Alex is 14

Fourteen years old - amazing....we spent some time remembering the bumps along the way for our alphabet child....we are thankful to be in this phase.

This young man BLESSES us. His unique perspective enhances our lives. It's always fun to get his take on things - from traveling sites, new campground neighbors or churches. LOL  I can guarantee you will get nothing but the unvarnished truth if you ask him his opinion.

Today was BEAUTIFUL and Zander wanted to go geo-caching. We decided to call school after lunch and revisit this cache. It turns out it is a three part cache. We found one, the general area of two and came back and read that scuba gear is helpful to find the third. We have a month before we leave the area. We are determined.

Zander with the 1st find - coordinates to the second inside

 When it became apparent we weren't going to find the remainder of the bridge cache, we drove up the road to see if we could find this one. Michael had thought about it and thought he knew where number one of this multi-cache must be....he was right. It was inside the pipe a ways.

While everyone was searching for the little box in the pipe - I found THESE. Why? Always me! I was sure they were supposed to be sleeping this time of year!

De'Etta's find - I KNOW they are harmless - I don't want to see them anyway! 

We all found the second part of this multi-cache! For all this work, we get to count one find. 

We also found a squirrel's cache

 The boys and Michael looked for one more....

Seriously looked - that's a flashlight

 They found where it SHOULD be  - and some glass beads - but it wasn't there. Mugglers! 

Stacia and Alex spent the next hour or so playing "The Game," while I fixed his birthday dinner. He chose Veggie Pot Pie.  He enjoyed the texts and calls from older siblings, the cards and gifts.

Wipeout Wii Game

 What a great sport to blow out his "pretend candles!" Michael made another wonderful ice cream cake! I can't believe a loaf pan is big enough for us now. LOL 

 

Zander told us he was quite sure David took a nap after conquering Goliath. ::snort::  A bit too much activity for the day.....he was ready to carry on after his brief respite. 

Settling down to play Wipeout! 

*Note Our birthday boy's name is Alexander. For the first years of his life he was Zander. He then asked to be Alex. To Krista and I he will always be Zander. He's a good sport about it.  

**Pretty sure it's time to make a new family shirt....the numbers have come off the boys' shirts....

You Thought I'd Forget!

I'm pretty sure with all the birthdays and such going on this week, you all thought I'd forget.

I didn't. 

Here's the Bella update! BreAnne is 31 weeks. She's moving on to appointments every two weeks. Everything looks great.  AND we are going to be snuggling Baby Bella in less than 11 weeks. 

Krista's News

Last spring/summer I wrote a series of Mommy Posts about the older Gherkins. I skipped Krista. I did this, not because she is less loved or we are less proud of her,  but because her plans were in a state of flux. I wanted to wait until I could announce what she was doing.  Those plans didn't materialize and she continued to be in a state of flux as to what her future plans would be.

This we do know!!!! Krista is an amazing young woman and crams a whole lot of living into each day. She is a one on one aide for a middle school gal in the Springfield school district.  She also works with kids/youth in the park system and at her church.  It is not uncommon when out and about in Eugene or Springfield with her, to hear "Miss Krista...."  She is loved.

She spearheads mission trips - fundraisers to boots on the ground and home again.

She's played on several intramural sports teams - and often is the organizing force behind them.

She is part of a truly wonderful "tribe" which has built during her years in Eugene.

She's a Renaissance gal.....comfortable hiking a mountain, running through the mud or at a formal occasion. We always have a blast when we spend time with Krista and her tribe. She's a lovely woman of God.

I know being able to live with Krista, as she transitioned to college life, is a God-send for Arielle.

Krista and Arielle

Krista loves her job, but has been feeling a tug to do something different. She had trained and prepared for missions. Her first thought was to get a Master's in Education so she could teach overseas.

Over the past few months she's run into several closed doors as she pursued that plan. She called us a couple of weeks ago and told us she simply couldn't get the Air Force out of her mind. She loved growing up as an Air Force brat, we've always called the military culture a mission field....she asked us to pray with her about going into the Air Force.

And she began to knock on a new door.

She's well within the height and weight requirements . She thinks (and we know) she can meet the other physical requirements.

