Ranch Potato Wedges

4 Potatoes - scrubbed and cut into wedges (8 I think she said)

1 T Mayo (veganaise)

1/2 Package Ranch Dip Mix

Combine may with mix. Toss potatoes with mix. Grease or spray a cookie sheet well, place taters in a single layer and bake at 400* for 35 - 40 min.

*I used more potatoes and used 2 T mayo with 2 T Ranch Dressing Mix....that seemed to be a right measure....so if you are using 4 potatoes I would think 1 and 1 would work. The homemade ranch mix was wonderful in this and cheaper...healthier than what I can get at the commissary.

All the kids ate these. I found the original recipe at Heavenly Homemakers. If you've not checked out her "high 5" recipes, you really should. Yummy recipes with 5 ingredients or less.

To view my recipe index click "recipes" under the header or here.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Ranch Dressing Mix

I KNOW I found this recipe on Heavenly Homemakers, but when I search there now I can't find it. It may have been in a comment someone left....

I love Heather's Better Than Hidden Valley Ranch dressing....but there are a few times I would like the dry powder mix and so I tried this. SO simple and worked great to make Ranch Potato Wedges (which I'll post the recipe for next).

Stacia enjoyed helping with all of today's mixes....Here's the Shake and Bake on the left and the Ranch Dressing Mix on the Right.

The recipe:

5 T instant minced onion (I measured 5 T of dried onion into my coffee grinder and whirled)

1 tsp parsley

4 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

Mix together and store in an air tight container.

Dressing: Combine 2 T of mix with 1 C Mayo (Veganaise) and 1 C buttermilk (plain yogurt)

Dip: Combine 2 T of mix with 2 C Sour Cream (plan yogurt)

For an index of recipes you can click recipes under the header or here.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Momoishi Beach

Dorothy, I think you'll want to watch this clip. ::grin::

Our Saturday got off to a LAAAAZY start. Mike and Jared were up late last night. I know Mike was working on computers at 1:00 a.m. I believe he came to bed at 2:00 a.m.

I had some visits with ladies about healthy food choices. Connie and Windy came over so I could explain an expel spreadsheet....BUT....the computers weren't working at the moment they showed up. The kids LOVE havng the S kids come over and had a great time playing.

Windy and I decided it would be a good idea to make the best of this sunny day and take the kidds to the beach. This gave both Dads a bit of quiet to focus....we came home and 3 of our 4 computers are connecting to the Internet. The wireless router is still not working. Mike wonders if we need to buy a new router. He ended up setting up a network and having ONE computer go online and others piggy back or something...we're not at all sure that it's connecting to Fiber Optics or that this is the fastest way...but it's working. NOW....when we get the wireless working life will be normal.

I made a real dinner tonight. I realize I need to get back to our diet/lifestyle...and I need to begin keeping menus. My schedule includes activities on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and without a plan we're too short of time or energy to cook real food for dinner. This week - just a true confession - our last four dinners were: Tuesday ORGANIC cookies/cookie dough, Wednesday ALL NATURAL ice cream, Thursday Fresh ground whole wheat Waffles and Friday is Pizza and movie night....

This afternoon I made the shake and bake mix and made REAL shake and bake chicken, ranch potato wedges, bread and corn...the only thing not from scratch or fresh was the bread...and that I will begin next week even though I haven't found gluten. ::snort:: I must get our LIFE back....it's been 6 months of PCS and it's TIME.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Blogger Help

OK....once I get signed in to Blogger my screen is in English...but when I'm reading other blogs the toolbar is in Japanese as I have a Japanese ISP. In other words, I can choose English but it only changes it for me on MY compose page etc.

On most blogs at the top there is a "search box" - for instance on Lisa's blog I used to be able to type "menu planning" and "search this blog" and get all the posts with those words in it....so now....it's all in katakana....and I've clicked all the buttons and none of them are a blogger search.

