Mother's Day 2014

I really don't need cards and gifts on a specific day to feel loved as a mother. It used to be very important to me...but over the years not so much.  Probably because my kids do a great job of spoiling me throughout the year - my tank is full.  It's overflowing after Mother's Day. 

We planned a laid back day. We went to chapel. I chose to grill at home rather than fight the crowds in town. We puttered around. Kids called, texted, emailed....

We re-potted a plant

Played games

Yes, there were gifts. Michael and the kids spoiled me this year. I had flowers from Michael, roses from the kids and carnations from the Chapel.  I also got a really cool hummingbird feeder...Michael made the nectar for it. I'm really excited to have something besides snakes and pigeons in the yard.

A bit tired of the camera man - not me

The kids went together and got me a gel nail starter kit.   It will save significant spending money if I learn to do this at home. This is NOT a mother's day gift. Michael decided to plant watermelon in a bag.....

He also made two of these containers....and I'm happy.  I've spent too many months trying to decide what to do about container gardening. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

One S'more At A Time

Stacia loves helping me put together gifts for this and that.....This was a great week for her...Salsa and chips for staff and S'mores in a jar for the outgoing PWOC board.

This girl has begged for S'mores every day this week - maybe tonight

After a hectic year of service my prayer is for these ladies who have served all year,  are that they are able to breathe - to LIVE LIFE FULLY in the moments this summer....and so this project caught my heart and eye...and Stacia LOVES s'mores and asks for them daily. This was the winning pinterest idea! ::snort::

I was supposed to put it all in a wide mouth jar.  I had a lunch meeting to discuss Children's ministry 15 mins in the opposite direction from Walmart. I stopped at Dollar General and phoned home. Arielle took a baggy of crackers, marshmallows and chocolate and assured me they would fit in a summer cup.......

Our cups were evidently a bit bigger than the ones I purchased at Dollar General....I had to go from 6 - 3 mallows; and then I wrapped them which I don't think was a good idea...then I scrunched them all into the cups and prayed they didn't spring out like those snakes on springs when opened.

I was pretty proud of thinking to go search for free summer fonts to make the little card...and the flip flops have a teeny tiny PWOC logo on them - thanks to Lauren and The Hub.  The card says "This summer live life fully one s'smore (or two) at a time."  I loved the fact that the author suggested GLUE DOTS to attach the card. YES - no more ribbons or rubber bands for attaching cards. Shoot - I may become crafty if I'm not careful. Nah.

Yes, I know chapel staff are getting a collection of jars - but they are cheaper than these other things...and you know we ARE a Ramsey family. I think I am open to recycling your jars if you'd like to send them back to be refilled another month. LOL I have a zillion "gifts in a jar" ideas. LOL 

Even though the cups were squishy - I do really like them better than the jars for the summer feel of the gift. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Injustice!

Life is just not fair - or at the very least - dental care is not fair!

We had our first stateside dental visit today - because it took me forever to find the dentist we wanted to go to, and then another few months to get an appointment. ::snort::

We loved the dentist.

Overseas we were given ONE cleaning a year - and often it took longer than that for them to work us in. I didn't realize Stacia never got any sealants. Arielle should have had more on the back teeth and didn't get them. The boys had sealants when we went, and were young enough that they are just now due for more.

I discovered  I don't know how to breathe through my nose. I was doing just fine until she said, "Breathe through your nose," and I thought, "OH NO - I'm doing it wrong. I don't know how to breathe through my nose!"  Michael helpfully pointed out my "blonde roots were showing." I survived.

I  also discovered -  by listening today and asking some direct questions - the theory at our dental clinic seems to have been to "watch" things.....for instance I need to go back for scaling...the numbers they quoted were the same I remember from Misawa - but HERE they act quicker. The skeptic in me sees this two ways - either 1. Civilian dentists act quick before you move - get the money now, or 2. Military dentists didn't have the manpower to give us standard care. Could be a bit of both.

Via Google Images - not my mouth

In any event - I will go back for a scaling to help with developing periodontal disease. I will also have THREE cavities filled - and I brush religiously.

Arielle will have six - SIX - filled....and they said they can TELL she practices good oral hygiene as she has no staining from having had braces. She brushes and flosses religiously. She has a kit which goes with her and is used when she is out and about. No sugar is allowed more than 5 min on her teeth...and yet SIX....

Nolan had only ONE cavity - and ahem - he isn't religious about oral hygiene.

Zander hates anything in his mouth. You can imagine the trouble this creates. He got a lecture about brushing and flossing...and he had ZERO cavities.

Stacia LOVES to brush and floss. She has four cavities...and will get sealants.

Did you catch that? Arielle and I don't do sweets. We take good care of our teeth. The two of us have 9 cavities to share and periodontal disease. It also appears I have yellow teeth and should whiten them. What's a gal to do? I can't smile until I whiten my teeth ($200-500) - but if I don't do the scaling my teeth may fall out anyway - meaning I don't need to whiten them.

