Prepare Your Heart

Kokoro no junnbi wo shitte kudasai - こころのじゅんびをしってください

I heard Kim, a college friend, use this phrase with her child. She said we don't really have an English equivalent, but it generally conveys the idea to, "prepare your heart".....and she used it to to tell her daughter it was nearing time to say goodbye. Google translates it as, "Please know the preparation of the heart." I have no surprising news to share...but I'm thinking.  Ryu, Kim's husband, says it is said before sharing shocking or surprising news.

The concept, if not the exact wording, has stuck with me. Prepare your heart. Three little words. Prepare your heart to hear from God. Prepare your heart to learn. Prepare your heart to worship. Prepare your heart to obey. Prepare your heart to surrender.  Prepare your heart for change. Prepare your heart to love. Prepare your heart to hear surprising/shocking news. In a year when God has graced us with Acts 2:17 as  a prayer verse - I'm preparing my heart to hear new dreams which may be surprising or shocking.

And I knew - there would come a day when we would need to prepare our hearts to say goodbye. We are now six months from leaving a country we love. I know we love EVERY assignment (well, we were split on one of those assignments but I love every location). This is different. Our roots have gone deep. As we walked out of the airport in Tokyo, I felt I was "home."  Apart from God, it is unlikely we will "visit" this childhood home of our children again.  We have lived through great happy adventures and incredibly traumatic, heart-breaking experiences while living in Japan. We have grown. We don't want to leave. I relate to the Catholic priest who said, "Bury my bones here..." and did in fact get his wish in 2011.

I've left other homes like this and not gone back - Liberia and the Philippines.

I know I have to prepare my heart and the hearts of my kids for this leave taking. It's bigger than moving from Montana to Texas. I'm just not sure how.

And so, confronted with deep thoughts, I did what I do...I tackled a project. I defrosted the freezer.

It's now a thing of beauty, milk crates full of meat, veggies, fruit, sauces and bread items...it will be helpful to start eating up our stock.

I'm no closer to knowing how to prepare my heart...but He impressed on us in 2013 to Live Courageously...and we will.

These few things I know from growing up as a Third Culture Kid and being a Third Culture Wife:

• It is vital I stay close to God - my quiet time is a priority
• I must carve margin in our schedule to visit the places we love
• I must fully live these next few months with dear friends
• I will not unplug until the very last day - this hurts - but the pain is a mark of having loved well....I will continue to mentor, continue to serve, continue to live and create connections and trust Him to be there when the pain of goodbyes arrive - as it will. 
• I will find reasons every day to thank God for the gracious gift of this extra year in Japan. 

I would love to hear how those of you who have moved from here, or other overseas locations, prepared your heartsr how you wish you would have.

•  What can I do to help this be an easier transition for the children? For us?  
• How can we live the next six months fully engaged, while preparing our heart for the leave-taking that is surely approaching? 
• Are there things you wish you had done or brought from Japan with you? 
• Do you have any tips to share with us? 

My preparation partner

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Bring it On!

We rocked it today! School - not a problem. We read, we laughed, we zipped through some math and lots of Japanese things....Zander realized he KNOWS his Explode the Code and finished this book....the Hobbit built lots of confidence!  I'll have him finish the series but I predict he is done with the last 3 books within two months. 

Michael went in to work. During a staff meeting to plan the upcoming exercise it was realized he'd be working 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. from Wed - infinity and won't get his day off....so he got this afternoon off. It was a surprise to see him home. 

He took a bit of a nap while we finished school. I've agreed Zander can read 30 min a day of Hobbit to me in place of the readers which are boring him to death. I'll check and be sure we're covering the basics but I see no need for him to finish I See Sam. 

After school we headed to Swan Park to sled. Our 4 wheel drive proved its value as  Michael fought to keep moving forward  and on the road (not in a farmer's field). The pick up truck ahead of us was not so successful. 

The spots are our kids

Zander didn't like the flying ice

Zander had a thing for trying new routes

On this hill you gather speed, go over the little mound and end up in an obstacle course of play structures if you don't stop rather quickly. 

Note Arielle's arms covering Nolan's EYES.....

Yep - right under the slide.....

Winter walk to see the swans

On the way home Michael detoured to the ocean. We love the ocean! 

The kids discovered the little ramps were great for sledding.

After dinner, Arielle worked on Chemistry. I prepared  for the kiddos at Bible Study tomorrow, and Michael and the younger three saved yet another houseful of victims in Flash Point.

I tell you we ROCKED it. School done, family time enjoyed, dinner done, ministry prepped and even time for an evening game. We've got this - on Day 1. ::snort:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Holding on to Vacation

I want to hold on tonight as long as possible. Tomorrow begins the "routine" again....school, MOPS, PWOC...and more I'm sure. 

