Saturday, May 12, 2012

True Love....

Today was the 2nd annual Cross Training (PYOC)  True Love Waits Banquet and Ceremony.  I had a bit of a laugh at the various ways this was seen advertised on base.....


True Love....Awaits  

True Love...WAIT. 

We were glad BreAnne and Krista are here to share this day with us. The  house was full of activity as everyone prepared. 

Doing what they love most - dressing the baby



 




We headed to base where we dropped the girls and Zander and Stacia off at Weasel's Den. The rest of us went to the banquet. 

Tiaras were given to the girls to remember they are Daughters of the King



Mackenzie is one of our neighbors and goes to PYOC with us

Cody, Jared and Matt (Kazuki)
 








Gals

Guys

We picked up "the four" and headed to the chapel for the ceremony.









Kazuki & Michiko





I'm sure there will be more photos of the ceremony itself....but I'll go ahead and post these now. 


We've done this two ways now....in the context of family and with a big, public ceremony in a group of peers. The verdict is out on which our family personally prefers....I think both ways have some positives. The commitment is absolute and THAT remains the same. ::snort::  It was a beautiful day. I did miss the more personal exhortations of a family ceremony....but those will happen in other venues. LOL 


Come to think of it - the older four never "did" True Love Waits....we stress and train the goal of emotional, physical and mental purity from the time our kids are about 18 months. We begin with reading books such as Princess and the Kiss and the Squire and the Scroll....with the older ones this led to a personal commitment, which we commemorated with dinner and symbols. Our younger ones grow up in a family culture that openly trains, embraces and mentors this commitment and talks about letting God write our love stories.  For our family, this is a step on the life-long journey for all of us to live lives of purity.

It was very special for us that the older girls and Zander and Stacia were able to join us for the ceremony at the chapel.


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

Bullets


  • I Thess 4 - Sanctification and Love go hand in hand. Abstain from sexual immorality, excel in love, attempt to lead a quiet life...knowing we have HOPE. 
  • Pray, Prepare, Practice, Present....working on practice today.  
  • Up and running to attend True Love Waits Ceremony for Nolan, Arielle and Jared. 
  • Commissary run. 
  • Dinner, as a family, to celebrate TLW commitments. 
  • "Yeah, well BRE actually GRADUATED!" Stacia (6yo) has a new dis to use on her siblings this a.m. 
  • Michael is making me an awesome ice cream cake for Mother's Day. 
Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Girls' Homecoming


Eleven p.m. found us in Hachinohe awaiting the arrival of the "girls." Over 24 hours and they made it home. 




There just aren't words. We're thrilled to have them home for a couple of weeks. Originally, the plan was to have all four of the older children come out for Jared's graduation. Jared decided not to have a ceremony, the boys have new jobs and timing didn't work...but the gals came out anyway and we plan to enjoy....and show them Japan at a time when it isn't under 3 feet of snow. LOL


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