Spectacular Dental Visit

Every day can't be hiking, looking into volcanoes and climbing lighthouses. Even full-timing RVers must see their dentists. 

Gherkins love visiting Drs Zanzi

Six months ago, when we scheduled these appointments, we thought we'd cancel them as we'd not be in the area. It turns out we are back for Michael's medical care and we've all been able to keep our dental appointments!  I have no idea how we are going to manage this once we hit the road...we may come back to Roseville every six months....or find another dentist in a central location??? They talked me into making appointments now and we'll see if we can keep them.

I love Gherkin dental day. I blogged and caught up on a bit of book-work. 

NO CAVITIES! None - not one!  This dentist doesn't believe in "watching" cavities - read I think they fill them very quickly and the Air Force dental clinic in Misawa seemed to watch until you said it hurt. SO...we've had a lot of cavities filled in the past two  years....but not one today!

Gherkins like post-dental visit celebrations more than seeing the dentist

As a matter of fact - we DID celebrate. Yep, shakes at Chick Fil A.  

The only concerning note in the day is that they are sure Stacia needs braces - and I know she will. We were told this at her first dental visit...she has a deep under-bite. We just don't know how to make it happen. They don't want to begin either her or Nolan unless we think we'll be here two years...and we haven't a clue what life will be like in 2 years. LOL 

Taco Beans (Vegan)

This is from The Happy Herbivore and I LOVE them on taco nights. They are also good for salads and I think they'd be a yummy addition to "normal" tacos. They originally call for chickpeas - I use whatever I have - I've had pinto, black beans and kidney beans - never chickpeas. I'm sure they are crunchier if you use chick peas. 

Ingredients
1 T soy sauce (I use low sodium)
1 - 2 tsp lemon or lime juice
1 T chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp marjoram OR oregano
1 15 oz chickpeas (or bean of choice) drain, rinse
Taco shells
Greens
1 salad tomato,diced

*I cut up some onion and put tossed them in

Directions
Preheat oven to 400*.

Grease cookie sheet and set aside

Whisk soy sauce, juice and spices. Combine with beans and stir to coat.

Transfer to cookie sheet in single layer

Spray with cooking spray and bake for 20 - 40 min, until chickpeas are as crisp as desired. (I have never sprayed them with cooking spray and I pull them out at 20 min).

Spoon in taco shells and top with greens, tomatoes, salsa etc.

Learning to Look Beyond

The lessons God is speaking to me through the Holy Spirit have to do with courage and joy....possibly because, in the flesh, my norm would be fear and a bent towards being critical. In my daily quiet times, I've been reading 2 chapters in the Pentateuch, 1 chapter of Poetry/Wisdom lit, 1 chapter in the Gospels and 1 in the Epistles. Courage, surrender, joy - woven throughout all my readings.

Romans 5:1 - 12. I'm instructed to exult in the hope of God - the grace in which I stand, in the reconciliation God provides, but in between those two - "exult in tribulation." I'm told in James 1:2 - to "Choose joy when I encounter various trials...."

But HOW????

"Just do it," doesn't offer much practical help.

First - though many translations translate "exult" as rejoice or joy - it is NOT the word for rejoice or joy - it means to boast, glory, exult - confident joy comes close.*

I'm still questioning. HOW do I exult in tribulations. I find the start of an answer in the rest of the verses.....

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, ..." Romans 5:3-5a

HOW do we glory, boast, exhibit confident joy in the middle of tribulations, afflictions, trials?

We LOOK BEYOND!

I'm not psychotic. I don't love the pain. I do love to see God at work. I see Him pruning, maintaining, growing my faith. I know He redeems the pain. He is good. He will accomplish good. IF I  LOOK BEYOND the confusion, the uncertainty, the grief of lost dreams.

I focus beyond - to the perseverance He is building into my life. Hupomeno - the same word used in James 1 and translated as patience or endurance.  This is the ability to stand up under pressure. To bear up, endure, circumstances and things. This hupomeno, built into my life as I choose joy and exhibit confidence, will not allow me to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trails. It allows me to be patient, to persevere, to be constant and confident in pain.** (Irony - endurance/hupomeno was my one word in 2014 and I couldn't definitively settle on a new word for 2015 - He wasn't done teaching.)

I asked God to make me strong in faith, able to stand in the fire or the lion's den. I asked for growing faith as we transitioned from military ministry to ministry in the civilian sphere.  I suspect this type of enduring faith is only forged in the furnace. It takes trials to grow. I asked for this - though I certainly didn't think I asked for it. ::snort::  In fact, I've been telling God, "I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS" and only recently realized I certainly did ask for this. Endurance is built into  my life as I learn to LOOK BEYOND. 

God is working beyond the trial, the pain, the un-fullfilled dreams, fear and way-laid plans. His work is good. It begins with this perseverance and continues to produce proven character and hope - which never disappoints.  This perseverance, we are in told in James 1:4, results in a mature faith. The very thing my heart desires.

