture of authentic faith. He saw Jesus, he recognized Jesus' authority, he submitted to Jesus' authority, and his actions were inspired by his faith - they confirmed his faith.

This faith affected every aspect of his life - every nook and cranny. I want the same. I want a revealing, convincing, trusting, acting, transforming faith. I'm fully aware faith like this is produced in a crucible (James 1). Still, I want this faith. Possessing this faith is worth everything - anything.

Do you see more in this picture of faith? Please, do share in the comments.

Faith  - Pistis - #4102 - a firm conviction producing a full acknowledgement of God's truth, personal surrender to God and His truth, conduct inspired by that surrender. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...