The eagle has landed!

Krista and I sit in the active passenger unloading and loading zone, looking for any glimpse of Michael.

The airlines tell us his plane has landed. He is here in Oregon, somewhere. What a time of the year to be traveling.

Here comes someone, no its not Michael. Maybe it's time to move along a little bit. But we're nestled so nicely right behind the policeman.

I see him.

This is a test blog.

Blast from the Past

We arrived in Hardin, Montana 24 1/2 years ago to be assistant pastors at Hardin Open Bible Church. We had four children (Bre - 6; Krista - 4; Josiah - 2 and Jamin - 6 months). When we left four years later we had 1 1/2 more children (Jared - 1 1/2 and Arielle  - in womb); many priceless lessons, and treasured memories.

Dad came home from coffee one day and told Mom he'd seen Rodale and he said his mother was in town for the month. WE were also in town. It turned out Michael couldn't come with us as he is gallivanting down the interstates - but today Mom and I went to spend an afternoon reminiscing with Lorraine Lachenmeier.

Mom and Lorraine

Lorraine and I worked together on a few Valentine's Banquets, she taught me how to think of big crowds -  movement and food requirements etc.  She was Grandma Lorraine to many children growing up in Hardin Open Bible. I learned much from her.  We had fun today remembering events, people and places.....Lorraine now lives in CA and I travel in an RV - but we met today in Springfield, OR.

Me & Lorraine

 Lorraine's encouragement and friendship is one of many treasured memories from our years in Hardin. 

Exodus Part 2 or Happy Birthday Jared!

.Jared ALWAYS seems to drive off on his birthday - or school begins on his birthday. One of the joys of an early January birthday is that signifies the end of "the holidays." Jared is 22 today and we are proud of the strides he is  making in his life. He will graduate with his Bachelors in Political Science in May 2016.  His senior year looks a bit different than expected. He spent the first semester as an intern in Congressman Conaway's office in Washington D.C.  While there he also took a class or two online - German for sure. The "official plan" was for him to come back to ASU in January and finish his final semester. Before he left, however, his professors had told him he could finish his last semester online and with independent studies if he found a job.  He's found a job. 

Jared is moving to Indiana where he will be one of the field directors for Republican Gov. Mike Pence's re-election campaign. He will oversee the effort in 12 counties. He'll also finish his last semester of his bachelors degree and be back at ASU for graduation mid-May. He will be employed by the campaign through November 2016.

Jared sold his car when he went to D.C. He arrived in Oregon looking for a car. He scoured the papers. He, Josiah, Jamin and Michael went to several dealers. He needed a car that would be dependable enough to drive from OR to IN. It needed to have enough cargo space for his storage items in TX....and to move from IN to wherever he ends up next. He wanted the car to be able to carry campaign volunteers, yard signs and such.  They looked and looked. He kept coming back to one specific vehicle. As I heard the story,  he kept walking in where Michael was and then back out. Finally, he said, "The only thing keeping  me from the Honda Odyssey is my ego," and walked back out. Another time through and he wanted to pursue the Odyssey. It's in really good shape. The owner came down 1/3 of the asking price.  It was within the price range Jared wanted. They took it to a mechanic Izaak recommended and he said it was in awesome shape.  Jared bought the mini-van....and I am proud he has matured enough to put his needs and budget over image. Those traits will hold him well in the future.  It took a family and a full-court press to find a car which fit his needs and get the cash in hand on a holiday but - we did it! These are the big players.

Jared, Josiah, Krista, Michael, Jamin 

 Did I say image? Go big or go home! Jared's life motto. He is embracing the "soccer mom" image....looking for a few bumper stickers.... ::snort:::

Note the soccer ball

Lots of room to move belongings from state to state - and for yard signs

 As the snow storm hit we realized Jared had never driven so far alone (from OR - TX), he's not driven on ice a lot, or over steep mountain passes, and Michael and he had never had a road trip. They left this a.m.  Mike will drive with him through the passes and such and then fly back to us..  We are thrilled to be retired and have lots of flexibility. 

