MLK Jr Day

Mike had MLK Day off. I had forgotten he even HAD a 3 day weekend coming until we didn't go to church on Sunday. I kept wondering why the roads were bothering him enough to stay home. I finally got a clue. The chaplains here rotate on 3 day weekends. They take turns doing all 3 services, so that the other chaplains can have a true 3 day weekend. This sounds like a small thing, but it's the first time in 15 years of military service that we've really benefited from 3 day weekends. Usually, we can't go out of town etc because there is a sermon to finish prepping and a sermon to preach on Sunday. Good on Chapel Team Misawa for taking care of their troops.

Jared wanted to start school. We left him. We had planned to pick up some sleds at Sanwado (none there) or Homac (none there), grab lunch and go to the sledding hill on base. The BX said they've not received sleds yet. We tried Sundays on the way home. They were out of sleds too....but they DID have a big red "snow mover". Mike bought one (they are $45) and we used it to move snow and to sled.

Yeah, when we got home, Mike saw all that snow and we had to dig in...before sledding. We had it clear, but it keeps coming down....and the snow of the roof breaks loose at strange times. The snow mover was put to good use. We miss our snow blower. We have no where to store one, but maybe we'll look for one in the spring/summer when folks are pcsing. We gave ours away when we moved from AK to TX.

This is the tree in the common area (used to sport vending machines)......look how tall the snow is getting. Not a BIG hill, but the kids had fun, learned how to direct the snow mover down a small bump, and we'll look for a true sledding hill shortly....and real SLEDS. All were reminding me yesterday that MY antique sled is in the living room. I thought of it. We USED to use it....the wood is starting to split and it has metal runners....do they use those any more? Is it safe?

We came in cold and tired. We grabbed leftovers. I worked on some PWOC funds things for an upcoming trip. I sent out a few PWOC emails. We read another chapter in Nate Saint. We went to bed tired, sore (some of us) and satisfied.

No children were harmed in the making of this blog post.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Snow....

is certainly starting to collect around town. This is a huge pile.

This is the pile left at the end of the street.....and falling into our yard, driveway, breaking the farmer's fence...but the snow plow got it off the street! ::snort::

I'm constantly warning kids not to stand near the house. Ice...and BIG drifts of snow that all of a sudden break loose and slide off the tin roofs....maybe they're plastic come to think of it. ::snort:: AnyWHO....we hear a pounding, falling, dropping sound above us and WHAMMO - sheets of snow race off the roof.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Dear Diary....

The One Day Way by Chantel Hobbs

I reveiwed "Never Say Diet" by Chantel Hobbs last year. When I was given the opportunity to review, "The One Day Way," by Chantel, I snatched the chance. Chantel has lost over 200 lbs and KEPT it off! She's the type of person I want to listen to.

Chantel SIMPLIFIES weight loss for us one day at a time. Focus on the change you can make today. Celebrate your success today. If you screw up today, it's not the end of ALL your weight loss goals. Today is just one day! We are challenged to make daily goals (and to celebrate our successes) in the areas of faith, food and fitness.

Chantel includes sections on demolishing past failures and actions that lead to failure, laying a foundation for healthy weight loss, building the structure of a new us/life and concludes with a plan for lasting success. Two sets of Ten Commandments are shared: one for "Weight Loss and for Life," and one on how to "Be Fit For Life". Both are great and simple!!!!

I realized anew, as I read this book, I am GREAT at setting goals....specific weight loss/work out goals for the week, month, quarter, year, but when I no longer live walking distance from the gym, or when I don't meet a weight loss goal - I'm stymied. I'm an all or nothing type person. During this PCS (move) I gained 27 lbs (meaning I have 40 - 50 lbs to lose). Yes, circumstances played a part. I wasn't able to get to the gym six days a week, and my age and thyroid lead to a sluggish metabolism that NEEDS a daily jump start which I didn't provide. My big problem, however, is that I'm an all or nothing sort of person. If I can't work out, what's the point of eating six small meals a day? If I can't bake bread, what's the point of avoiding french fries? I still haven't figured out all the details for a working gym plan. I CAN choose ONE THING to change TODAY. I can do this again tomorrow. A small commitment/change is better than none.

