KP Duty

Watching the kids do dinner clean up tonight took me back to the fun of KP in the Step dorm. I know I've seen a photo somewhere of myself, Donna and Lor (Possibly Julie or Cheryl? - maybe I did dream this photo up as I picture the whole dorm in the thing) looking oh-so-excited to be cleaning up. I've wasted an hour searching FB for the photo....maybe it was in my dream. 


BUT I did snap photos of the kids looking oh-so-excited to be a blessing. Not quite the impact I planned without the 30 year old photo. LOL 

Thanks, kids, it really IS a blessing for you to do this each night. And Nolan was a great pre-dinner helper too! 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Day in Bullets

• First time EVER that I've given my name over the phone and had someone say "Gerker" that would be and spell it correctly! The spot - clinic laboratory...unfortunately my lab orders weren't submitted for my thyroid retests...another month of no energy before I can get labs and appointment synchronized. 
• School - pressure is off...but we still have an hour of table school and some reading or craft each day. 
• "So, Zander, how are your relationships going?" Stacia's random question. 
• Love Jared taking Zander for runs. 
• Jared and Arielle both out this afternoon earning money - THIS is what life will be like in a couple of years....hmmm.
• I've become my Grams. I found myself saying, "When the girls get here, I'll see if they'll help me reorganize the kitchen." ::snort:: 
• About that SCHOOL somehow it took Stacia just as long to do table school as all of school used to take us...::sigh::
• Ran (as in drove 5k in my little Nissan) to Swan Park today in search of a "solitude break"*
• Five cases of free books!
• Watching the kids do dinner clean up brings back fond memories of KP duty!*
• Cannot BELIEVE I missed farewell scones and tea! I even sent an email this a.m. to a friend saying, "I've got it on my calendar"....um but evidently you have to also remember what DAY you are living for your calendar to be really effective!
• Dinner done....house is slowly quieting as all "run to their personal corners"....I'll stay up until Jared is home from work (riding his bike tonight). I'll finish blogging and then go join someone in their personal corner. ::grin:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Marinated Flank Steak

I've never cooked flank steak before, but this was good. I'm hearing flank steak is a good fajita meat so I'll do some more exploring in the future. We ate it before I snapped a photo. 

1/2 C Vegetable oil

1/3 C soy sauce

1/4 C red wine vinegar

2 T fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 T Worcestershire sauce

1 T Dijon mustard

2 gloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1 1/2 pounds flank steak

Mix all in a bowl. Pour over steak. Marinate in fridge 6 hours (I did overnight). This was made to be on the grill, but I did it at 350* for an hour instead. I think that was a good choice for this steak as it would have been overly tough on the grill. 

After baking (I did pour the marinade over it and I'm not overly worried about that), I used juices from pan, 3 T cold water and 3 T cornstarch to make a sauce. 

Very good flavor.  This is from All Recipes - there were lots of comment about this and that...but I kept it simple. Below facts from All Recipes. 

Choosing Joy!

©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Life moves on....

• One of my sweet co-facilitators is taking over our e-100 class this week. I'm focusing on finishing school and carving out time to prepare and practice for upcoming speaking events in May/June. This a.m. God met me....I have the first session on Surrender all roughed out....passages put together, small group ideas, a song to share....all flowed into my life journal. I'll fine tune and practice and present.  I truly love the way God meets me when I'm preparing...and I KNOW I always spend months in prayer before it "flows" - but I sure wish it would flow earlier. ::snort:: 
• Booking tickets - I really dislike online booking - always sure I'll miss something....BUT the girls are coming over! They won't make it for the True Love Waits - but they'll be here that night. 
• School - Couch school DONE! for Zander and Stacia. We continue table school year round and we have some extra historical novels and crafts we want to add in. 
• Jared worked. 
• I spent Jared's work hours working on session one for the Women's retreat. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Yuuki - the Doggie Catapult

As noted previously, Yuuki has claimed the back of the recliner at the top of the stairs. This was PLANNED to be MY reading nook...but first the kids and now Yuuki have stolen my spot. Ah well.

Yuuki camps out in this spot during the day....seems a central place where she can keep watch on all during school. Jared is done with the bulk of his school. He's feeling the joy....he came down the hall today and said, "Yuuki!" And plopped himself into the recliner. It catapulted Yuuki off the back of the chair. He caught her, but she gave him her, "YOU ARE SO LAME" look...which cracked us all up.

The above photo is staged. Being a brilliant pup, Yuuki was not about to stay put when Jared approached for the photo op this evening.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Shew.....Tuesday!

• Stacia LOVES PWOC Tuesdays. I told her last night we'd need to leave the house early (be there at 0745) she was up at 4:30 a.m. Which means we're up. 
• TnT (Truth n Treasure)  - I Peter 5 - serve voluntarily - not under compulsion...stay alert...stand firm in the true grace of God. 
• PWOC - pure joy. Prayer, fellowship, breaking the bread of life with sisters and friends of the heart! "Church" - an idea straight from the heart of God. 
• I came home between PWOC and Middle School Drama to DO COUCH SCHOOL, as the younger ones I are determined to get school DONE this week. I fell asleep while reading about Ancient Rome.::snort:: 
• Middle School Drama provided an outlet for Nolan and an hour for me to work on WILD sessions. 

• Ah, the good life! Back in Asia! I plan to introduce the kids to the above! Nothing says Philippines like Halo Halo. 
• I created a WOW dinner....lasagna made with potato and cheddar pierogies instead of lasagna noodles....filling, the family LOVED it, easy...but FAR more fat and starch than we usually indulge in. Still  a good "go to" meal. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Monday Again

• Finally reading Celebration of Discipline - why did I fear this book? 
• TnT I Peter 4.7-19 - clear instructions on how to live in the last days
• Be sound and sober for the purpose of prayer
• Fervently love one another
• Be hospitable - without complaint
• Employ your gifts to serve one another (steward His grace)
• Don't be surprised at suffering for righteousness
• Keep rejoicing - choose joy
• Entrust your soul to our Faithful Creator
• My wonderful husband plans to send me away for a few days of solitude to prepare for this spring/summer speaking.....hopefully next week? 
• My goal for this week is to FINISH Tapestry of Grace with Zander and Stacia so I can focus on:
• Jared's graduation celebration
• Adult Children's visit
• Speaking at Misawa's Retreat (only 2 of 5 sessions)
• Planning Japan's Women Intent on Leadership Development (WILD) weekend
• Training Financial Liaisons in Korea and Presidents in Japan
• Preparing a WILD General Session message
• Preparing a "From my heart" message for WILD Japan
• Starting up a new PWOC region
• Krista has been offered the chance to sub in the class she loves (Life Skills for special need children) for the rest of this school year....more opportunities on the horizon! 
• REALLY excited to see a vision of several years come to fruition with the start of small groups here in Misawa. Praying for the team of planners needed to pull this off. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...