Snowy Sunday

We woke to a snow storm....wind, snow, swirling snow....snow blowing UP and across at the same time....this photo doesn't do it justice. We skipped Sunday School.

It wasn't better at 10:30 - we skipped the 11:00 service too. 

Our hope was that it would blow over in a couple of hours and we could make it in to the base in time for Zander's choice of the Club for his birthday lunch and then the evening service.  That's exactly what we did....and it wasn't that bad by the time we got out. 

Arielle and Nolan were part of a Human video team last night. Kim has been their youth leader for several years and will be moving in a week or so.....and so it was a bittersweet evening.  I have a video but I can't seem to get it from my camera to the computer.

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

Zander's Birthday Celebration!

Zander (ALEX) has done an exceptional job of waiting for his birthday celebration. We finished eating Nolan's cake last week. We hoped all his gifts would arrive in time to make his cake and enjoy a party tonight. The kids bought him gifts here...only one of our gifts have arrived...but he opted for whatever gifts WERE here and cake tonight. ::grin::

Michael and I got him this. He has vision of taking care of the crows...but we aren't sure our Japanese neighbors would appreciate this as much as he seems to think they will.  He was told he can target practice....and he's adapted and now has plans that involve snowballs and fields. ::snort::

Death By Chocolate - we adapted and used Reeses instead of Twix; Late July cookies instead of Oreo's and Keebler  - so that it was on Zander's eating plan. It was just as good as the original. Every time we eat this I remember the Millers, Rileys and Woolards from San Antonio.  He'll choose his birthday lunch out tomorrow.

We finished the evening with a family circle that involved discussion God as the God who "sees to it" (Provides) - Gen 22.  We discussed the "its" in our lives where we long to watch Him SEE TO IT. We discussed worship being all mixed up with sacrifice and surrender. We discussed WHY God would ask such a thing....we grew...old and young teaching one another. We also read several chapters from Amon's Adventure. 

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

Keeping Warm in Misawa

For the record - the snow is LOVELY, gorgeous, beautiful, fantastic. The cold and ice - not so much. If I could have the heat of TX with the beauty of snow-covered landscape, I would be totally content. ::snort::  I've heard anywhere from 155 in to 159 in of snow so far this winter....I can't find a website to verify. 

BUT I HAVE found a sure fire way to keep WARM in Misawa! 

For those times when running the oven doesn't warm the house quite enough.......

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

Spectacular Saturday

We didn't know WHAT to do with Michael home on a Saturday. We could get used to not preaching on Sunday. ::grin::  We did manage to fill the day. 

I sorted through some drawers this a.m.  and did a bit of cleaning. My goal is to get my house clean enough in a month to give the "grand tour" to company. ::snort::  Arielle cleaned. The others played Wii and several read Hiroshima by John Hersey. The book arrived last night and was planned to be used in Unit 4 for Nolan....but he read it all today. 

Stacia and I headed off to a great lunch with a friend and her daughter, at the Organic Buffet by the market down the road. I am committed to using the margin God has provided for finishing strong here - with school, friendships, and exploring (as soon as the roads clear).

While we enjoyed our lunch out, Michael and Arielle made an ice cream cake in anticipation of Zander's birthday celebration. 

Can YOU find the road? 

After lunch, Michael and I headed to the base to check the post office. We picked up on gift for Zander. We stopped at Cafe Aomori for some hot drinks and headed to the ocean. 

•  Picking up one birthday gift - free
•  Hot Drinks - $6
•  Sipping hot drinks on a snow covered beach while talking about the future with my man - PRICELESS.

  A DATE! Mom G we used your gift - thanks! 

Loved watching a gentleman race his radio controlled car along the beach 

This is our van on top of the sea break.....

Looking down the road.....

We have truly been blessed to enjoy  four years living in the farm land of Northern Japan.  I chuckle when I remember how hard we tried to be allowed to live on base - and I acknowledge once again God KNOWS...even when I don't understand.

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

Children's Crosswalk

 There are so many things we love about Japan. I don't think we've captured this yet. We'll continue to try to capture the process with children in the photo.

 This makes us smile.  YOUNG children, as well as children of all ages,  in Japan are seen walking to school early in the a.m. alone....and home at night in the dark....The yellow container with flags is their version of a "crossing guard."  The kids grab a flag, wave it as they walk across the walk....

...and deposit the flag on the other side of the walk (You can barely see the yellow container). 

This system works here! The flags are left out throughout the school year...and they STAY in the container. In other words the kids don't take them home...no one snatches them...and people respectfully watch out for our children. 

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

Mentor Group

The Lord began speaking to me this summer about changes in my  ministry, balance of my time and such. I pulled back from much activity, PWOC is restructuring and Regional and International levels of leadership are "disappearing" as of 28 Feb.  

