Eagle Has Landed

He boarded a plane in San Angelo and flew to Dallas, TX. USUALLY we book direct from Tokyo to Dallas....nice flight...but SATO booked him to fly from Dallas to Atlanta....then from Atlanta to Tokyo....and because he arrived too late to catch the last flight to Misawa.

The plan in Tokyo was for him to get on the "airport limousine" and shuttle across Tokyo to the domestic airport. He eventually did just that - first he got on the wrong bus and visited some new scenery.  Yes, traveling adventures appear to be genetic.

We were all at the airport to meet his 0855 flight....it was foggy...we still hoped...the plane approached, circled and left three times. Then headed back to Tokyo.  They tried it again this afternoon. Jared says the fog was WORSE but this time they landed...and we are happy. Something similar happened when Josiah and Jamin came home for Christmas one year...snow storm....they had to take a train home. I've OFTEN had flights to or from Misawa canceled due to fog, storm, or snow storm. This adds another "Counting our Joys on the way to Beale" - it should be much easier for the kids to fly in and out of Sacramento  LOL

Seen through the glass....

Home

The kids have been so excited for Jared to arrive

I am too! 

We took Michael back to work. Tonight Stacia will got o AWANA, Arielle will go to youth group, and the rest of us will go out to dinner and catch up. We've enjoyed a couple of hours of catching up here at the house.

Yuuki seems to remember Jared. She doesn't compulsively lick any of us any longer...but she set to giving Jared a bath...and he could use one come to think of it. ::grin::

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

Monday's Excitement

We're slowly making it through every closet, drawer and nook in our home....today we tackled all the scrap booking stuff. I saved what I knew I'd use...mostly albums, punches and stickers for school....and put the rest in a box to give away.

Late afternoon we enjoyed listing to rolling thunder and watching lightening.....quite the show during dinner.

After dinner, a bit more weather watching and family circle....everyone jumped in to help me create a tomb...though Zander insists on calling it the "Box of Shame" and suggesting I use it to corral some of my rowdier pre-schoolers. I've figured out how to roll the stone to the tomb and seal it...and the child inside will be able to break out, angels will sing, we'll all dance and celebrate....at least that's my vision.  We also made muffins and brownies. ::grin::

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

RACING BY!

As we get closer to leaving Japan, life feels a bit chaotic, raw and out of control...Emotions are frayed and feel a bit chaotic, raw and out of control as well.  Our well-oiled routine feels more like....a stampede of wild horses!

In a few weeks most chapel programs will be breaking for the summer...most goodbyes will be said as many PCS the end of May/beginning of June...and then we'll have a month to laze around before we say OUR goodbyes.  (Except Michael will be running screaming busy as we're very low manned.)

I've made a conscious choice to spend some of my fought for margin on friends.  I've had at least two engagements a week for no other purpose than RELATIONSHIP - and I've loved it. This week that translated to two Skype calls with friends who have "gone before", a squeezed in lunch with one of my first Misawa friends, and an onsen visit with a young mom - because I so wish I'd had that opportunity when I had two pre-schoolers. ::snort::  I also made time to get the kids to a few outings with their friends.

This past week saw the last Misawa MOPS for me. I've enjoyed being a mentor mom - though I've not been able to make the morning dates (other than the monthly meeting) due to homeschooling. Tea and Testimony was wonderful. The table time was some of the best I've ever experienced at MOPS. I will miss this group of ladies and am happy to know that there is a MOPS at Beale AFB.

This past week also had labs, an optometry appointment for Arielle, and a thyroid appointment for me.  We took my dose down...now we're upping it a bit...I no longer have insomnia...but I'd like to be a bit more energetic than a slug....though all keep telling me that what I refer to as sluggish is normal for someone "of my age." ::snort::  My PA also ran a slew of "vegan tests." Just checking to make sure B12, iron etc are where we want them...I'm quite sure he won't tell me to start eating meat again if it's not....and I'm quite sure I won't be getting shots.... ::wink::

Shew - and there you have it - a new week has begun! Jared flies in this week and will be here until the 26th of May. I will most likely not schedule lots of friend outings until he leaves. Prayers for him as he makes his first solo International trip are appreciated.

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

Mother's Day 2013

It is becoming a habit to begin blog posts by stating, "The day did not go as planned, but was a great day in any event..." and that would sum up this day. 

However, since I do possess the gift of gab, I'll share a few more details.  I went to bed Saturday night chuckling at the challenge the eldest two Gherkins had tossed out for the remaining seven. 

Arielle and Stacia brought me a wonderful breakfast in bed...it's been QUITE a long time since that has happened....I would say never but my memory IS failing a bit these days and I imagine sometime in the past 28 years of motherhood this has happened before. ::snort::  I had yummy oatmeal with blueberries, raspberries, 1/2 a banana, flax seed and almond milk....AND a cup of Vanilla Chai tea....

The kids had made this card.....if you look closely it's on a canvas type background and has their hand prints and messages.

