New Holiday?

I understand Engrish signs off base...and frankly any Japanese first grader does better with our grammar than I do with theirs!  I do find it funny to find these signs ON BASE.  This one is just too good not to share! Sweet Potatoes from the states are a Thanksgiving treat - what a lovely sign to announce their arrival.   AND if, as many of you try to convince me, these are done on purpose - I don't like the new emphasis on thinking over thanking. LOL 

This was seen, still up way past Thinksgiving, in the produce section of the Misawa AB Commissary. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

SNOW DAY

I often forget American Holidays.  I found out late Saturday night that this was a "4 day weekend" - which for us means Sunday afternoon and Monday off. ::snort::  It was a pleasant surprise. 

My crazy family loves the cold. They love that tingling feeling just before their toes go numb...and they could think of no better way to spend the day than out in the snow.  I do remember having fun when we went cross country skiing at the ocean....so we headed for the base's golf course. Free skis....and we were the only ones on the course....it was beautiful. 

I love having young adults in the house! 

I missed my work out this morning. Michael assured me it wouldn't matter as I'd get a workout skiing...but I REMEMBERED the way I ski...not much of a workout...lots of falling and hefting back up.....I remembered the snow shoes the kids got me for my birthday when we lived in Anchorage. I should have remembered these much sooner.  Turns out I got a MUCH better workout than those skiing...no gliding. I'm hoping I can move in the a.m. to chase the PCOC preschoolers. ::snort::

I wanted a photo of everyone ready to go! 

Sort of a slow start

For both of them...Stacia was more concerned with the fashion of it all at the beginning. 

Everyone was doing great by the end of the day. I heard a couple comment we should do this more often - and I have a plan. Since I have to be in Tuesday mornings...and I CAN drive on base where the roads are plowed....why not bring everyone in, spend an hour or two skiing or sledding, buy groceries and errands and be ready to come home at the COB day.....not every Tuesday but once or twice a month? 

We were ready for lunch at Lakeville Grille and I enjoyed my veggie calzone - no cheese - VERY MUCH....the kids asked about sledding and so we took them to the sledding hill. We plan to rent some snowboards so they can teach themselves.....I think this would be deserted on a Tuesday afternoon. 

The kids were ready to call it a day. We dropped them off at home and Michael and I headed to the beach. How I love the beach. What a blessing to be living on an island nation. 

The ocean is fantastic in EVERY season! 

Sun sets behind the snow-covered sand dunes

The younger two are playing wii. Michael and the older two just finished a game of LIFE. I made green jello with gummy fish in it, and fishy index cards....prepping for PCOC in the morning.  I just heard I have a conference call at 11 p.m. tonight....soooo......

It was a wonderful MLK day. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Why I Don't Drive in the Winter

Michael has been telling me they are plowing more of the roads this year.  I was happy to hear they were plowing the roads out by us. I've shared how we often find cars stuck - dead in their tracks.

Yes, they started to plow the road....but evidently  the snow plow couldn't make it all the way through....and I'm content to stay home or let Michael drive.

This is the pretty little shed in the middle of the rice fields. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Hitting the Target

The above target has hung beside my desk in the dining room. It went to local board meetings as a reminder to STAY ON TARGET. ::wink:: It is a daily reminder to me to live a life of simplicity...with the challenges of local and regional ministry to focus on the Bull's Eye of the ministry. This boiled down to being sure I was Loving God and Loving Others and providing an atmosphere where women could experience and do the same.  This past summer I traveled to Korea and Tokyo and shared how PWOC leaders must live a life of simplicity, aim for the bull's eye of our ministry.  When assigned this topic, I KNEW my target would travel with me - and it did.  Our ministry bull's eye: Lead women to Christ, Teach women on a solid foundation of worship and Bible study, Develop in women spiritual disciplines which lead to spiritual development, Involve women in the work of the Chapel in keeping with their abilities and interests.   These goals will continue. 

I packed it away at Christmas time and hung a Christmas countdown in it's place. I felt a twinge of sadness when I unpacked it. I considered not hanging it back by my desk. When I packed it away we had not heard the news yet that PWOC would be making big changes to their structure. The International and Regional leadership roles will go away on  28 Feb. I'm no longer an active local PWOC leader...did I really need to hang it back up? 

