Omiyage

The word Omiyage(お土産・pronounced oh-mee-ya-gay) means souvenir or gift . It is customary to present a souvenir to friends or co-workers upon returning from a trip or the gift that one brings when one visits another's home. In casual circumstances, omiyage may be any gift at all, but in an office environment, it's normal to observe certain protocols.

Omiyage giving is an important element in Japanese culture. Akiko San brings us something each and every week. We try to have things to give back.

When she went to NYC she brought us central park green m/ms. ::grin::

Michael (and recently I) have done this when we travel. Always trying to bring back "some little something" for the family....finding the perfect souvenir becomes part of the fun of traveling.  On our recent trip to the states we constantly kept our eyes open for the "right" gift for Akiko San.

We had talked with her about the Redwoods, and they were hard for her to comprehend. Michael and the kids took photos of the Redwoods and we knew that would be part of the gift.....but what else could we get her? We thought of kites and wind socks from the OR coast....but they seemed a bit too close to Japanese and I didn't want her to think I was hinting "American kites are better".... As a side note the wind sock I bought can't take the Northern Japanese wind. ::snort::

Finally, at a little shop in Old Town Newport, I found exactly what I wanted to buy her. I liked it so much I got myself one. I thought it would be a great touch of cheer in our long Northern winters. I also joked that I didn't want to be the only person in Japan wearing one. Michael and the kids thought it was a great gift too. We bought it......then I wondered....as really Japanese don't like to stand out. I reasoned she could tell her friends, "Look what my crazy American family gave me."

I wish I'd had the video on....she laughed and really loved it. She said it's beautiful and will be perfect for hiking - it certainly should put her grandfather's heart at rest. She'll be easy to spot if she gets lost in the snow. ::snort::  It made me happy to see her response.  And now there will be TWO of us wearing these on cold and windy days. LOL 

Choosing Joy!

©2011 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

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

Pizza Picnics

It is a JOY to my heart to have Zander and Stacia BEG for school.  We raced through table school to get back to Winne the Pooh and Zoology....and READING their I See Sam books to me. I love snuggling on the couch with these two.

They did seem to be a bit more motivated than usual. Our plan was to finish school quickly so we could meet the MOPS moms and kids at the park for pizza. Many of our MOPS moms left on voluntary evac.....so this was the first time for us to be all together since March. It was great fun to see those who could make it again.

The day was bright and sunny. I thought a quick meeting with Anita and Tara would fit in well at the end of the MOPS picnic....and then I'd take the kids to the Base Beach at  Lake Ogawara for a swim. They  rushed through school, packed the park bag, and Arielle and Nolan even decided to join us. Our spirits were high!

All was going according to plan. Nolan was a hit with the pre-school boys. Arielle was reuniting with some of her MOPS kids....I was having a great time with mommies....

Tara arrived and we set about mapping out our needs for our new Children's Ministry Coordinator.  We got a lot done...but alas, it began to sprinkle. Not much....but heavier and heavier...then THUNDER and lightening. Even *I* had to admit it wouldn't be the best idea to go swimming. I love swimming in the ocean during a storm. We are going to MISS not being able to swim in our ocean this year.

A trip to the library for some rainy day movies provided a bit of consolation.

I found another granola recipe to try...and chicken soup is simmering. I'll go make the dumplings and call it dinner....Arielle's request.

Akiko san is coming over tonight. Always a fun time and we've not been able to connect since coming home from the states.

I have no clue what that photo has to do with anything - except I found it when googling for a pizza photo....can you IMAGINE? What is that? I think I need to try to make one....without the bacon, of course....

With the exception of Tuesday, I've kept to my 1 - 2 hour a day on local PWOC boundary...and I'm getting lots done everywhere...at home AND with local PWOC.  Restructuring has been a grand experiment.

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

Unexpected Blessings

Ever had a day which tried to get away from you but ended up holding several unexpected blessings?

Today was that day.

I have firm boundaries in place for time spent on PWOC....I began the day using most that time in one chunk.....I had a great workout. Everyone continues to enjoy the changes we made in school. The younger two now LOVE school and ask to read to me any time I sit down.

I had been praying about a service project I could get Zander and Stacia involved in.  Last night (or way early this a.m. - the sun rises near 4 a.m. I think), I hit on an idea and we had a grand time zipping out after most of school was done to do our deed. We also ran to buy Bre's airplane ticket. Our little blond charmer always seems to bring me luck at the airport and I got another "very special discount" for Bre to fly home from Tokyo.

