Updating

I cannot let Krista keep her blog more current than ours. I must get cracking.

Wednesday we continued to keep our nose to the grindstone.

Thursday some kept their noses to the grindstone. I had several events I could not miss. After a bit of school, I headed to base for a meeting with the local PWOC board and Ch. G (Michael), our PWOC chaplain.  I also met with our Spiritual Life and Financial Liaison to chat over the upcoming year. In between appointments, I ran to the commissary and worked on details for our  Board planning and training retreat.

Thursday evening was a chapel staff farewell for the Beyea family. Rick is a fellow-chaplain. Renee has been a great friend and we've also traveled to various conferences together,shared a deployment, mentored each other, worked on local and regional PWOC boards, worked on local chapel projects and simply had fun....together. I spent the rest of the weekend trying to ignore their approaching departure from Misawa.

Choosing Joy!

©2011 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

Living all of life before the face of God...

Tie Dye Queen!

My word - what a busy week! I will update real soon......but for now...Arielle has a great new hobby. She's done this before but ran out of die.....she picked some up in Oregon......She's dyed socks, napkins, t-shirts...tonight she's doing a pair of socks for one of my friend's husbands who is going to a 70's style farewell. LOL

Look at her handiwork!

This looks prettier in real life....it was a fat shirt of mine, but it was white. I wore it today and got lots of compliments and I'm one of few wearing tie dye in Japan. ::snort:: 

She's slowly turned all my old white napkins into colorful smile creators. Who wouldn't smile at such a cheery table setting? 

Pressure cooker is done....More later.

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Blow the Lid Off the Box

 “Faithful, abundant and True,” has been a timely study in Misawa.  

I read as Priscilla shared we file our knowledge and experiences with God into a box. The box is filled based on study, church traditions, history with God - it is o.k. to have a God box.  It is arrogant to put a lid on the box and assume God cannot and will not ever act in a way not contained in our box. I’ve watched God move in unexpected ways in Asia region.  The following quote echoes what I hear God speak to me in our trysts through the word, meditation, and the sweet confirmation of the Holy Spirit revealing His word and character.

“Our God is predictable in His character, but He is unpredictable in His activity. You cannot box God in. When you put your lid on a box, it doesn’t limit God; it limits your awareness of God. He’s still moving and speaking, yet you can be unaware of His transcendence, His greatness, and His ability because it’s outside your little box.” Page 94, Faithful, Abundant, True.

When God chooses to act in an unexpected and unpredictable way, I am forced to make a choice. Will I retreat to my comfort zone? Will I become disillusioned with God? Will I doubt His existence because He is not meeting my expectations?  Will I see His activity as an invitation to move out of the box?  Will I accept His loving invitation to know Him deeper? Will I allow myself to discover new aspects of His character? Will I confidently dance with him in a vulnerable place where my knowledge of His character is the only thing of which I’m sure? Will I allow Jesus, rather than my box, to be my fixed point of reference (Heb 12:1-2)?

I’ve watched God move.  Local conferences were interrupted with tsunamis. Local boards suddenly scattered. Many groups saw over 70% of their women depart, many haven’t returned as of yet. Leadership selection teams were disrupted. PCS schedules were changed. Regional Conference location changed.  Struggling leadership teams report full selected boards!  Petty conflicts have died in the face of true crisis. Bridges for the gospel of Jesus are being laid! The body of Christ is pulling together on behalf of an unchurched nation. I see our prayer for intimacy with God and each other being answered. I see small cultural shifts as we pray for revival in the nation of Japan.

Let’s allow God to blow the lid off our boxes. I want to be fully aware of God’s activity. Don’t you? You can trust His character. I see a new desire to dance with God outside of the box.  Will you join the dance?

*First shared at pwoc.org on Asia Region's page

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

I REFUSE!

Yes, we get new songs late around here...but having heard this one it's one of my new favorites...beware - if you're in my circle of ministry - .it's sure to show up.... 

I Refuse lyrics
Songwriters: Benjamin Glover;Joshua David Wilson


Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not

This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong

But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God

So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well

I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I refuse
I refuse

Lyrics from elyrics.
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Concluding a Full Day

After lunch and the infamous m/m experiment, we worked on a school a few more hours. The youngers and I worked on more booklets for their science Learn N Folders, phonics, math and language arts. 


After school (4 p.m.) we headed to Swan Park.....I wanted to stay home and get an hour of "PWOC Work" done....but I knew I needed to stick with the plan to get out and about a few times a week. The rest of the week will be busy with planning for a Local PWOC Planning and Training retreat, as well as meeting with our new Spiritual Life and the rest of the Exec Board with our chaplain....so this was the day to spend time playing with the kids. 


We explored a new trail....they've been doing a lot of work in these woods. We especially loved finding another elderly man blatantly ignoring the "Don't Fish" signs written in Japanese and English. He told us it was o.k. to fish.... they were too small for even breakfast. ::snort:: 

We glimpsed this pond from above. We tried to get closer as I wanted to see if it was a hot spring...

