A Bit of Everything

Fuji Sei Boen

We have wanted to visit a Children's Home since we arrived, but have repeatedly hit road blocks. We heard you usually do not get to play with children if you do get a visit arranged. Every year the chapel buys gifts and takes them up. Club Beyond arranged for the youth, and families which wanted to, could drive up to deliver.  We were sad we couldn't commit with Michael's surgery. However, Arielle and Nolan were able to go. They were disappointed they were not allowed to interact with children. Ah well.

We had a lazy day at home. Picking up the kids on base provided the opportunity for me to run through the commissary and post office.

Arielle, Nolan and I went for a walk. We're all missing the older Gherkins this year.

Michael  bet the kids  he could move the coin below without touching the match....

And he did....though the perspective of the photo makes it hard to really see...the match levitated and he moved the coin. ::snort::

We enjoyed a rousing round of "Don't You Forget It." I learned to play it safe from the rest of the family, and this time I WON!

We continued to brainstorm about our Family Verse/Vision  for 2013.

Arielle  enjoyed popcorn for the first time in 3 years.....we all helped her celebrate.

Michael read a chapter of the fifth book in the Cooper Kid series while the rest of us snacked on popcorn. He asked me to read chapter two so he could snack too. I read all but the last two pages and could tell I was in danger of sliding into "sleep reading."  He took over.

Arielle must be sleep listening....

I'm going to go join the others in watching Sheerluck  Holmes - Veggie Tales.

Michael is doing better each day.

All our snow melted today...we're praying for a White Christmas.

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

Kale Chips

I have heard about Kale chips repeatedly...armed with a bunch of Kale....I gave it a shot. I found a really easy and healthy recipe here and another one here. It seemed, if one were to have a snack attack it would be a healthy way to indulge. I didn't want all the calories from the second recipe...seemed to complicate something easy....but maybe next time I'll try that way. This was nearly calorie free, full of plant protein et al.  I must become friends with Kale as it is the number one nutrient dense/calorie food. Remember? Health = Nutrient dense/calorie

I read the comments, read the ingredients and gave it a shot. 

DON'T eat Kale stems. ::snort:: Wash, de-stem,  and tear into pieces (they shrink). 

I then spritzed with olive oil, I didn't care for the way the seasoning fell off the ones that weren't spritzed. 

I sprinkled with Old Bay, Garlic Powder and later with Nutritional Yeast (Full day's worth of B12 - one of those nutrients missing from a vegan only lifestyle- tastes great).

I did some in the microwave for about 7 min.  I did others at 350* for 9 - 11 min. I liked the oven baked chips better.

I tried them straight from the oven - I think it may be an acquired taste...Michael came in and asked if I were going  "eat that or smoke it?"

I added Salsa - and liked it better 

 I liked them best sprinkled with Lays Baked Southwestern chips (25% fat!).... 

No, I did not really leave all the chips. ::snort:: 

Michael discovered they were best if you crinkled them up and added them to the salsa....then ate them with a chip. MEN. It is a lentil chip (30% fat). 

Why would I eat this? Kale is new to me and I want to try a variety of ways of eating it as it IS the most nutrient dense food known to date.  I did eat the equivalent of a whole bunch of Kale - but that is o.k. I do eat an alarming amount of nutrient dense food.

NOW - I'd love it if you'd share your favorite Kale recipes. I have a bunch left.

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

Advent Fun with Akikosan

We are so thankful that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for us...thankful that He leads - all the time. 

Akikosan joined us for our nightly Advent Celebration tonight.  She asked if this is typical and we shared most often there are pieces of candy for each child in the little box...but we didn't want nine calendars, couldn't fit nine pieces of candy in the little box, and really didn't want to give out candy late at night. So we adjusted the tradition. 

Advent Clue - "Skinny and new" 

After quite a LOT of looking...they found it upstairs in Stacia's new, tall dresser

POP - loads of fun 

Well - fun for all but Yuuki - who glared at us. 

She did NOT appreciate her new accessories either! 

Great minds think alike and we enjoyed an impromptu gift exchange. Akikosan  brought cups, candy, photos and books for the kids...and for me...a bag of bubbly bath salts, as she says I can't drive to the onsen in the winter  (my fame is international), and some pomegranate vinegar. Fruit vinegar is very popular in Japan/Korea. They claim it's healthy...and I believe them. 

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

Thoughts

The day began bright and early with an 0400 ministry conference call.  Followed by an 0630 Skype call/prayer meeting. Followed by an hour of chat with a ministry partner. 

It's SNOWING! Can you believe it? The kids are ecstatic. They assumed, as I was praying it wouldn't snow, that it wouldn't. ::snort:: I told them God liked their prayer better than mine.  Michael asked me to drive to the post office this afternoon. We had a notice there was a package waiting. 

Look what arrived! Plenty of time to enjoy it this season. 

I fell asleep for an hour. Then made a quick dinner of chili, cheese wraps, salad and fruit. 

Akikosan came over tonight. God is good to remind me  programs and initiatives may change but the bottom line remains people. When life gets a bit uncertain I'm still called to love God and love others. I don't  need a fancy framework to obey that one. ::grin:: 

I've been considering the following quotes I read in, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God," by Lysa Terkeurst.  Lysa suggests  five questions for consideration when  trying to determine if what you are "hearing" is from God.  She calls it the Five Question Filter. 

• Does what I'm hearing line up with Scripture?
• Is it consistent with God's character? 
• Is it being confirmed through messages I'm hearing at church or studying in my quiet times? 
• Is it beyond me? 
• Would it please God? 

