Chaplain Spouses of Okinawa

There are MANY responsibilities/events/opportunities that come with being a military spouse on Okinawa. They are all good, but some I enjoy more than others. My favorite has to be our Chaplains' Spouses Group. We have a regular meeting once a month, that is part business/part social. In addition to that, we also get together to provide dinner for the families at the "Stork's Nest" once a month (families who are here from elsewhere in the Pacific to use the Naval hospital's neonatal services for high-risk pregnancies), we put in hours sorting donated clothing and household items to benefit "Operation Goodwill" (these items are taken by Marines for distribution when they deploy around the Pacific on humanitarian assignments), we volunteer hours at the Navy gift shop to benefit American and Okinawan charities, and we get together for cultural experiences on occasion.

What makes this group of ladies so special is our diverse faith groups and backgrounds. We are all different...some of our beliefs differ drastically...but we come together to celebrate what we have in common...loving to serve God, specifically through serving military families. I can truly say that I love each of these women and I'm humbled to be part of such an assembly.

Our meeting this month was just a couple of nights ago, and in honor of our Rabbi's wife (who we were saying farewell to {boohoo!}) we dispensed with the business and just got together to eat yummy Chinese food at Peter's Place...which came along with a demonstration on preparing Chinese tea by Peter's wife, Mary.


Yummy food!
(fried rice, sweet and sour pork, chicken with a dry curry, sweet and sour shrimp and egg rolls)



Mary imparting her tea wisdom unto all of us.

(Trivia: I don't actually drink coffee or "real" tea {for religious reasons}...so in my pantry, I have several unopened boxes of herbal tea. When I'm invited to a "coffee" I bring the hostess some of my favorite herbal tea. If she tries to send it back with me when I leave, I ask her to keep it for next time {meaning..."Please invite me again!"}.)

I had a feeling that wouldn't quite work in this venue...so the ladies next to me were very nice to just take mine for me.



I can't believe I didn't get a pic of Melanie (the Rabbi's wife) by herself...but that's her on the far right with the white hat band around the black hat. She's such a doll. We are a sadder group without her...but Lemoore is TOTALLY lucking out!



The other side of my table. I couldn't get us all in one shot.

I can't wait until next month...except that it's another farewell. I don't know if I can handle two in a row! Last year I think we only lost two total...and we've gained at least a dozen...but this "PCS* season" is going to be a rough one.


*PCS=Permanent Change of Station...in civilian speak: Moving! The vast majority of PCS moves occur between May and August (for obvious reasons...school). The second most common time is over Christmas break...when we typically move.

High Adventure...The Rest of the Story.

Remember when I posted about Troy and Patrick's Boy Scout High Adventure hike a few weeks back? Well, their Scout leader who organized the whole thing just posted the real inside story of the hike on his blog. It makes mine look really weak...so I just had to share his with you to make up for it. I'm so grateful for Scout leaders who put so much time and effort into planning epic adventures for boys to remember the rest of their lives.

Please go take a peek here.

Stopping to Smell the Roses

Do you ever have seemingly random, exhilarating moments...that for reasons you can't explain, you just feel so grateful to be alive you just might burst with enthusiasm? Where you just have to close your eyes, throw your head back and take a deep breath? I had one of those as I was walking out of the post office tonight. I couldn't really put my finger on it. Maybe it was the combination of the cool night air, the sparkling lights of Araha beach in the distance and all the wonderful smells coming from the collective restaurants in the area. Or maybe...

Maybe it was the news that my husband was coming home tonight...a week early, after being gone for three.

Maybe it was the spur-of-the-moment spa pedicure (thanks to a birthday gift certificate from a sweet friend)...which lasts 1.5 hours and includes an incredible leg and foot massage topped off by the cutest toe art you've ever seen (on every toe...not just the big one).

Maybe it was the fact that I was still chuckling to myself after the random experience I'd had at another "beauty" appointment earlier in the day. Let me just say that until you've experienced having an Okinawan woman pour hot wax on your...ummm...body...and repeatedly ripping it off, while discussing the tenants of your faith, African-American history and various books authored by mega-church preachers (with gospel music blaring overhead)...you haven't lived, my friends. Trust me on this one. TMI? Sorry...that one was just too good not to share. (I mean, I appreciate a good "How Great Thou Art" or an "Our God is an Awesome God" as much as the next gal...but the venue was just a little.....peculiar.)

Maybe it was solving the world's problems over an awesome Daisy's Thai-rice-plate lunch with a great friend...in between a walk on the beach on a gorgeous Spring day.

Maybe it was the 3 hour morning nap I had (after driving 6 AM Seminary carpool) that I SO desperately needed after nearly a week of sleeping 3-4 hours a night. (A deep sleep nap...full of realistic dreams about Sandra Bullock...who was my BFF coming to me to be consoled after learning of her jerk-of-a-husband's infidelity.)

Maybe it was the fact that I had just dropped my oldest son of at his high school "nerd dance" after sharing one of those bittersweet conversations where you are so grateful to be a mom on one hand...but a little unnerved to be relating to your child on an adult level on the other.

I'm sure all of those things had something to do with it. Today was a very good day...definitely more self-indulgent than most. But I don't feel guilty in the least. I think I came away recharged...pitcher filled...and ready to pour.

