Who are you relying on?

Some days I love my life!!  Other days, I am frustrated with how things in my life are going. One of those frustrations is that because we are a military family that lives overseas and we are dependent upon the military systems that are in place. Sometimes they work well, while others times, not so good.  I'm trying not to complain, but it's hard when we are limited by our circumstances. 

While we have access to US Postal system, once our mail gets delivered to the drop point in California, the military takes over from there.  Christmas gifts that should have been delivered three weeks ago are still lost in space somewhere.

While I am blessed to have access to the Commissary and PX, they don't always stock what we need and at times there are shortages or they stop carrying a product that our family has been used to having.

Waiting to get our assignment and orders all depends upon a group of people meeting to make decisions and us waiting for the information to flow down through the right chain of people to eventually get to us at the bottom.

I know these are just minor things in the larger, grand picture of life, but when it all hits at once, it can be quite overwhelming and frustrating.  And this momma does not do well when I feel bombarded.

As I have been praying during my quiet time lately, the Lord has impressed upon me, "Who am I putting my trust in?  Who am I relying on?"  

Unfortunately, I must say...I have been trusting in man and in earthly systems.  I have taken my eyes off of Christ in my situation and I have been ruled by my emotions instead of trusting God.  Whew, that's a hard pill to swallow.  Where is my faith?  I know where it should be.  Now I just have to get it there.

Knowing and doing are two entirely different things.

Just like David did in the book of Psalm, he commanded his soul to bless the Lord. I need to remind myself that my life is not ruled by people or circumstances and that I should not allow my emotions to be swayed like a boat being tossed about in a storm BUT that my hope and my trust is in the Lord God and that He is in control.

Maybe you are struggling with a similar things in your life.  You are letting stuff influence you and change you, not for the good.  Don't be ruled by the things of this world which are temporary, but allow God to be on the throne of your heart. Tell yourself that you will praise Him anyway.  That you will trust Him today!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight

Proverbs 3:5-6

Homeschooling....NOT!

DAISO

When we arrived in Korea over a year and a half ago, we came upon a store called DAISO.  It's a neat store that I would say is like a Dollar Tree or Dollar General but way better.  After asking some questions about the chain that is found all over Korea, we found out that it is actually not a Korean chain but a Japanese store. 

According to the DAISO website, "We have an independently developed and wide-ranging product lineup; high-quality products that are recognized not only in Japan, but all around the world; and low prices that are made possible by our large network of stores. All these elements have all been crucial for creating stores where our customers can find surprises and fun. The result is the Daiso Way that we have cultivated over the years."

After watching a video on their website, I came to find out that DAISO even has a handful of stores in the United States. 

While we have enjoyed shopping there, today I found a rare treat!  

You may not be as excited as I was but let me tell you why I was excited.  In case you don't know, Snyder's of Hanover is a snack food company known for it's pretzels.  It is located in Hanover, Pennsylvania.  Guess where my husband and I lived for over half of our married life ......in Hanover, PA!!!  Yes, there is a little bit of home in my local DAISO store here in Korea.  How cool is that!

I know that I can get Snyder's pretzels at my local Commisary but at a store in Korea, that's special!

Space A

Recently I have had a lot of people asking me about my Space A trip this past year, so I decided that I would repost this old post along with some new information.

Today's blog is for all of those military dependents out there who have ever wondered about taking a Space A flight but have yet to do so. You may have heard of Space A but never really knew what it was all about. When it comes to flying Space A, the more information you have the better.

Well let’s start with the basics. Space A stands for Space Available. There are military flights that go around the world each day. These flights might be relocating people, moving cargo or a variety of other things. Sometimes these airplanes are not completely full and that is when the available space is offered to the military sponsor and/or their dependents. Some flights may have 5 open seats, while others may have over 30.

Who is eligible for Space A? Well that is a good question. On a regular day, a uniformed member of the military along with his/her dependents is eligible to fly. BUT, there are a few reasons that dependents can fly without their sponsor. This includes but is not limited to emergency situations, those with deployed sponsors, Command Sponsored OCONUS dependents, Non-Command Sponsored CONUS located dependents, Command Sponsored OCONUS dependents on EML.

I know this sounds a bit confusing, but let me direct you to a site that explains in detail much of this information that I have shared. http://spacea.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
I have learned a lot in the last few weeks as I prepared to leave South Korea and fly home Space A to visit my family in the United States. One of these things is that those flying on Space A are broken down into different categories. Depending upon how and why you are flying, will determine which category you will be assigned to for your trip.

