HOBBIT & Girls' Night

The day began rather lazily with an hour of Hobbit reading, snow play and then Michael took Nolan and Arielle and ran to the base to get our mail and do a commissary run.

Zander and I got two more hours of Hobbit reading in....Yes, I do tend to move my mouth as the kids read.

At one point Zander broke into song....I had Michael capture it when he got home! ::snort:: Priceless. 

Four hours of reading today; ten hours of reading total - and SUCCESS Zander reads the last line of Chapter 6 of the Hobbit. He can go to the movies tonight with Michael and the kids. Opening Night of the Hobbit on base!

And so the three older kids and Michael left to watch the Hobbit. Stacia and I settled in for the a fun night. Due to the timing of the shows - today, Sunday (one showing right when we have chapel), Monday (evening) -  we can't go to the onsen as planned while the others go the movies. We don't want to sit in the onsen for an hour and then sit on the curb for two hours waiting for our ride. ::snort::

We cleaned up dinner dishes, wrapped a couple of presents, did each other's nails, popped some popcorn and watched Looney Tunes all night. I had told her she could pick ANY movie she wanted - one that the other kids don't like to watch with her. I thought we'd be watching a princess movie. ::grin::

I was told this is the Puppy Eyes look

Meanwhile - at the base theater, it's a packed opening night! 

One and a half hours into the film the movie picked up in the wrong place, all the action was going backwards and the people were upside down. Yep. It would seem that it may not have been rewound after showing in Yokota. In any event, what a disappointment!  They couldn't seem to fix it. The theater gave passes to another movie...but...um....it shows Sunday during church and Monday - well we'd had family plans for New Year's Eve..... 

We're looking into Shimoda mall - but the website is showing different times on two different computers for the English showing. If anyone has the cinema's number, we'd love to have it. LOL  And yes, I'm open to ideas of another great outing with Stacia - we'll have approximately 3 hours. 

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

Read-a-Thon Continues

Another 2.5 hours and 25 pages of reading the Hobbit today. Michael took about an hour shift.

I am enjoying the Hobbit quotes I'm collecting..."Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey if it don't look like mutton tomorrow."  This phrase has been adapted several ways and used today.

I didn't plan on spending hours each day on reading...but I'm looking at this as a "reading intensive" for Zander and I think it will reap great dividends in confidence when we are done....if we can keep it light-hearted. LOL

Only 36 pages to go to the end of Chapter 6 - I believe he will have this done by Sunday and they can then go to the movie on Sunday or Monday.

Michael suggested I take Stacia to the onsen while they are at the movies. She's thrilled and that will take the sting out of missing the movie for her.

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

Satsuma-Imo

The ultimate FAST FOOD. Baked Satsuma-imo (Japanese Sweet Potato). You pick them up at Universe or Lawsons....and you can EAT THEM WITH YOUR FINGERS, peeling the skin back as you go. 

Men with carts used to go through neighborhoods selling hot, fresh baked sweet potatoes. More recently, "yaki-imo trucks" drive through neighborhoods playing a bit of music, drawing kids  (and a few adults) to purchase a fresh baked sweet potato. I love it.  Much healthier option than the  ice cream truck. ::snort::  There are still some carts around....

Yakiimo cart

Via Google Images

Yakiimo Truck

Via Google Images

Ishi Yakiimo - stone baked potatoes...sold from the back of his truck. 

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

Fourth Day of Christmas

Zander and I began the day with an hour of reading. He is currently reading with Michael. It's a read-a-thon. ::wink:: 

He did take a break to join the other kids outside. They've begun the sled hills....This one is right outside our door. 

Arielle had to get creative

And if Arielle can do it....

Yuuki is a SMART dog...she stays warm! 

Akikosan came over for lunch. We made Yakisoba together. 

This was a new treat for us. Ice cream filled Mochi (rice cake). We'd like to find a mochi pounding festival to attend....must check into that tonight or tomorrow. 

The box to look for at Lawsons

Our next project was to finish our New Year's Decorations....

Arielle has gone to a youth event at a local church. The rest of us are about to pop some popcorn and watch a movie.

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

Heard Around Our Home

Via Google Images

"Pirates are Jewish, right?" - Um....seems Stacia has become convinced that pirates were originally Jewish.

We've been working on politeness and gratitude around our home.....wait for it......

Tonight at the dinner table Zander commented, "Mom, thank you for that indescribable meal, may I be excused from the table?"  ::snort:: 

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

Third Day of Christmas

I had time this a.m. to pray, read, journal, read some more....Zander came down and asked if he could read to me. WOW.

