Wednesdays with Wade "Week 3 in Kabul"

Another week down, and we hit the one month mark today.
Well, the week was full of adventure and I was able to take a trip off of the NKC. I know sounds like I work at Kentucky Fried Chicken, right? That would be KFC, but I work and live at the New Kabul Compound or NKC. Anyways, I decided that I would go ahead and put a few pictures of what life looks like outside of my little compound... here you go.

I wasn't originally going to put the trash truck on here, but you have to admit, that it is pretty impressive. I know that Jackson couldn't stack trash that good. As you can see, Afghanistan has the 70's feeling to it. Kinda like Okinawa, except a lot dirtier and of course the thousands of insurgents who would love to do something naughty to an American. I did see a lot of kids playing and they reminded me of my own special children whom I love dearly. In the end, that is what we are here for. We are here for Afghanistan's future and the future of our own children. We hope that we can some how get today's children to grow up and be smarter then the generation before them and can find a way to live together in peace. Well, that may not happen, but at least we can pray that God will give us peace for the short time that we are on this planet. Till next week.

P is for

Plane... 

Here is one that Jackson built out of Legos!

a view of the inside

Complete with control Panel

and  Pilot, too!


If you ask me, I think Jackson is Pretty cool!

Our First Day of School

Summer was great, but we were excited to get back to school. 

With Wade being gone, we knew that a schedule would really help the time past quickly, so we happily started back today!

Sara got an early, early start at her new school....Ryukyu Middle, 

but not before her Dad had a chance to skype her good luck!

I was terribly sad to see her go, but know she'll do wonderfully!

She said it was a pretty good first day, except the part when she got lost!

The Nordberg Acadamy of Excellence also had a great start.

   

I wish I had more pictures, but we were busy,

busy...

busy!!!

The kids did amazingly well, and worked so hard for me on their first day.

It's the little things that make me happy... Ahh, a brand new box of crayons!

The kids were so eager, that about mid-morning I thought we might get done too quickly, but that was because God knew what was coming.... Typhoon Kompasu!

It looks like there is a Big Typhoon headed straight for Okinawa! Being done early was a huge blessing because I spent late morning and early afternoon bringing in and securing everything we had outside, and making emergency commissarry runs for more water! (Story for another time, but it ends with Luke spilling an entire gallon of water on Sara and Georgia's bedroom floor!)

We'll see what comes at us, and if Sara even has a 2nd day of school...
but as for the rest of us, well, we're hoping our second day is as good as our first!

The Mall with More...

Now I like to shop as much as the next woman, and truth be told, I kinda miss it...a lot sometimes, but my kids...well, that is a different story!
So when we went to JUSCO (the main store in the mall here in Okinawa) to school shop last weekend and we saw this....

Well, let's just say,  they were on cloud 9!
We put 100 Yen in the change machine and got 18 tokens.

The tokens were good for a game on these little jackpot like machines, that were all in Japanese, so the kids had no idea what they were doing, but they had a blast!

Then they rode on this and acted like it was the best thing ever...seriously, like better than Disney!!
Sara and I could stop laughing at their excitement!!

We had good ol' McDonalds for lunch. a treat...as we've barely had it a handful of times since moving here. And I have to agree with others who have lived in Japan...it is better than the USA and the food really does look like the food in the commercials! LOL!

The day was a success....when you've got the mall with more... shopping can be good for the whole family!

Wednesday's with Wade "Week 2 in Kabul"

I have been in Kabul for over a week and have finally become settled.  Since the base is small and I don't anticipate getting out of the compound very much, I will limit pictures to 2-3 per week.  I figure that the first week would be good to cover where I currently sleep.  Here are a few pictures of the tent that I live in.  I am on a waiting list to move into a room that I will have to share with 2 people.  I will have to let you know later if that is a better deal or not. 

As you can see, I was able to find a bunk bed that was missing the top mattress.  This is key as I am the only person in the tent without some fat rascle moving around all night which shakes the bed and keeps you from sleeping.  I tied my poncho liner up to keep the lights out of my eyes.  I work a noon to midnight shift and usually sleep from 2am to 9am, with everyone else waking up between 5-6 am.  I found the chair outside and acquired it, so I would have a place to keep my alarm clock and Bible.  I just finished reading 1 Sam. and moving on to II Samuel.  Both books are filled with warriors who were able to serve God and kill a lot of bad guys in the process. 

