Arielle Celebrates!

We love having young adults. I think it may be my favorite age. Watching the woman of God Arielle is becoming brings us great joy. She's a wonderful gift to our family. It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming her to the family in a Great Falls, MT hospital!  Seventeen years old. She will spend the summer at a Mexican orphanage and then begin her Senior year. Amazing. 

Good choice, Arielle! 

There seems to be a theme! 

She'd been telling us she wanted books....so Michael got her this one. She was a great sport. 

Priceless! The moment she found the note telling her about her book credit at Amazon. 

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

Prep Day

VBS prep - more paws, another coat of glow in the dark paint stars, looking over script for our station...

Sermon Prep - been a busy week so most of the hours were put in (and will be put in) today. 

Service Prep - got together the PWOC promo for the ladies tomorrow.  It's pretty sad when THIS is the best photo the girls grabbed of me. ::snort:: I'm sporting what I've come to call my "California Dress." I know why they all wear them now.  Yes, I DO have a floppy hat too. 

AND  - today - is  the day we are celebrating Arielle's 17th birthday here at home with dinner of her choice, gifts and cake of her choice.  There can be NO other reason that I would heat up the oven to 375* on a day when the temps are topping 100*.  I had hoped she'd want to eat out. We will take them to their favorite restaurant - but she HAD chosen Cafe Yumm before - maybe that impacted her choice.  Regardless, she sort of made my day when she requested Vegetable Pot Pie....and then I thought I'd need to go buy some chicken to make Chicken Pot Pie for the boys but Nolan said, "No, it's o.k. we all like the Vegetable." So...not happy to have something in the oven for an hour on such a warm day - but thrilled they like something healthy. ::snort::

I made Stacia's day by making Renee's Lemonade for dinner, too.

Did I say it was warm? Turned on the AC at 3:00 when the temps inside passed 80*

The idea of Watermelon Frosteies keep these two happily scooping out a "not quite perfect" melon. The melon I bought at Trader Joe's has been declared the best of the season to this point. I guess something good will come out of driving to the dentist in Roseville this week. LOL 

I'll write more about Arielle's celebration later on tonight.

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

Friday - Unfamily Day

As most chaplains take time for Sermon Prep, (some more than others ::wink::) preaching on Sunday usually "earns" you a CTO (compensatory time off).  In other words - since you'll most likely spend time on Saturday prepping for a sermon and Sunday preaching and running a service...you are given another day off during the week (in other words you get a full day off somewhere in the week).  We discovered quickly that CTO's are not always feasible. There are always commander calls, invocations, fun runs, "mandatory fun" and the like, which cause a chaplain to have to "run in" on his CTO....and it is rare to have TWO DAYS (as  in a weekend) off in a row. ::snort:: With the current climate and manning issues in the Air Force some commands have done away with CTO's altogether.  All that say that Fridays are Michael's CTO.....but I have learned this means maybe once a month he will be with us - the rest of the Fridays he will be working  - sometimes a short day of say 9-5:00 p.m.  (as opposed to the typical day).  You can tell us to plan better - but honestly - we've tried several ways of dealing with this. I used to keep Fridays totally clear. This simply highlighted for the family that Dad was working on his CTO. We've tried to guess which Friday he may be actually able to be home - but that is often very unpredictable.  We've decided I will simply make "pencil plans" on Friday - though a few are just not penciled - like today's fun event. 

I was quite surprised to discover Wednesday that Michael was really and truly taking Friday off this week. It would be a "Family Day" - sort of. By the end of the day we were laughing and declaring his CTO to be an "Un-Family day." 

It began with my commitment to attend a Chapel Spouse function - which I WANTED to attend...and Michael had no ill feelings about me attending.  Arielle watched kids. I had lunch and sweet talks with wonderful ladies. We said farewell to a wonderful Wing Chaplain's wife as she will be very busy with wedding, retirement, packing in future weeks before her move. Arielle was possibly given the best pay and highest praise today when Lily told her, "Arielle, you're the best babysitter, I want to pay you." She then gave her a Brave sticker - which Arielle wore all day and will probably save. 

After the luncheon Arielle and I headed to the commissary - with vision of "Family Day" in a "a bit." 

We got home at 3:00 p.m.  Unbeknownst to us, Michael had spent most the day on the phone with various "chapel and staff  issues."  He had the young ones out shopping for Arielle's belated birthday celebration - but continued to be tethered to his sparkly, new, government issued iphone! ::snort:: 

Arielle and I made her a birthday cake while we waited for them to get home. 

