Two Days and a Wake Up!

Two Days and a wake-up until "The Wedding." 

Krista left early for work. BreAnne left a bit later for a slew of errands she and Izaak had on the agenda. 

We headed out to get haircuts for the boys and buy a tie for Michael. We headed, next, to Gateway Mall. We had just enough time (an hour) for the girls and I to check Claire's for hair accessories and Payless Shoes for nude heels. We scored - Claire's gives a 20% military discount AND they were having sales. Payless Shoes had some nude wedge SHOES (no heels) and I bought them - and a little bag. 

The dresses have arrived. The one I'm going to wear is a bit big - but we're going to pin it. I like the color best...and BreAnne says it looks more formal than the other options. Three shrugs also arrived...so I am set for Christmas and Valentines for a few years. ::snort:: 

Chuck E Cheese - a place we usually avoid - was a good place to have another birthday lunch for these two boys....

This time my parents, Lorri (Cousin) and Izaak and BreAnne joined us. 

Michael and the boys headed to a meeting with Pastor Kirk (who will be sharing officiating responsibilities at The Wedding), and to meet Izaak and Bre to build a frame for decorating for The Wedding.)

The girls and I headed back to the house. We knew that Krista would soon be off work AND that Sherri (Sister in law) would be off work.  Sherri had Harmony for the afternoon and Stacia and Harmony wanted some play time. We were thrilled it all worked out.

The girls played and made cookies (Sherri makes some great cookies)....Arielle, Krista and I headed to the grocery store. We've decided to have a brunch Friday morning when all the kids are here and needed to pick up a few items.

Tuesday is "Girl's Night" around BreAnne and Krista's. This was the "last girl's night" - but things go away from us all.

It took those making the frame a bit longer than expected...but had dinner simmering....everyone walked in at the same time.....Izaak and Bre, Michael and the boys, Will and Sherri dropped by - so we all ate. Semper Gumby - keeping the plans fluid and flexible.  Krista and Arielle created seating arrangements and we had a hasty bite to eat...

Kids

Unattached

Coupledom

 Leila (the dog) WAS lying across Nolan and Dakota but moved as I snapped

Finally, at about 9 p.m. we headed out to Starbucks...but Starbucks was closed. Most spots in Springfield seemed closed. We ended up at McDonald's. It was fun to have a bit of girl time.....tomorrow is going to be crazy busy...last I checked there are five appointments on the schedule.....

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

Zander is Twelve!

WOW. Zander is 12 today. He is our Olympic Baby. The kids watched the winter olympics while Michael and I were at the hospital welcoming him into the world.

We are amazed at the changes in this young man in the past few years. Nine years ago Zander didn't interact with us (unless it was on his terms and that was very seldom), he seemed to always be on sensory overload (crowds, Sam's Club etc), meltdowns were the norm of our days and he often would spin, rock and hit his head on things.  We've been on a journey and we've had to learn to relax, let him set the pace of the journey and trust God with this unique young one.

I'll have to look on the external hard drive for a photos of him when we arrived in Japan. He seemed to change the most during that assignment.

Here he is one year into the assignment in 2010. 

Zander - right side - back  -  Feb 2010

We seem to travel on the boys' birthdays. Here Zander is last year on the ferry to Miyajima!

And since then? He's grown about 6 inches - maybe a foot. His voice is changing. He's getting a bit of a mustache. Yep, physically he's changing.

Zander is learning how to interact more with others all the time. He puts up with humor and even enjoys some of it these days. He can handle more noise and stimulation - he's developed some coping techniques. We give him lots of down time - alone time - to recharge.  He no longer rocks, spins or yells at chapel choirs to quit making noise.....he does from time to time lean over the pew in front of him or hold his hands over his ears....but hey - it's progress.

Zander has become a giver - I have learned to suggest he decide BEFORE chapel how much is going in the plate, rather than emptying his wallet.

He is great with young boys.

Yesterday in Springfield

His big accomplishment of this year is finally breaking the reading code! We are so proud of him. We had all hoped 10 would be the year for proficiency in reading and we were happy at his progress last year...but in his 11th year he DID IT. He began with Calvin and Hobbes, moved on to Hobbit, then Fellowship of the Ring, and is now reading The Two Towers. He has unlocked the code.

Zander has an incredible memory. He can quote whole movies after watching them once. Due to some quirky filters this means we really need to watch what he hears...and we need to help him learn which lines may be inappropriate in various situations. Bugs Bunny can pound his heart and whistle when he sees a pretty woman - real men don't.

Zander looks at the world in a delightfully quirky way - we are all enriched by his perspective.

We love you, Son! We are blessed to be your parents.

Yes, Zander is really Alexander....and he has transitioned to being Alex to most everyone but Mom and Krista. Since I write the blog....he is often Zander on the blog. I try to remember to honor his desires and so most often in person he is Alex. ::grin:: 

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

Secrets

To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables. (Mark 4:11)

For nothing is hidden except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. (Mark 4:22)...He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples (Mark 4:34). 

Via Google Images

Why do we all love a good secret?

When you tell me a secret you communicate  you trust me; you consider us to be friends.

Have you noticed some just seem to walk closer with Jesus than the rest of us? They seem to KNOW His character, His will in a given situation...almost like they have an inside line.

I've become convinced it is essential we spend time alone with Jesus. Time in His word, in worship, in prayer, in simply sitting before Him with no words. Why? This is how we come to truly experience Him - know Him.  If  I were to publish one of Micheal's love letters from his last deployment...any of you could read the words. You would know what the words say. I, also, can read the words and know what they say. BUT I also KNOW Michael. I can hear his voice as I read the words. I can read between the lines. I know what Michael smells like and looks like. I know how the situation he is in is affecting him.  We spend time with Jesus so we can KNOW him in this way.