As you can see from the outside of my tent, it is pretty decent size and completely surrounded by Alaska barriers, which is good in case some crazy rascle wants to shoot  rocket or RPG towards the base when I am in the rack.  No worries though, it has been a while since something like that has occured.  Well its almost 1:00 in the morning and time to hit the gym.  Catch you next week on "Wednesday's with Wade" .  In case you want to send an e-mail, you can reach me at wade.h.nordberg@afghan.swa.army.mil

Rainy Day Fun

A Game of SORRY...

And "tiny" SMORES!

(made with cereal, mimi marshmallows, and chocolate chips)

YUMMY, and mouse sized!

An Update by Wade

Arrival in Kuwait
After a long 2 weeks in North Carolina, I finally boarded my plane in Jacksonville and took off for Kuwait. 

I would like to send a big "Thanks" to my good friends and father-in-law who met me at the airport in Atlanta, and those who had lunch with me or had me over during my stay at Camp Lejuene.

My arrival in Kuwait was filled with surprises.
I didn't expect to see a McDonalds on the base, but the hamburger hit the spot at dinner time;

The highs reached into the 120's, but I had a good tent to seek refuge in,

 and I stumbled upon a little stand that sold slushes, which really made me feel good. 

I really love it when my desires and Gods plan are the same, and after a few days of waiting for a plane, I was able to catch a night flight out of Kuwait and made it all the way to my new home in Kubul in one day. 

"Forever Reign"

The Sunday after Wade's deployment became "official", our church introduced this song... The version I know is by Hillsong. 

I knew I had heard the song  before because I recognized the chorus, but  this time it really spoke to my heart and I teared up immediately after singing the first verse... Thinking of what our near future held was a little overwhelming.

We sang it again the next weekend and I cried again because I loved it even more. That weekend, I was really focused on the second verse...I was thinking about Wade being away from our family for so long, and how it would be hard, and sometimes scary, for all of us. (This was the Sunday that Luke threw up on me, by the way!)

Today, I heard the song in the van, and I cried again...(If you know me, that is nothing out of the ordinary...lol!!)  But this time... I was focused on the chorus, and more than that, the refrain... 

"My heart will sing, no other name Jesus, Jesus"
It just made me realize that all this time, I was focused on "US", 

me, Wade, the kids... when I should have been focused on Him! 


It was as if God were reminding me that when this news was new to us, it wasn't new to him...it is part of His plan.  When I am overwhelmed, worried or scared,  I can trust in Him...his plan is trustworthy.  And when I am weary or lonely, I can rest in him.... he's got this and me!

I can trust him, I can rest in him, I can run to him...He is all I need!

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love 
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light 
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy 
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life, 
In You death has lost it's sting

Oh, I’m running to Your arms, 
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

My heart will sing 
no other Name
Jesus, Jesus

Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

Library Party

Our library had a summer reading program that asked the kids to read for at least 25 hours during their summer break. Since we all participated we got to go to the big library party. A good time was had by all...

Georgia won a raffle like 5 minutes after we arrived. She was so excited that this box was in Kanji, but her doll's name was still Kelly!

Hilarious...Sara turned this around Luke's belly and he totally thought he was workin' the hula hoop!

Look at all that room they were giving Jackson...he won a book for his hula hoopin' skills!

I love that the single Marines gave their time to work all the booths...like they don't have anything better to do on a Saturday, but look how sweet they are, smiling at my baby boy!!

MacDaddy

I love my new MacBook Pro,

and I love that I have been able to use it to Skype Wade!

While we were chatting the other day, it hit me,

For the next 6-8 months...

He is the MacDaddy!!

Ha... I just cracked myself up!!!

I really hope we'll be able to talk this way a little during his deployment.

I just love it, and the kids have loved sitting on my stool telling Wade all about their day.

Of course, there are some faces of the MacDaddy they like better than others....

here he is being stern.

Personally, I love 'em all!!

Luke's Birthday

With Wade leaving so soon after Luke's birthday, I didn't really tell much of what we did for his special day. I am feeling a little more quiet than usual (I know, insanity, right?!) so I thought I'd just let the pictures speak for themselves.

It was a great day!