Misc. Things

Zander attacks a snow ball

It's no secret we have always planned to find another dog to love after Beatrix died...but it's been hard to do here. We have been actively looking for over a year. We would like a Beagle and they are not cheap in Japan. We have almost gotten a shiba but we just aren't sure their reputation (cat-like dog) fits our boisterous and active, home all day family.....while we search, we adopted these fish from Kyle and Erika. 

Michael began to share how Erika swims right up to the glass and follows you when you go to feed her. She moves her flippers really fast and seems to get very excited.  Then Arielle began to teach her "tricks".  I suspect we need to either buy a dog from the states or get a shiba soon. LOL   I did find  a Beagle to dog-sit so we can see for ourselves if the breed will fit our family. We've heard all the bad things about the breed - but it sounds really similar to our beloved Beatrix. LOL

Erika  - assigned the personality of a dog by my family

See the hoop - they are teaching Erika to swim through it 

Helping Mom with Dinner 

Pretty proud of themselves....

My goal is to have two kids help me prep dinner each night. I used to do this. Recently, we've been content to let them rage around the neighborhood as dark comes so quick....but they need to learn to cook and I love the company..... 

An added bonus to Zander and Stacia helping is we learned Stacia LOVES peas. She ate all the "extra" peas from everyone else's plates. LOL 

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

Transition Week

This week between Christmas and New Years is always a "light duty" week which we look forward to all year long...especially during the busy "Holiday" season.....this year our base had an inspection thrown in to the holiday mix so we've all been looking forward to this week. LOL  This is also a great "transition week" between the old year and the new year. I love this week. 


Monday Michael went in to the office.  We played in the snow, had neighbor kids in and played games.  No PWOC, PYOC, Human Video etc to attend. 

Tuesday Michael went in to the office. I also went in to the base. No PWOC, drama or baby-sitting...but  I went to beta test a small portion of 2012's PWOCI WILD Curriculum. 

 What is WILD? Women Intent on Leadership Development. Every year International trainers and regional trainers host a WILD in each PWOC region for the local executive board members.  This was a fun way for me to get back into the saddle after my 6 week sabbatical from PWOC duties. ::grin:: 


The younger kids are LOVING a new series of videos we purchased for them. I like them pretty much myself! Good stuff. Arielle plans to use one section a week for the home school room at PWOC.  Click here for more info.....our kids don't watch TV....so maybe these appeal to them more than the normal kid - but they're funny, informational....good stuff. 

Today (Wednesday) both Michael and Jared have OFF. Michael got up early and took Arielle in to base for an orthodontist appointment. Isn't he a hero? I really hate driving on ice and snow and so he does as much as possible during the winter. 


I answered and sent a few ministry emails....worked on a bit of ministry stuff....Wowed Stacia by making some candy. 


This afternoon Michael and I went for a walk on the snow covered beach - alone. No one wanted to come with us - but that really suited us fine.  There were signs about not driving in - so we parked by the signs and walked.....not sure of all the words on the construction signs - but I love the admonition to Pray for Japan. Tsunami rebuilding.....

They're rebuilding our beach area! YES. 

Rebuilding the sea wall - no higher but rebuilt.

Doesn't this scream "cross country skiing"?

We walked back through the woods....nice day...wonderful time together...good conversation...and I'm thankful to have Michael home this year.

I continue to enjoy jet-lag induced, early morning quiet times....and God continues to minister to me about resting and hiding in Him......and I think I know what my "memorial stone" for 2012 will be.

That's about all for our family the last few days.

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

Cateling Anyone?

This from our favorite local restaurant - Karinbas.....the "r" seem to give trouble as we noted a "poek plate" as a special....... and note the only thing they're open for  on the 30th and 31st!

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

Jesus' Brownie/Ice Cream Birthday Cake

  It's time for a Birthday Cake for Jesus. It needs to be our best and it needs to be special. We've done various things over the years (search if you'd like to see). Our Birthday family favorite cake is....Mike's Famous Ice Cream Cake. The younger two Gherkins want to decorate the top.....we thought of making a traditional cake...but Mike came up with this idea; which we executed together.

Cross, heart, blood at hands/feet, soldier with sword 

Bake your favorite brownies in a spring form pan. I like these (minus the peanut butter/honey) or Moosewood Brownies.  In any event

Preheat oven to 325*.

Mix up a batch of brownies. If using a prepared box mix get the 8x8 one.....eyeball it if using from scratch brownies (really depends on how much brownie YOU want).  If you have extra brownie mix make some Brownie Bites or a few Brownie Bombs.

