Our Daughter Wears Combat Boots...

Cute little boots though

....or she will very soon. Krista has been in Mexico since January. She is working with a ministry she has led several mission trips to assist over the years. Arielle has been down twice.   She knew this would most likely be her last chance to work with them, she will soon be completing her master's degree and plans to enter the Chaplain Corps after she has the degree in hand. She's already ordained, endorsed and working on the experience prerequisites.

She hurt her knee in December. In addition to assisting at the Orphanage, she's been working to rehabilitate her knee, get back to the shape she was in before the injury in preparation for Commissioned Officer's Training, and finish this year of her master's degree with Liberty.  She's hard core determined - we're proud of her and the work she's put in on all fronts in 2017.

Part of her training involves running, dropping and doing pushups, running some more, dropping for sit ups, running some more - you get the idea.  Krista has collected a little training community....

Krista will finish up in Mexico, meet us in Colorado to bury Mom G, and then go to Maxwell AFB for Commissioned Officer's Training (COT). This will be followed by 2 or 3 months in the Chaplain Candidate Program. She will be back in OR to pick up her car the end of July and will drive to Virginia to finish her M. Div in residence.

While we know there are challenges ahead, we know she can do anything God leads her to do....and we're proud of her determined chase after God.

If you'd like to read more about Krista's time in Mexico and keep up with her she blogs at A Walk in the Wild. 

#WYFF - School.....

It's #WYFF - and I'm relieved. 

We spent the day pushing to reach our weekly goals. We are now set to take 3 weeks off and be on track when we return! It's been difficult to stay on track with all of the unexpected happenings this year. We had hoped to be all done by the end of May. We won't be. HOWEVER, we are in our last quarter and I count that as a modern day miracle given all the challenges this year. 

Michael got home this evening. It's nice to be together under one roof. 

More #WYFF (Where's Your Feet Friday) posts can be found at the tab under the blog header.

The Discontent of Gingerbread Man

"Move into the RV with us Gingerbread Man," she said.

"It's an adventure,"  she said.

Then we moved to an RV park....and I spend my days watching....as it rains....

....and rains...

 ...and rains!

To think, I could be in Mexico now with Krista.

The winning Girls team of the 2016 Gingerbread Competition is hosting Gingerbread Man this year. He seems a bit discontent with his adventures at this point.

Rhythm of the Pacific NW

Nolan offered to take the trash to the dumpster today. The sun was shining....and then it wasn't. It came down in LOUD BUCKETS!

Michael is gone, but his colorful gifts brighten our rainy day. 

We're learning to work with the rhythm of the weather here in the Pacific NW. There were brief moments of beautiful sunshine - and we got out and walked. We should have waited for the break to run the trash up.  We've got lots to do inside to keep us busy....though Alex looks a bit suspect.

Fully "Ours" ....and tidbits

We've switched out plates on Nimo - the Jeep. She is now 100% Gherkin. Very soon we'll be in a state where the plates won't garner extra attention. 😏We are getting excited to get back home.

Still so much to accomplish before we leave - any and all prayers are welcomed. Michael is down south with probate stuff again. He just called to say he'll need extra time down there.

Mom will be half way through her radiation tomorrow.

Krista was in the states and called today.

This is our last week of "double-time" school work before we leave for Colorado - which is not on the way to Alaska.

My RV Pantry

One of these is my RV pantry

The green tub, along with some space under a seat, are my RV pantry. Sure, it's a little sad next to Nadine's pantry....but it works.

I'm often questioned how I carry "enough" groceries in the RV for a family with 3 big kids (18, 15, 12).

I did change my mentality of a once a month big trip, partnered with weekly trips for fresh produce. I now think in terms of a once a week grocery trip. I simply don't have enough freezer, fridge or pantry space for more.

When living in an RV, one does NOT want to carry around a lot of weight in food! Every pound of tomato sauce means a pair of shoes, or book that has to be left behind.

Third, there ARE some items which seem to multiply or get pushed to the back and get lost. Some items are difficult to find in obscure grocery stores.  In other words, food does back up and I needed a system to store the few items I keep on hand.  For now, we have spare food under a seat and in a tub. This running list in my bullet journal, helps me KNOW where I have food and what I have on hand when we run across a grocery store.

Running list of food which likes to multiply

Here are a few items I've found harder to find in obscure towns:  SAF Yeast, Whole grain berries, Rapadura, Agave Nectar, specific herb teas I like - I have found most of these things from time to time in our travels.  I also like to keep things like dried apples from the trees in Crescent City and dried bananas on hand. As I'm trying to eliminate sugar these days I don't need a stock of Agave Nectar or Rapadura anyway. 😕

I've gotten very used to cooking in my tiny kitchen.  I will, however,  be happy to someday have a pantry modeled after Nadine's. 😉

RVing Moments

That moment when one simultaneously wonders if Uchi will make like Noah's Ark - AND -  remembers Alex has walked up to the bathhouse. 😜

Two years ago, I LOVED the sound of rain on the roof of The Caboose. It reminded me of being a child and listening to rain on our tin roof in Liberia. Living in an RV one lives much closer to nature - even when stationary in a park for medical reasons.  When it storms -  it affects us.....some days the noise is deafening - but none of us have gone stark raving mad as of yet. I still love the rain on the roof of Uchi (the RV).

Note this is one reason *I* brave the small hot water tank and cramped confines to use our very own shower provided by Uchi. I suppose  big space costs! ::snort::