Early this morning the kids gathered downstairs to pray and say goodbye and then watch Jared and Michael skate across to the van....and they're off.

Happy Birthday, Jared. Here in Oregon Krista had a "snow day."  The schools were closed. We stayed warm in the house, did some computer stuff, laundry and moved rooms now that the older boys and Michael are gone.

Exodus Part 1

We had a great week together. It's odd being the parent of adult children. Our times together are over-shadowed by the knowledge that the time together will  come to an end. LOL

Today, it was time for Josiah and Jamin to head home to their "real lives."

Josiah got up early to drive back to Seattle.  It snowed during the night. He bought chains and slid to I 5.  The traffic was slow. The roads and bridges were icy. The five hour trip took him eight hours. He made it home safe and sound and "ready" to pick up his hectic life.

The roads were still iffy this afternoon and Arielle hasn't driven on snow and ice.....she was working until 9:30 p.m. and we didn't want her to drive home on it.  It was easy to drop her off at work as we headed to the airport to drop Jamin off. It's important to remember that we dropped her off at work before taking Jamin to the airport.

We all said our goodbyes and Jamin started through security.

 We left the airport and within an hour began receiving texts. The flight was delayed 15 min. Jared helpfully commented this is "how it all begins," as he remembered spending the night in the Dallas airport last week.  It only seemed fair, as Jamin had a care-free trip out, he should have the adventure going home.  Then we got another text an hour later...still delayed. Then we heard they were delayed ANOTHER  1.5 hours and that they were on the plane, waiting to be de-iced. Something was wrong with the deicing truck. They finally let them get off the plane. We were happy to be here and able to bring Jamin home.

While Jamin wrestled with ticket agents we played Snow Board Kids and had a tea party.

He's baaaaaack! 

Michael needed to pick up Arielle from work, she was unaware of all the plane drama and thought Jamin was back in Dallas.  He stood behind a pillar as she left work. She sensed someone was there. As he stepped forward she swung around with her pepper spray. Michael said he saw what was going to happen and decided to watch it play out. He forgot she had the pepper spray. She recognized him before she sprayed him and Jamin took this photo in the minute she realized her assailant was her big brother. We were happy to see her training kicked in as she closes many night as isn't getting out until after 11 p.m.

 

 It is fun to have Jamin home for another night.  It's been a full day. 

Moving and Celebrating

The first day of 2016 found us helping BreZaak move and celebrating Jared's 22nd birthday while we were all together. 

Izaak and Bre have been working hard all week and today they thought it would be helpful if we joined them. It took an hour for us to move their stuff over. We've done this a time or two. The new place is a 3 bedroom apartment and gives them much more space - or maybe it's just more usable. Izaak and Dakota painted the room a darling pink/white; a lovely border is up, the crib up....so fun. 

Jamin and Josiah brought things down the stairs.....Nolan and Alex brought them to the new apartment....and we girls moved things into the apartment and up to their rooms etc. It worked well. 

Michael and Jared were going "full court press" in a search for Jared's new car  (a separate post). 

Alex

Krista, Arielle, Stacia - part of the inside crew

Nolan

Nolan and Alex - the movers of things from
apartment to apartment

 We had hoped to go to Jung's Mongolian grill - but they were closed. We tried several other spots and they were also closed. We finally settled at Red Robin.  Jared is 22...time flies.

Hour plus wait

Birthday Sundae

Jared, Nolan and Alex - loved the endless fries

Krista and Michael 

Our Selfie

 Josiah found it humorous that we were taking a selfie....I flipped the view and held it, Michael pushed the button and Josiah laughed. #Relationship Goals - he posted on Facebook. LOL

Jan 2nd - Izaak made a few big pots of Chicken and Dumplings for all of us. Mom and Dad came over, Will and Sherri returned and we watched the disappointing Alamo Bowl. ::sigh::

Izaak makes a mean Chicken and Dumpling

Nolan and Alex bought these for Jared's bday - before
the game seemed the right time to give them to him

We had no idea we would have all the kids gathered together this year for Christmas. House-sitting for Will and Sherri was a blessing. When it came time for the five of us to move over and welcome the three elder boys....Krista and Arielle decided to move over with us too.....We had a great time. BreZaak joined us often.

