Interesting Day

What to do; what to do...  A couple of options popped up.  We could go to Miss Veedol beach - I have not seen it since it was repaired.  Jared suggested we go to the base and let him drive around a bit.  Hmmm.  We decided to do both.

We drove out to Cummings Elementary and while Nolan, Alex and Stacia played in a nearby playground, I began teaching Jared some of the fundamentals of driving - mirrors, signals, brake and gas pedals, looking for traffic/people.  We then loaded everyone up and Jared drove us out to Falcon Gate.
From there I drove us on out to Miss Veedol beach.  It appeared to be a bad year for birds.  There were bird carcasses all over the place - Yuuki was the only one showing any interest.  We walked out to the end of the jetty.  The ocean was fairly calm.  We did spy out a place that would work for a tent camping spot.  Have to keep it in mind for the summer.  They really have done a lot of work to bring the beach back into use.  Those of us who remember it pre-tsunami, though, know the difference.  There is a lot of work left to do - a lot of work...
We had the added bonus of having a couple of guys out with their RC helicopters and a plane.  They did a great job with them. 
After a quick bite to eat, we headed back to the base.  Jared took over the driving as we headed back in through the Falcom Gate again.  He drove us around through the North side and around to the BX (he works tonight).  There just is not a lot you can do to get driving experience on-base.  All said, he really did do a good job even if this were not his first time out.  I think he is going to catch on quickly.
We checked out a case lot sale - about what we had gotten used to at Misawa - disappointing to say the least, either that or all of the good stuff is already sold out.  Then we went home, cooked up some lasagna and broccoli - the broccoli was, apparently, for me alone.  The kids are angling for another movie, but I am planning on going to bed early.

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

You Won't Believe It!

I'm working hard to focus, focus, focus and make the most of my early a.m. hours to prepare for speaking and W.I.L.D. and simply ministry correspondence.....focus...focus...and THEN

WHAT?

Not every day someone parachutes into the field next to you.  Now...FOCUS!


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

Stalked!

Decades on yahoo groups, chat rooms, Facebook, blogging...and I finally have a real-life-stalker. This must be documented. It seems you can get messages from "friends" on Facebook and you get messages from "others" on Facebook. I'd never noticed this before last week and didn't realize how many messages I had in there. 


An older widower has worked hard to get his body back in shape and has found me on Facebook. He is a CAPTAIN in the Army - in charge of an Army Regiment. ::snort::  (Totally not the right phrasing - c'mon!)


He is desperately smitten with me as I'm a "darling widow" with a "happy and healthy demeanor."  And here I've been thinking I'm far to fluffy and need to shed some of this "healthy demeanor." 

Life only gets stranger as you enter middle age - and yes I think 48 is about middle age. We have no clue how I got listed as a darling widow and Michael assures me this new label doesn't fit. LOL 


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

Terrific Tuesday (Terrifically Harried?)

Wow - we were wading through sludge this a.m. - but God is good. Arielle, Krista and I went to PWOC. The others slept in.  We have a great local team and they had tables set up...one distraction after another but it all worked...and I even made it to the prayer time beforehand. Devotional was great (way to go Mandy) and our e-100 continues to be a huge blessing. Christie taught today and knocked it out of the ball park. She'll cover for me next week as well. I suspected I'd be harried about now. 

But BEFORE PWOC there were several ministry emails, several PORs to be tended too and emailed out and a skype with my leader....love skype. 


Lots of fun retreat prep going on - it's going to be good. Lunch with my boyfriend (and the girls)....back at home....

Boys activities....video games.....school is OUT for the year and they are vegging....

Girls.....well nails all around and hair...they even did YUUKI'S nails......

Michael got home as dinner preps were in full swing. Interesting to fit 9 of us in our dining room. ::snort:: We watched a bit of Hogan's Heroes....Michael helped me scan PORS to Camp Zama.  The early risers......are out - all 3 of them.

The night owls....are still busy....

I'm going to go see if I can read in bed.....or maybe I'll google for directions to Shipwreck...never done it alone...but the kids would like to attempt it tomorrow....or maybe Morioka....stay tuned.....