In a study long, long ago (Misawa Air Base) a point was made that we should be prepared to be the answer of the prayers we pray.  It struck me, as we had been praying for missionaries to come to Japan at the time. We felt called to be the answer to that prayer - we'll see how it works out.  For years, I have prayed for passionate, whole-hearted, followers of Jesus to answer the call to the military chaplaincy. I felt we WERE the answer to that prayer - and I've  seen several others who I believe are answers to that prayer.....but in an odd twist....Krista is now pursuing being an Air Force Chaplain.

In the past week and a half, she has applied to begin an MDIV program, talked with our denomination's past endorser, her pastor, our current endorser and...... :::drum roll:::

Today she has been notified she is accepted into the Master of Divinity Military Chaplaincy Degree program at Liberty University.  She's got a long road ahead of her - she'll have to be ordained, complete the Mdiv, serve 2 years of Air Force reserve time and have 2 years of post-ordination ministry experience. She's been a Children's Pastor and now an Associate Pastor at her church in Eugene; so she'll have that covered.  This door seems to be opening rather smoothly.

She's off - chasing down a dream...and we're a bit bumfuddled, but awfully proud of her! She DOES love Jesus passionately and with her whole heart. She'll be a great chaplain. Why wouldn't the Air Force want someone THIS FUN (below) in the chaplaincy????

Alex, Izaak, Bre, Arielle, Stacia, Krista, Nolan

Go get em Baby Girl!

Josiah is 27

Josiah turns 27 today. Many know him as the Chick Fil A employee who went viral by caring for a customer at the Sunset Mall. I still love that he got caught doing something great in this gotcha society.

Today he's turning 27......and we couldn't be prouder of the man of God he's become. He has mentored many young men and women through his job at Chick Fil A and through "life."

He is the Senior Director at one of Chick Fil A's newest restaurants in Lynnwood, WA. This store is currently #1 in the chain for average peak hour lunch sales...and #3 for average peak hour dinner sales.  It's been fun to watch his leadership style develop. We continue to pray as he strives to eventually own a Chick Fil A.

Josiah has stepped naturally into the Kuya/Manong role. Kuya/Manong - oldest brother in the Philippines, a third parent.....he is loved and respected amongst his siblings and his care, respect and love for his parents is top notch.

Michael & Cy @ Michael's retirement ceremony

Cy and Stephen share a birthday -  Jared and Jamin in the back

Cy & Arielle

Cy & Bre at CFA in Lynnwood

Cy & Krista at a Spurs/Blazer game in Portland, OR

Heading to San Francisco

I love Cy too - but there are no pictures of he and I together! ::snort:: 

It would only be fitting on his 27th birthday to remember God's work on his behalf. I was told Josiah's brain stem was not developing when I was pregnant with him. At the follow up ultra sound they thought maybe it was forming, but his intestines were outside his stomach. Forgive me, I can't remember the medical terms.  While one of my best family stories revolves around the giving of Josiah's name ::wink:: his name Josiah Michael means - Jehovah Heals - who is like God?  I will never forget our wonderful doctor at his birth. He turned and twisted Josiah. He scrutinized every inch of our baby boy and turned to us and said, "He's perfect! Don't worry about this birthmark, I'm sure it's not cancerous." I'd not even held the boy yet. Jehovah truly did bless us when he healed Josiah and allowed him to become a member of our family. 

Happy Birthday, Son! Believing you see the realization of many dreams this year. 

Play Dates!

We had a play date today!  We hustled through school (or a majority of it) and went over to see Desiree (and children). Allison has moved on to Quantico, but was home visiting family. It was so much fun to meet Striker and spend time with Desiree and Allison. They were the leaders of a PWOC evening Bible study which I loved to attend. 

Allison and Striker

 We prayed for these babies - Quentin our little warrior who went through chemo before birth with his Mommy and Striker - who had the audacity to be born AFTER his Mommy pcsd from Beale.

Quentin, Desiree, Allison, Striker

The kids played too

So refreshing to spend the afternoon with these two! 

 Anna was gone for a bit - but Sydney and Stacia enjoyed playing and Anna joined them later. 

