tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67193385153939218592024-03-13T11:40:28.718+09:00Perry Clan in JapanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-9505265207013923722012-10-05T13:22:00.000+09:002012-10-05T13:22:05.313+09:00The Past Few Months...I cannot tell you how many times I have sat down at my
computer screen to update our blog. I usually find myself staring at an empty
word document unmotivated to write because of the amount of papers have already written for school, toddler
tantrums, sleepless nights, culture mess ups, and so on that I come in contact with on a daily basis. To say we have been busy that
past few months back in Japan would be an understatement. Now that there’s light
at the end of the tunnel I am starting to feel like a normal person again, well
as normal as I can feel being at the end of pregnancy.<br />
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When we got back to Japan in August we hit the ground
running. We were swept back into life here by helping out the “new guys”, who
were eventually to become our dear friends in a very short amount of time,
learn about life here in Japan. We spent days grocery shopping, site seeing and
answering questions to help our new friends start to feel like home in such a foreign
place. It was a sweet time of fellowship and fun.</div>
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September came rolling around and Justin and I found ourselves
deep into school work. We spent night after night working to make deadlines.
And we were so exhausted every night. I am
beyond happy to say we are at the end of that crazy time and pushing the button
to send our final projects in have never felt better. I still am working on one class but I am so
close to finishing I can’t help but be excited. </div>
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The school year took off as well and has kept Justin busy, busy, busy. Last week he spent a few days on a retreat with his high schoolers that I’ll
have to let him write about, hopefully soon.</div>
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As far as the rest of our lives go we are slowly starting to
slow down and pass on some of our responsibilities for a short while as we prepare to
welcome our sweet baby Cora Grace into the world. We are about four weeks away
and ready to meet our precious little one. Noah is very excited about his
little sister and is ready for her to come be a part of our family. </div>
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I am thankful for my mom who will be making the long journey
to be a part of Cora’s birth by staying with Noah at the house and taking great
care of him. The hospital stays here in Japan can be as long as seven days so
having her here taking care of Noah is a huge relief for me to know my precious first born will have family to be with while mommy and daddy are away. </div>
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Please pray for us in the next coming weeks as big changes
and decisions are going to happen/be made. We are excited to see all God has planned
for us in the weeks and months ahead. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-3552755386712542452012-06-14T11:11:00.002+09:002012-06-14T11:11:51.902+09:00Guest Blog: Laura Parker Life OverseasThere have been many times in my life overseas that I have felt discouraged, like I was a terrible missionary and nothing was going right. Or there are times when the culture I am living in becomes hard because it is so different from mine. Those who have lived overseas know exactly what I am talking about.<br />
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And sometimes I just wished I could speak or hear from someone who is feeling the way I do, going through the same situations I am, and here the simple words "It's Ok."<br />
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I was so blessed to come across <a href="http://www.lauraleighparker.com/">Laura Parker's blog</a> about a year ago. She has inspired me in so many ways. I have said so many times reading her blog "I know exactly how you feel". I have laughed at her posts and cried reading some of them because of how true they are. I am so thankful she writes so beautifully and I would encourage women living overseas (and really, even those of you that aren't) to start reading her blog. You will not be disappointed.<br />
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I was lucky to have been <a href="http://www.lauraleighparker.com/2012/06/meet-missionary-amy-japan/">featured on her blog today</a>. Check it out. And while your at it check out her<a href="http://www.lauraleighparker.com/"> other posts</a> as well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-61532527714883326922012-05-18T13:38:00.001+09:002012-05-18T13:38:43.240+09:00Excuses, Excuses.So I have been completely neglecting this blog. You are probably getting used to the pattern of me posting everyday for a few weeks and then dropping off the face of planet for a month or two and then coming back. But this time, oh this time, I have some GREAT excuses on why I haven't been around here. So here is an update on the Perry Clan, through my excuses of why I haven't had time to write on the blog.<br />
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Ready? Go!<br />
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<b>1. I have been in full time school this semester.
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It has been quite a few months. I am getting close to finishing my degree and the more classes I am taking, naturally the harder it gets. I hope to graduate in May (and Justin as well), but we have some, let's call it, "distractions" coming up in the future so we will see.
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<b>2. We are expecting Perry #2!!!!</b><br />
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Ok, so this is a big distraction coming! Woo-hoo! We are beyond excited about this! BUT let me just say this. With Noah I am learning I had the perfect pregnancy. I never had morning sickness, never had many aches and pains (except for the occasional charlie horse in the middle of the night), had a five hour labor, pushed 10 minutes, and the list goes on and on. Well so far this little one has been quite the opposite. I spent six weeks unable to eat anything but Subway sandwiches and eggs (Separately of course) and spending far to long in bed or in the bathroom for reasons you can figure out on your own. I am thankfully at the end of this part of pregnancy but I had no clue it could be that bad the first trimester!<br />
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<b>3. Justin took a History team to Tokyo and then Washington D.C!</b><br />
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In March, I was blessed to be able to go with Justin to Tokyo for his top history students to compete in their first ever history competition. It was an amazing trip. The students far exceeded our expectations and took first, second and third place in the individual competition and first in the group competition! Wow! This was incredible to be a part of! Because they did so well they were invited to compete in Washington DC with dozens of other schools. Justin will hopefully write a post about this soon (hint, hint honey...hah) and share details and pictures as I did not get to accompany him on this trip. He has some great stories to tell and pictures to show so come back soon and read all about it!<br />
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<b>4. Noah is two.</b><br />
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If you are or have been a parent of a two year old, I shouldn't need to write anymore than that statement alone for you to completely understand, but for those of you who don't have kids I will fill you in. Noah is curious about everything and running around like a crazy child. He is the sweetest, smartest child I know of course, but he sure keeps me busy during the day. Between jumping off stools and eating dirt I have my hands full. And to think another one is coming, oh boy! ;)<br />
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<b>5. I am a part of a team starting a Mother's ministry at our church. </b><br />
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Yes, I am so excited about this! Our church has decided to have a monthly gathering for mothers! This is for the people who come to our church but also an outreach to the Japanese moms around us. I have high hopes for this ministry so please pray for this. This month we had a kick off event that was a Mother's Day tea. It was a great first event! We had a wonderful speaker, good food and great fellowship! I really do believe God will do great things with this ministry in the future!<br />
