Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Week

Wow - it's been a week if I've not blogged since Saturday.

Sunday, Jared rode in to chapel with Rodney. I stayed home with sick and contagious children.

Monday was BEAUTIFUL. I went to hang a load of laundry and HAD to go to the beach. I came inside, grabbed the three youngers and we headed for Momoishi Beach or Kaikinkoen. I reasoned that good weather doesn't last long...we'd be on the beach and it's unlikely the kids would contaminate anyone. They needed to get out of the house.





They appreciated the respite from quarantine at home!
From 2010-05-17



From 2010-05-17


PE
From 2010-05-17



From 2010-05-17


Play Pooh Shells (like Pooh Sticks with clam shells)
 
From 2010-05-17
From 2010-05-17

 
The kids collected various shells to bring home and compare with their science notebooks....This is a clam that Windy and kids found. They'd had the same idea during their early morning lessons. It was too nice a day to stay home.
From 2010-05-17
The farmers are flooding the fields...
From 2010-05-17
From 2010-05-20

From 2010-05-20
From 2010-05-20
Japanese Farmers have to be some of the hardest working folks I've seen. Rain, snow....
From 2010-05-20
You can't see all the women in the fields too....but I'll find a way to discreetly snap some shots.

Tuesday, I woke with the crud. We headed to the Doctor. Officially it's aedonovirus....so more scrubbing, washing, puking, fevers, sore throats, goopy eyes...NASTY stuff.  I went to bed. Friends brought food.  I stayed in bed.
 
Wednesday, I stayed in bed...did some school with the youngers.
 
Today, I got up, baked for the retreat, made a birthday cake for Arielle and took the youngers shopping for Arielle's birthday. She'll turn 13 on Sunday.
Now, I'm going back to bed. LOL Thank you for the continued prayers. I know that this weekend is going to be good. I know that. Praying through to the finish line. ::grin::
 
We'll leave tomorrow morning to go set up for the retreat. First session Friday night at 7:00 pm our time....Sessions Saturday morning.....and evening. Home Sunday. 

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

I Am Fine! - Michael

Thank you all for your prayers.  I am actually away at a conference.  Please do keep the people who are there in your prayers.  Pray for safety for all of our troops - US and NATO forces.  Pray for the families of those grieving as well as for those whose loved ones are still in harm's way.  And please remember to pray for the Spirit of God to do a work in the hearts and minds of these evil men because with God all things are possible.

By Grace
Michael

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

Quick Update

You all are so sweet to be concerned. Thanks for the emails.

I've caught the aednovirus that the kids have. I'll be fine. I'm feeling much better today - just a sore throat and headache, fever.

In other news, yes, the news is alarming...but I did get a brief email today, "Can't share details. I'm OK"....so y'all he's fine.

We continue to appreciate your prayers for not only my chaplain, but all our troops, in all our branches, from every NATO country, and for their families.

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

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Cut and Parm...

Local beauty shop.... Perm...Parm....thought maybe it was a beauty salon/Italian restaurant.

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

Farm Update

Removing the plastic from rows of crops to reveal  PLANTS.


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

Snakes and Lawns

Stacia and Zander both woke up with ear aches this a.m. Stacia eye was green and gooky again. Ugh. Prayers appreciated. I started the ibuprofen....and began the eye ointment again. She'd done the 3 days the doc prescribed.

Jared and Arielle had a talent show practice this a.m. I drove them to the high school. Then we waited. I did finish the last of the retreat sessions. I'm excited to have it on the screen.  It seemed daunting but all that remains now is to practice and pray. I love it.  Savoring God - a great theme.

We had planned a chapel dinner tonight - but with kids sick - we're home. Rodney and Windy are taking Jared to chapel tomorrow. He is running the slides.




From 2010-05-15


I've been sure that we needed to mow our yard. It was tall...up to my knees in spots. We borrowed a friends mower and did that today. Our lease says that the land lord will mow the lawn....but....we live surrounded by fields and I knew the rodents and snakes were lurking. Sure enough, the neighbor had a four foot snake in her front yard....that was IT.  I started to mow...but then Jared came out and finished...and Rodney came over with a weed whacker to help tame it all. It's a new yard...lush and green.


From 2010-05-15

I can hang laundry now without worrying about a snake slithering across my feet before I see it. LOL
 

From 2010-05-15

It was a beautiful day. I'm hoping for nice weather next weekend for our ladies retreat. It would be gorgeous on the lake with nice weather.


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

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars - WHOLEFOODS Market


Makes 16 Bars - from Wholefoods Markets

Thanks to our reader who submitted the recipe for these not-too-sweet, crunchy, toasty and truly delicious bars. We made them more natural by using canola oil instead of butter to reduce the fat, substituting a reduced amount of honey instead of brown sugar and calling for organic ingredients whenever possible. You may also want to try our vegan version: Maple and Carob Chip Granola Bars. Our reader says her kids love these bars, and we think you will too!

Ingredients

4 cups of quick cooking oats
1/3 cup canola oil (butter, coconut oil)
2/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped organic nuts (optional)
Other options: flax seed, sunflower seeds, raisens, craisens, peanut butter.
Method
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread oats on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring a couple of times. Allow oats to cool to room temperature. Combine remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add cooled oats. Spread mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed or oiled, pressing down hard to compact it.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into bars.

Nutrition
With chopped nuts:Per serving (50g-wt.): 230 calories (110 from fat), 13g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 4g protein, 28g total carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 14g sugar), 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium Without chopped nuts:Per serving (42g-wt.): 180 calories (70 from fat), 7g total fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 3g protein, 27g total carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber, 14g sugar), 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium

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