Highway Meetings

We enjoyed a last lunch with the girls and my folks and then hit the highway. We stopped in Grants Pass to meet Mom G. She is on her way to Eugene. I can't believe how quickly our leave-taking happened.  We sat and talked and reminisced....in the very restaurant where I first was introduced to Dad and Mom G....all to soon it was time to line up and say our farewells.

We headed on to Redding, CA and Mom G drove on up to Eugene. We'll finish the trip to San Francisco to catch the flight to Japan tomorrow. 

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

LEAVING - NOW - QUICKLY

So glad we motivated a lunch at BJ's with BOTH girls, Rebecca, Mom and Dad, all of us and Kent too. It was a nice time to sit and visit with all - and now that we are in hyper speed mode to LEAVE ..... glad we did it.


Sunday evening Arielle and Nolan helped paint VBS tribe and station signs. You may remember the blue paint from earlier in our stay when Nolan helped paint until 1 a.m. 

The rest of us went to the girls' apartment, did LAUNDRY (so glad now that we are LEAVING) and visited. Krista had stored away some poppers which the kids enjoyed. We watched Aragon and Ever After.

Monday, Michael applied for a passport. ::snort:: The girls and I met Sherri for lunch. GLAD we did this as we're now LEAVING (as in quickly).  We spent the afternoon lounging at the pool, while Michael continued to work on errands and passport application.

Right at dinner we heard we were going home...LEAVING Tuesday a.m. to drive to CA and then on to Japan.....so we called the girls and my folks and had dinner. We headed over the girls' after dinner to help them eat ice cream  (Dad brought the rest of Michael's watermelon which he had for breakfast) and we worked on designing the new Team G shirt....it's going to be awesome!

Some gave their all 

Michael in the Coke kitchen.

This a.m. we're up and running. Michael always adds a zany touch to my travels. ::snort:: He pings...and I've gotten my routine down....so on travel days I must be sure the blog is updated. I cannot START a trip behind or I may lose all motivation and never blog again - and he likes me to keep the family journal up.....so I knew I had time to blog and pack....and here we are 10 min before we are to leave the hotel.

Michael ran out and bought another suitcase...this will allow us to "redistribute" if any suitcase is heavy.....and um....some of us shopped more than we thought. LOL

Lined up and ready to go - 6 travelers - allowed 12 bags - taking 5 bags. We're good!  He picked out a nice turquoise/teal bag over black - because he loves me. LOL

8 minutes before Michael heads to pick up a rental van and I check out and head to my folks. The bags are in the van......the rooms are clear...I'm turning off the laptop..... We'll be over in a few minutes, Mom and Dad. 

Love the Airforce...hurry up....wait...HURRY UP what are you waiting for? ::snort:: 

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

The Wild Side

We were pleased to join a group from our local home church, Calvary Open Bible, on a trip to the Wildlife Safari in Winston, OR. Michael and I had gone a LONG time ago  - 1984 - with my Mom and baby brother - Squirt, Than Man,  Nate!  It was fun to see how much this has changed. I hadn't realized it was "fairly new" when we went the first time.  The animals no longer roam as free as they once did.  The concept is the animals are in their habitat and YOU are in a cage (your car).  Now the more dangerous animals are in large fenced in areas which you can drive near. Still - fun for the kids. A really nice contrast to the zoo we visit in Japan (animals aren't in as good health as they are in stateside zoos). 


I took over 150 photos; be thankful I'm only sharing 30 or so. 

I don't know - this guy was pretty scary tapping on my window! 

Yep - hump - Grizzly. 

A boot in his mouth? 

In velvet

Lovely area

Why should *I* move? 

G'ma enjoys a second childhood

Nolan is taller than G'pa

Incredibly fun day! 


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

We're Going Home

It's 1746 on 23 July and we've received two emails. 

#1 - Dr in Misawa has talked with Michael's cardiologist and he said the tests results are normal!!!! 

