She's Turned into a Blamed Hippie

I took Arielle to the orthodontist where she shed various stops, wires and brackets. She still has a mouth full of metal, but much less.

I also took Stacia to the doctor. She has pneumonia. I'm hoping the Z pack will help her sleep much better and breathe easier - soon.

Meanwhile, Arielle decided to try her hand at tie dying again. She continues to decorate my old white napkins. I really need to get a t-shirt for her to do - these are pretty.

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

Twist - Twist

SICK kids.....we've been in various states of illness since before our vacation. Arielle finally succumbed. It's fairly normal to hear hacking, see Air Borne and Green Smothies and Kleenex everywhere. 


Michael is now sick.  Everyone but me is really sick. I'm about 4 weeks out so now have an occasional cough. 


In an effort to keep the kids entertained INSIDE, out of the wind, we brought out the Twister board that Krista made us. 

My friend, Carol, says, "Good life lessons from twister! Greatest how to hold your bladder while laughing as you imitate a pretzel. Comes in handy in leadership :-)". 

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

Terrific Tuesday

School - check!

Last week of spring PWOC Bible Study - check!

Farewell PWOC potluck for pcsing PWOCers - check!

Garden - ah - garden! Small....but there....I think I need to plant some more things...but WHAT?

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

More Kits Delivered

God is good. Two days and we added 90 grocery kits to the 94 transition home kits, printed up 100 postcards to go with kits, found 7 vehicles and drivers and set off to Miyako Shi. This brings our total up to 212 kits and 135 food kits, plus various other assorted boxes of produce  and goods delivered by the chapel. 


Jared went along with us on this trip. It was his first time to see the devastation. These are areas that you are not allowed to drive to and STOP - so you take photos out the window as you drive. 

Each town has a mascot   - this one cracked us up. 

Unloading kits assembly line style. 

Combat boots are a pain in Japan

Misawa Chapel and CRASH team

Mike had to move the van from where I had managed to get it....and he was impressed when he realized *I* had sandwiched it up on the sidewalk between, guardrail and retaining wall. LOL 

These are the "transition homes" that have been built for residents of Miyako who have lost their homes. 

This was a bitter sweet trip as I realized that by the time the next one is organized I will no longer be quite so deeply involved with this project. I've had to move over to make room for others to lead this project as I get back to investing in my 5% - the 5% of activities I do which no one else but I can do. We'll continue to be involved, we'll continue to donate and volunteer hours as we can - but I will not be spending 40 - 60 hours a week pulling the various aspects of this project together. 


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

Easter in May

Our long awaited Easter Program 2011 was tonight. The kids were darling. They all did a great job. I had some favorites who stole the show....but I won't post their photos as I don't have permission. I will say that worship banners and 3 yo are hilarious after about 15 min. LOL 


Here's a shot of Arielle - the middle school drama team wove a drama throughout the songs and such. Arielle is on the far right....

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

Easter Practice, Germs, PAC, Shopping

The younger ones have been fighting a the crud I had before our vacation. They are losing the battle. Arielle  has been determined all week NOT to catch any of their germs. She must NOT be sick before the Easter Play tomorrow night. 

This morning was the annual PAC planning session. I think a lot of great things were covered. 


Arielle had Easter Program Practice afterwards. Yes, Easter in May because we had a tsunami and voluntary departure at Easter Time this year. Who says you can't celebrate Easter year round anyway? 


Anna and I found out late last night that Miyako would like us to bring down the remaining kits on Monday. They would also like us to add groceries. She and I spent the afternoon shopping for groceries for 90 families. All in all a fun and productive day. 


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

Buying Produce

In Texas we bought our produce in cases and divided it amongst friends weekly.  Things cost more here....but we DO live in the midst of Japan's farming communities. 


Today we visited our favorite produce market out here by us. We can walk to this. Hyakka Ryousai - not sure if that is the name of the restaurant or the market but it works. This is where we went with Nate to hand pick our strawberries with scissors. Yum. 


Today we stopped in the banana house.......

I'm guessing this is to speed up the ripening process? I know it works in a paper bag with green bananas bought at HEB. ::snort:: 

There were goats 

Bunnies 

Promise of pineapples

This is about as good as it gets here for watermelons

Organic Buffet restaurant - also a bakery and ice cream. 

We discovered that while you CAN pick your own strawberries they frown on picking your own bananas....but yum...those were GREAT...and just the perfect size for a small snack...though it took 6 or 8 in our green smoothie ....

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