It's Come to My Attention....

I haven't blogged in over a week. It's been a crazy busy week. 

Sunday -  Michael preached in the 1100 and the 1735 services....Jonah; A Man Like Me. It was a timely word.  A message which God has been working into our lives for about a year.  One question he asked was, "Who are your Ninevites?" and he pointed out  we think God is too easy on others. It was challenging....and I, like several others who have shared, had instant faces in my mind.....and I, like others, have already begun reaching out to those faces.  Thank God for sweet conviction which leads to spiritual growth and transformation. 

Monday - I had tea/coffee with one of the sweet gals from our mentor group. Arielle babysat in the evening. We prepared for PCOC.  We discovered the JCI on my "Joy" had expired and so it's grounded once again. 

Game time at PCOC - several asked where we got the
G size twister board - Krista sewed it! 

Tuesday  - Kick off of the last PWOC/PCOC session of the year.  I am ecstatic that four ladies have joined the PCOC team and we'll be able to have consistent ministry in each room for the rest of the year. YES! 

Someone spends as much time drawing as she does
on the actual math work

Wednesday - we pushed on school. Our goal was to finish this week - and we did. The caveat is I do not want the kids to have  mid-April to Sept off....so we will all read every day, work on a variety of crafts and science projects, and the younger ones will do math review every day. 

Clay projects 

In a SURE sign that spring is HERE my lovely Japanese neighbor brought over a giant bouquet of daffodils picked from the side of the barn.

Wednesday was also the last MOCA meeting I will attend. 

Michael had his last Financial Planning Meeting at Misawa Wednesday night. 

Thursday - MOPS - Arielle helps with moppets and I'm a mentor Mom. We have one more meeting left at MOPS. 

 We rushed home from MOPS to get all ready for April's Mentor Group meeting.  Our topic this month was marriage and we read Sacred Marriage. The conversation was meaningful, a fitting way to cap March's  focus - though we have marriage homework each month. ::wink::   This month we're focusing on Purpose and Priorities - everyone KNOWS I've a lot of mistakes I can share on THIS topic which will help these gals succeed easier than I have. ::snort::  We're reading The Principle of the Path, and I'm enjoying it already.

We were scheduled to have time with Akikosan, when  Arielle began to throw up  we postponed our plans. 

Friday - Michael surprised us and took a day off! He's worked long hours for twelve straight days and has a long meeting today.  We are amazed  we've lived for years with him consistently spending every Saturday preparing for Sunday and no other day off....a saner pace is welcomed...and I was happy to see Michael  also yearning for the saner pace of Feb/March.  Good call.

It snowed - much colder than it has been.

Michael and I took the "Joy" to Big D's to get the JCI done....it will be on the market soon if anyone needs a wonderful second car.  We went to the beach and had a DATE.  Great conversation....contrary to popular opinion talking is NOT my love language. ::snort:: Time and touch are and my tank is filled as Michael took time off to spend time with us.  Evidently we were  observing the BIG waves when the 7.0 quake hit. ::snort::

Nolan had a doctor's appointment and Michael had a quick meeting Friday afternoon.

Summary of the week - DONE! ::snort::

Misc Thoughts:   I'm AMAZED we are done early with school...finished a full year of school...even taking Tuesday's off...it really helped not to be teaching and traveling as I have always done in the past.  God continues to illustrate for me the simple concept that saying No to some things leads to YES in other areas.

My new thyroid dose (lower) seems to be effecting my days.  I'm now waking up at 05:00 instead of 03:00 and I'm tired and sleeping before midnight. Michael assures me that my manic energizer bunny pace is not normal and this is not overly sluggish. We'll see what the labs say May 6th.

I HAVE lots of "Lovin Japan" to catch up - and I will. I've not had any extra time online...and that will be another post... I'm cutting back my time online to be more intentional about how I conduct relationships - both in my family and with others.

Thanking God for THIS...yummy vegetable Yakisoba....Yes I DID say I was thanking God. Lisa's encouragment to find foods I am really thankful  for continues to motivate me....and here...I was thankful for roasted yellow squash, mushrooms, eggplant, onions, zucchini and carrots combined with  yakisoba noodles from Universe. 

Today - Michael is at a big PAC planning meeting. 

Arielle and Nolan are going to the movies with friends.
 I've been tasked to catch up the blog. ::wink::  

Four of us will find something to do when Michael gets home. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Japanese Neighbors

We will miss our Japanese neighbors. We first "made contact" our first winter when the kids dug out the farmer's wife...then we were told to ignore the "keep out" signs and fish in the pond whenever we'd like...we've exchanged food and small gifts...and been invited to enjoy summer fireworks with the neighbors on other side....

I will miss the first daffodils, grown by the barn and brought over every year.....

I really, really, really will miss our Japanese neighbors. ::sigh:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Car Models

Finding fun new car models has been a favorite travel game for the past four years.  Feel free to click "amusing sites/Japan" to the right and check out other makes and models. Here are a few:

The Guppy 

Ah, The Rush 

Toyota? Move

Honda That's 

GUTS

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Hashi (Chopsticks)

We began to study chopsticks before we arrived.

When we first arrived I thought I'd starve to death....and meals took much, much longer when we went out to eat.  

I was given MANY lessons in how to use chopsticks...but just couldn't get the PROPER technique figured out. I eventually just worked out my own system.

Michael didn't have this problem.

There are some foods that are simply BETTER eaten with chopsticks....Yakisoba and FRUIT SALAD come to mind. Nabbing those grapes with chopsticks is much easier than stabbing them with a fork. Dipping truffles in chocolate is a breeze when you hold the truffle with a chopstick.

Chopsticks are used for everything over here....

ario_ via photopin cc

elainevdw via photopin cc

Even soup is easy to eat with chopsticks....scoop up the noodles and drink the broth from the bowl. 

Klardrommar via photopin cc

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Cranes

Our home is surrounded by fields, race fields and irrigation ditches.  It is common to see cranes as you walk around the area. They are gangly but majestic.

Koshyk via photopin cc

They also are a bit aggressive for unsuspecting runners. Arielle is often greeted by "attacking cranes" as she and Yuuki run with Gracie every morning.

jc-pics via photopin

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Trees

I love the care given to trees in Northern Japan. Each year crews come through and tie up branches and often wrap trunks. I've heard wrapping the trunks protects from beetles and such.  

The ropes are to hold up the heavy branches in the winter so the snow doesn't break them...every spring the ropes are removed. 

We like some of the sculptured trees; others are questionable. There several houses near us which have foregone a lawn for trees....strange looking trees....gumdrop trees.

Recently, Arielle was working on an art lesson and was told to draw a tree. She did. The lesson went on to talk about the lines you use to make branches. Perplexed she realized she'd drawn a "Japanese gumdrop tree" without even thinking of it. 

Arielle also has her "true-blue Japanese card;" she belongs. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Conservationism

Japan is a small island nation. Land is at a premium. I've observed a general attitude of conservation in the typical Japanese. 

Recycling is big and EASY to do here....picked up at your home...bins everywhere in public.  A Japanese citizen pays for garbage/recycling pick up with taxes. 

Energy conservation is big too.  This is manifested in many ways but this is the way that caught my attention. Most Japanese style homes have a glassed in room running the front of the house...either on a second floor or combined with the entry area.  Clothes are hung her throughout the year to dry.... you can see this below. 

Power was out after the earthquake/tsunami in 2011.  When it came back everyone who lived that time is even more aware of conserving energy. Energy continues to be "tight" as several reactors have been shut down. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...