FRIDAY - LOVE FRIDAYS

• Truth and Treasures
• Gal 1.15-18 God was pleased to reveal Jesus and secrets of Paul's ministry future to Paul not so Paul could smugly know, "I've got a secret!" God reveals secrets to clarify the service He is calling us to.
• Gal 2.7  God doesn't demand cookie cutter ministries - LOVE the diversity I've experienced in chapel ministries and PWOC. 
• Gal 3.3 It's ALL by the spirit. As I prepare to speak at a retreat on spiritual disciplines, I'm reminded the disciplines lead me to the heart of Christ - but they do not perfect me. 
• Luke 22.1-46 Am I truly willing to follow Him to the garden or Mount? The place of sacrifice and suffering? Am I willing to do anything? (My heart cries YES).
• John 18.10 Peter is passionate to protect Jesus, but doesn't seem to grasp the depth of Jesus' surrender to Abba. 
• Drove to base for a nice, long, first of many, telephone conversation with PWOC Japan's Regional Chaplain.  This was so I could use the DSN line. An added benefit is the chapel is much freer from distractions than my home for these sorts of conference. ::snort:: 
• Thought about taking a barking, wheezing Stacia in but there were no appointments and she seemed better...why go to the ER? 
• Waited for months for the magical cherry blossoms - lasted 2 days before a wind/rain storm...is it silly to be praying the blossoms last long enough to enjoy a hanamai or trip to the park? 
• Back at home and she's wheezing and barking again...headed to ER and to take Jared to work. 
• Back home again - viral; lungs clear, fluid and such to watch for in ears etc....we worry since her bout with pneumonia but at this point - all's well. 
• Dropped Arielle off to baby-sit and picked up a friend to go to very cool PWOC board dinner....more details to follow? 
• OK I cheated - I'm leaving NOW for the above....but I may be too tired to post tonight and I know I've been quiet. LOL 

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

I'm Home

Ten p.m. Thursday night and I'm home.   Yes, it WAS terrifying to go away for silence, solitude....like ALONE....but it was incredibly good.....refreshing...renewing....and productive.  Once I got through the first few hours I found myself not wanting to see anyone or hear any noise....


Heading to bed as I'm going to the chapel tomorrow a.m. to try to reach our regional chaplain on the phone.  I'll write more later. Maybe...some things are just meant to be secret, personal, intimate....and I'm learning that's a good thing. 


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

New Week.....

• TnT Proverb 10.12....hatred stirs up strife; love covers a multitude of transgressions...what about you? Must you always confront or are you sometimes able to "let it go," and truly forgive without a confrontation? It could be a mark of maturing love. Or you could be a people-pleasing marshmallow who doesn't want to practice Matt 18. ::snort:: 
• GREAT time in prayer and word today.....
• Gearing up for a personal prayer retreat. I may not be on Tues-Thursday night. We shall see. If I need a break from awesomeness or not. LOL 
• MOPS steering team meeting today - love this group of gals. Exciting to watch God rise up leaders for next year. 
• School is SOOO much easier when you only have table school to do. 
• Meeting about 2012 High School Baccalaureate service
• Human Video and Cross Training (Protestant Youth of the Chapel)
• DYING to go see cherry blossoms....but this is my window for a personal retreat and I dare not waste it driving to Hirosaki. LOL 
• Jared is threatening to change my FB password so I am truly forced to experience solitude over the next few days. ::snort:: 
• My family is trying to convince me I won't die if I live in silence and solitude for 48 hours. I fluctuate between excitement and sheer terror. ::snort:: 

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

Sunday

• "I no longer have perfect attendance at RE for life!" We've ruined Arielle's "life time attendance" streak these past 7 weeks. First Michael was ill, then in the hospital, then recovering...and today is the last day!  There's always next year, baby gal! 
• TnT Ps 40.10 - He gifts us with righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, loving-kindness and truth so we can share with the great congregation! It's not all about ME. 
• God has such a sense of humor....I was going with Matt 16 but Luke 9 (today's e-100) has all my retreat topics in one chapter...secrecy, solitude, surrender....and that order may solve the question we've been wrestling with what comes first on a retreat schedule....chicken or the egg....solitude or surrender....we had decided surrender....I think maybe flipping. We shall see.  All I know for sure is I have the first session and the last session....and Surrender is nearly in the bucket. 
• Excited to hear Michael preach again today. It's been too long. 

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

I'm staying in Japan forever

Stacia grabbed my hand several times today and told me, "I want to live forever in Japan. I'm staying here forever." I know, sweetie, I know.  


She then decided...."Tokyo would be o.k. because you won't get hit by snowballs down there." 


She isn't sure about all the flying it takes to live in Japan....of course if we weren't in the Air Force we wouldn't be taking all the space A flights home. LOL 


Added note as I'm not sure I ever blogged it. About a year ago (after our visit to the states), Stacia began telling all who will listen, "I'm mostly Japanese with a bit of American."   She was born in San Angelo, TX....arrived in Japan when she was 3....the thing is *I* feel some the same. LOL 


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

Veedol Beach

We decided to re-visit some of our favorite beaches. You can click here to see photos of the picnic area, swim beach and Veedol beach soon after 3-11. Continuing North on 338 we came to Veedol Beach. When we were by here the last time the turn off from the start was roped off. Today we could drive right now to the parking lot and were happy to see there is a new Miss Veedol on the beach. 

Then 

Now

We walked on down to the beach and had our lunch...then stayed to play a couple of hours. 

I was walking down the beach in search of glass and turned to see all sorts of strange things going on. Zander was shirtless, they were wrestling.....I discovered they were playing Sumo Wrestlers on the beach. LOL

We thought this might be a small float - but it was a light bulb. 

I bought this cheery sweatshirt on the Oregon Coast when we were there for Bre and Krista's graduation. It makes me happy to wear it at the Japanese coast. It also makes me feel very happy to have a young one still at home when I am-not-so-young any longer. LOL

We saw a glass shape bobbing up and down in the waves. We headed to retrieve it - hoping for a glass float. Stacia ran on ahead....she was so excited to get it....and as she ran back I saw what it was....

A really BIG light bulb from a ship - now in my living room.

Stacia made "Japanese Sand Writing"

So many treasures

Jared wrote, I "heart" you....Zander changed the heart so that it looks like, "I moon you!" These are the sorts of things which make us laugh. What can I say?  We left the beach WORN out.... so worn out that Arielle thought someone was being hung at the rest area. 

Michael wasn't ready for us to come home so we drove to the nearest Lawson for a treat and slowly made our way home. 

I picked up all the garbage from the fields around our house. All the garbage from the neighborhood blows down to our end of the street.  The kids played with friends. I helped Michael put together a power point for tomorrow.  Then we headed for dinner. Full day! 

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

Dog Run

We left the Harbor and headed towards a little picnic area up 338. The table sits in a gazebo on a hill overlooking the ocean.

We discovered dogs aren't allowed on the lawn...and we didn't want to leave Yuuki in the car.....BUT they DID have a dog park. She loved it, the kids tossed a frisbee around for a bit.....Yuuki was very happy to see this was a fully equipped Dog Run.

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