1-1-11 - New Year's Day

It's always fun to have the older kids home.  I wasn't very surprised to be the only one up at 6 a.m. I finished writing the second week of homework prompts for James.  Zander woke up - writing waits. 

We started the day with breakfast. Stacia managed to work this out well. 

The kids had great fun changing our calendar to a new month and a new year! 

Today is the 8th day of Christmas  - and the day we had decided to have a family gift exchange. We started by talking about God gifting us with family and sharing what about family caused us to be thankful. 

 I asked Mike to take a photo, as I thought I'd be absent in many photos of the day. LOL 

Twenty lbs lighter, 35 to go....Lookin Great by 48? Feelin Great by 48?

Josiah and Jamin bought Zander and Nolan very cool RC helicopters. They are SWEET. 

No Comment....

 

 Can you tell there are earbuds in the strings of the hood? She was sort of saying, "Oh, that will be interesting." I told her you just stick the ends of the strings into your ears. I told her you put your ipod in your pocket...but Arielle doesn't have an ipod.  ::snort:: Wasn't that a great way to totally surprise her. 

Coin Rack to display military coins

 Jared and Arielle got me this stain glass.

We cleaned up. We played games and played with toys. 

Josiah enjoyed teaching the boys how to fly their copters.  

We gave the kids a Wii....they were SURPRISED. It was very affordable for us as that was IT - and for 5 kids, day after Thanksgiving sale....it worked well. We were surprised when we couldn't find their other gift ANYWHERE. We had given each child a Wii game. WHERE could they be????? It was a bummer - but Josiah and Jamin had given them a game, so they are enjoying. We realized the Wii isn't going to work great with the projector - thinking of work arounds. 

I worked on go-withs to accompany the slow roasting turkey. I'm trying to use up as much as possible from our chest freezer while the big guys are here. They eat - and I love it. 

They're ending the day playing Mario games. I'm going to edit as much of I can of my writing. I'd like to make copies tomorrow at chapel. I'm working on getting our James Study together. 

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

New Year's Eve 2010

New Year's Eve and the boys weren't home....but we knew they were on the way. 


We prayed  God would provide someone who understood English and would take the time to explain the train system to them. We knew this is THE big travel week in Japan. 


The boys called to say they were getting on the train and would be arriving in Hachinohe in a few hours. We headed out to meet them. When the flight was cancelled two other guys joined up with them. All were to be on the flight to Misawa. One is new to the Air Base and the other is a contractor who knows his way around Japan. He speaks fine English and Japanese as well. ::snort:: Not only that but they traveled together to Tokyo station and on to Hachinohe. God answered better than I thought to pray. 


We got home and fed our young men who hadn't eaten in 48 hours.  Then we visited and waited to ring in the New Years.  Stacia asked if we could have ice cream to celebrate Josiah and Jamin being home. THEN she asked if we could open our Christmas Stockings. We agreed. 

Mom - he loves these and began working on them immediately. 

Some of us had a hard time staying awake until mid-night. 

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

Buttermilk Biscuits (Barb E's)

These have been my favorite biscuits since I first ate them in Hardin, MT. 

Preheat oven to 450*.


Mix together: 
3 C flour
2 Tbs sugar (or rapadura)
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt


Cut in:
1/4-1/2 C shortening (butter)


Add:
1 C buttermilk
Stir quickly  until mixture forms a soft dough and leaves sides of bowl. 

On light floured surface, knead dough 10 times (don't over knead your biscuits or scones).  Pat dough into a 7 - 8 inch square. Cut into 9 squares.  Bake 12 - 15 minutes or until golden.

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

How to Slow Roast the Perfect Turkey

I've used Sue Gregg's recipe for a perfect turkey for the past 3 or 4 years. I have one roasting in my Nesco at this very moment.   Wonderful, no-fuss, moist, tender turkeys...we like it.  I've been told it is dangerous, though none of us have ever been the slightest ill after eating a turkey prepared this way. BTW, I cook Turkeys more than the holidays.  An Air Force Chef told us the way they cooked turkeys for the mess hall  - you guessed - the same slow roasting technique that Sue uses.  This is great as you can start the turkey at night and not worry about it the day you need it (Thanksgiving, Sunday church etc). I've used Sue's method and temps with great results. However, this site has lots of good info.  She deals with the concerns of the method, addressing them by starting with a higher temp and using higher temps. I provide her cooking chart below.   I'm trying today's turkey this way as I didn't get the turkey roasting last night and this will be quicker. It also addresses any concern about the lower temps.

