Michael is in Florida on TDY (temporary duty).
I leave in a couple of hours to Korea for PWOC Asia's WILD (Women Intent on Leadership Development). This is training provided by PWOC International and Regional for local leaders. I will not have internet access at all while I'm gone. We'll be back with stories to tell in a bit.
Thrilled that Bre is here to be with the younger kids. They'll have a great time and I'll be back ready to play by Sunday night.
PRAY FOR UNEVENTFUL TRAVELS! ::snort::
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Japan 101 - Tuesday
Another busy day. We kicked off a monthly PWOC Activity - Japan 101. We plan to run this through September. Our goal is to provide an encouraging and positive welcome to Misawa for ladies and their children. For Moms we have a panel discussion, question and answer session, handouts and friendly faces. For little ones we have a great Children's Ministry room complete with Japanese music, easy origami craft and lots of hugs and games. For elementary - youth we have learning centers, games, experienced kids and youth with which new kids can interact. We all enjoy a variety of Japanese snacks together.
The following week we take an off base field trip....this allows new families to explore with a safe group....and builds on budding friendships.
This was our first event. It was a great time for us to make minor adjustments to our program and plan. We expected this month to be slow and it was...but those who came (having lived here 1 - 2 years) all had a great time and learned more about Japan. We'll target new publicity avenues this month to better reach our target group.
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
The following week we take an off base field trip....this allows new families to explore with a safe group....and builds on budding friendships.
This was our first event. It was a great time for us to make minor adjustments to our program and plan. We expected this month to be slow and it was...but those who came (having lived here 1 - 2 years) all had a great time and learned more about Japan. We'll target new publicity avenues this month to better reach our target group.
Other highlights of the day include shopping for the children. Taking care of details for my upcoming trip to Korea. Packing....and look what arrived in the mail already!
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
Monday, June 20, 2011
Bre's Home
We got up early and worked on school and PWOC stuff. Tomorrow is Japan 101 and I'm pulling together details for my upcoming trip.
We picked Bre up at 9:15 a.m. We attempted to get her a 3 week pass on base....alas....Americans must have proof of medical insurance to get on base. We came home, bought insurance online, and went to get her a pass. ::grin::
It was suggested (not by me) that we use one of our flyover treats to celebrate Bre being here. That leaves three left. Help me keep these kids honest.
We spent a couple of hours at Statue of Liberty Park.
The three youth and I left for Human Video and Youth Group. Bre and the younger two stayed home. All are settling down for the night. Tomorrow will be another crazy busy day. Fun but crazy.
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
We picked Bre up at 9:15 a.m. We attempted to get her a 3 week pass on base....alas....Americans must have proof of medical insurance to get on base. We came home, bought insurance online, and went to get her a pass. ::grin::
It was suggested (not by me) that we use one of our flyover treats to celebrate Bre being here. That leaves three left. Help me keep these kids honest.
We spent a couple of hours at Statue of Liberty Park.
Not sure she LIKED the roller slide...we'll remember padding next time.
Yeah, yeah....Mom wanted the "statue growing out of our head shot"....
Invented a game which involved 4 Gherkins on a swing while 2 ran the gauntlet.....
I spared you the clip where they're singing Fiddler on the Roof clips or "Be a Man". ::snort::
The three youth and I left for Human Video and Youth Group. Bre and the younger two stayed home. All are settling down for the night. Tomorrow will be another crazy busy day. Fun but crazy.
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Red Means Ready
I diligently worked to remember Michael's pithy station mantra, "Green means Go." It worked well when we had a diesel van. Twice now I've been in a hurry and told myself when I pulled up, "Remember, Green means go! Go Green!".......
Red Means Ready....
Not quite the "right" ring....but it will work.
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
Summer is HERE!
Another Father's Day with Michael absent. We celebrated after church anyway because we are just that sort of family. ::snort::
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
True sign that summer is HERE.
Happy Father's Day from the Japanese contingent
Bre arrives tomorrow.
Tuesday is Japan 101 - Learning to Thrive in Japan; hosted by our local PWOC.
Wednesday a.m. I fly out for Korea and Asia's WILD (Women Intent on Leadership Development). This is the yearly event where the exec board members from all our local groups are trained. I'm excited to get to see our regional team in person, to connect with our local leaders and to see friends and mentors from America.
It will be a busy week - and then I will play as much as possible for two glorious weeks with BreAnne and the kids.
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Flyovers, Golf, & Bread
We've had a great Saturday. It would have been better with Michael here-but it WAS a good day!
I spent a few hours working on various PWOC projects. I worked out. Breakfast was fresh from our little garden pots...baby carrots, green onion or two, blueberries and a strawberry. The kids were up and about and the rest of the day was a dedicated family day.