Pour into a spring form pan - choose your size. I used 10 in and am baking 35* and checking.

Cool Brownie.

Top with 1/2 gal of favorite ice cream.

Scatter a lay of mix ins: hot fudge, hard shell, crumbled cookies, candy bits.

Top with another 1/2 gal of ice cream.

Personally, I would have added many more goodies between the layers of ice cream but this was RICH as was! 

Top with hard shell etc.....we let the kids decorate this as it's for Jesus' Birthday.

Freeze - overnight is best. We just did it for the day and it was fine.  It was YUMMY!

Remove from freezer 5 min before serving (unless, of course, you made this together Christmas a.m. to eat Christmas night).


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

Merry Christmas Y'all!

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

The Gift of a Christmas Verse

I met Ginger when she was serving on Kadena Air Base's PWOC board.  She is a jewel. 

She suggests giving the gift of a Christmas Verse to each of our family members. I read this late and so may not have it done by tomorrow...but love the whole idea. I HAVE had and prayed special verses for each child and Michael through the years...but I've never made them a "gift" to share.  Ginger's idea of asking God to give you a verse from the Christmas story for each person is great. Read for yourself.  Ginger even offers suggestions for those of us who are behind the curve ball.  I've been working on this and don't know that I'll have 11 picked out - but I enjoyed thinking and reading this a.m. 

I LOVE Ginger's idea of keeping a little photo album with the verses we are praying for our children. I have these written in a journal but a little book could be nice....or maybe one more thing to keep track of. Anyway - check out the link. 

Ginger has another fun idea for a Christmas - A Grab Bag....

I haven't limited myself to the Christmas story. 2014

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

Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

Arielle and I have been busy today. Doing THIS....

Why? Because we are going to fill these jars with Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix..... You can find the original recipe (more details), photos and directions at The Yummy Life Blog.  I plan to begin following this blog. I will go ahead and post the recipe as I've learned that links often disappear. Monica has other mixes too.

INGREDIENTS - makes 6 cups

• 2 C powdered sugar
• 1 C unsweetened cocoa (Dutch-process recommended)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
• 3 C non-fat dry milk powder
• 1 C mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

• Mix sugar and cocoa
• Add salt, cornstarch, and cayenne
• Add powdered milk 
• Add chocolate chips
• Store in air tight container

Monica suggests mixing it in a food processor. I don't have one. This worked well. 

Pour into jars

ONE MUG OF CHOCOLATE:  Fill 1/3 - 1/2 of mug with cocoa mix. Add hot water or milk and stir until mix is dissolved. 

POSSIBLE ADDITIONS: 

• Dissolve a caramel or such in a mug. 
• Add 1T to a cup of Chai Tea. 
• Top with marshmallows or whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon, shaved chocolate, or crushed candy canes.
• For a mocha drink, add a shot of espresso before the hot liquid. 
• For spiced cocoa, add 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice to mug.
• Spike with a T of peppermint/vanilla etc  flavorings
• Add a cinnamon stick or candy cane.

Monica has several choices of printable tags and beautiful photos on her blog. Of course, it wasn't as easy as expected here in Northern Japan. I couldn't find cayenne pepper. I couldn't find Dutch-Processed cocoa. I couldn't find card stock or sticker paper. I ended up using origami paper to cover the lids and am hoping that the tags with a rubber band will work.  I can't face attaching them all with mod podge. LOL NO Christmas wrap or ribbon at the local stores.....and I'm not about to drive to the base on these icy roads. LOL

One thing about a home-made gift from ME - you ALWAYS know it's home-made and not purchased. LOL 

After all this, I'm short. I made 8 batches. I'll need to buy some more jars...don't think I can face more Mod Podge...have I said that already....we may go with naked jars. 

The proof is in the tasting and the kids tell me this is "Much better than Ghiradeli!"  Michael and I like this too. It's tastes like a glass of HOT COCOA made on the stove with milk. Yummmy. I'm happy; controlling the ingredients is a bonus. Even Zander can have this. We had switched to Ahlaska or Ghiradeli due to ingredients for him.  I'm going to have to be careful as drinking too much caffeine will give me a migraine - which is why I use Rooibos Chai these days. I found it fairly easy to resist the Ghiradeli and Ahlaska.  

If you're local, yes, you may well be getting a jar...and if you aren't local....here's a little virtual gift. Make yourself a batch, have a cuppa on me.

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