Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Dejavu of the Critter kind

This has happened before.

 
Photos from the chapel.....Michael seems to have a ministry of chasing serpents and vultures from the chapel....and that will preach. ::snort:: 

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Fellowship Sunday - May

It's pretty ironic that I check the preaching schedule when I sign up to help in the children's program or with potlucks and yet I continue to be "out" on the Sunday's Michael is preaching.  I'm not sure how else to avoid this other than never volunteering. ::snort::

Today was Fellowship Sunday - the consistent feedback we receive is  people really enjoy these weeks. Relaxed connections make these days beneficial for me. Today I enjoyed working together with Stephanie, Thea and Jerry.  It was a special gift to be able to sit and visit with Desiree at lunch time. I've missed connecting with her.  Cynthia, Thea, B, the Gherkins and Michael all worked together to clean up the aftermath.....I missed Maria. Two, maybe three, more fellowships and we'll be leaving Beale....things are "happening."

I didn't take many photos but here are a few:
Clara Beth likes her chips


Elise chilling

Kids of all ages enjoying some sort of noisy card game!

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Geocache Success

Four  more finds and we hit 100! To think I thought we would reach 100 finds our first year...silliness.

We headed out late this afternoon as we'd accomplished much this a.m. and had our main meal at noon. We FOUND three today......this is what it looks like when everyone else has found it and you are still looking......We'll go back in a few months and pick blackberries  for a cobbler or smoothie when we're living in the trailer.

 
"Someone" has a short attention span - note I did not drop the camera when the bee flew into the shot
 
We failed to find this one again - but at least it wasn't raining.  I enjoyed the wildflowers.
 

 
Another find....this one resulted in many thorns in various clothes and many drops of blood.....and someone ended up with lots of thorns inside her pants - inner thighs......it wasn't quite as dramatic as the bee incident....but when I turned to unzip and release some thorns someone #2 made a comment about "Now, it's a complete geocaching trip."
 
Doesn't this just SCREAM geocache?
But there wasn't......
 
 
After all that and a 20 min walk I STILL need 1400 steps....hitting the elliptical. 


Great Week

A busy - but a good week. All in all a balanced week full of both work and play.

We finished table and couch school. We participated in four Bible studies (2 PWOCs, 1 PMOC, 1 Family study). M&Ms (moms and mentors) met this week; we all enjoy this small group opportunity. The kids play with little ones and I play with Mommies.  PWOC Page Turners met to discuss A.D. 30 - definitely a play session for moi.  I said goodbye to a mentor and enjoyed two opportunities to connect over lunch with dear friends. Michael and I attended four hours of retirement related meetings - one with a VA rep and one with a financial planner.  Michael worked a full week - one highlight being a conversation with his soon arriving replacement. We look forward to meeting them and passing the baton.   We had numerous texts from Gherkins and even a phone call or two.  I hit at least 10K steps daily - often prompted to a second evening workout - meetings and school take a lot of time but don't take a lot of steps.


There were plenty of moments for play. We  explored new "healthier" recipes...the kids like the no-bake chocolate/peanut butter/coconut oil cookies. I like them too much - enough said. These were billed as "sugar free" but with honey included in the mix  - it's false billing. They are still a better option for the kids than the traditional ones.

We visited briefly with a friend who has been off work and out of chapel due to surgery.

We all made minor progress on our various "fun reading."

Saturday is usually our family rest/play day. Michael wasn't scheduled to preach - but is. That
Hangars and sticks beat wifi and play station around here
changes the format of Saturday. ::wink::  It does mean he should get a CTO (day off) sometime next week which means we may be able to make a quick trip to see his Mom - we've been trying to find a weekend to do that since March.  We also need to prepare for tomorrow's potluck.  I PROMISED Stacia I would take her out on our Saturday morning breakfast date. We've not made it for several weeks. This insures there will be PLAY in this day. LOL

Wise Moms realize even big boys need time to play - and boy's play will not, on the norm,  resemble girl's play whatsoever. Proof, once again, that anything can become  a game  and my boys are truly happiest when burning off some energy....and the house functions much better if they do so regularly. ::snort::

Friday, April 24, 2015

New "Toy"

My anniversary gift (14 Feb) finally arrived last week.

I had begun to worry I wouldn't like it after hearing some comment on it being a gimmick and inaccurate etc.

I LOVE it.  It may drop or add a few steps here and there.....BUT I find the info fascinating and motivating.

