Monday, August 31, 2009

Rice Paddies

This is the view as I went to pull out of our subdivision. Have you ever checked out rice paddies? I did....cool.


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Our reading has told us that rice is a kind of grass that once grew wild in swamps.
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Now the floods are kept flooded.
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I can't wait to see these scenes in the winter.
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Our second day of school at the Weasel's Den is ending. We'll get lunch and I have a meeting at 1:00....maybe more a bit later. Poor Jared. The library is closed and he had to come here...and it's LOUD today. Wow, is it loud! I've met a lady that lives out beyond the toll road. It was fun to visit about the drive and such.

We're kind of obvious with our books spread out and the kids taking breaks to play, rather than playing full tilt.....this has led to two new homeschoolers approaching me. Always fun to meet new folks.....and one of them is new to the chapel so I'm sure to see her again.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sunday, August 30, 2009

1st Day of 20th Year of Homeschooling

This is the first day of my 20th year of homeschooling. I deserve tenure.

This is, by far, our most unusual First Day of School. Our books are in hold baggage, it was God we didn't bring them in our suitcases or they'd be gone. We're in the TLF....but not really. Mike is working nights this week and so needs to sleep during the day. This is always a challenge as a homeschool family; incredibly more difficult in the TLF. We determined to take school on the road this week...and I'm still not sure if housekeeping, neighbors, kids etc of others will cooperate to let Mike sleep back at the TLF. I have been awaken for 3 days at 5 a.m. by someone above us moving tables, chairs and running from one end to the other of their apartment...and I've thanked God that our exception to live on base was turned down; this could be common for three years. LOL

We're focusing on Japanese Culture and Language this month....and drill...lots of drill. The kids are also working on Language Arts - writing to be exact.

Jared will do Year 2 Unit 4 and Year 3 in TOG, Algebra, Biology, Computer Skills - Word I think, Logic/Debate, Japanese Culture, Japanese 1 and we're thinking of either Blogging 101 or Web Publishing...not sure which. He'll also have weights and whatever else we decide to do. LOL They've changed the TOG website again and I can't find the list of high school credits earned for each year. I wonder how many hours I spend each year searching for this file. ::snort::


Leaving the house for our first day of school 2009/2010
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The day began with Jared and I discussing the options....cobble Tapestry of Grace together or relax, make the most of our time on base and explore Japan. He'll decide. I think he'll do a bit of TOG and focus on Japanese Culture until we unpack our books. He was really looking forward to studying the Revolutionary Period in depth and we can't find many of the books we need at the base library. I think this will be the telling factor. I also think he's got way more hours earned towards a credit in Japanese Culture (Social History) than he realizes.
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Meanwhile, the others kids are excited to DRIVE to school. ::snort::
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Breakfast at Cafe Mokeuteki
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Littles "play" at drills at the library
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Middles help find more books on Japan at the library
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Playing math games at the Weasel's Den
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Lunch at the Weasel's Den - Jared left with a few books to read at the library
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Recess
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We read up in the tree house...the highlight of the kids' day was watching mom slide down from the tree house
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About 2:30 lots of pre-school kids began to arrive at the Den. We'll have to get more work done earlier tomorrow....and I'm going to go buy a small cooler so we can bring a lunch with us and not have to buy it out. I hate to do that as we have 3 coolers in our shipment...but I'm tired of wondering if food has been out to long.

I'm tired.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Landscaping

We've been amazed at the landscaping in Japan. I've mentioned there is very little grass around here. The landscape, however, is not bleak. Most homes are surrounded by quite a bit of pavement...but every bit of space is used. There are rows and shelves of potted flowers everywhere, groomed trees and vegetable gardens.

Often, I cringe as I drive on a twisty, narrow street and a mamasan is sitting in the road, while clipping her flowers. We've also been surprised not to see a lot of riding lawn mowers on base. Instead, there are armies of men, armed with weed eaters....cheerfully grooming the base. It's a beautiful base.

