ANOTHER Birthday Celebration????

Another birthday celebration? Wasn't her birthday in MAY? Yes. Didn't you take her and her friends to a mountain onsen retreat? Yes. 

Arielle has had four friendships the past four years which I believe will be life-long. Two were from chapel and two were in our neighborhood.  She had stated she'd like to get kimono pictures with Molly and Gracie. She had earlier photos with Alicia and Emily. 

Today...was THE day...and the girls seemed to enjoy themselves. Who wouldn't?  You begin by picking out your favorite Kimono from an upstairs filled with choices in various sizes....

Next you are given your special socks and sandals

You are dressed - just so! 

Your hair is styled - just so! 

 Then the fun of a photo shoot. They were a bit perplexed with Arielle's fingernail polish choices (red, white and blue stripes) and band aids.... The photos turned out GREAT. I have no way to scan them in so will have to do that later.

The girls were full of chatter and it was fun to enjoy lunch with them afterward. I thought they all looked really elegant for the luncheon.

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

Our Lists have Lists

Wow....we are in full moving mode now....details...details....our LISTS HAVE LISTS..... Accomplished today (and maybe blog posts to follow on a couple of items). 

• Workout
• Went to Pass and ID three times - finally got the van transferred (thought this would take 10 minutes but didn't account for the time to go to our insurance and their insurance - all done)
• Took Arielle and friends for Kimono photos
• Took Arielle and friends to lunch
• Talked to vet office and discovered I should not have trusted their assurances the past three weeks that they WOULD be able to give Yuuki shots and a certificate before the 10th.  The new vet will BEGIN appts on the 15th. We can get shots and certificate off base  ..but bordatella isn't given in Japan,  which means we can't kennel her. I've already paid for the kennel...so this adds a lot to the list for next week as the vet office closed. However the certificate has to be within 10 days of flying...so need to wait until the 6th anyway.....
• Wired money and contract for a house (this took significantly more time than one would think - had to work with Michael's incredible schedule, the banks schedule, international time differences)...got it done! 
• Took Arielle back to photographer to choose photos
• Stacia had a fitting and got her dress - Aki is so cute!
• Bought samurai swords for the boys
• Shopped for a couple of packages I'll  mail on Monday
• Picked up the photos of Arielle and friends
• Older two went to youth group
• Younger two, Michael and I went out for dinner
• Hit the BX to buy BOXES to mail things - not sure where I'm mailing them TOO....but I'm mailing. 

Choosing Joy!

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

Adventures of the Hair Kind

Who knew? 

Arielle asked Stacia to grow her hair out. I wondered why ARIELLE would care what we did with Stacia's hair. Arielle had been watching you tube videos and wanted to braid Stacia's hair. It's been GREAT. Stacia is well-groomed and Arielle is loving the daily challenge. 

It's been an adventure each morning to see Stacia's hair. Here are photos of various styles....and Arielle tells she has something special planned for 4th of July.  

"One of these things is not like the others. One of these things does not belong...." 

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

Moving and Playing

I cannot escape the fact that today was the plane day for dear friends....but...I did keep busy. 

0700 - Michael and I snatch minutes to talk as we drive to base

0740 - 0840 - Work out - still going to live healthy though I'm taking drugs again

0900 - 1025  - had to miss Bible Study/Play Group and focus on my assigned MOVING jobs so we could go play....so....

• FINALLY deposited those PCOC checks - Lisa is SOOOOOO patient
• Deposited $2000 Arielle had hidden under her mattress ::snort:: 
• Filled the van with gas - again
• Did a commissary run
• Attempted to close a bank account
• Delivered license plates and paperwork to Big D's - waiting for our Junk Title 

1025-1130 

• Threw rice, tomatoes, chicken and some spices in a crock pot
• took a shower
• Reserved hotel rooms in OR for 16 - 22 July
• Reserved mini van for trip from WA to OR
• Threw a salad into the packed cooler

1145 - 1500

• Met Christina and boys at the Log Cabin Pachinko
• Enjoyed our last trip to Komakko Land - Towada Horse Park 

A week ago it was cold. It's been rainy and overcast...but yesterday and today were PERFECT! We had planned to go to the park with Lisa, Asia, Christina, Colton and Lawson...but poor Asia was sick.  I was glad Christina was still up for the jaunt. 

We enjoyed a quick lunch and then it was time to play. We knew this would be our last time to the park - at least this go around. I neglected to get a photo of Christina and me. I guess this can't be our final get together....I must bring a camera next Tuesday and catch a photo of all the mommies....

I got a photo of Colton's face!!!!

Nolan 

I love this little man! 

Priceless

Arielle took Colton to the top of the BIG slide. She said he was precious when they got to the top, "Oh! WOW!!"  He didn't want to sit on her lap (of course not!) so she had him get behind her. Eventually they worked out he would hold her hands so he didn't reach out and grab the sides (which can cause scrapes and cuts).

We HAD to feed the horses as it was our last trip. 

Michael called about now and we needed to talk some moving scheduling. The boys were worn out and Christina headed home. I let the kids have a treat - and I called Michael back. LOL

I was sad not to get to visit with Lisa, but I was totally blessed to steal another afternoon with Christina and the boys. I love that Colton calls us, "Chapel." From the mouth of babes. He associates the PEOPLE and not the location with the word "Chapel" - church. I love it. 