 

General Instructions: Wash Turkey. Remove giblets. Oil, butter, salt, spice as you like. I've not used this method with a stuffed turkey - it's much harder to maintain the right temp and I don't want to chance it. Some do. If you do keep the internal temp of the dressing at 165*.

Sue's Directions
Preheat oven to 300* - roast an hour (this sears turkey and kills bacteria)
Lower temp to 180 - 185* - roast 45 - 60 minutes per lb (Sue says 190* internal temp)

Sue roast breast side down - some say makes a moister breast meat - I do whatever I remember to do.

Remove lid for last 30 - 40 min to brown.

How To Cook A Thanksgiving Turkey Directions: 
Preheat oven to 475* - roast 20 min (sears and kills bacteria)
Lower temp to 250* - roast until internal temp is 185* (USDA recommends 165-185*)

Several hours before eating check internal temp in breast. If the temp is 185*, lower temp to 185* and keep warm until you're ready to eat. If the internal temp is is less than 185*, turn up the heat.

Let turkey sit for 20 min before you carve.

She provides the following chart  for slow roasting a turkey.  Her site also answers all sorts of questions and gives detailed cooking instructions. I think the chart will wrap.....

	U.S. use °F, Europe use °C
Size Turkey	Time at 475°F (246°C)	Time at 250°F (121°C)	"Resting" Time	Total Preparation Time
10 lbs.	20 minutes	3 hours 20 minutes	20 minutes	4 hours
11 lbs.	20 minutes	3 hours 40 minutes	20 minutes	4 hours 20 minutes
12 lbs.	20 minutes	4 hours	20 minutes	4 hours 40 minutes
13 lbs.	20 minutes	4 hours 20 minutes	20 minutes	5 hours
14 lbs.	20 minutes	4 hours 40 minutes	20 minutes	5 hours 20 minutes
15 lbs.	20 minutes	5 hours	20 minutes	5 hours 40 minutes
16 lbs.	20 minutes	5 hours 20 minutes	20 minutes	6 hours
17 lbs.	20 minutes	5 hours 40 minutes	20 minutes	6 hours 20 minutes
18 lbs.	20 minutes	6 hours	20 minutes	6 hours 40 minutes
19 lbs.	20 minutes	6 hours 20 minutes	20 minutes	7 hours
20 lbs.	20 minutes	6 hours 40 minutes	20 minutes	7 hours 20 minutes

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

Seven of Nine Gherkins are Home

‎ Forty-eight hours after starting, 1 delayed flight, 2 missed connections, 1 cancelled flight and 1 Bullet Train ride later.....


Seven of the nine gherkins are home!

60* when they left DFW ~  33* in Misawa

Stacia teaches Jamin Kung Fu

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

They Wanted an Adventure...

They got it! We had a 7 day visit planned. We were content with a 6 day visit after the flight delays. 


Josiah reports  JAL has cancelled all flights to Misawa for "at least two days" due to the storm.  They are checking now to see if JAL will refund the price of the ticket or get them on the train as this is WEATHER DELAYED. That is supposed to be the winter ticket guarantee.  The problem is that the boys haven't been briefed for Tokyo Station and know NO Japanese...and this is the BIGGEST TRAVEL SEASON IN JAPAN. ::snort:: Everyone goes HOME for New Years.  We're hoping the trains are still running and we'll go pick them up Hachinohe. 


If the trains aren't running, we may attempt to drive to Tokyo. We do not want to have them get here on Monday and fly out on Friday. 

Yep, it's windy here.....all manner of things are stuck in our fence...nerf weapons, balls, grills, patio furniture, trash cans, garbage, coolers, and a BIKE.  Jared brought in my wind chimes. Mike put it back together after the storm last when it was blown to bits. 