Will someone tell me what the buttons across the top of your blogger toolbar say when you are reading a blog? I noted one of the buttons showed a twitter/facebook/email buttons...does that mean you can now share your blog by clicking that?

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Make Our Heart Your Temple

I promised myself not to share daily excerpts but there are so many I'd like to share....

A prayer from Soren Kierkegaard...

Lord! Make our heart Your temple in which You live. Grant that every impure thought, every earthly desire might be like the idol Dagon - each morning broken at the feet of the Ark of the Covenant. Teach us to master flesh and blood and let this mastery of ourselves be our bloody sacrifce in order that we might be able to say with the Apostle: "I die every day." Devotional Classics, page 353.

This goes is such a perfect mental image of where I've been the past year...Deny Self, Take up the Cross, Follow.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Paper or Electronic?

Windy has a Kindle. Several of you have mentioned Kindles to me, but I'm a "must see" type of shopper. Windy's is not international and so she was very happy to be able to download books while we were in Hawaii and she graciously explained the features of her Kindle to me.

I LOVE READING. I like the feel of a book in my hands. I like turning pages. I like marking pages. I like writing notes to myself in the pages. I like loaning books. I like books.

I travel with books. I always have a Bible, devotional, some sort of fiction and non-fiction....and am always teased by how heavy my carry on is. It occured to me that it would be easier to travel with a digital reader.....

However....when I check prices the books are really not THAT much cheaper than buying the paper books. I'm not sure I'd enjoy reading from a screen.

I'd love to hear from those of you who have taken the leap to digital readers...how do you use them. Is it your main source of reading material or supplemental? What do you love and what do you hate? I don't want to buy another techie thing (as my PDA/ MP3 reader) that I end up never fully utilizing or using. ::snort::

Would you recommend something like the Kindle - must buy books from Amazon....or Sony's reader, which I believe could read any ebook/digital book format (but not Kindle's)? The promo for Kindle sure makes it seem more appealing...$20 cheaper, able to hold way more books (but they have to be purchased from Amazon), can read my PDF and documents sent to it....

I know the Kindle allows you to bookmark, add notes, highlight passages and download newspapers etc.

Please tell me what you've discovered - either by owning one or researching.... I just don't know....it seems it would be a kick for my upcoming trips....but will it give me the same leisurely pleasure as reading a book does? Will it feel like meeting an old friend when I pick it up?

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Things That Have Me Wondering....

HOW do places such as Oriental Trading, Terry's World etc find new APO addresses and send catalogs....whilst Healthing Cooking, Taste of Home, State of Alaska... can't find a person even with change of address cards?????

Why did all but ONE photo album show up when the boxes are unpacked and where could it have gone?

Why do computers connect to the Internet at some times and not at others?

What happens when you reach 100% of your photo capacity with blogger? I've been using Photobucket but HATE their ads. I'm at over 90% of my limit on blogger....do some of you like Picasa? Does it have buxom women laying across the top of your screen?

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Prayers - Fort Hood

I had planned to ask for prayer for the PWOC I Central Region and South East Region which both begin regional conferences this evening. I find myself really missing Central Region this week. They'd offered to bring me to conference as I am on their board until Sunday a.m. but I knew it would be too much traveling, too soon. It hasn't stopped me from praying for those planning, the speakers, the ladies who will attend....two of our board members are from FT Hood....

I woke up this a.m. to see the news about FT Hood in my inbox....praying. Please pray with me for safety, for peace, for healing, for comfort....and for those ladies who may have already left for conference and whose families were on post when this happened.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing....

I've wasted 40 minutes trying to find a clip of the song running through my mind "one thing" and I KNOW it's a song, I KNOW I've heard it on KLOVE or Air 1 and it's not the one that keeps showing up. ::snort:: Forget the song.