We attended the 1100 service on base - always an enjoyable time when the body gathers.

I had put a lasagna in the oven so we rushed home to eat - but it wasn't done.....I had plenty of time to saute a huge wok full of veggies, cut up some fruit and make a salad for the two of us who don't do "food with faces."

We had thought we'd take advantage of the beautiful weather and head out to either a Tulip festival or a flower garden...but with the late lunch....and a GREAT skype with all three elder Gherkin males....it was too late to make that happen.  There are no screen shots as I can't seem to find them after we take them in Windows 8....so we didn't bother. Michael is really having a lot of pain and I think it was best to stay home anyway.

We tried out a new recipe I found online for Cashew Banana ice cream. I used peanut butter instead of  cashew butter...and we added a bit of chocolate....Arielle made some vegan hard shell.... Everyone loved it. I suspect I could make the yonana this way....but it was nice to have the whole batch done before "ice cream time".  We worked together, while the kids played outside, and made two batches...one with Andes mint chips in it. I can't fathom that taste combination but Michael and Nolan seemed to like it....I must remember to post the recipe on the blog in case something happens to the link.

It WAS yummy...and can be made ahead of time and frozen. Makes Sunday night much easier....though this is almost healthy enough to be a treat more than once a week. ::wink::

The rest of the night was filled with For Get It.  Arielle won the first game....









I won the second game.... It is fast paced enough to be an enjoyable. 












Not EVERYONE seemed to enjoy the game....and this is not a staged photo.  She actually did quite well but really, really doesn't like losing her points.

All in all it was a great day....and Jared will be here on Wednesday a.m. (Tuesday night in Tokyo). Prayers appreciated as he begins his first solo international flight in a few hours.

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

Hirosaki Dressed with Cherry Blossoms

Perfect timing! We did it!!!  We've tried for four years to make it to Hirosaki for the Cherry Blossom festival...and there is ALWAYS something we are doing...traveling for PWOC, preparing to speak, freak storms blowing off blossoms, no blossoms.... This year we made it. I think they would have been fuller a couple of days earlier...but this was the day we could break loose from Misawa. 

Visiting Hirosaki to see the Cherry Blossoms was on Arielle's bucket list. The first weekend of festival we simply couldn't go - and we heard there were only one or two trees in bloom. Last weekend we stayed home and cheered on Jamin as he raced at the LSC.  This weekend it was raining...but we decided this was our best chance....and off we went...

We decided to take a bit longer and drive through Towada/Hakoda as the snow along the road is famous....last weekend it was 20 ft high...still pretty impressive this weekend....

Along the road

Standing on a 3 ft high ledge

 There are several of these tunnels which always seemed to have no purpose. Today we saw they exist just to keep the roads clear...the snow piles up but the roads are clear. LOL

We arrived at Hirosaki Castle and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the van. Then we headed out. Michael took spectacular photos....It happens admission is free from  9-12 of May...SCORE...and yet, it really wasn't crowded as most the crowds went the last two weekends. The trees were beautiful!

Funny - I took one of him taking photos as well! 

I was contemplating breaking off a few sprigs to dry in my Bible for a prayer Keepsake....who would notice...OH he's taking another photo! 

 While Michael took photos....we amused ourselves...quite well in fact. 

I don't know in the midst of a cherry blossom grove....can't imagine starting a fire...but there had to be a reason for the sign. Unbelievable. 

Of COURSE we stopped to buy Sembei on our way back to the van...lots of it! 

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

Luvin Japan ~ Living with the Paparazzi

It used to unnerve us....

Cell phones pointed in our direction....people setting up photos only to veer left and catch one of us as they clicked....but we've gotten used to it....

The paparazzi ...when we zip down roller slides we are sure to hear clicks and see the line of cameras out....and today I couldn't help but smile as we formed up for group pictures....it's become a game to count how many others are taking our photo on the sly. ::snort:: 

This, however, is the shot which brought the paparazzi out of hiding...several out loud laughs and snickers as we posed for this one. I won't even consider how many computers this photo may reside on. ::snort:: 

Yes, I repented of my momentary immaturity and we posed for a nice photo.....but the laughs were worth it...just sharing a moment of international solidarity. ::wink:: 

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

Lovin Japan - Cherry Blossoms

We ran to Statue of Liberty Park in hopes of catching Cherry Blossoms. Unfortunately, it began to rain - but we're hardy. I'm pretty sure Michael will have some photos of the landscape to add...but here are the ones I tagged to share. 

We wait and wait and WAIT for the blossoms to bloom....they are beautiful, delicate and short-lived. They remind one of the beauty and brevity of life. They are to be celebrated. Parks are lit at night and people enjoy flower viewing parties (Hanamei) in the parks. Spring storms often blow all the blossoms away days after they bloom.

We hope to make it to Hirosaki to view blossoms shortly.....on "the weekends" it was raining and we hear only one or two trees were blooming....we're trying to find a time to get up there before a storm blows them all away. Maybe Friday or Saturday. 

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