I have discovered most my work outs were cardio vs fat burning....not sure what to do with this info or if it matters. ::snort::

I've discovered how much I actually sleep at night.

I enjoy the heart rate feature.

I really LIKE walking and being able to see how far I've gone, my heart rate and my calories burned.

I've discovered - as active as I am - I'm not as physically active as I imagined. In other words a 2 hour long meeting really doesn't use many steps....and so it motivates me to get a second work out in if I've not hit my 10,000 steps soon after dinner.

A gift well worth the wait. Thanks, hon.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

PWOC Retreat 2015

This past weekend was Beale PWOC's Spring Retreat.  As I enjoyed the weekend I realized that this is the first PWOC retreat I have attended where I have not either planned the retreat, spoke at the retreat or done both. It was good - very good.  My only "job description" was to be available to advise and help Cynthia in any way she needed. She built a great team and they pulled together a really wonderful retreat.  I also had the fun of being on a panel and "mcing".... OH I WAS the cargo van on the way up into the mountains. 

Diamond Arrow Christian Conference center was TOPS. The facility was nice, the food was good and the staff was INCREDIBLY helpful.  Q and Faterrah met us up there early to decorate.
 
We were happy Rebecca Shirey could be our speaker. I was thrilled to share Rebecca, a mentor, with "my gals." Aren't these lunch coolers the cutest thing yet?

Everything was lovely..... the decorations, worship, messages, fellowship, games..... 
 
Janete did a wonderful job leading us in games.....
 
Speed Friending - Jen (L) is responsible for our bags and all that was in them
 
Speed Friending
 
Cyndi and Karina rocked worship
 
The panel discussion was a lot of fun for those of us on the panel.
Me, Becky, Mary (Cynthia's MIL)
 Our Group
F - Me, Becky, Cynthia, Thea, Katie, Mindee
B - Rachel, Cyndi, Hope, Karina, Mary, Allison, Steph, Jen, Brittney, Faterrah, Janete
 
Rachel did all the graphics for our folder, banners and bag
 
The evening ladies which attended
Cyndi, Karina, Cynthia, me, Allison
 
The M&M (Moms and Mentors) moms who attended
Brittney, me and Hope
 
Our 2014/15 Board (Desiree couldn't join us - blech on chemo)
F- Jen and Katie (registration guru)
B - Steph, Rachel, Me, Cynthia, Mindee
 Cynthia  pulled off an amazing retreat! I'm proud of her and the team.
 
Becky's sessions were FULL of heart changing insight. I plan to sit and review notes in the upcoming week.
 
The "best" table group yet - contrary to rumors we were NOT the loud group - we were the enthusiastic group.
Karina, Brittney, Hope, Mindee
 Impromptu sharing around the fire on Saturday night - the best times are often the unplanned times

What a trooper Faterrah is. I can't wait to meet her little one.  
 
Ahhhhhh......

We got back to base as the Protestant service was letting out. It was fun to have a bit of family time with Becky.  We  joined with the D family for lunch and a quick picture with the Gherkins.....then we parted ways. The Gherkins to D's to home....and Michael and I to give Becky a tour of Beale.


 
 WW2 POW cell block


We missed those who couldn't join us and wanted to be with us: Desiree due to chemo and Maria due to surgery. The weekend was a sweet time of bonding for the group. I saw God move and I saw relationships flourish. I believe it was a God thing...a fitting way to begin the final chapter of our Air Force ministry....I'm refreshed and excited entering the home stretch.

April - Retreat
May - Graduation in TX and CA, pass off the PWOC baton
June - Open Bible Conference, Pittsburgh
July - Japan/ VBS
14 August - Retirement Ceremony

BTW I'm still trying to decide if I'm a true extrovert. I love people, but I do love my pj days as well.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Priscilla Shirer's Attributes of God

In Genesis, He’s the breath of life

In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb

In Leviticus, He’s our High Priest

In Numbers, the Fire by Night

Deuteronomy, He’s Israel’s guide

Joshua, He’s salvation’s choice

Judges, He’s Israel’s guard

In Ruth, the kinsmen’s Redeemer

1st and 2nd Samuel, our trusted Prophet

In Kings and Chronicles, He is Sovereign

In Ezra, He’s the true and faithful scribe

In Nehemiah, the Re-builder of broken walls and lives

In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s courage

In Job, the Timeless Redeemer

In Psalms, He is our morning song

In Proverbs, He is our wisdom

Ecclesiastes, He’s the time and season

In Song of Solomon, He is the lover’s dream

In Isaiah, He is the Prince of Peace

In Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet

Lamentations, the Cry for Israel

Ezekiel, the Call from Sin

Daniel, the Stranger in the Fire

Hosea, the Forever Faithful

Joel, the Spirit’s Power

Amos, the Strong-arms that carry

Obadiah, the Lord our Savior

Jonah, the great Missionary

Micah, the Promise of Peace

Nahum, our Strength and Shield

In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s brings revival

In Haggai, He restores that which was lost

In Zachariah, He’s our fountain

And in Malachi, He’s the Son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