The boys do not take care of their teeth - and they are looking pretty.

What is NOT looking pretty is our budget. OUCH! I'm guessing we are all going vegan for a month or two....you know beans, rice and veggies until the dentist is paid off. ::snort::

I loved the office. I'm praying they are good at fillings and such. Will their shots hurt???? We went to Twelve Bridges.

The good news is - while the young dentist in Misawa was CERTAIN I needed my wisdom teeth out immediately; this dentist didn't even mention extracting them - just pointed out where they were on the x-rays.   Again the skeptic in me figures the dentist in Misawa needed to practice oral surgery -  the one here wants to focus on whitening teeth. ::snort::

Words to live by.....

Via Google Image

This pretty much was our day. It takes WAY longer to get dental care in the states....I guess 10 minute cleanings really aren't the standard in the industry. ::wink::

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Off the Shelf

My heart is full.  Two years ago, as I prepared to speak at Misawa's Spring Retreat on the Holy Habits of Secrecy, Silence, Solitude and Surrender, God began to move on my heart.  The retreat was a beautiful time with friends and God.  I knew the prep work God did in my heart before the retreat. I knew the things he called me to surrender at the retreat.  By the end of the summer He had impressed clearly on me that I was to practice those words He'd given me to share.  I did not know where He planned to take me. 

Via Google Images

I am the clay.

He is the potter. 

He was leading me deeper into the Secret Place with Him. I surrendered Chocolate - I thought that was greatly silly. I see now it was the first thing. 

God impressed deep in my spirit that I needed to learn more about silence and solitude. 

For the first time in over two decades, I took a break from teaching. I was silent for two years....the WILD (Women In Leadership Development) trainings that summer were the last time I taught, gave a devo, or spoke at a retreat. It hurt. I didn't understand it. I grieved...and in the silence and solitude I began to hear the voice of Jesus in new ways. 

I surrendered teaching. 

I surrendered local leadership positions.

I knew God told me to be faithful to my PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) regional commitment...but in Feb 2013 that position abruptly ended when the Army Chief of Chaplains reorganized PWOC. I surrendered. 

I had more time now, it would be natural to begin teaching...but God.

 It wasn't time. I needed to let Him form what He desired in my life. 

Via Google Images

I was on a shelf - in an oven - and He was applying glazes, maturing gifts, leading me to new areas of freedom. I stayed on the shelf - in the oven. 

We moved, it would be natural to jump into leadership at a new location. It seemed a natural time to end my year of rest... I prayed. I nearly begged. He was silent on the issue.

 A dear friend reminded me to obey the last word God spoke, until I KNEW it was time to do something different.

Two years.

Two years of a teacher not publicly teaching.

Two years of a leader not leading.

Two years on the shelf.

And in those two years He worked.

I worked. I learned. I grew.

It was sometimes painful. It was always good.

I learned about self-care.

Via Google Images

I learned to obey when it made no sense.

I grieved the death of a loved Father in Law and the graduation of Jr.  I KNOW some of you cannot conceive how I would feel an empty nest with four children at home - get over it. I did. I'm sure I will feel it deeper in 9 years.

I learned to walk in freedom over food addiction.

He healed deep places in my heart and soul.

He led me to new areas of ministry - mentor groups.

He led me to new areas of service while I sat on the shelf - children's ministry -  I taught in new ways.

And now....

Five months ago the whisper to discipleship became a roar. EVERYWHERE  I turned I saw the responsibility of the church not to simply make "converts," but to make "followers of Jesus."   I suspected I would begin teaching again. Soon?

Maybe a devo - but I wasn't asked and didn't feel a green light to volunteer.

Maybe I'd teach an RE class - again I wasn't asked and didn't sense the go ahead to volunteer.

Others, who knew the journey I've walked, began to share they sensed my season on the shelf nearing an end.

I asked for prayer as the opportunities abounded.  I was careful to listen.

He began the familiar vision download.

I knew it would happen....

And then I heard the, "Go...."

Today, I came off the shelf. I didn't plan it that way. I don't think Michael planned it that way. It just  happened. Today I stood in the front of a chapel and was installed to lead a new ministry team for the upcoming year of women's ministry at Beale AFB. I stood...and I marveled that He chose to take me off the shelf....and it WAS clear when it was time - just as my dear friend had said it would be. I thought of the  teams I've served with in the past decades...local teams, regional teams, international teams.... such profoundly sweet memories.

The moment I officially came off the shelf

I planned to sit this year out. I planned to be a mentor if asked. I planned to coast until retirement and our new season of ministry. God planned for me to serve one more year in leadership while we are in the military. I am in awe of the team He is building - and I realized afresh the dear treasure every one of those women I've served with in the past years have been. Each one was used of God to shape me....locally, regionally and internationally.

Not only was I installed as President of PWOC...I was asked to teach the Family Bible study tonight. My husband needed me to stand in. I knew the time was right. I stood before the group of teens, women and men;  and  taught. For the first time in two years.

