We Did It....

Michael and Jared rode bikes home today. They enjoyed the exercise and I enjoyed not having to wait around base until it was time for them to come home! Today was a full day....PWOC Bible studies, a vote for the new local board, and then a retreat team meeting after the study. All good - Semper Gumby!


I spent several hours trying to get a PERSON to talk too about my airline tickets for next week. We've decided I will not be flying to TX for PWOCI Train the Trainers. The situation in Japan is still far to fluid for me to take the chance of being out of the country when I need to be HERE....and I don't want to take the chance of not being able to get back home again once out of the country. Honestly, I'd thought the reactors would be under control or not...and I'd either be evacuated or have 100% confidence that there was no impending evacuation. We just can't tell.  So....I keep trying to reach a person from the online office where I booked my tickets....I have a bad feeling about this. 


Rather late in the day we gave the pressure cooker a try. I wanted Michael home for my first attempt. He had a great time playing nuclear scientist and letting pressure release etc as it cooled down. 

We made a roast...let it warm while I made garlic mashed potatoes in FIVE minutes. I think I'm going to like this little pot. Shoot, I can do squash in 10 min - that's faster than the microwave and no extra radiation. I like it. 

Someone snapped this photo at some point this evening......not much to report...we continue to discuss local news and world news...we continue to wonder what our spring and summer will look like...and we continue that Someone far bigger than us has a plan. 

I have a plan tomorrow to support our local economy....guess what it may be? 

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

Neighbor Sighting

Zander ran in with this and said, "The Japanese lady gave this me and told me thank you for staying!" Wow - now THAT is the sort of pick me up a person needs after dealing with airlines all day trying to get money back....yep...I may never fly again. I'll stay right here in my civil, polite part of the world. ::snort:: 

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

Science Gone Wacky

Science....science.....the kids did this thing with an egg inside a plastic egg. It was to show how fragile your brain is and how your brain is protected. They were to take two eggs and put them in the plastic eggs. One with no cushion and one cushioned with honey. 


The first one had no cushion. They dropped it as instructed and were told it would splatter. It didn't. It was fine. 


Feeling rather cocky, they then added the honey to the second egg.  They were told it wouldn't break due to the honey.....

You guessed it!

I think we'll stick to trying to find the seismograph and Geiger counter instead.....real life science that's what we need. ::snort:: 

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

What Would YOU Do?

If you looked up Sunday a.m. and saw THIS in the pew next to you....

You can't really see it all in the photo. Zander cut his hair before church Sunday a.m. and wore a hat until right before church....yep, uneven front, cut around the ears, hacked at the neck.....

Why? The hair was touching his ear, neck and forehead.  This is what happens with Sensory Issues if Mom doesn't stay engaged. Though I HAD asked him if he wanted me to cut it about a week ago. 

Today, I did my best to even it up - Michael thinks we may need to buzz it - I'm wondering if we can wait it out.  

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

Newest Human Video

Part of Misawa's youth human video team, ALIVE, led us into worship yesterday with this....



The big candle has three parts and represents God/Trinity. Arielle is the middle girl. I sure hope this works this time.

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

You Know You're Conserving Energy When:

Or so....

11 - A candle light dinner has NOTHING to do with romance

10 - The egg timer tells you your bath is over

9 - Puzzles, games and reading replace wii, movies and cyber surfing

8 - You’re grilling in 6 inches of snow

7 - The kids ask, “Which load of laundry are we on today?”

6 - The honey and butter are solid on your counter

5 - You can see your breath when you step out of the living room

4 - Everyone stands around the stove while you’re cooking dinner

3 – Solar Lanterns become your living room light and glow sticks become your night lights

2 - You can’t resist putting your hands in the oven when you take out the weekly bread baking

And the number one way you know you’re conserving energy?

 1 -  It takes nerves of steel to sit your bum on the toilet seat


Please - add to the list. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Then and Now

The last time I'd gone to our beach was when we took Carol out looking for sea glass. That was a fun day. I loved sharing our special beach with Carol, a special friend. Fun to connect a past assignment with a current assignment. 

On our way home for church today, Mike pulled in to Kaihohen (Momoishi Beach area)...there is yellow tape up so you can no longer park in the parking lot....I'll post a photo here so the kids can see what things look like now...

The area has a somber feel to it now. Several other Japanese families were out, doing what we were doing I think....visiting a favorite spot, considering the events of the past week, sort of stunned and struck at all that has happened. I wanted to simply kneel down and spend some time in prayer.....but it wasn't the time...yet. 

Here's the gatehouse we always told the kids would be closed to stop storms and tsunamis from going up the "river" and destroying homes....

We've walked along this wall often..... 

It's just a small piece of the bigger picture...but it's our picture.....

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