Racing the Storm

We left immediately after PWOC to race the storm to OR for Izaak's graduation. The base is closing down. There will be no work on Thursday. The base Christmas Party, ALS graduation and more - all off or postponed.....

This is to be a once in a decade (or century - depending on who you talk to) storm.  I've heard 3- 5 inches of water and 60 mph winds. The rain doesn't seem to be a big fear or a huge deal...but bridges could go out (some did last week), roads could flood (some did last week).....I just find it odd to see all the sand bags.  The concern seems to be the wind - again as one who grew up in a land of typhoons and recently lived in Northern Japan - I'm not overly worried. We brought in our nativity, patio furniture and such. We moved trash cans. If a tree or power line comes down - it will be fixed. But the mania is quite interesting to watch.  Some media personalities seem over-the-top panicked....most I met on-base were simply glad to have the advance notice to  prepare...they could be isolated from the commissary and off-base...so it is always nice to know in advance. Power outages seem to be the norm on base...and they were cut off with a day of heavy rain last week...

All that to say the storm is due to begin tonight and last through Thursday. It could be worse on the passes and so we left early to get over the passes before the storm does whatever it will do.

We realized we were driving into the storm - but if this is ALL the storm that hits Beale it will be light. There was fog, heavy rain...but totally doable....

We now find ourselves in Springfield. We met up with Krista, Mom and Dad and Will, Sherri and Andrew. We'll enjoy a few days here and head back home in time for another busy week next week.

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

M & Ms (Moms and Mentors)

 

Stacia and I started our day baking bread and rolls. We like the TASTE but the height leaves much to be desired. We'll try this recipe again next week...with my normal technique instead of the technique in this book. LOL

 

We did school, packed.....and then we prepared for M & Ms (Moms and Mentors).  We weren't sure who would show up when we scheduled the event. In the end we had 3 moms and myself and a houseful of kids. Great fun! We set up a time and location to continue meeting. We decided to spend our first three months reading through Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sallie Clarkson.....

 

Here at the start of a new "mentor group" - it's natural my heart kept remembering dear gals from Misawa. Three of us who met weekly and worked through Ephesians with nothing but our Bibles and our journals, two of us who met and read Desperate together, four of us who met weekly in my first "mentor group." Good memories and I'm excited to see what memories develop in this  group as well. 

 

Today was a beginning.....Ah - just what I envisioned when I set out the Fisher Price set 

Arielle likes the singing angel

They took a picture of me taking a picture of them.....

 Stacia enjoyed reading to a couch full of kids

While the kids played we discussed how we wanted to move forward....and I snapped some photos

Arielle's happy

 Then we moved on to the part the kids had been waiting for....

 

We decorated cookies.....

 

and did some of this....

And this.... 

 

 And this....

 

And this...

 

At the end of the day - Arielle vacuumed up the sugary table.  

I had just enough time to get to base and facilitate week 2 of Daniel..... it took the FULL two hours.....trying to wrap my mind around how we are going to make this fit in 1 hour and 15 min tomorrow morning.  LOL  

It's been a full day - a great day!

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

Cookies, Children and Colons?

A busy day trying to "get a jump start" on the week.

I caught up on laundry, prepped for Bible studies, got announcements and bulletin inputs in,  did a bit of admin stuff for the studies I'm facilitating, answered emails, posted things for various ministry pages....and BAKED COOKIES! Why would I choose to bake cookies on a day dedicated to getting a good start to the week?

 

Because this happens at our house tomorrow

 

These two were a lot of help....of course....well.....

I thought we could buy the "new" cookie dough that comes in flat sheets...all you have to do is cut them out....but Stacia said, "But making cookies with you is so much fun."

All-righty!

Then I thought we could just do some nice round ones...but again...you know....Christmas Cookies are the thing...and we did make some fun memories.  We ended up making 2 pounds of butter worth of cookies. LOL  I think the last 4 doz were drop cookies.



We did take time to play today too. I didn't, after all, totally lose my grandma card. We played with these sweet little ones and their mom.

 

 

Stacia and I ran to the store for more butter. Arielle and Nolan had Japanese lessons. I got to spend a bit of time chatting with their teacher and a mutual friend at the end of the lesson.

 

We made more cookies.

 

I found out we are going to Izaak's graduation a day earlier than expected due to the in-coming storm.

 

The clinic called. "Maam you came up as one who has not had a colonoscopy. Are you interested in pursuing that."

 

Shoot - NO!!!! 

 

I was hoping to fly under the radar a bit longer...but when you hit the big 5.0 in the military it's NASTY. I suspect I will have to do this and it really did not make my day.

 

Arielle requested Yumm Bowls for dinner. I complied; I did add Chicken Fajita meat for the meat eaters in the group.

 

We were a total hymn fail during our Advent circle. We don't know "Take My Life, O Lord, Renew".....so we sang Silent Night again. We'll know Silent Night really well by the end of this season. ::snort::

 



That's a wrap. The buzzer went off and the uniform is done....I'm going to BED...at 8:20 p.m. Yes, I am.