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The kids enjoyed this site this week. There were 3 or 4 men up in this tree. The kids were sure they were clipping with scissors...but they do have tiny clippers which look like wire cutters.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Progress on "Our" Home


We have a front step and door....notice the reserved sign. I SO wanted to mark our name on it...
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Kids in front of the house...note the framed in area for a driveway, and the framed in forms for concrete to run all along the front of the house.
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Not sure WHAT this means...it's to the side of the house. We're REALLY hoping they aren't going to concrete the side of the house too....I'd love a garden in this spot...but hey....whatever....
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The deck off the dining room is done and we have this nice little decorative fence too.
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This is our backyard from the edge of the patio. I'm not exactly sure where the boundary will be...and I don't know what these large things in the ground are for...Mike will probably know. They are in the yards of all the homes.
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They've cut the field from the road to just behind our home. It was all as tall as the grass on the right. I'm not sure if someone is going to put another dozen homes in or if a farmer was clearing the field for the fall.
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I would have a great view from the kitchen sink if it weren't for this frosted finish. ::snort:: A friend told me that they do that as most houses only have a view of the next house...
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Peeking in the sliding door....We have WALLS!. This shows dining room, bar and kitchen...little square of light is the laundry room...The door leads to the hall and 1/2 bath.
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Living room - the stairs are now framed in. The short little closet doors lead to storage.
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Some sort of fan is new.
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Silly - as it isn't our home...but we're excited to watch the progress. It gives us a sense that we belong in Japan and aren't just passing through. LOL We DO have to keep telling ourselves we're RENTING and not BUYING as we see the choices of landscaping. ::snort::

But if they pave the whole yard...we'll simply learn to garden as the Misawans do....Photobucket

Pretty, isn't it?

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Windy and Clan

A few photos of the progress of your home.

The sole purpose of this photo is to orient you as to where you are and where we will be. We're still hoping that the home across the street becomes vacant. This is your garage in the foreground...to the right is the vacant lot (hoping it stays vacant at least a year)...foreground right is the house we'd like to have gotten for you....and the house in the background right...with the gray strip is our home...really, we'll be within a strong baseball pitch of each other. ::snort::
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Ah....your front door - the white square piece of paper says, "reserved"...garage to the right...looking down the side you see the brick area is off your dining room. I wanted to take my ever-present sharpie and mark our names on the paper...I didn't. ::snort::
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This is the side of your house from the street....brick area is the patio off the dining room...
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This is taken from the edge of the vacant lot...and the home with the scaffolding still around it is yours....the first window is the garage area.
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Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Stacia's Accident was Private....

There's a bill board in San Angelo that says something like, "Bob's accident was private, very private."

I've been reminded of that the last two days. Stacia's accident was private, very private. Poor thing. I was about to take her to the ER today. I "felt" we could wait...that she simply had some trauma that needed to subside....but I worried. Mike brought Miss A home today after chapel. I had asked him to ask her to call, so we could chat about Stacia. Miss A is very calming, has a delightful English accent, is our Wing Chaplain's wife and has lots of experience with accidents. She is also very good with children and Stacia told her just what had happened. I had guessed as she suddenly was hopping around, screaming and clutching her crotch...but details weren't forthcoming.

Seems she was climbing up the slide (which I knew and saw from below), "swung" at the top and missed and it hit "under there" (which I didn't see). Miss A gave me some tips for easing her discomfort, told me to keep pumping non-acidic fluids and to wait and see how Stacia is doing tomorrow before taking her in. She comforted me that Stacia will not be traumatized for life is some doc gets to examine her and that it won't hurt a thing to wait....that in fact...just like anything you hit hard...it hurts but may not need a doctor. We shall see. Stacia wanted to go out this afternoon to see our house and come to the Weasel's Den....so she perked up, used the bathroom and here we are.

Mike goes to work at Midnight tonight - exercise. Yep, were back to an operational base that does real exercises. ::snort:: I'm a bit worried about how the week will go with him trying to sleep during the day in a TLF. LOL We are slated to begin school. I can tell Jared is worried that we don't have all his school stuff here. It helps him to know that Algebra and Biology are on the way.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Random Thought

Tai Yaki and Tako Yaki are NOT the same thing. ::snort::

Tai Yaki is a wonderful little pastry filled with custard or bean paste.

Tako Yaki is octopus dumplings.

I've still not found Cia Pao but I have been told two names of what I may be describing....I'll keep trying.

