Almost Spectacular - Another G Team Adventure

Before I begin our sad saga....I must say I loved Michael's sermon this a.m. on I Peter 2:1-3. I believe the goal is to get through I Peter before we move to our next assignment. ::grin::

After church...well...it was Zander's day to pick our restaurant. We drove up to Lakeview Grill and it was CLOSED. We ate at the club.

Oh the unexpected adventures you have with a navigator such as I. I downloaded step by step directions from ITT to Inkadate...we wanted to see the Rice Art.... We discussed most mention going up the toll road...and these directions...took us OVER the mountains, around very windy roads....3 hours...and when we arrived...they had closed the observation tower 10 min earlier. That didn't deter us....we took some photos anyway....marked the coordinates on the GPS and may try again. This will be our last chance to do this before we leave Japan.  There WAS a very nice lady who tried in vain to get the guard to let us up. She knew how far we'd come...she kept saying "base, base."  The guard kept saying, "Dame, Dame, Dame."

I'm dreaming of how stunning this will be from ABOVE the fields...various kinds of rice to make designs....I'll share more about it when we get to go up the elevator.

Arielle climbed up on the top of the car and got the best vantage point of the day. 

More to come....we had noted a great playground on our way to the fields and went back there. Our plan was to check out the one field of rice art they had and then let the kids play before we headed home. 

You guessed it! They closed just before we got there...we got this shot from making Nolan balance on the top of a post....on his tip toes...while we held him and shouted encouragement. ::snort:: 

We got back to the playground to find it CLOSED too! Zander couldn't believe you can close a playground! LOL 

This zip line "thing" WAS open.....

VERY important for both parties to go the SAME way around the track

Always more fun when Dad gets involved

After playing, we found a vending machine with ice cream and treated the kids to their weekly ice cream ration. ::snort:: 

Poor Michael...I know he was exhausted. It rained all the way back...we took the toll road and it took 1 hour and 40 min to our door.  But it was about $27 in tolls - one way. 

We were told next Sunday will be the last day before the harvest the rice. Photos of the harvest may be fun too.  I've wanted to see this  for 3 years now.....I do think another try is in the future....this time we'll start early, take a picnic lunch and add another attraction or two to make the best use of the drive up. LOL 

Would you believe after 5 hours in the car to see something we couldn't really see....one of our children THANKED us for the day? These are good kids...not one complaint...

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

Tea Parties and Dishes

Remember the birthday party that wasn't? Stacia is ready to collect on the promise of a "New Friends" party. We're going to have a Garden Tea Party (without a garden) next Saturday. I didn't know this until this afternoon. ::snort::

We used our trip to Hard Off to purchase 8 little tea cups which we'll use for favors and give away to the guests.

Arielle made these cute invites! 

A small gathering

of old and new friends

to get reacquainted

and chat till no end!

Join us for a Garden Tea Party

Saturday, 29 September

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Stacia’s  House (W700 Y)

Plans are in full swing now!  I think it will be a fun party for Stacia. The focus will be all on friendship and not on birthday. 

While we were at the recycle shop (thrift store)...I picked up a few more Japanese dishes...because they make me smile....and I've become a tad bit Japanese in that I like lots of small pretty dishes at a meal....and since my portions are smaller...the new dinner plates will be a treat to use.  Arielle and I decided I needed to buy quite a bit as they are SURE to break and I won't be able to replace them from dishes purchased in Japan...and there needs to be a few to leave to the girls when I "pass on".  Did I mention they make me smile? 

 
How often will I be able to buy plates with this marking in Japan?

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

Rock Bands, Roller Slides and Dear Friends

We had two outings in mind: 1. a trip to Aomori to see the Jomon museum as we just finished studying that time period and/or 2. a trip to see the Rice Art. We decided, given my great talent for getting lost, both were a bit too far to go without Michael or a friend with us. We opted to drive up to "Towada Horse Park." 

On the way up I discovered my car does NOT get 360 Km on a tank of gas.  I starting having inklings and found  a station. I spent our snack money on gas...11 gal and I had only gone 280Km on the tank....which means we would not have made up up the hill AND back to a station. ::snort::

The parking lot was full - which was surprising...until we saw THIS.

The kids do enjoy these roller slides. We'll visit the various slides around here as much as possible in the next months.

 I was standing in this same observation tower three years ago, looking at this very view when I first said, "I think I could be happy living in Japan forever."  My opinion hasn't changed.  I noticed the colors are changing...a sure sign hot, humid summer may really be over.

 

The younger two went zipping down the hill. The older two and I took our time down the hill....and then I saw FRIENDS....such fun to meet up with folks you know unexpectedly. Stacia and Zander were with Jim, Marvie, Ashley and Alex.  It was nice to sit and visit...

