Wheels!

"Once we're all settled here, I  think I'm going to like CA." 

I'm not sure what "all settled" really means to Stacia...but one thing I did know....Stacia and Zander have been missing their bikes. They had outgrown their bikes and used them well; they simply weren't worth bringing back.....

 I bought Stacia a bike. Zander will take Nolan's bike over. Nolan is ready for a men's bike. Zander will get a brand new men's bike in about another 6 inches of growth I would think. LOL

I also bought them each a scooter. We'd promised them new ones when we left their old ones.

I think this is what being settled looks like

This morning the three of us went on a 40 minute bike ride. It was beautiful weather and were able to fully explore our subdivision. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Feels Like Monday

We thought we'd have a new van by this evening. We're content to wait. God knows what He is doing.  I'm thankful I have the beast to drive while we wait for Him to reveal a more appropriate set of wheels. ::grin:: 

Nolan had an appointment today. The doc used to be in the military. He called our insurance and gave them an earful. They called and told us they would authorize his meds/treatment as it was a "continuation of treatment." Um...many have already told them this on both sides of the ocean...but sometimes repetition is good.  In any event we thought this was Nolan's last appointment and last month of meds, but doctor wants to go another month. We are thankful Tricare finally authorized the conclusion of Nolan's treatment. 

Nolan and I toured a local gym. This is 8 minutes from our home instead of the 25 minutes to base. We are in the process of running the numbers. Would it be cheaper, over two years, for three of us to have memberships at the gym or to buy exercise equipment? I simply don't have two hours to dedicate outside of the home for daily workouts....and the gas prices are killing us in the beast. LOL 

It hit me today....I'm a stay-at-home-homeschooling mom who is FINALLY staying at home! We like that. We  school at our leisure. I am not subconsciously rushing to "get er done." It's a nice pace.  Still a lot to do each day; but we are all benefiting from being home more and not rushing to be done to play outside or attend the next meeting or activity.  The kids are sharing their hearts much more frequently and fully. We are caring for each other better. It's good. 

Reeves farm contacted me to discuss yesterday's mix up. They're bringing a box of veggies by tomorrow. 

We even had time to do two experiments today....one to demonstrate air pressure and lift......

Blowing over the top of the straw

As you blow over the top of the straw,  water is drawn up the straw and squirts out the top. 

Documenting the action isn't our favorite part

The second experiment was to make two gliders - one with short fat wings and one with longer rectangle wings - and see which would fly furthest and why.

Zander was thrilled to search through Dad's "killer tool box" for a tape measure.

Part of any experiment is the hypothesis. I asked Stacia, "Which glider do you think will fly the farthest?

"The one with the long wings."

"Why?" I expected to hear about drag, aerodynamics.....

"It looks like the wings on the airplanes and THEY flew all the way from Japan."

Who can argue with THAT logic? ::snort::

They were told they could color and decorate their planes; our kids preferred to use the Kashi logos.

We flew each plane 10 times - 40 flights in all. We averaged the distance. Zander's "worked." Stacia's - not so much. From her we learned it is nearly impossible to eliminate all but one variable. 

The booklets we made today

By the way - we have 500 straws (needed eight) and five lbs of clay (needed four little balls). If anyone has some great craft ideas send them my way. Zander says he can come up with ideas. I cringe.

This is a real man. Several 12+ hour days in a row...a very sore shoulder....still he came home and set about rebuilding broken furniture.

We'd appreciate your prayers for healing for Michael's shoulder. He's been granted a referral for an MRI. YES. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Normalcy - Comfort Food

We're entering this week a bit worn out.  Michael was out until 9:45  last night with a base incident...that would be an 11 hour work day on a day off. ::snort:: He's now been gone for 12 hours today....this is going to be a busy week.  The kids and I are trying to double up on school so we can go play next week. 

I was supposed to take Nolan to get labs drawn this a.m. but he woke with a headache and nauseated. I gave him water.....got some food in him and he felt fine the rest of the day. I do believe it was the lack of food which made him feel so crummy. He has an appointment tomorrow; we'll try the labs at 0730 tomorrow.

We took a giant step to normalcy when all this was hauled away from our home.  

