Zgarba Zeal | |
Getting Settled in MD, missing Clint
8:18 AM, May. 5, 2008
.. 0 comments
.. Link
So, we have been here one month. It feels like it has been so much longer. So much has transpired since we have returned. We are getting settled in - rearranging the house to be more spacious for our needs, putting up curtains, organizing, etc. I have decided to be content, which was a huge hurdle. I guess I feel like we are in an environment that is so atypical to our norm that it is hard to settle in. My hearts desire is to be in TX, and that just won't go away. I am pretty certain that we will retire in TX, but if not there in the NW region somewhere. I am trying to get everything completed before Clint returns. I want the house to be in a comfortable homey state and all our home school paper work done. I try to stay task oriented, but there are times when I feel SO overwhelmed that I just have to take a break. I ran across an old journal of Clint's this past weekend. It was so nice to read some of his 18/19 year old dreams of his future and see that he has accomplished a lot of his dreams. I am glad that I have a husband who measures success in a very Godly way. He doesn't want a whole lot, just a wife and family that loves the Lord and pursues the call on their life. When I read that, I thought, I didn't even know him but I loved him! I am very blessed and know that is why I find it so enjoyable to be his wife. "God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him" - Piper No longer in TX.... church hopping in MD
11:18 PM, Mar. 31, 2008
.. 0 comments
.. Link
So, we found out that we can't buy a house in TX unless we count it as a secondary residence. So, since we aren't willing (aka can't afford) to do that, we had to go back to MD. I am glad that we will have a home to live in that is just our space, but, I will definitely miss our friends and family in TX. We are very blessed that we were able to stay as long as we did. We are so grateful for the Rhoades family, who allowed us to live with them the majority of the time that we were in TX.SO, we are moving in again! We shipped 7 boxes to our house in MD, and we are trying to get moved in, organized and finish up our school year. What a to do list! We are still looking for a church, and don't know where to begin looking. We have tried 3 churches here in a matter of 2 months. I don't like church hopping as it is, but church hopping without my better half is really not my cup of tea! I feel so awkward and out of place. I would love to be able to just walk in and know, this is it, or this is not it. Believe it or not that has been most of our churches. We have known immediately. Sometimes we acted quickly to move on, and other times we didn't but we always knew. Here in MD, it it not as easy. Oh well....off to bed..... The challenges of waiting for a house...
3:22 PM, Feb. 25, 2008
.. 0 comments
.. Link
So, for those of you that don't know, we have been in housing limbo for the majority of the past year! Now, before you think that the military is all bad "and stuff" (thrown in for my Nacho Libre friends), we have chosen some of this but some of it was completely by surprise!We found out that Clint was being deployed shortly after we moved away from all our friends and family in central Texas. That was not exactly great timing, but now that it is 1/2 over, I think we are going to make it! We are staying with friends in TX waiting for a house to close on. We have already changed houses once and I was willing to wait until Mar 1. Well, Mar 1 is coming up pretty fast and we are still waiting. We have been with out a house of our own in TX since the beginning of Nov! Yes, living with people for 4 months! We are doing well, and we are very blessed with some of the best friends in the WORLD!! They have let us live with them, helped us shoulder the challenges that have come our way, and they have been so amazing in helping me with the kids. I don't think I could have made it through this deployment without my dear friends here in Texas. You all are awesome. Katie and Andy, I don' t even know where to start... I don' t think there are enough words to say how much we appreciate all you have done for us. Floria's, Geiger's, Bealand's, White's, Phillip's, Smith's, Passmore's - thank you so much for being our family and giving the Rhoades a break from us from time to time! We love you all! Sandye Grading, to do or not to do, is the question
3:59 PM, Aug. 16, 2007
.. 2 comments
.. Link
Here we are another week has gone by, and I am exhausted! In the past 2 weeks, I have learned more grammar rules for 2nd and 3rd grade than should be allowed! I went through Abeka for Jr/Sr high, but WOW, Abeka rules start early!!! My children are new to this whole grading system. I normally went over their work, and on tough areas worked with them. I am grading their work now (2nd/3rd grade 6/8 respectively), and I don't know if I completely agree with it. My daughter made her first C, a 77 on a grammar test; and my son made his first B on a handwriting test. They fell apart today. I had to console them and let them know that the grades don't matter, but them learning how to do it is the most important thing to me. That helped a bit, but, I am not convinced. I don't want to give them grades that they didn't earn, because that is lying. I don't want to not give them grades at all, because I want them to see where they need to concentrate. ANY advice would be appreciated! Thanks! facebook.com
9:50 PM, Aug. 9, 2007
.. 0 comments
.. Link