Frosty morning

Two tables of Nertz

We moved back to the girls' home after the game. We settled in. The boys played Seattle-opoly.

We knew the end of vacation was quickly approaching.

New Year's 2015

We are still house-sitting for my brother and his wife. This has allowed us to have a ginormous house, beautiful yard and two wonderful fur babies to play with.   We knew the traveling Gherkins and the adult Male Gherkins would be staying at Will and Sherri's. We hadn't planned that Krista and Arielle (Adult Female Gherkins) would move over with us. They simply couldn't resist the chance for family fun. Ten of us under one roof - that's nearly as perfect as it can get. We gave the D family a pass on sleeping on the floor over here. They've been over a lot. 

Gracie and Jared

Leighla & Me

2015 has been a YEAR for the Gherkins! A year transitions......All of our boys have left San Angelo, Arielle graduated and moved to OR, we retired and moved in the trailer and BreZaak are closing out the year and ringing in the new by moving apartments.  We've had the GREAT joy of expecting our BreZaak's blessing - our grandblessing.  We entered 2015 praying for answers to Michael's health concerns - and Parkinson's Disease entered our lives uninvited and rather surprisingly - but we have 99% of our answers.  It's been a year of going deep with Jesus. He is still good - all the time. 

It's o.k. to say goodbye to 2015 and welcome in 2016. I'm curious to see what God will do this year in  each of our lives. 

We ring out the old with hourly activities.....here are our bags ready to go. 

Izaak brought over a couple of big pans of Enchiladas, Krista made panfuls of steak fries, the rest of us brought yumminess from local delis. Dinner was our first activity. 

Up next was our 2015 gift exchange. 

Stacia was VERY excited for all to open her gifts

Arielle

Izaak got a bracelet making kit as she knows he loves to make
bracelets with her. 

Gpa got a mug about being Strong

Older boys got a little bottle with personal messages about what each means to her

Gma got an elephant mug (she collects elephants)

I got this canvas

Older girls all got polish 

SCORE - Chick Fil A Sauce

BreZaak gave everyone PJ's - wonderful themes.  

The Wookie

 We scored three kindle fires for $35 each on Amazon - they'll be great for the kids in the trailer. 

Alex, Stacia, Nolan open gift

 We got the older girls adult coloring books and funky colored pencils made from birch

Nolan collects Monopoly games - this is Seattle based

This is MY gift - Baby Bosch

 In keeping with giving experiences and not "stuff" which has to be stored and/or hauled with us....we bought THIS.....but first....they opened a gift, found a clue, had to find the next gift and so on....the older helped the younger 3 find their gifts.  Chocolate bars.....

A book....

Graham Crackers and Marshmallows

 Finally, "the gift"

We asked what they thought it was.....well....all the stuff for s'mores, a book....sounds like a campfire....and that's just what it is.  A patio fire pit which will easily travel with us so we can have campfires wherever we go. 

By 8:30 p.m. our 3rd Gherkin Gingerbread Competition was underway.....photos are posted on FB at the Courageous Joy Page for voting. Feel free to click and vote - before 3 Jan. Both houses are great - a bit messy as our time was SHORT. This is a race!

Wooky helps guys

Mad Hatters Tea Party 

Tea pot, cups and table

Santa's Sleigh at Santa's Village

Santa's Village

Krista had planned a Scavenger Hunt for 9 - 10:30; but we were getting a late start....and so we divided into three teams and made Rave Videos.  Maybe some of us will do the hunt next week. 

We talked, played some games and then it was time for THIS. 

Our first family acts of 2016? We came back inside and shared memories, toasted the New Year with sparkling cider and then prayed in the year.