Happy Birthday to The Man

The love of my life had a birthday while we were apart. This means we will not have the giant "over the hill" party that I'd envisioned locally. We're leaving on Tuesday. He and the children have opted to celebrate in OR.

I do not have a problem with aging. It's not bothered me in the least to hit 30 - I felt I'd finally gained some "respectability" to teach Bible Studies. LOL Turning 40 was hardly a blip. 45  didn't phase me. It is with a great measure of humor, therefore, that I discover it's strange, amazing, bemusing to find myself married to a man who just turned 50! When in the world did that happen? It seems I'd just turned 20 and he was suggesting a wedding in 3 weeks. ::snort::

He still thrills me. He amazes me. His love and passion for God and the Bride of Christ humble me. His care of the children and I are unsurpassed. He is aging WELL.....oh he's so fine....but still he's 50. Wow. That awes me. Somewhere along the line, I think we've grown a bit older.....and I love it...but I'm bemused to find ME married to a man of 50. ::snort::

I would have not traded any minute (the ups and downs) of the past 27 years with this man.

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

Momentous Day

We cleaned. 


We crafted - weeeellllll - I showed Arielle how to make sea glass jewelry and she (as expected) excelled. 

While Arielle made pendants, I made slide shows on the iPad - I now have three set to music.....Older Kids (stole photos from FB) set to "Find Your Wings," PWOCI conference set to "We Speak to Nations," and Japan 210 set to "This Life". 

MIKE CAME HOME in the evening. What joy! I look forward to life settling into some sort of routine with us both on the same continent for months at a time. ::snort::  He brought us all a taste (literally chocolate covered macadamia nuts and figuratively) of Hawaii. 

While at the airport, I noted that NOLAN was a couple of inches taller than Arielle. What? When Mike got home from Afghanistan Arielle still had an inch or two on him. We rechecked at home (in BARE-FEET) and yep, he's passed her up. She's not happy about this....this means that NOLAN IS TALLER THAN HIS OLDER SISTERS TOO!  Be prepared for more male crowing, gals.

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

Conference Recap

It is really hard to find words to describe PWOCI Conference in Dallas this past weekend. 


Summary: after months of prayer, repentance and worship the leadership and 1400 members of PWOCI met in Dallas to worship, adore and hear from God. He met us. Kari Jobe is an inspired worship leader. Priscilla Shirer is an inspired Bible teacher. The workshops I attended were great. All three Chief of Chaplains were wonderful. God  moved at unexpected times and was welcomed to do so. The body of Christ in all its facets was represented. All manner of worship was welcomed.....from those sitting quietly, to ribbon and flag dancers, raised hands, bowed bodies... What joy to see the body of Christ, united, praising Him as led by His spirit. The fellowship with other Christian Sisters was sweet. The days were long. The responsibilities many. I am humbled to be a part of leadership in an organization whose focus is intimacy with Jesus and service to women associated with the military. I'm still in awe of being allowed by God to present a workshop on intimacy with Him twice at this event.  There was revival in our midst...and I believe it will continue on our local installations.

This conference didn't just "happen". Many spent hours and hours pulling together details. I believe the KEY to this conference was the repentance, worship and prayer that went into each aspect of conference. Once again, a joy to be at PWOCI Conference.

Here are a "few" glimpses of the week.

MANY ministries blessed us....with words and gifts....

Installation of all regional chaplains

Friday we had our Regional Bonding time....Belinda and Renee prepare

Ch. Pace seems to wonder what he's gotten into 

As part of the time, Ch. Pace and I affirmed the Asia Region Board. Mike brought scarves from Afghanistan back and I gifted the ladies with a mantle (symbolizing the mantle they wear in this season). 

 Asian BINGO was a way to mingle

Asia's Board - front: Renee, Sese and Ch Pace; middle: Rachelle, Lauren; rear: Me, Juliet

Some of the attendees from Asia

New International Exec board being installed

Awesome servants

Misawa Ladies

 

New Ministry Initiative - Protestant Children of the Chapel

Point of Grace

"We Speak to Nations" 

New PWOCI Exec board - Claudia (1st VP Spiritual Dev), Beth (President), Tracie (2nd VP Leadership Dev)

Choosing Joy!

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

Home Again

Conference was amazing and I'll have to find the time to write about it before time gets away from me....