We did a couple of hours of school and then raced across to base for a Homeschool Meet and Greet. The younger two knew many of the kids from PWOC  homeschool enrichment class. We all had an enjoyable time. We only stayed an hour as we "had" to be home for cardboard to be picked up and to receive delivery of our farm-fresh produce.  Our farm-fresh produce hasn't been delivered. I'm not sure this is going to work for us.  Missing fun to meet a driver who doesn't show is simply not cool. ::snort:: I have been given several other CSA farms to contact. I may do so. I'm still weighing if I want less ORGANIC/NON GMO produce or more produce.

Speaking of groceries...I found my marching orders for the week on the pantry door. What a hoot!  I was grateful for this after a couple more hours of schooling....I did indeed opt for number one on the list...Having the list saved brain cells.

Comfort food - Yakisoba. I wasn't the only one considering it to be comfort food. Stacia began to talk about the first time Akikosan showed us how to make Yakisoba with her first bite.

Arielle had the best comment of the night, "It's funny how one dish of food can take you back to so many places."  Yep - Akikosan, festivals, cold winter nights....love our yakisoba....and the 100 Yen store dishes too!

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Settled?

"Are you settled?"

Via Google Images

I'm not 100% sure what that means.

Our boxes are unpacked, the house is in order, we are buying vehicles, the cupboards are full and we are starting to walk out our fall schedule.  This seems to be what people are asking.

"Yes, we're settled."

I woke up at 0500 with dreams of the children and myself saying goodbye to dear friends. Many faces paraded through dream land. My eyes were leaking and my pillow wet. (No, all moves don't hit this hard).

I don't think our hearts have completely settled, yet.

It is GOOD to have had such dear friends.

We are choosing to look for such friends here.

We are choosing joy.

We are remembering to cherish memories, people and place -  without clinging to them.

We miss family-like friends for the kids to play with every afternoon.

I miss people who know my story. I miss those who know my passions for the kingdom. I miss those who KNOW when I'll be rolling my eyes and slyly check to see if I am.  I miss friends who  know where God has granted success and failure. I miss people who know what "I can do" and what I can't.  I miss people who know my struggles. I miss those who know the demons I fight and drop all to go for a walk when I want nothing more than to consume a pan of brownies.

It IS a glorious sorrow. It is good to have loved so many, so deeply.

Ps 63:8 "My soul clings to You {God}; Your right hand upholds me."

I will cling to Him; not to a face, an experience, a group, a season, a location. I will cherish these. I will hold them fondly in heart and memory. Ah, the memories.

"Even here!"  This morning I remind myself, "Even here, His hand will lead me, and His right hand will lay hold of me {settle me in the land}".

He is still our home - in all generations. He is our dwelling place. (Ps 91:1). He graced our lives with dear friends and experiences. He will do it again - in His timing. I'm content in the wait. I'm content to sit with Him and see where He will lead. I've learned it's best to wait for Him rather than rushing to create the "norm" - or so He whispers in this season. He is leading differently in this move - that's o.k. He leads, I follow...or so it should be.

I will give thanks for the previous season. I will pray for those we love. I know how to settle my soul. Jesus is near.

"Yes, we're nearly settled."

{Note: It may be normal for me to have dreamed of loved people this morning. I spent the weekend catching up with dear friends, I went to church on Sunday and missed our Misawa Church family, Joretta preached on loving God and loving our neighbor - which makes me smile big and sweetly  reminds me of PWOC Asia Region and a season of ministry in Misawa. 

Many seem to think military families are "shallow" and move with ease from place to place. You could never say goodbye to the people and places you know and love. Many seem to think they love deeper than military families - or missionary families. I share, so you see, it hurts, its hard, we love as deeply as you do. The Shepherd, however, has called us to serve Him in service to the country we love.  We put a good face on it. We make it look easy. Some moves ARE easier than others. I would guess we are not much different than you; we simply serve in a different part of the harvest. We all live to follow His lead.}

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sunday's Style

Arielle wanted to try something new with Stacia's hair last night - much to Zander's glee. Stacia was labeled a "straw head." I have no clue what that really means  but Stacia took it personally.