1600 -1715

• More dinner prep (eating the cupboards bare)
• Answered some emails
• Called the garbage company, was passed from person to person as we tried to communicate and then they hung up on me. I asked Michiko to call for me. What a treat! 
• Retrieved a bit of documentation we need to lease a home
• Picked up Michael

1800 - 2016

• Dinner
• Family circle - we discussed another parable....Ask....Seek...Knock....
• Stacia told us she knows about seeking. "I look and look and look for mushrooms. I look in the back. I look in the front. I look in the field. I look in the neighbor's yard all day long. Then I go to bed. The next morning I look and I look....." Yes, she does apparently understand seeking...it's the finding part she's fuzzy on. LOL 
• We gathered around the computer and checked out photos of a home we hope to lease
• Everyone is playing Gin Rummy and me.....blogging, blogging, blogging. ::grin:: 

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

We're Really Moving....

Whew - the next two weeks are full. I think we have one or two days without appointments.  And I realized we WANT free time to walk on the beach, get in as much onsen time as possible....just live in Japan. 

0700 Michael had a "Session" with Shelby and Josiah.... I didn't even get to say hi - was heading to the base. 

0800 - my final appointment with the clinic.  The ONLY good point is that my BP was 111/70. All the labs stink and I'm on a new med, switching up some meds...sick of all the labs. 

0900 - Pre inspection with Ms. Koishi for leaving our home

1000 - 1200 - I worked on my chores:

• Called the vet again - STILL saying to wait a week - um....this is about it. 
• Tracked down a number for the garbage men to come take away the BIG items (tracking down numbers is harder than one might think in a foreign country...I chased him down. ::snort:: 
• Booked airline tickets for the girls and I to fly from SEA to Eugene
• Started to rent a van for Michael, the boys and Yuuki but realized I'm not sure what size to get
• Visited with a neighbor and gave away some Vital Wheat Gluten
• Hunted down an email for Ms. Koishi's office for our future landlord (we hope)
• Sent a bit more info we'd somehow missed last night in our late night form filling out
• Answered several wonderfully newsy and personal emails from friends who have passed before
• Answered a couple of questions about women's ministry
• Tried to find a kennel in CA for Yuuki during our trip to the wedding - unsuccessful
• Basically, I have many 1/2 finished items on my list. 
• Michael turned in badges, equipment, visited bill pay...I'm not sure what all...he's busy with checking out of base and finishing up last minute award packages and OPR's for his guys before we move. 

1200 - 1500  - This is a terrible photo of me....but...it's the one I have.....today I went to Komaki with Mandy. We've had a habit of soaking together. We've served on a PWOC board together. We've mutually mentored each other - and really it IS mutual. We've been real with each other. We decided we'd go soak today, say all we needed to say to each other and then say, "Keep in touch." Which we did. A precious friendship in a precious time - a glorious sorrow to part ways. Godspeed in GA my friend. 

1500 - 1700 -  Made Veggie Pot Pie and Chicken Pot Pie

And now....time for family circle....maybe a game or two.....or better yet a late night walk....Michael is still at the chapel....so much to do these weeks. 

I'll leave you with THIS critter the kids were happy to find. They don't seem to remember them from TX so this was the excitement for the day. 

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

Busy Weekend

9:40 p.m. and we are about to pull the curtain on this weekend. 

We had hoped to take the train to Hokaido and explore...but we felt the need to stay home and continue house hunting.  We have many options and finally narrowed it down to three. Two of them sent us leases. The third has an application process and a credit check.  This can take days. We debated if we should fill in one of the other leases or apply for the third. We told the children on the way to chapel we would have a family meeting this afternoon to decide.  It came down to two. One in a gated community and one in another subdivision that I guess used to be a cow pasture in the near recent past. ::snort:: In any event....Michael, Zander and Stacia liked the idea of the Gated Community. Arielle and Nolan really liked the other home much better. I was unable to decide. I pointed out the rent is cheaper, the house is BIGGER and newer and it includes lawn service and more utilities.  BUT I liked the lake across the street, the pool, the security of the home in the Gated community. I was NOT looking forward to WHITE BERBER CARPET throughout the home... As we kicked it around Michael suggested we simply apply for the bigger home and if we don't get it we'll look more at the Gated Community. Actually, I would be more than happy with any of these three homes (though I'd be worried about the white carpet).....so we shall see.

Other weekend accomplishments....we junked my Prairie Joy. I loved this little car. It's not been driven for months and for the first time the battery wouldn't start. It's like Joy new she was heading to the junk yard. I'd hoped to give it away but the repairs to get the JCI done cost more than the car is worth. It was the perfect car the past four years. The kids all fit in it and it was small enough for these roads.

Our pre-inspection with our Realtor is tomorrow. We patched holes.....

Washed walls - the last of the "Alex" which he scrawled on the wall 3 1/2 years ago! 

Today our freezer went to a new home with dear friends

And now...it's time to sleep - this week is going to be screaming busy! 

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

Last Lesson

We've had our final Akikosan lesson. We plan to continue trying to learn Japanese because,  yes, we do believe God will open doors and some day we'll be back in Japan.  We'll get together another time or two before we leave in 2.5 weeks, but it will be for fun.

I love that we're good enough friends for Akikosan to tease me.

"De'Etta san?" She points at the shoes and raises her eyebrows? "All these shoes when you are leaving?" I assured her we'd  get them all on the plane. I reminded her we can take eight suitcases of 70 lbs each with us.

We had a great discussion tonight. We talked about future dreams. We shared our love for Jesus. Akikosan helped us understand more religion/culture in Japan.

I'm not sure we've learned much Japanese, but have learned much about culture and we did make a sweet friend.

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