Before I forget - as we drove down a small Japanese lanes we experienced FIVE FLYOVERS! If you know us, you know Michael if a flight enthusiast. At our first base with PLANES - San Antonio - he started a game with the children. Every time an airplane flew directly over us, he'd take us for Blizzards at DQ. This is one of those family games which simply won't die. Alas, we've not lived as close to an active flight line since San Antonio....the flyovers have been very infrequent.....but today...well FIVE F-16s (or are the 15s) flew DIRECTLY OVER US.....the nearest is DQ is thousands of miles away....but the kids have decided they'll settle for Baskin and Robbins and I owe them 5 trips...shakes or cones, their choice. We had round one this afternoon. ::snort:: It is very important I document this so when Michael gets home there is no question about the validity of the children's claims. LOL
We keep forgetting to go to the Tonami Clan Memorial when they have all the fun things going on. I'd heard Saturdays in the summer were the ticket. We went. The go carts and battery cars were not running. Zander has been saying for a few weeks he'd like to learn to play golf. None of us play golf. None.of.us. However, there was a miniature golf course at the park today. We ponied up our yen and had a great time.
This turned out to be a fun outing even without the cars. Maybe more so. A funny, I was being silly (can you imagine?) and was showing Stacia the Proper way to golf (remember, I haven't a clue). I did a bit of tush wiggling and get the silly thing in. Stacia laughed. Kept shooting off the green. Stopped, wiggled her tush, got it in and said, "Huh, it works". Her technique delighted the rest of us for the remainder of the game, round, golf experience. LOL
I ran Arielle to a baby-sitting job. Stacia and I set about baking 8 loaves of bread and a pan of cinnamon rolls. I'm tweaking a new bread baking method...shaved another 20 minutes of f the process. Twenty minutes count around here!
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
I spent a few hours working on various PWOC projects. I worked out. Breakfast was fresh from our little garden pots...baby carrots, green onion or two, blueberries and a strawberry. The kids were up and about and the rest of the day was a dedicated family day.
Before I forget - as we drove down a small Japanese lanes we experienced FIVE FLYOVERS! If you know us, you know Michael if a flight enthusiast. At our first base with PLANES - San Antonio - he started a game with the children. Every time an airplane flew directly over us, he'd take us for Blizzards at DQ. This is one of those family games which simply won't die. Alas, we've not lived as close to an active flight line since San Antonio....the flyovers have been very infrequent.....but today...well FIVE F-16s (or are the 15s) flew DIRECTLY OVER US.....the nearest is DQ is thousands of miles away....but the kids have decided they'll settle for Baskin and Robbins and I owe them 5 trips...shakes or cones, their choice. We had round one this afternoon. ::snort:: It is very important I document this so when Michael gets home there is no question about the validity of the children's claims. LOL
We keep forgetting to go to the Tonami Clan Memorial when they have all the fun things going on. I'd heard Saturdays in the summer were the ticket. We went. The go carts and battery cars were not running. Zander has been saying for a few weeks he'd like to learn to play golf. None of us play golf. None.of.us. However, there was a miniature golf course at the park today. We ponied up our yen and had a great time.
I think it is fairly uncommon to search for your ball in the TREE?
Girls played as one group and boys as the other.
I told the girls not to worry if their balls went in the little holes above as they'd roll out...they didn't. A nice man came and fished them out.....
The boys avoided our fate by covering the holes with a soccer ball and each other.....
This turned out to be a fun outing even without the cars. Maybe more so. A funny, I was being silly (can you imagine?) and was showing Stacia the Proper way to golf (remember, I haven't a clue). I did a bit of tush wiggling and get the silly thing in. Stacia laughed. Kept shooting off the green. Stopped, wiggled her tush, got it in and said, "Huh, it works". Her technique delighted the rest of us for the remainder of the game, round, golf experience. LOL
I ran Arielle to a baby-sitting job. Stacia and I set about baking 8 loaves of bread and a pan of cinnamon rolls. I'm tweaking a new bread baking method...shaved another 20 minutes of f the process. Twenty minutes count around here!
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
Fun T-shirts
One of the things we love to do is read some of the fun t-shirts when we're out and about. Some, I'm sure make sense culturally and we simply don't get it. Some use English in a way that makes us smile.
Here are some we saw and liked at the mall on Friday night. There were a lot of "Lee Riders" brand shirts.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
Here are some we saw and liked at the mall on Friday night. There were a lot of "Lee Riders" brand shirts.
REALLY are perplexed about this shirt...it had a ton of random things written on it...but catch what it says under "Glamorous Life"....."Our heads to the sky you will demonist...Our fears in Jesus name we have prayed". What in the world does it mean? It's the first time I've seen the name of Jesus out and about in the general culture.
This is my favorite.....It's black stripes and I'm so tempted to get it for WILD - it's sort of zebra-like - right? I'm not sure the gals would get my sense of humor...but this cracked me up!
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...
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