In Sunday School we've been reading, "Devotional Classics". I've been surprised by how much I enjoy it. I tend to be a, "teach me the Word and the Word only" sort of gal. ::snort:: But WOW.... In this book the editors include quotes from "classics" built around eight topics: Preparing for the Spiritual Life, the Prayer-Filled Life, the Virtuous Life, the Spirit-Empowered Life, the Compassionate Life, the Word-Centered Life, and the Sacramental Life. There are over 50 excerpts. We'll not cover them all. Honestly, I would like to consider one a week with Jared and Mike. We'll see if that happens. To give you an idea of the variety of authors we've read from C.S. Lewis, Henri J.M. Nouwen, Gregory of Nyssa, Madame Guyon, Soren Kierkegaard and Martin Luther.

This week I've been reviewing some prayers from Soren Kierkegarrd that we talked about last week. This one speaks to intimacy...

"What is all our striving, could it ever encompass a world, but a
half-finished work if we do not know You: You the One, who is one
thing and who is all!

So may You give to the intellect, wisdom to comprehend that one thing; to the
heart, sincerity to receive this understanding; to the will, purity that wills
only one thing. In prosperity may You grant perseverance to will one thing; amid
distractions, collectedness to will one thing; in suffering, patience to will
one thing. (in time of repentance) may you give the courage once
again to will one thing." From "Purity of the Heart is to will one thing by Soren Kierkegaard"

This is what I've been praying (though not as eloquently the past months)....the ONE thing in my life is HIM...intimacy with Him, relationship with Him.... the title alone gives me much food for thought: Purity of Heart is to Will One thing.....

May you blessed today as you pursue the One who is truly the one thing worth pursuing.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

WOW - finally got three of the computers working on the Fiber Optics and they are FAST....now to get the wireless working so I can Skype.

The day began with a chaplain spouse breakfast at Anette's, our Wing Chaplain's wife. Thanks again Anette...what a wonderful way to begin the day.

Home by 9:45 for school.

The kids walked to the pond with jars to collect water for Jared's science experiment. Arielle took a video "clip"....5 min long so I won't post it....but I'm dying to try clips soon. Maybe I'll do a home tour for y'all next week. LOL

Tried to sort through lots and lots of email.

Tried to get the other computers working - no luck. They KNOW Mike's touch.

Nice afternoon visit with Windy.

Ordered some things from the TX co-op. Set up pay pal, offered to let other locals order with me....

Drank a couple gallons of water and took lots of cranberry tablets.

We have a home phone now. I'm not sure it is working but we have a phone and a number...Mike is deciphering the hiragana directions. ::snort:: Our prefix is different than everyone else we know (except Rodney and Windy).

I'll try to catch up on a few more blogs before I go to bed....maybe just Cindy's as it is FULL of new updates since I was on.

That's a day!

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Language Discoveries

Akikosan came for our Japanese lessons today. She wants us to learn both Hiragana and Katakana - AT THE SAME TIME. Zander and Stacia basically opted out. I may have to officially excuse Zander. These two will pick things up from listening...but I think learning to read two new alphabets is a stretch. It is nice that there are only 5 vowels in Japanese and they make one sound each.....nice.

We figured out how to spell all of our names in Katakana. Each Hiragana and Katakana symbol represents a sound. The problem is that several of the sounds in our names ARE NOT in the Japanese language. "Jared" gave Akikosan trouble as there is no "r" sound in Japanese - or it's different. Alex was a challenge as there is no "x" sound....Stacia was interesting as there isn't a "st" but there is a "tsu"... When we take the symbols and phonetically pronounce them....

Jared becomes Jad (a as father)

My name is a good Japanese name...they have a De E and Ta sound. LOL

Michael becomes Ma i ke lu

Alex is a hoot - A le tsu ku su - he's not very impressed.

Stacia doesn't sound like Stacia at all and I think we'll need to revisit it. Its the Tsu te i si a (tsute e see a).

We are all working on writing our names in Katakana by next Wed. The good news is that once we get some Hiragana and Katakana under our belts we should be able to figure out the traffic signs. ::snort:: If you want to try your name in Katakana this is a fairly good spot to visit. They don't have De'Etta or Jared...but their explanation of sounds is good....just remember "ru" is pronounced more like "lu".

