Saturday.....

I spent the day catching up the blog, deleting old regional emails I hope I won't need, finishing up some paperwork from conference....


Stacia had a long-waited for birthday party. She loved it. 


Michael had work to do at the chapel...and is holed up in our room working some more. 


Arielle did something strange in the kitchen  - something to do with science. 

Jared worked six hours or so.  I went to Universe to buy fixins to make Yakisoba - we ended up eating leftover turkey....the youngers took baths....


The kids are playing wii but we're about to switch to a Hogan episode and call it a night.  And I'm caught UP on the blog...a personal goal and part of me resting..... self-care. 


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Friday Happened.....

and I did not have an appetizer to take to the Wing Staff party......Facebook friends tried valiantly to help me - but their pantries are obviously much better stocked than ours. HOWEVER, I scrounged and dug up.....

Appetizers! 

Michael and I also got the paperwork turned in for the kids and I to fly Space A. We plan to leave before Michael and Jared to celebrate Josiah's graduation. We aren't quite sure which week we'll get out - but we'll give it a shot.  AND if we end up buying last minute tickets to the states - we will have tried. 


We played games and watched Looney Tunes the rest of the night. I watched a Monk episode...self-care. 


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Happy Birthday My Love

It's hard to believe my boyfriend turned 51...and yes, he STILL rocks my world.  God blessed me greatly when he brought Michael and I together. We're nearly polar opposites. He appreciates the touch of insane unpredictability I add to his life and I appreciate the calm and security he brings to my life.  He expects more of me than I expect of me. He truly loves me and man I love him too. 

 "Tickle little kids" - a game invented over two decades ago! 

The Japanese Gherkins and Michael 

 Nolan bought Michael a NOTW shirt which was a hit. Stacia wanted to buy "a tool, any tool," I talked her in to waiting until she and Michael could shop together and pick one out. I sold the others on buying an ipod. We've talked about this for 3 years and Michael never wanted one...but we thought the time was right this time.....I hoped.

YES, he did love it. 

He's been listening to the same CD for weeks in the van....the world has opened to new possibilities...and I'm gaining RETRO music on itunes. ::snort::

No, we don't usually bring the cake to the computer....

But the girls were on Skype....

What fun to hear Krista say, "I'm sleeping," and for Bre, our night owl, to stay up and catch us up on her life.

It was a good birthday....and Mom and Dad's 49th anniversary too! Happy day to all of us!

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Self Care at MOPS

MOPS is always a highlight!  I get to be a Mentor Mom as this is the first year in two decades which I didn't qualify to be a member. This month was great.  Fun surprises......NEW MOPS t-shirt AND Kristin's Mom  made "glasses on a rope" and mailed them over!  I love the Japanese fabric.  The shirts have a great motherhood quote on the back which I can't remember right now. ::snort:: 

Note the sassy pink feather! 

Annette Sather was our guest speaker this month. She spoke on "Self-Care Emotionally, Physically, and Spiritually." This is a topic I've spent some time thinking about for over a year when Victoria Robinson told me after traveling to Korea and Japan with me, "Self-care is not selfish."  I'm at a season where I'm thinking a lot again about ministry from a place of rest, about self care in the midst of service....


Annette shared she knew she had been the best wife and mother she possibly could be. This was good to stop and think about it. Am I able to say the same thing?  She shared that self-care emotionally meant protecting yourself in relationships. She shared some of the unique aspects of being a pastor's wife and shared her husband is her BEST friend, her most intimate friend and that she protects that relationship.  Next she shared we need to respect ourselves and take care of physical self-care. Finally, Spiritual self care involves "taking care of ourselves." I'm hearing this message often lately.  She talked on Mark 11 - Asia Regions Verses.  To sum up: practice good self care emotionally, physically and spiritually by protecting, respecting and caring for yourself.  


During table time we shared around the theme....and our CRAFT was one I loved. In fact, I plan to make more....I had hoped for Christmas gifts....but I may be leaving Japan before I have time to put this idea into practice.  Anyway - we made homemade sugar scrub.

Smells SO good - works AND tastes good.

Yes, it smelled so good I tasted it...Self care isn't any better than this....defoliation AND dessert at once! 

To make:

• Fill jar with sugar and dump into bowl
• Add oil to applesauce consistency (we used safflower as it's what we can get)
• Add 10 drops or so of essential oil (I used peppermint)
• Take origami paper and fit to lid - modge podge
• Add label with modge podge
• Fill jar 

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Brrr......the Weather's Changing....

Yep - the weather is changing. Our first snow flurries today. 

Yummmm.....cookies for the kids.......

Slow cooked turkey...475* degrees and then a slow roast for 6 hours.....

Keeping warm without turning on the heat - you can't beat that!


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin from Korea

Michael and I try to bring little gifts home when we travel. Sometimes I KNOW I'll have no time to shop. In fact, last year for Vision Summit, I bought items at the BX and wrapped them. LOL  I was blessed to have Sunday afternoon to shop so THIS time everyone got some lovin from Korea. LOL 

For Michael I bought a hand-made silk tie to add to his eclectic collection. This one is Blues Brothers and says "On a Mission from God".

Stacia is adorable in this hat AND it keeps her warm

Yes, I had to resort to the BX for Nolan's gift.....

And Zanders too. 

Arielle got her first COACH purse...

Yes I DID go behind locked doors and up a bunch of stairs...part of the Korean experience. She likes it and I think her kindle fits in it.

His nickname is "stitch" and this fit.....SCORE. 

I got home late last night. We talked a bit, passed out gifts and went to bed.

We left early this a.m. for PWOC and a PAC meeting - we're HOME.

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~

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

New Kit Kat Flavors

A fun thing about living in Japan is the incredible variety of Kit Kat flavors....and they are seasonal! The best place to find the fun flavors are at airports and train stations...... Americans love to buy these. Many save them in boxes as collector items. We sample them.  We've already tried strawberry, soy sauce, tofu, vanilla and apple.  I bought more.....

Flavors Galore!

Apple, Sweet Potato, Blueberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Cheesecake, strawberry, habenero, Annin Dofu (some sort of dessert), mystery white flavor, citrus.....

I thought this was Curry but it's Azuki Sand Aji (Red Bean sandwich flavor)

We've been eating the apple. We're saving the rest to enjoy as a family in TX - when we go for Josiah's graduation from ASU.


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...