Ah, Lovely Days

Let's See.......

Monday, I signed the papers to buy our new van. I still have a parking permit and one more trip to Pass and ID to get it totally legal....but I'm insured and driving the new van as of last night.

The highlight of Monday were packages. Three from Vitacost and one from Michael.

From 2010_06_21 package

Sometimes, when receiving a package, deciphering what is meant for whom can be a challenge....

From 2010_06_21 package

Ah....

From 2010_06_21 package

These hats are awesome. Hint...hint...

From 2010_06_21 package

The bracelets are a big hit too, Michael. Mike reports that children wait to sell these to servicemen "for protection" as they leave the compound. We love them. On a fun aside, we noted Michael recycled a box we'd sent him previously....now we want to see how many times the box can make the trip before Michael is home. LOL

From 2010_06_21 package

Tuesday was the first "Chapel Summer Outing." It wasn't real well attended, but the five moms and children who attended did have fun. This is the only photo that I'll dare to post.

From 2010-06-22 park day

Wednesday - I spent 8 1/2 hours with a group of lovely PWOC leaders. We sought God's face for His unique guidance as we walk out this year's theme, "Shine in the Light of His Glory". I'm very excited by the vision that was birthed. Lots of wonderful words....It is exhilarating to be a part of walking out the message where the sandals meet the sand - on the local level. I'll be teaching a Precept class or two this fall. I also head up a retreat team - we have a couple of them planned. If you're local and want to be on a retreat team - give me a holler. ::snort::

I got home about 6 p.m. and it had been a long day for ME and the CHILDREN at home. We opted for dinner out. Jared remembered Shimoda Mall is 7 min up the road. GREAT food options. The middles had McDonalds. Jared and I had rice/beef/curry....and Stacia wanted, "Gohan Kudasai," (Rice please), which earned her approving pats, smiles and glances. We decided to go see what may be playing at the theater. I hear that attending a movie in Japan is an experience we must do at least once.

From 2010-06-23_shimoda

We saw this on the way to the theater...it was a good omen.

From 2010-06-23_shimoda

Unfortunately, when we asked this movie is going to be in Japanese only. No English subtitles....we'll ask again. They were very sorry. So were we...though it will come to the base...it won't be in 3D and probably won't come until later....of course it will be 1/4th the cost. LOL

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

Father's Day 2010

We decided to attend the 0800 service this a.m. It was a great time of worship, receiving the Word, and visiting with fellow-believers after the service. They have breakfast together each week. I love the sense of community sharing together brings to a service.

After church we headed to a park on the North Side of base for Jared's first driving lesson. We logged 35 minutes. Michael usually covers all training until he deems the kids "road ready". This was a bit of a learning curve for both Jared and I....but we did fine.

We headed for the commissary. The kids wanted a picnic on the beach. We called my Dad while we made lunch. We headed for the beach....

From 2010-06-20_fday_stormwatching

It was cloudy.

From 2010-06-20_fday_stormwatching

We have missed the thunderstorms of West TX. Guess what? We had rain, lightening, thunder, wind....Very cool.  Not rolling thunder, but I suspect you have to be in West TX to have ROLLING THUNDER like we had in San Angelo. LOL Still.....impressive. We weren't the only ones parked on the boardwalk watching the ocean in the storm. We were the only ones caught walking on the beach when the storm hit.

From 2010-06-20_fday_stormwatching

We enjoyed our obentos in the car as we watched the storm. Very cool. No one minded too much.

From 2010-06-20_fday_stormwatching

We came home, enjoyed tea and hot chocolate, Skyped a few minutes with Michael and are settling in for movies. We miss our favorite Father....but Skyping is a fair substitute...better than any of our other deployments.....
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Need a little help?

From 2010-06-18 Life

This sign always makes me smile. I wonder if visiting the Brain Mansion would bring good results for middle aged women with lagging memories?

Last Saturday, Jared took the above photo to the barber. When they asked how he wanted his hair cut, he showed them. ::snort:: The barber is an elderly, Japanese gentleman. Stoic. At the end of the cut, he called another barber over and had Jared show his photo. They both broke into smiles and polite laughter. Jared felt success.

Friday night, we showed the photo to Akikosan. She laughed LOUD and hard...and couldn't stop. Score.
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Spectacular Saturday

Today seemed like the perfect day to bring out the bubbles. We have a nice long area of grass to enjoy this summer. Our yard, our neighbor decided she needed to go home because her dh is deployed, and then a common area...so lots of grassy area to enjoy....