In others discoveries.....remember I mentioned that Pimsleur taught us to say "Cha mata" (See you) for goodbye. On our first trip to the Nursing Home I said this. Over and over. The lady was perplexed and told me no, she didn't know what I was saying. I gave up and said, "Goodbye".

Today, Akikosan taught us "Cha Mata" for see you. I told her about my experience at the nursing home...she smirked, she smiled, she explained, we laughed. It seems that Cha Mata is less formal, almost slang, "See Ya", used by youth, families, close friends...and not a phrase you would expect to use with elders at all. Hmmm....and we learned that there is a word for "me" that Nolan and Alex can use, but the rest of us can't...gender and age....The adventure continues.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

SNOW

Yesterday we had our first snow of the season. It didn't stick...but for this family it was exciting.

Let's not forget the valiant workmen striving to hook up Internet.


They were up the pole again today....maybe that's why we now have 50% connectivity. ::snort:: Praying Mike has energy to spend a few more hours on the computers tonight.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Things That Made Me Smile

Here are some random shots I found in my camera when I uploaded our princess photos.....and the best way to label them is "things that made me smile" in the last few days....

Walk with the S family (Windy and kids)


Look closely at the selection...really? ::snort:: I suspect the sign was simply hung one aisle early as the row over was action figures.


Simple things of life


Our princess' and a prince (Benji, Stacia, Maggie)


Oops...Maggie informs me she is "Queenie" ::snort::

What REALLY made me smile was to see how quickly this computer loaded 8 photos to Photobucket and then to Blogger. I'll have to see if it's because my laptop is dying or because we have fiber optics connections now.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

INTERNET

Two men came into our home....four men eventually left. (After several trips up the poles, calls to management etc). They didn't seem very confident and I couldn't get online...but I'd paid for Internet.

Tonight, Mike has one desktop that is working on the LAN...and I got the other working on WIFI....though the 3rd isn't connecting at all.

I'll try to blog later....cool photos to share.....and pray for the healing of my laptop....it appears to have died today. Grrrr.....

More after dinner.....it's late and we need to eat....so I can send littles to bed...and spend hours and hours ordering from Lands End and blogging and reading email and I may even be up when those on the West coast finally wake up!!! to skype!

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Date Night - New Toy (10-30)

Mike seemed a bit hesitant for me to venture to the big city of Hachinohe alone (about 40 min away). I'm not sure if he worried about the chaotic traffic or the specific errand I was on: to buy a keyboard so the kids can begin lessons. ::snort::

After he got home from his day off (::snort::) we headed out. Jared and the kids were armed with movies, pizza and Rodney and Windy's number.

We started with Toys R Us first as Christine, our teacher, had seen a keyboard she thought was o.k. there for $300. They only keyboards in stock were $200….Mike didn't like them. We went to Pia Do mall….no keyboards. We found Tech World….lots of keyboards and digital pianos but they had to be ordered. They directed us to a store that started with the letter K and promptly switched to kanji. They had the digital piano Mike wanted IN STOCK.

By this time the restaurants were closing. We grabbed dinner at KFC and headed home. We stopped for a moonlit look at Momoishi beach and counted it good.

The kids were suitably surprised to see the "keyboard". Arielle has been practicing. Stacia found the "demo" button and is convinced SHE is playing the amazingly complicated classical music that is ringing throughout the house. ::snort::

We left our piano in storage as we expected to be in a tiny base house. We also worried about tuning it again after the shipment and storage….I think we made a good decision. This may well be our "travel piano" until we retire from the military.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Cohesiveness (10-30)

I've been praying for cohesiveness in our new neighborhood. I'll spare you details. ::snort:: Today I felt like it was starting with the children. Our kids were playing in the street with Windy's kids. They were having a great time and attracted other children. The kids drew 4 square, hop scotch and such on the ground and played games. They rode bikes. They skated.

