Yuuki's Home

Richard and Susi brought Yuuki home tonight. We planned to drive over but it turns out really good they came over....we were all having trouble staying awake. LOL 


We've worried that Yuuki may not remember us....but we could see her running back and forth in the back and barking when she saw the kids.

She's sporting her new OREGON DUCKS collar and dog tag.....we'll have to try to get better shots when she's not QUITE so excited. 

Michael and Nolan finished this really cool puzzle the kids got Michael for Father's Day.

It's 8:02 p.m. and we MADE IT - we're all still up. Not for long....maybe we'll kick jet lag quickly. I guess we'll know by 3 a.m. LOL 

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

Still Traveling

3:20 a.m. - We were asked to leave the Haneda domestic airport at about 12:30 a.m.  Kicked right to the curb. ::snort:: The guards told us to wait at stop 16 and a free shuttle would take us back to Haneda International. We should have stayed her to start with - but I thought we'd find more comfortable waiting areas at the domestic. We did - but the guards close the airport down at midnight. LOL 

We have discovered some of us can sleep ANYWHERE....OUTSIDE...one the concrete at the bus stop. 

We are back in the waiting area of the International airport - rows and rows of little black chairs. Michael, Nolan and Arielle have slept for the past two hours. Stacia and Zander are playing Angry Birds on my ipad. I've been reading Intercessory Prayer (as all my other reading is on my ipad). I suspect my sleep problem is the constant looped message "Please watch your step" - first in Japanese; then English. LOL 

Look carefully and you'll find two or three Gherkins in this shot

There are  30 min shower rooms here - but I don't want to spend $12 for a shower. I may open my luggage, find a change of clothes and shampoo and go use the sink in the bathroom. I've not seen anyone else do this - so it may not be culturally acceptable....I know loitering in the airport lobby isn't. ::snort:: 


I wish I could sleep - or I wish the younger two could sleep.  I've about reached my limit of chatter.....but then again I understand their need to process as they speak. ::snort:: I have a feeling the other three will be on a normal scheduled in the a.m. when we fly and the three of us are going to want to sleep at 0900 when we get home.


Traveling Tip:  I observed a group of HARD CORE travelers...a pink power strip.....I need to get one like this - only 3 outlets but hugely helpful when traveling and plug ins are at a premium. 


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

Sleeping Upgrade

It's nearly midnight at Haneda airport and we've moved up to a padded bench like structure! The last flight arrives in 30 min and then we'll see if they'll kick us out or let us sleep here until our flight tomorrow.

I did take Zander and we explored the rest of the airport. I found a "compact hotel" - pay by the hour, per person....so if need be...we'll beg for a few bunks. No, there is not an USO at Haneda.

The flight was fine - once again we got the last two middle rows of the plane...makes it easy for bathroom runs. ::snort::  I kept thinking of the old Mark Lowry routine where he said he "put his tail on the tail of the plane" because in a crash the tail is always in piece in the midst of the wreckage. ::grin:: 

This is not the flight we'd book if we had been paying for it....because it requires hotels in Tokyo and those are simply too expensive per person for our family. LOL I figure sleeping in airports around the world builds character in the kids. ::snort::

HUMID in Tokyo....humid....wet and sticky. LOL 

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

Japanese is like music!

There it is, proof we were in California. LOL  We made it here in fairly good time. We THOUGHT we were going to have a couple of hours to sight-see, and THEN we hit the Bay Bridge.  So.....we have extra time at the airport but not enough time to really explore. LOL

We stopped at this "road side stop" - Nut Tree in Vacaville, CA.  I was drawn to it as this is the town my ship it APO address uses....Michael remembers flying into the small airport here....a whole mall has grown up around it now.....

Strange - traveling with only four  children.....and so we'll leave five in the states.  Below - in the ticket line an hour early and waiting. I love the moment you begin to hear Japanese being spoken again. I must not be the only one as Stacia looked at me and commented, "Japanese is like music!"  Agreed.

Waiting for a couple of hours to board our flight to Tokyo.....Michael is working on chapel stuff already, Zander is starting at the bay and planes flying over it, Arielle is reading...not sure what Nolan is doing....

Stacia is people watching....

I'm debating if I should take the kids for a dinner before we get on the plane. It's hard to tell....and several of us have motion sickness so I don't want to stuff them before take off. They all have crackers and snacks in their bags.....I'm sure they'll feed us SOMETHING on the flight....Plane meals are like living in the twilight zone.....breakfast at midnight. ::snort::

Ah - a game of trash has won out over sitting....good idea.....

And for those who were with me in Korea as I debated getting another "LeadSportSac" purse or a bag.....I made the right choice. ::snort::  I've managed to convince all it's a really big purse.....laptop and purse. I'm good to go. 

One more hour until we board. I think I'll close and think...about life and travel without Jared. I miss my conversationalist; though Stacia is more than willing to chat.

Wonder if anyone will want to go to the Onsen this weekend......


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

A Milestone for Nolan

Michael told me to bring my camera...what could this mean? Ah - the milestone....

I knew it was just a matter of time.....I had some laundry quarters left so sent them all to the vending machine to choose a celebratory snack.

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

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...