BIBLE STUDY

My Trailer Sanctuary

This week I began facilitating my first online Bible study group.  I've already learned much and I'm sure I'll learn much more in the next 8 weeks. This proves you CAN teach an OLD DOG new tricks. ::snort::  I'm truly enjoying this group of women, their willingness to be transparent and their hearts which beat with passion for Jesus.  On a personal level it has been a blast to have women from many different assignments participate - to study again with them and to watch pieces of our scattered years of military ministry form a mosaic. Exciting. There are a couple of family members in the study, we range from those exploring their relationships with Jesus to those who have been Christians for decades, we range from 22 to 60's, there are women from our first assignment and from our last assignment, military and civilian, full-time RVers and ranchers;  and yes, we cross denominational lines...the fellowship, however, is SWEET because we have the grace of Jesus in common.

I got up this morning and after my quiet time, I posted a bit to the group....and responded to some thoughts shared by others.....then took Yuuki for the walk she was promoting. Everyone was sleeping and I left my stuff on the table.

I got Holy Spirit goose bumps when I walked back into the Caboose to see this!

Love God Greatly has created kids' journals - I got one for Stacia. She doesn't like coloring so I can do the coloring sheets. I use the free PDF files and the coloring sheets aren't included. Stacia was doing Bible study on her own initiative. My 10 yo was excited to do the same study her 28 yo sister, 22 yo friend and mom are doing too. She was writing out the Scripture.

These pencils make a mess! 

I gave her a few pointers on what SOAP (or SOAK) stands for. I shared some abbreviations I use. I explained asking herself the 5 w's and an h; always looking to see what you can learn about Jesus/God in a verse; and if there is anything you need to start doing or stop doing as good ways to start observation.

I explained she could write out her observations and application or draw a photo. She told me, "I'm more of a word person than an artist." I loved that - I could have said it.  I left her alone....and as I snuck glances at her I noticed she was imitating me....and that's an o.k. thing if I'm following Jesus.

She finished up and asked to share it with me - and I got a glimpse that maybe, like her mom, her heart will beat with a passion to learn and share. We sat and talked and I commented if I COULD draw I would love to draw a throne of grace...and she drew....

I loved her prayer. Once again showing children do not have a Junior Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit who gives great insight to a 30 yo and 50 yo gives understanding and insight to a 10 yo.

No, I will not share her Bible studies every day and yes, I did have her permission this time. At its heart the blog is a family journal and this is a milestone in our estimation. LOL 

Japanese Added to the Caboose

This is a sure sign we've truly figured out how to make trailer-life work for us and that we've adjusted to Michael's diagnosis.

Today, Nolan was able to resume weekly Japanese lessons. Arielle joined from Oregon, Ryu and Kim taught from Idaho and Nolan participated from the bunk house of the Caboose in CA.

The kids and I will keep "working" with our program to pick up conversational Japanese (knock off Rosetta Stone), Michael and I are trying to learn hiragana - the sign we're ready to start official lessons too.  

 

OF COURSE this event evoked deeper thoughts and emotions than realizing I should take Nolan for a hair cut......it was EXCITING to hear Japanese in the home again. We all sort of lost heart thinking we'd not make it back to Japan.....this is another act of surrender and faith in 2016.  I surrender my expectations God will act in any set way in regards to us and Japan......but in faith, we'll continue to prepare to serve in Japan until we hear, "No - go pastor in Moccasin, MT."

We'd love any helps for learning hiragana you happen to know.....

Coming Home

How will they feel about being back in a trailer after living in beautiful homes for three weeks?  Will moving back to the trailer depress them? Can a trailer ever really be home? Has the novelty worn off? Are they ready to find a real home?

 I know folks wondered if we'd have doubts about living in a trailer after all the fun we had this month. The answer - NOPE! We LOVED seeing family in OR. We LOVED living in beautiful homes. The thing is, living in the trailer allowed us the flexibility to house-sit. It allowed us the flexibility to stay an extra week for our grandblessing's ultrasound.

  

We drove up to the Trailer and all felt, "Home! We're home."  We spent yesterday unpacking, restocking food, filling propane...and smiling. Today, we drove by our old home to pick up some mail which had inadvertently slipped through the post office.....I wondered how it would feel.

 We loved this neighborhood and house - but I didn't feel like breaking down and begging Michael to get us back into a "real home." ::snort:: We were content to come "home" to the Caboose.  O.K. I did consider begging him to buy a portable hot tub. LOL

I found it interesting this afternoon to see a discussion on a sister-friend's Facebook timeline comparing tiny homes and trailers. Someone commented,  "A tiny home could become a home, but a trailer will always be a retreat." Um......nope. Ours IS our teeny tiny home and we love it.  Only our favorite things surround us.  Cleaning takes a fraction of the time. We're learning empathy for those who live a mobile lifestyle...and those without "stationary" homes. Living a simple life is much easier.  We were able to not only live on our budget last month (which is 2/3's less than our active duty pay), but save over $1,000. Family closeness happens naturally from sunup to sundown. In short, we live here. We do everything we did in a stick & brick (S&B) house. This is home as much as any of our other addresses have been. For now - this is the season of rest God ordained for us - and we're loving it.

In the past three weeks we packed our bags and moved them to new homes or different rooms 5x.....and several commented one of the big benefits of our trailer is traveling without packing and unpacking. Does this mean we live in a giant suitcase? I figured this out immediately - but it would appear the rest of the family has come to dislike packing as much as I do. ::snort::

A new purchase is sure to make the trailer even more "home like." We've had camp Wi-Fi. This means it's not secure AND it's not very dependable. I could blog, load photos, stream at 3 - 5 a.m. otherwise - we headed to the lounge, shower-house or laundry for wifi.  I worried about state parks with no wifi when we began traveling again.

