Today's Toothless Smile

Expect many of these in the next week or so. I'm fully aware this is likely the last time I'll walk this path with one of my babies....and I love the missing front teeth phase. I kept telling her, "Soon you'll loose your front teeth"....and soon is here! 

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

Rice Paddies

The fields across the street from our subdivision have been flooded and rice is planted.  This field was flooded today.  Stacia had a blast taking photos with my sony point and click. 

This field was flooded 1 - 2 weeks ago. 

I like the phase where the rice is golden on the stalk right before harvest best. Love the seasons here...and because I was out in the paddies...... I took a couple of shots of our subdivision.  Our home is the 2-story furthermost from the road, next to the fields. LOL 

I enjoyed having Stacia along for the walk. The farmers are always so much happier to see me when she's with me. ::big grin:: Who could resist this look? 

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

Farming in Northern Japan

I've been wanting to get some photos of the farming around us. Since Michael has lifted the ban on the good camera (bit of a joke there - he didn't like the way I kept hitting it on the side of slides...but I really LIKED the point and click he got for my pocket)....anyway I took the Nikon DSLR and went out for a walk....and I may need to buy another DSLR...a bit lighter than the one we have....but still able to use real Nikon lenses....maybe with a video option - does Nikon do that in their DSLR series?  Oh yeah - FARMING. 

When they plant, they cover the rows with giant plastic. 

As the seedlings grow, the cut little slits for them to grow...and cover them with these "bubbles" - domes of plastic.  In a bit the make holes in them so the water can get in and some humidity out....

Today, in a field near us, the farmer was removing the bubbles - a sure sign summer is here for REAL. 

I'm amazed at how hard farmers work - and they're not spring chickens. To the right of the lady you see a flooded rice paddy....the subject of the next blog post. 

I want to go around town and snap photos showing the way they use EVERY spare bit of land to plant crops. It's really amazing. 

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

Saturday Project!

Stacia and I came home from Asia's birthday party to find....this out in the back. It has been in the garage...this could only mean one thing. We were NOT going to the beach or the park this sunny afternoon - we were conquering the garage. 

We have a lot of need for storage and a single car garage. We haven't wanted to purchase shelves - but I think we will shortly. Michael is organized and I know this garage bothered him.....I'm not so organized and yet I was plagued with the idea, when he was so ill, that they'd send us out and someone else would have to pack that nightmare. It was time. LOL 

We all worked. We found a mouse. ACCCCKK! Michael and Jared went to work. We continued to work, mostly throwing things away (the kids REALLY are beyond most of these toys and honestly who NEEDS 3 garbage bags of Burger King toys...not even poor, emotionally deprived Third Culture kids ::snort::).

Look at it.....I think the bowflex will leave with Jared and we can put shelves on that wall - which will let us organize all the other stuff along the right wall. See the tall black/plastic thing? It has games in it. The two white stacks next to it used to be as tall as that one - and we threw that many toys away.  I plan to tell Stacia the next time she and her neighborhood friend Maggie bring mud cakes and leave them in my garage....well....the kitchen set would make for a nice bonfire on the beach. ::snort::: OK - maybe I won't....maybe I will. 

Michael found a net and we took a clue from our Japanese neighbors to keep the crows out.....and usually we only have the two cans on the left. Busy day...hope they'll take it away.  Maybe Jared will rethink my offer to make a room in the garage and stay. ::snort:: 

Trying to leave our mark on Japan - we planted a nectarine tree.....we dream. 


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

Day in Bullets

• Quiet time this a.m. 
• Sweet couple talk 
• Sometimes things just don't go the way we'd like; but God is still God. 
• Skype with my Mom and Dad. 
• Michael was able to talk with his mom while I took Stacia to Asia's party. 
• Happy 3rd Birthday for Asia! Stacia loved attending the party. Cutest "microphones" made out of cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, ice cream cones and licorice I've ever seen (and I've seen my share of kids' birthday parties). 
• Michael reports someone at the center is bringing a laptop so we can have a skype date (video) with his mom and dad. 
• PROJECT at home (blog to follow)
• Jared and Michael are at work
• Peaceful afternoon walk with Stacia in the rice paddies (blog to follow)
• Dinner
• Cook up some English muffins
• Baths and a movie....I'm hearing talk about Jerry Lewis' "Geisha Boy" 

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

Tilting the Balance at Hirosaki Castle

Jared has a few things on his bucket list to do before he leaves Japan. This is a 4 day weekend so we plan to knock out a couple of items. 


Today we tilted the family balance...We now have 5 graduated adult children and 4 still in school. 

Jared wanted no graduation ceremony but to walk across the bridge at Hirosaki Castle, flip his tassle and be declared done! This we did.  It was a GREAT graduation ceremony and we told him he's now fully graduated and no longer a graduate select! We were sad the timing and weather didn't work for the other kids to be there....but it's fine. Really it is. 

Yep - he was sort of a stand out in his garb...we were fine with that. We took more photos...need to find photo shop and see if we can adjust a few color issues...but we're happy with the day.

At this point the kids formed up for a photo for the "sidebar of the blog".  Love it! They are so well trained.

 Then Jared said, "Wait, I'll step out so you can use the photo after July." So thoughtful.....

Resulted in the first "fab four photo"....

and a mini Mama meltdown. 

NEVER too old for walks with dad. ::snort:: 

Did I mention the weather was cool...not raining but not scorching hot. So we lingered and discovered new areas of the park we've never seen. ::snort:: 

Working clock....

 Out of focus but a memory to capture....Jared realizing this may well be the last time he leaves Hirosaki....and us realizing that we are entering into a lot of lasts in this land we love. 

Consoled ourselves with freshly made senbei - and apple ice cream. LOL

Note he's CLEANING the iron and BLOWING on the iron... ::snort::

Um - yeah - prayers for the next months are welcome. We are living it NOW, in the present.....taking as much time as we can carve out for family, maintaining ministry and this mama knows that there will be some hard days between now and say August....but it's still all good. It's a phase of parenting.


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