Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mother's Day 2013


It is becoming a habit to begin blog posts by stating, "The day did not go as planned, but was a great day in any event..." and that would sum up this day. 

However, since I do possess the gift of gab, I'll share a few more details.  I went to bed Saturday night chuckling at the challenge the eldest two Gherkins had tossed out for the remaining seven. 




Arielle and Stacia brought me a wonderful breakfast in bed...it's been QUITE a long time since that has happened....I would say never but my memory IS failing a bit these days and I imagine sometime in the past 28 years of motherhood this has happened before. ::snort::  I had yummy oatmeal with blueberries, raspberries, 1/2 a banana, flax seed and almond milk....AND a cup of Vanilla Chai tea....

The kids had made this card.....if you look closely it's on a canvas type background and has their hand prints and messages.

We attended the 1100 service on base - always an enjoyable time when the body gathers.

I had put a lasagna in the oven so we rushed home to eat - but it wasn't done.....I had plenty of time to saute a huge wok full of veggies, cut up some fruit and make a salad for the two of us who don't do "food with faces."

We had thought we'd take advantage of the beautiful weather and head out to either a Tulip festival or a flower garden...but with the late lunch....and a GREAT skype with all three elder Gherkin males....it was too late to make that happen.  There are no screen shots as I can't seem to find them after we take them in Windows 8....so we didn't bother. Michael is really having a lot of pain and I think it was best to stay home anyway.

We tried out a new recipe I found online for Cashew Banana ice cream. I used peanut butter instead of  cashew butter...and we added a bit of chocolate....Arielle made some vegan hard shell.... Everyone loved it. I suspect I could make the yonana this way....but it was nice to have the whole batch done before "ice cream time".  We worked together, while the kids played outside, and made two batches...one with Andes mint chips in it. I can't fathom that taste combination but Michael and Nolan seemed to like it....I must remember to post the recipe on the blog in case something happens to the link.

It WAS yummy...and can be made ahead of time and frozen. Makes Sunday night much easier....though this is almost healthy enough to be a treat more than once a week. ::wink::

The rest of the night was filled with For Get It.  Arielle won the first game....









I won the second game.... It is fast paced enough to be an enjoyable. 












Not EVERYONE seemed to enjoy the game....and this is not a staged photo.  She actually did quite well but really, really doesn't like losing her points.

All in all it was a great day....and Jared will be here on Wednesday a.m. (Tuesday night in Tokyo). Prayers appreciated as he begins his first solo international flight in a few hours.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Hirosaki Dressed with Cherry Blossoms


Perfect timing! We did it!!!  We've tried for four years to make it to Hirosaki for the Cherry Blossom festival...and there is ALWAYS something we are doing...traveling for PWOC, preparing to speak, freak storms blowing off blossoms, no blossoms.... This year we made it. I think they would have been fuller a couple of days earlier...but this was the day we could break loose from Misawa. 

Visiting Hirosaki to see the Cherry Blossoms was on Arielle's bucket list. The first weekend of festival we simply couldn't go - and we heard there were only one or two trees in bloom. Last weekend we stayed home and cheered on Jamin as he raced at the LSC.  This weekend it was raining...but we decided this was our best chance....and off we went...

We decided to take a bit longer and drive through Towada/Hakoda as the snow along the road is famous....last weekend it was 20 ft high...still pretty impressive this weekend....


Along the road

Standing on a 3 ft high ledge
 There are several of these tunnels which always seemed to have no purpose. Today we saw they exist just to keep the roads clear...the snow piles up but the roads are clear. LOL

We arrived at Hirosaki Castle and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the van. Then we headed out. Michael took spectacular photos....It happens admission is free from  9-12 of May...SCORE...and yet, it really wasn't crowded as most the crowds went the last two weekends. The trees were beautiful!















Funny - I took one of him taking photos as well! 

I was contemplating breaking off a few sprigs to dry in my Bible for a prayer Keepsake....who would notice...OH he's taking another photo! 

 While Michael took photos....we amused ourselves...quite well in fact. 


I don't know in the midst of a cherry blossom grove....can't imagine starting a fire...but there had to be a reason for the sign. Unbelievable. 


Of COURSE we stopped to buy Sembei on our way back to the van...lots of it! 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Luvin Japan ~ Living with the Paparazzi


It used to unnerve us....

Cell phones pointed in our direction....people setting up photos only to veer left and catch one of us as they clicked....but we've gotten used to it....

The paparazzi ...when we zip down roller slides we are sure to hear clicks and see the line of cameras out....and today I couldn't help but smile as we formed up for group pictures....it's become a game to count how many others are taking our photo on the sly. ::snort:: 

This, however, is the shot which brought the paparazzi out of hiding...several out loud laughs and snickers as we posed for this one. I won't even consider how many computers this photo may reside on. ::snort:: 

Yes, I repented of my momentary immaturity and we posed for a nice photo.....but the laughs were worth it...just sharing a moment of international solidarity. ::wink:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...