I don't think God hides things from us to be cruel. I think He sometimes hides things from us to motivate us to search for Him.

There are some mysteries, plans, secrets only revealed as we are in relationship with King Jesus. 

The gospels illustrate for us that disciples enjoy intimacy with the master and greater access to His thoughts and plans. 

I want to be a disciple! I want to be an ever closer follower of Jesus. 

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

Eight Gherkins in OR....

We had a great, boring travel day. We never got the CD out of the car stereo, but we bypassed with a laptop and an audio cord....


This made us laugh, though as we contemplated we came up with reasons for a handicap semi-truck parking spot. 

We do have a funny story from the day - but I need more time to write it up. It involves a man and his trailer leaving his family in a gas station restroom, several dashes across a busy street and lots of laughing bystanders. ::grin:: 

I ran out to the local fast food joint and found breakfast for the crew.  We discovered apples slices and OJ are about the only vegan options at McDonalds in the a.m. 

We arrived in Springfield early afternoon and parked here beside Drew and Krista's home. 

 We grabbed some lunch  and  headed over to my parents home. Mom had a birthday today. Lorri (my cousin) had picked out a wonderful cake for her - the perfect for her really - a Chocolate ice cream cake. 

 We visited, watched some Olympics, and then when the girls were off work, we left for the rest of the night.

Michael and I stopped and visited with my brother, Will, and his wife, Sherri. Nice visit. They are right next door to Drew and Krista's. It was fun to see Krista's  new home - though we are used to visiting here when Will and Sherri lived in the home. Drew is Will and Sherri's second son. Visiting last night reminded me of the trip he made to visit us in San Antonio 9 years ago.

Drew (right - just threw darts) and Zander had a good dart game going. 

A rousing game of Imagine If

Drew, Krista and Bre all have early mornings on Tuesday. We are snuggled down in the trailer. 

Please pray with us for traveling weather conditions for the four Gherkins who still need to get here before Friday. They are due to fly in on Thursday. The airport has been closed due to weather. It's warming up and raining here so I'm guessing the snow/ice will leave and the airport will open. However, their part of TX is under a severe weather ban now and we are praying that passes before Thursday. They will need to drive to Dallas to catch their flight - and that's a 3 - 5 hour drive.

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

From Striving to Thriving

Look what I happened upon in the Bible Study I'm doing? It tied right in with Mark 3 - Withered Hands. 

Thus says the Lord, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant." Jer 17:5-6 

Via Google Images

Man 1 is striving; yet withered. He is  like a bush in the desert; living in stony wastes....a picture of a withered man.

How did he get this way?

• Striving....depending on his own strength
• Striving against the Lord  - he turned his heart from God
• trusts in mankind

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord, for he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but it's leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jer 17:7-8

Man 2 is thriving! He thrives in the hard times; he thrives in the good times. He's ever fruitful!  

How did he get this way? 

• He trusts the Lord - trust motivates confident obedience in the hard times
• His roots go deep - into the water of the Word, the water of relationship with Jesus
• He's prepared for heat and drought! He's been feeding deeply. 
• His leaves remain green; he continues to yield fruit

Man one is trying to "get their on his own." He trusts in himself. I do this at times.The  Holy Spirit fingers a need for restoration in my life and I jump to action....am I partnering with Jesus? Sometimes. All too often I am trusting in my own strength; trying to fix myself, rather than trusting in Jesus.  Judy Rossi writes, in Enhancing Your Marriage , "The more we look outside the Source for answers, the more prolonged our search will be for the solution." I prove this over and over. 

A thriving man trusts the Lord.  I need to confess my sin, repent  and trust HIM to fix me, to clean me up. (1 Jn 1:8-9). I partner with Him in my restoration by, "Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, and making no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Rm 13:14

A thriving mans spends time in the word, time in fellowship and time shut up alone with Jesus. A thriving man trusts deeply in grace! 

I want to be man 2.

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

We're At The Border

We are settled into a campsite in Yreka, CA.  We've been told for leave purposes the "local area" is the OR/CA border to Fresno.  We are technically still in the local area and will continue the trip when leave begins tomorrow. 

We had a huge dinner at Black Bear Diner. EVERYTHING from the breakfast burrito and pancakes to the chicken dinner was appallingly large. 

The only snag of the trip so far is the new Adventure in Odyssey CD is stuck in our car stereo. This is very disappointing. We are in the middle of Volume 53....the trip goes much smoother and faster with Odyssey playing.  I think I'll find some pliers in the a.m. and try to pull it out before we finish the trip. We've also discovered one item we left behind - praying that's all. 

Game time! Story Cubes

Michael "watches the passes" via live cam and checks weather forecasts - The weather advisory for travel north of Roseburg, OR (the last bit of our trip) has been lifted! 

 It should take 4 hours or less to reach OR - but since we are pulling a trailer we are required to drive 55 mph. In any event we'll be there tomorrow afternoon. 

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

Withering Roots

Other seed fell on the rocky soil where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.  Mark 4:5 - 6

Sometimes things dry up and wither through no fault of our own. 

Via Google Images

However, shallow or unhealthy roots will always cause a plant to wither.

It's a theme I continue to see in Scripture. It is vitally important we take the time to disciple new believers. It is important our roots go deep into Jesus and His word.

What am I doing to strengthen my root system?

What am I doing to help others strength their root systems?  You say you aren't a leader? Are you married? Do you have friends? Do you work? Are there others in your workplace? Do you have a room mate? Do you have children? This is your circle of influence.

Are you root bound? Are you all tangled up in yourself and not giving a thought to those around you?

Yep, more on this tomorrow.

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