So, have any of you tried out facebook?? From what I can tell, this is going to be our mode of photo sharing with friends and family. We definitely want to keep up, but it is difficult (not to mention expensive) to constantly print photos and mail them. So, be patient with us as we try to figure that out.We are starting to make friends, and that is always nice. We live in Army housing, and we have Navy neighbors! I guess there are quite a few Navy people in this housing complex. We just didn't know it. We have our first play date tomorrow. Anja is very excited. She met this little girl in church, and they homeschool, as well. I am looking forward to having the kids have friends that they can hang out with. Kohl hasn't met anyone yet. I know that it is just a matter of time, and his bestest friends from Kyle he didn't meet until a year before we left - it took a year to meet them! We tend to do that... so, it was no surprise to me. Clint told me about a doctorate program that he could apply for in a couple of years...The cool thing is that if he does the program, Texas A&M has already said they would accept him. SOOOO, we could go back to Texas. He has to wait until he has completed the time that he owes the Navy, so by then, Texas State may offer the same doctorate program.... that would be AWESOME! He hasn't looked into UT, that could be an option. Anywhere central TX would be great. You just never know where we will end up, we might be coming your way : ) Have a great one!  Sandye This is the current family photo
10:37 PM, Aug. 8, 2007
.. 0 comments
.. Link
I have just posted the current family photo. We took this when we were in RI for Clint's grad day. We are so proud of him! I am very excited to see what God has in store for us here. His job is busy, and homeschooling is very time consuming this year. I know that we are being stretched in ways that we haven't been before. Just taking in the scenery and trying to figure things out for the most part. We are a "jump in with both feet" type family. The waters are deep here and there are no walls to hold on to, so pray for us as we tread water to stay afloat.We have been going to small group and tonight was deep. We talked about our indwelling sins that we want to let go of. It is a different concept, but basically, I want to let go of critical thinking and man's (woman's) approval. I feel like it keeps me in such bondage at times. I want to let it go, but it is very hard. It is like telling a smoker, "just put the cigarette down". The one's that don't struggle with this don't know how hard it is. But, I on the other hand have no problem with memorizing scripture, time in the word, etc.. so it is just different weaknesses for different people....just as God gave different talents to different people. I am wanting to be more Christ-like as I lay this down... as it was said in our topical sermon "Am I more comfortable with my sin than with the process of God helping me over come it?" So, that is my question I pose to you. What are you struggling with? And are you more comfortable with the sin than with the process of God helping you overcome it? Take Care, Zgarba's OIS Navy Graduation
9:42 AM, Aug. 8, 2007
.. 0 comments
.. Link
Starting School
11:48 AM, Aug. 6, 2007
.. 0 comments
.. Link
We started school 2 weeks ago, and my kids did great! They had to take a break for 3 months while we were in transit and moving across the country. I know - so sad! This is a year for changes for us. New state, new regulations, new curriculum, new church, new friends, new everything - it seems. The kids are doing great with it all. I wish I had some type of system that would let me know how I am handling it all!! My kids think about their friends in Texas ALL THE TIME!!! They really miss them all. We actually are going to go back to Texas in one month, and we can't wait! We will get to see family and friends. We are actually going down for a family wedding, but we are taking extra time so that we can see our friends also. We want to see everyone, but I know that is pretty impossible, so, we will have to just see what works out. If you don't see us this round, our families are in Texas - we will be back : ) We are trying to figure out our Holiday plans. We want to go skiing, we want to visit our friends in Idaho, we want to see friends in Texas, and we want to take time off. So, as we know more about what we are going to do, we will let you all in on our plans. We haven't figured it out yet, so, plans are up in the air. If you are looking for a time to visit us, let us know when and we will make sure that we are here. We are happy to have anyone visit. We had our first visitors in July, and I think we will have our second visitors in October. We are very excited that our friends want to come visit. Well, that is all for now, we are headed out to the Y to swim. Have a great day! The Zgarba's Settled in Maryland
8:31 PM, Jul. 28, 2007
.. 0 comments
.. Link
