Well-Executed Day

Tuesday was a great day. 


We schooled. 


We grilled and had our big meal at lunch time. Stacia helped with prep and was EXCITED that she'd made a "kokeshi" - Japanese Doll.....sort of cracked me up when I remembered Bre and Krista making corn husk dolls a couple of decades ago. 

We took care of "things" on the list...like checking which new school books I still need to order, checking out the new spelling program and  preparing packages for the mail - seven of them. 

We took Jared to football.

The youngers and I went to the swim beach. A storm blew in. We kept swimming. It was a blast to introduce the kids to the pleasure of swimming in a warm ocean in the RAIN.....cool sounds of the rain when you duck under....fresh water on your head, salt water splashing up.....and then there was a rainbow...that seemed to start at the wharf and touch down in the ocean.  I was glad we got caught in the storm.

The day ended with a 2 1/2 hour Skype call with a ministry partner.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

So You've Had a Bad Day....

This house sits on a winding, corner across from  the Kihi Shrine. Last winter, someone slid into the corner of their home. They finally re-sided the house, and put up this "fence".  I was skeptical about the fence...but it seems to have stopped a car slamming into their home again.

Look at those tires suspended in the air.....he must have gone airborne.

This spring we discovered both Arielle and Nolan had outgrown their bikes.  We thought the bikes at the BX were too expensive. I've been shopping around off base and they are even more. These two bikes were on sale yesterday. I bought them. Of course it's so HOT that we aren't riding bikes much today.

We're still getting lettuce, peppers and such from our planters. 

Other than  the above - today I went to the gym even though Jared is done with 2 a Day practices. I picked up a check from the chapel. I spent a bit of time on local PWOC things, and regional too. We did school. We worked hard to get out of here and play while Jared had afternoon practice, but it wasn't meant to be. Things kept going "wrong".  Then we remembered youth group and decided to spend the afternoon getting packages ready to mail - but didn't have boxes. I'll pick some up tomorrow a.m.  

We also planned to work on school plans...but it has to be in the 90's upstairs...weally, weally HOT. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Humanitarian Aide Drop - Michael

For those interested, I have attached the link to the British Forces News article about the last humanitarian aide drop her in Kabul. I will post more photos later.


-Michael


{Editor's note - click the title or click here to view the clip. 
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Stacism

Today as I talked to Arielle and Stacia, I said, "Stacia, Arielle is such a great sister for you. You're lucky to have her."

She responded, "Yes, I'm lucky she is MY sister. I remember the day she was born!"  In a cooing, sweet voice.....

Arielle and I cracked up as we realized she was channeling BreAnne and Krista who often tell her they are lucky to have her for a little sister and they remember the day she was born. ::snort::

In another nod to her 25 year old sister....Stacia kissed a frog hoping for a prince. 


Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Is it over yet????

Football is good for me. I go to the gym while Jared goes to football in the a.m. I've missed the gym. I've lost 4 lbs in the last 1 1 1/2 weeks. LOL

Why are we too busy to breathe? Football.

Jared got stitches out and is able to fully practice.

MOPS planning retreat today. Followed by a great lunch at a restaurant close to us.

School continues.

Beach date yesterday. Tonomi Clan today.

Fall Rally prep continues. I've had 3 inquiries today from ladies brand new to Misawa who saw the info on the blog and would like to know how to join PWOC and attend the rally... someone is reading the blog. Always affirming to hear. LOL

I'll leave you with photos...

Look - our own burgers!

Yes - we DO love Misawa!

Emotions in these eyes (of any sort) make me smile. 

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Humanitarian Trip #2 - Michael

We have been working towards this trip for some time.  We had one planned a bit earlier, but decided to put it on hold for a variety of reasons.  This trip was coordinated with our British contingent.  They handled our security detail and transportation - and a fantastic job at that.  All told we had seven volunteers to do the distribution and a large number handling everything else.

Right after the worship service on Sunday, I mean right after - amen, bless you, we gotta run kind of "right after, we ran over to movement control (MoveCon) dispatch for a briefing.  After the briefing we had a few minutes to load the supplies into a van, grab our personal gear, and head for the vehicles.  The drive over was no more or less eventful than any other drive.  It had its normal share of crazy Kabul drivers where any lane can be the right lane.  We arrived on site right on time.  Our folks from the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) had already organized the people to receive the supplies.

 

 We brought shoes, toiletries, clothing, paper, pens, pencils and a whole assortment of other items. to give away.  A team of folks had come by on Saturday to organize and build bags to give away.  We put together 86 bags in about an hour - they did a great job!  We had a couple of big boxes of candy and other such goodies that we set aside to hand off to the village elders at the very end.  They were to give them out to all of the families equally after sunset - it is Ramadan, you know.

The giving went very well with only a few glitches and hitches.  A few kids got through and decided to assert themselves as someone who should receive a bag of supplies.  I had to pick one up and set him outside of the group in the care of a man who was there to help us with this sort of thing - although to be fair, he apparently did not know that that was why he was there.

After the distribution of supplies, we, SSgt B and I along with our NGO representative spent a few minutes talking with the IDP camp elders.  We had to explain the purpose of the goodie boxes.  While we were talking, our British security team told us it was time to go.  With farewells to the elders and to our NGO rep, we piled into vehicles and were gone.  The security team collapsed the perimeter and the show was over except for the ride through traffic with all of the crazy Kabul drivers where the right of way is defined as that which gets me to my destination by the most direct route.

We had a British PA team with us as well as a US combat camera Marine.  I will be posting more photos as they come available.  If anything shows up in the media, I will post that as well.

- Michael




Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Water Baptism in Afghanistan - Michael

It is not too often that you have the privilege and honor of baptizing someone in a deployed environment, but this was one of those moments. It was a few weeks ago that Amber asked to be baptized. This began the search for a suitable baptistry. We began by asking our woodshop folks for help, but then saw a packing crate that appeared to be very adequate for the job at hand. We had the woodshop guys come by and shorten it a bit. We needed to line it, but could find no plastic anywhere on the compound. It was just as well because when we were giving the crate a very close inspection, we noted that there were a significant number of lag bolts missing from the bottom. Basically, if we had tried to use it, the sides would have blown out.   Not good.

We then had the woodshop guys build one from scratch. They had it done in under an hour. They came by to caulk it shortly after that. It did spring a couple of leaks, but we were able to stanch the flow of water just long enough. We threw in a few buckets of very hot water, and we were ready.

Amber had never been baptized. We spent a little bit of time talking about the meaning of baptism. The next day, after the evening service, we had the actual baptism. We read a bit of Scripture, and then we rehearsed the technique so she would not drown (it is always good to avoid drowning, particularly in this setting), and then came the moment. She affirmed her faith in Jesus, and then in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit... It was a great time.

I hope to do a couple more before I am out of here.

Blessings - Michael



Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...