We Passed with Ease

FMO showed up at 0715 to pick up our loaner furniture and appliances.

Nolan had his final appointment with flight med at 0735...we're praying about all the pieces which  need to fall into place to get him a referral in CA before he is out of meds. The meds are tightly controlled.

I had an appointment for a dental cleaning at 0930 but after Nolan's appointment we went up to see if they could work me in. They'd had two cancellations already and I was in and out before 0915.

We all headed over to the house to do a final cleaning.  NOW - here's the irony - when we were in Korea, Michael made all the final inspection appointments and he paid for cleaning. What a gift he gave me. For weeks he has said, "De'Etta we're paying for someone to do that." Today, HE was busy cleaning floors and *I* said, "Mike, I thought this is what we were paying for." I suspect we are just psycho! ::snort::

Our final inspection was a breeze.  Usually your landlord shows up with a cash refund for the rent you've paid. She contacts all the utilities companies and they show up with a final bill, you pay them yen/cash, they stamp your checklist sheet and you're done.   I feared we'd get nothing back from our deposit and have to use this months rent for damage as well. It appears our standards are a bit higher than norm? In our case, Ms. Koishi was the last to show up and we'd already paid everyone. She was in the mood to chat - and that is always fine with us.  She finally looked at the gouge in the floor, walked around the downstairs, told me to throw out our entry mat and gave us all our money back!!! She didn't even look upstairs or dock us for the small patch (6 -9 inches) of ruined wall paper  - which she'd seen previously.

Our garbage man made me cry. As he was leaving he bowed low, spread his arms wide and said, "Nice to have known you." I teared up and bowed.

If you're looking for us at the Inn - look for the flip flops! ::snort:: Not sure what the next stop will be for them!

We had dinner at Papa Genos with Akikosan. After dinner the gals did sticky pics and the guys played in the arcade. A fun night for all of us.  Akikosan summed up what I've been feeling all day, "It seems it all went so quickly!"

Check out the dessert on the left! It's in honor of Tokyo Sky Tower...which is 634 meters high. This is 63.4 cm tall...jello, cornflakes, whipped cream, ice cream, fruit..topped with an ice cream cone and pixie stick.

I can't scan in our sticky pics...but it was a lot of fun. Akikosan has a couple on her phone and will email them to me....here they are adding final touches.

I'm not sure how we kept the boys from discovering these until tonight - but it's probably good for the budget that it was a late discovery. These are PODs -  Panoramic Omni Displays. A person sits in them and has action all the way around them and above them. The seats vibrate and move. You actually play with eight other players from various stores and the Internet at the same time. 

Zander is getting ready for his next round (and has many new ideas for the game he is creating). 

We really and truly are moving.

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

California

"A song for every occasion and an occasion for every song." We LISTENED to this album on our drive to Shipwreck and never focused on it.....then today....Arielle was clicking through the ipod as I drove the kids to the dentist...."You've Had a Bad Day," "Praise you in This storm," - a melancholy lineup to match our somber mood....and then she clicked on this..... It is PERFECT for our PCS season. 

We're still trying to decide which song is perfect for our Japan season....

I am a stone
Stuck here in the ground
Holding onto nothing
Why
Is comfortable uncomfortable right now?
I was made for more

Chorus:

California, far from me
Across the desert to the sea
A million miles away to
Somewhere I don't know
Lift my feet from where I stand
Down the street to foreign land
Anywhere you lead me I will go

Still
Before You now
But I'm not standing still
Move me now according to Your will
I am ready for...

California, far from me
Across the desert to the sea
A million miles away to
Somewhere I don't know
Lift my feet from where I stand
Down the street to foreign land
Anywhere you lead me I will go

I will trust in You
Wherever I am found
Send me somewhere, Lord

Chorus

It's perfect...California, foreign lands, my season of stillness, our determination to follow Him in every area of our lives....

....and it's much more upbeat than the previous songs. LOL

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

Checked In at the Inn

We're moved into the Misawa Inn until the 16th. I wouldn't say we're "settled." 

This is the pile which I thought would be 1000 lbs - our allowance for the fast ship. Many send this EARLY - we opted to send it right before we leave. I also had four boxes of blankets, coats and Korean ceramics I planned to mail this afternoon.

Five packers arrived and made quick work of this last pack out. They were sure I only had about 500 lbs and so we sent the boxes with them as well.

Yuuki provided entertainment as we put the wash in her ears and drops for her infection.

Rubbing her head, shaking her head....

We also had FOUR dental appointments for the children today...x-rays, seeing the dentist AND cleaning in ONE appointment. It seems if you are marked "fly" you are in a different category for appointments. *NO CAVITIES*!!

I was so GLAD Michael had the day off today....not sure how I would have juggled all this with one car if he was at work.

Our first trip in to the base - Michael checked in at the Inn while Stacia visited the dentist. We also dropped Yuuki off at  Doggie Prison  the  "Doggie Hotel." This is actually the nicest kennel I've ever seen.

Our second trip to base. 

A couple of last minute packages for friends and swords for Jared. 

Arielle and I went to bust Yuuki out for a walk. ::grin::

We've come full circle. It was sad to pull out of our neighborhood today. Tomorrow the loaner furniture will be picked up and we'll have our final inspection.  As we visited at the park and walked back to our room, Arielle commented she feels like the "ghost of Arielle" is all over here....and that's what it feels like to come full circle.

Arielle and Nolan walked to Youth Group.....Stacia, Zander, Michael and I went to dinner and now movies in the room.  It's NICE for the older ones to be able to walk to their activities. ::grin:: BUT we wouldn't have traded living in the rice fields for ANYTHING!

