Fantabulous Friday!

Yes, I AM thankful it's Friday!

This is a treat I try to work in on Fridays.....phonics review via games. 

The real treat of the day was having a sweet family over for dinner. We had eight children in the house again....and some adult conversation too. It doesn't get much better than this. 

This little one has perfected his marshmallow eating style....put it on the stick, take it off and eat it. ::grin:: 

The kids organized  charades inside. Here they plot their strategy. 

Elijah  faithful in the midst of all the false prophets

See the blonde little one? She called me "Gem ma" - Yep - Grandma. Great night. 

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

God Provides

 At a time when I've simply not been able to find the energy reserves to begin baking bread again.....

God provided through the commissary's choices last week. Many commissaries around the world were discounting dated items before the shut down. Ours didn't. Today they began giving food away that is past date or near date. Michael came home with a pallet of mostly whole grain breads: flat breads, English muffins, bagels and sour dough bread.

I figure I have another month to get the starter going and find the energy to begin baking. I'm happy.

In other news I had all my labs run on the first. The doctor called with lab results today. OK she CALLED yesterday, but when I called back the front desk put me on hold. Five minutes into that routine I realized if I hung up she would call me back when she was available and I wouldn't have to spend another 40 minutes on hold to talk to the front desk to leave her a message. ::snort::  My time counts too.  She called back this a.m.

My fear was  all the labs would be normal and I would be told this is middle age. BUT I also KNOW Hashimotos and suspected my numbers were high again. I feel best when the T4 is  1 - 1.5. When we left Japan the T4 was 2.25. Now it's 3.7.  Even conservative docs begin raising meds at 4.   I have no energy. I push for a couple of hours and then must sleep. I have trouble with short term memory. My skin is flaking. My nails have split. I've gained some weight. My hair is falling out....and so they upped my Synthroid again. Within a couple of weeks these symptoms should go away. Well.....the weight gain will stop but loss won't be automatic - everything else usually reverts like magic. ::snort::

In the past two months it was tough to embrace the perimeters of freedom which Jesus  led me to. I felt crummy. I was gaining weight. What was the point? Obedience. Freedom from addictions. I'm happy I maintained as all my other labs are great....I'm on  a good course with all but the thyroid..and if I HAD said forget it with this nutritarian lifestyle, I would be in a much worse spot in several areas.

I'm so thankful I don't have to find the energy to find wheat berries, bake and start a starter. I'll rest until I feel more energetic.

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

Moving - AGAIN?

Got your attention didn't I?  ::snort:: Moving is a way of life in the military. Moving offices AGAIN after two months on station seems a bit over-achieving.

While the younger two went to the home school room and I went to PWOC Bible Study, the older two took a break from school to help Michael move his office down the hall.

From no closets to three closets - ah the wealth! 

Dilbert Break 

I enjoyed having the older ones on base with us this week. They really like having the house quiet to get a lot of school done on Wednesday morning. Michael and I are appreciative of their willingness to help Michael move his office - QUICKLY....there's an inspection to prepare for.

We redeemed the afternoon with a bit of school. Arielle is less than thrilled to be doing a Biology lab with Nolan this year....but I told her when she got out of it in Japan that we WOULD make it up later.

The photo cracks me up - it's classic and stereotypical as well! I cheered her up by explaining she'll love it when we get around dissecting things. ::snort::

 Ah - this is better.....

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

We ARE the People of Walmart

Five trips to Walmart - three weeks of waiting -  and we got the call to come pick up Nolan's meds.  I enlisted the girls for this quick trip. 

"Staying Alive, staying alive..." 

I was back in the decade. 

I began to hum  - and  then sing along. 

"Ah, ah, ah, ah...staying ALIIIIIIIIvvveee..."

I glanced up and Stacia was going through her "program" - right there in the aisle. 

It looked like fun.

I joined her. 

We twirled, we bopped, we boogied. 

I thought Arielle would join us. 

I glanced up and she was red and looking down at the wheels of the cart. 

I told her no one was watching.

She informed me they WERE watching. She told me there are security cameras. She told me ::gasp::

::snort::  "Years from now you'll be a mother daughter special on the People of Walmart." ::snort::

She couldn't shame us. We laughed harder and harder.

She didn't join us.

She told us on the way home she saw the exact moment when the idea of dancing entered my mind and she tried to distract me, but wasn't fast enough. I laughed until I cried again.

It was needed.

I wholeheartedly endorse doing something off the wall once in awhile  - especially if you have a young people-er in your family mix.

It made me smile and remember Craig...and this photo....and high school years in Bislig.

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

Meteor Mondays

I dreamed last night of a little attachment to the Bosch which I'd forgot I had. The Bosch French Fry Disc. I used it all the time in TX where we ran a produce co-op and had tons of potatoes.....I never used it in Japan - where Gold Yukons were really worth their price in gold. I dreamed about making oven fries...and tonight we had both potato and sweet potato oven fries.  It's a good Monday.

Family circle reminded us to "stay alert" and we had a nice talk about what it looks like to live with a sense of expectancy....then.....

We headed to the hot tub to watch meteors....yep....we love Mondays.

Now, I'm grabbing a cuppa sleepy time tea.

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

Reconnecting!

We last saw Hous, Tami and kids eight years ago. We were stationed together at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Both families have nine children - both families now have four children at home. It was fun to meet up with them again as they travel to their new assignment at Maxwell with Officer's Christian Fellowship.  We chatted briefly at chapel and then had them over for dinner, ultimate Frisbee, tag, ice cream and lots of talking!! 

Some of us

Richard and Zander opted to eat outside

Our older children have missed having youth to visit with....this was a blessing! Everyone had a great time - though they really didn't remember each other from eight years ago.

Guess what? The Waring girls showed me how to use the timer on my camera! Here's a photo of all twelve of us! Even Yuuki cooperated!

Richard (front) was a baby & I was pregnant with Stacia (front)
last time we were together

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

Japanese Class

Our  high school students wanted to take more years of Japanese. They'd already worked through Pimsleur. Arielle wanted to be "fluent." Nolan was game to give it a shot too.  I began to look for programs.

I found some sites which would work for the younger two. Finally, I called Ryu and Kim. I went to college with Kim. We reconnected again in Tokyo. Ryu, Kim and Jun have since immigrated to America. Kim teaches English to Japanese students. I wondered....would she be willing to teach these two.

Ryu will teach them! He's the native Japanese speaker in their home.  Kim purchased some books for the kids in Japan, a friend of hers brought them over....and they're off.

Ah - the wonder of Web Ex.  They'll meet weekly via the Internet. I promised Akikosan we'd not forget our Japanese. I think it's a promise we can keep.

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