I may have the words above a bit wrong...but I KNOW that they sound close and are NOT close in taste. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Family / Nate & Heather

TEST....this is a test for Nate and Heather. I've set you to receive the blog every time it publishes. Does this get through the filters? You should get an email from Choosing Joy/Blogger with text and photos (well not in THIS post). Oh shoot....I'll find a photo so we can see if it works.
Hopefully, China will eventually let you access Blogger and Facebook...but in the meantime will it let you receive emails from blogger? If not, I can also try to subscribe you to receive the blog as an email via feedburner...but I know you were having troubles with feed.

If you receive this in your in box....and it works...email me back at dschoosingjoy@gmail.com and let me know it worked.

For all family - as soon as we have our own place with fiber optics Internet, we'll have Skype and be able to call and talk at will....for free or .02 a minute. We just don't have that option right now....unless you want the whole computer room to hear the conversation....slowly. LOL

Also - for the rest of family....I set the blog to publish to FB so those FB fanatics can read it there...or let me know and I'll add you to receive them in your email from blogger too. I can add 10 addresses. I have none added at this point. Aunt Gin used to enjoy this. All my trivia without having to log on. LOL You can also sign up via the link in the side bar if you don't live in China. LOL

Now, which photo of the hundreds since we've arrived in Japan would Nate and Heather most enjoy? Hmmm...

G-rated Sumo Wrestlers (thanks again Mike)
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Sign I find delightfully funny
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Or - proof that we made it to Japan
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Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Zippy Week

Wow! This week has zoomed past. I can't believe it's Friday already.

We hung out yesterday. I baked cookies...and discovered the oven in the TLF is about 100* hot...confirmed what I suspected.

Jared went to the gym and played basketball with some new friends.

I did laundry and picked up, while these kids.....

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We took care of some house issues arising from the home inspection in TX. There are only 2 things that need to be taken care of...both a bit perplexing as they WERE working when we lived in the home...but not a big deal. We are going to reset a toilet, and make sure the auto reverse on the garage door works. ::snort:: OH....and they said the dishwasher didn't work but it is BRAND NEW and we checked it before we left and it cycled....we suspect the inspector hit the wrong buttons. LOL Taking care of simple business in our current location is a bit of work. We had to go to the library to print off the inspectors report, attempt calls....get up at 3 a.m. to call at the right time, and thankfully they are simply going to arrange the work and we'll settle at closing....because it would be much more complicated to arrange work and send a check. LOL

I had a PWOC related meeting. I think beneficial. Which reminds me....I've been offered the opportunity to consider speaking at a retreat in April. Please pray with me to know if this is the time that God is going to allow me to begin to do more of this again. I'm trying not to let the exciting, new to me location color my prayers on the matter. ::snort:: Many of you know that I went way overboard in ministry outside of my home and God gently, yet firmly, called me home 4 years ago and instructed me to set boundaries and to minister from within those boundaries. Which I've joyfully done. I'm praying now to know if doors opening are a sign that it's o.k. to extend the boundaries a bit. AND...since I'm on the topic I've also clearly sensed that I need to be very careful not to get over-comitted here. There are so MANY wonderful things to do on base and in the chapel community....but I need to be retain my focus of growing intimacy with Him...I need to ensure I am not over-committed when I/we see the path that He has prepared for us in this season. Jared and I are both "Jumpers" and God is calling us both to be "Contemplators". ::snort::

We had a dinner invite at 5:30. Twyla had loaned us a car until we bought a second one. Isn't that sweet? The kids enjoyed playing with her boys. She'd made great smelling play dough for Stacia. Mike was at a meeting that ran really late...so basically, he missed dinner. He did arrive, ate some food but we were about ready to call it a night. Twyla said she likes the Onsens. I see this in my future now that I have a couple of ladies who know the ropes and are willing to go with me. LOL

BTW I still miss the kids who "didn't want to come to Japan," as Zander explains it. Stacia said two things yesterday that BRIEFLY moved me to tears....

1. She showed me a photo of she and Bre and said, "This is my sister Bre. I'll never get to see her again." I set her straight...but I must admit that even to ME Japan seems far removed from Oregon.