All is forgiven this a.m. as she woke up with CURLS. Joyful shouts of, "I look like Harmony," fill our home and probably woke up Michael.

Happy Sunday.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Prepared for Fall

Michael and Nolan spent the day at Lake Tahoe on the PMOC's 11th annual "Advance."

The rest of us hung out at home. Arielle worked on an application for a summer internship. The younger two played games, watched movies, created all sorts of scenarios with Legos, dinosaurs and dolls. I wrote "real emails" to friends.....responses dating back to 3 July. It was good to take the time and write "letter-like emails"  to dear friends.

We also found time to put out the fall decorations.I know it's early....but we see Halloween things up and that's our signal to go fall and Thanksgiving.  I also know we are busy during the week and have been on the weekends too - this was the window I've been watching for.

 Arielle commented that something seems wrong to have scarecrows with palm trees. She may have a point.

The rest of our things went inside. I observed our decorations, which were plentiful for our Texan home, seem dwarfed at this home. Just maybe our over-abundance of Christmas decorations will be right for this house. Then they'll go away before our things are moved again. LOL

In keeping with our commitment to live frugally, I think I will use what I have rather than buy hay bales this year. I'm thinking a box with straw glued on top and front will work fine. ::snort:: Or maybe I'll just leave it with the spartan look.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Doing A Few Things

I've stayed on SCHEDULE with everything but blogging this week.  

It's 5:00 p.m. and I have had a quiet time, enjoyed a 3 pile walk with Stacia (not a type o), taught two children History, Lit, Science, Geography, helped two through math and one through phonics, read 40 minutes of "Fellowship of the Ring" with Zander, got one son and a husband off to a PMOC men's retreat, helped one apply for a summer internship, researched a van, had tea with three children at home, and ordered pizza in. I've NOT had a shower...but all I'm o.k. with where I'm at. The main things are done...and most days I get the shower in before 0800. 

In the past year God has truly worked into my heart lessons about doing "A Few Things Well." (Click for a good read.) Ruth says it well, 

And so, I’m choosing to live a quiet life, work (diligently) with my hands, and to strive to do a few things well. The few things that matter. The few things I’ve been given to do. The few things that count for eternity.{Snip}

I’m just picking and choosing; I’m filtering and sifting. I’m discerning and decluttering. I’m moving things up to the top, and letting others work their way down. I’m letting go of fear of missing all the excitement that’s going on out there, and attending to the mission field right here at my kitchen counter. 

We have been AMAZED  how fast AMAZON Prime arrives to our new home in CA. I discovered Subscribe and Save and have been checking prices between them and Vitacost and local stores. I can order the thing or two  I need and not have to take hours to drive to town, shop and come home. We're focused. LOL

Arielle was thrilled with Wednesday's packages

Zander races to meet the Ontrac driver each day. 

Um...glad we like the Rooibos tea - I didn't read close enough to see it was six boxes. ::snort:: These boxes have led to Stacia begging for tea time each afternoon. It's a fun habit to reinstate from decades past. 

Some strange blue eyed animal in CA? 

I realized Tuesday I need straws and clay for Science....Wed. was PWOC and Amazon guaranteed it would arrive on Thursday - it did.  Living the good life....

Stacia enjoys spending time with me. She asked to go on a walk this morning...and we added Yuuki...thus the 3 pile walk; 40 min walk. ::snort:: We spotted a 15 pass van in another part of the subdivision, complete with stick figures in the window. Stacia is sure we should take brownies to them with a note that says, "We are new to CA and have the same kind of van as you. We have nine kids. Maybe you can take a break from homeschooling and meet us at the park."  Funny thing is - I'm very tempted. ::snort:: 

I scheduled Friday for experiments, working on our science notebooks and educational games; along with our Tapestry. This worked well.

A new friend stopped by (giving the kids a most welcome break) with this helmet! It's the coolest thing. Zander is thrilled. No one will be teasing him for having a "lady's" helmet NOW....though it wasn't a lady's helmet in the first place. He LOVES it.

Glad it's Friday. Pizza's just arrived - too tired to even make any.  We're going to watch movies, eat, maybe sit in the hot tub.....not a bad first week of "doing it all."  Can you tell which page belongs to which student?

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...