....and play.... We helped each other with various emergencies...they loaned me yen for the "snack emergency" as you know - I put the ice cream yen in the gas tank. ::snort:: I jump started their car as we left.

I am trying to find the pancake drink in the vending machines and thought I'd seen it here...it wasn't. This melon drink was YUMMY though and I splurged while the kids had ice cream. 

On the way back we stopped at Hard Off (recycle shop - aka thrift store), but that's another post.  Great day - made even better by running into dear friends. We must be more intentional about the time we have left with friends. 

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

Serious Sleeper

This girl can sleep ANYWHERE - seriously. I'm trying to figure out HOW you sit on the stair and then decide to take a nap....She woke up without a clue as to why she was napping on the stairs. 

Yuuki was giving her a "perplexed doggie" look and when I came back she seems to have decided to join Arielle.

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

Perfect Pet?

Our goal this week was to tweak the schedule so we could all volunteer for PCOC on Tuesday and still get a full week of school completed. We succeeded...though it DOES mean we are FOCUSED for those four days...late afternoons of school...but done. 

The best quote of this week is from Stacia, after spending the entire week studying SNAKES - Ewwww!  "I think I'll get a pet bunny instead of a pet anaconda after all! ::snort::

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

Strange Sight

Does anyone else find things like this in their home? Zander wanted to see what made the timer work....we'll see if he can put it back together. ::snort:: 

The belt flew off the elliptical today while I worked out. I went on a bike ride instead. 

I enjoyed a blessed time of prayer with PWOC Japan Region VP. 

Full day of school today...The kids  enjoyed an afternoon  trip to the park while I visited with 3 women and worked through Ephesians chapter 1...we made a running trip through the commissary. 

I made tacos with ground turkey for the family and Spicy Lentil Tacos for myself.  We were blown away when Michael showed up at 5:30 p.m. Quite nice to have him home. 

Michael and I ran to Shimoda for produce while the kids cleaned up dinner. Alas, no nectarines or plums...but I got peaches, apples and kiwis for 50% less than the commissary. The plums and nectarines I got on Saturday were WONDERFUL. Maybe we can drive up Nanbu way and find nectarines. Sad to see watermelon season end. 

We read another few chapters from Gift From the Mikado. This is written by the first foreign baby born in Morioka...to parents who were the first missionaries in Morioka, Japan. Interesting read, amusing to see the changes in culture....and surprising to see how much is the same too. 

Boys are taking showers and we're calling it a night. 

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

Why Vegan?

I've struggled with how to write this post and as I begin to write I'm not sure what exactly I will write. I want to be honest but Biblical, transparent but I'm really tired of being vulnerable.

Last spring and this summer, as many of you know, was rough around our home. I found food compulsions I thought were long gone resurfacing. I was sickened and filled with shame. I realized during this time  I was made for MORE than this. Really, I was. I also felt hopeless and fairly stuck in the cycle. 

I was speaking on a couple of spiritual disciplines at a local PWOC retreat in May. Part of the time was an hour to go away alone and listen and process what God was sharing with each of us. I had spoken right before this session on surrender. I asked God what He would have me surrender. He said "Chocolate." I argued. Really. How about Thailand? "Chocolate." This is SILLY. "Chocolate." For how long? "Chocolate." Alright then - chocolate. I gave up Chocolate on May 20, 2012. I have no idea how long this will last. I did have a few tastes in July and I did have a few bites of cake last week. I know that I'm to give up chocolate until it no longer masters me. 

I learned a lot through this. God has given me the fruit of self-control as I yield, surrender to the Holy Spirit daily.  I can be rebellious. Chocolate was far too important, craved and loved. I also continued to have migraines...so I knew chocolate was not a migraine trigger for me and some day I may be released to eat it in moderation. The thought gives me joy. 

I began traveling in June. I was doing great with skipping chocolate. I was working out. I still wasn't losing weight. I knew I wanted God to break the power of compulsively eating food in my life. I saw myself in a dressing room mirror at Yokota and was APPALLED...I had FAT knees and thighs. I bought a journal and told God I was ready for Him to lead me on a journey out...and I planned to journal the trip. The next day I heard my father in law had died. We went to the states. I gained weight by the time we came home 7 weeks later.  I was still studying spiritual disciplines and asking God to SHOW me what to do about my health. 

I began to be led to an extended fast. I don't take those lightly given my background with food issues. I had been told too that to eat less than I was would kill my metabolism (hypothyroid). I couldn't get away from the idea that I needed to fast. A friend posted on her FB a quick blurb about a fast she'd finished. I emailed and asked questions and was reminded about the Daniel Fast. This seemed an answer to prayer. I could fast and not kill my metabolism. I did some research here and read The Daniel Fast and  A Woman's Guide to Fasting. This is the book Tara, as well as  several other friends recommended.

