Monday, December 19, 2011

SNOW

We have been discussing what Christmas looks like. This, because I commented to the kids as we drove through the snow, "It's beginning to look like Christmas."  They noted it was WHITE - but gone were the store lights, decorated homes and such....and they are right. LOL  Now we're asking ourselves which says Christmas more to us - decorations of the US or the Snow of Japan?  I think the children were a bit "bummed" at the lack of Christmas finery in our home....but really....there just isn't TIME to decorate AND travel. LOL 

Just a few shots of  our morning......

Enforcing my will to stay home today....

View from the side of our home


View from our patio

Guess those daisies are ready to move

UNDER our patio roof....

from the back yard 
I do find myself wondering how folks in the temporary housing a bit south of us are doing this season. 


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Gherkins in Transit - Part 2

It's always disconcerting to completely lose a day - but there you have it. It happens each time we fly back to Japan from the states. LOL
Uncle Sam in Christmas Clothes? 

We DID get on the Space A flight back to Misawa. I'm not sure WHY these flights are always louder than any others...parents seem to figure we're all family and will understand...which we do...but really *I* am tired too and don't want to watch your children run up and down the aisles while *you* nap! Ah well - the price is right and you do meet some nice folks on Space A. LOL

If only I could master this talent - I did slip him some purple meds as he was about to puke and I thought maybe it would help - it knocked him out! 

The kids and I traveled 26.5 hours from the time the wheels went up in San Angelo until we arrived at our door in Misawa. What a shock to see all the snow. It was a bit of a zinger to discover our van had been moved - or at least it wasn't where we expected...but logic said it had to be somewhere close...and it was a couple of parking lots over. ::snort::
Somewhere between WA and JPN


We napped. Then we headed out to pick up Michael and Jared. They were due in at 6:45 p.m.  The roads were icy, the snow was blowing...and I was wondering where TX went. ::snort::  We saw a terrible accident in front of us. The whole front of the car was simply sheared off and it was spouting gas....and cars were still trying to squeeze by. I executed a 10 point turn and headed "around the block." I had forgotten that going "around the block" in Misawa is not always as simple as one would think. ::snort::  We DID find our way back to the airport road and though we were late...the plane was later still.  They did a couple of approaches and landed about 40 minutes late....

We slept well....Today the agenda calls for slowly easing into life....self-care. I'm remembering Victoria telling me "Self-care is not selfish," and had determined to take it slow this week....I HAVE been gone for 6 weeks if you take conference into account. LOL  Somehow self-care is morphing into decluttering and cleaning the fridge.....The kids are enjoying wii and will head out to the snow soon.

You know, as much as possible,  I think we'll just spend the time between now and the New Year savoring being together in one home in Misawa. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...