Wednesday Continued

Our busy Wednesday continued with AWANA and Club Beyond. We dropped the older kids off at Club and I took Zander and Stacia bowling.

We dropped Stacia off at AWANA. She was thrilled that it was STORE NIGHT.

Zander and I continued our day by  checking out the newly renovated Mokuteki....nice.

Another long, fun, crazy day!

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

Luvin Japan ~ Towada Horse Park

It is certainly helpful to have visited so many of the spots the family wanted in the "Luvin Japan" series this past week. ::wink::  You can either click the Misawa tab above or search the blog for more posts and directions to this spot. 

We enjoy driving out to this park and I was glad it was on Jared's bucket list for the week. This park has flowers, nature, views, play structures, horses, vending machines, a little restaurant, museum and a killer roller slide. We've spent many lazy afternoons out here. This is a great spot for sledding as well.

Stacia is as wary of the horse as the horse is of her! 

Roller slide upclose 

The trash talk is as fun as the slide

Arielle....

What seems to be the hold up? 

Trick mirrors 

  A little spider man action follows...and Stacia is convinced she looks like a mermaid in the above photo!

It cracked me up that Stacia KNEW Jared must be waiting for her on the top of the slide...so she didn't come out.... LOL 

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

So it Ends and Begins.....

Today marked my last PWOC Tuesday in Japan....I had a great time with the kids and jumped in to watch the brand new board being installed for the upcoming year of ministry. Praising God for the leadership He provides each year.  I couldn't help think back to the past four years of PWOC. So incredibly blessed by the leadership Michael provided Susane, Elizabeth and Lisa as they jumped in to build a vibrant PWOC.  In the past four years I served as Titus 2, Retreat Coordinator, President and this year unofficial PCOC organizer in Misawa.  Until the past month Michael served as PWOC advisor....so PWOC is a big part of our Misawa adventure....a big part of the kingdom investment we both made here. It also wrapped up two years of serving as PWOC Asia Region President and the 1 1/2 years as PWOC Japan Region President...and of course I couldn't help think of how unexpectedly PWOC changed with the regional and international levels stepped down....a lot to think about.  There just aren't words at this point in time to share how all the "lasts" feel...so... Another last....another ending....but a beginning.....

ABJECT HUMILIATION awaited Tuesday afternoon! 

Polite Japanese Gentlemen: "Maam I'm the packer!" 

Me - "WHAT?" 

Man - "I will move you!"

Me - "I'm not ready for you!"

Man - "You have an appointment...." 

I apologized,  I let him in....he realized I thought he was here to PACK...he was only here to do an inspection...and that was humiliating enough. I assured him things would be organized and the killer dust bunnies gone before his team arrives next Tuesday...but for now...we must make the most of each day with Jared. 

It turns out my sweet groom forgot to tell me about the appointment. 

Jared and the older two met a group of friends on base for more "Jared time."  I had hoped to have all over but it was not to happen. This will work.

Tuesday night was the annual Chapel Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Madeline C stole my heart....what a joy to sit and have dinner with her and her family....  This dinner was another great chance for all of us to touch base with friends....and that would include Jared....the rock star College man returned home. ::snort:: 

Sad Alicia was home sick

I believe with the end of the 0800 service, the end of MOPS and PWOC...we have about hit the lasts and have moved into the start of PACKERS and saying goodbye to good friends who are pcsing in June a month before us.

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

Luvin Japan ~ Swan Park

Trying to catch up! 

We totally LOVE all the parks here in Japan. The kids love them as they are places where a "kid can still get hurt" - in other words they still have a touch of adventure built into them....and yet no one has broken a bone at a park in four years. LOL  I love the relaxing aspects of nature built into the middle of the bustling towns and cities. 

Monday, we visited the park nearest our home...Swan Park. It is one of Jared's favorites. 

There is a geocache in this tower we have STILL not located! 

We had just enough time to run by Momoishi Beach before we needed to be home to play with Colton and Lawson. It has been SUCH a blessing to have this spot minutes from our house....We were happy to show Jared the rebuilding which has been completed since the Tsunami.

Jared MADE THE YOUNGERS DAY....when he told them he could jump over the channel...he took a running jump and at the last minute the edge gave way and he FACE PLANTED in the channel.....it was COLD....so we headed home. LOL We love having Jared home and plan to make the most of this day!

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

Luvin Japan ~ Elementary Commuters

In Tokyo and Osaka we saw them on the train...here in Misawa we see them out walking every day. They are darling...and little tiny kids will be out walking home from school. I've been told the yellow hats are to remind you to be cautious when driving. These littles one grabbed hands and made a dash in front of my car...and I was fine with that as I've been trying to catch a photo for four years of the pure cuteness of elementary students walking to school. 

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

Sunday with Jared

Happy to have this young man home this Sunday! 

We attended the 0800 service. This service will be combining with the 1100 service as of next Sunday to become the "New Traditional Service."  It was one of those "glorious sorrows" to sit in the service and consider the blessed community it has provided and to realize that many of these dear families are also pcsing this summer. 

After the service, Michael did "chaplain stuff" and the kids and I headed for Cinnabon. They were THRILLED that I messed up their order.....I ordered a "normal" for each of the kids as a treat....but um....I thought the normal is what is really the "mini" - so the mini I usually buys them turns out to be the "bite".....ah well....they needed to be sugared up for this day! This was a good time for Jared to touch base with the J family and we enjoyed visiting together in the breathing space between services. 

A funny....Zander confided to Steve (Mr. J) that he was a bit surprised Jared was wearing a pink shirt. ::snort:: Steve assured him he wouldn't wear pink either but it looks rather nice on Jared. 

Michael preached on holiness in the 1100 and 1735 services. All of us were at 1100. Jared and I went with Michael to the 1735 service. Good thoughts to contemplate this week....good times visiting a variety of friends in all the services.

I don't think we could have made Sunday any fuller for Jared.  It will be his only chance to attend chapel so it's nice it worked out he could see it all in one week. He flies next Sunday a.m.

We DID fit lunch and ice cream (and cashew cream for Arielle and me) into the day somewhere. 

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

Luvin Japan ~ Commissary Funnies

This isn't REALLY a Japan issue...and yet...it happens in Japan and I'd not seen it before....Milk with dates 3 months out...funny spellings....and reminders like this....

I'm going to have to remember that shelf dates MEAN something in America. ::snort:: 

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