They got home and the kids wrapped gifts. Michael fielded two more phone calls. 

We had dinner, the calls stopped, and we watched Night at the Museum and declared it a very nice Un-Family Day after all....but we still haven't made it to the Sacramento Zoo.

Thankful to have married a man who "only works on Sundays." ::snort::

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

A Day

I dreaded today! I hate dental work. I think it's genetics. ::snort:: 

Today Stacia had her first cavity filled. The doc came out and said it was, "Hard." Stacia seems to think it was, "Odd, but o.k." They promise it will be quicker next time - one less cavity and smaller. Arielle had 4 filled today. 

We had to redeem the day. We WERE in Roseville - a place I've only driven to once before. We told the phone to show us the way to Trader Joe's. It sent us on 80 towards Sac first - 8 or 10 lanes of traffic. I later found out Galleria turns into the street TJ's is on  and I could avoid 80. I'll do that in the future.  A really nice eccentric lady INSISTED on taking our photo. She followed by requesting I take a few of her and her friend. ::grin:: 

Sherry and I went to Trader Joe's when I was in Eugene and I knew I had to find one "nearby". This one is about 45 minutes from home.  Several had sent me goodies from Trader Joe's when we were in Japan.  This was HEAVENLY. So much to see and try...and much of the produce was cheaper than the commissary.

It was lunch time when we left TJ's but the girls couldn't eat. Stacia's jaw was still swollen. Arielle suggested the phone find Chick Fil A for us. She said she NEEDED a shake and ice cream would feel good on their jaws. How could I resist her logic? Chick Fil A is not vegan friendly. ::snort::

These two see the dentist again next Wed.  Arielle will finish up when she returns from Mexico. There just isn't time before she leaves.  Can you BELIEVE that parking lot? I've never been to a stand alone Chick Fil A and hadn't a clue the parking lot would be like a concert! We parked in a lot over and walked. They WERE very efficient, friendly and fast...not quite as good as San Angelo's Mall unit - but good. ::wink::

The girls were happy with the shakes...and I think they did help.

We tried the back roads coming home. It didn't save us any time, but it was nice to get away from the traffic. Actually, driving single file on the "high way" may have taken longer
today than the back roads.

The boys were happy to help us unload groceries.

Pickles without dye or corn syrup, cheap CLIF bars

 Something for everyone......

Vegan entrees.....

Easy options for when we don't want another salad or veggie burger and the others are grilling....we tried the Aloo Chaat tonight. Good - but SPICY. Cleared our sinus' and we hadn't realized we were stuffed up.

We spent the afternoon working on a couple of PWOC projects and then VBS projects. Arielle and I painted stars. They DO glow in the dark - but they aren't very vivid when the lights are on. I guess we should have painted them a bright color and then used the glow paint? I don't know. It didn't say to.  We plan to give them some more paint tomorrow.

We also researched animal paw prints. We have 30 -  8 x 11 sheets of duct tape and plan to make a variety of prints to use at my station....I'm looking for prints that don't have a zillion shapes to cut out by hand. LOL

Nolan grilled for us tonight. Michael is working until 2300.

While the kids cleaned up I visited with Bre.

We settled and watched Frozen...and during the movie I went through my highlights of "Rhinestone Jesus" and "Not a Fan" to determine if there are some I might want to share on Facebook before I move the books to, "The Cloud." 



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

May's Reading List

I didn't read as many books in May as I did in March or April - but I enjoyed each one and plan to read a couple of them again.  I'm still trying to make time to relax AND make time to stretch my brain a bit. 

Rhinestone Jesus: Saying Yes to God When Sparkly, Safe Faith is No Longer Enough by Kristen Welch

I began reading Kristen's blog, We Are That Family, a few years ago. I enjoy her focus on marriage and her very practical faith.   "Rhinestone Jesus is the story of one woman's journey from comfortably living a safe, "good-girl" faith that didn't cost much, to realizing that God was daring her to say yes to a bolder, more authentic, more dangers way. This story of spiritual adventure throws the doors wide open for any woman who's ever though of herself as "just a mom." Kristen will inspire and empower you to say yes to God right where you are - and stand amazed at how your life will shine."

