A New Week

Joyful Thoughts
1. God is always on the throne
2. A full day of school interspersed with laughter
3. Love having a table in a family room that allows for days that go on and on and on

Stacia dressed up to surprise Michael on Sunday

I knew we had to pay for all the mornings out of the house last week. We paid. We got all our couch school (History,  Lit, Science) caught up from last week AND today's  couch/table work done.  Our youngest scholar hadn't done so well with independent study last week. She got to catch up all her table work AND do today's work.....we schooled until 5:40 p.m., but she informed me she will never try to slide things past me again on a busy week. The older kids had a good laugh at dinner over this. They informed her  Mom has been homeschooling 26 years and they've tried all the tricks she may be thinking up. ::snort::

Seriously, this day reminded me WHY I like to school inside our home  - we like to explore whatever catches our fancy. When we are too busy away from home (be that ministry, charter schools, field tips, co-ops), we are rushed during our lessons. Education is far too interesting to sprint through.  We will do all we can to scale things back in the future to what we have discovered to be  a sane level of activity for the way we enjoy schooling. We are growing young characters - and that takes time.

I have to be vigilant or we slide into activity levels which don't provide Stacia the relaxed homeschool which blessed her older siblings. Last week was a good wake up call. We CAN take school on the road - but five mornings in one week is insane! At least for us. I am thankful this is a new week and we enter it with new determination to do a better job of balancing responsibilities.

Michael got home in time for the steaks to come off the grill. I enjoyed pasta with asparagus and homemade-fresh-from-the-garden-basil-pesto.

We enjoyed family circle - lots to pray for these days....and then we prayed some more... yes, for our friends in the Air Force and Navy; but also for the entire military family as things heat up -  once again.

God is always on the throne.

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

Tracy Hathaway's Pesto

2 cups tightly packed fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pine nuts)
1-2 cloves garlic (I like roasted)
Sea salt and ground pepper
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp nutritional yeast

*Here's where mine's different...
I use 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk in place of 1/2 cup olive oil (makes it creamy & oil free)

I should confess - this is the recipe, but in truth, I don't measure much. I just look at it and taste along the way. ;) Especially yummy on faro.

And so I made it...and it's addictive! I'm eating it by the spoon....but tonight I'm going to toss it with some pasta and steamed asparagus. I can imagine this on a salad wrap. How else do you all use pesto? It's new to me.

I know - sick photo but it's YUMMY!

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

Snakes and Hamburgers

Joyful Thoughts
1. The church gathered - always a time for joy.
2. My man and boys were on hand to sweep the snake right out of our chapel
3. Sunday diner and  NAP

The past week must have left me sleep deprived. I slept 10 hours last night (I usually get 5 - 6 hours) AND I took a LONG nap this afternoon.  I am not made to be out of the home every morning. LOL

Have you heard the rumor? We're snake handlers at Beale chapel. Yep. We are. I may NEVER unlock the buildings alone again. ::snort:: It seems this fellow found his way under a door? He was in the storage area off the "sanctuary." I was SO happy Michael was right there...and yes, he swept the serpent out of the sanctuary - while I helpfully screeched, "I always KNEW it would come down to snake handling in the church."

Now the little guy was also a spiritual word picture for a few of us. We've been involved in some spiritual warfare and watching Michael chase the serpent out of the building is a great picture of what I believe is happening in another realm.

Sunday school and service were both good......Zander chose Lumberjacks Restaurant for lunch. I was happy it was NOT a buffet and that it was a new spot. I suspected portions would be bigger than average....they far exceeded my suspicions.  This is ONE hamburger - The Redwood.

 Yes, I DID say it was disgusting. I find it disgusting on many levels...size mostly. If you want to eat beef - I'm o.k. with that - but to eat what a whole family could eat in one sandwich is - yes, disgusting - and also enlightening as I watched others eat the whole thing....and fries.....There is a reason heart disease is a killer in America. Just saying. Nolan brought leftovers home.  The perspective below shows the size a bit better.

 If the other Gherkin males visit we will be sure to visit this spot and let them have a shot at being disgusting. LOL

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

Chickens and Movies

Joyful Thoughts
1. Chickens in the Winco parking lot
2. Fun movie with the children
3. Sweet sad thoughts on marriage and legacy

I think the joyful thoughts about say it all.  I took the kids to watch Dolphin Tales 2 while Michael spent a bit of time polishing up for tomorrow.

Yes, there were clucking chickens and crowing roosters in the Winco parking lot.

We grilled steaks for the carnivores and had dinner.

Michael spoke with Mom G. She mentioned that she loves Dad G even more than she did when he's alive....that's enduring love.

Stacia kept promoting "Mom's Night Out," so we're going to veg and laugh and call it a night.

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

Pizza and Games at the Gherkins!

Joyful Thoughts
1. Cooler temps
2. Great ladies with which to discuss Good books
3. Pizza and Games with the Gherkins
4. Friends who feel at home enough for me to greet them with sunglasses at 6:00 p.m.

We are incredibly happy to see the prediction of cooler temps....and we're bemused that 90's are now "cooler temps." A year ago 70's were "high temps."

 

 

We thought it was an overcast day and waited for the rain for a few hours. THEN we realized the gray clouds were due to the King Fire and not forthcoming rain. We are praying for rain. These photos were taken by a friend from her base house.

