Sunday Blessings

A long Sunday - three worship services. Blessed to experience the full gamut of worship - one God; many expressions...liturgical...contemporary...really contemporary. All fantastic in their own way. 


We also attended the best farewell I've ever attended....unfortunately, it was for Scott, Tara and family.....and sometime in there it dawned on Tara and I that Tuesday will be our last time to see each other as I fly on Wednesday and she'll leave before I return. 


Saturday was my last prayer walk with Ruth. She and I then went to the onsen. We realized that she'll leave the morning after I return.


Not saying Goodbye...just "I love you till later"....that should work.


Too tired to say much else tonight...the little ones were troopers. 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Misawa's Dream Team

Spent this day loving on my local PWOC team.....these women have been such a BLESSING! God knit our hearts together and produced much healing and fruit in the process. To Him be all the glory.

Mandy, Tara, Lisa 

We had lunch - we finally got a board photo (minus Mary and Susan). I shared words, they shared words, we laughed, we cried, we marveled at God in our midst. How we love Him and each other too. 

Back - Tara, Ruthi, De'Etta, Kristin, Lisa, Christina
Front - Jessica, Christie, Mandy, Muriel
Unseen - Samson

Half of our group are Pcsing and so this was my last chance to be with many of them as I leave on the 13th to travel to Korea and Tokyo to help train new local Exec boards.   What a dream team! We had young and older, civilian and military, Air Force, Navy....This was service the way I believe God means it to be....fun, loving, caring...and we GREW to know HIM more too....and had two babies during the year too as well as many PWOC babies.

And BTW - such deep relationships cause pain when the "goodbyes" come...but they are oh-so-worth-it.

After lunch I headed to Lisa's home. Lisa has agreed to be the interim president for Misawa as we all pray a new President to the front. (PWOC requires you to take a year's break after being on a local board for 3 years....and I'm currently wearing many regional hats as that board is well....small). She and I spent a couple of hours with her dragging info out of me and me fire hosing her with info I knew she'd like to have. ::snort::

I ran home, grabbed the Gherkins and headed back to base for the Chapel's Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

One last time....It was an HONOR to lead this group of women. I've come to love each one deeply and have been profoundly moved by the trust they placed in me and their God as many stepped out of comfort zones to serve in new ways this year.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Three years living in Japan and I finally did it

Everyone said I would. I didn't give in. BUT this week - I did.....

I got tired of rice and small potatoes....and I bought the FROZEN baked potatoes. They are cheaper than potatoes in Japan and they are BIG....I did it. I caved...and it was heavenly having a baked potato with the salmon.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Today....

• Ephesians and Revelation 1 - good stuff. 
• Regional emails and skype. 
• Preparing for local final board meeting tomorrow (party). 
• Organized PWOC corner and finally got rid of this. 

• Got 5 boxes for the thrift store - went through my room. 
• Grilled veggie dogs and salmon. 
• Made Monster cookies for board tomorrow. 
• Continued to plan WILD Japan. 
• Decided not to buy plane tickets for Misawa - Tokyo. It will be much easier to just take the train on that leg and then fly internationally. 
• Couldn't sleep last night until 5:30 a.m. - really, really trying to be faithful on these meds and hoping we can adjust well in a few weeks. MUST remember to make the appointment now. LOL 

Choosing Joy!

©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Garden 2012

Finally! It's been so cold and rainy that we are behind - but yesterday we planted. Unfortunately, not being a real gardener and not reading Japanese, we couldn't find the herbs we wanted.....but we'll try again soon for the herbs. 

Zander's watermelon (not a chance)

Stacia's flowers

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Zander's New Passion

The bare-feet COULD explain the monster blisters  - you think? He skinned up his knees today - but still loves it.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Installation 2012

By faith, we set 5 June as the installation service and end of year potluck for our local PWOC. We had no applicants for next year's board.  By 5 June we had three - Lisa, Susan and Robin. Lisa has agreed to be the interim President through the summer (I had asked her to shadow me many moons ago - but evidently God meant for me to be President this year).  This means my year as local president is winding down. I will  mentor Lisa - in my role as Regional President...and wearing one hat should be nice (well, except that I'm still wearing 7 regional hats at this point ::snort::). 


We never DID get a photo of the FULL BOARD IN ONE SPOT...so I'll post several.....

This gal has a special part in my OLD heart (shoot they all do). 

Muriel's smile has set the tone every week this year

This has been the DREAM team..... I have loved working with this group of ladies. We've truly come to love each other - deeply. Many are leaving and it's about to kill me - but I'm trying, trying, TRYING not to go there. 

2011/12 Exec Board

New Exec Board  - they are going to ROCK! 

One thing we did was do a group study of the book, "Leading Women who Wound." We all agree this set us up well....when conflict did start to arise we were all on the same sheet as to how it would be handled. We had our armor up and were prepared.

We were often  on the same sheet - but when we weren't respect and love were shown in the discussions to reach consensus.

As a leader, I always have a few aims for my team. I want all to reach the finish line, I want all to be challenged to move beyond their current comfort level in leadership, I want it to be a GOOD experience and for them to feel positive and stronger, more ready to take on new areas of leadership. I really think that happened this year.

I believe our ladies felt the love we had for each other and it spilled over to the general tone of the group. We saw God move us from 30 at the start of the year to topping 80 at the end (our highest week)....and that is GOD - ALL GOD.

Totally love Lisa and her heart to step out of her comfort zone!

We enjoyed excellent studies...we ended the year with TEN  facilitators leading studies. Women who had never led stepped up and led well....we started a book club, prayer walks, exercise class and MOCA (Moms of College Age prayer group) - all with women willing to lead them. No one completely burned out - though there surely were moments of stress. We welcomed two new babies to our board members...and nine to the PWOC. I'm excited to see where God takes this group in the next year.

These photos made me tear up....

Asia (Lisa's gal) Kimmie and Christy (can't figure out how to keep them here!)

Lisa, Kristin and Cassie....Kristin will be soooo missed

Kristin put on an AMAZING salad spread for us. We have made it a practice this year to MUG those who are pcsing...look at all the cups we need to fill with words of affirmation before next Tuesday.

We had small scroll dolls out for all to sign by way of thank you for the full board......

I cannot share how AMAZING it has to been to be a part of this team this year. It's the way Christian leadership is meant to be. I'm honored God allowed me to lead this team....


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...