I can also celebrate my daily success - regardless of the scale. I can't FORCE weight loss, I can choose to work out, I can choose to eat small meals, I can choose to learn how food words....and I can do this daily. The One Day Way was the shot in the arm I needed as I begin to make daily, healthy choices once again.

For only $13.59 at Amazon, "The One Day Way" is a great investment in your health. For one lucky reader, this book will be free. I'll make it easy. Simply leave a comment to enter the drawing. I'll draw a winner after noon JST, Saturday, 23 Jan. You'll have one week to be sure I have mailing info (which will be destroyed after the book is mailed, I really am NOT building a database ::snort::). If mailing info is not sent to me within a week, I will pick a new winner. Of course, overseas readers can enter....in my book YOU ALL are overseas. ::snort::

This book is on my 2010 Reading List.

Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I receive no payment, other than the book, for posting this review. If you'd like more information, click the link in the sidebar.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Blogging for Books

Long time readers know this....I blog for books. I blog for Waterbrook Press, Multnomah, Doubleday, Random House and Thomas Nelson. You'll see links in the side bar if you are interested. I've done this for years and have had a great time with it.

The basics? They send me offers, I choose the books I want to review, they send me a book (sometimes with a giveaway book), I read the book and write a review.

Moving to Japan complicated this system. Reviews are ideally posted during a certain week. I have two books to review that both came recently, well past the deadline. The good news is that Waterbrook sent the last book PRIORITY and I have a week to read before posting. ::grin:: Thomas Nelson allows you to choose a book and you pick the next one when you post a review for that one....no time deadlines to meet.

I've noted, over the summer, that publishers aren't giving away quite so many freebie books for bloggers to share.....but hopefully you'll still find the reviews to be helpful.

I used to review EVERY book I read. I found this to be cumbersome in 2009 and quit the practice....but I will review some. I'll always let you know if a book I'm reviewing was a gift from a publisher.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Unexpected Day

We didn't go to church today. It wasn't the weather as much as it was "our Sunday" to be "off". The chaplains here have it worked out so that each 3 day weekend one chaplain takes all 3 services. This means that every 3rd holiday you work all Sunday, but the other two you have a 3 day weekend. It works well. This was our holiday off. I'd forgotten it WAS a holiday - tomorrow.

We relaxed. We slept in. We found our Jesus Stocking!

From 2010-01-17

It's packed away with the CHRISTMAS stuff now for next year. We still haven't found all of Nolan's photo ornaments or my early years Photo Album...but the list of things we're missing is dwindling. ::snort::

From 2010-01-17

We took down Christmas decorations. It was time, I guess. Having a tree covered with photo charms of the children is a GREAT thing, however, it was emotional to pack the older kids away. ::sniff::

Mike and I went for a wintry walk. We dodged Pirates....

From 2010-01-17

...and Robin Hood.

From 2010-01-17

We had dinner. We read another chapter in Nate Saint. It was a good day.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Nativity 2010

I always leave a bit of Christmas out year round. It's a secret code for me. It's a tangible reminder to celebrate Christ year round. At least that is how it began. I no longer need a reminder; but it's a great conversation starter. ::grin:: Seriously. I can't tell you the number of grown women who work up the nerve to ask why I have a nativity out in June....and the kids never hesitate to ask. I love to explain. It's led to some interesting conversations.

From 2010-01-17

No, this is not the one I left out. ::snort::

In TX, I'd been leaving the complete Willow Tree Nativity out in our entertainment center. I simply don't have that much space here. I thought leaving just the Jesus/Joseph/Mary out would work....and the two angels mean various things as Willow Tree Angels do.....so I liked this.

From 2010-01-17

It fit, it's pretty, it's unobtrusive....but now I'm wondering if it looks too much like the shrine shelves that I see around here in homes. Hmmm....I may have to find another spot.... I want to generate questions, not confusion.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...