Saturday, March 21, 2009

Sneak Peak

When a single person goes to out-process, they can do it quickly. They often wonder WHY it takes others so long. Here's a sneak peak.....if a single goes to get a no pay passport....he/she would walk in with a filled out application and be out of there in 10 - 20 minutes.

We walked in with 7 filled out applications (Josiah and Krista will have to do theirs in May)....and two hours later were done with the appointment.

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These five look very excited about their upcoming adventure, don't they?
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This scenario repeats for every form and every line we wait in....now this is NOT a whine....but hopefully it helps our single friends understand why it takes a member with dependents so long to accomplish what you can do so efficiently. ::snort::

The gentlemen at the passport office was wonderful. He'd been in Misawa for 8 years and loved it. He also got quite a lot of fun out of processing so many passports at once...and loved all the stamps in my "old passport". He tells me they don't stamp any longer????

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

"From the Toilet"

Can you think of a phrase that would strike more terror into a mother's heart?

Stacia brought Mike and I coffee. It's "good coffee". She had wanted to get good water and we turned her away from the filter. We were in the midst of a "serious" discussion when she showed up with two cups of coffee for us.

I drank. Ugh.

"Stacia, where did you get the water for this yummy coffee?" I said it with a smile and a lilt in my voice.

She looked away from Mike, leaned towards me and whispered, "From the toilet!" ::snort::

Mike hadn't DRANK any. I had.

Y'all I did not react bad. Mike went and washed his face and rinsed.....I was raised on the mission field. ::snort:: I sure wish I'd had the camera...for Stacia's whispered confession and for Mike's priceless face.

Stacia's been having a tough few weeks....life is "out of kilter"...first Dad Earl was ill and we were worried. Then Mike was gone and she was worried. Then we are all moving.....and she doesn't quite get it but obviously knows something is up...and she's been moody...so I didn't react.....and I was glad to hug her and tell her we should wash her cups and get some good water after all. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Creative Cuisine

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Did I mention creative dinners? Arielle went wild with the pancake batter. {Yes, in fact, they ARE my Christmas Plates...but I prefer to think of them as WINTER plates....and everyone knows...regardless of the 80* weather that spring only started yesterday!}

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Stacia's Accomplishment!

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Isn't this expression priceless? Stacia discovered she was taller than the yellow pole and is now a big girl who can ride on the bumper cars. She had a blast.

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I have no idea which day this was. I only know that my stove has been out and a couple of times this week we were too busy to be creative.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Frazzled Friday

What an oversight. Not a thought penned on Friday.

Jamin ran and picked up produce for me.

I was at the realtor. Oy vey! Deep breaths....one day at a time and it will all get done. We are SERIOUSLY considering paying a painter to come in and paint. It will save us much time. We have to get a new yard up and going. They agree that our home will sell better when it doesn't have a large family in it....and would you believe the home is 400 sq ft bigger than I thought? That means we are looking at moving to a place 1/2 of our current size. NOW - we did have a net loss of 3 family members while living here....but still.

Yolanda did a fun stamping class for PWOC Friday night. We made bookmarks and a card.

Arielle and I continued to attack the photos. We're up to 1984 and our wedding now.

We're trying to figure out HOW to get rid of all the stuff around here.... a sale, online sale, what? I had thought to make use of the annual homeschool sale but we have to be out of our home by the time the sale comes around.....

One way or another we'll be moving in approx 10 weeks. Surely this fact will motivate authorities to help me fill out forms next week? ::snort:: The Inspection will be OVER in 16 days...and then Mike will work magic with the out processing lists and forms....the secret is that I'm muddling along until the pros can take it over. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

FINALLY

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Jamin finally got his REAL license in the mail - the adult one. He informed me he'll have to get a new one in a couple of months when he moves to OR. Oh well. Maybe one of the girls will snap a photo for the blog. ::snort:: Jamin you've been so patient about becoming a blog star....I appreciate it.


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

An Addition & A Warning

An addition - a few folks have asked me to add the feature that allows readers to receive blog entries in their inbox. This surprises me...but I was happy to learn how to do it. The form to sign up is in the side bar.

A warning - I haven't had time to post quite a few photos this week and am now working on this. You're warned.


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Scrappin SOS

I'm determined to get photos in safe albums NOW before they sit another 3 years.

I'm doing naked albums and that's the way it IS. When I hit the point in time when we switched to digital photos, I'll switch to digital scrapping. That will be considerably less space and weight to move. LOL I think I'll do more of a hybrid style when I get caught up to 2009....which may well happen. ::snort::

I've reached the spot where we got married. Yep - 1984. Would you take the photos from the wedding album and add them in to the family chronological albums.....then they'd be safe....or wait and scrap them later.....?????


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Prayers Needed

A young family friend of ours has been shot while serving our country overseas. Please pray for him, his young wife, parents and five siblings.

I've just gotten off the phone with my friend, Evelyn, his mother. He is out of surgery. He's in ICU. Continued prayers are welcome.

In a strange twist I received an email from one of our local PWOC active duty young women. She is stationed at the same location and wanted me to know she was praying for Philip.

This has been a morning of interceding for all our troops....something I do every day...but shame on me...certainly with more ferver this a.m.

I'm keeping this deliberately vague due to Operational Security. I figure this is enough info for prayers.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.