2. At bedtime she told me, "Jamin's too old now to dance at my ball." ::sigh:: I guess this means that Jamin has joined the ranks of Josiah, Krista and Bre as "old". ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

KIM!!!!

Can you read this sign? We would love to know what it means!

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It was at either end of Chuo Park.

Does it mean there is a Nursing Home nearby? Does it mean that this is a nice place for SR Citizens to visit????

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Kodak Moment? For Real?


Stacia and I needed to use the potties at the park. There were only Japanese potties.


We had a briefing last week and now I KNEW the proper technique. I thought it was worth a try. I stood Stacia in a corner of the stall to wait for me ... um... let's not get TOO graphic...the point of the story is coming....and it is WORTH preserving in our family journal.


I was doing great....I mastered the stance, though I think I may still be using the thing backwards, I don't much care. Just as I was feeling pretty proud of myself and commenting to Stacia that she and I rocked..... I heard Stacia say, ::gasp:: ::snort::


"Let's take a picture of this, Mommy!"


"No!"


"Smile, Mommy!"


"Stacia, STOP."


She took THREE photos and I promptly deleted them from the camera. I will not allow her to keep the camera safe next time we go on an adventure of this magnitude. ::snort::


This photo taken AFTER walking out of the restrooms, is fairly cute. ::snort::

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Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Wednesday Afternoon/Evening


After lunch we headed back to the base. We wanted to tell our TLF neighbors of another home they may be interested in. I wanted to call Connie and ask which DOCOMO plan she had...but couldn't reach her.


Back at DOCOMO I ran into some friends. The HUSBAND was with her and he had been given a remote phone with an English customer service agent on the other end to carry around the store and get questions answered. I now know what I need. BUT I couldn't get it because I didn't have a land line or home address. Mike said we'll go back together on Friday. The plans are totally different here.....


I decided we needed to go to the "train" park which is really called "Chuo park". I looked that up in the dictionary. I thought it would mean train - but it says it means "center" or something.... This park has a zip line, fun climbing structures and other kids to play with. We had fun.



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This encounter brought home WHY we want to learn Japanese. We want to be able to make the best use of these visits with our hosts. I'd also like to figure out why the lady in the corner of the park had her cat dressed like a baby and was patting it and burping it.....
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We came home, made dinner, the older two raced to an AWANA leader meeting, we're not sure how involved will get with AWANAS....Mike is still working....I'm using valued Internet time....


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Wednesday Morning


Our day began with a trip out to the realtor. We put a deposit down on another home. I decided I deserved two homes. ::snort::


Seriously, we reserved a home for new friends we very much look forward to meeting. This was HUGE....because *I* drove the kids and I out to the realtor's office. We didn't get lost. I think we obeyed all traffic signs. Jared commended me for being a polite American driver and yielding so often....I replied, "It's easy to yield when you don't know what the signs mean!" ::snort::


We headed to DOCOMO - to get cell phones for Jared and I. We've been there once before...and walked out because we couldn't figure out the plans, brochures etc. I've been pouring over it all and trying to get a grasp of it. I headed out, determined to have a cell phone by the end of the day. I got to the office and realized that I didn't know if they would accept my American credit card or if I needed yen. No one could understand what I was asking. I talked to the nice lady on the English Customer Service line again.....she suggested I come back at 2 p.m. and there would be an English speaking manager who could help me sign up.


We left DOCOMO with no phone and hungry bellies. Jared commented that he'd really like to try Sukiya rather than more sandwiches or Burger King. We did. ANOTHER adventure...our first time to venture out alone....and it was funny!