Howdy folks! So we have been in Maryland about a month and a half, in our house for a month and have had our stuff for 3 weeks. Well, we are settled in, started school this week, well on our way through membership classes at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg and in a small group. We are starting to meet new people here and it is getting a little easier, but to be honest, everytime we get an email from TX, a call from TX or snail mail from TX, we cry. Kyle is forever in our hearts and we are in theirs. Enough about that - I will cry... So, we have met an amazing couple here. They are new to MD as well. They are just starting their married life journey and are so sweet! As an old pastor told us before, we should have friends that are 10 years behind us and 10 years ahead of us so that we can glean, mentor and stay fresh and alive! Anyone would love this couple, they are so in love with Jesus; it is awesome to witness! So, the kids are great, my daughter is on the brink of leaving gym and starting other sports... swim, tennis - something non-aggressive. My son is going to start his first season of football (YIKES!) He has wanted to for years and we have put him off, well now it is becoming very obvious that this is his passion, so I think we are going to let him try out. We will see how that goes.... As for my husband and I, we are well. Just getting to a point where we can enjoy our house and the area and all. So, come join us for a bit, and we will take you to all the sites : ) Have a great day! 18 days out
5:25 PM, Apr. 5, 2007
.. 0 comments
.. Link
So we are 18 days out until we have packers... what a whirlwind of events going on! We recently found out that we are about 1500 pounds over our household goods weight limit!!! If anyone in the military knows how to pare down quick PLEASE POST!!! We are looking at moving our own books and photo albums so that we can decrease the weight, but other than that - we already got rid of some things - and we really don't have a whole lot of furniture. I guess I underestimated all that we have. Anyway, it will all work out. We will move whether we have gotten rid of the things we need to or not. They will come bright and early Monday morning April 23, whether we are ready or not!!! They just follow the contract. So, this will be my outlet of stress - it may not be uplifting but it is real. Keep us in your prayers! Sandye About the Fam
11:31 AM, Feb. 24, 2007
.. 0 comments
.. Link
We are a military homeschooling family. We have been stationed in the 48 contiguous our whole time in the service, thus far. We have lived in 5 states (soon to be 6). We decided when the kids were very young, that since we have the opportunity to DRIVE from base to base, that we would try to collect photos of each capitol building. (We try to have the kids in the photos, but sometimes that doesn't workout.) We have lived in: NM, CO, TX, MS, ID, TX again, and will be moving to MD this summer. The kids have visited so far: WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, UT, ID, MT, WY, CO, NM, TX, OK, LA, MS, AL, and FL. We utilize this as a learning opportunity because, what else can you do with driving all over the US for the military! We love road trips and love hanging out in our car, van, truck - whatever we have today (those that know Clint will appreciate that!). I have never calculated the hours that we have spent on the road, but it is ALOT! We have made it through so many book series on the road. I read to them while Clint drives. Then I ask questions and let everyone have a chance to answer - even Clint. He is so funny - when the kids don't know the answer he is like "Jo-Jo the circus clown" waving his hand to answer (now that's a visual for you all!) We love the Lord and desire to serve Him where ever we go. We have two wonderful children and desire to have more. We do an ecclectic Classical curriculum for history, science, and the arts. We do Abeka for the Language Arts and Math. We will probably switch to Saxon in a year, or so. I say that every year, but have been pleased with Abeka and my kids LOVE it - so I guess, why change?? We have family speckled all over Texas. We have friend-family all over the nation! We feel truly blessed to be able to go just about anywhere in America and know that we can visit a friend or two on the way. We are hoping to get together with everyone here in TX at some point before we move, but our move is sooner than we thought. We might have to just see people in small groups at a time (except for our KYLE friends - you know the Rhoades will party!) So until next time... Zgarba Zeal The count down begins...
12:08 AM, Feb. 24, 2007
.. 1 comments
.. Link
I just finished the TOS Winter '07 issue and was very blessed by the Nonaka's story. My husband is active duty and we are preparing for a move in May. It is very exciting, but, also bittersweet. We have made some amazing friends here in Texas, and have had the opportunity to serve in a great community church. We are sad to have to leave all this behind, but, we are excited that each of our moves is ordained by our Heavenly Father. We know and are grateful for the opportunity to serve where ever we go. I guess the hardest part is seeing my kids have to say goodbye to their friends. We have made some wonderful friends everywhere we have lived. We have been so blessed by the friendships that God has given us. We always tell them that if we don't see them here, we will see them in Heaven. We are working on a planned community neighborhood in Heaven ; ) Reading the Nonaka's story made me re-visit our call to the military as a mission field. We are in the military for a purpose and know that this is where we are supposed to be. I have such a peace about it, and am so blessed to have supportive friends everywhere we go. Thanks TOS for printing their story! It gives those of us that change state laws every 2 years encouragement, and peace to know that we have brother's and sister's in Christ that have forged the way for us in the military! Thanks for sharing Nonaka's. Zgarba Zeal |
About Me My Profile Archives Friends LinksCategoriesRecent EntriesGetting Settled in MD, missing ClintNo longer in TX.... church hopping in MD The challenges of waiting for a house... Grading, to do or not to do, is the question facebook.com FriendsJoyfulMomma |