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<b>Well, those are my excuses. </b><br />
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I am sure I have more like typical life in another culture, trying to fit some kind of Japanese language study in, grocery store runs, school events and so on and so forth but really it has been a crazy semester. We are thankful God has used us in so many ways this semester and we are really excited to see what God has planned for us in year number three. Yes, we are coming back for a third year if you missed that annoucement.<br />
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In the next few weeks we will be wrapping up the year and heading back to the States for some family time and so Justin can take a few more classes to finish up his degree. I have many more pictures and stories to share about the past few months so come back soon and come back often! Thank you for sticking with us, even when we disappear for a while! :) <script>
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<a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" style="border: 0;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-34951497890173112582012-02-20T13:27:00.006+09:002012-02-20T13:39:31.134+09:00Our Sick Weekend.I wish I had something more interesting to write about today, but unfortunately we have been home sick all weekend. Noah has/had the flu and Justin had a respiratory infection. Sorry I didn't have more postings this week but I did want you to know why there hasn't been much going on here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEs6J_Ahd-Sm2yoXEDM7-Mrd6YYe-U4G7hR-LOhqfQYwewK-QbfBTA1WhazAORmdJaSdMdJZugmtnQQVWBpvP2LxXWt0hu18nlfON5H8Pl38QrvH7IvbSq9lvUzXXF9R0szlsW-zUhvmyc/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEs6J_Ahd-Sm2yoXEDM7-Mrd6YYe-U4G7hR-LOhqfQYwewK-QbfBTA1WhazAORmdJaSdMdJZugmtnQQVWBpvP2LxXWt0hu18nlfON5H8Pl38QrvH7IvbSq9lvUzXXF9R0szlsW-zUhvmyc/s400/IMG_0417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711071505777964130" border="0" /></a>So, after two sleepless nights, a TON of coffee for mommy, coughing and runny noses, really high fevers, a trip to the Sunday clinic, a $400 dollar medical bill, nasty medicine, naps, more Nick Jr. shows than I can count, a totally peed out futon, several warm baths and several readings of "Brown bear, Brown bear." I think we are on the mend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxKeBs08IrHMJm7ywltrVeZCCwEAZ2wsj4JloS_cZmoGuai7xD8BmPfkAomcOr29LrA-2TuHtdnEuFM4AzlT6QQLb-JCHaBX0UpBvx7VFeYyziC-e00m9aJuHgczKak9LFLVk2TSFErCd/s1600/IMG_0425.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxKeBs08IrHMJm7ywltrVeZCCwEAZ2wsj4JloS_cZmoGuai7xD8BmPfkAomcOr29LrA-2TuHtdnEuFM4AzlT6QQLb-JCHaBX0UpBvx7VFeYyziC-e00m9aJuHgczKak9LFLVk2TSFErCd/s400/IMG_0425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711071641331603826" border="0" /></a>Thank you to all who knew of Noah's sickness and prayed for us. Thank you for our friends who took trips to the store for us, and THANK YOU Noriko (if you are reading this) for taking us to the clinic, translating for us, taking us to the drug store...on a Sunday, WITH A SMILE! You were so good to us and made things so much easier!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZJvRPhhLL9eaOLCz9sNbxxI7aiHEq1d4qm3RkEIlEfu5dBAdjEgIIdNuIDIkSxPkT03Ic5fRIF9R42KQSK3b_QwLzFjLcIi9jIrme5TFZpr0icNyidOVenSLeBm1k3lGMjvPGFNqclIK/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZJvRPhhLL9eaOLCz9sNbxxI7aiHEq1d4qm3RkEIlEfu5dBAdjEgIIdNuIDIkSxPkT03Ic5fRIF9R42KQSK3b_QwLzFjLcIi9jIrme5TFZpr0icNyidOVenSLeBm1k3lGMjvPGFNqclIK/s400/IMG_0424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711071786279561138" border="0" /></a>We hope you have had a better weekend than we did and the flu stays far, far away from your homes!<br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-38454033654409537152012-02-11T14:39:00.011+09:002012-02-11T15:07:49.988+09:00Friday Phone Dump (Saturday Edition).I've wanted to do something that would give our readers a look into our life every week here in Japan. I thought it to be super boring to just write a play by play on the happenings of our week. But I couldn't figure out what else would work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">And then there was instagram. </span><br /><br />If you can't already tell by most of the pictures on here, I LOVE instagram. It makes beautiful pictures out of ordinary photos with two simple clicks on the iphone. So I thought it would be perfect to drop our pictures in one collage that I had taken all week on instagram.<br /><br />So, here we go...my first Friday (on Saturday this week) phone dump.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YSiwvXMUrwFaZ-lSVlH53Cb4_uvr6Cj1Bi_7joQaWWAMw7M73nVrtSscWNQGEwhV8IqBhW25vCTCgssS8IQGG9nanrhj6n-0k5VDyovutteYR9k8eQZcsW5VAyNi0tYsrFCIkhNzjXZy/s1600/iPod+Photo+Cache-001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 650px; height: 650px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YSiwvXMUrwFaZ-lSVlH53Cb4_uvr6Cj1Bi_7joQaWWAMw7M73nVrtSscWNQGEwhV8IqBhW25vCTCgssS8IQGG9nanrhj6n-0k5VDyovutteYR9k8eQZcsW5VAyNi0tYsrFCIkhNzjXZy/s400/iPod+Photo+Cache-001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707750555044672610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Left to Right: International Fair at Expo Park, Earth Display at Expo Park, International Fair Expo Park, Noah enjoying a play car at our local grocery store, Noah’s reaction to the fighting demonstrations, our local subway, our linimo stop, more International fair, snowy Nagakute, Noah stacking, what?, Grandpa flew in for a visit, play dates with friends, ICAN kiddos, fun with legos, Happy Birthday Sarah!, ICAN Secondary kids praying.</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a></span><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-64980944078458891822012-02-08T12:56:00.012+09:002012-02-08T14:41:47.887+09:00Two Crazy Beautiful Years<p class="MsoNormal">I cannot believe in just a few short weeks I will have a two year old. I wanted to take a few moments and share about my last two years and the things I have learned from them. It has been the hardest two years of my life, but they have also been my favorite years as well. And it’s not just because we added a child to the picture. No, it also includes, moving overseas, spending one entire summer living in six different places, packing up our whole lives into nine small boxes, saying good-bye to family, and diving head first into a new culture. Oh, and jetlag. But that’s another story.</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JIXHYB9rBiebhdZchDgmsYtyhA7HO8fugwz-yHMW0duPr6KOckF_PwI77ojO7hvnyUDxvt4Xn2M7DSCap7bh424G6PtXlWp-du6AY6ZNRcis-leW4iLS7oE122IIIWqjyh7H2ieUA-b5/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 450px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JIXHYB9rBiebhdZchDgmsYtyhA7HO8fugwz-yHMW0duPr6KOckF_PwI77ojO7hvnyUDxvt4Xn2M7DSCap7bh424G6PtXlWp-du6AY6ZNRcis-leW4iLS7oE122IIIWqjyh7H2ieUA-b5/s400/IMG_0343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706615042231452834" /></a>And I have slept less and I’m not caught up on the TV shows I used to watch and certainly haven’t a clue about what has been happening at the movie theater. And I have had food poisoning (twice), had morning sickness, and went through labor and breastfeeding. But I have grown so much as a person and I wouldn’t change it at all. I have had more joyous and happy moments than I have in other years and my heart is so incredibly full. So without further introduction: What I have learned in the past two years.<p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3otZmcC4wfwdWgbUyo9pR71d7xQ2Ac6gQ_pLjJGA0Ne_53Ub_awjERUvwk569U2a-QW95fqq94nXyzwGYraZij1HbKAzB-9ZvhdkYY4eWt0ZqE9EI2Jtq5JmmYBylngzcNI7ZH0tWLTb/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3otZmcC4wfwdWgbUyo9pR71d7xQ2Ac6gQ_pLjJGA0Ne_53Ub_awjERUvwk569U2a-QW95fqq94nXyzwGYraZij1HbKAzB-9ZvhdkYY4eWt0ZqE9EI2Jtq5JmmYBylngzcNI7ZH0tWLTb/s400/IMG_0369.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706612481483535218" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned that <b>family will always be there</b>. No matter how far the distance and no matter how long it is in between visits. <i>I’ve also learned that family isn’t just the people who you are related too.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned <b>to not worry so much about money</b>. Sometimes you don’t know how everything is going to work out. But I’ve also learned not to look back and try to figure it out…<i>because it does work out, and most of the time it doesn’t make sense</i>.