 Gal 4:1-6....God's word spoke powerfully to me. I was rusty. I was scared. I was emotional on the inside, as I realized I was coming off the shelf. God was smiling. I stepped out and obeyed to lead when I wanted to sit....and He gave me back the joy of teaching.

AND...it was the first time I've taught adult men.

Fascinating questions!

I'm learning to walk out the lessons of the past two years in this new season. I'm sure there will be more to learn. 

I am determined to take the new areas of healing and freedom into this new season. 

As many know, this is our final year of ministry in the military. I sense this season of ending is the beginning of the new season God is calling us to.

Via Christine Caine's Facebook Page

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Obedience - Faith Defined

 I've been working through Acts and Romans.  I'm hungrily tearing off big chunks of the  Life; and,  while I'm "sufficiently satisfied,"  I haven't had time to process well enough to share my thoughts. 

I've discovered Paul asks questions. Paul answers many of those questions - and tracking the answer back to the question really helps the book of Romans "gel." But it takes TIME....I'm not making it through a chapter a day any longer. ::wink::

This morning ONE PHRASE lit off the page....  Romans 6:15 opens with a question, "Shall we sin because we are not under the law?" May it never be! (That is not the WHOLE answer. ::snort::) Paul lays out in Rom 6:1- 14 that a life of habitual sin is not consistent with the gospel. In Rm 6:15 - 7:6, he asks about the occasional lapses. To paraphrase....

"My occasional lapses aren't a big deal now that I'm under grace - right? "

Yes, they matter.

Grace is not the enemy of effort or holiness. Grace is the enemy of earning.   Our occasional sin matters because it shows who we have chosen to serve in that snapshot of time....Sin is NOT our master, and sin was not the Roman's master either.

another personal graphic

"But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you BECAME OBEDIENT FROM THE HEART to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."
(Rm 6:17-18)

We're freed from sin - now we need to voluntarily enslave ourselves to righteousness. This happens as we are "obedient (to the gospel) from the heart!"

It's not slavishly selling myself to new-improved-list of dos and don'ts....it's about my heart. My heart loves Jesus. My heart is so grateful for all He's done. My heart wants to obey. I obey  and begin to walk as slave to righteousness - rather than sin.

At the core of a lifestyle of personal holiness is a heart passionate to obey!  "Obedient from the heart...," this one phrase is a wonderful description of faith. Faith in Jesus and His teachings (the gospel) will lead to obedience. If we really believe something, we will act according to that belief.

That one word that "slips out?"

That one 'tude we sport in a moment?

That one conversation that is true, but not needed, which we choose to share?

They matter because they illustrate, in that snapshot of time, I didn't really believe Jesus. I chose to enslave my self to sin rather than righteousness. Yes, I will confess my sin and He is so faithful to forgive. BUT I get in these spots through my choices and unbelief.

IF I really believe God can control my tongue, if I really believe I'm to imitate Christ's attitude shown in Philippians 2:3-8, if I really believe gossip and harsh words are sin (Eph 4:29, James 3)....THEN I will OBEY.

IF I really believe God; THEN that belief will spill over into every area of my life.

It must.

It's yeast.

It's our natural makeup is to grow.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Kodomono hi Omedto

I have no clue if I got my Japanese right and the kids are in bed. 

Today is Boys Day or Children's Day in Japan. We had to celebrate - somehow.....we pulled out the Pocky we had splurged on in town. 

Notice Stacia's expression.....she is not impressed....in JA-PAAAAN the Pocky come in separate sticks - NOT in one big block. ::snort:: Of course, by the look of the chocolate these Pocky have been around the world a time or two. 

In any event - it's always fun to have an excuse to celebrate the Gherkins! 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

All American Experience

 Michael spoke about the Road to Emmaus and I was challenged. I continue to think about a slow heart and a burning heart....the differences and which I have.

This was Zander's Sunday to pick the restaurant. I knew what it was going to be before he even began to speak. I have avoided this place since last summer. Home Town Buffet.  It's impossible not to overeat there...even for a vegan.

The conversations we overheard at the table next to us were sobering. I am still thinking, praying and sad....and the ankle bracelet on the young girl fresh out of "the hall" left me wanting to shake a few adults at that table.

The perfect way to follow up Home Town Buffet is a trip to Walmart. It was an All-American kind of day. ::snort::

Wondering what we're doing with all the chips. Stephanie C made some of her award-winning salsa. I bought jars and chips and we were ready to raise morale for the staff on Cinco de Mayo....no sweets this month. I may aim for no food at all for June....already collecting and thinking.

Back at home I made a card, packaged up chips and salsa...and let's see....oh yes....

I decided to save $10 and take my gel polish off myself. I've been watching how they did it. I thought I could do it with a bit of help from Arielle.

Note the spacey fingers.....I neglected to realize how hungry I was before we put on the foil.....nuts in the bowl and not chips, BTW.  The polish is off - but my nails are not as smooth as they are at the salon. I'll have to go buy a buffy, scratcher pad....

Another Sunday in the bag.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...