Thoughts of This and That

Another very full week.  My volunteer log shows 25 - 30 hours a week - which explains why I KNOW I'm busy, but don't have a whole lot to say. LOL  This week has had school, staff meetings, retreat team meetings, one on one meetings with gals, Bible studies, skypes...a good week. 

Arielle was ill in Mexico but is on the mend. 

Myself and Margaret

One of the certain highlights of the week was the trip Stacia and I made to Sacramento.  There is a very special group of ladies - a former PWOC group - which meets up there. McClellan Air Force Base chapel closed in  December 2000.  This group of continued to meet weekly for Bible study in the BX conference room at McClellan. A commissary, BX, VA Clinic and a museum are still open.  Can you imagine? The base closed 14 years ago and this group of PWOC women continue to meet! Some of them have been together for 21 years. Margaret, one of the gals, attends Beale AFB Chapel. She and her husband, Ron, drive up here each week and have since 2000.  A meaningful side note, is their son recently died and was buried in the same national cemetery as Dad G. They took photos of Dad G's grave for us.  THIS Margaret invited me to come to lunch with their PWOC group. I found my way up and had a great time listening to the chatter of long-term friendship.  

Roberta, their last PWOC leader, had some fun tips for me. She asked how many women we have at our group and I responded and added, "But we run 50 - 60 kids too." She responded, "We don't have to worry about children's ministry any longer." ::snort::  At one point Margaret  pulled out the bulletin from the last volunteer appreciation dinner at McClellan.  It was fun to see one of our friends, Brian Mc., was the chaplain that "turned out the lights at McClellan."

Today, I ran Stacia to a local VBS. There is something to be said for the church in the middle of a neighborhood being a light to that neighborhood. Our area is depressed. It's easy to forget as we live in a nice subdivision....but are surrounded by quite a bit of poverty. A local church can a difference in a community.  I applaud those who labor in their neighborhoods.

We picked up PWOC t-shirts today!  Found a wonderful new pizza place - run by Christians....Straw Hat Pizza. Well - the girls loved it - the boys still like Papa Murphy's meat glutton supreme. ::snort:: 

And now the Avengers are playing on the big screen. LOL 

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

Grand Central Station

It was grand central station around here today.

We were determined to make lots of progress in summer school.

The dog began howling.....David and Kyle (Land Lord) were here. They mowed, edged, pruned trees....looks nice.

As I was showing Kyle some fraying strings on mini-blinds...the dog howled again. The Kenmore repairman was here. Yay - for washers that agitate!

Stacia and I  had just enough time to rush to Walmart to price things for the Fall Rally. SHE had an ulterior motive. She bought some fabric squares and batting WITH HER OWN MONEY and set to work making gifts for four special girls in her life.

While Stacia worked, the boys occupied themselves upstairs....and I crunched more numbers and filled out four more funds' requests....we're nearing the end of THIS fiscal year and the kick off of NEXT year of ministry.  Really working hard to have my PWOC paperwork in order. ::grin::

Meanwhile....several re-threading episodes and a broken needle later....Stacia was done with four darling pillows for her friends. Not a bad afternoon project. I think I need to find some easy projects she and I can learn together. Shoot - I learned how to put a new needle on the thing today. We're on a roll. I may even get the waistband on that skirt before the girls come home. ::wink::

Hmmmmm.....not sure what else I did...but it was a busy day....and I'm ready to call it a day.

We were sad to hear that Arielle isn't feeling well....we tried to Skype with the kids but everyone is out and about.

Being a slow news day we checked out Izaak's observation....if you google "giant Mexican head lice" look whose photo shows up - bottom middle. ::snort::

I'll end on that disturbing note! 

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

Peach Festival 2014

This weekend is the Peach Festival in our area.  We went to check it out. Stacia was SURE it would be like a Japanese Festival, no matter how many times I told her it wouldn't be.  We had fun nonetheless.....it was much hotter than in Northern Japan.  It was cooler today - only 95*. We're not scheduled to hit triple digits again until Friday.....it did hit 112* last week or so I was told.  

