Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Super Size Saturday Schedule


I have decided to do some "backwards" SSS until this move is a bit more underway. This will make hosting SSS easier. If time is short I can simply post the topic and a Mr. Linky on Saturdays. It is also easier for YOU because it gives you a "writing prompt". ::snort:: It also lets you know which weeks you'll be sure to want to check back for links to entries on a topics that interest you. Remember, write a post (or find a post in your archives) on the topic and then come back and link it to that week's SSS post. WHY would you want to link? Because readers will then follow the link to your blog to see what you have to share on the topic. Eventually, I'll have the link to me button ready to go and you can help get the word out by hosting the button on your sidebar....until then please do feel free to use the graphic and link it back to the "guidelines" page.....let people on your blog know you've posted here and that they can read more on the topic here.

9 May - Tips for road trips with children - What has worked really well for you? What doesn't work well at all? What did you hear about that you thought might be a good idea?

16 May - Favorite Family Games - games for all ages....

23 May - Birthdays - Share how your family celebrates birthdays, tips for affordable parties, gifts, gifts to take to parties, charity parties etc. (Arielle's birthday is 23 May).

30 May - "Mom, I'm bored!" Share how you handle this phrase.....discuss your plans for summertime or any thing that you can tie in.

6 June - Favorite Family Vacation/Staycation Share your best tips for planning, saving, picking a vacation spot. Share your favorite family getaways. Obviously, a couple with no kids may take a different type of vacation than I, but I bet if you shared tips, what you learned, how you packed etc....there would be something that my family could glean. Large families...how do you keep vacations affordable and enjoyable? Write about anything to do with Vacations or Staycations.

13 June - Summertime Reading What do you plan to read? What are your children reading?What books do you recommend? Do you have a family summertime reading program? Feel free to share anything to do with books/reading.

20 June - Flying with Children - Give me your best tips!

27 June - "Don't you KNOW what causes THAT?" Share your best stories, comments and comebacks. C'mon, I KNOW I'm not the only one who gets these comments.

4 July - Independence Day - What does the holiday mean to you? What does freedom mean to you? How do you celebrate? What are your plans for this year? What are your favorite fireworks? Write whatever comes to mind and ties in with the 4th of July.

Is there a topic on which YOU would like to hear a variety of opinions? Leave your topic suggestions or questions - writing prompts - in the comment section.

Super Size Saturday Archives/Purpose
Super Size Saturday Guidelines

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

We've Made Contact

It's been difficult to reach someone in housing as we are on different time schedules. LOL

However, Mike did talk with the housing folks in Misawa again. We had heard a rumor that we could get two apartments...and they'd make a door between them for us. This was a reliable rumor....coming from several places and we had names to contact etc.

It turns out that it WAS the policy. In fact, 6 months ago a family was able to do this...but they have encountered "problems" and so now they absolutely don't do this any longer. They were sorry to tell us this, we were sorry to hear it. The only option would be for us to appeal to the Wing Commander for a waiver. We have this "thing" about moving on base and our first contact with a commander being a whine session. ::snort::

We DO have floor plans now. The biggest is 1585 square feet. It's a 4 bdr, 2 story, 4 plex. It has a small yard....the bedrooms ARE quite small (9 x 9), small enough that we aren't sure the bunk bed with the double mattress will fit and we certainly won't be taking desks.....we are wondering if a 3 bedroom with bigger rooms would work better.... It DID have a small dining room and a small family room - both rooms we didn't expect to have. They also said there are some bigger homes out in the area...so we'll keep praying about where to live...and see what is available when we show up. At least now we "know" the smallest to expect and the layout...because really it isn't about square feet as much as HOW it's laid out.

Back to the planning and sorting...oh WAIT it's time to run to piano lessons.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Krista

Krista (21) blessed my heart yesterday. She called as soon as she got the text saying our moving day was put off and said, "Good, I'll be able to get a stool for Zander made and sent with your goods."

Isn't that sweet? BreAnne (23) flies in on the 18th and will bring it so that it is HERE to put in on the 21st when the packers pack our Japan stuff....Krista arrives the 22nd.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Quick Morning Update

Janette, at PWOC last night several said the same thing you did, "Better be ready on Monday in case they show up!" ::snort:: I was greatly blessed by a couple who stayed late last night and simply talked with me...both vetran movers, both with overseas moves under their belts.....things such as "Pack up all your knick knacks for storage and buy what you want THERE - because you'll get what fits and have keepsakes from Japan," and "Consider getting rid of desktops and buying one or two laptops," and "Don't take the computer desks - buy something there that will fit the rooms"....that sort of thing.

Here's a quick update...while Mike was being told not to expect to be done with packing until "into June," I was receiving phone calls from a company in Abilene who plans to be here next week. It appears, at this point, that instead of ONE WEEK of packing and then repairmen .....it will be spread over two weeks....but the house should be empty by Memorial Day Weekend. Instead of one company, there will be three. AND....since they were calling Mike at the office and me at home with different dates....who knows WHEN they will show up. ::snort:: This is what we THINK will happen based on piecing all the calls together...and I DID get more gypso (probably not the right initials but it works for me - I feel like a gypsy) emails confirming the pack outs for 2 of the 3 companies.

12 May - reps from one of the companies will actually come and see what we have (this is common and usually happens early, so we are glad to hear at least one of the pack out folks are thinking to do it). ::snort::

13 May - Hold Baggage (God is SO good because that frees up the 12th for us to watch Arielle, Nolan and Zander in a play. I hadn't been overly upset about all of us not making it - and here you go - it changed so we can. )

14 - 15 May - Pack and move out goods that are going to storage.

21 May - they INSIST they can pack and move all that we are taking to Japan in one day. Maybe.

There will be nearly a week between the two pack outs. I think we could move everything going to Japan into our living room/kitchen (which won't be painted) and get the painters in here. If we can move stuff quickly, so it would give the painters time to have it painted before Memorial Day, we'll do that. That means WE will be taking apart all the beds, packing up fragile stuff etc....so maybe those packers CAN get in and out in a day. ::snort::

It looks like we may be a week "late" leaving TX...but we should be out of here before mid-June. We are nearly certain our Alaska trip is out - but not 100% certain until the dust settles a bit more. {::snort:: I KNOW some of you, who don't live our nomadic/military lifestyle, are thinking, "The dust never settles for those people!" It will. }

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...