In the end I did...because I will be faithful to this leadership position until the position ends...and then, I will continue to  mentor those leaders who may choose to maintain contact with me. The calling will not go away because the structure of PWOC changes.  Nevertheless, things ARE changing.....

And into this void, this void where God led, He is speaking something new....a new focus...and I'm o.k.  The call to mentor, to intentionally make disciples will continue...regardless the framework or our location...because that is a command from God (Matt 28:19,20 among other places).  I find  in the crush of having to define ministry priorities to home, local and beyond (said in a space agey way) much face to face mentoring had to go. There has been mentoring...of leaders and that's been good.  There's been informal mentoring and mentoring in Bible study care groups. But intentional mentoring of the next generation has taken a back seat...because I needed to focus on my family and with the leadership role and my family I was maxed out.  In the past weeks I've had six young women ask me to mentor them. I'm not even in a Bible study. Many don't  know me as they're new here. I spend each week with their kids.  I'm listening and watching to see what God is doing. I know  he isn't done with me just because structure has changed, we are moving, we will retire in 2 years, there may not be a PWOC at my next base.....the command to make disciples remains. 

Yes, I rehung the target....and the center of it may change on 1 March....but it remains as a good reminder to seek His priorities in this last phase of regional service. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

I John Update

By Friday night the four us taking the challenge to memorize I John had the first four verses memorized in our version of choice.  Our goal this week is I John 1:5-7 (and I find I've already mostly got it! YES).  Apart for the joy of simply being in the Word and having it take root in us...is the fun of the common goal, the camaraderie of working together towards something which is easy for some of us and difficult for others of us...increases our compassion for each other.

Michael is memorizing from NASB 1975. Nolan and I from NASB 1995. Arielle from NIV and NASB 1995.  I refuse to let Michael and Arielle say their verses to me until I have them cemented in my mind or I'll have a terrible mish-mash. ::snort::

The photo above shares a glimpse into my journey through I John. I'll have to highlight other's practices in weeks to come. 

The ipad shows a variety of versions and the highlighted verses are the ones I've memorized. 

The journal has 10 pages of notes, questions, 11 word studies and 10 pages of notes from I John 1:1-4. 

The index cards contain the verses I'm working on written out and can easily go where I go. 

My Bible...yes, I'm marking key words, contrasts, adding word definitions....

And I never guess I could slow down this much and not be bored in a book I've taught numerous times.  

The word of God is alive! Sharp! Profitable! Exciting! 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sunday Dinner

After a sermon I really enjoyed on Independence vs Dependence on God (by my favorite Chaplain), it was Nolan's turn to choose our Sunday Dinner Location today. He chose Lakeview Grille on base.  We've never eaten up here during the winter.

Wasps are replaced by killer icicles

View from INSIDE - where it was warm

Everyone enjoyed the setting and the meal - except well - I ordered a salad, removed the meat and tasted the dressing. It was fine so I poured it on and then the KICK hit...whew! I was coughing, eyes watering, lips burning....next time I'll order a VEGETABLE calzone with no cheese. If Arielle and Stacia refrain from fried food heaven, we get the vegetarian pizza without cheese.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Christmas - sigh.

We left most our Christmas decorations in the states. We now celebrate Christmas into January...but really after 6 January there was no REASON not to take down all the decorations. It used to be our habit to take it all down 1 Jan. I enjoyed it all up - but I wanted it down before my birthday (later this week).  WHY was I putting this off?

It hit me as we took it down. The end of the Holidays signals the last Christmas in Japan. The homestretch before we move...but it had to come down...so while Michael prepared at the chapel...we took it down and put the house back to normal.

This corner used to be crowded with a "welcome Bear" and Yuuki's chair.....

This corner used to house the elliptical. I realized, while crowded, I much prefer the elliptical to be in the dining room. I can watch over school work while I work out. I have a nice view of the neighbor's yard.  We moved Yuuki's chair.

Yuuki howled. Yuukie laid down and whined. Yuuki went OUTSIDE and STAYED outside. Finally, she came in and laid at the foot of the chair. I told her change is a mark of this family. She finally did climb up into her chair - but gave us accusing glares all evening.  Michael has plans to retire her chair when we move...and get her a normal dog bed....we're not so sure about this plan. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...