Arielle's New Adventure

Arielle requested inline skates for her birthday. The BX doesn't have them in adult sizes. Tonight we checked at Sport's Authority.

Being pretty good at Japanese ::smirk:: we figured the warning out! 

Die hard - can't even READ them and still checking!

What a great brother! 

They took a trip down the street and back. Maybe tomorrow she'll branch out without Nolan's arm. Nolan wanted a pair but they didn't have "oki" sizes (large sizes). They recommended Zebono sports store in Hachinohe...thing is I'm not sure that's the name and it may be hard to find - but we will try.

Arielle does not usually opt for pink but she figured if she got pink the boys would leave them alone.

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

Ocean Visit

Since the ducks were a bust...we dropped Jared at home, checked to see if any of the others were ready to leave their homies and venture out with us....none were. 


Shucks! Michael and I had to go to the ocean alone! Our plan was to feed seagulls....once again...the crows were our only faithful animal partners. 

See? They really are flat like frisbees

I enjoyed a walk along the seawall while Michael walked near the shoreline. These wildflowers are new since earlier in the week. 

The seawall abruptly ended and the uprooted, dead trees reminded me of 3-11....always sobering to remember....and pray for this country we love. 

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

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...