</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsOM9Gc19gchvdGPmYACc1hweq_HQG3uoHsKIrdfV9mj1tYUho8PFmnpmvMUQYwAHejqkwW0_hM2qEVrm6_BMVo0P3rRjXXRYPv7hV_KcnUP8UhwTTKzvdy01oFP1xvvAPEXyK-XZDMLO/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsOM9Gc19gchvdGPmYACc1hweq_HQG3uoHsKIrdfV9mj1tYUho8PFmnpmvMUQYwAHejqkwW0_hM2qEVrm6_BMVo0P3rRjXXRYPv7hV_KcnUP8UhwTTKzvdy01oFP1xvvAPEXyK-XZDMLO/s400/IMG_0372.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706613186788011170" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned that I can in fact <b>live without Target and Chickfila</b>. <i>And no, my friends, this isn’t a joke.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned that <b>it’s ok to cry</b>. Even if there isn’t something specific to cry about or even if there is. It’s far worse to hold it inside, trying to be strong. Because eventually the tears will come, whether you like it or not, <i>and it won’t be quite as pretty</i>.</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wgdNEJpoGgPqikjwI7M7uxP6QjkRqzia4oeSBqVVdLO1tUTVKqzwyOupyOjPmG4N2LxzL9WUIlkZpVrmBb2lTb4RMgONam3VCq10lR5_l-JH_nvVP3kAjy2o0a9G2FufLrVsIBXE2fqo/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wgdNEJpoGgPqikjwI7M7uxP6QjkRqzia4oeSBqVVdLO1tUTVKqzwyOupyOjPmG4N2LxzL9WUIlkZpVrmBb2lTb4RMgONam3VCq10lR5_l-JH_nvVP3kAjy2o0a9G2FufLrVsIBXE2fqo/s400/IMG_0366.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706613637076670834" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned that learning a <b>new language is tough</b>. I’ve learn to celebrate the little accomplishments of learning a language instead of looking at the big picture. <i>Because the big picture seems impossible.</i> And you might just give up if you don’t celebrate the little things.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned a whole lot about <b>what it means to be patient</b>, and how I wasn’t patient at all before little feet ran around my home.</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp6VAEOz6xixv2rYWGoqQLvE_B5IQPLEccw-fThBFf4FkvEDt8ovs9Q3yxpatrXUvHWeWc6gfdmIWwIoMy9F6RPDyANyELA0kRGwtfszwXxNNTK5oaWp4Q-jvF-P_I52jVQurMca0jUJ2/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp6VAEOz6xixv2rYWGoqQLvE_B5IQPLEccw-fThBFf4FkvEDt8ovs9Q3yxpatrXUvHWeWc6gfdmIWwIoMy9F6RPDyANyELA0kRGwtfszwXxNNTK5oaWp4Q-jvF-P_I52jVQurMca0jUJ2/s400/IMG_0354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706613972913744562" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned that you can <b>substitute almost anything</b> when it comes to cooking. There are countless ways to get around ingredients when you live in a country that doesn’t have them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned that love <b>gets oh so much stronger when you share beautiful moments together</b>. Our little family has never been this close and this in love, and it’s because of the moments we have been through, <i>good and bad</i>, over the past two years.</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFafCcIfvv0L-YvXI4ur5j4rjGws84U3RjAuXykUvuTFiynI4qzbxX2jHTdF4QQM-oRTRpDhODr5xcR9X0BUWPqGh58YKleWaj0giL7m7dUnHiY-C8MKH9Qg52pa7aUJGProzbIbbRThi/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFafCcIfvv0L-YvXI4ur5j4rjGws84U3RjAuXykUvuTFiynI4qzbxX2jHTdF4QQM-oRTRpDhODr5xcR9X0BUWPqGh58YKleWaj0giL7m7dUnHiY-C8MKH9Qg52pa7aUJGProzbIbbRThi/s400/IMG_0365.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706614382118994434" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned that <b>it’s never easy to do the right thing</b>. Like a big move, or breastfeeding, or waking up in the middle of the night to feed a hungry baby. <i>Just to name a few.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve learned that most of <b>life does not turn out exactly like you had planned it to</b>. <i>And I have also learned that it is perfectly ok for that to be true.</i></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYo_oWvhtCuWoqf3NCzip0AUkRBo5tmSeXg97fhkNhC4l8OkGvAT5V1zSOOpvx55Cys88ku3TVC_R8FSl3du_SFNoA6B92ewrwlgkUBEzhPXq3QLq-HLNG2cRjU23WjYRDdtnvJeUfEEW/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYo_oWvhtCuWoqf3NCzip0AUkRBo5tmSeXg97fhkNhC4l8OkGvAT5V1zSOOpvx55Cys88ku3TVC_R8FSl3du_SFNoA6B92ewrwlgkUBEzhPXq3QLq-HLNG2cRjU23WjYRDdtnvJeUfEEW/s400/IMG_0374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706614667324391154" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">And this is just a small look into what I have learned. I know even as I am pressing the publish button on this posting I will think of another thing I should have added. But that’s ok. It’s been an amazing two years. I am partly sad to see it pass, but oh so excited to see what the future has for us. So, here’s to yet another beautiful year, full of new adventures and discoveries.</p><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-80101201786527670722012-02-07T08:45:00.002+09:002012-02-07T12:55:39.814+09:00A Rainy Day Lesson<script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script>I woke up this morning with so much to do. We had a wonderful weekend, but wonderful weekends usually lead to a messy house and a grocery list that is a mile long.<div><br /></div><div>I spent the morning getting Noah dressed, cleaning the house and making lists of things that we needed to do when the stores opened at ten. Then, when it was time, I put on all (what seems like) ten layers of clothes on both of us to get out for the day. Oh, wait, let me add, that was after a hunt for a missing left shoe that ended up in the trash bag...somehow.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were finally ready and we stepped outside. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>To rain. </b></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5-fAoU5BHz7ox0RTLq4BI1yZnxB5u5wxMD1nTev9i45pD9w7JJ1eflUYjxUO0OpZNmAjM-E-49p8K4CfnIq69xKOWXy7rRugOC6CJSCbtBBdyVP2pbOUUG9TQalg0PFwyCrJu_QsmudY/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5-fAoU5BHz7ox0RTLq4BI1yZnxB5u5wxMD1nTev9i45pD9w7JJ1eflUYjxUO0OpZNmAjM-E-49p8K4CfnIq69xKOWXy7rRugOC6CJSCbtBBdyVP2pbOUUG9TQalg0PFwyCrJu_QsmudY/s400/IMG_0359.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705869573183435570" /></a><br /></div><div>I knew the night before that it was supposed to rain today and I had completely forgotten about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back inside we went. Our shoes, hats and jackets came off. And after several minutes of explaining to a very upset toddler, who was face down on the floor screaming, that it was too wet to go outside, I was left with a couple of hours before nap time and not too much planned.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZr_AU7uHLy2t1Cr6Bf4ONjwSJhG4y2Uj6Y0Xm_WsPVnWg4fv1rSt1rqpYukbQjk92PLA7ij2ZGXULYMxBIPxvpFTijpy1OxU4xzEE_1vCrQvws6ceteP0hxxiYzfMtw6IpDRBvU9J9ZOA/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZr_AU7uHLy2t1Cr6Bf4ONjwSJhG4y2Uj6Y0Xm_WsPVnWg4fv1rSt1rqpYukbQjk92PLA7ij2ZGXULYMxBIPxvpFTijpy1OxU4xzEE_1vCrQvws6ceteP0hxxiYzfMtw6IpDRBvU9J9ZOA/s400/IMG_0358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705869749839344306" /></a><br /></div><div>So I put on some comfy clothes and we played. We made play dough animals. We colored Elmo and some Care Bears, we snuggled under blankets and watched TV, we read a dozen books and we ate lunch...together.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSfr9TdPTaWulNc8vpwTgrhcsPQbO8F3QrKgQZAxPwbzKcAZ7_B6YNLJIDTKfluhMSweGHgrqZelDSFS1-4nlQVRPF9t1nAfKyziLLk_J0JwNk01z0jZXjlYXk0tMqeinii3BNDybxGZk/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSfr9TdPTaWulNc8vpwTgrhcsPQbO8F3QrKgQZAxPwbzKcAZ7_B6YNLJIDTKfluhMSweGHgrqZelDSFS1-4nlQVRPF9t1nAfKyziLLk_J0JwNk01z0jZXjlYXk0tMqeinii3BNDybxGZk/s400/IMG_0350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705870188147845138" /></a><br /></div><div>And my heart was so happy. Happier than it would have been if I would have gone out for two hours and got every little thing checked off my list. And it made me realize how many times the busyness of life gets in the way of being a mom and just simply playing with my sweet boy. It had been a while since we had spent this much time at once together in this way.</div><div><br /></div><div>And my son doesn't care if the fridge is completely stocked or if the laundry is piling up higher than Mt. Fuji and he certainly doesn't care about what my old high school friend's have been up to on Facebook. </div><div><br /></div><div>It helped me realize how important it is to just play with him at this age. Maybe the house won't be perfect, and maybe I won't be up to date with the latest news story or TV show, and maybe that assignment for school would have to wait just a couple hours more. And you know what? That stuff doesn't really make me that happy any way. I need to make time in my day to just be a mom.