Kristen's honesty touched  my heart again and again.  This is not a "Praise Me, Praise Me" book....it's a book about what GOD can do when normal people surrender to Him - when they really mean their "yes."  It is a book about pursuing God by pursing the God-sized dream He has birthed in you.  It's about dreaming again - something we are starting to do more and more as our season of ministry in the Air Force nears its end.  Here were a few of my favorite quotes:

"Your dream should terrify you. If it doesn't, do you really need God to accomplish it?" page 125

"If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. If you've never been overwhelmed by the impossibility of your plans, than your God is too small." Mark Batterson

"The pursuit of any God-sized dream is ultimately the pursuit of the One who placed it within you. It's like a homing beacon for your heart. Holley Gerth

Stress Test by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.
Another terrific read. I enjoy suspense and mystery. I enjoy medical thrillers. This one had a bit of all.

Dr. Matt Newman is kidnapped as he leaves the hospital early one a.m. NONE of the events which follow make sense to him, but eventually, all the details come clear.  Brain Candy.  I will continue to look for more from this author.

A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers

I've not read many of Francine's books. I've liked  what I've read - all at the recommendation of another; The Last Sin Eater and The Atonement child.  Mindee reminded me of this author - and I found this on my ipad - so I read it.

This was a really interesting read. I enjoyed how she made the life lessons of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary come alive. I didn't agree 100% with all her observations....but I enjoyed the read. Recommended.

Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the World by Tom Davis

I am not familiar with Tom Davis or his non-profit ministry. If I had read some of his non-fiction work, I'm sure I would have been prepared for the emotional impact of this book. Wow! 

"Stuart is given a one last chance to redeem his career: A make-or-break assignment covering the AIDS crisis in a small African country. It is here that Suart meets Adanna, a young orphan fighting for survival in a community ravaged by tragedy and disease. But in the face of overwhelming odds, Adanna finds hope in a special dream, where she is visited by an illuminated man and given a precious gift." 

When Stuart and Adanna meet - both lives are changed.  Tom's writing is raw and rough and vivid. It makes the poverty and disease in Africa "visible." This is a book that will stay with me - and I don't think it's only because I spent early years in Liberia, West Africa.  I plan to do some research into Tom Davis and read some more of his works. 

Not a Fan:Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman. 

This book is fantastic! I didn't learn a lot of new things - but that is only because Jesus has been speaking this message to me clearly for two years. In fact the gospels screamed at me as I began studying through the New Testament this year. 

Are you a fan of Jesus? Or are you His follower?  I wouldn't answer too quickly. This book is worth the read. You may find, when you honestly examine your heart, there are areas where you are a fan and not a follower.  Kyle leads us to Scripture where Jesus clearly defines the relationship He desires with each of us. 

"Not a Fan," calls you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple. With frankness sprinkled with humor, Idleman invites you to live the way Jesus lived, love the way He loved, pray the way He prayed, and never give up living for the One who gave His all for you." 

"Not a Fan is a book that every Christian should read and regularly re-read. I started to read the manuscript and could not stop until I finished. This is a NOW message for the Church and my hope is that every believer who reads this will become an authentic follower of Christ." Christine Caine - Founder, The A21 Campaign and author of Undaunted

I can see myself reading this in a mentor group. It would make a great book discussion. It could be used in Sunday School or possibly a small group or summer study.  I'm not sure there is a study guide, but there are several editions. It is a great book to give to new believers. I think the topics could easily be expanded to a discipleship class with the right teacher (word chosen deliberately over facilitator).

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

Summer Evenings

Happy 27th Birthday to Krista.  Watching the path God is leading her down continues to bring joy and awe. I can't wait to hear more about her summer adventure. We love this adventurous, fun, courageous woman of God. 

Our day began early with an adventure in Linda and Olivehurst. Arielle needed to be dropped off at 0815 to babysit. Mapquest isn't much help if you get the town wrong. ::snort::  Stacia and I actually did enjoy seeing new territory as we found our way back home. 

I had a 3 hour long financial meeting today. I followed it with a trip to the commissary. 

In the interest of full disclosure, the family incident I briefly alluded to in an earlier post, coupled with the solitary drive home, led to me having a 2 yo style temper tantrum with God...followed by tears. I arrived home spent and ready to veg out. I also felt peace. I learned long ago God can handle my emotions better than I can and I don't play hiding games with Him. He's o.k. with my emotions. David had lots of emotions. I ended up in a good place of surrender and praise. 

We just WERE tonight. Enjoyed being together in the cooler evening....

The highlight of the day was a Birthday Skype with Krista...then we added BreZaak....

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

Summer Sight

This is what happens on a "Down Day" around here. 

What are they doing? Sumo wrestling!  The rug does scream for sumo! ::snort:: 

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