For now, let me report that I'm safely back in Japan for another 5 days. I had a wonderful Sunday afternoon visit with these two.  They were suitably impressed with how many knew their mama. LOL 

We went out to Outback...where I TRIED to eat a full meal. We went to Target and bought gifts for me to bring home....and a new IPAD for me, myself and I. Michael had agreed it would be a nice deployment survival gift. LOL  I wasn't 100% sure I'd really spend the $ for it, until I saw all the folks enjoying them on the long airplane ride over the Pacific. 

Yes, my mama heart wishes I had more time with these guys....but what a JOY to see them doing so well in college, happy with life, taking time to drive 4 hours to visit for an afternoon.....as they drove off....and Jamin yelled, "Love you Mama," out the window...I was instantly transported back 20 years to Hardin, MT. These guys used to LOVE to chase all visitor's cars down the road as they left.....and it took everything I had not to chase after them. I settled for walking fast to the bottom of the car garage. ::snort:: 

I'm proud of them in their new lives....and count it as a heavenly wink from heaven to have been given some time with them this past week. 

I arrived home at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. I spent Wednesday unpacking, running errands, taking Arielle to the orthodontist. Today was spent with MOPS, more errands and desperately trying to get a refill of Jared's meds before we leave town next week. It looks like I may have to call up the chain of command on this one. Two weeks of trying to reach the doc...must have labs and a refill before we leave on Tuesday. 

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

We Had Our First Snow Today

They say that if the Summer is hot, the Winter will be cold.  If today is any indication, it will be cold and snowy this Winter because, yes, we had our first bit of snow today.  It was not much.  It did not stick, but it was still snow.  Last year, we did not get snow until the Christmas - and then we got lots.  I am thinking we may be in for a long, cold Winter, but that is OK.  We will just pop some popcorn and make a batch or two of fudge...

Is this a preview of our coming Winter?

--Michael

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

Nearly Ready

The above picture sums up my day. LOL  I think things are finally at a spot where I can go to sleep and finish in the a.m. before my flight. 

Where am I going? PWOCI Conference.  With over 1330 women registered, this promises to be an exciting week.....praying God is glorified, women are challenged, set free and set on fire.... 

Personally, I'd appreciate prayer for a cold that seems to have kicked in this afternoon. I'm sharing a room with a friend who simply cannot catch my germs. Pray for healing and for her not to get ill.  Also for the kids and Mike at home...and for all the meetings I'll be attending, the decisions which will be made for the future of PWOCI, the new International Board which will be selected and installed, and the workshop I'll be leading. 

Not sure how often I'll check in. 

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

The Weekend

I know life is busy when I've not updated the family journal for three days. I know it's REALLY, WEALLY BAD, when I have to pull out the calendar to remember what we've been doing. ::snort:: 


Friday ~ We got a few things done around here. I had an appointment to meet with a local friend to book a venue for a fun, local PWOC event being planned for the spring.  Unfortunately, the office is closed.  


Since we were already out, I asked Twyla if she'd ever had a pedicured. These terrified me. I was born with a really ugly toe nail and I thought any nail tech would run screaming from the room if I sat in her chair. BUT I keep hearing about how relaxing these are and I needed to relax. ::snort::  Off we went..while we waited for pedicures, I got my eyebrows waxed and a haircut. I'm a new woman.  I figured if I do Onsens I can do Pedicures. It was a lot of fun and the tech was fun to visit with. She recommended a new onsen. I promised to shave before my next pedicure. ::snort::  We ended the night with Pizza and Toy Story 3. 


Saturday ~ Everyone but me slept in. I went to the gym. I grabbed a breakfast treat and ate it all alone in a parking lot. I went to an onsen. I had planned to meet a friend, but ended up alone. That was fine. I had a good hour of soaking and thinking and praying.  


I put gyudon in the crock pot, started the rice steamer and we headed to Momoishi beach. We found more sea glass...... see the sea blue piece in the center of the photo? 

They are easier to see when they are wet. 

After dinner Michael wanted to go to the chapel and run through his sermon. Nolan and I made a commissary run and then went in search of pants for him. I shouldn't have been surprised when we found only ONE style that fit and there were two pairs left.....and they were $7.99 each. All others were over $25 each. Nolan needs slim and LONG.....


Sunday ~ Mike went to the 0800 service. The kids and I met up with him during the Sunday School hour. 1100 service found Jared running slides and us enjoying a sermon from our favorite chaplain for the first time in 8 months.

Michael napped; I watched the neighborhood kids play and so the Sunday went.


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