Since I was flying without my sponsor from an OCONUS duty station to CONUS, it put me in Category V (5) of the 6 Categories. I made the decision to get approval for EML which bumped me up to Category IV. 

Here is a summary of the categories:
Category I – Unfunded Emergency Leave
Category II – AD (Active Duty) on EML and their accompanying family members
Category III - AD and their accompanying family members, House Hunting Permissive TDY, unaccompanied dependents of deployed service members (365 plus day deployment)
Category IV - Unaccompanied dependents on EML or sponsor is deployed for 120 days
Category V – Unaccompanied dependents of AD (command/non-command sponsored), Permissive TDY
Category VI – Retirees and their accompanied dependents

To use Space A you must sign up ahead of time.  If you are active duty or traveling with your sponsor, the earliest that you can sign up is the day that their leave or pass begins.  If you are traveling unaccompanied, then you can sign up as soon as you have your travel authorization or EML form signed.  Signups are only good for 60 days, or the duration of a soliders leave.  There are a few ways to sign up but the simplest way to tell you is to use the AMC form which can be found here:  http://www.amc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100706-057.swf
I simply sent an email to the AMC termials that I wanted to fly out of or through with the required information.  Always keep a hard copy of the email that you sent because if you get to the terminal to check in for a flight and they do not have you listed in the system, then you have the email as proof and they will add you in with the date on the email.

Even though you fall into a certain Category, all those people in that Category will then be placed in order of earliest sign up to most recent with those who sign up first getting on the plane before the others would.

I must tell you upfront, I am not the adventurous type and doing a trip from South Korea to the United States without my husband but with my 4 daughters in tow, was a big deal for me. When we moved to Korea, I had to do this same trip but I was on a commercial flight with flight attendants, meals and movies. From the stories I had heard, Space A would not be the same. BUT the idea of saving the cost of 5 commercial airlines tickets at $1500.00 a piece is what enticed me to take this adventure.

It takes a lot of work to make phone calls, jot info down and put the pieces of the puzzle together but if you don’t have to pay for the flight and can get where you want for little or next to nothing, it’s all worth it in the end.

Here is my Space A experience from Korea to the USA.  My plan to get to the states was to start with the Patriot Express since it leaves Osan AFB every Tuesday and Thursday and flies to Seattle, WA.  I attempted to get on the Tuesday flight, but it was booked, (they never called anyone below Category III)  so I stayed at Turumi Lodge in Osan (about 41.50 a night) and decided that I would try the Thursday flight to Seattle.  We did not make that either.    After talking to some of the airmen working at the AMC(Air Mobility Command) desk, I was told that it would be easier getting out of Yokota, Japan to the USA then it would going out of Osan.  Since the Thursday Patriot Express was heading through Yokota AFB, I  gave them a  call and found out that they had three flights going to California in the next week.  There were seats on the Patriot Express from Korea to Japan, so I decided to just take a chance, head to Japan and pray we got on a flight bound for the USA from there.  Worst case scenario, I would have to pay for lodging for a week (again 41.50 a night) at Yokota and head back to Korea on the next inbound Patriot from Yokota to Osan.

We arrived in Japan too late for the flight that was heading to CA that same day, so we went to the lodge and stayed the night.  We had dinner at Chili’s and stopped at the commissary for some items for breakfast and lunch the next day.  Friday afternoon there was a flight heading to Travis AFB with a roll call of 1600.  It was a C17 with 20 Space A seats available.  I was afraid we would not get on because I needed 5 of those 20 seats for my 4 daughters and me.  After waiting through roll call, we did get on that flight and made it to the USA some 9 hours later.

You need to be flexible to take Space A.  Have a little room in your budget in case you get stuck somewhere.  But the good thing is that a room at AFB  lodging is between 39.00 and 42.00 a night.

You also need to be proactive and make lots of phone calls.  In addition to the Patriot Express, you  can call Osan (or wherever else you may be flying out of) and see if they have any other flights going out and where they are heading.  Most AMC (Air Mobility Command) places will only have confirmed flight info for 3 days out but they may have a schedule of where they fly regularly for the month.  Yokota was that way.  Last May, when I flew, Yokota had regular flights to Elmendorff (AK), Travis (CA) and Hickam (HI) at least 3-5 times a month.  They may not give you the monthly schedule over the phone though.  They had a sheet with information at the AMC desk though.   The link to all the AMC Travel site:   http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/index.asp      If you go here, it will give you the contact information of all the AMC locations:   http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/amctravelcontacts.asp   I printed this list and took it with me on my adventure. 

