Saturday, December 13, 2014

Travel Day

Yep  - two beds - and still....I don't try to figure it out.
 
 
Up bright and early and on our way to church. It's always great to participate in worship at "home."
 
We said goodbye to BreAnne. Sunday is a work day for Pastor Bre. 
 
A funny incident was a woman from church telling me that she could tell I was the Pastor's sister. Um - the pastor is not my brother....she went on that we looked alike. I was puzzled. Finally, she mentioned the Pastor as "she" and I realized she meant Bre.
 
We met my parents, Lorri (cousin) and Rebecca (Michael's sister) for breakfast.
 
WE HEADED FOR CA..... and got home around 9:00 p.m. by the time we picked up Yuuki. 

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

More Celebrating

After the graduation, Kent, Dakota, BreZaak and the rest of our family went to lunch to celebrate!

...because some of us celebrate with our mouth wide open and my kids love it when I get caught. 



BreZaak took  Dakota home. They and my parents  had a wedding to attend. The rest of us went to see Krista's new home. We  spent a few hours at a park near her place....

No zip lines, but Stacia loved to spin in circles.


 
The webs aren't as amazing as they are in Japan, but the kids enjoyed

 
I got in a 50 min walk while the others played soccer


 
This teeter totter thing was fun....


 
We finally left the park and went for some frozen yogurt.
 
BreZaak joined us.
 
We went to pick up Harmony (grand-niece) and stopped by New Hope Eugene to see the lights....this is a great show. They give you free popcorn, cookies, and hot chocolate....you sit in your car and can listen to the music and the Christmas story. Very cool.  The lights blink and change...the music is pretty....very fun.


After the lights BreZaak went home. Krista and the rest of the kids went to the place we were staying. We picked up Will (my brother) and Sherri and the four of us went out to dinner. It was the first and only time this trip we snatched to just visit. It was good.

Michael and I took advantage of the drive across to Eugene with Krista to connect. Always fun.

We head to bed with the knowledge that we need to be up, packed and at church by 0830 tomorrow morning.

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

WOOT! Izaak Graduates!

In every life there are some moments that are HUGE, bigger than the norm. THIS was one of those moments in the life of our son-in-law, Izaak, and therefore, in our family life.

Today, Izaak graduated from New Hope Christian College. The path he took doesn't mirror the other graduates....but the path he took, when surrendered to God, has made him the highly determined, man of God we know him to be.  This is certainly not the spot to tell all of Izaak's story....but this is a young man who did not graduate from high school. He studied hard and earned his GED and when God called him to college - he went.

Today he stands before us as a graduate - WITH HONORS - magna cum laude. When God restores; He does it well.  It was SO WORTH it to race the storm from CA to OR to be there for this huge moment of redemption and achievement! We are bursting with pride over the way God is working in Izaak's life.  My new favorite family photo - though it's missing the three Gherkin males in TX.
front - Stacia; Middle - Dakota, me, Bre, Izaak, Krista My Dad
Back: My mom, Arielle, Zander, Nolan, Will (my brothers) Michael
 Being awarded honors!
 
Hugging Pres. Hidashi after being given his diploma

Professor Burke (Larry) is one of two of OUR professors still left at the college. He welcomes the graduates into the alumni association.
 
My Dad and Izaak
 
Dakota, Izaak and BreAnne
 
Miss Kutz (Trudy) is the second of our professors still at the college. I'm thrilled our girls were able to take classes with and be mentored by Trudy.
 
 
Izaak's middle son Matt (left) and parents
 
BreZaak!
 
Izaak's step-dad and Izaak
 
Dakota with the $50,000 balloon given to graduates ::snort::
 
Krista and Michael
 
Izaak and Dakota
 
All smiles!
 
Girls Dorm - ah the memories...


Expect more posts from this day.
Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...