 

It wasn't cheap - but considering all the options: Sprint Karma Go (sprint map shows sketchy in many parts of the country) buy a 60 gig data Verizon plan , or lease an unlimited Verizon line on eBay - this is the one that made us the most comfortable.  Even with our up-front cost, this will pay for itself in 2 - 9 months when considering the other Verizon options. Our monthly cost will be $70, as opposed to $120 - $410..... we assumed a grandfathered contract. The owner and us did this in a conference call with Verizon. It's all on the up and up. We realize Verizon could cancel these contracts - but at this point they simply raised the price and we're happy to pay their fees. Our contract is directly with Verizon....and we have reliable, fast wifi once again.

We enjoyed a couple of skypes this weekend and will begin Japanese lessons tomorrow.

Yes, a trailer can be home. 

Note Michael's transformation from military member to civilian. The beard is grown. The hair may lay down in a week or two.....I'll have to do a side by side soon. 

Mixed Messages

It seems the city planners were unsure of their message! ::snort:: 

#WYFF - On the Road Again

 We said goodbye to BreAnne last night.

We said goodbye to Krista and Arielle this morning.

We drove to Mom and Dad's and traded van seats (which we'd put in for our time in OR so we could all ride together) for tubs of school books (which we need when we're at home in the Caboose ::wink::).  We said goodbye to Lorri and Mom and Dad and then it was time to hit the road. This is one of my favorite drives, through valley, over the passes and by Mount Shasta. Shasta Lake looks like a river these days..... 

I always forget how pretty the view will be if I'll just wait for it - that'll preach. 

We were happy to be on the road again. A bit of a taste of what awaits us if we can just wait this "season" out.  

We arrived home in the dark, unpacked the essentials and settled in to our cozy home. We plan to rest deeply this weekend and hit the school books hard next week. We have another six weeks before Michael's next neurology appointment. We fully expect to be released for full-time travel again after that trip to UC Davis.  We hope to get 9 - 12 weeks of book school under our belts before we leave our little campground at Beale AFB. 

All Good Things

Three weeks in Eugene! (Or 2 and some change?)

During one week we had all nine of our children in the same city (and Izaak and Dakota make 11) - with eight of them sleeping under our roof. It was an exhilarating week.  

All too quickly three male Gherkins departed the state.

And tomorrow - the traveling branch of the Gherkins will take off and leave three girls, a son in a law, a grandson, an expected grandblessing, a brother and his fantastic family,  a sister, a cousin, nieces and nephews, and a set of parents.....

We have lived FULLY the past three weeks. We've had Gma and Gpa over for dinner many nights, we've attended several gift exchanges, met geocaching goals, gotten in person glimpses of our grandblessing, met oodles of the girls' friends, helped BreZaak move, helped Jared purchase a car, attended three local churches and now it's TIME. 

Time to pack away the memories and move into 2016....but first, tonight.....we'll make a couple of more memories at Krista and Arielle's home. 

Yes, this is one of two or three things I do really miss from our "Stick and Brick"  (S&B) home. I will store up the music and the memory and treasure it in the months ahead. 

We actually do have Snowboard Kids in the Caboose - but the chance to play with Krista and Arielle is fleeting.

 

I'm reminded once again of seasons....and the traveling Gherkins will be back in Eugene in April/May to meet our new grandblessing skin to skin. 

Shameless Granna

Oh the joy! Oh the possibilities. I am going to be shameless when this little princess arrives. Can you imagine the grandma's brag book I can compose on the blog????  Yeah - I know.

We met up with BreZaak at Daily Bagel today for lunch. Yummy food, fun conversation and eager anticipation.

Left - Stacia, Michael, Izaak, Bre, Nolan, Arielle, Alex (Zander)

For our next stop  - Bre's Doctor.  Isn't she getting so cute????!!!! I asked her if very pregnant looking photos bothered her (because I do have boundaries and don't post things family doesn't want posted)....they don't....so here is Bre at 26 weeks and 2 days!

26 weeks - 2 days - CHECK

They had scheduled another ultrasound today to get some better shots of our doll's heart.  They are allowed to bring two guests to the ultrasounds. Dakota went with BreZaak last time. They asked me to come this time. Michael said we'd stay up here for the appointment....then she called and said they'd given her special dispensation to let BOTH of us attend the ultrasound.  I planned on behaving. I planned on NOT taking photos in the room...but there she was.....our little blessing.

What can I say? I COULDN'T miss the opportunity to take my first photo of our grandblessing. Though I KNOW the ultrasound photos are clearer - here is a photo Granna took of her Granddaughter....the very first one......They didn't kick me out.

Granna's profile shot of Baby D

And here are a couple of ultrasound shots.....This one is looking up her chin and nostrils - not a flattering posture for any gal. Grandpa pointed out, and the boys concur,  she looks like the Emperor in Star Wars in this picture.

Middle - chin, mouth, nostrils, tip of nose

 This is a full frontal face photo - notice her cheeks are CHUBBY! Ah - I can't wait....so very kissable.

Face on - 

Bre dropped by this evening to deliver a gift Izaak had found for Michael. Isn't this great? They removed the jerky (which is on the Don't Eat Lest you Die list now that he's on meds) and filled it with mega stuffed Oreos.

 We've had a great visit with all the kids. We'll cherish the weeks we've had in Oregon. One last chance to hug Baby D......

but Michael cut out Baby D so we had him take another. LOL 

Tomorrow, we hit the road....back to the Caboose....which we are actually excited to see.