Update from the Big Blue

Hello,
I know it has been longer than I had hoped to update again but we are a little busy out here. After my last update I got to go on a little adventure. I got underway on a Thailand navy ship, something that not a lot of US Sailors get to do. It was a very interesting experience for sure. There were four sailors from the Hopper, 2 Chiefs, 2 officers and me. We got there and they were ready for us with a place to sleep, but after they showed us were we would be sleeping they left us. So I wondered around until I found someone. I ran into a guy that had spent some time in Los Angeles so he could speak a little English. His name was JJ and he said he missed Wendy's, Taco Bell and Foot Locker. Then the ship got underway. That seemed to go pretty smooth but a couple of hours later I was walking around and I saw smoke. So what do I do? What most Damage Controlman would do I went to find out where it was coming from and then I took some pictures and helped secure the area. Turns out it was a washer that caught on fire. The thing is they do not do things like we do. They did not put on breathing apparatus or protective gear they just went in there like John Wayne. After the fire about eight of them were outside coughing up lungs. So that was that and it came time for lunch. We had rice with every single meal, and some kind of soup and chicken. But they did have Coke or Pepsi so I was able to survive. I was there three days and two nights and it was good except for the roaches, tons of them, like when I went to get a cup there would be about ten roaches on the dishes.

I never thought I would be so happy to see the Hopper.

Pictures from Thailand

They have these shrines everywhere. I don't have the beliefs they have but I do find these shrines interesting. I hope it is okay that I took a picture in front of one. That is a Pepsi I have, it cost me about $.25 at the Seven Eleven. Seven Eleven is something I think they have everywhere.

Anybody Hungry?

Well I am now in Thailand.

It is interesting to go to all these different countries. I know that some of you have been to other places besides the US but I know a lot of you have not. In that way I guess I am fortunate to have these opportunities, like seeing the way different people live. Like the different food carts we see in the different countries. I am willing to bet that almost none of you have never seen a food cart like this. There was a man pushing this cart around selling his food. Just incase you can not tell those are grasshoppers, beetles, grubs and there were frogs and lizards to the left. No I did not try them but only because I had already eaten.
That is it for this one but I am going to add a few more pictures.
Darrick

Will you forgive me?

Our church is going through an awesome series of sermons about relationships. Last week was on husbands and this week was about wives. The three main points were "Three things every husband wants his wife to say". They were 1. "You Da Man!" 2. "Yes we can!" and 3. "I was wrong, will you forgive me?" If you would like to hear what those are about you can listen to this sermon or the whole series at www.hcwo.com

One point that Pastor Mike said was that no one says "I'm sorry" in their family. They ask one another for forgiveness. I really liked that and had many opportunities today to have the boys ask one another and it was powerful. Give it a try!

Girls Night Out!

Last night Jocelyn and I got together for another girls night out! Her husband watched their daughter and my friend Margaret watched Micah and Jacob. She picked me up and we went out to dinner at Chili's. It was so yummy. We spent so much time laughing and talking that before we knew it it was time to leave for out next event.

We were off to Livingstone Cafe to hear Stacey play. Stacey works with the youth at our church and leads worship on Saturday nights. She played her guitar and one guy played another guitar and the other guy played this drum box thing. Does anyone know what it is called? They were so good. They played some songs by other people but then they played a few songs that Stacey wrote herself. They were very beautiful and touching. Jocelyn and I shared a yummy dessert called a Choco lava flow-because on girls night it is a requirement that you must consume some chocolate. After Stacey played, we stayed a little to hear the next group but they were kind of silly. Way to go Stacey, God has blessed you with a beautiful voice, thank you for sharing it with us.

Hanging out with new friends-Kierra and Mika

Micah and Jacob doing spoon tricks

Last Saturday-out to breakfast and taking a walk by the water

Thumb sucking buddies-Jacob and Loretta

Commune Living

Me and my neighbors always joke how it seems like we live in a commune. We share everything-food, cars, watching each others' kids...the only thing we don't share is husbands! :)
But the "new" Navy has all the sailors gone more often so we all depend on each other a lot.

For example a fellow Hopper wife was told they had to move because the amount of lead in their house was too high-it was a much older home. So what do you do when you have a 7 year old and an 18 month old and you have to pack and move? I offered to take her 2 girls for the day (can I just say that girls sure do talk a lot more then boys!)

Every afternoon we hang out in the frontyard and the kids play and the moms talk. We take turns sharing snacks, running after the kids and being another set of eyes for one another. Well we played so late today that 3 moms and 9 kids all piled into my house and we made spaghetti and breadsticks for everyone. Then the kids played andthen we had cookies and a funny face contest, I think I won, and then I did a storytime for them. It was so fun. Two of the husbands are underway and one had duty tonight. It just makes it so much more bearable when you are not going through it alone. God has truly blessed me with wonderful neighbors who have now become dear friends, and special people outside of the Navy community, from church, who have been so supportive and encouraging.