We came home, got dinner arranged and Stacia and I left for our second play date of the day. We were thrilled to spend some time with Emma while her mom and Dad went out.  I can't tell you how fun it is to hear Emma shout, "De'Etta is here" with great gusto and joy. Everyone needs to be wholeheartedly loved by a  preschooler or two. I'm just so happy they remember us - it would be crushing if they'd already forgotten us. ::snort:: 

Stacia and Emma

Offering me her ice cream

Watching Winnie the Pooh

One is never sure how bedtime will go when watching children....Emma was the easiest to put down yet....and she OWNS her routine. We love this little family and it was great fun to spend time with Emma. 

Oops - We Blinked.....

and Nolan turned 17. I'm not sure how - but there you have it. Our 7th child is now 17. If we'd stopped having kids after two we'd be well into old geezerdom by now.  Nolan has been titled the "gentle giant," by several moms of pre-school boys. He IS so gentle and fun for them to play with.  He sets the tone for much of the day to day sibling action in the Caboose - and it's good. 

Here - he Skypes with Arielle before Japanese lessons. 

Our loop has only 4 sites in it - 3 of them are filled. 2 of them by men who work full time....so we have lots of space to throw or kick a ball, throw a Frisbee or fly a kite....

I didn't bring spring form pans - and we really don't have room to store leftover ice cream in our freezer anyway.....but Michael came up with a great solution so he could make an ice cream cake for Nolan. This looked great! Tasted better. He made it in my bread pan and flipped it over. We still haven't had real candles in the trailer - this time because I forgot - not because of safety. Nolan was a good sport for the photo op anyway. LOL

Nolan opted for a game of Seattleopoly  - Alex won; I lost.  We could use a bigger table for games. 

Happy Birthday, Nolan. May your year be filled with growing in favor with God and men. 

#WYFF - The One Where we Play with the Kids

Another week in the history books! Another two weeks of school done. One week closer to our release from Beale. We should be able to hit the Interstate in four short weeks. IF the VA has scheduled and completed appointments by then - surely they will. Right?

I'm doing #WYFF as a quick glimpse of our "time on the road,"  it's been a bit demoralizing to do Beale over and over and over, but we trust there is a purpose for our extra months here.

Our highlight today was kicking Matt and Rachel out so we could play with the kids! Matt was selected for a quarterly award - and tonight was the banquet.  Thanks to Rachel for sending this photo! Aren't they stunning?

An adopted Daughter and Son in Law

Joy asked Matt, "Are you a policeman at the show?" He was in dress blues. Darling girl.

Rachel thinks of everything. She had a couple of Papa Murphy's pizzas for us. We picked up a veggie one - without cheese for our odd dietary needs.  Our first order of business was to keep Ellie (Elly/Elianna/Eli) smiling and get the pizzas baking. I took over Ellie duty and Michael took over the pizzas.  Here's a bigger photo so you can check out the pizza cutter! It's a light saber - it makes NOISE when you cut with it. The kids knew the sound. LOL

The Force is strong in Mr. Mike

Nathan cracked us up when he saw the pizza. "Why is there grass pizza here?"

 I think he was a bit worried we'd make him eat it. I'd been teasing he and Zach earlier in the week by telling them I would bring liver and brussel sprouts.

We are not responsible for the mark on Ellie's forehead

Mr Mike, Gemma and Ellie

We were relieved at all the smiles Ellie had for us - though we caught none of them on the camera

Ellie and Gemma

The kids all had a great time playing. Poor Nolan had to stay at the Caboose. He's been fighting an awful flu, cold bug this week. 

Stacia & Joy

 Two years ago this little one made me an honorary Grandma when she named me "Gemma." She stole my heart....and the boys weren't far behind. We love these kids. She was delighted I caught this expression....I asked her if this is the new Joy smile. 

Joy turns 4 this month

Alex, Seth and Zach - where is Nathan?

 After dinner the boys put on a Lego movie for us. We'd never seen it before so it was a treat. I had to get a photo of Mr. Mike and Ellie - not sure why but he doesn't have the Grandpa label. I told them they could call him Peepaw...he wasn't appreciative and said that is a Dakota only name.

Mr. Mike and Ellie

We truly were blessed to get to spend time with the kids. Thanks for asking us, Matt and Rachel.

#WYFF (Where's Your Feet Friday) is sponsored by Fulltime Families. View more of our Friday exploits by clicking the #WYFF tab above.