AFN Misawa Misawa Weather Warning Friday 31 Dec 2010

Heavy Snow Warning 8-10 inches anticipated. Warning in effect until 7 pm

Wind Warning, Max speed of 50 knots expected. Warning in effect until 7 pm

I bake or "fix" the blog when life is chaotic and I need focus. You'll note the new blog changes....I changed the background, header, removed buttons, added a printer friendly button.... When I finished, and the boys weren't here I began baking.  I've baked cookies, made peanut butter bars and white chocolate tic tac toe mix. WHO is going to eat all this if the boys don't make it home??????

Choosing joy....just one big primal scream...but now joy....not happy but joyful. 

Ah, I love the Body of Christ. As I typed, the phone rang and friends are calling to pray. Praying for people who understand English and will be helpful, praying the boys can get train tickets, navigate Tokyo station and have the adventure they wanted on the Bullet Train. LOL 


Off to cook something more. 

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

Writing, writing, writing....

{Um - the whole first part of this post disappeared, all my links...yikes} 

I'm on a new God-directed adventure. I've been writing. I share the following so those who desire can join with me in prayer. I also want to capture the excitement and thoughts from this season. I'm pondering tonight. 

Background: I was first exposed to the Inductive Bible Study Method in Bible college. I've led Precept studies for several decades. I've led small group discussions for years. My passion is to mentor women and to SHOW them HOW to dig into the Word of God for themselves.  

Women shared they "floundered" during PCS moves and summer PWOC breaks because there was "no Bible study."  This becomes a clear cycle for military women who don't have the same church with an established program for decades.  I started teaching "Bible Study Method Workshops" 6 or 7 years ago.  It was a joy to teach men and women tools they could use for personal study. However, I saw that many were overwhelmed and didn't implement the tools.

Years ago I was introduced to Life Journals (thanks Mom and Dad). I adapted this method to include more inductive/interpretive tools and have been using this method personally for years. I thought it would be fun to have a group that was doing the same which met to share what God was saying through His word that week to each of us. 

Shortly after we moved to Japan, Ezra 7:10 jumped off the page of my Bible, "Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel."  I had gotten complacent in my approach to the Word. Many groups didn't want to do hard studies, I was content to do the easier ones....This verse reminded me that I am called to a wholehearted commitment to study, practice and teach God's word. I  pondered the wonderful Bible Study tools (DVDs, workbooks etc) I've used over the years. We are blessed. However, we've lost many of the women in our churches who spend hours in the Word and share from what God is teaching them now - in community with us. There are still some, but when I was 20 that's ALL we had. It was normal to have women who devoted themselves to study, practice, and teaching (not facilitating by popping in a DVD). I grew from sitting under the teaching of these women - women I could call up and ask questions of, women who I KNEW  - warts and all. Real women. Some were boring, some were interesting.  It's rare to find these women today - and grab them when you do. We don't want to listen to a young woman gifted to teach as she develops that gift. We prefer the edited, experienced teachers. I don't want to spend hours preparing a weekly lecture when I can pop in an entertaining prepared lecture from a well-known speaker (there are some GREAT ones out there). The speakers are anointed and good for a season...but many believers are becoming dependent on these teachers rather than God and His Word. They are lost if they can't find an organized Bible Study that "flips their switch." God is still calling for His people to commit to study, practice and teach his Word.....not for us to study, research the best teacher and pop in a DVD.  Believers who God has graced with the gift of teaching should be given a forum to grow in that gift. This is why I love our local PWOC's Spiritual Life gal's emphasis on developing and empowering new Bible Study teachers. Anyway,  I pulled back from many activities to provide time for me to begin to study the Word the way I knew to study - even though I had no group interested in studying the Word inductively. 

I was introduced to Ginger Harrington, a lady in Asia Region,  and given a copy of her work, A Quiet Time Guide. My interest was piqued. She was working to make inductive study user friendly - though I'm not sure she'd use those words. ::snort:: I was excited, but thought, "I wish I had time to do something like this, glad Ginger does." Ginger adapted the Nav Press Bible Reading format found in Growing Strong in God's family. I purchased and read this book. (I'll be going through this series with the youth in our home this year).

I heard from several ladies this fall, "summer is hard when there is no study," and "I really want to study this book of the Bible I wish so and so would write a study on it next." God reminded me of His instruction to me to SHOW ladies HOW to study on their own. To teach them to dig into the Word, asking God, "Which book of the Bible would you have me study," and not "Which (fill in the blank) study should I find a group doing next." 

