We Made It

First, I must say DSL in the states is MUCH slower than we have living on the economy in Northern Japan - love my fiber optics. LOL  I'm not on my laptop - so no photos...but a quick recap. 


The rotator was wonderful. They had 33 extra seats. For those who image us strapped inside a C-131 (or some such number)...think commercial. It's called North American Airlines. They contract to bring military personnel back and forth. We had 2 extra inches of leg-room, comfy seats, nice meals....but no in seat screens for movies...and I didn't think the movies they chose to blast on the big screen for all (kiddos) to see was appropriate...other than that - comfort. I was in front of Zander....spent 8 1/2 hours trying to get him not to kick, wiggle, jiggle, fiddle....but for some with sensory issues he did fine. We arrived 2 hour earlier than we were told we would arrive. 


Thanks to Anna, we knew there was a USO. We went to find it. It was cramped - but cozy and free. 


The girls had left Eugene at 2 a.m. to drive to Seattle - usually a 4 - 5 hour drive. They made it at 11:00 a.m. We spent 8 1/2 hours in the air and 6 hours in the airport. ::snort:: There was quite an ice and snow storm waiting and we hadn't a clue. If we HAD, we would have told the girls to wait and we'd fly down. Bre had her first accident - and all was fine. Kent, a friend of the girls, had come with them. He ended up driving most of the way and we were glad he was with them. 


Poor Michael drove home in THAT while suffering jet lag. Adventures.

We are staying in a gorgeous home. GORGEOUS. They prepared for us in so many ways.... their home is immaculate, elegant, comfortable, up the Mackenzie River in the mountains....really quite lovely. We'll be here until Sunday afternoon or Monday. They are in Hawaii and we are enjoying the arctic blast with their pellet stove. Love that.

We spent yesterday trying to recover from jet lag and reconnecting with my parents and the girls.




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

Will We Fly?

The Patriot Express is a plane that flies directly from HERE to Seattle. No buses or trains in Tokyo....right from here. Unless you are on orders or have a Red Cross Emergency......you fly space A. We are assigned categories. Spouses flying are usually Cat 4. If you fly with an active duty member ON LEAVE, you are Cat 2. We will be trying to make it on today to fly home - as Cat 2. They load the folks on orders first. Then they let Cat 2 on....starting with those who have been on the list the longest. To fly Cat 2 you can't go on the list until you are ON LEAVE. Then they begin to fill Cat 3 and Cat 4.  We were told we are number 31 - 38 and that there should be enough seats. It appears Osan is not using over 60 of their seats and that will add to the number left when the plane arrives here in Misawa.  We will put however many can get on to the plane on the plane this a.m. I (as Mike is the active duty member and for any of us to fly Cat 2, he must be present) will take any who can't make it and try to book commercial tickets....and do the train, bus, two plane thing. LOL  We'll let you know what happens. 

This is my fact finding trip. I plan to try to fly Cat 4 to my PWOC installations in Korea sometime this winter/spring. 


The girls are getting our van out of storage and plan to meet us in SEATTLE Tuesday your time.....so excited....even with Jet Lag. LOL 


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

Happy Birthday to The Man

The love of my life had a birthday while we were apart. This means we will not have the giant "over the hill" party that I'd envisioned locally. We're leaving on Tuesday. He and the children have opted to celebrate in OR.

I do not have a problem with aging. It's not bothered me in the least to hit 30 - I felt I'd finally gained some "respectability" to teach Bible Studies. LOL Turning 40 was hardly a blip. 45  didn't phase me. It is with a great measure of humor, therefore, that I discover it's strange, amazing, bemusing to find myself married to a man who just turned 50! When in the world did that happen? It seems I'd just turned 20 and he was suggesting a wedding in 3 weeks. ::snort::

He still thrills me. He amazes me. His love and passion for God and the Bride of Christ humble me. His care of the children and I are unsurpassed. He is aging WELL.....oh he's so fine....but still he's 50. Wow. That awes me. Somewhere along the line, I think we've grown a bit older.....and I love it...but I'm bemused to find ME married to a man of 50. ::snort::

I would have not traded any minute (the ups and downs) of the past 27 years with this man.

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

Momentous Day

We cleaned. 


We crafted - weeeellllll - I showed Arielle how to make sea glass jewelry and she (as expected) excelled. 

While Arielle made pendants, I made slide shows on the iPad - I now have three set to music.....Older Kids (stole photos from FB) set to "Find Your Wings," PWOCI conference set to "We Speak to Nations," and Japan 210 set to "This Life". 