Art Camp

Today Micah had his first day of Art camp at Hickam Airforce Base. It is open to kids 5 and older. There were 40 kids in his class, from all ages. He was a little nervous at first since it was new but I stayed in the back for a few minutes and then he was fine. He said that they had to go outside and find a big leaf and then they each got a slab of clay and made an impression of the leaf, then they cut it out and painted it. They had to leave it there overnight so it could dry. Micah loved it and asked if he could sign up for more weeks.

It's me again

It was brought to my attention by my lovely wife that I have been doing a bad job at updating on the blog. Sorry about that I guess I didn't think what I am doing was that exciting.


Well we are in Singapore now and I have had a few chances to go out and see things. I am including a picture of a Merlion statue. It doesn't look so impressive in the picture unless you look to the left and notice the street light dwarfed next to it. It was really big! I wish I knew more about what it means and why it is like a symbol of Singapore. One thing I learned was that Singapores birthday is the same day as me and Jenn's Anniversary.

Another thing that we did on our last underway was give a helicopter fuel while we were underway and it was flying. It was pretty cool and one of those things we can only see live here in the Navy.

I will try to update more and give more pictures when I can. I just read Jenn's blog and it was very nice to talk to the boys and say goodnight to them. I enjoyed singing with Jacob very much. I really miss Jenn and the boys.
Darrick

Catching Up

Thursday: We hosted our first mini church at our house. The shepherds (leaders) are Mike and Susan Ching and we are the host family. It is at our house every Thursday from 7-9pm. My friend Margaret comes over and takes care of the kids in our playroom while the adults have the study. It went really well.

Friday: We babysat Loretta most of the day so her mom, Margaret, could attend a conference for Head Start. I even braved the grocery store with all 3 kids and it went really good.

Saturday: Bright and early (7:30) we met our friends Margaret, Loretta, Tonya, Deja, Jalen and Tayveon at the Wright Bros. Cafe for breakfast. It was so fun. Then we all walked down the path to the ocean and looked at fish and searched the rocks for hermit crabs and other sea life. Then I did my usual Mow the lawn. Then at 3:30 we picked up our friend Nadine and we went to a swim party at Troy and Bow's house. We had such a great time and reconnected with friends and met new friends. One couple was was Redlands and Rialto!

Sunday: We got up and went to church. I was extremely exhausted and so were the boys. We made plans to go to the beach at 2:00 with Sedrick and Nadine. So after lunch we layed down for a nap and did not wake up until 5 pm. I couldn't believe it! So we missed our beach outing.

Monday: We had a few Doctor appts. and Nadine was able to first watch Jacob and then watch Micah and Jacob. This morning I was trying to clip Moses' toenails and clipped too far. Apparently dogs have veins in their nails and it bled so much it scared me so I knocked on Margaret's door for help. She helped me but it was scary.

Darrick bought a special cell phone that works over seas that works by him buying a special card in each port and then he can call us more often. It has been great. Tonight he got to say goodnight to the boys and sing "Jesus loves Me". It was so cute to hear Jacob singing it with Daddy while holding the phone.

Swimming

Yesterday Jocelyn and Kai invited us to go swimming with them. It was a great day for swimming and the water felt so refreshing. We first had lunch under some covered picnic tables and then swam for a few hours. Even Jocelyn and I got in the pool. Jocelyn also brought some food for us to try. I don't remember what it was called but it was a slice of ham with white rice wrapped in seaweed. It was yummy and Jacob liked it too but not Micah. Then we had oranges with Li Hing on them-it is like a sweet and sour powder. It was different but good. Jocelyn you can correct me if I spelled it wrong. The people next to us were grilling oasters in their shells, they looked like big rocks.

We also took Moses to the vet yesterday. He needed to get 2 shots. He did a very good job. He now weighs 9.3 lbs. and is healthy.

We love Casting Crowns!!!

It has been a crazy and busy weekend but so much fun! Friday night my friend Sonya watched the boys so Jocelyn and I could attend "Spirit of Aloha 2006". It was a gathering for believers all over the island to get together and worship God no matter what denomination. It started with a praise team made up of people from many different churches. The second half was a concert with the band was Casting Crowns! This is my third time seeing them in concert but Jocelyn 1st. We had great seats and acted liked silly teenagers. It was a blast. But on the way home the H1 was closed and it took us 2 1/2 hours to get home (it usually takes 20-30 minutes). But it was such a great time for us to get to know one another better. Thanks again Sonya, sorry it got so late.

Saturday we did some stuff for the Hopper and then I did my usual Saturday chore of mowing the lawn. At night we babysat Loretta. It is so fun having a little girl in the house.

Today we went to church. I have been feeling for the past couple of weeks that it is time for me to help with the children's ministry. So I talked to Uncle Brian and I will be starting soon. It was a much needed break but I am ready to get back into it. After church we had pizza with our friends Sedrick and Nadine. The boys love silly Uncle Sedrick and the jokes he plays. Then the boys and I did a little shopping. Then we rested at home and played in the backyard. We also planted some greenbeans in our backyard-hopefully they will grow and Moses will leave them alone.