Eventually another mother came out and I introduced her to Windy. She looked at the ground and said, "Chalk," in such a way that we KNEW she doesn't approve of sidewalk chalk in the street outside her home. ::sigh::

BUT the evidence of the seeds of neighborhood cohesiveness linger on this afternoon….may it spread as we seek to put on display the love of Christ.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Newst Birth Story

{I've decided to remove names of those who may want more privacy than my blog provides.}

I've got a birth story to share today. This is LONG and most of you will not read it to the end, but I need to get it all captured. I need to share what God has done and the new adventure He is leading me (and our family) on.

Five years ago a dear saint in the Gospel service at Elmendorf AFB, Sister S, prophesied to me that I was pregnant with a new work that God desired to birth into the kingdom. I was to obey - rather than sacrifice. I was to be aware that I had conceived something that would be birthed into the Kingdom. FIVE YEARS AGO! At the time, I waited and wondered. We were busy with ministry - too busy. We saw fruit from our ministry, but nothing that I would consider a "birth".

When we moved to San Angelo four years ago, God clearly chastised me for being so busy with outside ministry; ministry inside our home had suffered. I apologized to my children, repeatedly. I cried more than a few tears over the time I'd lost with our older children due to out of balance ministry. He clearly told me that now was not the season for me to speak at retreats. I quit. I was also to teach no more than ONE weekly study. I was to "get my house in order". Longtime blog readers and friends will remember this season.

It was tough. There were tears. I knew I was doing what I needed to do. God opened new avenues of ministry that were birthed from home. Our family grew, I kept track of volunteer hours until I got a feel for what "balance" and "boundaries" looked like. Our home was in order….and we knew that a move would be coming in the summer of 09.

God taught me much about surrender and contentment in 2005 - 2009. I had to surrender ministry, my good health, the twins we lost and the pregnancies that didn't follow…..and I grew ever more dependent on intimacy with God.

As summer 09 approached, I sensed God speaking to me. I KNEW I was NOT to get as involved in local women's ministry as I have been for the past 10 years. This confused me. I knew that I had ministry in balance….I knew that God was pleased. Through times of prayer, and with advice of mentors, I became certain God wanted me to broaden my "sight". He was about to release me to serve again, but I wasn't going to be serving on the local level. In fact, I was certain I was to request consideration to be a PWOCI Region President. I was shocked when word of our move came and it was NOT in Central Region. I must have heard God wrong, or maybe He only wanted me to surrender and be willing, but wasn't going to require it of me. Believe me, I was fine with this. ::snort::

When we heard we were to move to Misawa, Japan….I was excited. God continued to speak to me during our intimate trysts. (Alright, B, I know…stay with me here. ::snort:) I became convinced that God was answering my prayers over the years for Asia. It's been my hope God would move us to Asia as missionaries when Mike retires. We had no idea God was going to move us to Asia while we were IN the military. We became convinced that God had good things for our family, for those we'd minister to at Misawa AB, and for our neighbors, through our move to Japan. This resolve was tested through the spring and summer. We knew even more that God was on the move. I continued to hear God say to pull back from local PWOC (women's ministry) leadership. When asked about serving in PWOC at Misawa I communicated that I wouldn't be a President…but that I desired to be a strong support of the local board.

What a PCS we had. Only NOW are we starting to feel like the move is over…..and then God reminded me He had TOLD ME TO SUBMIT MY NAME FOR CONSIDERATION FOR REGIONAL WOMEN'S MINISTRY LEADERSHIP. I decided it was a simple matter of obedience. I didn't expect to be selected, but knew I had to obey. I would let nothing keep me from obeying after the lessons of the past five years.

Change is afoot in PWOC Pacific Region. The decision had been made for the Pacific Region to birth a new region. Asia Region consists of Japan and Korea and Pacific Region now includes Guam and Hawaii. I got to the region late in the process. I heard packages were already being considered. God wouldn't let me off the hook. I submitted my request for consideration and made it clear that I was willing to be a cheerleader or serve in any position, as well as the position I submitted my name for (not President; that seemed to presumptious).