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6BRsRznJFyzPbxxnkFMtBx_w7eNXCuYppfa9XrJbbEqBVAdLDefLta_ZcLP-awOZTW827i5Nza-rJeTDvoypF_qdkIVhrFMH9J1s6EweuoKUe80_xQLSC3jDiVWW9jY5RdjRiZWt9dnZ/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6BRsRznJFyzPbxxnkFMtBx_w7eNXCuYppfa9XrJbbEqBVAdLDefLta_ZcLP-awOZTW827i5Nza-rJeTDvoypF_qdkIVhrFMH9J1s6EweuoKUe80_xQLSC3jDiVWW9jY5RdjRiZWt9dnZ/s400/IMG_0357.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705870000114380114" /></a><br /></div><div>I thank God for moments like this. When our plans don't go exactly like we want to, but in the end it ends up being a far better day than you could have planned on your own. And I thank God for quiet moments like these, when I realize the important things in life, need to be just that.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Important.</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-47820392437867758062012-02-06T12:22:00.004+09:002012-02-07T12:55:23.201+09:00Happy Monday<div>Sometimes it's hard to get started on Monday after a great weekend.<div><br /></div><div>So, here's a little something to <b>make you laugh</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>It doesn't matter what language they speak or what culture they live in, <i>kids still say the funniest things.</i></div></div><div><br /></div><iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9Jwb0xypUBo?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-65724842470682893432012-02-04T08:08:00.006+09:002012-02-07T12:56:53.888+09:00Enjoying The Moment.<script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><p class="MsoNormal">Today was one of those days that I miss America.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I have these periods of days or sometimes even a week or more where I actually think to myself it would be better to go home. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_B6nqO9bl2sEs-WVdP6B7jZEQnSeMFK7PzhX3PlI8HfQAMomYXMwnPZSYvdXTDvt07zM_36VI2TTXxdJNNnCC-a_A6nOvj71mMIyPsQLdeK1k7UrDcx4rIK_PXY9SkdPwbCbwibSh2NZ/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_B6nqO9bl2sEs-WVdP6B7jZEQnSeMFK7PzhX3PlI8HfQAMomYXMwnPZSYvdXTDvt07zM_36VI2TTXxdJNNnCC-a_A6nOvj71mMIyPsQLdeK1k7UrDcx4rIK_PXY9SkdPwbCbwibSh2NZ/s400/IMG_0257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704758728972006722" border="0" /></a> </o:p>Go home to cars and American grocery stores and mommy play groups and church nurseries and English.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Maybe it’s because in a way we are still very much into the thick of culture shock or because I can’t seem to get my act together but whatever the reason may be I have these days. And these days are brought on because I am tired of riding my bike everywhere, especially in the cold. Tired of saying no to doing things because we can’t afford it. Tired of hearing Japanese constantly around me, everywhere I go. Tired of watching my son say good-bye to family after wonderful, happy visits. Tired of not understanding the culture and making countless embarrassing mistakes. Tired of being an outsider. Sometimes I feel so alone. Sometimes I just feel tired. Sometimes I almost hate living here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYQy45LXH7oIVvddAQDIskV72HfH489eMxcuJRUXJvoGOCcqJ6s2HqooQ6ZYttAZtY7PurnxcXp426N3ry0AYcLALB5A9zhH-BKyCWFP51psbndpzF9I3vlndcYJ5zG3kEfSQMbAraPDH/s1600/IMG_0279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYQy45LXH7oIVvddAQDIskV72HfH489eMxcuJRUXJvoGOCcqJ6s2HqooQ6ZYttAZtY7PurnxcXp426N3ry0AYcLALB5A9zhH-BKyCWFP51psbndpzF9I3vlndcYJ5zG3kEfSQMbAraPDH/s400/IMG_0279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704759013691118418" border="0" /></a></o:p>Sometime I feel like everything <i><b>we gave up</b></i> back home <i><b>wasn’t worth</b></i> giving up for where we are now. And it’s times like these that leaves me missing America and longing for what it has to offer me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But I think this is kind of what happens to me whenever we close one chapter of life and open a new. The grass was greener on the other side. I can easily remember the good times and have a harder time remembering the struggles we have had in the past. But it’s the opposite it seems when looking at the present sometimes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I can see the struggles of right now, because I do not know where these struggles are going to lead me. Or how long I will be dealing with them. And these struggles can overtake the best parts of the now.</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMg__mKWdS-0SmF1s0SYtMMTU4tNfpdL5Y1DxcAvnktZwG5hR8VL_eGBshQYBKcaPZj20nlq2Se5Hf-iRmtStD6YzveGkjBgH1PSmx2qJ7hd6pL5TVSi0tD7u4hmPCdN7VFaZLvJBWbsIr/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMg__mKWdS-0SmF1s0SYtMMTU4tNfpdL5Y1DxcAvnktZwG5hR8VL_eGBshQYBKcaPZj20nlq2Se5Hf-iRmtStD6YzveGkjBgH1PSmx2qJ7hd6pL5TVSi0tD7u4hmPCdN7VFaZLvJBWbsIr/s400/IMG_0241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704759519961331218" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">Things like getting to actually watch my son grow up from home instead of having to work. Things like exciting cultural experiences and new understandings of life itself. Things like getting to experience parts of the world that many people don't.Things like watching God work in our lives in ways we couldn't imagine from our couch in America.</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwOKfsdCxQycqAI5r_KblsnFFJkwjEBmk91Jyb9TNAZEEB52FNKVX9ZavS3wMdiFBTggvkwUwCsiXi-o6iG8UPaahUhkzt94Y2oCnIYlDQFXF6ImFz2cG5UG_7W-843kspfQOMufIwE0b/s1600/IMG_0276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwOKfsdCxQycqAI5r_KblsnFFJkwjEBmk91Jyb9TNAZEEB52FNKVX9ZavS3wMdiFBTggvkwUwCsiXi-o6iG8UPaahUhkzt94Y2oCnIYlDQFXF6ImFz2cG5UG_7W-843kspfQOMufIwE0b/s400/IMG_0276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704759229590967730" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">And if I am not careful, I will miss it. And that would be a very sad thing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It doesn't mean it's not ok to look back on my past and smile. We've had some great memories in the past few years. But I am working on not missing the present. Because there will be a time in the future where I will be longing for this moment once again.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-14545418384855670722012-02-03T12:29:00.010+09:002012-02-07T12:57:55.951+09:00What I Like About Winter.<script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script>I am NOT a big fan of winter. Not even a little bit. In fact, we have never been friends. <div><br /></div><div>I much prefer it's cousin, Spring, or even Fall, and yes, definitely Summer.<div><div><br /></div><div>Every year, for as long as I have lived in a place that actually has a winter, my husband has heard about it. I get into this mood that doesn't quite leave me until it is warmer again.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I ask myself every year why in the world I live in a place that actually has this dreadful season. Winter.</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess you can take Florida away from the girl but...well, you know the rest.</div><div><br /></div><div>But there is one thing I do like about winter.</div><div><br /></div><div>This.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz6RYYHazzeUdiSnOnwLMaoob7PGAlEs51Nm-00h7ne_Gkc-B7Qz4kMnbAZhtjQ8H70OGwCoDGp61bkVyEFuEuP2GCHzFXGWmpMiFTnayl4lphFSSolEAhMDXCYDT2-A2hSnA6VkAE-vL/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz6RYYHazzeUdiSnOnwLMaoob7PGAlEs51Nm-00h7ne_Gkc-B7Qz4kMnbAZhtjQ8H70OGwCoDGp61bkVyEFuEuP2GCHzFXGWmpMiFTnayl4lphFSSolEAhMDXCYDT2-A2hSnA6VkAE-vL/s400/IMG_0326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704748835534898418" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And watching him play in it.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4MQ7-8bd2tf13xyhji36zQLY6MI61ooFkBVWPsODDU_j61SUWDBIAoNoUGnCh499Vz5UQjBpI817CaSTFaEnljzO4XC6cvVj2-6i1HowUm8ZUTVoh5JFB7Z2Ts5SJr57cU9g_8e15Z38/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4MQ7-8bd2tf13xyhji36zQLY6MI61ooFkBVWPsODDU_j61SUWDBIAoNoUGnCh499Vz5UQjBpI817CaSTFaEnljzO4XC6cvVj2-6i1HowUm8ZUTVoh5JFB7Z2Ts5SJr57cU9g_8e15Z38/s400/IMG_0328.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704749020058766466" /></a>And seeing a place you always live in and see everyday turn into something different and almost magical.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmo9sf9IrvIxoym1WUPw8zObJg-aw032pcQ9PDUftIO_30gwXjIwbpg0Na_0SEaCjODqRmUOM-wapHGpbbOEX8jCwzdvaBDPGXvQJRJcQLGSHeGIPjJ6bfIglPtyeSBzzS4OqnsmvY2jF4/s1600/IMG_0332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmo9sf9IrvIxoym1WUPw8zObJg-aw032pcQ9PDUftIO_30gwXjIwbpg0Na_0SEaCjODqRmUOM-wapHGpbbOEX8jCwzdvaBDPGXvQJRJcQLGSHeGIPjJ6bfIglPtyeSBzzS4OqnsmvY2jF4/s400/IMG_0332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704749270197473426" /></a><br /></div><div>And for one day out of the whole winter season actually saying: "I kind of like this winter thing."