Saturday, May 04, 2013

You'll Never Guess....


...what we did Sunday morning..... We set up the big screen and caught Jamin's last race at the Lonestar Conference Championships. We missed Sunday School - but who could pass up the opportunity to watch him run again? 





I can't find the screen shots....but oh well....it was fun! Jamin ran 10 K and turned around and ran 5K the next day.....not something I'd recommend...but hey.....you're only young once.  ::wink::


These young men have the distinction of being the first Angelo State Men's Cross Country team to bring home the Conference Trophy in 21 years!

The women won as well and it may be the first time both the men and women won.... 

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

10K at the Lonestar Conference Championships


We often check Pinger first thing in the a.m. to see if we have any text messages from our older Gherkins or Mom G. OK - we check it first thing every a.m. 

This morning there was a link to the Lonestar Conference Championship page. On this page is a livecam. Jamin had told us the time of his 10 K race.....we rearranged plans, set up the projector, big screen and the lap top and gathered around to watch.  We were so thankful we got the message in time, the feed worked, the internet worked and Michael was HOME as it's a Saturday over here. 

This was the moment when we spotted him...and he waved at US.....and I realized how amazing it was to be able to sit in Japan and share this moment with him. 
The back-story is Michael and I had a conversation this morning where I admitted I struggled with giving up the dream of being present in our adult children's lives and with our parents if God should call us to the mission field. Though I did work through it all while I viewed Cherry Blossoms earlier in the week....it was an emotional talk...and somewhat irrational as we don't know we are called to missions! ::snort::  

I then checked texts and found myself living the moment with Jamin just hours later. How wild is THAT? 

Arielle runs every morning....Michael told her she could "do that" as she watched the 10K (6.2 miles) race...she asked, "Why?" ::snort:: 

We did not know during the race that the reason Jamin started in the inner lane meant he was the top seed going into the race. WOW...We also did not know  he was trying to break the school record....and he came within 8 seconds of doing so....
Jamin is the yellow jersey at the front of the pack


I know this was disappointing to Jamin and he wanted to run a "better race," but we are amazed! To think this began when Michael allowed a VERY STRONG WILLED  3 year old to jog with him around Hardin, MT. 

He ran the 10 K in just over 32 minutes...that's booking....and last we heard he was taking an ice bath and preparing to run the 5k tomorrow....which will be 7:25 p.m. TX time on the 4th.....9:25 a.m. on Sunday a.m. for us. We plan to go in a bit late to Sunday school and watch the 5 K race as well. 

32 minutes....6.2 miles...10K...that is a long time to run around a track....

He got stuck in the outer lane...that may have been his eight seconds...but next year I plan to be sitting in the stands at the Lonestar Conference....and I'm  betting with enough Gherkins cheering he can find those 8 seconds. ::wink::

We're proud of you son! 

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

Holland Award - Go Jamin


Jamin (21 yo son) has been tearing up the track as he runs for Angelo State University.  This week he won the Holland's Award for the men's cross country team. The award is voted on by teammates based on sportsmanship, teamwork, ability and being a conscientious player! What a great award.  

Yes, I do stalk photos of the older Gherkins and have some to share. ::snort:: 
Men's Cross Country Team - Jamin in black vest

ASU 2013 Cross Country Team 

Here are a few shots from the year....We couldn't be prouder of Jamin. He's worked HARD the past two years to train and has participated in both Track and Cross Country. He was a walk on to the team....convinced the coach to give him a shot if he could run a mile in a certain amount of time....he's now running about 5 min miles and has a scholarship. 











I love the fact that his photo hangs in the Applebee's in San Angelo....really LOVE it...as I posted on Facebook when I saw it...."Shame on those of you who thought his photo would be on the Post Office wall." ::snort:: 

We had the joy of WATCHING in REAL TIME as he ran the 10K today in the Lonestar Conference Championships....blog post to follow. 

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

Weeks are Passing Swiftly


As I look back on this week I note  it was FULL.... a good kind of full. 

I had three outings with three different young women. These were times of relaxing, refreshing, mutual investing in each other and the kingdom. Good stuff....and two of the outings happened at onsens...always good as well. One was the black water onsen. I think Akikosan is right - I think it makes me younger each time I go. ::snort:: 

Wednesday night was the AWANA Pinewood Derby..... There were a variety of cars....
Via Shannon Carollo photography

 Stacia's was number 76! Shiny pink with purple flames on the sides and front...
Shannon Carollo Photography

Look at Madeline - the sweet Cubby who won the derby! Chaplain Power. Hooah! 
Via Shannon Carollo Photography
 Stacia did not win...BUT in our book she won the sportsmanship award....and we celebrated at home with ice cream for the kids! 

I kept the van Thursday and fit a trip to the commissary in after I dropped Michael at work. THEN we raced to a nearby park to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms. They were just starting to open.  We KNOW if a storm hits they'll disappear.... I'd forgotten it was Golden Week and the parks would be full. Everyone was rather solemn at the park. I imagine they were thinking of the beauty and brevity of life. There were several vans from Senior Citizens homes.  It really was a solemn place...until the G's arrived. I took the two younger ones aside and explained...and then we walked and reflected quietly as well....The older two and I had a talk about how we felt with this being our "last" cherry blossom season in Japan. 

No, it wasn't staged....
 This park has a playground below a hill.....and a tower and campground with walking paths at the top of the hill. We hiked to the top and were the only ones up there...so I let the kids ride their scooters. 


Arielle is getting quite elaborate with the hairstyles she creates for Stacia each day. This was a fun one! 


We dropped the younger 3 at home...Nolan watched the two and Arielle came to watch a friend's babies so the two of us could go to Hirahata Onsen. We enjoyed the rare experience of being the only ones at the onsen for a bit of time.

We continued to declutter and clean the house. We still don't have orders but have been promised they are now at AFPC.

We believe the orders are going to come through for Jared to be able to visit for a 1 1/2 weeks in the near future. He'd love to come home one last time before we move.

Thursday night was our last Protestant Fellowship Dinner. These are always chaotic fun! Nate has been sharing thoughts he has on how to hear from God. I found much to process and will do that slowly over the next week or so. It was fun to have time to sit and visit with friends I don't see often enough.

I met another young friend for tea on Friday...and then attended a farewell for our Command Chief and his sweet wife, Terri. They are moving to Yokota AB where I know they will be as big a blessing as they've been here in Misawa.

I simply cannot find the ice packs so when Stacia slammed her fingers in the door I pulled a pound of butter out of the freezer. LOL

We had thought we'd go to Hirasaki Castle today -even though it IS Golden Week - and see the blossoms....but we received a text via pinger with a link to watch Jamin run in the Lonestar Conference Championships via LIVESTREAM....and that was too good an opportunity to miss. 

The older two went to movies and games with Club Beyond tonight. The rest of us popped popcorn and watched The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. 

This is a quick recap...it doesn't share the conversations we've been having, the lessons God's been teaching,  or our feelings and thoughts as the time rushes past....but it shares a glimpse. 

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