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

SAD

I move through this day fully aware it is my last day in my home. Tomorrow we leave our neighborhood and home to move into the Inn. We have loved these four years in the midst of Japanese farm lands. We’ve loved our gentle Japanese neighbors, shared fireworks  and Japanese drinks in the summer evenings, mutually shoveling each other out in the winter. We’ve loved our American neighbors.

Suitcases are laid out in rooms. Boxes have been filled and sealed. I suppose I SHOULD address them and get the custom forms filled out – soon.  Blankets are being washed. Yuukis many blankets and kennel “things” are washed. Cupboards are empty….still need to empty the fridge.  My deadline for this is 6 p.m. when we will make our last trip to Hachinohe and bless another with our “leftovers” – and more.

I’m trying to make time for the kids to play outside with their friends…there really can’t be enough time.  How much time does one need to  prepare to leave friends of the heart? They are also aware this is their last day with their friends…and so I work frantically in the house trying to get it all done without calling the kids in.

I DID schedule an hour of play for myself as well – time to connect face to face one last time with a fellow chaplain’s wife. I’ll see her again at a staff farewell , and a chapel farewell but this will be it for intimate  connecting of the heart.

 My back aches. My head aches. My heart aches.

My heart says, “I can’t,”  my soul reminds “cherish – don’t cling,” and my spirit shouts, “Be strong and of good courage!” 

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

One Call From the Uniformed Member

Nolan had to come in with me this a.m. to take Michael to the office. He had a fasting lab. Our plan was for me to drop him at the Mokuteki- where he’d enjoy a leisurely breakfast and read a book, while I worked out at the gym. I do miss having exercise equipment at home.  We had several errands to run before we headed home.

All went as planned (or so I thought) until I came out of the gym.  The café was closed to strip and seal the floors (my best guest). I had no idea where Nolan was. About this time the phone rang and Michael said if I could get the dog to a 1:00 p.m. appointment she could be seen TODAY. ONE CALL FROM THE UNIFORM and BINGO they found an appointment. I’ve called 2 – 3x a week for 3 weeks. All at once,  I was both ticked and elated. Our problem was that I had errands to run, the dog was across town, I didn’t know where Nolan was and I had a farewell lunch starting at noon. We knew I wouldn’t be able to be back on base with the dog at 1:00 p.m.

PLAN C (and it was only 0900) kicked in….I found Nolan, picked up Michael, we drove home, loaded Arielle and Yuuki into the van and off they headed. 

Meanwhile I began sorting through the things which remain in our house to see which should go in a suitcase, which should go with our fast ship, which should be mailed and if there happened to be more which could go to the thrift store. 

I broke from moving madness to enjoy an oasis of sanity with the chapel spouses…the only jarring note is that it was MY farewell.  I so enjoyed this chance to rest and visit with these ladies…we missed those who couldn’t make it…and I’ll keep looking for an opportunity to say goodbye.

Jen drove us all back to the base…I picked up Yuuki and Arielle. Yuuki now has a health certificate, shots and meds.  She is fighting an ear infection. She’ll fly with us on the 16^th.

I stopped by Pass and ID and finished our paperwork on vehicles.

I stopped by Hero Net and returned our modem and paid for the 5 days of Internet use we had in July. 

We got home in time for Arielle to watch Colton and Lawson. Today is probably the last time I’ll have a solo conversation with Christina. How we’ll miss this dear family.  Christina was the very first mentor group member….

Stacia saying goodbye to her plants. We purchased slips when we were in the Misawa Inn for three months. I promised the kids we’d have a house one day for the plants to grow in. I headed back to the chapel to get Michael and to drop off a few chapel things I found I still had – AND THE PLANTS – which will be picked up there by a new owner.

We continue to eat down the freezer and cupboards.  Shepherd’s Pie tonight for the meat eaters in our midst…and the last two Lentil Loaf Patties for Arielle and me. 

After family circle, a bit of discussion and regrouping on the packing….Michael and Arielle disappeared (bed I presume) and these three played a new Japanese card game Nolan learned on this weekend’s Club Beyond trip.

This week is going to be CRAZY busy and then we’ll fly out. Eight more days. 

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

Swim Beach

This holiday weekend has been rather overcast and rainy. We have a keen awareness  of only this and one more  weekend left in Japan – we got out and made the most of it….but this MORNING we woke to BRIGHT SUNSHINE!  The older two are still on a Club Beyond trip.  Michael needed to go spend 6 -8 hours at the office. He thought (rightfully so) this would be a GREAT time to tie up loose ends without a lot of interruptions.  I’m not sure what the upcoming work week will look like for him – I only know we have a fast ship leaving, two final inspections and a host of other “check list” items to finish up.  I hope his time in the office today helps to color the rest of our time here with  the brush of sanity.

After we dropped Michael at the office we drove around until we saw a wifi connection come up. I quickly went through email. Next up was a run through the commissary. We have one last opportunity to bless before we fly and I wanted to pick up a few things towards that end.

On the way home we decided this would be the perfect day to go to the SWIM BEACH…Veedol Swim Beach. We spent every day in July/August here in 2010. In 2011 the beach was closed due to tsunami damage – as were most the beaches in our area. In 2012 we spent a couple of hours nearly every day in June – August at the beach. THIS summer it’s been cold, windy, and rainy and we’ve not made it…but TODAY…PERFECT.

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

Street Art

This is our street. Actually this is taken as I stand in front of our home….the entire street is decorated, as well as the street which turns left and goes to the next  street over.

I’m glad the kids have had the fun of a neighborhood where most are fairly even keel about street art. ::grin::

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