We came home, did a bit more school at the children' s request - certainly a blessing. I'd forgotten about Arielle's small group so she and I rushed out. Our conversations in transit were a blessing. I had an hour to run to a friend's and visit with her as she baked bread. A treasure.

Mike had to drive to Shirika - on the Western side of Honshu as there had been an American casualty and they requested a team to conduct a memorial service. The station was right on the Sea of Japan and he brought me home three bright green pieces of sea glass. My first from the Sea of Japan - a blessing.

We decided to go for a family walk after dinner clean up - it's been a long winter and the nearly perfect weather is welcome!!!!

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

Mostly a Tribute to Friendship ::snort::

This year's PWOC leadership team has come up with a summer schedule  which  allows for a bit of structure while taking advantage of the nice weather and the PCS season. It  allows one Tuesday a month without an activity.  Once a month we'll have a Drop-In Study. We're using Bible Studies on Demand - a variety of speakers, no homework, and great discussion groups.  One Tuesday a month we'll have breakfast and prayer. One week will be Japan 101 - Learning to Thrive in Japan. I"m not sure how attendance will be in  June, but as word gets out I think this will be a hit.  The following week is an Off Base Excursion ...hoping to have same women from Japan 101 join us, they'll be getting familiar with us and Japan at the same time.

Tuesday was the first Drop-In Study. We haven't usually had summer studies and were thrilled for 32 participants.

I rushed from Bible Study to the Parish Advisory Council meeting.

The next stop of the day was the  airport where we had to say goodbye to the BA family.  Rick is a chaplain whose ministry has consistently blessed his squadrons and his service (as well as his fellow staffers).  Ricky is a doll with a smile that lights up a room.  Renee has been my pedicure/ministry/travel/accountability/onsen partner for the past two years. I'm sad  our time together is over. I could rail against military life or realize we'd never have met  if  our husbands weren't military chaplains assigned in Misawa.  I choose joy....and I pray for my dear friend and her family as they move. The fact that so many hearts are feeling a bit bruised is a testament to the lovely friendship Renee offered so many.

We've explored Japan together.... 

She's a pretty good parade dancer....

Wonderful train partner

Served together on the PWOC Asia Region board

We shared many chapel projects, brainstormed women's ministry ideas ...

and planned a few retreats together....I spoke at a couple of them, she at the last one and we were blessed!

 I treasure our friendship. I strive to extend to others the gracious friendship Renee extended to me.  It was a joy to connect on so many different levels. I know God has rich blessings for the BA family and they will continue to bless every chapel community in which they are called to live.

Until we meet again....Godspeed!

Choosing Joy!

©2011 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

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

Misawa PWOC Board Planning and Training Retreat

Friday and Saturday, all who could from the local PWOC board, traveled to Lake Towada for a planning and training retreat. We couldn't fully plan the year with some missing and TIME WAS SHORT.....Our  goal going in was for all to begin building relationships with each other and for us to share vision. We accomplished both goals - splendidly - and had some fun along the way.  These amazing  ladies hung in there through Engage Your Strengths, a discussion of personality and love languages. We are armed with info to help us work well together. LOL  We breezed through the personality and love languages and spent quite a bit of time discussing strengths, how to play to them, how to lead with them. Everyone had taken the test before the retreat which allowed us to get a full picture of the board as we charted results.

The trip began by me filling our "new van" with diesel again. It is not diesel. "Green means go" is the mantra I repeat to myself when I fill the van....Unfortunately, I the mantra dates to our first DIESEL van  in Misawa.  I told the ladies we had a tsunami on the last road trip and this was nothing to worry about. I left the van at the shop, we piled in Muriel's car and off we went.

The drive through Oriase Gorge is beautiful any time of year. 

Five us drove up in Muriel's car and stopped along the way for a photo or two. 

We were blessed with gorgeous weather. 

Our rooms were bright and airy. After figuring out the tiny chairs, we were set up well for our meetings. 

Tara shares her position is one of pouring into lives so they can eventually pour out to others - leading to intimacy with Jesus and each other. 

Jess keeps us all together in her role as publicity team leader.

We shared lots of laughs and discovered Mandy is quite talented in the genre of  pipe-cleaner-art. 

Photo is missing several folks....but with creatively fun women like these Misawa is in for a great year of PWOC. 

Yes, there is an onsen....and yes, we enjoyed it late on Friday night. 

This is the only hotel in the area with an "International Buffet". The accommodations are different than many Americans are used to and I wanted our new ladies to have first-hand experience with the hotel for future "retreat location" discussions.

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

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...