Guess who fell asleep and couldn't be revived? Guess who missed the evening service? Moi....me. ::blush::

Sunday night means ice cream in our home - has for as long as I can remember being married to Michael. ::snort:: Which means YONANA for me (and Arielle and even Nolan)...yum....it was a TREAT. 

One last game of Flash Point before we officially declare Christmas over (though it ended last night).  Note that IS how Michael plays games. ::wink:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Cozy Weekend

Yuuki is my soul mate! She understands how to survive cold winters - and it doesn't included building igloos in the common area! 

Lunch - mine, all mine - lest you worry I'm not eating enough

A new warning that my laptop is doing strange and wonderful things...but I restored the system and all is working again...for a bit longer. I don't want to give up my trusty side kick!

Michael went to work - a person can get much more done at work on a Saturday. The older two had a bowling party.   We searched for one last gift....

Thus ended the Christmas season....and decorations will have to come down tomorrow as today is simply too busy for projects.... though we did go buy some sleds. I tried to talk the kids into THIS.....

They thought it hilarious that I wanted this sled and made several comments about a rocking chair on runners. Stacia now says they should have bought this for me.  That's my gal!

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

Courage

It's time to announce this year's word/memorial stone. You can read more about my practice here, click and dig around a bit.

This has been a big year in my life. You can read more about it here.  As the fall approached I began to pray about 2013's word.  I thought I had a word....then the family stole my word... in the end there is simply no other word I could choose; and they all agree I can focus on this word. ::snort::

God has been whispering it (the gift of a dog whose name is Yuuki - courage), sharing it through other's observations, shouting it at me in the word....

Via Google Images

Courage. I've allowed others to convince me I'm shy, timid, fearful...and 3 1/2 years ago He led me smack into a situation which required more than I had to give...and began to teach me He doesn't see me as I see myself.  I managed to get 5 kids to Misawa, Japan - alone, having never stepped a foot in Japan before.

As I look back over my journals I see the concept popping up over and over throughout the spring of 2012 - as we faced Michael's health issues, unexpected travels, more health issues and my food issues.  

In October, in one of my morning trysts with Jesus - as I read Revelation -  He clearly told me HE HAS NEVER CALLED ME FEARFUL, TIMID, INSECURE.  It was loud in my spirit...."I CALL YOU COURAGEOUS."  It took my breath away. It was a sacred moment - and I could not doubt. I had learned about private intimacies in the secret place...and I kept this close and pondered. 

In November Michael shared some incredible words of affirmation when I was expressing some fear over thyroid/weight issues. "You have faced this monster down and you're winning. I'm proud of you. You've got COURAGE." Not only affirmation - but confirmation. 

2013 will bring challenges - doesn't each year? I know I'm facing some new transitions in my ministry role - courage. I know we will be leaving a land we dearly love - courage. I must continue to battle my personal eating monster - courage.  

Courage - it's a work HE has done in my life as I  follow Him on this journey to freedom - deep healing - breaking strongholds - hard work - but so worth it. Courage - it's what He sees in me. It's what is required to radically obey as He births new dreams in our hearts.

Via Google Images

Courage Initial Verses to ponder: 

 I walk by faith, not by sight  - I am of good courage - I prefer His presence more than life itself - my ambition is to be pleasing to Him. Based on 2 Cor 5:6-9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

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

2013 Family Prayer Verse and Vision

A post on our  2013 Family Prayer Verse and Vision BEFORE December. This is good. 

Michael, the kids and I all spent time considering where God had been leading us personally and as a family.  And it all just clicked! 

2013 Family Prayer Verse - to be prayed into the lives of each of our family"....I will pour forth my spirit on all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy; and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." Acts 2:17

2013 Family Vision - Live Courageously "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

We're excited to see how God will lead in 2013, and yes, we've already faced a few circumstances in 2013 which call for courage and are sure there will be more - how else would we learn to walk this out?  Nevertheless, we are filled with hope, believing God to infuse us with His dreams and the courage to follow those dreams. 

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

A Winter Day

Today is Jared's birthday on this side of the date line! Happy 19th birthday, son. A highlight of the day was an unexpected Skype from Jamin... Jared popped in for a bit, as well! 

Snow - lots of snow and more expected.  The neighborhood kids spent hours outside pulling each other around in the sled, building up the "sled hill," and starting the 2013 Snow Fort.... and when they were finally so cold they HAD to come inside.....Games and hot chocolate at the G's. 

Every little girl should have a BFF at this age...Stacia has been blessed with several. What a treat to have a friend right down the block. They created a secret handshake complete with a darling cheer. I videoed it, but I'm not sure I should post it. 

Older kids like games too. 

I baked bread for the first time in a year (they like English Muffins better) and discovered yeast really does have a shelf-life. They ate it anyway.

Dinner and a movie - Tin Tin - rounded out the day.

*Note there are now snow photos because I am dedicated to staying warm. ::grin:: I have contemplated ignoring the driving ban to go sit in the onsen or take the kids to the big sledding hill at Swan Park...but I behaved. 

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