AND THAT’S JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT

In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, He is God and Messiah

In the spirit filled book of Acts, He is the reigning fire from Heaven

In Romans, He is the grace of God

Corinthians, the Power of Love

Galatians, Freedom from the curse of sin

Ephesians, our Glorious Treasure

Philippians, the Servant’s Heart

Colossians, He’s God and the Trinity

Thessalonians, our calling King

In Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, He’s our mediator and our faithful pastor

In Hebrews, the Everlasting Courage

In James, the One who heals the sick

In 1st and 2nd Peter, our Faithful Shepherd

In John and Jude, He’s the lover coming for His bride

AND in the Revelation, in the very end, when it’s all over, said and done, when time is NO MORE. He is and will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Son of Man, Lamb of God, The Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, God and Savior

He is Jesus Christ the Lord

HE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED

Several asked for a written version of this after we watched the 4th DVD of  Discerning the Voice of God. I wanted to keep it handy as well.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Momentous Day

Today is a momentous day!

Michael took and passed his final USAF PT (Physical Fitness) test today!  By the time the next one comes due, he'll be a retiree.

This is the end of an era....  He'll be on his own now to determine his fitness goals and he'll be able to listen to his body a bit more in training....which I think will be a very good thing.

Retirement ceremonies are a lot of work to plan. I think it hit us today - we'd better get busy planning his. ::snort::

Saturday, April 18, 2015

A Day in Grass Valley/ Nevada City

De'Etta is gone for the weekend. She went to the PWOC ladies' retreat so it was just the four musketeers and Dad.  Arielle and Stacia began the day at Target.  They managed to arrive right at opening and found all sorts of princess/ Disney stuff.  Apparently, this is sufficient to already make the whole day a raving success, but we were not done, oh no; we were just beginning.

We set out a little after Arielle and Stacia returned from Target to go to Grass Valley.  There were some RV's I was wanting to look at.  Turns out the one in particular I was interested in sold last week.  Looked at some others, but the one model I was really interested in was not there and would not be there again until sometime in late July.  This is OK.
 
 
We found this house in Nevada City near the one geocache we can sort of claim.  It was built around that big rock.  Apparently, the local natives used to lay out on that rock to soak in the sun and get healed. It looks like a nice way to get to feeling better unless it was the middle of Winter...
 
We found this old fashioned children's wagon alongside the road in front of a Nevada City motel.  Red Ryder wagons did not have anything on these.  This one looked like a lot of fun.  I can hardly imagine how anyone from our modern times would allow any of their kids to even go near it. I am not sure this says good things about our modern times.  We seem to be becoming afraid of our own shadow. Our forebears challenged the untamed wilderness, faced untold deprivations and endured incredible hardships in order to make a new and better life for themselves and their families.  We, on the other hand, complain when the internet goes down for ten minutes, our car air conditioning is not quick enough to cool the inside of our leather upholstered, customized interior automobiles or our toast burns in our computerized toaster.



  







Went to find a place to eat.  Ended up at a Little League baseball game because they had a picnic table there.  It was fun to see the one girl who was playing hit the ball against the back fence - almost a home run.  The guys kept getting struck out or walked.  Arielle went back to retrieve the car just in time to see this same girl punch some guy on the other team dead in the mouth.  She had definitely caught onto some of the less subtle aspects of the game.

We went geocaching only to fail miserably at finding any.  It was so pathetic, we even asked the woman who owned the land at one of the geocaching sites if it was still there.  If it had not been for her, we would have been skunked.  Saw a few new areas but not a single geocache save the one we got with an assist.

Our one pathetic geocache "find"...




Don't get me wrong.  A good day is not defined by geocaching success, RV findings, or lunch without female violence on the baseball diamond. It is defined by hanging out and having fun with four of my most favorite people.  We are spending the remainder of the evening with Tim Hawkins  Some days are just good that way...