There were no parades...and the Ferris Wheel was MUCH faster than the one at the Botanical Park in Hachinohe. 

I warned them this ride would be wild....

Upside down...

  

They all did great at this - but Michael won  - and I got a cute little elephant like stuffed animal! 

There was very little food on a stick. No Yakisoba.....but we DID let the kids try something we've not eaten in two decades...a funnel cake.  Alex didn't like it. The rest did. 

We also bought some YUMMY peaches and nectarines.  Michael has been upstairs prepping for tomorrow, the kids are playing Catan. I think I'll go read a bit. 

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

Sibling Skypes

Forgot to add these two photos from our morning tour of  the compound (location sketchy on purpose). 

Yuuki heard Arielle's voice and pointed and began wagging her tail as she figured out where it was coming from....

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

Busy Week - both Here and Over There

This week has been a whirlwind and I'm happy it's Friday. 

We've continued with summer school. 

Rachel & Rebekah - two of the gals on our leadership team 

Monday - trip to radiology and a PWOC LiFT (Ladies in Fellowship Together). Our focus this month was the persecuted church and our responsibility to pray for it. I enjoyed the chance to visit with ladies I don't see often....and I also enjoyed the focus. 

April shares some statistics

Tuesday - I shopped. I came home and washed, chopped, arranged and bagged a LOT of fruit.  I was glad fruit was on sale. I also made double recipes of my new favorite Quinoa Avocado Salad and Lentil Mushroom Spinach Roulade.  Paulette bought a lot of veggies and was similarly busy. Her veggies and giant green salad, joined with my fare and we had lots of  vegan options for Wednesday's retirement ceremony as requested. 

Wednesday - Ch S's day of retirement. It was nice to meet all of his kids. Barbara had cooked many Greek dishes ahead of time. They got back in town Tuesday night. Their daughter got married last week and they attended a family reunion.  Cynthia, Paulette and myself had a good time as we helped Barbara with set up and serving. There was a community of Orthodox nuns who attended and I was happy we had yummy options for them (they don't eat meat on Wednesdays). The retirement began with an Orthodox worship service. I saw a bit of that. 

Wednesday afternoon Rachel (see photo above) picked me up and we went to find a screen printing shop. She found it much cheaper to order our shirts online and have them printed locally. We headed off to find the local printer and had fun imagining what we may be getting ourselves into. Turns out they run the shop out of the back of the family's auto body shop.  I was impressed listening to the discussion between them and Rachel. 

Wednesday evening is family Bible study.  I tweaked my back Wed a.m. 

Thursday - My back felt worse. Stacia had an early a.m. doctor's appointment. We discovered she is still "off the chart" and weighs exactly what she should for her height.  Some will remember Stacia's  immunization saga. She needs 3 shots. Dr. didn't want to chance all 3...but suggested we try 2  this time...so we did...and she's doing fine. Dr. did say never more than 2 shots.....BUT one more shot and this child will be caught up with shots until she is 11. Then we'll begin a-shot-a-month again for boosters. I wonder if there will be a point when they (and WE) are comfortable with her receiving shots "normally."

The doc also is treating a white spot on Stacia's back. I'm glad she DID something - the other guy just said, "Hmmm." This pediatrician said Vitiligo usually shows in the 20's and she did not think it is that - which Michael has. She thinks it's a mole of some sort...but the patch has grown considerably. We're trying a month of steroids and if it doesn't shrink will be seeing a dermatologist.

We also picked up a PWOC project and dropped off a PWOC project at Arts and Crafts on base.  We ran by Jennifer's office and dropped off a fund's request. I planned some more rally stuff.

Last night we sat in the hot tub....and I discovered that my sunless tan fades quickly in chlorine. Stacia was shocked...Michael was upset my tan was going down the filter....and I had to admit...I looked like a reverse dipped cone when I got out. BUT my back felt better.

Friday - well - my back still hurts. I decided to sit with the heating pad and not exercise today or do much of anything.

 Krista and Arielle called and gave us a

 tour of the compound. We enjoyed meeting Arturo and saying "hola" to various kids. We met Martin, Arielle's 9 year old protector.