Tuesday, 20 Oct, I had a telephone interview/conference call. By the questions and discussion I began to realize that I was being considered for a different position than I'd 'applied' for. I told Mike I thought they were considering me for President. He confirmed that he'd thought this may happen and was supportive of all it would mean for our family.

Tuesday night I had a dream. I dreamed that I was giving birth. My heart has questioned why we've not had babies since the loss of our twins. We've desired children. I dreamed I gave birth to a beautiful daughter. I woke up praying, "Father, she's beautiful. She could only have come from the hand of God." I KNEW that this was a prophetic dream (and I don't claim having had a prophetic dream before) but I KNEW the dream was telling me that I was going to be involved in the birthing of Asia Region and that she was from the hand of God. I also knew that THIS was what Sister S had prophesied five years ago.

Wednesday, 21 Oct, I was walking in the fields when Mike called. He told me that there was an email there from the Leadership Selection Team and wanted to know if I'd like him to read it to me. They invited me to consider accepting the role of Asia Region President. I was overwhelmed, terrified, stunned; yet my spirit was leaping! I can't describe it. I was stunned…and yet pieces began to fall into place….the insistence on getting my home in order, the lessons of the past five or six years, the lessons on balance and boundary, the times of intimacy with God these past months, the spiritual warfare to ARRIVE in Asia, the firm conviction that I was not to lead at our new base. I hung up with tears streaming down my face.

Friday, 23 Oct we left for Hawaii. I was still stunned and had a bad case of nerves. I realized that this new position would involve a lot of travel. It's not that I don't like to travel. I get motion sick….bad. It was a sacrifice I would need to make. I was willing to (excuse me) puke for Jesus if need be. I only knew that I WAS obeying. Windy prayed me out the door of our home. Thanks, friend.

Saturday, 24 Oct. It felt like a hug from God that the two women who introduced me to PWOC, over 12 years ago at Malmstrom AFB, MT, were both at this conference in Hawaii. I hope it brought joy for them to see the seed they'd planted bear fruit.

Sunday, 25 Oct I was installed as President. Later, as T (new VP) and I met with the new Pacific President and the International President and International Titus 2, more pieces fell into place. R shared that she felt that this was a birth. That for four or five years she'd had dreams of birth and babies and is past having babies….but that THIS is what she was waiting for. I shared the word I was given five years ago and my dream….and we all sat in awe of what God had worked. T shared her story and it also confirmed that God had laid the birth of this new region on hearts years ago. AND He faithfully led each of us to the right spot, at the right time.

That afternoon I went out on a Catamaran with the Misawa ladies and proceeded to get sick over and over….and I knew that I could handle the travel with this position because I managed to get off that boat and walk to my bed. ::snort:: Of course, I had four other women helping me…maybe I need a travel team. LOL

And now? I'm still stunned…but in a good way. God whispers to me that He led me to this place and that He will continue to lead me. I've determined to wait for Him to clarify His vision for this new region, to wait for Him to clarify who I should invite to join the leadership team, and to build a prayer team as I wait. This region has been conceived and birthed in prayer….it's o.k. for us to bathe these early decisions in prayer. The position I've accepted is a two year commitment.

I'm still in awe and humbled that God has led me to this spot….I was terrified that I'd blow the whole boundary/balance thing but Mike tells me we've learned lessons since Alaska…

This is my latest birth story. I'm able, now, to see one reason I may not be blessed with an infant….it seems God is truly moving me into new seasons…..and I still struggle at times, but I've learned it's much more of an adventure to surrender.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Glimpses from a Morning Walk (10-27)

The air is getting nippy. I'm not sure how much longer we'll be taking early morning walks. Here are some shots from a recent walk…..

Bundles of rice have been stacked on these frames...








This field is covered with straw and ready for the winter.














