Ho Hum - Laundry!

Joyful Thoughts
1. Three Christian radio stations as we drive around. I missed that when we were overseas.
2. Dear friends
3. Easy accessibility to kids via technology

I'm impressed with us.  We got up EARLY and got our couch school done before I left the house at 0830.  I had MTOC (Beale Chapel's version of MOPS).

I ran a couple of PWOC errands to hopefully make tomorrow morning a bit smoother. We're still trying to figure out new routines in the new facility. I just don't want to leave home any earlier than 0730.

I got home in time for lunch and a quick visit with Michael. The base is in the midst of an exercise and he pulls night shift - 1800 - 0600....lots of fun for a homeschooling family with kids home all day long. ::snort::

Michael went to work, I went to Walmart to pick up prints and buy as many frames as I could afford for a chapel decorating project.

Arielle is baby-sitting for a small group tonight.

I'm TIRED and I think I'll convince everyone to go to bed as soon as she gets home. Tomorrow will come EARLY.

Barb asked for a closer look at our laundry lines....here you go...I love them. I'm so glad we threw the main pieces in with our household good shipment.  I love zipping outside to hang a load in the middle of school - just a bit of a nature break.

 

 

I put the hangars on every other slot - things dry quicker... I use clothespins as needed to hang pants, skirts, towels on the hangars....

 

There are a variety of laundry helpers in Japan - this one clips on to our pole and has lots of clips - I use it mostly for things like washcloths and panties...and I've gotten good and building a shield for those. ::snort::

 

There is space on the ends to hang big things like towels and sheets....though I need to go see if I can find the big clothespins here......

 

There you have it - all you've ever wanted to know about my clotheslines. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

WE CONQUERED MONDAY

Joyful Thoughts - Day Whatever
1. God is ALWAYS God.
2. God is ALWAYS good.
3. ...got to talk with BreZaak and Josiah tonight

We finished school.

Stacia and I went to hang out with a young Mom who had wisdom teeth pulled today - and her husband's deployed. UGH all the way around if you ask me - but she's a trooper.

We came in and Michael shared Arielle wanted to get in some night driving practice. She said, "It could be good family bonding time."

Zander replied, "Yeah, and then we can all go to heaven together." ::snort::

Bre mentioned to Stacia she'd sent her  a text this morning and Stacia hadn't responded. Stacia had school and then was whisked off to base to be a blessing....and so she sat right down and discovered.....HORRORS - there were LOTS of texts she missed today. ::snort::

The days right now are overly long and emotionally hard and yet this I know....

God is God.

God is good!

God has promised a good plan for each of His children.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Just Saturday

Joyful Thoughts - Day Fourteen

1. ...a morning barely cool enough for an early soak in the hot tub
2. ...a daughter who fixes crepes for Saturday a.m. breakfast
3. ..."When the Game Stands Tall" with the kids while the chap works on a sermon

If you've not seen When the Game Stands Tall it really is worth watching. I enjoyed it. For some reason it has made me  melancholy AND I have an insane urge to visit De La Salle High School in Concord, CA.  BUT it was a great movie.

We are working on a little project to make the library at Far West Campus feel a bit more "home like" and so we checked a few places for inexpensive frames.  Didn't find anything wonderful.

We have a birthday and a new baby at the chapel tomorrow so we did a bit of shopping....

I personally don't think THIS hair style is destined to catch on. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Ninja Twister - Japan Meets America

Three Joyful Thoughts
1. It's Friday.
2. Friends who will come to Pizza and Games at the last minute.
3. Fun conversation, laughter and chocolate.

Friday. I live for Fridays just now. 

Somewhere during the night I got the idea it was TIME to invite Holly, Liza, Cynthia and Daniel over for Pizza and Games at the Gherkins.  Michael agreed. I sent email invites and hoped.

The younger kids and I enacted a marathon of couch school but we got it ALL done for the week. Nolan and Arielle finished school as well.  We've perfected the 4 day "school week" so they can "serve" on Wednesdays in Kids Flight at PWOC.  I've decided to figure out a 1/2 credit for them from all their volunteer service. BUT they still have a full high school case load to finish in four days. They did. Arielle is slightly more amazing as she also babysat Tuesday night and all day Thursday - AND got her week of work done. 

Gherkin adult males - pray for your younger brother - he's entered the Austin zone where mom requires Pride and Prejudice. I am confident he will survive - as you did.

Stacia and I ran to Papa Murphy's. Yes, we USED to make homemade pizza weekly...but honestly Papa does it so well. I've been thrilled to live where a Papa Murphy is conveniently located. It's a wonderful country. ::wink::

Our guests arrived, we visited, and set out food. Michael arrived. We ate and talked. We weren't 100% sure how well this group of youth would gel - but I suspected if they got together outside of chapel and we let them do what they wanted something may happen.....