#2 - Our flight plans have changed again. This time they moved CLOSER. We are to fly out of SFO Wed (25 July) and will arrive at 09:10 in Misawa on 27 July.  We will rent a van and drive to California tomorrow (24 July). 

I think this means the children and I have changed flight plans five times on this trip. 

We have no CLUE why the tests were alarming in Misawa and fine here...several options....1. They got it wrong at one of the places, 2. God healed Michael. 

Thank you so much for your prayers these past weeks. A sad note is we will miss saying goodbye to Mom G as she is driving up tomorrow from CA.  


BTW Monday is fast day for the International Board of PWOC....and has been a fast day for our local home church as well....I find it exciting that results and flight plans broke loose today - on Monday. 

Choosing Joy!

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

Our Update

We're still in Oregon and actively  finding the joy in our situation. 


We hope to fly home this week. Please pray  they really DO RUSH the results from the cardiac tests last Friday. We are still not sure if we should fly home before we receive results. 


Today's test was cancelled. This is the one we tried last Monday and Tricare pulled authorization, then they authorized and then Friday afternoon cancelled again. Our Dr. in Misawa assures us they can do this test in Misawa. No reason to stay here another week for a test Tricare may pull. 


Our hearts and prayers are in Misawa as VBS begins today and a plane went down yesterday. Praising God for the pilot's safe recovery. 


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

Travel Malaise

We hit some sort of "travel malaise" yesterday. None of us seemed capable of doing much.  We DID go out and get some food once....and shopped for "inline wheels" for Michael's skates. Oh-and I managed to find a "clicker" for presentations, a portable hard drive for traveling..... 


We're still talking about a new Nikon DSLR....not sure if we want a D3100 or a D90....or the D7000 or something.....anyone have these? We have a D70 - the D 90 has the same extra features over a D 3100 but it adds a bigger screen to view your photos and short video capabilities.  I'm also debating about a keyboard for my ipad....this captured my fancy....

Yep - a keyboard that rolls up....though Michael pointed out that I'd need some sort of flat surface to use it...haven't bought anything. Probably won't. LOL 


BTW, Michael is currently in the midst of the elusive cardiac tests. They said 4 hours....so whatever they are doing is more involved than what was done in Japan....we are praying for answers and the all clear to head home as planned next week. 


We drove over to the girl's apartment....Bre was working and we woke Krista up. She had a Korean/English class at midnight. LOL  A rare thunder storm came through...we sat, watched...visited....and came home....maybe we'll think of something exciting this afternoon after Michael returns. LOL 

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

Refusing Offense

"Blessed is he who does not take offense at me." Matthew 11:6


When Jesus acts in unexpected ways our human tendency will be to take offense.....Offense - to scandalize, cause to stumble....we are scandalized and stumble when He either doesn't act as we expect or does act in a way we don't expect.  


I don't want to be this person. I want to continue to dance with Jesus, even through the unexpected ups and downs of my life. I don't want to be quick to be offended - either at leadership, the church, friends or Jesus. I want to quickly spot and uproot offense - and it's cousin - bitterness.  


I've been considering this verse since reading it in PWOC Japan's reading program.....and read a few more quotes I want to capture from, "At His Feet" by Chris Tiegreen. I think these quotes tie in well with my desire to remain dependent on Him to lead in the dance, without offense. 


These are taken from July 16th's reading:

 If Jesus let the disciples avoid the storm, "they would never have known Him as the Master of the wind and waves." 


"When we avoid the dangerous waters we avoid the deliverer.....We were made to know Him and whether we like it or not, some of His characteristics can only be discovered in the deep treacherous waters."


"We can't really know the deliverer unless we need deliverance."


"We can't know our redeemer unless we need redemption." 


"We can't know our refuge unless we experience danger." 


I knew my "memorial stone/word" for the year was Secret Place/Hiding Place/Refuge....and to truly know Him as my refuge, my secret place, I must have need of hiding....I wouldn't trade the lessons of the past months for the comfort and team that I seek or our "plan." I'll keep dancing and trust He is working out the details I can't understand....He's the God of the unexpected as well as the expected.


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