That'll Preach - Crows

A new blog feature - That'll Preach...an often heard saying in our family for years. Something will happen or  we'll see something and one of us will say, "That'll preach." Probably comes from having a preacher for a father and a mother who teaches weekly women's groups...the kids are doomed to find fun in strange things. ANYWAY....it does help us see real life illustrations.....and so we decided today to share some of these on the blog....as they come up. 

Here's the scoop for today ...I made some English muffins without the tins...and they were flat....so flat we decided to just feed them to the ducks...but we couldn't find ducks....we DID have a crow which began to follow us.....and followed us all around the pond/park....Michael even got him to get in the water going after bread. 

Michael commented, "If the ducks won't come feed the crows." 

I responded, "That'll Preach."  At that point a blog feature was born, though we've played this game a million times over the years.  ::snort:: 

Luke 14:12 - 24...."Go into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled." 

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

Fun Sights

While at the park we just couldn't resist snapping a few photo of the cute cars! I figure it's hard to truly get the perspective of the cars without a person in the photo.....

Love the cars here!

Micro-van 

If you fall in - SCREAM?

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

Neighborhood Fun

This is really a great neighborhood for the kids. Kids around to play with, room to run, but lots of great spots to walk for solitude as well.

We bought and filled a pinata for Arielle's birthday. I thought she'd enjoy doing it with the kids. We waited for a day without rain, and a day when all were home. This a.m. fit the bill. Fun times.

Michael really had as much fun as the kids! 

Modeling fine dandelion jewelry crafted by Stacia

Only in our neighborhood would THIS be a common sight!

Pirates in Japan!

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

Shew....Just the Facts

• Levothyroxin induced insomnia. I'm SO tempted to quit taking me meds, but Michael reminded me this a.m. that I need to take them for the full six weeks so they can get a true number...AND...if I quit taking them I'll be a zombie again. ::snort::  
• Finally fell asleep at 4:30 a.m. (and YES I do go to bed and lay there - after two hours I get up). Up at 9:00 a.m. I found humor in the fact that I now know how to get Michael and I on the same wake up schedule. LOL 
• Lots of ministry emails - compiling quarterly numbers (Admin Hat) as well as a roster of all exec board members in our region and why they can't attend training (Training Coordinator Hat) and just chatting with my gals (President Hat). 
• Trying to create a cool banner - maybe it will arrive in time for WILD Training. 
• Lots of neighborhood fun today. 
• Trip to Swan Park with Jared and Michael. We were looking for ducks, but found crows. "That'll Preach."
• Trip to ocean with Michael. Still looking for birds to feed. 

• Dinner with four kids and Michael and then trip to Sport's Authority - looking for inline skates. 

• Blogging and crashing! Looks like I have 3 - 4 blog posts in the day. LOL 

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

Loving Friday

I started the day with a great time with God in the word, worship and prayer. 


I planned to drive to base for a one hour regional telephone conference, run to the commissary and come home to play with kids. 


I actually spent the afternoon working on regional PWOC projects, and the kids were happy to enjoy the warm weather with their neighborhood friends.

I broke for dinner. When Michael was in the hospital and unable to eat for 80+ hours (he can edit this to the right number), I promised him a T-bone steak when he was well enough to eat again. Tonight I delivered. Friday night is pizza night and I wanted to try making individual pizza's on the grill with the sourdough English muffin recipe for dough. I hadn't made my pizza sauce since we moved to Japan (yes, THREE YEARS) and it was yummy.  Everyone was happy......Michael had his steak....the kids made their own pizzas....

Yuuki got the T-bone bone...and tried to hide it in my planter and then bring it inside. 

I had hung two loads of laundry before I went to base. Arielle brought them in and hung a third load. Wow - it's finally warm enough to dry 3 loads in a day. Just last week it took all day to do one load and I had to finish in the dryer. It's the small joys that make life spicy.

Arielle took the day to totally re-organize my pantry and several kitchen cupboards. I love it!

We watched a movie. I fell asleep. I woke up and no one else was up. I answered ministry emails, downloaded several videos for use at an upcoming training conference, and created an excel to chart info requested by our Regional Chaplain.  It's 03:13 on Saturday - I think it's time to try to sleep.

I look forward to the day when my thyroid is regulated and I don't bounce between rabid insomnia or a comatose state...meanwhile I make the most of my awake hours. LOL

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

Yuuki's Grand Day

The kids have been teaching Yuuki "tricks". Most are tricks Susi told us she knew before....so she now sits, stays, shakes, rolls over and gives high fives....but when we headed to the beach and I discovered her in my seat.....

Tired after her road trip. LOL 

She LOVES to dig holes in the sand and roll around.

At the end of Akikosan Lessons...Yuuki is exhausted...she does this to herself. 

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

Love, Bikes, Beaches and Language Lessons

• Reminded yesterday and this a.m. again as I read e100 (I Cor 13 and 2 Cor 5:14-15) that it's all about love...and that has always been my vision and will be my vision and I don't need anything fancier. ::snort::  The love of Christ controls, constrains, motivates, compels, captivates my life...or should. 
• Bike ride with Stacia to the produce market

• Simply can't take another moment shut up in here working on regional Admin stuff - heading to the beach

Not sure WHY they added these after the tsunami
They're great to lay on in the sun

• STUNNINGLY beautiful day - can see the mountains, warm breeze at beach - good call
• Need to create a new map....wish I was more techie
• Created a new "go to" dinner using rice, organic red lentil soup, spices and some veggies - curry rice casserole! It cooked while we played at the beach. 
• Fun lesson with Akikosan. I sure wish we could take her with us back to America. LOL 

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