I don't  know that this is the full answer. I do know if I focus on the loss, uncertainty, strange symptoms Michael is fighting,  and craziness of this season I am overwhelmed each-and-every-time!

Did you catch  perseverance does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trails? I must LOOK BEYOND and choose confident joy in the face of the trial - and I will NOT surrender or succumb to the trial. By LOOKING BEYOND I surrender to the work and purposes of a good and loving God. 

*exult - 2744 Kauchaomai

**perseverance - 5281 Hupomeno

Our First Trailer Birthday

Stacia & Alex made the banner - they spelled Happy Birthday right to left
so that it would read correctly when Michael came out of the room

Happy, Happy Birthday to You

Happy, Happy Birthday to You

Jeeesus lovvvvesss you

Happy, Happy Birthday to you

 

The year of the double-nickel. Michael turned 55 today. It's a new and wonderful thing to have birthdays when one is retired. ::grin::

Birthday calls from Gherkins far and wide.

 Michael wanted to go to Denney's and eat off the 55+ menu. So we did. He discovered the same meal was $3 cheaper off the value menu. ::snort::

Perusing the 55+ menu

I discovered lonely women will strike up conversations with others in the stall next to them...and I found it very odd indeed.

We ran a couple of errands and then bowled 5 games.

Of course, we had gifts and cake too.

 

Fun card

Traditional Whoppers

5th year of Dilbert Daily Calendars

Retiree License Plate

 I had to order the hat online....this photo - we've come up with lots of captions for it - I'll leave it to you to title as you like.  

Nolan Learns a New Trick

The guys are home! We're ecstatic. I was curious how they would feel coming back to a trailer after their hiatus in Alaska.  They seem to be happy to be back in our snug, tiny, cozy home.  They came bearing the perfect gift!

Alaska Socks - we LOVE our socks!

They also brought home a renewed driver's license for Michael and a brand new learner's permit for Nolan. While the younger two worked on a few birthday surprises for Michael - shhhhh...... he and Nolan went driving. 

 The game is ON - who will be freeway ready first.? Nolan in the van or me in the trailer??????? Place your bets - o.k. not really this is not a gambling site. My bet's on Nolan! 

Blogging and Parkinson's

Some may have noticed blogging has slowed down. I recently received this note from a dear saint who has journeyed a couple more decades than I....has experienced joys and grief I've not had to experience....wise words. I listened.

"Unless it is therapeutic for you, do not feel like you have to blog daily. Sometimes the burden and grief of unfulfilled longings can just be too much to express. I was thinking this and praying for you when I was awake for part of the night again."

How precious is it that God put me on her mind? How cool she took the time to reach out and share a word of wisdom and comfort?

When we were busy with the bustle of moving from our home to the trailer, when we were traveling the Pacific Northwest and exploring new areas, it was easy to ignore Parkinson's - this thing which invaded our lives.   Last week Michael and Nolan zipped to Alaska (love those airline points) to meet with the great DMV in the north...and I was alone with the kids and my thoughts in the trailer.

I didn't blog.

My desire is to be authentic.  Change like this takes time to process. I wasn't ready to share all, therefore,  I simply wouldn't share any.

But the mundane, the happenings, "life" occurs, simultaneous with processing the symptoms of Parkinson's and how it changes our future ministry, family, life plans. I've wrestled the beast - and I will blog the mundane, while wrestling with the "big thoughts" - and I will share what I feel is needful and honoring to both Michael and God.

And under it all - God is faithful. His mercy NEVER fails. I prayed for my faith to increase as we retired from military ministry. My faith is increasing. He loves me enough to give me the deepest delights of my heart - even when I scream and cry and beg for something ELSE.  Who am I to complain at the tools He uses?

Baby D Update

I have fallen down on my granna responsibilities....I bet you're all dying to know about Baby D.

Here is Bre and Baby at 17 weeks - the baby is the size of a "turnip" or so the website I found says.

Cutest turnip I've seen in a long bit

One more week went by and here is Baby D and Bre at 18 weeks - now the size of a Sweet Potato.

Looking beautiful!

We have all had such fun with the photos and the texts and the new veggies each week. We love this little one and are so happy God has blessed BreZaak. But the excitement was even more heightened than normal this week. THIS week BreZaak and Dakota headed to the doc for an ultrasound....we all hoped Little D would cooperate and maybe...just maybe reveal a gender.

Bre posted this photo the day before the ultrasound.  I love the added "votes" from her neighbor's boy... Is it Mommy's Little Monkey or Daddy's Little Girl?

Thursday - we waited....and waited...and then the call and photos came....isn't this the sweetest little mouth????

Can you tell?

Everything was perfect! A beautiful little blessing....and yes...they could determine the gender.

Izaak reveals - a BABY GIRL

Yes, a baby girl! We are all so excited. Well - Arielle and Stacia were always sure she'd be a girl. I tried to be the voice of reason - but I hoped. A baby girl! Our heart's are full.