And I need to take a photo of my new necklace...totally awesome! You won't believe the story. 


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

Ortho, Tricks and Games

• "What time DOES the sun come up around here?" Krista up with the sun as is her mother...and the answer...04:18 this a.m. 
• "Now you can see how beautiful this place is without snow!" Zander loves Japan and is happy to share it with the girls! 
• Zander's accident was private ..... VERY private! And he had us all in stitches retelling it at dinner!

Arielle saw the ortho today! UGH. He said she is only the second patient he's seen in his practice who has had this happen...I knew I didn't want to hear. Her bite has WAY over-corrected. I knew this. She is having trouble talking, she can't chew....He had said they purposefully over-correct as the teeth move back after they are done...but hers don't even match now....so....instead of getting braces off she will go a month without rubber bands...and then if it isn't where he wants it she will rubber bands again - THIS time in reverse. 

The girls and I ran to the mall today. Always fun...Krista has some ideas for journals that I want to try for WILD....not being crafty I'm leery - but SHE makes it sound easy. ::snort:: 

The kids have been working to re-teach Yuuki how to roll over. Ms. Susi told us she USED to do this trick....She really likes to sit, stay, and shake...the commands we have used....she's a bit rusty on rolling...

 By the end of the day....

Dinner was Gyudon, rice, fruit and salad....and it was fun to have a host of folks in the kitchen helping and simply talking while I worked. I miss that greatly.  The kids played games....

All have gone to bed. I stayed up to do a bit of WILD work....and am heading to bed as soon as I hit publish and switch the load in the washer to the dryer.

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

Mother's Day

Krista was the first to shower me with gifts....gifts and acts of service are her love language. She brought some of my favorite chocolates, two kinds of cosmos popcorn and a plate she found at the Asia Bazaar.

Michael set the table with beautiful flowers and a sweet card (acts of service/words of affirmation).

The bowls above and this vase are things the other kids picked up. This is my new dandelion vase.

We attended the 1100 service, had lunch at Karinbas, and then went out to Statue of Liberty Park (time and touch). 

Bre gave me a lovely card (words of affirmation), we attended the 1700 service, came home and enjoyed a spectacular ice cream cake Michael and Stacia had made (acts of service).  We were able to talk to Mom Mary - haven't connected with my Mom yet...but it will still be Sunday tomorrow in the states. LOL

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

True Love....

Today was the 2nd annual Cross Training (PYOC)  True Love Waits Banquet and Ceremony.  I had a bit of a laugh at the various ways this was seen advertised on base.....

True Love....Awaits  

True Love...WAIT. 

We were glad BreAnne and Krista are here to share this day with us. The  house was full of activity as everyone prepared. 

Doing what they love most - dressing the baby

 

We headed to base where we dropped the girls and Zander and Stacia off at Weasel's Den. The rest of us went to the banquet. 

Tiaras were given to the girls to remember they are Daughters of the King

Mackenzie is one of our neighbors and goes to PYOC with us

Cody, Jared and Matt (Kazuki)

 

Gals

Guys

We picked up "the four" and headed to the chapel for the ceremony.

Kazuki & Michiko

I'm sure there will be more photos of the ceremony itself....but I'll go ahead and post these now. 


We've done this two ways now....in the context of family and with a big, public ceremony in a group of peers. The verdict is out on which our family personally prefers....I think both ways have some positives. The commitment is absolute and THAT remains the same. ::snort::  It was a beautiful day. I did miss the more personal exhortations of a family ceremony....but those will happen in other venues. LOL 


Come to think of it - the older four never "did" True Love Waits....we stress and train the goal of emotional, physical and mental purity from the time our kids are about 18 months. We begin with reading books such as Princess and the Kiss and the Squire and the Scroll....with the older ones this led to a personal commitment, which we commemorated with dinner and symbols. Our younger ones grow up in a family culture that openly trains, embraces and mentors this commitment and talks about letting God write our love stories.  For our family, this is a step on the life-long journey for all of us to live lives of purity.

It was very special for us that the older girls and Zander and Stacia were able to join us for the ceremony at the chapel.


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