It was not an April Fool's Day joke...

Words have to be carefully considered...but photos will suffice. A new adventure has begun for our family. Godspeed.

From 2010-04-01

From 2010-04-01

From 2010-04-01

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

Deployment Goals

Mike asked us tonight during family circle to discuss our deployment goals.

•  Zander(8) - read for Mike (he says, "Ever since Uncle Nate came no one will let me read my book." ::snort:: I had Nate drill him with games and such but he is sure he hasn't learned a thing.
• Stacia (4) - count in ENGLISH, she's stuck in Japanese....and recite the alphabet
• Nolan(10) - read the New Testament
• Arielle(12) - Play something of Beethoven's
• Jared(16) - grow a goatee - WHAT??????? , spend at least 30 min a day playing with siblings, max out at bench on 160 lb, try to update blog for Dad at least 3x a week
• De'Etta(not as old as dirt) - Workout 5 days a week, get those new tests scheduled ::snort::, memorize James (or Ps 91 because it's really difficult for me), lose weight
• Michael(ancient) - Memorize I John (or 2 John), workout 5 days a week, lose 2 inches of my waist, finish story about Matthew.

Now, I'll have to see if the older four want to send us any deployment goals. I suspect theirs are things like, "survive spring term," "work,"......

 

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

Package

Mom - what fun to have a package to open tonight. Great timing. I thought you would get a kick out of Zander's reaction. Note he's stressed and his been chewing his shirt. All who love our alphabet guy, please do be praying for him to adjust to Mike leaving. I would like to get through this deployment without a big regression to more observable autistic tendencies.

We've been looking for a whistle for Jared....and well everything was great.
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Countdown

Mike worked late last night (after 10 pm) so that he'd have today off. He spent some time talking with his Mom. She sounds very determined to get well and they had a good visit.

We worked on taxes. We were determined to get them finished before Mike leaves. We loaded MP3 players for Mike. I ordered a copy of Soul Craving by Erwin McManus. We're reading it together while Mike travels.

We stashed surprises in Mike's suitcases. This is always dangerous as he's a good snoop. Here he is with the "kisses" we're sending with him....one for each night he's in place.

After all was done we went bowling. Stacia's a blur.

Jared is pleased to announce that he beat Mike in both games.

My hero

Deployment roses....I always get six before he leaves and six when he returns. I was a bit concerned to receive a dozen...but three are for Arielle and three are from Stacia. We'll get a matching set next fall.

We've done much more since I arrived home on Sunday...but we've been living in the moment and I'll have to blog it later.


11 hours....

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

Tale of Two Travels?

This is our life today....two suitcases being unpacked, two being packed....general chaos...but now there's order and Mike's packed....while I'm unpacked.

I'll finish blogging my Korean adventure after Mike departs.

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

Amusing Street Sign

In the past 6 - 9 months our city has added a few street names and signs. Our commander was asked for things the city could to to make Misawa more "Troop Friendly" and having street signs is huge...... Can you read the name? "Say Hello Street". I love it....it's a good reminder to communicate with your neighbors.
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Faith Lift or Faithlift

I've been asked, and have a few moments, so will explain what I'm doing in Korea this week.

No, I am NOT getting a facelift. I AM getting a faith lift. Faithlift is a local conference hosted by Yongsan Chapel/PWOC. It is interdenominational.  There are over 200 women in attendance...that's my guess and I'll look for an official number today. ::grin:: I know over 200 were registered.

From the name you may have guessed that our focus is to help women prosper in their faith.

What am I personally doing here?

Wednesday I spoke to the Yongsan PWOC...helped decorate South Post chapel for Faithlift, and went out to dinner with Adriane's family. Adriane is this year's Faithlift Director. I also met our new regional financial liaison. Sese is an amazing answer to prayer! I met with a Korean/American missionary who lives in China and has a heart and ministry in North Korea...but I'll not share more of that here.

Thursday I attended Yongsan's Leadership Brunch. I helped to answer questions about how our new region functions to support local groups. Lauren and I went sightseeing and had a blast. I spent time encouraging a few leaders.

Friday we went to the MARKET in the a.m. Loved being back in an Asia marked...loved the haggling...love my new "coach" purse. ::snort:: I connected, IN PERSON, with two of our regional team....Rachelle and Lauren. We met with the Yongsan Garrison Chaplain. He offered some great suggetions for us as we brainstorm our on-going training and mentoring of this region's PWOC leaders. We then met with Ch. Arthur Pace and  conducted our first-ever Asia Region board meeting. Sese, Rachelle, Lauren, Ch. Pace and I began....and Tracy  - what a sport - zipped in from the airport and joined us in process. We joined prayer warriors in progress.  We  had dinner, kicked off faithlift....and it is good.

Saturday- we have yet to see all that God has planned for this day. I know that I'll be facilitating/speaking at two workshops.  I know we'll hear from annointed ladies of God in our main sessions, Kwanda Dixon and Brenda Marlin. I sense the transforming work that God plans to accomplish today in our personal lives, in our marriages, families, during deployments and stress......God has good things to share with His daughters today. I have been excited and awake for quite some time.....
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...