We spent 3 hours and 15 minutes reading the Hobbit today!  Why the sudden interest to go from reading  Frog and Toad to the Hobbit? He heard at dinner last night  the Hobbit was going to be on base on Saturday. Michael's long-standing principle is the kids must read a book before seeing the movie version. Zander has missed out on the Lord of the Rings...and is determined to make The Hobbit.  This is a huge CHALLENGE for him - but just the sort of practice he needs to build his confidence.

He's tackling it....and he got 29 pages read today. I was feeling it was hopeless and I really like to set the kids up to succeed  I feel bad  I didn't think to mention this to him when the movie first came out.  Michael pointed out the movie only goes through about chapter 6  - he needs to read 90 pages. The race is on.  At about the 2 hour mark, I realized I won't be able to go see the movie as Stacia won't be able to go. ::sigh::

We discovered Michael's Kindle DX is much easier for Zander to read on than my iPad. We were zipping through the Hobbit when an Amazon service rep reset Michael's kindle and all our books went away. The WiFi card wasn't working - so yep - now it is blank.  We have the Hobbit on the iPads....but if you touch the screen as you read along....the pages TURN. I recently got the kids' phonics program as an ap - just the ap and a few books to try...now I'm wondering. LOL

Two years ago we bought my iPad ORIGINAL. Michael and Arielle noted how much I enjoyed reading electronic books.  Shortly after my iPad arrived....Michael's DX (bigger one) and Arielle's Kindle 3 joined our family of readers.  Would you believe BOTH of them have quit working? Two different problems. Another call today proves you can't compare Amazon to Apple in customer service. 

The kids played outside much of the afternoon. We stayed warm inside. LOL 

Tonight we discussed Jesus being the Rose of Sharon -  we aren't sold this is a name of Jesus. We need to do some more study. We only found it in Song of Songs 2:1....and there the title is not attributed to Jesus. 

Clue for the night....

Michael found a place to buy the PARTS and fix the Kindle DX himself... Instead of $104 plus shipping it will cost $30. We will probably have to replace the other one as the screen needs replaced and it costs the same as buying a new one. 

Other than dinner....that's our day! We discovered Zander loves stir fry if he can use about 1/4 bottle of ketchup on it. It's a workable compromise. ::snort::

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

2012 Family Verse & Vision

I've been asked to write a bit more about our Family Words, Prayers, and Visions. It's a nudge I need,  as we realized if we want to capture these in print for the blog, I need to write a post rather than simple listing in the sidebar.

I first saw this post  (or one similar) from Ginger about a year ago. Ginger explains she chooses an annual "prayer verse" for each member of her family. She prays this verse throughout the year into that person's life.

We adapted and for the first time in 2012 chose a FAMILY PRAYER VERSE (because coming up with 11 was too daunting for me and I didn't want to wait a year while I collected individual verses).  This verse has been prayed into the lives of those Gherkins living in both Japan and  America. I believe we've seen God answer in each of our lives.

Michael and I also discussed a Family Vision for 2012. 

Mission Statement has come to mean a statement of purpose, reason for existing

Vision Statement defines what we will look like as we walk out our mission.

 An example of this would be my personal mission statement:

"My goal in life is to passionately love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I endeavor through teaching and mentoring relationships to lead others to an extravagant, lavish, passionate, whole-hearted, love of their life. It is my goal to truly love others."

Through the years this has shortened to four words: Love God ~ Love Others. I suspect one word would do - LOVE - but I wanted the wiggle room of "teaching and  mentoring" to be included.

I also have a yearly memorial stones a personal annual vision as it were:

"Grace, Holiness, Delight, Choose Joy, Contentment, Surrender, Intimacy"

I will walk in joy as I love....I will walk in surrender as I love....I will rest in grace as I love...

I have been doing this for years in my personal life and for ministry groups. Michael has been doing this for Chapels.  After reading Ginger's post, Michael and I decided to implement both a family prayer verse and a family vision for 2012.  I had thought I'd write about them, but life has been too hectic. However, both have been in the side bar as reminders to Michael and I.  We've reminded each other, prayed about it. As for that family mission statement....we know what it is; but we're still working on how to best summarize it....we hope to get it "right" before Stacia graduates. LOL

2012 Family Prayer Verse: "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52

2012 Family Vision: Walking Worthy - "...walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Col 1:10-12

This began as a personal practice, transitioned into a couple's practice, and this year it is fully a  family practice.  Michael and I prayed about a verse and vision for 2013. We also made it a topic of conversation in family circle and asked the kids to pray about it. We agreed on both and I'll share as we enter 2013.  Michael and I will be more intentional on keeping the verse and vision before our kids this year....through devotions, discussions, blog posts, read aloud selections....and whatever other means the Holy Spirit quickens to us.

Since the selected family vision incorporates the word I was thinking for "my word," I'm now wondering if that's the way it's meant to be or if word number 2 is my word.... ::snort::

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