So it Ends and Begins.....

Today marked my last PWOC Tuesday in Japan....I had a great time with the kids and jumped in to watch the brand new board being installed for the upcoming year of ministry. Praising God for the leadership He provides each year.  I couldn't help think back to the past four years of PWOC. So incredibly blessed by the leadership Michael provided Susane, Elizabeth and Lisa as they jumped in to build a vibrant PWOC.  In the past four years I served as Titus 2, Retreat Coordinator, President and this year unofficial PCOC organizer in Misawa.  Until the past month Michael served as PWOC advisor....so PWOC is a big part of our Misawa adventure....a big part of the kingdom investment we both made here. It also wrapped up two years of serving as PWOC Asia Region President and the 1 1/2 years as PWOC Japan Region President...and of course I couldn't help think of how unexpectedly PWOC changed with the regional and international levels stepped down....a lot to think about.  There just aren't words at this point in time to share how all the "lasts" feel...so... Another last....another ending....but a beginning.....

ABJECT HUMILIATION awaited Tuesday afternoon! 

Polite Japanese Gentlemen: "Maam I'm the packer!" 

Me - "WHAT?" 

Man - "I will move you!"

Me - "I'm not ready for you!"

Man - "You have an appointment...." 

I apologized,  I let him in....he realized I thought he was here to PACK...he was only here to do an inspection...and that was humiliating enough. I assured him things would be organized and the killer dust bunnies gone before his team arrives next Tuesday...but for now...we must make the most of each day with Jared. 

It turns out my sweet groom forgot to tell me about the appointment. 

Jared and the older two met a group of friends on base for more "Jared time."  I had hoped to have all over but it was not to happen. This will work.

Tuesday night was the annual Chapel Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Madeline C stole my heart....what a joy to sit and have dinner with her and her family....  This dinner was another great chance for all of us to touch base with friends....and that would include Jared....the rock star College man returned home. ::snort:: 

Sad Alicia was home sick

I believe with the end of the 0800 service, the end of MOPS and PWOC...we have about hit the lasts and have moved into the start of PACKERS and saying goodbye to good friends who are pcsing in June a month before us.

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

Luvin Japan ~ Swan Park

Trying to catch up! 

We totally LOVE all the parks here in Japan. The kids love them as they are places where a "kid can still get hurt" - in other words they still have a touch of adventure built into them....and yet no one has broken a bone at a park in four years. LOL  I love the relaxing aspects of nature built into the middle of the bustling towns and cities. 

Monday, we visited the park nearest our home...Swan Park. It is one of Jared's favorites. 

There is a geocache in this tower we have STILL not located! 

We had just enough time to run by Momoishi Beach before we needed to be home to play with Colton and Lawson. It has been SUCH a blessing to have this spot minutes from our house....We were happy to show Jared the rebuilding which has been completed since the Tsunami.

Jared MADE THE YOUNGERS DAY....when he told them he could jump over the channel...he took a running jump and at the last minute the edge gave way and he FACE PLANTED in the channel.....it was COLD....so we headed home. LOL We love having Jared home and plan to make the most of this day!

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

Luvin Japan ~ Elementary Commuters

In Tokyo and Osaka we saw them on the train...here in Misawa we see them out walking every day. They are darling...and little tiny kids will be out walking home from school. I've been told the yellow hats are to remind you to be cautious when driving. These littles one grabbed hands and made a dash in front of my car...and I was fine with that as I've been trying to catch a photo for four years of the pure cuteness of elementary students walking to school. 

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

Sunday with Jared

Happy to have this young man home this Sunday! 

We attended the 0800 service. This service will be combining with the 1100 service as of next Sunday to become the "New Traditional Service."  It was one of those "glorious sorrows" to sit in the service and consider the blessed community it has provided and to realize that many of these dear families are also pcsing this summer. 

After the service, Michael did "chaplain stuff" and the kids and I headed for Cinnabon. They were THRILLED that I messed up their order.....I ordered a "normal" for each of the kids as a treat....but um....I thought the normal is what is really the "mini" - so the mini I usually buys them turns out to be the "bite".....ah well....they needed to be sugared up for this day! This was a good time for Jared to touch base with the J family and we enjoyed visiting together in the breathing space between services. 

