Lightening up

We are doing some school - finishing up some lose ends.

My big project for the day involved paperwork.....I threw away two bags of paper.....

I pulled receipts together to close out the final PWOC purchase requests....

I printed out things I thought would be helpful for next year's PWOC president and program chairs...

I assembled continuity notebooks.....

My desk is much clearer.....

I feel free - er.

It's a good day.

Volunter Appreciation "Banquet"

Once a year the chapel has a Parish Appreciation "banquet."  It was suggested something more "personal" be done this year and it ended up being a BBQ at our home.  It is always fun to open your home to friends. Today was no exception. I was far too busy to take photos but here are a few that were captured.

Ron is a jewel!

 

Margaret is asking for us to settle in the area when we retire.

 

Too sweet!

Desiree and Quentin

Landon and Stefan

When all the food was put away, the dishes cleaned, the last counter wiped....I looked at Cynthia and she looked at me.....and we KNEW it was our turn to bounce....Ashely was sucked right into the excitement.

Best Deployment Coping Device EVER

Found the safe spot.

 

This was a totally fun way to end a great day! 

Vanilla Ice Cream - Vegan (Chocolate Covered Katie)

INGREDIENTS: makes 3 - 4 servings
2 C milk of choice (see note)
1/8 heaping tsp of stevia or 1/3 C sweetener of choice
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS
Whisk together the ingredients.  Choose one of the options below (we chose ice cream maker):

Pour into popsicle molds and freeze.

Vitamix method - freeze in ice cube trays until solid. Pop frozen cubes into Vitamix. Bled using the tamper until completely smooth with a soft-serve texture. Serve immediately as soft serve, or transfer to a covered container and freeze up to an hour for firmer texture.

Food Processor method: freeze in ice cube trays until solid. Pop cubes into food processor. Allow to thaw just long enough for your processor to be able to handle the ice cubes without overheating. Process on high, stopping to scrape down the sides. Scoop into individual bowls. Serve immediately, or freeze each bowl up to an hour for a thicker consistency and texture.  A food processor will yield more of a soft-serve consistency than the other methods.

Ice Cream Maker Method: Pour the mixture into a large container. Freeze for 30 min or refrigerate for at least 4 hours (this was our option). Pour chilled mixture into the ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Once a smooth texture has been reached, scoop into bowls - serve immediately or freeze each bowl up to an hour for thicker consistency and texture.

Notes: For the best ice cream - like taste and texture use either Cashew Cream or full fat canned coconut milk as your milk of choice. It will be fine with others but the texture will be less creamy. We used two cans of coconut milk and one can of coconut cream and were happy.

We froze what we didn't eat and just let it thaw a bit before eating. Arielle and I like this. I do find it rich and don't eat much at a time.

WhatEVER

I noticed cobwebs up  high... since Michael had all the kids asking me what I needed done.... I mentioned it to the boys. I did NOT expect to find this! Personally, I'm not sure a guy with arthritis should be at the top of this thing.

After Arielle and I kept yammering about "safety first.....

Cleaning Windows - they really didn't want Mike
on the ladder or she never would have been up there

 

Everyone seemed to like setting up the backyard for tomorrow's BBQ better. LOL

 

Then there was THIS.  I believe I'll go talk with doctor at the next appointment and see if ladders are really a great idea! ::snort::

 



Hugs of All Kinds

This has been a fantastically busy week. It's a week of endings - and we are just back from a 2 week road trip.   It's a week of new stress and continued stress, dentists, high emotion and well....today IS Friday!

Thank God.

A good friend is one who knows you can't talk and simply comes over and sits on the porch and rocks with you for an hour while discussing distracting topics and then tours your trailer and listens to the improvements you hope to make. That's a good friend. Cynthia, what a blessing you were today. Thanks for the gift of presence...without any pressure to talk.  You were a heavenly hug - a God sighting even.

We got quite a few earthly hugs today from the Campbell crew too!

Nolan & Elise

 

Arielle & Stacia

Clara

Even Yuuki needed a drink

Cole

AND....Stephanie brought a big, pink box of sugary hugs with the kids. ::snort:: It's been a good day. This may be our last all day with the kids. Steph and the kids are flying home to be with her parents while Brenner finishes his special duty overseas.  They'll get back right before retirement.

Sweet Closure

God surrounded me with such a sweet group of women here at Beale AFB. Many of them belong to the PWOC (women's ministry at Chapel) and last night the leadership team (minus Mindee and Desiree who were missed) went to Roseville. They selected a vegan restaurant - is that cool or what? We all enjoyed our new taste sensations. ::wink::

The laughter was best of all - but the gift card to Kobe Japanese restaurant and the sweet card is wonderful as well.

This was the best photo - and I guess I just keep my mouth open a lt. LOL

Now that I know exactly where Bagan's is I can stop and get a vegan sandwich before the rest stop at Chick Fil A.

The evening was a wonderful closure to the year we've spent together.

Today also included a dental appointment for Nolan - not such sweet closure. ::snort::

PWOC Installation 2015

 Tuesday four of the kids had dental appointments. It turns out Zander is fine (WHAT???), Nolan had two cavities, Stacia and Arielle have referrals to an oral surgeon. Stacia has another baby tooth that simply isn't coming out and this one looks complicated. Arielle has two impacted wisdom teeth - this may change timing of moving out as she has a Mexico Trip in June to work around and oral surgeons stay busy. The doc wanted to give Nolan braces. I would think one of the many dentist's we've seen would have said something before now - even THIS dentist - if it were dire.

Tuesday I also spent time preparing all this (above).   There we are all ready to head out the door to our final PWOC - of this year anyway. Sometime during this day Stacia and I had a fun conversation.

Stacia: When I grow up I want a nice, normal life, not a big job like yours.

Me: My job?

Stacia: You know - everyone calling to complain and five people asking questions at the same time.

Oh MY - I would never describe my "job" this way - but I suppose there are days when this would be accurate. LOL

PWOC is one of the few ministries I know which has a transition of both leaders and members each year. It's always amazing to watch God's provision each year. Below is the team I was honored to lead this year. The second photo shows the amazing team God and Jennifer are shaping up for next year.  Today marked the final day I will serve as a PWOC President - forever. I'm o.k. with it. I'm ready to move on to a new season. I know I'll always mentor women and I  know I'll always share the Word. God will reveal the details.

Me, Desiree (Quentin), Stephanie, Katie, Rachel, Cynthia, Jennifer

Thea, Rachel, Stephanie, Katie, Sarah, Ashley, Hope (traveling), Jennifer

 

Angela with 2 week old Jackson - so glad they could be with us

Desiree with Quentin - both champs! Des provided brunch as a thank you to PWOC

 

Love to give gifts

Receiving them isn't bad either - Katie made me a trailer size string art of a cross and heart

Patricia and Quentin - so glad she is here with Desiree until mid-June

I love this gal - though hearing someone sing your praises is a bit uncomfortable

 While we enjoyed brunch, sharing, farewell prayers for 3 of us, and installation - the kids had messy day and water day. Stacia was so happy to have Anna and Sydney at PWOC.

 

Arielle gets the kids moving. LOL