The neighborhood kids also had a water fight. I thought it was far to cold for such. Tis the season for all banner of critters to begin showing up in various water bottles.....INSIDE my house. I've re-established with Zander that any critter in a bottle IN MY HOUSE, will be thrown away. ::snort::
A neighbor found a mouse. We don't seem to have that trouble. I think the 4 ft rat snake did it's part....but we are fighting these guys.

I spent a part of the afternoon getting to know part of this year's local PWOC board.

Have you ever seen tools on a cake?

We went to see Disney's Ocean tonight. Wow - the message was loud and clear - personally, I think they'd get a better response if they preached a little less and let the stunning photography speak for itself. We've been studying oceans this year, and the nature views WERE breathtaking. I did point out to the kids that all the "pristine ocean" shots from "billions of years ago" were, in fact, filmed last year. ::snort:: I'm that sort of movie goer. Blame it on 26 1/2 years of married life. ::grin::  It was fun to see several families we know at the movies.

We enjoyed another treat that Akiko brought last night. Like miniature Dairy Queen treats.

I worked on grabbing data from an online survey and putting it into a PowerPoint presentation for our upcoming, local board planning meeting.

The other big news of this week is that Jared now has a "driver's permit". He can only drive on base. We have to log 9 hours before he can have a license....so....we hope to start tomorrow.

As we ended the day I suddenly remembered: "I started yogurt 12 hours ago!" ::snort:: Good thing I remembered THAT.

All in all, it's been a very good day. We're missing Michael today....but every day gone is a day closer to being together again.....

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

Busy Week

This week has been FULL and draining.

Lots of ministry catch up to work on this week.

Lots of  long distance calls and emails.

Lots of school.

LOTS OF PAPERWORK! I had no CLUE it would take so much paper to junk an old van and buy a new one. In Japan, every 2 years one must pay for a JCI (inspection) on their vehicle.  Your car needs to be in good working order to get this sticker.  We affectionately call our van,the beast and it was amazing gift to us a year ago.  When it literally began thunking and slamming into DRIVE I knew the transmission was going. It was going to cost as much money to get it to pass the JCI, as it is for me to buy another van that has just passed the JCI and will last us 2 more years.

From 2010-06-18 Life

Did you follow all that? This meant we took the van to the junker and picked up paperwork. I took the license plates, title, junking receipt and various recylcing receipts to the base's Pass and ID.  They gave me "deregistration papers". This is to derigester with the base and with the prefecture.  I thought I could buy the new van and then continue to work on paperwork to junk the old one. BUT I discovered you cannot own more than 2 cars at a time in Japan.

I took that to the insurance company. They did a BUNCH more paper work which was sent to Hachinohe. I was given several more pieces to take to the realtor and the police as I live off base and needed a parking permit. I got maps and stamped pieces of paper and took THAT back to the insurance today. They had more papers from Hachinohe. The plan is that I can take THESE papers back to PASS and ID Monday - with the seller of the new van and he can sign the van over to me....THEN I'll take it all back to the insurance again for some more fun.

On my last stop at the insurance  Stacia was asked if she was an only child. Oh my. She said, "I have 8 brothers and sisters." The lady thought she was wrong.

 I said, "Yes, she does." Oy vey - the chattering and discussion that ensued. I think they were genuinely interested in our lifestyle.

 I answered the questions, we laughed and then she said the thing that made my day, "Do you think so many children are a treasure?"

"Oh, yes!" I told her, "They are all treasures." She agreed.

I had several evening outings this week....farewell season is in full swing.

From 2010-06-18 Life

We had Akikosan over for pizza tonight. She was excited. She brought all sorts of little treats. THIS is one we'll have find again. You mix a little gel/liquid packet with milk and it makes a smoothie/yogurt...not sure how to describe it... dessert. I asked if it could be for breakfast, but Akikosan says, "Only dessert." I'm wondering if a packet of that thrown into yogurt would be good. LOL

From 2010-06-18 Life

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

Thunderstorm in Afghanistan - Michael

Woohoo! We had a real thunderstorm. Lots of lightning (presumably), lots of thunder and lots of rain! The air actually smells nice outside - it usually either smells of smoke from burning plastics and undefineable debris or you can not smell much of anything because of the dust, but the air will be nice and clear for a few hours, anyway. That is, it will be clear until the locals start burning their trash like they do most nights. -- Michael

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

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

Misawa Morning

Beautiful, foggy view from my window....love Misawa Mornings.

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