School Help

I have to face facts. School begins here shortly....and our carefully packed 9 weeks of school texts, schedules and supplies will NOT be in our possession. ::snort::

I don't have a problem winging it with Middle School or Elementary for 6 -9 weeks. We'll be able to make up the TOG as the year goes on. This is tougher for Jared. He's a 10th grader, has certain credits he wants to earn and it will be near impossible for him to make up 6 - 9 weeks of work.

I've visited the library. I have the lapbook files that accompany our Apologia Zoology 2. We checked out books to match the subjects and will do Science that way. I found Family Math at the library and we'll do drill, games etc for math for Nolan on down. We'll do writing and LA on the fly...fairly easy to do. We're going to focus on Japanese Culture and language until October.... Jared will do this as well. I'm sure he'll earn a full high school credit in both culture and language.

Here are a few things I'd like to find used CHEAP (as I already own them) or borrow until October....

• Math U See - Zeta, the next one and Algebra (discs too)
• Apologia Biology
• TOG assignments for Year 2 Unit 4.....I am going to contact them and see if they'll email them to me...or we may just get the reading list and at least do the reading....it's the Revolutionary Period and Jared REALLY wants to do it slowly and WELL.....he doesn't want to skimp or try to "catch up".....so this is an area of concern for Him.
• I would love it if you'd share your favorite educational sites for online drill and learning....
• Jared would like to take a debate course - anyone have a good one to recommend?

I'm sure there is more we could use or need...but I can't seem to get my mind to focus on school tonight. ::snort:: If someone has this to loan, I'd pay the shipping....

PS I tried to send this to SHS but I don't know that it went through.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Misawa Tour, MOSC, PWOC...

Yesterday was really busy. Today may be busy too. I've decided to write ONE really LONG post about the day....

Thursday began bright and early in the conference room of the Misawa Inn. This was FINALLY the day the children and I would enjoy the city tour.

We began at a Buddhist temple, where we learned much about Buddhism. This is also where we nearly started an International Incident because we didn't understand the guide's directions about "proper shoe removal".

See the sticks by the tombs? They have the holy memorial name written on them. This name is given a Buddhist when they die.


Our guide said these cost about $95,000....and that most the big ones are owned by mafia????? We didn't know there WAS a Japanese mafia.





An array of gods


This touched me....I asked what the Winnie was...I'd not seen him as particularly Buddhist before. This is a shrine....and gods for "unborn children". She said for miscarriages...but then added that abortion is legal in Japan and so this is the shrine for many unborn babies. This made me sad....and contemplative.


Family altars
These two are guards for the cemetary, this guy with the open mouth, sucks in evil spirits....
This one, with a closed mouth, refuses to let them out into the cemetary.

We headed to an International Center. Here, we listened to two briefings/lectures on Japanese culture and the area. THIS would have been nice to know earlier in our Japanese adventure. ::snort::

This vending machine struck our fancy...hotdogs and french fries anyone?

We went to a Samurai Museum. I'll post photos of this when we visit again. As with many field trips, this one forced us to move much too fast and we didn't really catch what we were seeing....I have photos but no real understanding of what we were seeing. LOL

However, Jared learned again...DUCK!

Nolan was happy to finally see a rice paper wall.

We ate lunch at the Veedol Plaza.

I've mentioned the photo menus before...but this is GREAT. Plastic replicas of the dishes they serve....fairly realistic in a plastic sort of way. And of course you still don't know if the dumplings are chicken, octopus or squid. ::snort:: Doesn't that meal on the left...noodles and fries look like carb heaven? ::snort::

Jared eats his first Hashi only meal....and did fairly well. LOL

We turned in a request to be extended in TLF until the end of September. ::sigh:: We put yen down on the new home.

I began to realize I need to buy things I already own if I want to get math etc started. Still thinking it through. We'll do a credit of Japanese Culture this year....maybe we'll wait to start TOG until we are in our home.....but we need to begin phonics, math and science or Jared will be behind the 8 ball.

I created a brochure to be passed out at chapel with PWOC board selection procedure, qualifications for leadership and job descriptions listed. Melinda, I thought of you as I fully utilized the new Women's Ministry Manual. Thanks again for allowing your talents to be used in PWOC. What a great new resource the WMM is.

I attened my first MOSC (Misawa Officer's Spouse Club). OK, it's the first time I've attended any OSC in 12 years. ::snort:: I did enjoy myself. I'm trying to wrap my brain around the expensive dues to join...but I'm sure I will. We're simply cheap. ::snort:: Some ladies at our table were the explorer types. They gave me their numbers and names of spots to visit...like a place that sells used kimonos for Y500.

It was a full and busy day. The tour was great...but far to rushed. We prefered the Hachinohe tour.