A funny....Zander confided to Steve (Mr. J) that he was a bit surprised Jared was wearing a pink shirt. ::snort:: Steve assured him he wouldn't wear pink either but it looks rather nice on Jared. 

Michael preached on holiness in the 1100 and 1735 services. All of us were at 1100. Jared and I went with Michael to the 1735 service. Good thoughts to contemplate this week....good times visiting a variety of friends in all the services.

I don't think we could have made Sunday any fuller for Jared.  It will be his only chance to attend chapel so it's nice it worked out he could see it all in one week. He flies next Sunday a.m.

We DID fit lunch and ice cream (and cashew cream for Arielle and me) into the day somewhere. 

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

Luvin Japan ~ Commissary Funnies

This isn't REALLY a Japan issue...and yet...it happens in Japan and I'd not seen it before....Milk with dates 3 months out...funny spellings....and reminders like this....

I'm going to have to remember that shelf dates MEAN something in America. ::snort:: 

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

Beautiful Day @ Towadako

This is the site of Misawa PWOC's past few retreats. I found it ironic to be there on "retreat weekend" with my family. The day was BEAUTIFUL...I believe it has to be the nicest spring day we've had so far....71* or so. It was a "glorious sorrow" to remember times shared with so many different women along this lake. Fun memories from the very first retreat where I was given the label "Onsen Floozie" by SOMEONE ::wink::.....to last year when God invited me to give up chocolate and I began a journey to freedom from food addiction.  Each retreat team, topics, attendees, work of God different....each precious.  In the back of my mind was the thought, "This MAY really be our last time here." I asked if anyone else was feeling melancholy...just a "bit". My memories were leaking out my eyes. ::snort::  The kids DID keep our trip lively....

Jared wanted to find snow. I didn't really want to drive over the mountain next week and was happy when we saw the very last of the snow left from the Towada Snow Festival. LOL

Enough for a decent snowball fight 

We have never taken the lake cruise. It was a great surprise when Michael suggested we go on the cruise! Arielle began to feel ill just before we got on the boat. I thought it was from traveling the gorge..but she's gotten progressively worse as the day went on. 

Getting settled....

Jared thought it funny to be back where he needs to duck

It really is a beautiful cruise. They ran the commentary in Japanese and English so we could understand. They asked us if we needed English. I was glad they had it. 

I learned the ladder some of the ladies climbed down the first year is MEANT to be climbed down. At the bottom is a famous "fortune telling" sight...and tradition has it some monk long ago became the ruler of Towada when he climbed down the mountain and stepped into the lake at that spot.

Note: Zander is certainly NOT taller than me...this must be trick photography!

Poor Arielle is really not feeling well by now. She went to take a nap in the van, hoping it would pass. It didn't.  Jared went out in a paddle boat with Stacia and Zander. He'd been on crutches the time before when they did it. 

We walked on down the beach and gave her time to nap. Stacia collected a handful of "Lake Glass." 

Nolan sprained his ankle yesterday and was a trooper today...as was the quickly worsening Arielle. 

We had planned to stop at North Village on the way home. We found this sign. I know it means they're hibernating closed....I'm wondering if anyone can tell when they may open again? 

Some family friends are packing out on Tuesday. They needed to downsize a table....and knew we were moving to home with TWO eating areas and had one smallish table....we now this wonderfully large and historic table. I'll get some better photos and blog about it later......

...but this is my living room after making room for the dining room table. I'm sure our packers are going to wonder WHY we needed two tables in our home. LOL 

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

Luvin Japan ~ Minatures

I could take photos all day...I love the cute miniature packages of food....drinks, jellies, nutella, ketchup and so much more. 

Jams and such 

Desserts the perfect size - this is a salad plate

Ice creams, puddings, yogurts

Spreads

Syrup

Baking Supplies 

 This is NOT a child's cart...this is the NORMAL sized cart around here....

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