Final Day in Japan

I sat with Jesus this morning and told Him I really needed to hear from Him as I faced this day - our final full day in Japan - for this season. 

"Even here...." Um....o.k. "even here..." and then I remembered that was a MOPS theme a couple of years ago....and how powerfully Psalm 139:9-10 had spoken to me during our WILD PCS to Japan (Click and Scroll down until you see "PCS of a Career" if you are unfamiliar with this story)....

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, EVEN THERE your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."  Lay hold of me - hold on to me - metaphorically can mean to "settle in the land." God has surely settled us in this land....and I trust He will settle us in CA.

Even here - moving from a place we love...He is wise enough to lead us; He is strong enough to hold on to us....and so we RAN LIKE FOOLS TODAY!!!!

We ran a zillion errands.

I continue to download movies and tv shows....really should have done this when we had FAST Internet.....

We made time to savor the day....the scenery....and to sit with the reality of our emotions.

We checked in early at the AMC terminal. I guess they weren't going to do this today as the plane coming in to Misawa was late. When we showed up with 11 suitcases, 6 carry ons, 6 "personal items," 6 military ids, 5 passports, 4 water bottles and a beagle in a kennel.....they went ahead and let us check in. ::snort::   They said it will be much easier for them to do it NOW and it will certainly  make tomorrow much easier for us. There is concern the plane will be late leaving tomorrow...praying it isn't as it will affect plans further down the road from Seattle.

Nope - I don't think one more bag is going in there...

Nolan was surrounded by bags

Yuuki is wonderful. She happily jumped into her kennel....and was very well-behaved as we waited an hour for the guys to  be able to check us in. She DID seem to give us an incredulous look that said, " REALLY? WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? You drag me all the way out here, put me in a box, put me on a scale and now take me back to the doggie hotel? "

It is a HUGE relief to have all the checked bags OUT of our room. 

Next on our agenda was our traditional balloon release. This is a special family circle where we discuss the good and the bad of this assignment....the need to cherish and not cling...to forgive and release the hard, bad and ugly...before we move on.... To symbolize the end of the season, we each release a balloon. We began this when we left another place we loved - Alaska.  My WORD - Stacia looks so young at our balloon release in San Angelo four years ago; and our family was significantly larger on that day!

Some were reluctant to release....

We were FAR from base and flight lines.....and it was hard to drive away from our home.....so we stopped at the beach down the road....

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