Remember, there is a translation of military speak in the side bar.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

NOTE the list of military speak in the sidebar above my profile....hope it helps!

PRAY NOW, PLEASE LOL

Just heard from our realtor....someone new has looked at our home. They rate everything as "outstanding" instead of "above average" and they say that our home is on their "short list". We'd really like our home to be a blessing to new owners....and we'd like to sell soon. As always - God knows best...but those are the desires of my heart.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

New Foilage

Last week when we went to Shimoda Mall, I let the kids buy plants at the Y100 store. I thought it would be fun for them to have something for our new home. Nolan picked the smallest to see how big it will be when we move. The last thing we did in TX was give away the one plant we had. It seemed fitting to buy new plants right away...and you can't go wrong at the Y100 store.
They're also a little reminder to bloom in our new home.














Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Our Home?

No, this isn't another bathroom story. This is a house-hunting story. I've been told I need to write this down......because our adventure is so funny.

I wrote about the first house we looked at today earlier. Others have now told me that it would be wise to take the new house, especially as it is the same rent. There is a real problem with mold and right on the edge of a swampy paddy that could be an issue. Also, with the kerosene heaters some say the fumes cause them migraines.....the new home won't have mold when we move in....and it will heat with the floors somehow....

BUT THIS is a 1/2 bath. Note it is a toilet and a sink.

The full bath was scattered around the house. I guess this is common? Though I've not seen it before today. Kim told me that the bathrooms are divided into two or three rooms...but I've always seen them together. This house had the sink in the master bdr closet, the tub in the laundry room and the toilet in the master bedroom.

These road signs are becoming our best friends. They are placed where the roads are hard to see....and they are lifesavers!


Here are some photos of the house we hope to be able to put our deposit on tomorrow.


The only thing that I really don't like about this model is the small living room windows....which is why we almost went with the other style....but, unless we choose the houses directly off the road, our view would be the house next door anyway. ::snort::


Mike climbed to the second floor and gave us a report. ::snort:: This is a little bay window like nook at the top of the stairs. The master bedroom is to the left of where Mike is standing. He also checked out the insulation. ::snort::


Three bedrooms along this side of the house.


Jared expressed it first, "This house is worth the wait." I thought we might should "settle" because of Jared's school and our need to "arrive" ....but he's right. We'll be happy in this house.


Did you think I was joking about vending machines being EVERYWHERE?


Lunch time arrived while we were looking around....I got a good laugh over everyone retiring to cars, odd spots, eating their bentos and catching a few winks.


This shows the back of the house. I think the yard itself goes to about where the dirt mound is....but there is a big field behind us that isn't planted and horse corrals to the side of us. We saw three horses.


This is a photo for those living in Springfield...a piece of home in Japan.


The reasons NOT to live off base remain...but this house has much in its favor. It's in a farming area, the yards are bigger than most we've seen, the rent is the same as the two older homes we looked at this week, it's new and will be well heated.....and it's the biggest home we've seen in our month here. The only thing that would stop us from getting it now would be the base saying 100% that they will kick us out of TLF (we are happy to pay if they let us stay) or someone else putting a deposit down this evening. In that case, we'd go with the single level home.. several of them were real possibilities too and have vacant lots next to them. LOL

Another family with six children moved in to the hall across from us. They've been told they'll be given a 4 bdr house, as we had been. We shall see. I rather doubt it, as I know two other families in TLF after traveling the same route we have. Of course, all three of us are Field Grade families....and maybe they'll let you accept the smaller house if you are a different rank? I'm interested to find out.

I've had two women mention that maybe God is moving me away from the base so that I DON'T over-commit to chapel programs. Hmmm.....I'll pray about that.

I'm really excited to watch this house be built and to be able to move into a new home....what a blessing! And that is what I'll choose to focus on.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

I Ate My Whole Meal with Hashis....

SCORE! It wasn't pretty, but I managed to eat my entire meal with hashis...chopsticks.

After WILD yesterday, Mike and I took Rick and Renee (our sponsors) and Melissa (PWOC Pacific President) out to dinner. Rick and Renee recommended this restaurant. It was fun....we sat on tatami (is that the word?) matts.... We cheated just a bit as there was a hole under the table and so our legs could hang down rather than be folded under. ::snort::

Renee has a card that says in Japanese that she is allergic to shellfish....and so we showed them that. The chef told us he would make both of us something special. WOW....veggie tempura, miso soup that was to die for, rice, cucumber sushi (which I much prefer).....Yum.... and I ate the whole thing without having to say, "fo-ku kudasai"! ::snort::

Yeah, I SAID it wasn't pretty....and look how DARK my hair is getting again. ::snort::

SHOW OFF!

Renee, I'll google dietary cards...but if you want to email me the name of the website where you ordered that card, I'll have one made for my purse. It was nice to be able to eat without worrying about what I might get. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...