Another Fun Afternoon Made Possible by Margin...

Have you ever simply been unmotivated? That was me today. 

I woke up early and it took me longer than I thought to prepare the "Lovin Japan" post...just as I was heading to the Word, Jared Skyped. That was awesome. 

After that I needed to work out - but couldn't get motivated. I finally did. 

We got some school done...and then Stacia and I ran to the "Strawberry Produce Market" up the road and met a friend and her daughter.  We bought the girls a treat from the bakery - which neither was overly fond of...maybe I'll pack a treat next time - got them a drink from the vending machine and headed for the little tables in the greenhouse with the banana trees, pineapples, figs and mangoes. 

 We took time to explore the chickens, pony, bunnies and rabbits. Finally, we sat in this little enclosure and introduced the girls to the foot onsen.

This provided time for Lisa and I to touch base.  We've not done that in far too long. I hope our conversation encouraged her - it encouraged me.

Tonight is AWANA and PYOC. I'll be taking Stacia and the older ones in. Zander is not sure he wants to continue with AWANA - he makes some valid points. He has agreed he will continue to memorize the word, regardless.

Michael left for work this morning feeling ill. So he'll be home with Zander...and I think I'll find somewhere on base to spend a couple of quiet hours...or maybe I'll take a towel and hit an onsen....

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

Lovin Japan ~ Japanese Food

I'm consolidating many "favorite entries" to one entry today....though I'm sure other food entries will make the Lovin Japan list in a featured slot.  FOOD....many of these dishes can be purchased in the states - but they simply taste better in Japan. ::grin:: 

As a rule, meat is a condiment....presentation is fantastic....meals are unhurried (who can eat fast with chopsticks?).  Here are some of our favorites....some of the recipes can be found under the Yummy Eats tab.

To this very long list....add daikon, a host of veggies and dishes of whose names we haven't a clue, onigiri, pickled veggies, spicy ginger on the side of plates, random eggs cracked over burgers, soup, rice....and "cute food" which deserves another post. 

Zander's First Ramen experience in 2009

Krista's First Bowl of Ramen 

Nikuman 

Bre's first plate of Yakisoba  

Yakisoba from street vendor

Veggie Gyudon (personal creation)

Tamanegi Gyudon - Egg, Green Onion Beef Bowl 

kimishowota via photopin cc

Gyudon - Beef Bowl

9stars via photopin cc

Cheese Rolls  (made with camembert cheese I'm told)

Yakiniku - the exception to meat as a condiment rule

kenleewrites via photopin cc

Curry Rice

jetalone via photopin cc

Nikujaga (Steamed Meat and Potatoes)

I Believe I Can Fry via photopin cc

On our trip to the south of Japan I determined to try Okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake...it's name loosely translated means "What you like" - or as you like it ...fried. I discovered there are many versions...very few of them are vegetarian - though I did find a recipe to make vegetarian okinomiyaki. I always planned a separate post....but I'm going to throw the photos in here. 

Okonomiyaki - Miyajima style

Okonomiyaki - Osaka Style

pyrografica via photopin cc

pelican via photopin cc

Gyoza

lestaylorphoto via

I'm hungry now. 

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

Lovin Japan ~ Earthquakes

2510 since 3-11-2011.... I debated about posting this item on "the list"....given what we've experienced here it doesn't seem right to say we "love" earthquakes....but earthquakes - frequent; big and small - have been a part of our time in Japan...and some of us will miss them....and so today...on this day after some were kept awake with three earthquakes in the early a.m. .....

I'll post this...we will miss the sense of awe, wonder, and zest that rattlers bring our way.....and the email alerts telling us where the rattler was centered and how big it was...6.1 last night. 

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

We are Thankful....

that Stacia is feeling better....she was happy and sassy when we got home from PCOC. It was also nice to have a bit more quiet than is the norm the last two days...just keepin it real!

Stacia sleeps on a futon 

I was thankful to get a workout in before PCOC today - and about 1/4 of the way into the morning I realized I probably didn't need a workout today - my PCOC sweeties will take care of that for me on Tuesdays.

 Wow...God is blessing us with lots of new children. Nolan and I  are thankful for a full room of preschool children...and a fun day with no escapees. Nineteen in the big fellowship hall is much more enjoyable than 19 in a classroom. LOL

I am thankful for lunch with Nolan at Cheese Roll - just the two of us. He was gracious to eat all the chicken from my yakisoba for me.  We made a flying run through the commissary and headed home.

We were thankful the weather was great today. We opted for an outing to the "Statue of Liberty Park." Trees have tiny buds....I am DETERMINED to drop all we are doing when Cherry Blossoms bloom this year...and yes, I'm praying we DON'T get a thunder storm the night they bloom this year.

Um - this is an unusual sight

Stacia and Zander were thrilled to have all the walking paths to themselves. We also walked into the residential area behind the park. 

Zander wasn't quite as thrilled with the roller slide. 

Yes, a Kindle and a good series were the right birthday choices. 

We are thankful for spring days in Misawa...and for lovely encounters out and about in Japan.

We have begun working through the parables of Jesus in Family Circle now that Lent is over. I am thankful to FINALLY have children all the right ages to sit still and fully participate in family devotions. It took decades...it's a nice place to be. ::wink::

Michael seems to be coming down with Stacia's bug...prayer appreciated.

