WOOT - iPod speakers!

Thursday was the last MOPS of the year. The last Bible Study at my home. We finished a couple of books in school.

I received a call while at MOPS that Zander was puking. He's amused us with wisdom such as, "If you feel like you're going to throw up and cough real hard, it will divert the energy of the throw up." I'm not sure this is a GOOD thing, given his current "activity". LOL

Stacia's eye looks fine today and she's up and bubbly.

I've been uber diligent in my war against germs. I do not want sick kids when I'm at retreat....neither do I want to be sick while I'm trying to speak....and I fly to Korea and Tokyo soon after the retreat.

Jared and I tried a new Indian restaurant today. Thanks for the suggestion, Mary. I really liked it. I could not finish my soup. The flavor was excellent but the HEAT made my eyes water, my sinus' clear, my lips, mouth, throat and tongue burn. I even poured water in to dilute the pepper. The curry was wonderful and they Nan bread...wow...this is the 1/2 that was left when I thought to take the photo.

Jared and I went over and tried out a new-to-us Elliptical. It's a Reebok 1000x. Not our dream ARC machine...BUT it will work for a few years....it was cheaper than ordering a new one and having it shipped, and I didn't have to wait 4 months. Thanks, for the tip, Susi.  It was HILARIOUS to watch this be loaded into the van....the seats don't come out.

Getting it OUT of the van was much easier. Rodney came over and helped, but he doesn't appear to like photos of himself to be taken.  Picture him behind the beam by the arm things...

I'm out of shape - but it's been nearly a YEAR....can you imagine? It was this time last year that we moved into the trailer and Jamin was graduating. Then the travels, the unexpected delay in the NW and the trip to Japan sans Michael....the months in the TLF and finally a house....but the winter is NOT my friend and I can't drive those roads that early in the a.m. It's been a year since I gave up my well-earned "gym rat" title....and my body shows it....but by this time next year.....

We discovered......the ipod works on THIS...we'd been told it didn't...so.....I figure I bought speakers for my ipod...

Doesn't fit the decor - but oh well. I am NOT going to work out in the garage when it is below 0.....this is a thing of beauty.

On with family night.

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

Food From Afghanistan - Michael

My Chaplain Assistant and I have made many friends amongst the Afghans here on the compound.  One brought some of the local food by for us to sample.  There was a little trepidation at first, but it was really good.  I have no idea what it was called, but it was tasty - rather greasy but tasty.  The bread was like a thick version of pita bread.  The meat was like shredded beef (though actual source is unknown and will most likely remain unknown, by choice) with its own kind of spicy flavor - kind of an Afghan flavor.

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

New Neighbors in Afghanistan - Michael

My new "neighbors" are beginning to arrive.  They have been preparing the foundation for a couple of weeks, but now they have moved in some new conex's.  The open ground that had existed is now gone, but the good thing is that the light that once illuminated my room at night is now blocked by multiple layers of steel. 

This if while they were still putting in the foundation.

Placing the conex boxes was a bit of a ticklish process, but they finished it rather quickly.

And just like that; voila, new neighbors.  They still have to build the stairs, tie the conex's together, and wire it in, but the main struture is done.

This guy definitely liked having his photo taken.  As a people, they are very friendly.

The Afghan workers love coming over and playing foosball and drinking coffee.  They have been very busy putting the foundation in place, setting the conex's on that foundation, and now taking care of all of the plumbing and wiring.  A little foosball is what a soul needs to relax for a while.

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

Living all of life before the face of God...

The Week.....

Tuesday.....lunch with the Bible Study gals....great fun. An event where we kept our clothes on. Windy joined us. ::snort::  Several will be leaving for the states within weeks, so it was a great time to visit.

Today, we had a great day of school. I ordered more books. Stacia is feeling better. Zander now has a sore throat. Windy came over and we filled totes for the retreat. I ran to the yen store and bought a few things I needed for retreat sessions. I organized retreat session supplies.

Some supplies....

We are also in crunch time for regional WILD training. This is an event that involves ladies from the states coming out to Asia, the Asia board traveling to Seoul and Tokyo, and our local leaders traveling to one of those two destinations for sort of a training/retreat combo deal. That will be the first week of June.  As soon as approval is given, I'll be booking air and train tickets. I'm looking forward to the opportunity of connecting with our  new PWOC leaders this year.For a great blurb on ministry in the military check out Radically Transient Leadership. This is certainly not the model of leadership that civilian churches would foster - but God keeps blessing and it keeps working. LOL

Nolan and Jared set up the new grill....

We're waiting for burgers to burn....maybe they dont' burn in Japan. LOL  Remembering why we liked gas grills. LOL

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

Whew - Monday

Stacia has a virus that is manifesting as pink eye and an ear infection. I suspect she caught it from Arielle who had a sore throat about 5 days ago. The doc said it will manifest in those 3 places.

They didn't give us meds for the ear infection - ibuprofen. They DID give us meds for her eyes. She hates it. I know it hurts.

Tonight, as we struggled, I called for Jared or Arielle to help me. She said, "I want Arielle." Arielle held her hands.....she then sobbed, "I want KRISTA!" ::snort::  Poor thing.

