Easter 2012

• Snow covered fields and barn this Easter a.m. 

• Amazing Grace - do I really celebrate, live, walk depending on His grace day to day? 
• Debated between sparkspeople and weight watchers online - joined sparks.  I have a goal to get it ALL (even the nagging last 10 lbs that stays around to mount an offensive) by the end of December.
• Whole "gaggle" of swans flying over...spring? 
• Anchorage, AK broke a record for snowfall - 133 inches. We are up to 220 inches and haven't broken the record of 240 set in 1984. I had been wondering how this snow compares with our AK winters. 
• Snow's already melted for the day....can't wait until this "spring" looks becomes green!

• Was great to be in church for the first time in a month. All were happy to see Michael. 
• We went to the Club for brunch after chapel....
• We spent the afternoon relaxing. 
• We're still reading Amon's Adventure so read from that as well as the "Easter" story from Golgotha to Ascension. 

• Jamin ran in a steeple chase at ASU - took first by 18 seconds! That's my son! Run, boy, run! 
• Michael has one more week of convalescent leave. This is good - he's worn out from chapel and lunch. 
• Looking for low fat, high protein, high calories options for Michael. 
• Thankful this Easter for the gift of hope and new life...and for the absence of cancer and a good path for health for Michael. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Life in the Snow Globe

Today was Japan Day - a fun day to be sure on base - but we missed it. Michael didn't have the energy and the rest of us decided to hang out with him.

It snowed off and on all day. Some fairly good flurries - but no significant build up. The world was blanketed in white this morning, but the roads were clear by 10:00 a.m.  There is a definite bite in the air. A local friend commented all the quakes and snow makes living in Misawa feel like living in a snow globe. Great analogy - accurate too.

Jared worked again today. He has training all day Monday and Wednesday. His shifts are shorter; but more frequent. We're all adjusting. He starts around 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. and is done around 9:30 p.m. This may work better for school. In any event he is on track to be done by Mid-May.

By the time 3:20 came around Michael and the kids were ready for an outing. We thought about the beach - but there WERE snow flurries and the wind can be fierce on the ocean.

I dropped Michael, Yuuki and the four younger ones off at the Chuo Park (Train Park) on my way to drop Jared off at work. I hopped over to the commissary and bought groceries - AGAIN - and then picked them up on the way home. That was enough of an outing for Michael. A bit challenging but not over-taxing - just about right!

Here are some photos of the fun at the park.....the kids were happy to get away from the house.

I have to include a photo of Zander....so I'll go with this funky one. It seems somehow appropriate!

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Life is Good

• TNT - Mark 6 - they were OFFENDED at Jesus' teaching...why am I surprised when the same teachings offend new generations? Ministry will find you as you dwell in the secluded place of rest. GET IN THE BOAT - do what you have to do to find rest. 
• "Keeping up with FB" - can steal time which could be used keeping up with the house ::snort:: 
• English Muffins baking
• Mustache March - I'll miss you
• Driving Michael to base for labs and then to the office to do a couple hours of "light work"
• Table school done - heading back to base for Good Friday service and to drive my boyfriend to the docs and back home
• SNOW, SNOW, SNOW on Good Friday! 
• Guess who went to work without a release from the Dr. today? Guess whose convalescent leave has been extended by one week?
• Another edition arrived - ~Choosing Joy 2006~ Jan - July
• Since Doc says Michael's labs show he's not eating well....that's our goal this week....gotta gain some weight
• Pizza, movies and working on fliers and slides....good night ahead. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

I'm Published - snort!

Look at it! Three-hundred and thirty-six pages.....Choosing Joy 2006 - Jan-June..... This one arrived damaged and when you're paying this much you don't want crunched corners. I'm waiting to hear what they will do about it. I'm hoping for either a new book or credit towards the next one. I've finished all of 2006 - two more books on their way as it wouldn't fit it in one more. 

We decided to print the rest of the years on a quarterly basis. I'll use the same color for all the books in a year....and we choose our favorite photos from the months for the front, back and dedication page.  I WILL take the time to assign each of the posts a title (this wasn't an automatic feature when I began blogging)....but over all....we're thrilled. I will work on a more polished demeanor, delete most of the book blurbs....but really...we're happy. I told Michael it was almost as good as a scrapbook and he insists he likes this much better. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Michael's Post Op Appt x4

Guess who went to work today without a doctor's release? 


Guess who had his convalescent leave extended by a week at 1400?


I love Dr. V. ::snort:: She's a hoot. She took one look at Michael and said, "Is this how this works? Who released you to go back to work? I thought that was my job." ::snort:: 


He just smiled his chaplain smile. 


Bottom like - GREAT appointment today! She said she loves us but  doesn't want to see us in the office again - she'll see us at chapel! WOO HOO! 


Michael's liver numbers are "almost normal". His pancreas numbers are  elevated but  going down! So....things are good....all expect them to continue to decrease. She did give him a lecture about nutrition.....seems those pesky labs can show he's not been getting protein and she says that is only going to slow his recovery...and they don't want to see any more weight loss....so....


He's home for another week - concentrating on eating, doing what he can and resting when needed. Shhhh.....don't tell anyone but if he really gets to feeling like he needs to be at work, I can drive him in for a couple of hours of weeding through email....


I think we're putting this behind us...which is a very good place to put the month of March. March has has been challenging since moving to Misawa. 




Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Mustache March

First there was flat top February. 


Then there was Mustache March....

Now there is armpit April? The month wherein all Air Force spouses get back for the antics of the past few months. ::snort:: 


I think I may one of the few spouses who really enjoyed mustache March (other than the 3 weeks of surgery and recovery that is).


I met and married Michael when he had a full beard....so this was nostalgic...alas...today...the man ruthlessly shaved it off and I didn't even get to get a picture. He DID take one for me...and now he's stuck with what he took. 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Today....

• Praying for our adult kids - Jamin and Jared starting new jobs....Josiah and Krista both interviewing for jobs in the fields in which they'd like to have a career.
• Getting ducks in a row for WILD Japan....praying for regional leaders for PWOC Japan. 
• Offends me illegal aliens (as opposed to legal immigrants) can get in-state tuition in TX but my son, a military dependent cannot because we live in Japan. This when TWO of my sons live and work in TX and one graduated from the college in December while the other ATTENDS same college. I'm not against helping kids and believe that was the motivation of the TX legislature - but what about military dependents? Don't they deserve the same chance? 
• Lunch and one hour board meeting with PWOC board - 2.5 hour visiting with board members after board meeting. ::snort:: 
• Dinner and family care
• Back to base to pick up Jared from his first night of work at Pizza Hut!

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...