Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Lovin Japan ~ Shopping Carts


Yes, shopping carts! The carts here are always an adventure. They are small and short....encouraging one to buy what one needs and not to hoard (or to outfit everyone in the family with a cart and endure the stares as you do a Gherkin size grocery trip). 

The wheels turn in ALL directions. I think this is for great maneuverability...
Stacia is trying to decide if she needs to continue smiling for
me or return a bow....

We have many fun memories of Jared falling flat on his face while trying to push carts when we first arrived. :snort:: 


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

Lovely Day


We are tearing up the 2012-13 school year track. We may even finish the  bulk of our stuff  by the end of  next week. Science, Math and various phonics books are done with the youngers. The olders report the same.  We are happily preparing for our end of the year beach bonfire...... Stacia and Zander will continue to work on math and phonics workbooks after the year is done and through our transition time...but science, history, extra language...finished....

This afternoon I took Arielle and two of her friends to Shimoda Mall for 2.5 hours.  Stacia came with me and we went our own way for some Mommy/Stacia time.  The boys would rather do spelling than go to the mall. 

The older girls spent their entire time taking Sticky Pics. I think I need to round up some of MY friends for some sticky pics. 




Stacia and I took some sticky pics. It took us twenty minutes to figure out HOW to get them to print. They had better options at their booth - I think we'll do a redo. 

 We shopped for craft items to make a spring/summer wreath, for rain boots (an essential spring wardrobe  Stacia informed me), a little tea canister, yummy produce for all...and, oh yes, ice cream for Stacia. 
To remember Japan during tea in the states

The day became over the top wonderful when Michael held down the fort this evening and I enjoyed friend time.

We hadn't enjoyed an onsen together for over a year - at a board planning retreat in 2011. We soaked, relaxed and talked. Meaningful, refreshing, renewing conversation...time for her to relax without her two young blessings....time for us to reconnect and discuss the twists and turns of life...and to share this bittersweet time of starting to say goodbye to Misawa.  Soon she will be in the South and I will be in the West. We hope to work a few more visits in before we part.

God blessed me well when He worked margin into this year...time to live life in community...deeply...instead of 100% full out for community...resulting in  frenzied relationships.... I'm living the cliche..."Every no is a yes to something else." He loves me well.

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

Spring in Towada


It's spring break and today was a gorgeous day! WE are still schooling because 1. most the kids' friends are out of country anyway and 2. we want to finish school in 2 - 3 weeks and are on track to do that.

BUT we pushed hard in school today and after lunch we went to Towada Horse Park - search top left for other posts with more info if you desire.

It was GREAT to be speeding through the Japanese countryside after the winter...though I have proof we had snow on April 14, 2010 (blog book arrived today).


Seem to have the same expression 

You know you're there because there are horses
on the drainage grates
 







I watched these two and thought of the mentors and friends in my life who have come alongside and helped take care of the hard to reach spots. Truly God's gift...even when it nipped a bit. ::snort:: 




I think the book "Cooking with Pooh" inside this pack would be a perfect gift for someone at Christmas....

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