I'm Most Blessed

I'm having one of those, "Oh it is breaking my heart to think of leaving Japan" days. It all started when our sweet Japanese neighbor brought us over the first daffodils of the season.  This couple owns the barn  I take photos of each season. Their fields surround two sides of our home. 

I noticed the flowers were finally blooming (eventually they'll cover the whole hill) and grabbed the camera. 

Soon the doorbell rang, Yuuki HOWLED and HOWLED, Stacia opened the door and I heard clucking and Japanese speaking to Yuuki. (BTW Akikosan says that Yuuki has forgotten how to understand Japanese! I think that's the polite way of saying she isn't nearly as well-mannered as she was for Richard and Susi!)

What a blessing! I ran out and practiced all the suitable phrases, we bowed to each other....and I am blessed.  They always bring us the first flowers, the first cabbage, the first big, strange root vegetable....it renews my determination to learn Japanese but I'm hopeless. I can only pray she sees Jesus in us without the right words.  Stacia and I broke them into 3 bouquets as we talked about how to surprise our neighbor this week. 

One for the stove

One for the tonsu

Another for the "end table"

Stacia gave me the cup of wildflowers...and note the SPRING kokeshi is now out! 

Many of you know  we asked for, and were miraculously granted, a one year extension in Japan with the Air Force. Our hearts are here. We love this country.  We will be retiring from the Air Force in three years. I believe God is breathing dreams in our heart and we are eager to see where they may lead. I know it's not the season to be dreaming God-sized dreams with our current economy...but there you have it...how can we not? Meanwhile, unless God does something amazingly wonderful we will be packing up in about a year to move to our last Air Force assignment for two years...and then....will we get to return to Asia? 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Your Sins WILL Haunt You!

Last spring I bought two beautiful, Japanese clay flower pots to line our sidewalk.

When the snow melted, I noticed one of them was taped together....but no one had mentioned this or came forward to confess. I waited. I knew the tape wouldn't last. I also knew someone had to be watching this with concern.

I am happy to say Zander confessed. We have been having long talks, explaining telling the truth is always better than lying.... lies hurt more than telling the truth....and I was happy today when we discovered this....

...and I asked, "What happened?"  Stacia responded, "I don't know how that tape got there!" ::snort::

Zander said, "Mom, even the plants decided to evacuate!" (You knew there would be a story, right?) He proceeded to tell me the story....and the punch line is...."I threw a hard packed snow ball and knocked it over. I taped it and hoped you wouldn't notice...but that didn't work."

And so he earned himself a ticket for telling the truth - even when it was scary...because I can evidently be terribly frightening!

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Creamy Crock Pot/Pressure Cooker Chicken N Rice (Heavenly Homemakers)

I've been meaning to post this recipe. I didn't use enough salt (as I used broth but it still needed more) - and I suspect I'll dump more spices in the future, but it was a meal eaten by all. 

We ate it all before I got a good photo...I'll try to remember next time. 

2 C uncooked brown rice
sea salt
3 C water or chicken broth

1 C heavy cream (I used 1/2 n 1/2 and it was fine)
1 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless Chicken breast (I cut 4 breasts in 1/2 - 4 oz servings)
2 Tbsp Onion Soup mix

Place rice in crock-pot and sprinkle generously with salt. Pour broth and cream over the rice. (Note someone in the comments said to start with 4 1/2 C of broth as theirs cooked dry. Mine didn't - but a bit more liquid may have been nice?).  Cut chicken into serving sized portions and place on top of rice and broth. Sprinkle onion soup mix over the top.

Cook on low 4 - 5 hours;  Serves 6 -8.

Instant Pot directions: 
Follow directions above.
Cook on manual for 22 min.

Stats from Sparks people (figuring with CREAM and 4 oz servings of chicken).

Note I first found this on Heavenly Homemakers....check her out for recipes for "real food!" I've found zillions of favorite recipes from her. I do have to watch the fat content now, - real butter, whole cream  - good stuff but not what I'd call "healthy" or "low fat," which is what a human sans gall bladder needs.  ::snort::   

Why have I gone to posting recipes from other sites when before I'd only post links? 1. Blogs and websites do disappear from time to time, 2. I want all our favorites on the blog for our many military moves  - makes TLF easier, 3. I print our blog and links won't print - so if I'm to save the recipe for family posterity, I need to post it. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Vacations and Dates

• Saw this on Tina's facebook page and it made me smile...though for us today, "....going to the commissary after the annual PAC meeting is a date!"
• Annual PAC meeting. It's an honor to minister with so many dedicated folks. We'll sure miss the Weldon family. 
• How do you TRAIN truth telling in your home? This is not a rhetorical question....pulling out our own tried and true techniques, praying for the heart of the children, doing some Character studies and fables that will illustrate, watching some veggie tales etc that illustrate the point, praying for wisdom to see the WHY behind the lies, rewarding truth telling....working on a motto - easy to remember, plan to use to consistently teach.....thinking maybe "Lies hurt more than telling the truth"....because sometimes telling the truth does hurt....
• Michael took a nap after PAC meeting....I valiantly stayed up and slept through a movie with the kids. 
• Picked Jared up at 10:45 p.m. 
• Trying to firm up plans for the kids to visit this summer...thinking it may not work as we envisioned...thus is the season of family life with so MANY work schedules to consider. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...