Alex was a bit taken aback when he said, "Hola" and the boys responded in English, "Crazee."

The girls have had a full week. A youth from the church who lives across from them died this week.  They've continued to play with kids, do dishes, learn to cook new dishes, help wherever they can, teach English and crafts....they are happy. They've learned a few other new tricks which you can catch on their blog. 

Krista has printed an interview with Arturo and Lilia if you want to know more about the ministry they are serving with this summer.

The gentleman below attends church on the compound. He is a local baker. He came to teach the kids how to make Mexican yumminess, while the adults were busy with counseling and funerals.

Krista leads the group in exercises....

THIS is what happens when American hair meets Mexican lice treatment....another fun event at the orphanage this week. You'll need to go read details on A Walk in the Wild. 

I asked them WHY they didn't use the lice treatment Jamin purchased and sent back to them. They hadn't realized what everyone was doing when the episode began. Then they saw the BIG BUGS and thought they were treating for odd bed bugs or something - they didn't realize lice can get so big. ::snort::  Evidently, the Americano's new hair styles has been much discussed at church and orphanage. 

Michael's bringing home pizza - I'm going to go put more heat on my back.....

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

Fellowships and WHEAT

Today was "name tag Sunday" or Fellowship Sunday. It also served as a Protestant Community Town Hall. God has blessed and we are looking at moving into a new facility. More about that later. 

Partners in service: 

Angel runs PMOC and is always willing to help as needed - making lemonade

Maria coordinates our monthly potlucks

After the potluck Michael spent the rest of the day (until 1800) at his office. The kids and I ran to New Earth to pick up THIS.....my bread baking sabbatical is about to end....organic hard white wheat for $43. 

Stephanie had told me about BelAire and it was near New Earth so we stopped in. I found more things to buy here. It was cheaper than New Earth but really more expensive than Walmart or the commissary. HOWEVER - it was VERY nice to shop in a clean, relaxed environment....with no snakes or dogs popping out of women's bras....it just was nice.  It was the saner side of CA.

I rewarded the kids with a quick trip to the frozen yogurt place next to BelAire.

A happy sight!

Stacia had a rough night - which means I had a rough night - and this is not a day to wake up BEAT. 

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

Girl's Day - Take 2

Stacia slept in and I put in a couple of hours of PWOC time. 

We checked the mail and I stepped BAREFOOT on a SNAKE! 

After breakfast we started on a few projects for the day. Tomorrow is a fellowship/Town Hall and so we needed to get ready for the Potluck. Stacia really thought Ms. Cynthia would want us to make desserts. 

We made Blondies and Toll House Bars

At this point we had to run to Walmart. We took back a few things we bought and decided we didn't want. We bought things to mail to the girls and kids at the orphanage. We bought more eggs so we could bake some more. 

While at Walmart we ran into a teenager (rather than youth) with a SNAKE around his neck. It really was freaky. We were told that animals are allowed at Walmart...and then we began to note all the dogs in carts around the store. Come to think of it I DID see a gal with two tiny dogs in her bra the other day at Walmart.  America - what a country! 

We made Zebra Cookies - toll house with both white and dark chocolate

 While the cookies baked; Stacia watched....

And I tried to fit all the goodies into a flat rate box. I gave up.  In the garage I found a bigger box AND something furry scurried across the floor. Good grief....Stacia said this is the day of "bad animals." 

Our haul of the day - and an apple pie.  Stacia's remark, "There'll be more than doughnuts THIS time." Um....o.k. evidently store bought desserts don't work for the girl. ::snort:: I'm not sure others will like our goodies baked with all healthy ingredients...but we like them and are happy to bring them home again.  I need to get up early enough to get the salads ready and be at chapel at 0900. I may skip salads. 

Stacia asked is she could stream a movie. I gave in. This allowed me time to continue to work on our upcoming Fall Retreat...another 3 hours of accomplishment. 

I called Nolan and he said they'd be home at 9:15 p.m. That gives them two minutes. I sort of doubt it. 

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