She is a mess. I've been washing sheets, pillows, blankets, spraying mattresses, washing walls, door knobs, light switches, flat surfaces, spraying couches etc. Trying to keep anyone else from getting this.

The kids had piano today. Stacia was up until 2 a.m. and she and I both fell asleep during the lessons. I don't even remember saying goodbye to Christine. What in the WORLD?

Had an impromptu retreat planning session this evening...details are coming together nicely.

I'm tired - going to try to sleep - must make my bed first come to think of it. LOL

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

Discipline of the Lord - Heb 12

Today's Bible study led me to Heb 12 and a look at the Lord's discipline. We are not to despise His discipline - but love it, endure it, be trained by it, strengthen ourselves through it, pursue peace and sanctification....all good stuff. BUT since this is a passage often brought up when I teach on parenting, I decided to look it up again.

I struggle not to see God as a crotchety, old man with a big belt in the sky, waiting for me to step off the blanket so he can WHACK me back into line....KWIM? Do not think this reflects on my father....it's how these passages and much of the Bible were caught by me.... It's what I created in my mind. It's why I NEED to discipline myself to DIG into the Word of God. My perspective colors my preceptions of who God is.

Somehow, in some circles of society and church, we've come to equate discipline with physical spanking and such. And we're to LOVE it.

But the word for discipline is Strong's 3809 - paideia....it means "instruction of children",  training the Lord approves, nouthesia is mainly instruction by word but paideia is instruction by DEED.  Synonyms of the word are INSTRUCTION and RECTIFICATION.

It is NOT 2851(Kolasis) or 5098 (timoria) which mean penalty, punishment, penal infliction, retribution

If God wanted to say that he punishes His children as a father and we're to love it - He would have. He would have used either Kolasis or Timoria.

He didn't. He painted Himself as a father who graciously and lovingly takes the time to instruct His children by word and DEED. He educates us and trains us...can we do less for our children? Can we see Him as a father who shepherds and mentors as well as the "stern disciplinarian"?  How can the children of this father not love Him? He cares for their good and takes the time to train them.

Gone is the crotchety old man, to be replaced by  a picture of Michael coming home late from work and STILL taking young men out for a walk to discuss how godly men handle anger, authority and purity. Training in word and DEED. THIS is discipline.  THIS is a picture of my God.

Catch that the rest of this chapter ties instruction/discipline to grace, holiness, sanctification.....How can I NOT love the discipline (paideia) of the Lord? How can I NOT commit to train my children by word and deed for the same purposes? It takes time; but look at the fruit that this training brings in the lives of God's children.

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

It's Haha Nohi (Mother's Day)

We had fun discussing Haha Nohi with Akikosan. I loved the way they say "Happy Mother's Day". They don't. Instead they say, "Itsumo Arigato," - always thank you!

My Mother's Day began at 4:30 a.m. The sun was shining and I've not had time to shop for black out curtains yet. ::snort:: I met Mary S. at the Pachinko Parlor at 5:30 a.m. No, we weren't playing. I think Michael was a tad bit alarmed when Jared told him that was my second time this week to visit the pachinko parlor - both times meeting rides to Towada.

This time Mary and I went to the Y500 Kimono/Obi shop. It's cramped, smells, crowded...but wow....piles of kimonos and obis to search through. It was great fun! Mary, thanks for opening this world to me. There are about five "rooms" like this.

See how the kimonos are hung on the wall? I'm thinking this may be the "quilt" from Japan.....Mary makes fan-like wall hangings with  obis to accompany the Kimonos.

I bought two obis for y500 each

They can be made into wall hangings - or TABLE runners. I'm not sure what I'll do with each at this point. I envision the leaves being for a table.

I also bought two children's kimonos - thinking less wall space -

boys

Stacia's claimed a kimono and obi

I bought a few antiques...these spools are from Sendai and 100 years old. He said they make great wine bottle holders....I thought they would work well for glass floats. LOL

When I got home there were all sorts of love notes taped around the home.

We headed for church. . . Sunday School.... Stacia developed Pink Eye somewhere in here....so all but Jared left - he had slides to do.

Joel and Mary invited us to the Mother's Day Brunch. Picked up Jared and he joined us too.

I got emails from all the kids...or FB comments. The blog was a surprise this a.m.

We went on a family "bike ride".

Then EVERYONE watched the second half of Pride and Prejudice with me. I fell asleep last weekend.

The kids took advantage of last week's Asian Bazaar and bought me all sorts of Asian treats for today.

Glass floats from Hokkaido - though I still plan to go find my own. LOL

Zander's glass

Japanese Pottery

Japanese Pottery Dishes - think they'll be great with the Polish Pottery

Darling little tea set - I love making a pot of tea

Then Kim called. She takes care of the deployed spouses in her dh's squadron. They've adopted us as Michael is their chaplain. She must have spent hours today running around delivering things to spouses...wow. The keyspouses amaze me.

I have been TOTALLY spoiled this year. Amazingly spoiled...but I've loved it... ::snort:: I'm missing the four older children and Michael....but I'm taking joy in the place God has led us. It's a good place.

Did I mention Stacia has pink eye....several of us are worried now....hope to see the doc in the a.m.

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