School Wrap Up

We have really enjoyed studying Japan. We used books recommended in All Through the Ages as well as library books and books I discovered in my online searches.  I must give  kudos for customer service to Christine Miller. I wrote explaining we lived in Japan and wanted to spend a year studying Japan in depth for the grammar (Elementary) and dialectic levels (Jr High). I had her book on my shelves and wondered how many more books she listed for Japan in the newest edition (I have the 2nd edition). SHE SENT ME THE PAGES IN A PDF FILE of the books on Japan for all grade levels. What a blessing.  Every book we used from All Through the Ages was a hit. Highly recommended resource! 

The younger kids LOVED the "Judge Ooka and Seikei" mysteries by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler. We read The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn and The Demon in the Teahouse....before I insisted we read other things and we'll finish these in the future. I really wanted to read MORE about this Solomon in a Kimono but the books I found were too expensive for our purposes. 

We also enjoyed The Sign of the Chrysanthemum and The Master Muppeteer by Katherine Paterson. 

We read Pearl Harbor Child by Dorina Makanaonalani Nicholson.  I felt it important to give the kids this view point as we'd been rather Japanese focused in our view of WW2.  This book did a great job of telling the story of Pearl Harbor from the perspective of a child who LIVED it....she includes stories of others as well. We enjoyed all the photos. 

We then read My Hiroshima by Juuko Morimoto which provided a survivor's perspective of Hiroshima.  Junko's illustrations and memories were powerful. I'm glad we read both perspectives from survivors. 

Fiction of Eleanor Coeer rounded out our year with Mieko and the Fifth Treasure and Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes  based on a true story (which I cried 2/3's of the way through). 

An Illustrated History of Japan was a great book to use as a "spine" for the younger set and Nolan (8th grade) used Japan an Illustrated History and A Traveler's History of Japan. In addition we  thought Hiroshima by John Hersey was good for Nolan. Nolan spend some time researching topics of his choice: Christianity in Japan (interesting for us), Samurai Code of Ethics, Hiroshima and the Pacific in WW2.  Nolan also delved into the treatment of Koreans and the Philippinos by the Japanese and a bit of the horrors of being a POW of Japan. We opted to leave much of this and delving into the Japanese internment camps in America until we study WW2 for the younger set. 

Make it Work! Japan was full of hands on crafts and was one of our favorites, as was Japanese Traditions which lists festivals and traditions for children by month. 

This is a sample of the books we used.  We also visited the cultural center here in Misawa a couple of times, and bounced lots of ideas and questions off Akikosan. Being able to visit many of the spots we discussed was a great incentive to stay on track with our history reading. We've been to Jomon ruins, WW2 ruins, Hiroshima, Edo Period Museums, Samurai Museums, Japanese farms, Rice fields and more....We've made soba noodles, New Year's wreaths, yakisoba....and have more in the works. 

We are still reading Jacob Deshazer: Forgive Your Enemies,  as a family....and have a couple of others on the stack.  Our "Days" are counted and done for school, papers are graded, the year is complete....but... In the weeks before we move, we'll continue to explore new areas, visit our favorites, explore Japanese culture, work on hands on crafts we've not finished and read through the stacks of books the kids begged me to read which  I promised we would AFTER we were done with the rest of the year. LOL 



I'm so GLAD we extended a year in Japan  and only had 3 years of curriculum with us...I'm glad we didn't try to order all the books we already own in storage...it was a good call for all of us to take a break and focus on this land we love.  Arielle continued on with her charted high school courses - but joined us for discussions and outings; she also continues to study the Japanese language and so was a part of the year - though apart. LOL

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

Lovin Japan ~ Sembei (Sembee?)

On the second day of our newcomer's tour of Misawa, the guide offered us a Japanese cookie...and we really thought Japan was a sad, sad place to live.....but over time we must have developed a taste. 

If you think of Senbei as a cracker more than a cookie...and if you buy them FRESH......

from the little shop on the walk to Hirosaki Castle....

They're really quite yummy! 

They're available at most stores, every rest area along the toll road and we've discovered they're great for those who suffer from motion sickness.  As you would expect from this lovely country (think ice cream, Kit Kats, Mentos) you CAN get them in a wide variety of flavors from savory to sweet. 

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

Mindful of the Calendar

I continue to commit to living mindful...of both  the calendar and  my God-given priorities for this season. 

Commitments lead to actions. 

