Deployment Goals

Mike asked us tonight during family circle to discuss our deployment goals.

•  Zander(8) - read for Mike (he says, "Ever since Uncle Nate came no one will let me read my book." ::snort:: I had Nate drill him with games and such but he is sure he hasn't learned a thing.
• Stacia (4) - count in ENGLISH, she's stuck in Japanese....and recite the alphabet
• Nolan(10) - read the New Testament
• Arielle(12) - Play something of Beethoven's
• Jared(16) - grow a goatee - WHAT??????? , spend at least 30 min a day playing with siblings, max out at bench on 160 lb, try to update blog for Dad at least 3x a week
• De'Etta(not as old as dirt) - Workout 5 days a week, get those new tests scheduled ::snort::, memorize James (or Ps 91 because it's really difficult for me), lose weight
• Michael(ancient) - Memorize I John (or 2 John), workout 5 days a week, lose 2 inches of my waist, finish story about Matthew.

Now, I'll have to see if the older four want to send us any deployment goals. I suspect theirs are things like, "survive spring term," "work,"......

 

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Package

Mom - what fun to have a package to open tonight. Great timing. I thought you would get a kick out of Zander's reaction. Note he's stressed and his been chewing his shirt. All who love our alphabet guy, please do be praying for him to adjust to Mike leaving. I would like to get through this deployment without a big regression to more observable autistic tendencies.

We've been looking for a whistle for Jared....and well everything was great.
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Countdown

Mike worked late last night (after 10 pm) so that he'd have today off. He spent some time talking with his Mom. She sounds very determined to get well and they had a good visit.

We worked on taxes. We were determined to get them finished before Mike leaves. We loaded MP3 players for Mike. I ordered a copy of Soul Craving by Erwin McManus. We're reading it together while Mike travels.

We stashed surprises in Mike's suitcases. This is always dangerous as he's a good snoop. Here he is with the "kisses" we're sending with him....one for each night he's in place.

After all was done we went bowling. Stacia's a blur.

Jared is pleased to announce that he beat Mike in both games.

My hero

Deployment roses....I always get six before he leaves and six when he returns. I was a bit concerned to receive a dozen...but three are for Arielle and three are from Stacia. We'll get a matching set next fall.

We've done much more since I arrived home on Sunday...but we've been living in the moment and I'll have to blog it later.


11 hours....

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Tale of Two Travels?

This is our life today....two suitcases being unpacked, two being packed....general chaos...but now there's order and Mike's packed....while I'm unpacked.

I'll finish blogging my Korean adventure after Mike departs.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Amusing Street Sign

In the past 6 - 9 months our city has added a few street names and signs. Our commander was asked for things the city could to to make Misawa more "Troop Friendly" and having street signs is huge...... Can you read the name? "Say Hello Street". I love it....it's a good reminder to communicate with your neighbors.
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Faith Lift or Faithlift

I've been asked, and have a few moments, so will explain what I'm doing in Korea this week.

No, I am NOT getting a facelift. I AM getting a faith lift. Faithlift is a local conference hosted by Yongsan Chapel/PWOC. It is interdenominational.  There are over 200 women in attendance...that's my guess and I'll look for an official number today. ::grin:: I know over 200 were registered.

From the name you may have guessed that our focus is to help women prosper in their faith.

What am I personally doing here?

Wednesday I spoke to the Yongsan PWOC...helped decorate South Post chapel for Faithlift, and went out to dinner with Adriane's family. Adriane is this year's Faithlift Director. I also met our new regional financial liaison. Sese is an amazing answer to prayer! I met with a Korean/American missionary who lives in China and has a heart and ministry in North Korea...but I'll not share more of that here.

Thursday I attended Yongsan's Leadership Brunch. I helped to answer questions about how our new region functions to support local groups. Lauren and I went sightseeing and had a blast. I spent time encouraging a few leaders.

Friday we went to the MARKET in the a.m. Loved being back in an Asia marked...loved the haggling...love my new "coach" purse. ::snort:: I connected, IN PERSON, with two of our regional team....Rachelle and Lauren. We met with the Yongsan Garrison Chaplain. He offered some great suggetions for us as we brainstorm our on-going training and mentoring of this region's PWOC leaders. We then met with Ch. Arthur Pace and  conducted our first-ever Asia Region board meeting. Sese, Rachelle, Lauren, Ch. Pace and I began....and Tracy  - what a sport - zipped in from the airport and joined us in process. We joined prayer warriors in progress.  We  had dinner, kicked off faithlift....and it is good.

Saturday- we have yet to see all that God has planned for this day. I know that I'll be facilitating/speaking at two workshops.  I know we'll hear from annointed ladies of God in our main sessions, Kwanda Dixon and Brenda Marlin. I sense the transforming work that God plans to accomplish today in our personal lives, in our marriages, families, during deployments and stress......God has good things to share with His daughters today. I have been excited and awake for quite some time.....
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Fun Visits

I'm learning a few things about Korea. I am falling in love with Asia all over again. Korea is divided into various "areas" for Army purposes. Thursday, I visited the area 2 miles from the DMZ. Until very recently much of Korea was an unaccompanied tour, but recently families have been allowed to come to Korea with their military members.  Our newest PWOC group is from this installation.

Vikki graciously invited me to go look and see. Lauren thought it would be fun as well. I pictured the Camp we were going to see as a tent city. Check this out....

From 2010-03-24_korea

The city surrounding the Camp has got to be three times the size of Misawa. The installation itself does not have all the perks of a big installation....but it is NOT a tent city. ::snort::

From 2010-03-24_korea

We took about an hour ride on the subway. The one thing that does disappoint me about Misawa is we have no public transportation. I LOVE riding on the subways and trains. Women from up at this camp often take the hour subway ride for doctor's appointments, commissary trips (their commissary IS much smaller than Misawa's), PWOC (before one began up here) etc. The trains were much the same as in Japan....though Japan's commuters are not pushy....just efficient.

From 2010-03-24_korea

I love the scenery around here. GREAT mountains, however, it's common to see high rise apartments built right up the sides of the mountains.

From 2010-03-24_korea

From 2010-03-24_korea

Six months ago, I thought that red circle with steam rising meant TEA....now I know it means ONSEN. Korea also has public baths....I don't know the Korean name because Vikki and Lauren were surprised that Americans do onsens in Japan.

From 2010-03-24_korea

Zipping along on the subway, it was hard to get good photos with the point and click. I've been amazed at all the churches in Korea. Korea is 30% Christian. I love the nightsky with all the red crosses lit up. The above church had a massive photo of Jesus on the side of it. My favorite was a church that had it's name on the side of it in English. I wanted a photo for my amusing sight feature.....The name...."Church that Jesus Wants". ::grin::

I have to talk to the ladies in photos, before I post any more to see if they are o.k. being made infamous on the blog. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...