I talked it over with Michael to make sure I wasn't simply justifying another crazy eating experience. He thought it sounded good. He made a comment that Daniel wasn't fasting - it was his lifestyle of eating. That turned out to be prophetic, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Michael joined me for 40 days.  I decided I'd obey and put the weight thing on hold even if it did mess up my metabolism. I fasted for 4 items. I won't share them here. I prayed about how God would have me walk this out. I knew I was to focus during this time on prayer (reading, studying, practicing). 

At some point I realized I needed some recipes and that what we were doing was Vegan plus. No added sugar (even "natural sugars"), no leaven (yeast), no meat (or as I say, nothing with a face), no dairy (milk,  CHEESE), no eggs, no chemicals, nothing processed. No soy substitutes for me as soy is thought to suppress thyroid function.

As the fast neared it's end, I continued to pray about how God would have me end the fast. I wasn't sure I should go back to eating the way I had been. During the fast I expected clarity in prayer, deeper intimacy with Jesus...but some unexpected rewards have come my way....

1. I haven't had a migraine since this began over 7 weeks ago. 
2. Food compulsions are losing their grip on me.
3. I began to have hope and enjoy walking in victory. 
4. I lost 25 lbs in 6 weeks. 

And those are only rewards to do with my battle with food compulsions. There were so many  clear answers to prayer and comfort as I walk through a transition in my life which is bringing me quite a bit of sadness (but that's another post). Michael and I talked. He planned to go back to  meat - but way less. I asked him what he thought about me staying vegan plus until I reached a healthy weight and then adding some foods back in later as I researched. The fact that I've not had a MIGRAINE is huge. Obviously, something I ate was triggering them. I have no desire to have migraines and gain weight, and I know that will happen if I return to "normal".  

We agreed this seemed sane. Please note I do not think EVERYONE has to eat this way. I still hold to the principles in What the Bible Says about Healthy Living, but obviously something in that "healthy" list was causing the migraines. LOL 

I have been told by FOUR doctors I would NEVER go off Zocor. In May my cholesterol began to rise though I was on Zocor. They upped the dose. I also heard the lecture about heart attacks being the "number one killer for women my age." Then Michael had that heart scare. Go figure.  I had been eating healthy and begging God for HEALTH....still I didn't expect this fast to affect that...but wow. 

Today I saw the PA.  He was suitably impressed. He said I'm doing excellent and to keep doing what I'm doing. He said he thinks I can get off Zocor. I will have my numbers rechecked in 3 months. If they're still this good, he'll cut the Zocor in half with the goal of being totally off of it in six months. When I told him I'd gone vegan - he said he could tell. He said he'd like me to add fish back.  I've not decided.  The results today after 6 weeks on a vegan plus diet (because I had the blood drawn after the fast): 

1. My blood pressure was 115/75!!!  It's usually more like 130-140/90. 
2. My LDL is only down 6 points - really not a movement according to him. 
3. My HDL however is up 14 points. He says it's hard to raise good cholesterol. 
4. My triglcerides are down 71 points....112 now and he said anything under 150 is gold. 
5. My cholesterol from 200+ down to 150! It's not been that low in years and years. 

He also adjusted my thyroid  meds to what was working before. The only problem I had at that dose was insomnia...but he said my body may adjust to that. We'll check that in 6 weeks. 

He said cheese and wine are the two biggest triggers of migraines, and since I don't drink wine, he suspects cheese is the culprit...which makes me incredibly sad. My FAVORITE snack was cheese and crackers (carbs and protein).  There aren't really cheese substitutes over here, and most are soy based anyway. But I'm telling you NO MIGRAINE in over 7 weeks. I even was around a trigger yesterday and didn't get one...though I could feel it threatening. 

I was so thankful for such an amazing answer to prayer! On the way home it hit me....he said, "Keep doing what you're doing."  This really IS what God had been whispering to me...I would need to give up some things for a lifetime, but He would show me the way out of bondage if I was willing to follow....so I'm still following....I will be vegan plus for at least another 6 weeks. The doc talked about adding in fish and chicken and red meat once or twice a month....so who knows...maybe I'll eventually be flexitarian! He seems to think I can add in meat eventually and still stay off Zocor.  And Michael was right...the "Daniel Fast," for the most part, is really what Daniel ate day in and out. 

Now, I'm starting to wonder which spiritual discipline will be next....solitude and silence led me to a weekend of QUIET, fasting led me to an incredible experience, study has led to deeper intimacy with Jesus...actually all the disciplines put me in a posture to be transformed by intimacy with Jesus.

*Note 2014 - A resource I am enjoying on Daniel Fasts is this book: The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast - Kristen Feola and website by the author The Ultimate Daniel Fast. 

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