</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUtXvEaxpDMSohqkBUnKrNgzVr0ZY7rCq8c_aldcfhe5twIVLA2uBDcdrKThEzq-cmzYNtwbzP3RN6w-hfENv-aPlIBfE-hFh84PVhTkj1WDQ88hRScmFZj6abLDOXBAzciDrxd8C16Xr/s1600/IMG_0335.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 550px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUtXvEaxpDMSohqkBUnKrNgzVr0ZY7rCq8c_aldcfhe5twIVLA2uBDcdrKThEzq-cmzYNtwbzP3RN6w-hfENv-aPlIBfE-hFh84PVhTkj1WDQ88hRScmFZj6abLDOXBAzciDrxd8C16Xr/s400/IMG_0335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704749419446640994" /></a><br /></div><div>I guess this proves in everything, there is something to be thankful for.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-78040240971907953522012-02-02T12:47:00.001+09:002012-02-07T12:59:20.697+09:00A Different Kind of NormalI had conversation with a women I met today at our local grocery store. We ran into each other because our children looked to be the same age and we both looked like we understood English. We got to talking and it was the typical where are you from etc. that you have when you meet someone over here. <br /><br />It wasn’t a special conversation, just two people jumping at the opportunity to speak English. But during her introduction she mentioned that they were a pretty normal family.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Normal?</span><br /><br />I laughed inside because I have no idea what that means anymore. <br />What does it mean to be normal?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RPx8SqoZFQlXyxHrwgpQmtjYyFjwLOz86PGS_HlvINXDerC6bcxjqGQXtDfXcQ6yZTeaYesNjMFfamHDYqG2E2f_HEKCMGGcDkUggQzbNG5wbOv2ypR8eK6Y7NeS9A-6hDsXOfgZpJcA/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RPx8SqoZFQlXyxHrwgpQmtjYyFjwLOz86PGS_HlvINXDerC6bcxjqGQXtDfXcQ6yZTeaYesNjMFfamHDYqG2E2f_HEKCMGGcDkUggQzbNG5wbOv2ypR8eK6Y7NeS9A-6hDsXOfgZpJcA/s400/IMG_1401.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703674679538823186" /></a><br />Well, I can tell you what my normal was two years ago. It included squeezing as many people into our little seminary duplex as we can fit to watch our favorite American TV show, taking several trips a week to the grocery store and easily finding everything I need at a price I was willing to pay, driving my Hyundai around town whenever I needed to, spending the afternoon teaching children afterschool things like sports and how to draw, sleeping in until who knows how long because I didn’t need to be at work until two, meeting friends at restaurants like Chickfila, Chipotle and Pei Wei. That was my normal. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I can assure you that is not my normal now. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-Dky9fFrL5YVrPzxLKO0pT2bYBe0BKu0XdFlPfq75MMpMYcKznzMuePwim1w4757DdagWyGn5K2DF_11xJYXoXdgNBKA165-MGxHv7u_xMIJ2J8262GI7kBg_POZt6Oa-grqLx4VsMIP/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-Dky9fFrL5YVrPzxLKO0pT2bYBe0BKu0XdFlPfq75MMpMYcKznzMuePwim1w4757DdagWyGn5K2DF_11xJYXoXdgNBKA165-MGxHv7u_xMIJ2J8262GI7kBg_POZt6Oa-grqLx4VsMIP/s400/IMG_0227.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703673512285846642" /></a><br />Life has changed drastically for me in the past few years. What is my normal now? My normal is riding my bike down a busy highway with my son riding on the back when we need to go anywhere, balancing five bags of groceries on my bike coming home from the grocery store, using crowded public transit systems to get anywhere that I cannot bike to, crowding as many people in our 500 square foot apartment as we can so we can enjoy each other’s company and have a meal together (ok, so we’ve been doing that a long time), chasing around a busy 22 month old beginning at 7am every morning, visiting import stores in hopes to find the one thing you are craving from home, hearing Japanese around me constantly and wishing so much that I could speak it and doing ridiculous hand movements to try to get someone to understand what you need. Tatami floors and complicated trash pick up. That is my normal. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4fKtf7EI9JGn-9DJ-f2P6tjejVWNM-zetC53QX9Ug3FeksT7RoD6etlnnS4MVpkMlFItQ2FRufj6sDclaeMSwB3cqazKCrX-tm9WKwUDex1qmMRAnhIRbEU0uMfeojWxgDaOo5vC4Bsk/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4fKtf7EI9JGn-9DJ-f2P6tjejVWNM-zetC53QX9Ug3FeksT7RoD6etlnnS4MVpkMlFItQ2FRufj6sDclaeMSwB3cqazKCrX-tm9WKwUDex1qmMRAnhIRbEU0uMfeojWxgDaOo5vC4Bsk/s400/IMG_0245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703673863489711698" /></a><br />And it sounds crazy to the typical person. Why on earth would anyone want to do that?<br /><br />We could both have 9 to 5 jobs in a 1500 square foot home.We could have a backyard, with a dog. We could settle into a place and get comfortable.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSGYWf25_frfpXdeMCPsYVCVYQkDP157xWND6NUwk1KUzkJC_OjtNjZSf2r07X_bbpqXznMM2pJ-Gb3QGva7AzxgslC9cGjI3f90akO-G_ETShptR8DGMnZpSiDs1yFLhIEFWXq4KdtDE/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSGYWf25_frfpXdeMCPsYVCVYQkDP157xWND6NUwk1KUzkJC_OjtNjZSf2r07X_bbpqXznMM2pJ-Gb3QGva7AzxgslC9cGjI3f90akO-G_ETShptR8DGMnZpSiDs1yFLhIEFWXq4KdtDE/s400/IMG_0251.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703674123944990370" /></a><br />But for me, that sounds crazy. For me that isn’t normal. And I like it that way. <br />Our life screams adventure and new experiences. It stretches us so thin sometimes that we have nothing else to do but to watch God provide, and oh He does. It makes us think harder, learn quicker and love more. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I love our normal. Our normal is beautiful to me.</span><br /><br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-67562435056581626452012-01-31T10:22:00.012+09:002012-02-07T12:59:43.342+09:00Day Trip to NaraLast weekend we have the opportunity (Thank you SO MUCH Scadding Family!)to get out of Nagoya for a day and experience the wonderful and beautiful Nara. We had about a two hour car ride to get there. We were able to see some snow on the way. It was so nice to ride and a car and look at the different parts of Japan on the way. We ride the subway most places and we are underground so we miss a lot. Japan is so beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfPxLDCHRUVPKtH8lOWKlSwYWZm3HOHiDZMP9gUgD7Bp2vyxR9oLUjg9GsM2IJ8PfYks-XSMFOPJxnQOrYEzBWBQsDT83E1M6-o5uHj1yonQtUP709hMWMqKSYVNvVrYeL3xLVNv-G4iR/s1600/Search+results+for+nara1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfPxLDCHRUVPKtH8lOWKlSwYWZm3HOHiDZMP9gUgD7Bp2vyxR9oLUjg9GsM2IJ8PfYks-XSMFOPJxnQOrYEzBWBQsDT83E1M6-o5uHj1yonQtUP709hMWMqKSYVNvVrYeL3xLVNv-G4iR/s400/Search+results+for+nara1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703604353036824882" /></a><br />Nara was such a fun place. When we arrived the first thing we noticed is that the place is completely covered in wild deer. And when I say covered I mean it. We we surrounded by them all. day. long.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkTlN0rcXVRWEsdSCNzk8vDj4Ijs3EGyX4Akx8LmPaDHaObbPWFHuiqDmUZ4iDDT1bLPxuBqs72qGPcn1IR8wx4vMYtRHm7EN5Lv0s6FtgFz4C22b2KW_x1pRcJk_zJMpQr4euUx93LKp/s1600/Search+results+for+nara.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkTlN0rcXVRWEsdSCNzk8vDj4Ijs3EGyX4Akx8LmPaDHaObbPWFHuiqDmUZ4iDDT1bLPxuBqs72qGPcn1IR8wx4vMYtRHm7EN5Lv0s6FtgFz4C22b2KW_x1pRcJk_zJMpQr4euUx93LKp/s400/Search+results+for+nara.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703603694958438018" /></a><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>It was a lot of fun to see Noah interact with the deer. He wasn't so sure about being right up close and personal with them, but he did enjoy feeding them rice crackers while being held by mommy or daddy and talking about them all day long. He also was very interested in a all the gravel roads. He was so excited to be surrounded by so many rocks to check out all day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZylh8H24EemJ3TCYo58dww0SmBduAdS929EmE5cOiISobbFKN5_Rp0jw_41KXyYpk92Ehpe23B0t54KmpY16fRMQsl-RIUL08anhDkGvgQtuBBpB7BmLVBaUOt_UVQLVt1WuDDLYUmOGq/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZylh8H24EemJ3TCYo58dww0SmBduAdS929EmE5cOiISobbFKN5_Rp0jw_41KXyYpk92Ehpe23B0t54KmpY16fRMQsl-RIUL08anhDkGvgQtuBBpB7BmLVBaUOt_UVQLVt1WuDDLYUmOGq/s400/IMG_0256.