Our local PWOC had a great slate of fall studies. One was on I Peter. The amazing leader opted to lead the group by teaching them all to SOAP (Scripture Observed Applied Prayed) the same method used in Life Journals. I wanted to join this group, but was teaching Covenant (which was great). 

I was approached about teaching a "straight from the Bible, no workbook" study this winter for our group. I prayed and agreed. I sensed it was the chance to SHOW ladies HOW to enjoy time in the Word.  I thought we'd use SOAP. I chose James as I've led it several times inductively and knew it would be easiest for me to provide context (that will be a bit light with this new method). 

PWOCI conference arrived and Ginger was presenting a workshop on "A Quiet Time Guide".  I attended. I sat in the back and couldn't hear well, but  thoughts began to zing and swirl as I saw her handouts and how she's made inductive non-threatening, user-friendly. I approached her about using her bookmark and told her I'd be using her format as I wrote our James study.  I give her ALL credit for her work. I'm making minor adaptations to her Guide based on the years of study I've had in the method. I'm crediting all sources (Ginger as well as others). 

God began to talk to me about a format and adding various parts to the picture. It has become a lot of work - but it's EXCITING. 

Our first week will be an overview of James and various "conversation starters"  (study tools) which women can use in the upcoming weeks as they learn to enter conversation with God thru His Word.This will develop the "big picture" so important for context when studying a book of the Bible. I'm challenging all to use as many of the different conversation starters as they can during the course of our 9 weeks together. Each week we will discuss what God has said to us thru the Word (I imagine all will use different tools so it should be fun), I will spend 5-10 min teaching a study tool and about 15-20 min for me to wrap it up (avoiding any sloppy theology). I'll provide "prompts" each week utilizing the  various tools, but will emphasize using the tools (conversation starters) as each woman would like. I'll also provide an examples. 

The goal is to show women how to study the Bible, to grow together, and to have fun while we do it. Those without a lot of time or brand new to study can use easier tools and stick with the simple SOAP format. Those who are familiarwith bible study can dig deeper and have a venue to share their insights ...mentoring others through their excitement and example.  I'm SHOWING ladies HOW I study when I'm not able to join an established study. 


If I teach James again with this format, I may expand the "prompts" to be daily assignments rather than a weekly list....we'll see how this goes. I may also provide more daily examples instead of one a week.  I am praying and experimenting to see how little structure will be needed. ::snort:: 

It's been an AMAZING journey already. I've spent weeks praying over format and direction. I've divided the work up a zillion ways to fit the 9 weeks before deciding on the "most natural to me" outline. I've spent the past two weeks creating the forms I think will be helpful for our ladies - keeping in mind I was encouraged to think "outside of the workbook".  I didn't expect to write a manual on James, but that is sort of what I'm doing.  I've been writing....writing....writing.... I've created an At a Glance chart (to provide context), I've adapted Ginger's A Quiet Time Guide Format and created a Table of Contents to accompany it, I've written an example of  how to use the journaling form, I've adapted a list of "Conversation Starters" based on Precept, Nav Press, Ginger's Work and Bible Study Books I've read over the years, I've created a checklist of all the tools for ladies to see how many they can use in 9 weeks, I've created Observation Sheets of sorts for James, I've written the Prompts for week 1. I still have to write an intro explaining the concept and method. I also think I'll do something more with discovering Trends....still praying, we'll see if I get it done before it's needed.


In the process, I've watched God pull together many strands of my life:  decades as a Precept leader, years as a small group discussion leader, passion for mentoring and a recent relationship with an awesome woman who IS writing Bible Studies, Ginger. ::snort:: 

I see this as a combo Bible Study and 9 week long Method Workshop.  It's a lot of work to create - but I'm energized by it. Who would have guessed? 


So - that's what I'm up to in the early and late hours of this family vacation time. I would have written it earlier, but I had to wait for the Holy Spirit to gel the format. ::snort:: I've spent the past few months being taught, reproved, corrected and trained in James. I've basically used the format I will share. NOW the format has gelled and I can write. I may only use it here with one or two women; but I have grown through the process. Sometimes, it's fun to do something "different". ::snort::

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