Lysa seeks communication with God by asking for desire, discipline, discernment, direction, and delight. 

• Desire to want God more than anything else
• Discernment to know the difference between my own thoughts and God's voice
• Direction at each crossroad in my life
• Delight rather than a sense of duty to characterize my relationship with God

We continue to pray about our future ministry after retiring from the Air Force. We aren't sure how things will pan out; much to consider. I am sure, however, every thought we're having is  quite far beyond us. LOL 

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

A Good Day Was Had By All

The younger ones have been praying for a WHITE Christmas. I informed all last night I was praying the warm spell lasted until Dad could drive. But alas, it was snowy this a.m. Not bad....but more snow is predicted....

The orthodontist called to say Arielle's retainer was here. They wanted us to come in at 10:30.  It seemed providential to finish the errands from yesterday and pick up her retainer. I even bought SIX BIG steaks for the family. Eating a steak seems to be a post-op tradition for Michael. ::grin:: 

We watched movies this afternoon. Michael is feeling MUCH better now that the Vicodin is out of his system and spent a good portion of the day sitting and laying in the living room instead of bed.

I love to see THIS on a lazy winter afternoon.  Nolan reads,  "The Land of Barely There..."

Dinner was good - followed by family circle and an evening of games.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. 

Advent Clue: "I am feeling wishy washy." The hunt was on. 

Not in the garage - the laundry racks become drying racks for winter gear. 

Zander found it first - stepped away and yelled, "I found it." 

They looked and missed it. 

Arielle found it and then threw the others off the hunt before announcing her find. 

Yay! 

The present tonight is a puzzle. I got a kick out of the fact that the younger ones know the geography of Japan better than America....I'll work on it.

Showing where the Elder Gherkins live

Arielle napped

Her competitive spirit kicked in when we began to play, "Don't Forget It!" This is a great family game....easy, all ages can enjoy. 

Yes, Arielle pulled out a win - she even defended her math. Well done. 

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

Quick Morning Update...

as you may be wondering!  YES - it does look spectacular this a.m. We have another scene we'll be able to make when this one fizzles. Very fun family project. I love the Lion figured so prominently in the Advent Hunt on the day we discussed Jesus as the Lion from Judah. 

Yes, my home school family have checked the Internet and their science books and quite simply - the devotional was WRONG. Lions are not the largest cats in the world. Bengal Tigers are. 

Snowing this a.m. and I have lots to do as I had to cut errands short to take Michael to the UCC yesterday. Should be an adventure. 

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

Shew - It's Been A Day

We only THOUGHT life was getting back to normal. 

The plan today was for me to take Arielle and Nolan to watch kids for PWOC's Christmas Brunch. I would attend.  I noted Michael was a bit "off."

It turns out he woke in lots of pain and took the Vicodin....it made him dizzy, nauseated etc.  As we headed out the door I heard him sick.  I couldn't reach anyone to take the kids in and so I helped Michael a bit and then he told me to take them in and stay for the brunch. I called when we arrived and he wanted me to stay.

I stayed and enjoyed the opportunity to simply visit with the ladies. I do miss the grown up ladies now that I'm helping in PCOC on a regular basis...but no one gives better hugs than the pre-schoolers...not even their mommies. ::snort::

We ran errands after brunch. We didn't get through all of them - but a lot of them.  Michael called and needed me to come pick him up and take him to the UCC. The surgeon suggested he come in and be checked out.

Michael just cannot take Vicodin or Morphine. The poor man is SICK and the docs think it is from the Vicodin he took 14 hours earlier.

Gyudon - Beef Rice Bowl

Veggie Rice Bowl

Back at home again I made dinner....Gyudon (Beef Bowl) for the kids and Veggie Gyudon (which can't possibly be the right name) for myself. Arielle ended up having a couple of pieces of the beef and ate veggie gyudon with me.  Yes, I AM a messy cook...and yes, that IS what cooking is like in this season of our lives....Fairly Healthy and Vegan Healthy. LOL

As is typical for this time of the year, we're thinking through themes for the upcoming year and I've been meditating on my personal and family focus of 2012. Praying about a "word" for 2013. I decided to bring the family into my musings during family circle this evening.

I shared  I was considering my 2012 "word" which was "secret place" - refuge, place of safety, protection and sanctuary. 2012 has included illness, two surgeries for Michael, Dad G's home-going, graduations of children, and I won't begin to share the ministry challenges....it's been a challenging year on many levels.  I commented THIS is not what I expected when God impressed "secret place" on my heart....but I SHOULD have known the way to experience safety and protection in the storm is to walk through a few storms.

Everyone was tracking. I concluded by saying I was asking God what the word for 2013 should be and I wasn't sure yet. Zander piped up with, "ENOUGH!"  True. Enough.

We continued by discussing Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. We weren't 100% sure our books was correct. It SAID Lions are the largest cat in the world, but a few of our family members think Bengal Tigers have that distinction....in any event....

The Advent Clue for tonight was something about Butyl Rubber ...

The clue led to a google search on "Butyl" as the kids weren't 100% sure what they were looking for.

 They headed to the garage, where our spare tires are stored, and found tonight's family gift.

It was Color Bloomz.  This was a great family activity as they decided which scene to work on, colored, assembled and set up the "tank."

Yuuki overflows her chair 

These two enjoyed a round of air hockey when they tired of the assembly

This isn't as spectacular as the photos on the box...but maybe by morning it will be. You CAN begin to see the colors bloom on the tree and here and there.

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