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703604619112846626" /></a><br />The main temple in Nara, Tōdai-ji(home of a famous Buddha), was so beautiful. The pictures just don't do it justice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PHOYlx2eoE7n-UkZN5SLMDIDgU8rsXEksh8WE8WZve-rkgswAIHGhbdOcG9v-b8PROXY6PKkTFasPyvlNeF_6WYkLKvW1PHIZ7U6zb5uQg7e8kpljHvh7fZCqZ07QTRm4bJu3Kmn-cCC/s1600/Search+results+for+nara2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PHOYlx2eoE7n-UkZN5SLMDIDgU8rsXEksh8WE8WZve-rkgswAIHGhbdOcG9v-b8PROXY6PKkTFasPyvlNeF_6WYkLKvW1PHIZ7U6zb5uQg7e8kpljHvh7fZCqZ07QTRm4bJu3Kmn-cCC/s400/Search+results+for+nara2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703605406217290418" /></a><br />We also took a hike and found some other temples as well. One of my favorites was one we had to climb several sets of stairs to get up to. But it was so worth it. The view was gorgeous and the temple itself was pretty breath-taking.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WR9REj-nsGTYAJxdXRr5JtHTMbxEKyjDtyj930rOeR6EIwcwlTnc9_fzJBXuKHYqu9nNxJRpfslnQwQVVv3R1HByItojgTs2V1ZReCVwci3sag8ROLb8h3KjDubUrMWIVozBhyphenhyphenae54JG/s1600/Search+results+for+nara3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WR9REj-nsGTYAJxdXRr5JtHTMbxEKyjDtyj930rOeR6EIwcwlTnc9_fzJBXuKHYqu9nNxJRpfslnQwQVVv3R1HByItojgTs2V1ZReCVwci3sag8ROLb8h3KjDubUrMWIVozBhyphenhyphenae54JG/s400/Search+results+for+nara3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703606071293994290" /></a><br />We were able to eat at a pretty fun restaurant as well. Since we had three very active little boys with us on this journey it was wonderful. Basically the restaurant was set up booth style all around a giant model train set up. It was really fun and Noah enjoyed watching the trains while he ate his spaghetti.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUmIiyP_b2sAq4AuNQ78naJMDV9mr1W7nZmyeVpjyOzZpg-3a5CRgYHOTHZ14r2aa8o9XEhGOUAjXJvPQqxe5Dr-yUbqnBw3rdhRDaz31TN9gu3OaHSuluVEvNK1O7WKW8rDDJEormMQI/s1600/Search+results+for+nara4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUmIiyP_b2sAq4AuNQ78naJMDV9mr1W7nZmyeVpjyOzZpg-3a5CRgYHOTHZ14r2aa8o9XEhGOUAjXJvPQqxe5Dr-yUbqnBw3rdhRDaz31TN9gu3OaHSuluVEvNK1O7WKW8rDDJEormMQI/s400/Search+results+for+nara4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703606616235696658" /></a><br />We actually went up to Nara for a pretty famous festival. It is the festival of fire where they light a side of a mountain on fire to get rid of the dry grass and debris. They also had a pretty amazing fire works display that was really fun to watch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L8alTU3_OWX9rDaSyD7GkMTkEX3F0mObw_C6YD2Jz1MrsNlLOZco7ZIpRkx9tctaqjZrbJKolXKIRnSPMsqMwWgNADbIYVXWH6rnLC3Km-GtnkZ2TxKhkzHsWOCoKdQ3uQ-A4yXaEmmE/s1600/Search+results+for+nara5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L8alTU3_OWX9rDaSyD7GkMTkEX3F0mObw_C6YD2Jz1MrsNlLOZco7ZIpRkx9tctaqjZrbJKolXKIRnSPMsqMwWgNADbIYVXWH6rnLC3Km-GtnkZ2TxKhkzHsWOCoKdQ3uQ-A4yXaEmmE/s400/Search+results+for+nara5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703606966068460818" /></a><br />This was one of my most favorite days in Japan thus far. It was incredible being surrounded by Japanese history. And being surrounded by wild deer all day wasn't so bad either. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl1zlxWBnw8p_E_4mSJ7GWLGUyrYZdMgL6CmFyHOdcClPl24fzNUX4nKYqAqE2saHfJ11L3QnIfwqdbNmxGCN2X8-W-7HYjx9gKh5pwUKC2XotBNNkSyjt6yE-7oHwkyZeP_-SA5HBIct/s1600/Search+results+for+nara6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl1zlxWBnw8p_E_4mSJ7GWLGUyrYZdMgL6CmFyHOdcClPl24fzNUX4nKYqAqE2saHfJ11L3QnIfwqdbNmxGCN2X8-W-7HYjx9gKh5pwUKC2XotBNNkSyjt6yE-7oHwkyZeP_-SA5HBIct/s400/Search+results+for+nara6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703607522127393330" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-57593377870781983972012-01-19T17:23:00.002+09:002012-02-07T13:00:04.595+09:00Happy ThursdayWho is a sweet, smart, happy little boy who is growing up too fast?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kjiiMiuqirGN-mGz4I7apP5y5DKJYeuX-3-9127EViOVYTXrSF8QPH-9KSX2h7UPhVAEZkuCoj8WlIf_ncOGRyRoTuAeOzPVfR5NQI4Z2pjzDt3Eu9Vsrh33Pp3jvjpm8-dmD68V9Bui/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 488px; height: 488px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kjiiMiuqirGN-mGz4I7apP5y5DKJYeuX-3-9127EViOVYTXrSF8QPH-9KSX2h7UPhVAEZkuCoj8WlIf_ncOGRyRoTuAeOzPVfR5NQI4Z2pjzDt3Eu9Vsrh33Pp3jvjpm8-dmD68V9Bui/s400/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699256358266916946" border="0" /></a><br />This Guy.<br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-84055046757504676602012-01-17T13:50:00.004+09:002012-01-17T13:58:11.928+09:00Slacker AlertSo, I have been a total slacker when it comes to our blog. I could make up a million excuses about why I haven't written and tell you how busy I am, but the truth is I have been in a little bit of a writing funk lately. I have been taking classes for my college degree and the papers I have had to write for my classes have taken most of the fun out of writing. But that is no excuse (or maybe it is).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYQ6IxuLOakmvXbZm6oQj2EBoV7RhKak8zfM9X7HRFhsac2Er2nRIZzB8BOe_RuIx8kgbN8tM2P6O4msfaRBdstO1kh605AviEPgiZxzLYshBPerOBFQuIB6h9hgGXzHm_fgkNnVOPICk/s1600/311716_548219090295_290400566_1141873_390940037_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 528px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYQ6IxuLOakmvXbZm6oQj2EBoV7RhKak8zfM9X7HRFhsac2Er2nRIZzB8BOe_RuIx8kgbN8tM2P6O4msfaRBdstO1kh605AviEPgiZxzLYshBPerOBFQuIB6h9hgGXzHm_fgkNnVOPICk/s400/311716_548219090295_290400566_1141873_390940037_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698460212829486082" border="0" /></a><br />I am writing this post to say, I am back and I will be updating the blog more often now that I have jazzed it up a bit. It's always more fun to write something when you have a snazzy new header isn't it? So please come back and read often about our ramblings of life here in Japan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_v3dkTIYhyJ-FY-gCkewelk-cfu5rurPNd1xfj8XeVSm3g2erg4E7k0CL53fbh5xVnyN7Cdoxsr_ux6w7OSvfyYVOnK5xBJ6abeKPDsYoCowAIxuFwwiFLt23XbgHREeLseMucswIZYTD/s1600/300300_548225088275_290400566_1141920_1375850068_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 529px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_v3dkTIYhyJ-FY-gCkewelk-cfu5rurPNd1xfj8XeVSm3g2erg4E7k0CL53fbh5xVnyN7Cdoxsr_ux6w7OSvfyYVOnK5xBJ6abeKPDsYoCowAIxuFwwiFLt23XbgHREeLseMucswIZYTD/s400/300300_548225088275_290400566_1141920_1375850068_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698460365475169314" border="0" /></a><br />That is all. <br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-33486702974322366602012-01-05T13:25:00.003+09:002012-02-07T13:14:22.526+09:00Christmas Ministry HighlightsChristmas is one of our favorite times of year here in Japan. It's fun to see all the Christmas lights and hear Christmas music and even more fun to experience Christmas in another culture. But that is only part of the reason why we love this time of the year. We love it because we get to share with our community the real meaning behind Christmas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCw6NB4pQoR9jCP_pnr8rbKxvzcx4T_zZLDL1E4J0jqSuoIffLy6bDpxVbTu0qM07GbCl9cttE1DeF524Y-qXRSzN1rqz2Nh4PtdQGF7b2nGGi4lElXa8xHLweFyGAYM9k8ef7m_aR97v/s1600/394402_561424865815_290400566_1220176_1697582751_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 535px; height: 401px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCw6NB4pQoR9jCP_pnr8rbKxvzcx4T_zZLDL1E4J0jqSuoIffLy6bDpxVbTu0qM07GbCl9cttE1DeF524Y-qXRSzN1rqz2Nh4PtdQGF7b2nGGi4lElXa8xHLweFyGAYM9k8ef7m_aR97v/s400/394402_561424865815_290400566_1220176_1697582751_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698456303258855458" border="0" /></a><br />This year we once again participated in the Christmas program at the homeless ministry that Justin volunteers at with his students. Noah and I usually do not get to go for various reasons, but this time it worked out for us to join him. We also got to bring my family along and serve with them as well. It was a wonderful experience.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1vOb1k8vBOB59wy0sVB1CkO8WbkbT7h6_Dxu5f94Q69sXwF9lzU88WQAcSIrR9UAx381-WMHyu7dTgFyay69tHKAHi9WqNXfyl4Fa0_PLq_R7J83D2_KpjLQa0m8vVQ6Xb_g34NpJk5X/s1600/393650_561424905735_290400566_1220178_1615402348_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 531px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1vOb1k8vBOB59wy0sVB1CkO8WbkbT7h6_Dxu5f94Q69sXwF9lzU88WQAcSIrR9UAx381-WMHyu7dTgFyay69tHKAHi9WqNXfyl4Fa0_PLq_R7J83D2_KpjLQa0m8vVQ6Xb_g34NpJk5X/s400/393650_561424905735_290400566_1220178_1615402348_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698456476795583634" border="0" /></a><br />The homeless tend to be forgotten in Japan. It was a wonderful blessing to us to be apart of a church service that gave them hope and also gave them some physical needs as well too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8DRmDr3E75I03XpzQ8ZhVRreES4eNr00Cjnfx0BXEkqJsusnNcGJGu2z33vhld8jbxU7-ZjvzmrClr3uEBZJ_4Vf7XSF2IbvLhnN8CutMoLEBEvIVJXYUBmKYzuWzOMg0HUe7_AbrpxR/s1600/379483_561424825895_290400566_1220175_447061819_a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8DRmDr3E75I03XpzQ8ZhVRreES4eNr00Cjnfx0BXEkqJsusnNcGJGu2z33vhld8jbxU7-ZjvzmrClr3uEBZJ_4Vf7XSF2IbvLhnN8CutMoLEBEvIVJXYUBmKYzuWzOMg0HUe7_AbrpxR/s400/379483_561424825895_290400566_1220175_447061819_a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698456668999031058" border="0" /></a><br />One of the homeless men at the service gave Noah a small red toy car. He had so much joy in his eyes watching our little man play with it at the small park we had the service at. He told me in broken English that it was nice to give something to someone and that he was happy to hear a child laughing. It brought tears to my eyes.