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.

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.....

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!

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::

Zander did o.k. with the teeny ice cream spoon. ::snort::


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...

Terrific Tuesday

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








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...

Today

Here I am at the Weasel's Den...quickly blogging while the kids run off some energy before we head back to the room for the night.

Today I went to Hachinohe again with a few new friends. Jan and her husband run Hospitality House here in Misawa. Jan's daughter in law, Susi, and Deborah, a lady from chapel, joined us. We had a great time.

I've been wanting to try out an organic restaurant I keep hearing about. It is the very restaurant Jan planned to take us to. Yumm...

While there I learned this sign means "women's" - Jan said to see the crossed lines as a lady with her legs crossed. ::snort::


Men's

We went to Toys R Us, had lunch and went to a store that is like Bed Bath and Beyond. I found real futons, but didn't purchase any. I also found a low Japanese style table that I think will match our table. Connie, another new friend, told me last night that she planned to get one for extra seating when entertaining. What a GREAT idea. We got back home about 4:00. I ran a couple of loads of laundry and here we are.

Jan and Rick asked the city to put up a sign that said "dead end" on their street. ::snort:: Read it carefully...I know it's blurry, but it's too good not to share.

Three new flavors of Pretz: cheese, tomato and apple

Three new Kit Kat flavors: apple, cherry and lemon and vinegar.

Deborah says that they release new flavors every few months and they don't stay along long.....we're having fun experimenting.

Jan told me about a new class for taking Japanese lessons...once a week....but in Hachinohe in the evenings. I need to figure out if I the winter drive is doable...the price is certainly right: Y4,000 a semester.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Spectacular Sunday

This was a beautiful day.

It began with breakfast with Zander. He'd been asking me to take him out for breakfast - just he and I - all week. During breakfast he told me "I'm happy on the inside and mad on the outside." I asked him what he meant and he explained that he's happy to be in Japan but sad that we left TX. I thought that was a great thing for him to articulate.

We raced home, got dressed, and headed for chapel. Chapel was full.....I'm guessing 180....Mike says they had 200 chairs sat out...and we were putting out extras....numbers aren't a big deal...but I gotta tell you it is exciting to see folks excited about what chapel has to offer. Two women picked up the Request for Consideration to be on the local PWOC board. I keep praying that God shows up mightily in our midst.

We grabbed lunch at the restaurant in the community center. Chapel currentlymeets in the community center as we await the completion of the chapel renovation.

Mike went to another service...for a bit.

The kids and I headed home...then we drove to the Lemon Lot and met the man who was selling our new Prairie Joy (see post below).

We decided to drive out to the building site and see what had been done since Wed. This fed our desire to be in a home...reminds us that one is being prepared. ::snort::

I'm feeling flu like...Stacia has had some running trips to the bathroom this evening...Mike is feeling wonky.... and a new week is about to begin.

Windy - after I wrote you I realized that my folks and kids would probably like to see the area we're moving to too.....I could have saved you space in your inbox. Oops. LOL Here are some photos from our outing. We discovered it only took 13 minutes to get to base today....we went to a different gate.

Scenery across from our subdivision


Main road that leads to the subdivision

Turning into the subdivision

Looking left from the T

Looking right from the T

Our house - one thing that is sad to me is that the plans call for concrete out front and a carport to the left of the door.....it's the Japanese way...but I'd sure be happier with grass. ::snort:: I know that sounds ungrateful...but I'm simply being real.


Our house with US in front of it....expect this to be a weekly shot. ::snort::


Since Wed. they've poured the front step, installed a door, painted the gray stuff, and framed in the patio off the dining room. We also can see the stairs are framed in....and it looks like a closet or something in the kitchen and a counter or study area in one section...since we can't read Japanese we aren't quite sure what they plan to put inside...but we could figure out the basics.
Jared contemplates the lay of the land





The red flag is our boundary....hope they don't put up a fence. I rather enjoy the wildflowers.


I need to take the Nikon next time for a good shot of the horses.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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

Misawa Summer Festival - Part 2

Remember...this was a costume parade...and I'd assume that is why there were so MANY Japanese men in drag. ::snort::

Penquins


Sumo wrestlers....and Mike blacked out the spots for the blog when he noticed I had the shot blow up big and was trying to figure out how to take care of the issue. I didn't want to get turned in for hosting adult photos. I will tell you that the kids were totally shocked...and disgusted....but then wondered WHY Sumo wrestling is so popular here, why a country where all are so fit would have overweight wrestlers as sport's heroes and how the sport began. I sense a study for our Japanese Culture class germinating. ::snort::












Arielle


Nolan at the Train Park


Jared behind bars. ::snort::


Arielle & Jared on the Zip lines at the Train Park.


Ah, so very sweet.

Oh my...more Michael Jackson's than you can imagine....and they circled around and came back a second time.


I'd load the video but the connections are way to slow.


Mike discovered this was an American Male when he asked to take a photo of her...notice Zander's response.


The horse sat down and visited with Zander.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

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