Spoons Happened

 

And Ninja Twister happened - a Gherkin invented combination

 

And Story Cubes and then Unfortunately - Fortunately

 

 

It was a fun night. Maybe it's the nucleus of a Protestant Youth Group at Beale - if God brings volunteers along to shepherd it...or maybe it's just the start of fun nights for parents and youth to enjoy community. My only regret is I didn't invite the one other family with youth from chapel - I knew "Dad" was out of town - but as we sat and visited I realized all these Dads were out of town too. A great DUH moment! There's always another week. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Joyful, Joyful....

Three Joyful Thoughts - Day Twelve
1. Though temps should NOT be in the triple digits in mid-Sept  - I AM thankful the mornings and evenings are cool. This was not the case in San Angelo.

2. Arielle enjoyed the day with a new family - and made some money doing it. Win/win. LOL

3. An at home day is perfect after Wednesday - even when several hours of it are spent out of home. LOL

And yes, I remember 13 years ago. It impacted our family greatly.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

PWOC Moves to Our New Home

Joyful Thoughts - Day Eleven
1. PWOC's first day in our new facility! CWOC provided hospitality and that was a LIFE SAVER as we all learned what needs to be done to set up in the new place.
2. Thankful for the workout I got running from building to building.
3. Thankful our new Bible study group. I like these girls - I like them a lot. ::grin::

Thirteen hours out of the home and I don't KNOW how our men do this!!!!!  I want to stay in PJ's all day tomorrow. ::snort::

In many ways today felt like another kick off for our women's ministry.  New rooms, new children's rooms, lots of questions... trying to establish new routines which will work smoothly in this place...but WE DID IT. I heard so MANY positives about the new facility. After all the negative comments as we've moved things and cleaned throughout the summer, it was HEARTENING to hear positive. The kids even mentioned how many Moms made comments about the spacious Children's rooms. The only drawback is the bathrooms....and that may have to be a post all of it's own. You KNOW I love to write international bathroom themed emails. Let's just say  I was glad I got cell phone reception and had Katie in my phone. LOL

 

That banner means this is our new home! ::grin:: The building to the right has rooms for Kids Flight, CWOC and a PWOC study. The building in the middle of the photo is the library and is where we hold our general meeting/breakfast and a Bible study. The building to the far left/front is the admin building. It houses the nursery and another Bible study. There are two more buildings we aren't using. Behind the Admin building in the gym - which is where we hold our Sunday a.m. worship service.  It's all new now but I predict it will truly feel like "home" within a month.

 

We pulled some vases, flowers and a photo out of the PWOC closet to put on those rows of shelves.....and Cheri made THIS....I love it. It is firmly at home in the front of the library...right below our "Be Imitators" banner.....We may be able to fill the rest of those shelves with various little fripperies and not have to buy oodles of curtains. LOL

Look at the heart closely- it's the coolest thing for a chapel!



The day is pretty much summed up above....Bible study, board meeting, dropped a couple of books off, clean up, SCHOOL in the afternoon, Bible study at night...and home.  I was SO impressed that the kids DID A FULL DAY OF SCHOOL while I cleaned up and ran an errand. The aura of the library may have impacted them.

 

It feels good to finally be getting use from the facility....Sunday School begins Sunday. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

At Home Tuesday

Joyful Thoughts - Day Ten
1. Hello Napoleon - we meet again. The kids are enjoying Tapestry of Grace - Year 3.
2. I love the luxury of being able to be home to learn with the kids.
3. Two and a half hours to process with a mentor - a true gift from God - at just the right season of my life.

Today was an "at home" day....and I kept it that way. I didn't wear make up. I didn't go buy groceries or run to the store. I know tomorrow will be 13 hours away from home.  We're learning the rhythm of life and ministry for us at Beale.

Today we cuddled on the couch and read about conflict between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. We began reading a fun book based on the diary of Noah Blake.  I introduced Zander and Stacia to Napoleon - an average man who lived a truly exceptional life.  I love exploring the 19th Century!  I believe this is MY 4th time journeying through our 4 year cycle of history. Nolan, Zander and Stacia are all studying the 19th Century at their various levels. Arielle is finishing up high school by studying the Twentieth Century. She studied the 19th century as a Freshman and then we were extended in Japan so she skipped year 4 and began with year 1....while the rest of us studied Japan for a year. LOL

This year the younger set is working through Exploring Creation through Chemistry and Physics by Jeannie Fulbright. Nolan is taking Chemistry (Dr. Wile - Apologia SECOND EDITION - I'll stick with the classic thank you very much ::grin::). Arielle may not do science this year. She has three credits already.

I spent an inordinate amount of my "at home" day doing paperwork and odd "jobs" to keep PWOC running smoothly. I'm ready for tomorrow's first meeting in the new facility, to lead a study, to share a devotional and shepherd a board meeting. LOL

I spent 2.5 hours reconnecting with a dear sister in Christ  -  my mentor. I needed to talk. A lot has gone on since the last time we were able to connect. We took advantage of her window at home to catch up.

The Instant Pot proved its worth again in whipping up a roast for the meat eaters....the rest of us had a yummy assortment of  roasted panko veggies. Alas, Michael arrived home way too late to enjoy any roast.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...