Sixteen....Sweet!

Jared David entered our life 16 years ago.... He and I are similar in many quirky ways. This can be good and can cause a lot of flat foreheads (you know - knocking heads)....but I'm thrilled as I observe the godly man he has become. His passion for God will carry him far....16 is a very nice number. 

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

"These farmers are CRAZY!"

The above is Zander's conclusion.  It appears that the crows have been bothering the farmer's crops. So....

This led us to contemplate how terrible it would be if this farmer had caught Peter Rabbit....or if the kids had been bothering the field....can you imagine a field with baby dolls hung by their toes? ::snort:: 


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

Kaihinkoen (Momoishi Beach)

{From the base - out POL gate, turn left at the Lawsons toward 338....at 338 turn right.....go PAST the Veedol swim beach (with Marlin on the sign), keep going until you see a hwy sign over the road that says "Kaihinkoen" on it....turn left.... basketball hoops, camping spots, beach, picnic areas. }

We had an unexpectedly beautiful day.....warm weather, no rain.

We fed the ponies and walked around the surrounding neighborhood. Zander got bit last time and was a bit nervous today.

It was too cold to swim...but perfect to go Kaihinkoen,  the beach closest to our home. I thought it would be a great day to look for sea glass. We've not gone to this beach since discovered the swimming beach in July. This renews my perspective and refreshes my spirit....both of which needed a little pick me up today. The younger three were game.

Stacia informs me, "DADDY should help you find sea glass!"

It was a practically perfect afternoon. God's still on the throne and displaying His handiwork in Misawa, Japan. Have I said lately how blessed we are by this assignment? ::snort::


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

Seventeen Porta Squatties

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Seventeen porta squatties at the Misawa Airshow! These were all over base. 

Nature's Buffet

We joined the Misawa Home Educators today for a trip to Nanbu. Once we reached the town we split into a couple of groups; which probably made for an easier time getting to know new folks, I would think. 


Four of the families made the trip out to pick apples, grapes and peaches. The rest bought their fruit at a fruit stand and went to a park.

This was fun! Totally not what I expected. In America when you go "apple picking" or what not, you pick as many as you want and pay for them. You take them home and dehydrate, can, or freeze your bounty. Not so in Japan.  It was nature's buffet!!!! We paid Y500 per adult, Y300 per child. We were then allowed into the orchards and able to pick and eat all we could. I've heard they don't let you take produce home...but our farmer was great. He really understood English and loved our attempts at Japanese. He sells produce too...so we were able to buy some to bring home.....If I can find a local store with apples that taste this good the produce consumption around here would increase.

First, we picked and ate and ate and ate.....Aomori and Nanbu specifically are famous for their apples. YUMMMMM the best apples we've had in a long time. We can't wait to take Michael back. 

Tsugaru Ringo

Budo (sour)

Nashi (Pear - wonderful - seems sort of like a cross between and apple and a pear)

It's common to see these little bags around apples and pears on trees. These are the ones that are "perfect" and being groomed to be sold in their little padded boxes for gifts. 

The farmer was wonderful. Jared determined to stay in the parking lot as he couldn't maneuver the orchard trails on crutches. This was NOT flat land with rows of trees...grape harbors and trees marched down a steep slope. The farmer gave Jared a ride down in his truck.  He was a blast to talk to.


He gave me the Japanese name of an apple that he says will work good in pies...and he wrote it in katakana so I can show it too the grocers. LOL 


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

Eighteen

I discovered 18 water bottles in the fridge when I cleaned it out. I know we need to stay well hydrated; but this is overkill. Now that summer and football are over, I limited it to one bottle per person....


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

Nineteen!!!!!!!

Nineteen year old Jamin is the child who caused me to repent of thinking I had parenting figured out - and chased me to the face of God to learn  many lasting lessons in faith and parenting.  This kid who "would never learn to read unless you get him on meds".....blesses me. He reads, he writes, he cleans, he works, he runs......he loves his largish family and we love him.  Jamin is a Sophomore this year at Angelo State University.  He chose to stay in San Angelo and share an apartment with Josiah. We're glad. I'm not sure he's settled on a major.....need to ask him about that. ::grin:: 

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