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

Roasted Asparagus Salad w/ Chickpeas and Potatoes (Vegan)

This Susan's recipe from Fat Free vegan. Check out her site if you are looking for vegan fare - or just some yummy, healthy side dishes to go along with your meat. 

Observant readers will note there are no chickpeas in this photo. I've been trying a variety of roasted chickpeas and was OUT...I used cashews and it was a hit. 

Ingredients: 

2 medium gold or red potatoes, about 10 oz

1 C cooked Chickpeas

1 bunch asparagus (stateside bunch - about 12 oz), trim and slice into 1 in pieces

1 small onion, cut into thin wedges

2-3 cloves of garlic - unpeeled (I used much more)

1/2 C fat-free balsamic vinaigrette, such as Susan's Balsamic-Raisin Dressing 

salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

*spice up with herbs, red pepper flakes, olives

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 425*.

Cook potatoes until tender but still firm - any way you choose. Allow to cool slightly and cut into 1 inch cubes. Place in serving bowl along with the chickpeas. 

While taters cook, spread the asparagus on a baking sheet and sprinkle the onion over it. In a corner of the sheet, place the unpeeled garlic cloves. Roast until asparagus is tender yet still crisp, about 15 minutes, stirring once after 7 minutes. Remove from oven. 

Set the garlic aside to cool and put the asparagus into the bowl with the potatoes. 

Peel the garlic, mash it and stir in the salad dressing. 

Pour the dressing over the asparagus mixture. Stir gently to combine. 

Season with herbs, salt and pepper. 

Notes: Makes two large one pot meal servings; or four side servings. 

Nutritional Info based on two servings: per 1/2 recipe: 303 cal, 21 cal from fat, 2.6 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 10.7g fiber, 14.5g protein. 

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

A Song, A Prayer, A Vision

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, 

Naught be all else to me, save that thou art;

Thou my best thought by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. 

Be though my wisdom and thou my true word,

I ever with me, and thou with me Lord; 

Be thou my great Father, and I thy true son; 

Thou in my dwelling, and I with thee one. 

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight; 

Be thou my whole armor, be thou my true might; 

Be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower;

O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power. 

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:

Thou mine inheritance now and always; 

Thou and thou only the first in my heart;

High King of Heaven my treasure thou art. 

High King of Heaven, my victory won

May I reach heaven, heaven's sun

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all. 

Translated by Eleanor Hull 1912; other versions are around

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

My Sugary Idol

Sin is ugly and hopeless and for that reason I desperately need the crucifixion and the resurrection. I nailed him on the cross.  I don't want to admit it. I don't want my sin to nail him there. But I did. 

This was brought home to me Friday. I was frustrated. I knew I shouldn't speak...and that was right. I knew I should come home and hit my knees. Deep down I knew God would show me MY sin and I wanted to revel in HIS sin...just a bit longer. On GOOD FRIDAY no less. 

wader via photopin cc

 I knew I shouldn't buy the bag of Poppycock...but I chose to run to the bag of sugary goodness rather than the God of the universe. I deliberately went back to the aisle where it sits - AFTER having resisted through the whole shopping trip. I selected the biggest bag, paid for it, and ripped it open as soon as I shut the car door (and the kids were thrilled I bought it - they didn't know). I did. I chose not to deal with my angry feelings, my sin; I chose to run from the Holy Spirit into the arms of food.

 I suppose in the scheme of things this doesn't seem like much to most who will read this. But God has told me to follow him to freedom from food addiction, from out of control binges....and I CHOSE to run to a mini-binge instead of the arms of Jesus. Because in the history of binges this is small...but in the motivation of my heart this is big. 

Saturday morning I came into His loving presence. I thanked Him for an amazing night of table fellowship with friends. It was an absolutely fantastic night of friendship and plant based food.  I thanked Him for the price He paid on the cross for my freedom...I opened the Word and began to race through the day's reading...so I could turn to the epistle where  I planned to feast....

"Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you. They are totally useless." I Samuel 12:21

I remembered...what for others is an occasional "treat" is a stronghold, an idol, a place of false worship in my life. I simply cannot start down the road; at this point in my healing I cannot handle mini-splurges.  Out of control binges, food, has never helped or rescued me. They are totally useless. Jesus said to follow HIM to Freedom.  He clearly showed me Saturday morning  this is not time for me to enjoy these treats.

And we talked, my patient sweetie and I. I misunderstood his motives. My judging and subsequent idol worship was far uglier than his supposed fault.  Sin is that way. I confessed to him, as I need accountability. I'm done hiding ugly actions - because satan uses what I hide to bind me...browbeat me.

I'm broken.

I have hope only because HE was also broken - for my sin.

In tears, I rejoice. I thank Him. Once again, I truly repent.

I will continue to tear down the altar of this idol one choice at a time.

I will someday walk in total freedom - He has promised freedom as I follow...I should have listened Friday afternoon as I entered the commissary. I didn't.

Yes, I truly believe an idol is anything which I esteem higher than God, which I crave more than God, which I run to in place of God - and Poppycock is not always an idol...but on this day it certainly was. 

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