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The unadventurous eaters could find nothing that looked good. I couldn't read the menu, but the pictures are somewhat helpful and I could make out the prices. First I was worried that Y80,000 yen may not be enough...the money thing continues to throw me. I quickly realized that I had about $80 and that was much more than $8. ::snort:: The lady brought Jared a menu. Then she brought Jared water. When she came I ordered 4 bowls of rice and ice cream for the younger ones. I pointed to what I wanted and Jared said he wanted the same. She left. I commented to Jared that I hoped we got rice too and I wasn't sure what the meat was, but it looked like it may be beef. He said, "It's the mega beef bowl and it comes with rice." I was VERY impressed...until he told me that she had given him an ENGLISH menu and he assumed we were all looking at English menus. ::snort::

Nolan and Arielle did great with their chopsticks. Stacia ate her huge bowl of rice when I fed her with the chopsticks, she was struggling to get the food to her mouth. Zander stayed with ice cream....and that must change. There was a word in the bottom of our bowl and I'm busy trying to figure out what it means. ::snort::

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Zander did o.k. with the teeny ice cream spoon. ::snort::
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Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lassoing the Thoughts

I'm torn between the need to "keep it real" on the blog and the growing awareness that I have no clue who reads my words any longer. ::snort::

The kids and I have hit a wall, I think. There were numerous comments yesterday that I redirected. "This place is so small," "I'm tired of all the noise around here," etc. Some well remember Jared's infamous media quote, "There's togetherness and then there's WAY togetherness." That has become our "pick me up" phrase lately, when we sense we're getting stressed. We remember that we COULD be in ONE TLF, we COULD be crammed into small hotel rooms etc., while allowing all the freedom to voice true feelings.

We kept busy yesterday and today...but under the surface I've had a growing sense that I'm TIRED OF LIVING LIFE OUT OF A SUITCASE. We left our home the middle of May. With the coming of September, I am starting to feel out of sorts. I don't want my stuff as much as I crave some space...with our own routines... We keep busy during the day so we aren't bored or disturbing other TLF guests, or frustrated by other rude guests ::snort:: , we wait for Mike to come home from work and we do it all over every day. It feels like we left one phase and are trying to enter a new phase, but are not quite able to at this point....and I'm missing the four older children a lot the last couple of days. Terribly.

I have a growing sense, that under the surface...if I don't watch it...I could unravel. ::snort:: I guess what I mean to say is that I AM LASSOING THOSE THOUGHTS AND TAKING THEM CAPTIVE TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST....I'M MAKING THOUGHTS THAT I KNOW ARE NOT TRUE BOW TO THE TRUTH....but there are seasons when choosing to be joyful is simply not a matter of emotions, but a matter of the will. And it's tough!

Am I out of touch with my emotions because I refuse to accept my feelings? I don't think so. I'm not denying my emotions, I'm very aware of them. I do acknowledge that this is a hard and challenging time of our family life....but those are the very times when I am called to make a choice to believe what I know to be true, rather than what I feel to be true.

I HAVE learned many valuable lessons this summer. We ARE closer as a family. We've CERTAINLY made numerous unforgettable family memories. We LOVE Japan. Those truths are just as true as the fact that today I want to be settled and today I miss our adult children more than most days.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Terrific Tuesday

We spent a wonderful few hours at Lake Ogawara yesterday. Jared snapped a couple of shots for me.

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This lake is on base. Well, part of it is on beach....it is actually quite a big lake. We called and asked Renee and Ricky to join us at the last minute. It was a fun break in the TLF routine. Renee, thanks again for dropping your spectacular plans and joining us at the beach.

We were invited to dinner at a family from chapel's home. Joel is the PAC (Parish Advisory Council) President and Mary is our RE Coordinator. We had a great time visiting, the kids gelled well, Jared corrupted their children by teaching them Mafia ::snort::, the meal was great....AND.... ::drum roll:: Mary and I discovered we were both alumni of Faith Academy.

I don't often run into former school mates. Faith Academy is a boarding school for missionary children in Makati, Manila, Philippines. I've been thinking of the Philippines a lot since the move here. It was a blast to find someone who I was connected to here in Misawa. Mary attended FA from K-6th grade and left in 1979....I arrived in high school in 1979, so we didn't know each other...but I did hear her older brother's names while at Faith.....

We found out that housing will allow us to stay in TLF for 60 days from Mike's arrival. The AFI's clearly state this is the case if housing doesn't offer you adequate housing and you can't find a house in 30 days. This means we will not be locked out of our rooms again until 14 Sept. We aren't sure what happens at that point.

Yes, we WERE locked out of our rooms yesterday. The housekeepers were surprised and let us in...and then housing came back and said we could stay until 14 Sept. We laughed, sitting outside our room, with all our beach stuff piled around us. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...