<br /><br />We were also able to participate in ICAN's musical this year. Justin had a part in one of the skits about the real meaning of Christmas and little Noah got to sing a Christmas carol on stage at the end of the presentation. It was so cute to watch him up there with a huge smile on his face. To say he was adorable would have been an understatement. I know, I am his mom and I'm a little biased, but hey when your kid is cute, he's cute! ;)<br /><br />Another neat blessing that came our way was the chance to spend Christmas with my family. My mom and dad and one of my brothers came to Japan and spent Christmas with us. It was a Christmas with chicken instead of turkey or ham, Japanese candy and other new experiences. It was a very different Christmas, but one of the best I've had.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDj0-WQmdZL9LmxKxkfvcocyc0kbJ-6I72fTvr7YPkUrFgNX-jumoVTzPi_loMYEsEBib1Nl4mMUEHchfS2ELUq-orv4NVUl8qYQoIUyFlnc_g3HMm3qdpbaDHBdDKp4WA41ppDcKtb23/s1600/400886_561424691165_290400566_1220165_1243859603_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 516px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDj0-WQmdZL9LmxKxkfvcocyc0kbJ-6I72fTvr7YPkUrFgNX-jumoVTzPi_loMYEsEBib1Nl4mMUEHchfS2ELUq-orv4NVUl8qYQoIUyFlnc_g3HMm3qdpbaDHBdDKp4WA41ppDcKtb23/s400/400886_561424691165_290400566_1220165_1243859603_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698456144082256482" border="0" /></a><br />All and all it was a fantastic holiday season this year. I hope all of you have had a wonderful 2012 so far!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-3244502172094323062011-10-13T22:01:00.011+09:002012-02-07T13:03:28.416+09:00Our Time Together/Shinto ShrineJustin and I have been really blessed to be surrounded by single ladies who LOVE to babysit Noah. This is so wonderful for us because when we are constantly in ministry either with others or in our home, it is nice to just have time to build our marriage.<br /><br />We were able to each lunch at a cute little Hawaiian restaurant and during that lunch we were able to see a kids dance off at the same location. It was so much fun to watch the kids dance. They were incredible. I couldn't believe kids that age could move like that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG5IYVhw5nDsIWZzRV9p4cZ4dmaIw4EdVfegnAyyrU05hg_q5SAZiYcyEY_QgpZCWBSJGTw6AcMeLK9SVZ7IcDOzOVwtq9m57LObekqn-ZuiBTFNUAJ71HChOSECTVdc9qift9JUJTQlr/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG5IYVhw5nDsIWZzRV9p4cZ4dmaIw4EdVfegnAyyrU05hg_q5SAZiYcyEY_QgpZCWBSJGTw6AcMeLK9SVZ7IcDOzOVwtq9m57LObekqn-ZuiBTFNUAJ71HChOSECTVdc9qift9JUJTQlr/s400/IMG_1386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662962103018541810" border="0" /></a><br />The second part of trip consisted of visiting a very famous Shinto shrine here in Nagoya. It is called <a href="http://atsutajingu.or.jp/en/intro/">Atsuta Jingu. </a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELMTmoI1szVNaMSjKy7Ax7Q89DPMhFzvJnygT0kLb2slyavDDqn8pG6dXZx4BpkowsDK9vpsaDb7x5LXm9rSXNq9aIdD4SQeeXgDPbuakSWvnRGVcQzbsP-Y7FwxLj81_ANkV9u0-CcZs/s1600/IMG_1413.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELMTmoI1szVNaMSjKy7Ax7Q89DPMhFzvJnygT0kLb2slyavDDqn8pG6dXZx4BpkowsDK9vpsaDb7x5LXm9rSXNq9aIdD4SQeeXgDPbuakSWvnRGVcQzbsP-Y7FwxLj81_ANkV9u0-CcZs/s400/IMG_1413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662962954446573378" border="0" /></a><br />The shrine itself was very beautiful. It is a hard place to be as Christians because there is no light in this very dark place. It made me realize how much the people here need Christ.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqw6NpJ4RkRBk_HQ8qq-aQwkFx4mkesSSWepfJpxFX4kE98utQap5hkoEvhI0hCtWnw94Q85pcB4oPo7WgzTkxeg52cVVa_wcElMg1nw-eXn5OzU7qYhYYHw2t0vTg2r3yoyVejWkRiZ5/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 442px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqw6NpJ4RkRBk_HQ8qq-aQwkFx4mkesSSWepfJpxFX4kE98utQap5hkoEvhI0hCtWnw94Q85pcB4oPo7WgzTkxeg52cVVa_wcElMg1nw-eXn5OzU7qYhYYHw2t0vTg2r3yoyVejWkRiZ5/s400/IMG_1406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662964424966753410" border="0" /></a><br />Pray for the people of Japan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGqXTjNT3axVsCbp3E_Q_4XaWgFmq8IzGpdeW6xMK5Dha-SKcDNX_4XO_0mT04ulaTgN6ObCxxE1d4EKtaH728-i1GeqfTZ3Jp1HOiaNM9fi7j8ChW6dahBAaDyOPfbAV756lU5_N6ThY/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 466px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGqXTjNT3axVsCbp3E_Q_4XaWgFmq8IzGpdeW6xMK5Dha-SKcDNX_4XO_0mT04ulaTgN6ObCxxE1d4EKtaH728-i1GeqfTZ3Jp1HOiaNM9fi7j8ChW6dahBAaDyOPfbAV756lU5_N6ThY/s400/IMG_1400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662964771729071218" border="0" /></a><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-30201624385249048652011-10-01T21:51:00.001+09:002012-02-07T13:03:46.466+09:00Noah's First Music Class<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqjYs25E2tn97oWXHa9bMKpA7yAD4QbsC5RPUKiz7jv7IzTz6cqWLN0hyphenhyphenWprMLwAPDhC-Qa5ibNCmT8Sg5YUNAAghMw3PUwk93Wkq_AGnbyESKl7I-yUoIBqrxDUaQZD8c7LvpSvRvFaB/s1600/IMG_3347.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqjYs25E2tn97oWXHa9bMKpA7yAD4QbsC5RPUKiz7jv7IzTz6cqWLN0hyphenhyphenWprMLwAPDhC-Qa5ibNCmT8Sg5YUNAAghMw3PUwk93Wkq_AGnbyESKl7I-yUoIBqrxDUaQZD8c7LvpSvRvFaB/s400/IMG_3347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662960662168151170" border="0" /></a><br />Since this is our second year and the major culture shock is over, Noah and I are really trying to get out and meet people in the community. I have been blessed to meet a women in our neighborhood who I meet with that is learning English. We are teaching each other the languages we know and it has helped a lot. I have also really enjoyed her friendship. She has a little boy that is Noah's age, which is perfect! Noah and I also hang out at different children's play places during the day in hopes of meeting new people. A few days ago Noah and I went to a children's music class.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpimu5s5Cs6LmzOK5513NES6x-qPpAQskoix91eUA6I4gcBRoM-kt9JqzGql-SiTeXX_GXsJ-L6zBGycP3-spzr35tTkCVX7ORwX5FG8dKmkQlOGbRu-n7xS6BwW4mZWJVqsZPOJsZ4HL/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 482px; height: 361px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpimu5s5Cs6LmzOK5513NES6x-qPpAQskoix91eUA6I4gcBRoM-kt9JqzGql-SiTeXX_GXsJ-L6zBGycP3-spzr35tTkCVX7ORwX5FG8dKmkQlOGbRu-n7xS6BwW4mZWJVqsZPOJsZ4HL/s400/IMG_3339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662958979674107602" border="0" /></a><br />As you can tell by the pictures, Noah had no problem being the center of attention. And of course he was, as usual, because of his blonde hair, blue eyes and of course his overall cuteness (although I tend to be a little biased.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8d2u_tJDQ6LqDhFqA17Iouk5gkir_bdZUzyGqQU7nwdWD2mp76I9cb8tEviUq6xHSfpHcHzfYuZhKnlxECh9OT8dPGo_b63BL673NCYvaJd4hYlfNierOhDf5slaiKcNQrKg5OVQeiPb/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 492px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8d2u_tJDQ6LqDhFqA17Iouk5gkir_bdZUzyGqQU7nwdWD2mp76I9cb8tEviUq6xHSfpHcHzfYuZhKnlxECh9OT8dPGo_b63BL673NCYvaJd4hYlfNierOhDf5slaiKcNQrKg5OVQeiPb/s400/IMG_3350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662958982784068114" border="0" /></a><br />We'll be attending this music class once a month and I am really hoping to build some relationships with the moms in this class and let Noah meet some new friends. Will you pray for us as we make new friendships?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rJ1m3ixKWNDY5h-zp_mjDGea27rZ3gud2Nz3qOKjAsuvXhpbhy9Ye5IMLd6iWswq6tjyMPIQwaIrtPkJs_3T546oAHT-LmBlvnwqD7hpJsaMz2W5Bb8ZcnVeHBaZssvxt2nEZSaNn-O1/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG"><br /></a><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-8595638066019197812011-09-24T16:45:00.005+09:002012-02-07T13:04:00.112+09:00ANF: Our New Church LocationOur church has moved to another building and has started to grow! We are really happy with our new place of worship and we are excited to see what happens with our big move! We have moved in ICAN's preschool buidling.