Lilacs starting to bloom reminded me of Grams. I fondly remembered those "simpler" days in Hardin with Grams and Uncle Bill up the street. 

The tower is still closed....

Not sure why she insisted on a rain coat today, but it looked cute with the flowers. LOL 

Jared rode his bike and so Stacia didn't realize he was in the park until she saw him across the field and took off running to give him a "love hug". 

This may be easier if she weren't wearing crocs? 

WAR

Note the missing bottom front teeth....and no blood at all despite her worrying for weeks about it. 

Jared rode home. The others and I stopped at the Farmer's Market on the way home for farm fresh asparagus, potatoes, green beans, onion and eggs.  Yum. I made Popcorn chicken, ranch potato wedges, steamed green beans and SALAD for dinner. 

Stacia read her first "I See Sam" book today...and we are all very proud of her. I'm not sure I'm using the program right - seems something is missing - but Zander and now Stacia are reading....so I'm assuming eventually they'll learn all the sounds - just not in the order I'm used to teaching them. LOL  I doubt anything is missing....I'm just used to teaching phonics in a certain progression....but that progression was NOT working for Zander....this does...and Stacia has been working through another program but picked up a book and read today...think she likes this  approach better too. LOL 

Choosing Joy!

©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Restructuring School

Recharge, Reflect, Restructure. 


This week we continue to restructure. I've been doing couch school with the three younger ones. We've been combining Lower and Upper Grammar. I thought this was a good plan, but it actually ends up taking all students more time as they listen to the other level.....so today....Nolan (6th grade) took all the upper grammar books, a list of what is expected and branched out on his own. 


This will allow the younger two to read books which appeal to them, speed up couch school, allow me more time for phonics and math, and allow us to begin to double up through the next month.  We read Velveteen Rabbit today instead of Hakim's history and  The Railway Children. ::snort::   I was in my "combine mode" - combine as many students as possible for couch school.....and forgot it really doesn't MATTER with Tapestry of Grace. The older ones can go at their own pace and we'll all still be on the same topics! I simply didn't want to admit that couch school is shrinking and Nolan is more than ready to be an independent learner.  I'm going to need a smaller couch soon....remembering fondly the days when we needed TWO COUCHES for couch school. ::snort:: 


We even had time for a science experiment.....


M/M's equal animals.....sort by colors.....and then make sure all groups have the same number....

Choose 3 colors and cut and crumple up 7 sheets of each color. Put in the laundry basket. We're making  a habitat for our animals. 

Guess how many of each color animal you will find in the habitat. 

I had 1/2 the paper I needed - so I gave them 1/2 the time to find the animals camouflaged in the habitat. 

Our found animals....our theories on camouflage didn't work - could have been two working at once or 1/2 the paper jungle.....but it was a bit deflating....though we're VERY use to our science experiments not working and had a blast playing predator and eating the animals.... ::snort:: 

We did have a great impromptu lesson on Natural Selection....this is the moment the kids figured out what would happen in year 3 - predators have been picking off animals...that poor red one is vulnerable and doesn't have a mate.....

We made a little booklet for our notebook. 

Thanking God for two little ones to enjoy as my independent learners become more independent. LOL  


It should be noted that an upper grammar and dialectic student somehow knew JUST WHEN to join us to play predator roles.....and they mentioned this was a better experiment than theirs requiring a bacteria growing kit.....but hey what are you going to do that would be this much fun when you're studying bowels. ::snort::


Lunch is over....the m'ms have become elephants and "flying creatures" and my living room is now full of cages and habitats.....yep, this was a good restructuring move. LOL


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

DATE!

We didn't see the message.....

02:25 PM May 30, 2011

Aomori Local Meteorological Observatory

Weather Warnings（Misawa City）

[Issued Warnings]

High waves warning

It was another rainy, blustery day...the typhoon had passed last night....seemed like a great time to go watch waves. Michael wanted to see some waves - real waves - we headed out. The kids opted to stay home - SCORE - a date with my favorite man. 

 It makes me sad that the regular beaches were all blocked off.....we kept driving and looking and discovered there are still quite a few you can get too - it would appear the ones they know Americans go to are blocked off. ::snort:: Could have something to do with the way we keep needing rescued. 

We found waves. I found one piece of sea glass. We found a great deserted road which  will be fabulous for family bike rides.  I'm still sad the swim beach 5 min from our home won't be open any time soon....but the ocean is still there to watch. 

45* on May 30th.....

This boat is far from it's proper place

See all the concrete blocks - that's the sea wall...but the red boards show they are starting to frame it up again to rebuild...YES. There is a band of pine trees planted near the coast....runs up and down the Eastern seaboard. They did this to stop the erosion of the island.....it's sad to see so many of the trees dying...too much salt water....

We were exploring this bit of the sea wall at a new to us spot...when Mike noted it didn't appear very safe and we should probably move back. 

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...