Monday was blessed by a long, leisurely lunch with a friend at a local organic restaurant.  I remembered the wise question of Marvie in January, "How do you want to spend your last months in Misawa?" God's very words to my heart through the lips of a friend. 

Tuesday contained service to the children of the chapel via Protestant Children of the Chapel. There are only four weeks left with these little ones and with the young men who help so wonderfully each week. I've come to appreciate and love them both even more through our time of service....Nolan and Jaycob. 

Today - working out, cuddling, going through THINGS in preparation for our move....

HOW does one family collect so much stuff in four years? I HAVE taken things to the thrift store at least once a quarter since we got here.  What do families who don't move every 2 - 4 years do about the rapid accumulation of "stuff?"

Stacia thinks this is Christmas and wants to play with every item I've stashed in a closet and plan to give away "since we never use it." Zander lobbied for a day off school (Math and reading) as we're "working so hard." Arielle and Nolan are STARS!

Tonight, we'll have  AWANA and Titus 2 Tea  Michael will take the kids to AWANA and I will snuggle in our room and watch Hobbit with Zander.  This afternoon maybe a bit more reading with Zander my first Migraine since July hit. I wonder if thyroid TSH levels have any effect on migraines. In any event it's Thursday a.m. and I was down for the count and still fill "off" this a.m.  

YES! Look what Nolan captured as we drove home yesterday!  It was almost prophetic as I had said, "Would you move already?"

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

Lovin Japan ~ Tanbo Art

Rice Art...this was a GREAT field trip and I'm sad we won't be in Japan when the fields are harvested this year. Maybe we can go up when they plant the fields...it's a community event.  You can read more about our adventures at the Inakadate Village here and here.
   

 
I find rice fields beautiful and I will miss living near plain old ordinary rice fields...but these rice fields at Inakadate Village are worth the drive to see. 

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

Japan Lovin ~ Fun Ice Cream Flavors

Japan has an INCREDIBLE array of ice cream flavors. Baskin and Robbins 31 flavors is child's play.  We've enjoyed trying out as many flavors as we possibly could....some we've loved; some not so much....

Green Apple, plums, licorice, sesame, green tea, sweet potato....apple ice cream with apple vinegar (below left) nothing is better on a hot  summer festival day! 

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

Lovin Japan ~ Pedicures

Rachel D via photopin cc

It took well over a year before I was brave enough to get a pedicure. It seemed far too intimate to have someone scrubbing and massaging my feet...until I realized I routinely visited onsens to sit naked with strangers. 

Twyla and Renee became my pedicure partners (as they were onsen partners). I've not taken the time for many pedicures since they both moved.  The last one was at Asia Region's PWOC conference in November 2011.  Lauren, Laurie, Cindy and I stole a few moments before conference began to get a pedicure. 

The girls love pedicures. I must make time for a few more Japanese pedicures before we move in 85 days. 

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

Living Mindful

Our eventful summer caused me to ....evaluate...make changes....and one has been this simple commitment....I will live mindful and not Mind Full....

floating around Facebook in a variety of spots

I want to live fully present in each moment...and clear out the clutter which so often occupied my mind....yes, margin...but more. It's been a good change...and there is more to come, I'm sure. It's led to less time online, less time in group activities, more intentional mentoring, more one on one time with family and friends.... I joke that I've gotten in touch with my inner introvert. Michael assures me I'm still an extrovert. ::snort::

Today  living mindful meant a deliberate choice to set aside the "to do" lists, attend the 0800 chapel service and then head out for a picnic at Shipwreck Beach. Um....COLD RAIN...change of plans.... a WARM lunch at the club followed by bowling.

I wasn't totally blowing the mindful thing...I can't bowl due to weak wrists...I prefer to skip bowling and be able to write without pain....so....I was thrilled when the wifi worked!

Back at home...when the moving mania threatened to overcome....I made a conscious choice to live this day mindful....of family...of fleeting rainy Sunday afternoons in Misawa....and so it led to several hours at the onsen with the girls...followed by several hours playing LIFE as a family.....

LifeSupercharger via photopin cc

THIS led to Michael and I thinking Dave Ramsey needs to create a game where smart financial choices are rewarded, where one can actually choose NOT to do stupid things most of society must do these days and to save...we were surprised to see some of the recent changes to the LIFE game and wish we'd saved our old game where we didn't land on "Share the Wealth" spots every other turn - which by the way - G Rules say you can IGNORE....give to charity, help out one in need  - sure - share the wealth - um go make some yourself.  In any event...I wonder if Dave Ramsey already HAS a game....

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