The garbage culprit....fence beside our home.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Thankful Tree

It feels like HOME to have our Thankful Tree up and ready for new leaves. Arielle, Stacia and I had fun creating this years tree....certainly smaller than previous years....but this will work. LOL

First Night...


Can the Holidays really be upon us already??????

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Let the Lessons Begin (10-28)

Wednesday afternoon was the start of our family Japanese Language Lessons with Akiko. She relates well with the children. I had hoped she would. They loved the interaction with her. She followed their lead to teach them words to say what they wanted to tell her.

She has told Arielle, Jared and I to get busy and learn Hiragana so that we can read the text book she brought. ::snort:: The littles have picture books and a Japanese Children dictionary to work with. Jared took notes of the words we learned and typed them up into a review sheet for us.

We'll continue with our Pimsleur CD's and I'll probably buy a few more things, but having an expert to correct our pronunciation and answer all our questions is invaluable. I had expected to pay Y5,000 a week for our lessons. She gave us the first one free and said that she'll only take Y3,000 a week.

I'm going to venture to Hachinohe this week in search of a keyboard so that Piano lessons can begin next week.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Hawaii!!!!

I doubt that I can do justice to our trip - but photos will go along way. By the time we left Japan, I knew that my life was about to make some big changes in Hawaii. I was hit with NERVES big time and Windy had to pray me out the door and on to the plane. Poor thing, she must have wondered what sort of psycho she was traveling with. ::snort::

Here we are - looking refreshed and excited to begin our really BIG ADVENTURE - bigger than our night out at the library! ::snort:: BTW - that's me on the left.
Two plane trips, one bus ride and a day later we were well welcomed in Honolulu.

Windy and I shared a room. Here's the view from our room.



Our group - and the brunette behind us on the left is from our first assignment. A highlight for me was seeing Julie and Sarah (both from Malmstrom AFB) again.
Sunday Morning, Brenda Marlin, PWOCI President, prayed for the next generation of women.


After the conference our group went out on a Catamaran. This couple touched a deep chord in me.
Ah - sailing....
Windy enjoys the ride....

and then....I got "violently ill"! Really. I threw up seven times on the Catamaran. The conference had concluded on a high point for me (and I'll blog that later), and this was a low point! ::snort:: I told God if he really loved me, He'd calm the waves like He did for the disciples...but He didn't.....Windy got ill too. Susane felt ill but held it together. I wasn't sure I'd make it back to the hotel when we landed. I figured God was helping me face my fear of motion sickness....afterall it can't get much more humiliating than what I went through on this trip. I'll spare you lots of the details. I was thankful that He was showing me that I could handle the worse and not fear flying and motion sickness. We made it back to the hotel. I slept. Everyone slept. We got up and went in search of a baked potatoe. I got sick again.

We got up early to fly back to Japan....I was sick. I got sick a couple of times before boarding the plane....slept most the way home....Susane had to go to the hospital in Hawaii. We chatted yesterday and I discovered that six women from Hickam and she and I seem to have contacted some sort of food poisioning...so it wasn't all motion sickness.

It really was a great trip. My traveling companions were precious. The time away was about right. I was able to see old friends.....the very ladies who introduced me to PWOC. There will be lots more photos as they are sent to me...but these give you the idea.

I'll have more to say in the next day or so. I need time to write it well. LOL If a picture is worth a thousand words, THIS one is worth a few million.

For those who recognize some of the ladies, yes, I'm the new PWOC Asia Region President...and I'm more humbled and more exhilerated than I can remember being in a very long time.

Time to run....Prot News is done and I'd like to get home to my babies.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

This can only mean one thing!

INTERNET....

Mike met me at the airport with the news that we will have Interent installed next Tuesday (3rd). This is way before DECEMBER and I'm thankful! It's also on a day when both Mike and I have meetings. Mike, however, is determined that we are getting Internet on the 3rd. LOL

No, I've not been continually griping...but he knows that life will be normal, easier and such with communication at home. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...