Choosing Joy? Yeah.

This has been a hard day. I slept in (I am ALWAYS up be 4:30 - 5:00).  

Via Google Images

I had to do a fasting lab today - and then when I finally MADE it to base (long story) the lab tech told me I'd been fasting too long...she told me to come back anyway. There was a young tech trying to draw from a gentlemen - unsuccessfully. The lady with me said, "Here, you draw her and I'll take him." UM - WHY DON'T I HAVE A SAY IN THIS????? More blood drawn from the same vein they blew out two days ago....She asked if it hurt. I told her yes. She used it anyway. At least THIS time there was not blood running down my arm. Today they made it TIGHT and FIRM...no extra bleeding.  (I'll spare you the photo. ::snort::)

Stacia, Zander and I went to the library and checked out books from All Through the Ages to use in our study of Japan. I had written the company, told them I had the 2nd edition and was wondering how much had been changed in the 3rd edition. I explained I lived in Japan and was trying to decide if there were enough changes to the Japan offerings to warrant reordering the book and waiting through the APO shipping.   I NEVER expected the author to email me. She thanked me for being a military spouse and sent me a PDF file of the updated pages on books about Japan.  She said I had enough stress in my life that I didn't need to reorder a book for 4 pages. Turns out she was prophetic.

Via Google Images

School with the younger two wasn't great. To be truthful one tried to deceive me by randomly circling answers, one tried, "I'm so cute you can't possibly want me to REMEMBER that sound," and I lost it with them.   I was immediately convicted. As I tried to talk around the lump in my throat Zander looked at me with tears and wailing and said, "You should not be so mean to Stacia. The Bible says to treat others the way you want them to treat you."  {In my defense I was NOT screaming etc. I simply used my firm voice.  They cracked me up as they'd been fighting all morning....}  Ugh. I picked myself off the floor, and talked to them about sin, confession, repentance, forgiveness - you know the GOSPEL. We prayed. We forgave. 

 I'm re-calibrating. The stress was MY doing....I failed to plan to miss a whole day of school yesterday, I woke up late today and we didn't get a good start on school due to the trip to the lab, I realized we have MOPS tomorrow (only once a month) but it will not be a good school day again... I don't regret going to the beach instead of doing school yesterday....but I am going to have to plan ahead better for these out of the ordinary days.  Zander really struggles with grace....and I believe working through all of our failures transparently may have helped him grasp the idea. 

Via Worship Images

The kids are outside enjoying some time with friends. I'm going to go make muffins for MOPS and then figure something out for dinner. I'm going to bed at a decent time tonight...even if Michael is working late...and I'm going to wake up in a much better frame of mind tomorrow.

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

Stacia Writes Two More Letters

Stacia has finished her letters to all her siblings....and Daddy.  She wrote to Nolan yesterday.  

Hi Nolan , 

I love you. You just are so fun with me. You play with me every single day. I like to play candyland the best. 

Love Stacia

She and I had an interesting talk about WHY she said he NEVER played with her in the first letter. Lots of learning coming from this handwriting assignment...and she's learned she LIKES to write letters. 

Today she wrote a letter for Michael....and she's already dictated a letter to copy for one of her friends tomorrow. 

Hey Daddy, 

I love you so much. You are a great father to me. I like to roller blade with you. 

Love Stacia

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

Coconut Granola (Sonya's)

Sonya brought me some of this and it is AMAZINGLY wonderful. Keep in mind I've not had added sugar (natural or not) for over 6 weeks. LOL  I found it SWEET and CRUNCHY...and I made some tonight...  I KNOW I have about six "fantastic" granola recipes but this one is my newest favoritest. LOL 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 

Mix together in a large bowl.
2 C Oats
3/4 C Shredded Sweetened Coconut
1/2 C Chopped Almonds
1/3 C Pumpkin Seeds (I used Sunflower)
2 T Brown Sugar (I used Rapadura)
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Sea Salt

Whisk together in a small bowl. 
1/2 C Coconut Oil (melted)
1/2 C Pure Maple syrup
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/4 tsp Coconut Extract

Pour wet over dry and mix together. 

Pour onto baking sheet. Bake for 30 min, stir every 10 min. 

Cool completely.

Store in an air-tight container for up to 1 month. 

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

Peacocks and Beaches

We didn't do much school at all today. Tuesdays are PWOC days. Arielle has been volunteering for years in PWOC.  Today the boys joined me and we took a shot at the newly created PCOC Pre-school room.  I was EXHAUSTED at the end of the 2.75 hours....but I had a great time. It was a lot of fun to simply play with kids....and remind them Jesus is their Good shepherd.... We've been looking for a service opportunity for the boys and they were a great help in the room today. This may be a great fit. In any event we've volunteered to be in there through this study session and recalibrate as needed at that point in time. The chapel IS advertising for a Children's Ministry Coordinator and sub-contract....so hopefully she'll show up soon. 