MIKE CAME HOME in the evening. What joy! I look forward to life settling into some sort of routine with us both on the same continent for months at a time. ::snort::  He brought us all a taste (literally chocolate covered macadamia nuts and figuratively) of Hawaii. 

While at the airport, I noted that NOLAN was a couple of inches taller than Arielle. What? When Mike got home from Afghanistan Arielle still had an inch or two on him. We rechecked at home (in BARE-FEET) and yep, he's passed her up. She's not happy about this....this means that NOLAN IS TALLER THAN HIS OLDER SISTERS TOO!  Be prepared for more male crowing, gals.

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

Conference Recap

It is really hard to find words to describe PWOCI Conference in Dallas this past weekend. 


Summary: after months of prayer, repentance and worship the leadership and 1400 members of PWOCI met in Dallas to worship, adore and hear from God. He met us. Kari Jobe is an inspired worship leader. Priscilla Shirer is an inspired Bible teacher. The workshops I attended were great. All three Chief of Chaplains were wonderful. God  moved at unexpected times and was welcomed to do so. The body of Christ in all its facets was represented. All manner of worship was welcomed.....from those sitting quietly, to ribbon and flag dancers, raised hands, bowed bodies... What joy to see the body of Christ, united, praising Him as led by His spirit. The fellowship with other Christian Sisters was sweet. The days were long. The responsibilities many. I am humbled to be a part of leadership in an organization whose focus is intimacy with Jesus and service to women associated with the military. I'm still in awe of being allowed by God to present a workshop on intimacy with Him twice at this event.  There was revival in our midst...and I believe it will continue on our local installations.

This conference didn't just "happen". Many spent hours and hours pulling together details. I believe the KEY to this conference was the repentance, worship and prayer that went into each aspect of conference. Once again, a joy to be at PWOCI Conference.

Here are a "few" glimpses of the week.

MANY ministries blessed us....with words and gifts....

Installation of all regional chaplains

Friday we had our Regional Bonding time....Belinda and Renee prepare

Ch. Pace seems to wonder what he's gotten into 

As part of the time, Ch. Pace and I affirmed the Asia Region Board. Mike brought scarves from Afghanistan back and I gifted the ladies with a mantle (symbolizing the mantle they wear in this season). 

 Asian BINGO was a way to mingle

Asia's Board - front: Renee, Sese and Ch Pace; middle: Rachelle, Lauren; rear: Me, Juliet

Some of the attendees from Asia

New International Exec board being installed

Awesome servants

Misawa Ladies

 

New Ministry Initiative - Protestant Children of the Chapel

Point of Grace

"We Speak to Nations" 

New PWOCI Exec board - Claudia (1st VP Spiritual Dev), Beth (President), Tracie (2nd VP Leadership Dev)

Choosing Joy!

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

Home Again

Conference was amazing and I'll have to find the time to write about it before time gets away from me....


For now, let me report that I'm safely back in Japan for another 5 days. I had a wonderful Sunday afternoon visit with these two.  They were suitably impressed with how many knew their mama. LOL 

We went out to Outback...where I TRIED to eat a full meal. We went to Target and bought gifts for me to bring home....and a new IPAD for me, myself and I. Michael had agreed it would be a nice deployment survival gift. LOL  I wasn't 100% sure I'd really spend the $ for it, until I saw all the folks enjoying them on the long airplane ride over the Pacific. 

Yes, my mama heart wishes I had more time with these guys....but what a JOY to see them doing so well in college, happy with life, taking time to drive 4 hours to visit for an afternoon.....as they drove off....and Jamin yelled, "Love you Mama," out the window...I was instantly transported back 20 years to Hardin, MT. These guys used to LOVE to chase all visitor's cars down the road as they left.....and it took everything I had not to chase after them. I settled for walking fast to the bottom of the car garage. ::snort:: 

I'm proud of them in their new lives....and count it as a heavenly wink from heaven to have been given some time with them this past week. 

I arrived home at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. I spent Wednesday unpacking, running errands, taking Arielle to the orthodontist. Today was spent with MOPS, more errands and desperately trying to get a refill of Jared's meds before we leave town next week. It looks like I may have to call up the chain of command on this one. Two weeks of trying to reach the doc...must have labs and a refill before we leave on Tuesday. 

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

We Had Our First Snow Today

They say that if the Summer is hot, the Winter will be cold.  If today is any indication, it will be cold and snowy this Winter because, yes, we had our first bit of snow today.  It was not much.  It did not stick, but it was still snow.  Last year, we did not get snow until the Christmas - and then we got lots.  I am thinking we may be in for a long, cold Winter, but that is OK.  We will just pop some popcorn and make a batch or two of fudge...

Is this a preview of our coming Winter?

--Michael

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