Courtesy of Britney's camera





Cynthia is behind the camera

This morning began by meeting with a few PWOC women to discuss Not a Fan. I really liked this book and have written about it before. . I do know some find him to "hard hitting," but, honestly, this is a message many churches miss. If we are making "converts," but not "disciples" or "fans" and not "followers," we are NOT fulfilling the mission in which Jesus calls us to invest.  I am thankful that PWOC Page Turners allowed us to discuss this one as a group - I know the norm is Christian fiction.

I ran to the Papa's after book club. It IS once again "Pizza and Games at Gherkins" night (otherwise known as Friday).  They were GREAT to me. Threw in an extra pizza - that's customer service. By this time my migraine was kicking into gear for Day 3 and I wasn't really "sharp." THEY remembered that I didn't want cheese on the gourmet vegan pizza. Goldie mentioned a local take and bake - Pops - in Linda or Lincoln. I'll have to check them out.

I  managed a nap...and felt little guilt over no longer making pizza each week. I did feel nostalgic. The truth is the family really likes WHITE crust pizza better than my homemade, whole grain pizza....but maybe we'll begin to slowly bring it back. It was FUN to watch Jamin work the dough and work together to create our favorites in year's past.

By the time our guests began to arrive I was wearing sunglasses (migraine), pizzas were baking, salad was made, watermelon cut, infused water infusing.....

Tonight we invited a few younger families to join us. We invited family's of four deployed spouses over and one young neighbor we've been meaning to invite for a year.....which had the added bonus of a MAN in the mix  - male bonding.  I also had a brief discussion with Goldie earlier in the week and wanted to get to know her better. I'm glad she joined us. We'll get her family next time.  I think I caught everyone in at least one shot....



Liza and Arielle were great help with the young girls

There's Kelsey (adult) - had her wisdom teeth out Monday but brought her girls out

Youth

Another youth - thought he could evade me

De, Steph, Adam & Tim, Goldie, Cynthia and Hollie

 

There's my boyfriend. After Tim went home, the women had girl talk in the living room and he joined the youth. The girls seem REALLY impressed with his instruction. ::snort::

It was a fun night. We're brainstorming for the next "group"  - maybe we'll just do "random fruit basket" next week. Michael says he thinks there's "something" next week so maybe we'll be out and not in next week.

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

Migraine Induced Insanity

Joyful Thoughts

1. It's always fun when you get to meet an online friend in real life.
2. Day 2 of migraine and I did NOT kill anyone driving around Roseville.
3. Michael has tomorrow off.

Whew - I don't know how we ended up with so many mornings out of the house this week!

It is very hard to homeschool if you are not at HOME. ::snort::

Arielle had a dentist appointment at 0930. Stacia and I went with her - all of us out of the house at 0830....and me on Day 2 of a migraine.  Stacia and I got table school done in the kids waiting area of the dental office.

Can kinda tell I've been hitting the comfort food lately - stopping that now.

Arielle came out and sounded CRAZY....I don't know that I've ever seen anyone have so much trouble talking after dental work. The hilarity continued when we arrived at Sprouts and she went off to ask directions to the rest rooms. LOL

Hope is a PWOC Titus 2 at FT POLK - we've met online on a FB position group that I help to administer....her son is pcsing (moving) to Beale and so we got to meet in real life. Anyone else need to come visit a son or daughter at Beale????  Hope came to chapel and PWOC.

We were so happy to see this spot that Stacia and went exploring while Arielle waited for her dental adventure. I really have a hankering for tempura veggies...



We simply can't drive to Roseville without visiting a healthy store....today we tried Sprouts. I liked it - but it didn't have several items I usually buy.   It IS much closer to the dentist than Trader Joes.

Just take a look at all the options for non-dairy "ice cream" at Sprouts....

Arielle really wanted to go to Chick Fil A for a shake...so off we went....and I was driving very carefully because you know - I had a migraine and was in the big city. Um....look at that parking job. ::snort:: AND see that little, tiny yellow post thingy behind the van? It's NO MATCH for the bumper of my Ford. I love my FORD. Chips out of the concrete but just a one inch scratch on my bumper. LOL

Stacia made me smile at CFA. She ordered "grilled nuggets with a fruit cup and lemonade please." Arielle commented she thought Stacia was the first to have chosen fruit over fries.....look what bringing them up on real food can accomplish. I had a wonderful Asian salad - sans chicken.

And this life lesson which I posted on FB earlier today....Public Service Announcement for all door to door solicitors! If a woman on Day 2 of a Migraine tells you she does NOT want solar panels et al - TRUST her. Don't keep pushing....and maybe Mr. Jr. Solicitor you should try a better line than, "This isn't really about supporting the troops, it's about me going to the Bahamas. Don't you want to support me?" Um....hello...do you SEE the military tags on my vehicle - if you ever stood a chance of any of my $ sending you to play in the Bahamas it's gone now....when it doubt refer to point #1 - If a woman on Day 2 of a migraine....

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

Revenge of the Panini

Joyful Thoughts
1. I LOVE my PWOC Bible Study group.
2. Lunch with a friend makes any day great.
3. Fun to "see" Michael for a few extra hours - though I went to bed with a migraine

Another morning outside of the house. Unfortunately, we did NOT get school done today. We DO plan for Wednesdays to be a light day - there is still hope we'll catch up by Friday. LOL

Much I could write but my head still hurts. I had a vegetarian panini - and FORGOT that much of the world adds cheese to veggie menus...and by the time I sat down to eat I didn't want to go order something else....so I took a couple of pills and ate my yummy grilled cheese/veggi panini - and now I've paid for it for the past 12 hours - maybe all will be better when it's really morning. LOL

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