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

Those Traveling Wise Men

I keep thinking wisemen should be one word and spell check keeps squawking.

The Traveling Wise Men are a hit and I can tell they have already become a new family tradition.   Stacia LOVES hunting for them. The older ones have found them on a couple of days and leave them for her to find too.

I've enjoyed the quiet moment to hide them each evening and the focus of a new thing to worship Jesus about each morning.

Dec 1 -  Day 1 -  we adore Jesus as He ALWAYS keeps His promises.

Day 2 - We adore Jesus because He loves us

Day 3 - We adore Jesus because He loved us first and ALWAYS.

No Stacia - they don't reach the stable until 6 January!!!

Day 4 - We adore Jesus because He always has a plan.  

Day 5 - We adore Jesus as He paid to cleanse us from sin.

Day 6 - We adore Jesus because He lights our darkness.

Day 7 - We adore Jesus because He is!

I noted day 5 and 6 reasons to worship tied in with the hiding place....day 7 was on a shelf in the bathroom.....I wondered what the reason to worship would be and if it would tie in with the toilet. LOL

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

The Redwood and Lights

One slight drawback to moving facilities for chapel is we have no cleaning service - at all - at Far West. Michael and I spent the Sunday School hour sweeping the gym/sanctuary, dusting and vacuuming.  I think I need to add some weekly cleaning to our Wed/on base routine to avoid this in the future.

Arielle woke up sick and missed Chapel. I had fun in the nursery. Michael preached.

Stacia had Christmas Program practice after the service.  It's odd to only have one in the program. We enjoyed waiting around and visiting. Just remembered Arielle is the narrator and Stacia has talked Zander into being a Wiseman.

Nolan chose LUMBERJACKS for lunch. This time - he and Zander split The Redwood burger and  decided this is the way to handle it. Certainly is easier on the wallet.  They make a wonderful Veggie burger here too - about 1/4 the size of this burger.

not a great shot - but too good to pass up

We spent a bit of time re-routing the lights as Michael wanted them off one line and coming in at certain spots. We like it.

I woke up this a.m. to no lights in the front of the house (living room). It seems we blew a circuit. We had planned to put more candle lights out to outline the yard - but appears we may be done with lights.

We still have a projector and a "wireless lights and music" thing we won't put up.  I guess we'll give them away as this is our last year for all these decorations. It's been fun, but I can't see them coming with us to Japan and I can't see storing them for 15 years either. LOL

These decorations are all left overs from when we lived on "Christmas Lane" in San Angelo.  We haven't used them for the past five years - but it was great fun to get them out again. We have many more lights - but called it done. Thanks to Arielle and Nolan for motivating us.

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

Christmas Lights

I was so sure I wanted to sleep in today - but Stacia was ready for breakfast. In the end I am happy we made the time to connect. We tried a new place today - Kim's Country Kitchen in Lincoln.

Anyone who knows me would guess I'd love the décor and atmosphere. The wait was a pleasant 7 minutes.....

 

Stacia was impressed they have the same glasses as we do at home.

 

To be honest, I think the service and food is better at Awful Annie's....but we did like the local feel at Kim's.....and the biscuits were AMAZING....They were happy to make something special up for a vegan....and that made me happy. They were friendly - just busy. We'll try it again at a different time.



Back at home Michael was busy with sermon prep. The kids decided to set up lights. I did help a "bit," but Arielle and Nolan were the troopers on this project. I did some ministry organizing I needed to do and updated the blog.

Stacia and Zander did the little candles.....they used 1/3 of the candles but they're done

And then we plugged them all in and nothing happened! Turns out all our planning so there would be ONE CORD and one plug in - um....well Michael came out of his cave to tell us that it was too much something-or-other on one line.....

Nolan went up on the ladder to rearrange things.....

 

Then Michael joined the fun



We didn't finish. It got dark. Arielle had to babysit. Stacia and I drove around neighborhoods between here and there. But we've got more lights up than 90% of our neighborhood. CA just doesn't do Christmas like MT, AK, or TX did.

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

Sweet Potato Casserole (Vegan/Daniel Fast Friendly)

Another Thanksgiving recipe from Happy Herbivore  Holidays and Gatherings. The carrots add sweetness.

Ingredients:
5 - 6 carrots chopped
4 sweet potatoes, cooked and skinned
cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to taste
2 T cornstarch

For Toppings - I just mixed some Rapadura and pecans and sprinkled on top.
Rapadura (brown sugar)
pecans
cornflakes

Directions:
Fill a pot with 2 - 3 inches water. Bring to a boil and add carrots.

Cook until carrots are tender, about 5-8 min. Drain, but reserve liquid

Whip cooked sweet potato and carrot together, adding carrot cooking water as necessary - aim for creamy whipped-potatoes consistency.)

Add cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice as desired.

Preheat oven to 350* F.

When potato-carrot mixture is cool, stir in cornstarch.

Transfer to shallow casserole dish.

Top however you like.

Bake for 30 min until until totally warm and toppings are toasted.

*Leave off the sugar topping to make this Daniel Fast Friendly.

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