"....My Parents Were Married!"

I am a woman of average height (alright already I'm 5'4" when I stretch but in Asia that makes me tall!) I am the mother of a daughter who is very tall for her age. Check out the photo of her playing twister below. She will be seven in August. It's fairly hard for me to cuddle her these days. Growth charts predict she will be at least 6 feet tall.

Having heard from some of my taller friends that life can be awkward as a tall woman, I've begun encouraging her in any of her girly pursuits, I often tell her how regal and elegant she is. Tonight she told me, "Mom, I'm not regal my parents were married - you should know!" ::snort:: But I'm planting seeds.

Barb, herself a tallish woman, hadn't seen Stacia in about 4 months (like the new feather she's sporting  - she waited nearly a year for it). She commented on how much Stacia has grown. She was about to tell Stacia how tall she's gotten when Stacia said, "I KNOW - I'm BIG."  As Barb and I talked she verified I was on the right track. When a young girl hears, "You're big for your age!" She doesn't hear, "I'm tall, I'm elegant, I'm regal."  She hears, "I'm BIG, I'm FAT, I'm a CLUTZ." 

Might we more carefully consider the words we speak in a child's presence? 

I HAVE and WILL teach her about inner beauty, being comfortable with herself et al....but I do think I will be much more careful in the future about the words I use to describe young kids in their hearing...they pick up on them young. LOL  

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

Earlier Love

Before God blessed us with Yuuki, the wonder dog, the highlight of our month was to go to Barb's. Not for haircuts but to play with Lucy.......

and Reeses. 

We had appointments scheduled for the week Michael came home from the hospital. I couldn't break away and so we simply cancelled. We finally got gussied up again today. Shew. It was time.  The above kids are pre-haircut.

It's always fun to visit with Barb and watch the kids play with these dogs. They began to worry what Yuuki would think, but we decided they'd just have to tell Yuuki these dogs were their loves before her...but they love her best now. ::snort::

Yuuki seemed to forgive them.

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

How Many Gherkins Can You Find?

• TnT - Ps 51 "Renew a steadfast spirit within me." Steadfast...firm...established...fixed in the face of life. In leadership, I'm encouraged to be steadfast in the face of challenges. In my personal life, steadfast in the face of uncertainties, kids flying the nest, child rearing challenges...steadfast. 
• Bike ride with Zander and Stacia through the Japanese farming fields, early a.m. "Ohiyogoziamasu" to neighbors....priceless.
• Fielding ministry emails and praying for a regional brain (admin coordinator) and more. LOL 
• Zander earned $10 after he rewashed the car and got it right! 
• Haircuts for all. 
• Strange incident with an irritated bicyclist.
• We stopped with dinner on base so we could see Michael. 
• Rousing bedtime game of Twister....like the new haircuts? There are four Gherkins in this photo - can you find them all? 

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

Playing in the Big League Now

A major milestone in our family is the day you get your military dependent ID. You don't need one until you are 10. You lose them when you are 21 or 23 if you are still in college. 


Zander worked HARD to learn to write his name in cursive...and Alexander Gxxxxxxx  is a LONG name to fit in a tiny spot. I told him to just write a G with swirls...but Michael insisted on learning to write it for real. We did compromise and let him sign as Alex G..... 

 I think that's a long horn sign.

The tradition is ice cream for family celebrations. I went out to dinner with friends last night and got home after Michael was already in bed (he still gets really tired at the end of the day).  I assumed they'd have ice cream before I got home. Evidently Zander told Michael he'd like to wait for Jared (at work) and I to get home before ice cream. Sweet boy. 


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

A Full Tuesday

• TnT Ps 50.23 - Being a person of thanks + determining my conduct beforehand  = liberty, rescue, freedom. Do the word studies to figure out how I reached this one. LOL 
• EARLY a.m. Skype with Mom Mary and Dad Earl - great service from a worker at CC Rehabilitation Center to set it all up. Dad Earl slept through the whole thing, but I think it was good to see him. Certainly was fun to see Mom Mary and for her to see and talk to all, see our home etc. 
• Spent PWOC with the kidlets today....it was FUN...though terrifying...and a bit snotty. ::snort:: 
• Zander was my secret weapon to play with the little boys. Good time for all. 
• Lunch with Arielle, Stacia, Zander and Michael. 
• Zander got his ID
• Cooked a "go to" dinner for family 
• Night out with friends - I need to do more of that!  

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

Bucket List

Bucket list? WHAT bucket list?  Jared has a few places he wants to revisit or things he wants to do  before he leaves Japan.

We thought we'd do one of them today, canoe on Lake Towada....but it was too cold. We all lost our motivation and spent a lazy day at home instead.

• Got up early to try a video Skype with Michael's parents - too many glitches - we'll try again tomorrow. 
• Skyped with Jamin - a fun and rare treat to catch either he or Josiah at home. 
• Too cold and wet to go to the Gorge and lake. 
• Michael took the older 3 children to see The Avengers. Nolan and Jared watched it yesterday and loved it. He'll see if Zander should see it and if so, maybe I'll go watch it. 
• "Zander, you and I should have a PAC meeting." The words of a child raised around the chapel. LOL 
• "Zander, we've watched Hogan's Heroes for 100 nights." 
• "Stacia if that were true you'd be old like Dad now."  Just sayin. 
• Starting to plan a trip to fit between the day I return from PWOC trainings and before Jared leaves for the states. LOL
• Caught up on blog reading while the olders and Mike went to the movie and the youngers watched a movie beside me. 
• Considering a dynamic view for the blog...really should work on printing some more of the blog out....should get caught up before we retire. 

Hmmm....searching for a graphic for bucket list, I realized I have done a lot of things on others' bucket lists.  I'm also wondering if a bucket list should be things you dream about doing that aren't based in reality or some goals which MAY be attainable..... realistic to strive for.....thinking I may need to create a bucket list of things to do before I...you know...kick the bucket! LOL  I think I'll start small with a Japanese Bucket List....

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

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...