Six women spoke to me about mentoring them....and I prayed....and waited...and discussed it with Michael. The concern was meeting weekly with six women would take back all the margin I'd created. I read  Mentor Like Jesus. I've written about the book here.  I wrote their foundation and discovered Titus 2 Mentoring Women.  This made it possible for me to mentor six women at one time, and NOT sacrifice my family on the altar of outside ministry. This is quite a bit of commitment for both the women and myself.   It's intentionally focused on being a follower of Christ in every area of our lives.  There are assignments, a monthly group meeting, a monthly one on one meeting, verses to memorize.... I talked to PWOC leadership to make sure they were o.k. with me proceeding and that I would not in any way conflict with their vision for the local PWOC.  Michael (as my husband; not a supervising chaplain) agreed this would work.  I tossed it out there ONLY to those who had previously approached me.  We've tweaked it to fit our military life-style....for instance I planned to do something like this in the future - when I had twelve months....but in the end three women joined me for the time we have left together.  We'll Skype in one gal as she pcs'. It's totally my passion and not connected with the chapel or PWOC (though I  used the theme graphic for the notebook cover - it was perfect).....

It's a God thing - a good thing....and I'm thrilled I listened and rearranged my schedule in the fall. ::wink::  I'm praying about a "distance" group. The ministry foundation has given me approval to use their materials in this way. I have been approached by a gal I'd love to mentor who lives elsewhere in Japan (at the moment ::snort::). We'd use skype for the monthly meeting.....we'd miss the face to face intimacy...praying...and trying this for now. Maybe I'll do a distance group when I get to Beale as I won't know anyone to have a face to face group anyway for a bit of time. LOL 

Speaking of Beale.....I'm starting to make connections with those who have been to Beale. Tonight we're going to have pizza and  a movie hook the laptop up to the projector and check out maps, you tube videos, and images of the area. 

Would you believe both yesterday AND today God squarely placed ladies in my path who GREW UP in the very area of Beale? ::snort:: 

My career PCS verse: ".....through all the generations YOU have been our home!" Ps 90:1 HE has been and will continue to be our home! A person can learn a lot from Moses. 

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

Tohoku Black Water Onsen

Snow storm, train ride, winter walk, dear friend and a black water onsen - all add up to  Adventure Tohoku style.

A friend and I have been trying to get together for this trip for over a month and TODAY was the day.  It was a blast. I love riding the trains, I love onsens and I truly LOVE onsen conversations with friends.

We boarded at 10 something or other and rode three stops to Otomo (O TOE moe). Along the way we realized the "blue blob," which was every where, was a blue tree.  Aomori means "blue forest"....got it. You want the ticket for  "440 yen."

via zoomingjapan.com 

We arrived to realize we didn't have a map and weren't 100% sure of the name of the onsen either....but all was well. The train station attendant took us out and gave us about 5 minutes of instructions. We understood left and 5 minutes...we went left and asked the next person...we continued the pattern until we arrived at Touhoku Onsen.

Via Google Images

Y270 for an adult....

Via Google Images

After the 5 - 10 min walk (we did get turned around once and were going slower as it was icy and snowy) the onsen felt HEAVENLY.  The black water is said to be good for your skin and your health...you can read more  here. Akikosan said  obasans go daily and that's why they look so young. I told her I'll go weekly and look 15 when I leave Japan.  ::wink:: 

Via Google Images

 There are private baths - or a private family bath. I believe they are Y800-1200  - prices here. 

Via Google Images

Look carefully at this sign...I'm thinking of going back for an over-nighter! 

Via Google Images

If you happen to be blessed to live in Northern Japan I recommend this spot...clean, unique, charming to take the train and walk.....and here's a map.  Train station is the red near the top and in the spring I may drive.  I can email a full size map.

We stopped at a little cafe  enroute to the train station for lunch - Yummy Curry.  This was  the perfect adventure  as I continue to process  we are really and truly  going to have to leave Japan in 4 1/2 months. How did that happen? It was SIX months just last week.

We arrived back on base around 2:45. I had just enough time to stop by the BX and commissary before Michael was ready to come home for the day.

If you WANT to try an onsen but don't want to run into anyone - this one was quiet when we went, we were the only Americans in the town....and I'm willing to go with you to make sure you don't commit any social mistakes....or you can go try the private room and I'll ride the train with you and sit in the public one.

Akikosan came over this evening and we told her we're moving to California. She KNEW we were moving...but seemed surprised we were moving.  She may well come visit us in California. Her Dad thinks the photos we brought her of the kids in front of the Redwoods was a fake tree. We told her to visit us and we'd take her to the Trees.

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