Flashback Friday...Dressing for Success

(circa 1974)

Oh, how I love this little boy! Well...when he grows up to be a man, anyway...otherwise, that would just be disturbing.

Anyway, Cliff and I have had more than a couple of conversations on whether the bolo tie is indeed a legitimate tie. Guess who is in which camp? I always thought he did it just to push my buttons. Turns out, he has a vested interest. Speaking of vests...is this a sah-WEET one, or what?

While looking through Cliff's memory book of school pictures, one thing became very obvious to me. Unlike me, his mom and/or his grandma never forgot it was picture day. He was always dressed to the nines. No faded Stormtrooper tees or cowlicks for this dapper darling. Did I also mention his grandma used to cook breakfast for him every morning? *sigh*

But I bet she didn't have blogging skillz.

Airport Adventures and Kokusai Street

This morning I took some friends to the airport in Naha for their unexpected trip to the States. One Mom, one Grandma, 3 kids in carseats (including a newborn) a stroller and several suitcases...plus the driver (me) made for one packed minivan!




Once they were off on their adventure, I headed back up to my neck of the woods, wondering where I was going to go for my daily walk. I didn't get far.

It was about here:




That I had a brilliant, impulsive idea to stop at Kokusai Street. It had been a year since Cliff and I had been there, and we didn't have long, so we didn't even go into the covered, outdoor market.


I didn't have long to spend this time, either. I didn't even get all the way to the end of this (and that was without stopping to buy anything). If you'd like to see more pics of my walk on Kokusai Street, you can find them here.

Enjoy!

Seniors Have All The Fun!

This week is Tera-Nova standardized testing at all of the kids' schools. Well, everyone except for the seniors, that is! Since they really don't care how the seniors are doing...since they are about to graduate...they got to do a bunch of fun stuff this week. Ice-skating, picture-taking, brick painting and graduation practice, to name a few.


This morning, I got to go to the Officers' Club just down the street to help chaperon the senior breakfast. What fun it was!



The food was delicious, as always. Then, there were some guest speakers. Two ladies from one of the banks on base came to talk about checking accounts, debit and credit cards and types of savings plans...followed by a counselor from Family Advocacy, who spoke about dating violence and staying safe in college. I especially liked the last presentation. She was very dynamic, and I think really made the kids think.



Mostly, it was just fun to watch the kids interacting. This is a great group of kids. I hope they all realize how lucky they are to have a graduating class of just barely over one hundred kids!



After the presentations were over, there was some time left before the buses were due...so they had "open mic" time. So many of the girls got up and thanked their friends and such...and then this group got up to entertain us all...



I remember senior year like it was just last year...and I'm so glad they are making these fun memories together. In a blink, this will be over...and hopefully they will have soaked it all in.




Then, it was time to head back to school for afternoon classes...



(What a cutie...Miss Oki-peace!)



Oh...I forgot to mention, since it was St. Patrick's Day...it was VERY handy that their school colors are green and white!

Okinah-Bragh, or..."The Strangest St. Patrick's Day Parade Ever"

Yesterday, I decided to head back over the the Gate 2/Park Ave. area to take some pictures of the walk I had taken over there last week (since I forgot my camera). When I tried to turn onto Park Ave. from 330, it was roped off and a security guard shooed me. Well! The nerve! I flipped back around, headed up Gate 2 Street and weaved through the maze looking for the parking area I wanted. I saw that Park Ave. was roped off in every spot which I intersected it. I figured something was going on, but had no idea what.

I had to park further away and walk...but now I was really curious. There were crowds of people, many of them decked out in green. It didn't take long to figure out. This was a St. Patrick's Day parade! Sure enough, I passed this little Irish Pub, which was responsible for all the revelry. (An Irish Pub? This is Japan!)






Then I saw these guys! Oh, how I love a marching band!



Well, at least we were going to have some authentic pieces to this display. I couldn't wait to see what else they had up their sleeves.



Of course, the announcements were all in Japanese...



And after three speeches, these dignitaries all lined up to cut the ribbon.



And the parade could start.



This guy seemed to be in charge. Maybe he's the pub owner?



I have to confess, I started tearing up right here. Marching bands tug at my heart strings, anyway...but marching bands playing the Marine Hymn? Now that's just unfair. It made me SO sentimental for home.





Lots of crazy costumes...

Wow, they start 'em young!



Oh, here come the bagpipes!



And another banner...



So, here's where things get a little fuzzy. Yes, these girls are in green...but I'm not sure what they have to do with St. Patrick?



OK...more kilts...now we're talking.






Darling boys' baseball team...not sure what the sign says...again, not sure how this is Irish...but I'm game. What else do they have?



Basketball! Hey, at least they're in green.



And of course, the very Irish Karate Dojo! Well, they do have those green headbands...



And, oh they are edible-cute! OK, they can be Irish if they want.



Is this not adorable?



And this?



OK...again...not sure on the Celtic nature of the Samurai sword...but, I'm willing to be open-minded.



OH, he's CUTE! He's my new boyfriend. Don't tell Cliff.







Wow, he's still got it, too!



OK, now I'm realizing...pretty much anything goes....



It's not about being from Ireland...



It's about being Irish for a day...whatever that means to you.

What a fun experience! And to think...I found this by accident. Next year, I have to bring the family, for sure! I wonder what other "Irish" wonders will be on display then?

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!