We got home about 2:00 p.m. and I DID insist the younger set both read to me...then...since it was still a "nice" day - we went to the beach! LOL We simply can't resist....the rain and snow may come to stay at any minute....winters are LONG... we love the beach....the beach may not open before we have to PCS (move). 

There are WAY more live clams in the little cove now....and sizable fish which jump out of the water while the kids play. LOL 

Tomorrow we'll all double up in school. In the future we'll double 1/2 our assignments on Monday and the other 1/2 on Wednesday and we'll be fine.  The past few weeks the girls and I came home and we got school done in the afternoon...but those lil' darlins take it out of a "woman of my age". LOL 

The kids are in bed, Michael is at work, I'm heading to bed....it's been a tiring day....but a great day. 

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

Another Day In Paradise!

We're really doing it - making this schedule work. 

My morning routine went as planned - with the addition of our new little neighbor walking in my patio door at 07:15. ::snort:: I'm training her to check the sign on the door. 

We got a full day of school done. We even walked down to see the neighborhood pony after studying about ungulates in Science. 

I got some regional ministry done. 

We spent an hour or two at the beach. We are officially the die hards of Misawa...not one other person in the ocean! This may be our last chance so though it was a bit chilly - we went. 

The fortress still stands....

We made it home in time to take Mackenzie and the kids to PYOC (youth).

 I worked on PCOC (Protestant Children of the Chapel) stuff while the kids were at youth. I'm going to be in the pre-school room until either 1. January or 2. they hire a Children's Ministry Coordinator. I think my ducks are in a fairly good row. ::snort:: 

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

Rainy Air Show

Michael LIVES for Air Shows. I have to admit this was a disappointing day for him, and I felt bad about it.  Saturday was GORGEOUS.....but today was not....

The first two years we were here there were quite a few "big names" at the show...and demo teams etc. Last year many cancelled after the earthquake..... This year was also a slow airshow...lots of wait time between planes....but it WAS a fun day to spend as a family, the Kids and Michael enjoyed their turkey legs (I enjoyed my veggie wrap)....and this was our FIRST EVER AIR SHOW IN THE RAIN...so it will be one that will live in our collective memory.

As always, I enjoy watching the crowd as much as the planes and was thrilled to see these photos.....

Michael did get some shots of the F-22...but I'm not sure which ones are "good" so I'll let him add them later. 

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

Transitions, Beaches and Heirlooms

Michael went into the office for a few hours. 

We gave our fish and tank and stuff away...passed it forward....to another home school family who will enjoy studying marine life as we did. This was a good time to do it as we knew we'd have to do it before we moved. This allowed us to take our second table down....it is now up in the boys' room. 

This is the first time in over 10 years that we've had a SINGLE table. We've still not managed to eat a family meal with all of us home since Saturday so I can't report on the success of the transition. LOL 

When Michael came home he was ready to go to the beach...but I didn't think I'd have time for that and to get ready and arrive early to help set up for the PWOC Kick off. Michael took the kids to the ocean.  Michael reports there were only five families at the beach on this warm Saturday. I guess the summer is nearing an end.....

We were happy for a sunny day to try out the new gear

Mackenzie came with us - the girls entertained themselves with thoughts of jaws and such. 

What could she be doing? 

Quite the fortress and we'll see how long it lasts

Meanwhile, I went to the PWOC Kick Off ~ Heirlooms. Everyone brought an "heirloom" dish to share. Kim's Grandmother's sweet potato dessert is a new favorite of mine. 

Shannon spoke about Passing a legacy of belief on to the next generation. She talked about Remembering and Recounting....and it was very good. It tied in with PWOC's theme this year "Generation to Generation."   Shannon shared several Scriptures showing how God calls us to remember; two are Deut 5:15 and Joshua 4.  Ps. 136 showed a "timeline." She challenged us  to take some time right then and there and create our own timeline of faith to share. She talked about journaling and how that works for her. We each received a journal for the exercise.  I realized anew I need to make the blog (and my 5 journals) a priority. LOL 

I found it funny that I read this verse after getting home....."This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord." Ps 102:18.

I enjoyed helping the new team set up and clean up...and I enjoyed being a participant and not having the weight of a zillion details on my mind. It was good to sit and participate. I'm loving this year.

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