If you are not flying with your spouse, you can only fly until you hit the continental USA, unless you are manifested through.  This means that say you start in Hawaii and they have a flight that is going to Travis AFB, Scott AFB and then onto Dix/McGuire.  You can get on in Hawaii (which is OCONUS) and fly all the way to Dix/McGuire, as long as they put you on the flight manifest the entire way through.  In my case, since the flight I got on ended at Travis and did not go further east, I had to get off there and pay for a commercial flight from there. 

In the long run, it was definitely worth it.  The trip on the C17 was an experience like no other.  It was cold and loud, but it was FREE!

Epheisians Bible Study @ GMG

Good Morning Girls has announced their next Bible study.  Beginning on January 15th, they will be going through the book of Ephesians.

It’s a 12 week study that includes a a reading plan and study guide to help you along and it's all FREE!  All you need to do is download the Ephesians E-Book and get ready to be encouraged and blessed.

The e-study guide includes:

• The Ephesians SOAP reading plan
• An explanation of the Good Morning Girls SOAP Bible reading method
• 12 weeks of worksheets

Good Morning Girls will be providing on-line resources, videos and discussions.  

If you have never participated in a study at GMG here is what you do.

For NEWBIES!:

1. Invite your friends to join your Good Morning Girls group - it runs from January 15th-April 15th. If you don’t like email – use Facebook, Twitter or texting!

2. Don’t have friends to invite? Go to the Message Board and find like-minded women there who have already started groups.  You can join us for this study even if you are not a part of a group.

So if you are interested in growing in your faith along with other women, check out Good Morning Girls and get connected with their upcoming study.

The Kimchi Chronicles

This past summer while I was home visiting family in the states, my mom told me about a new series she found called The Kimchi Chronicles.  She thought it would be great show for me to watch since we live in South Korea.  While at my parents, I did not find an opportunity to catch the show.

The other night as I was browsing through our Korean Cable TV I came upon a show in English. It's always exciting to find a television show in English, so I stayed on the channel to see what it was about.  It appeared to be about South Korea, showing places to visit and cooking some traditional foods. I was really interested in the program but still had no idea what I was watching.  The next program that came on was The Kimchi Chronicles and I realized that it was the same show I had just watched.

The show follows Marja Vongerichten and her chef husband, Jean-Georges around Korea as they explore, cook and visit the different markets. Marja was born in Korea to an unmarried US Serviceman and a Korean woman.  She was given up for adoption at the age of 3 and was adopted by a couple, who the husband was stationed with the U.S. Army in Korea at the time.  She was raised in Virginia by her adoptive parents.  At the age of 19, she sought and found her birth mom. 

The Kimchi Chronicles is a look at the tastes and traditions of the culture in which Marja was born, but was not raised.  I really enjoyed the show because it gave me a glimpse of some sights in South Korea which I have yet to see. 

Hopefully I can cram in a few more places to visit before we move in the next few months.  Check out the video clip about The Kimchi Chronicles.

Spicy Garlic Chicken Pizza

The other day my daughter asked for pizza for dinner.  I made sure I had cheese on hand and flour to make the dough but never got around to making it.  So tonight, she asked if we were having pizza and I said sure.

I didn't want to do the same red sauce, mozzarella cheese pizza that we always make, so I went through my recipes to find something different.  I found one that a friend gave me about 7 years ago and I realized that I have never made it....so tonight was the night!

When we at this recipe at my friend Gen's house, it was really spicy, so for my non-spice loving family, I really cut back the amount of red pepper in the recipe.  Everyone loved it, so this is one recipe that needs to be brought out of hiding and used again.

(I want to upload a picture but the uploader is not working right now.  I'll try again later)


SPICY GARLIC CHICKEN PIZZA
12 oz. chicken (breast deboned is easiest)
3/4 cup sliced green onion
4 cloves of garlic, minced
4 Tbsp. white vinegar
4 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp crushed red pepper ( OR ground red pepper, which makes for a spicier pizza)
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1  12" -15" pizza shell
1/2 - 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup Monterrey jack cheese, grated

Cut the chicken in to small pieces.  Combine 1/2 of green onion, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, 2 Tbsp. oil and peppers.  Add chicken and mix well.  Let marinade in the frig for at least 30 minutes.  Drain the chicken, reserving the marinade. Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a skillet, add the chicken, and stir-fry for about 3 minutes.  Stir cornstarch into marinade.  Add to chicken and cook on med-high until thick and bubbly.  Spoon evenly onto the crust.  Top with cheeses and bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.  Top with remaining green onions.


Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family did.  What kind of pizza do you make?  Post a link to your favorite recipe.