<br /><br />Justin has been asked to lead a small prayer group before church on Sundays and I have become involved in worship and we are so thankful for these opportunities.<br /><br />Please pray for our church, All Nations Fellowship!<br /><br />Pictures of our new place of worship:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoiUIuqysup1iKw3c5pVqkfN5fJWdXNyYbu5WudQX2cYdVg-K6M5jWT22Q-plSwsyVhb_eUWc7jug2jCHPOhiMsVbRdJWyaJubWgEu7adqLclTL01U1FTGInAlGYm7mxBg6rQ-pTrpDPX/s1600/302605_2433035987302_1293738243_33011909_3573812_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 456px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoiUIuqysup1iKw3c5pVqkfN5fJWdXNyYbu5WudQX2cYdVg-K6M5jWT22Q-plSwsyVhb_eUWc7jug2jCHPOhiMsVbRdJWyaJubWgEu7adqLclTL01U1FTGInAlGYm7mxBg6rQ-pTrpDPX/s400/302605_2433035987302_1293738243_33011909_3573812_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655830335149192802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEiuu_O_y7tPYpgUiVhovUSeBTmyPIVglOF0IVehyebl8FVoW1Ps2reJHyeWlTvUjophWo8IwkgOh-cA7Fb65IN7UO4dX-K7vI41nTVOm64kF1IaQSLgmZn1ysRPeOBiI87mdyS0ScJ9w/s1600/308660_2433035027278_1293738243_33011907_51514_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 459px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEiuu_O_y7tPYpgUiVhovUSeBTmyPIVglOF0IVehyebl8FVoW1Ps2reJHyeWlTvUjophWo8IwkgOh-cA7Fb65IN7UO4dX-K7vI41nTVOm64kF1IaQSLgmZn1ysRPeOBiI87mdyS0ScJ9w/s400/308660_2433035027278_1293738243_33011907_51514_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655830337144181986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-91416054569539493252011-09-15T16:28:00.001+09:002012-02-07T13:04:33.010+09:00ICAN Year Two Update.The school year has begun and it has already been a great year. Justin is enjoying being back in the classroom and I am enjoying being back in our home doing our daily routine.<br /><br />Justin started the high school chapel this year with a bang. He spoke to the kids about getting rid of the old and starting new, and he came home with an *almost* shaved head. I am hoping the students enjoyed it and remembered the lesson because of it :)<br /><br />I am really starting to meet a lot of women in the area and developing friendships with them. This is keeping me very busy as you can imagine. I have also been blessed already to share in chapel with Preschool through second grade and have enjoyed reading to the Kindergarteners as well.<br /><br />Here is a couple of pictures of the staff this year at our school. Please remember to pray for all of us as we help the children here in Nagoya at our school grow not only academically, but spiritually as well:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mAkwJfQJMN9v1k3dTmXWZlmFaatjokT8cRpnXc0EKBRMepdCwm1Dmz29JEQ2yL2mfaAOf7neQyACzC2bHVfMaHP3LN6VShEDJXiWvPaR-e8NSRyN-X4kaIHj0HqIqAX7ISmoidFlUft2/s1600/ican-staff-playground-a.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mAkwJfQJMN9v1k3dTmXWZlmFaatjokT8cRpnXc0EKBRMepdCwm1Dmz29JEQ2yL2mfaAOf7neQyACzC2bHVfMaHP3LN6VShEDJXiWvPaR-e8NSRyN-X4kaIHj0HqIqAX7ISmoidFlUft2/s400/ican-staff-playground-a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655826910129557906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReIOsqUu_ZcMJ5sYvObkufMzuh9NWXIpZ8iPU6tzETYrjRTGplXwxATfW6opbDr1RuqMif00Kbah9NlI98icy9Pr_j4Og3DLku-F1Z7MkP1-tF5ndfMVJ8VFTLtD61ZYKeGSYCS4YHVqN/s1600/ican-staff-b.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReIOsqUu_ZcMJ5sYvObkufMzuh9NWXIpZ8iPU6tzETYrjRTGplXwxATfW6opbDr1RuqMif00Kbah9NlI98icy9Pr_j4Og3DLku-F1Z7MkP1-tF5ndfMVJ8VFTLtD61ZYKeGSYCS4YHVqN/s400/ican-staff-b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655826909482286386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-8153305610283280512011-08-12T16:24:00.001+09:002012-02-07T13:05:44.979+09:00We Made It Back!<span style="font-weight:bold;">We had a great summer.</span><br /><br />We spend time with family. We spent time at the beach. We had some <span style="font-style:italic;">much needed</span> rest. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">But we are so glad to be back for year number two. <span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span><br /><br />Please remember to pray for us, the school, the students and our city in Japan. We hope that through us God will touch many hearts this year. <br /><br />I hope you all have a wonderful 2011-2012 school year!<br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-71418516421229352792011-07-17T00:10:00.006+09:002012-02-07T13:05:57.057+09:00Guest Post: Tsunami/Earthquake Update<span style="font-style:italic;">This is a posting from our good friend Rachel who is serving right now for a short period of time in Northern Japan where the disasters happened just a few short months ago. I asked her to write an update for our blog and she agreed. For all of you who are interested in what is going on now here is Rachel's guest post:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6vr9AZfPqQzXwTqClcyhETDKkAl6fcNDyGxWbv0xX4A5igxOUPPetKiOy-4vbS-m7hbcopXGOUnU5jLNoUJZHFsF6snwOVS73neFXeLuPhHJGXiceNqGu1XaKyGV3JrmKPWKrUqy5hjj/s1600/Rachel+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 467px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6vr9AZfPqQzXwTqClcyhETDKkAl6fcNDyGxWbv0xX4A5igxOUPPetKiOy-4vbS-m7hbcopXGOUnU5jLNoUJZHFsF6snwOVS73neFXeLuPhHJGXiceNqGu1XaKyGV3JrmKPWKrUqy5hjj/s400/Rachel+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629969033142058274" border="0" /></a><br />Last month I traveled to the areas of Japan hit by the tsunami. The word that comes to mind is surreal. I rode with two missionaries along the coast and saw several cities that had been affected. It was hard to imagine a wave so strong that it could carry boats several miles inland and destroy homes, businesses, and even entire towns. As we traveled some areas were making good progress in the cleanup but in other areas the cleanup was just beginning. The former were mainly larger cities with minimum damage but the later were towns along the coast that had literally been wiped out. We drove around and we prayed; we prayed for the people who were affected, we prayed for those who were cleaning up, and we prayed for the volunteer work that was beginning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0Yw2yAaeCGeg9vAe8mmm7t_HtXCS2Idc7pRR5p-X8IyH0eVRuldtbMDCVqXnRqCbavlRXIup5SSoND2Ov-wEJtaJFVQyR25_2ucJADYwLOGPsMsXWsrReH6OyHoMfDCiIkg6wIkvNmka/s1600/Rachel+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0Yw2yAaeCGeg9vAe8mmm7t_HtXCS2Idc7pRR5p-X8IyH0eVRuldtbMDCVqXnRqCbavlRXIup5SSoND2Ov-wEJtaJFVQyR25_2ucJADYwLOGPsMsXWsrReH6OyHoMfDCiIkg6wIkvNmka/s400/Rachel+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629969159491042434" border="0" /></a><br />After several weeks in Tokyo I’ve returned to some of the same areas. For the first two days I worked in an area where the tsunami had come 7 km inland and was 5 km wide. The government workers were putting the debris into large piles of trash. Our job was to clean up a field; to clear it of trash and belongings. I came across broken dishes, books, and a piano sheet. In this area 40 of the 60 houses had been destroyed. The cleanup is underway but still has a long way to go. There are still debris and large piles of trash and then the rebuilding of cities.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwGteDIieFr9uSFbzzV1FG7WJZY0-jZ5BUogjoL_oZ66CStY9phqzMP4Fn52WxNbuNhNJex1Yz02DFwEbOAxlaGN-O7cItXWCya3RMRGywFfH9YXkDjzI64hFuDhuhnDl1QpRsPjQCuHw/s1600/Rachel+3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 489px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwGteDIieFr9uSFbzzV1FG7WJZY0-jZ5BUogjoL_oZ66CStY9phqzMP4Fn52WxNbuNhNJex1Yz02DFwEbOAxlaGN-O7cItXWCya3RMRGywFfH9YXkDjzI64hFuDhuhnDl1QpRsPjQCuHw/s400/Rachel+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629969610536364722" border="0" /></a><br />Those who have lost everything are living in temporary government houses. A few weeks ago I watched the Japanese news and they interviewed people who live in government temporary housing after the tsunami. They are small homes that the government has constructed for the people and they are in close proximity to one another. Those who live in them have lost so much; family members, friends, businesses, and homes. The government has given some supplies and Christians are also helping out.<br /><br />While in Tohoku, I’m working as a volunteer through Tohoku Care. Tohoku Care is under the International Mission Board. Tohoku Care has two base houses that houses volunteers from America, Japan, and other countries. For the past two days we volunteered through a local government volunteer center. Tohoku Care has vests with the name Tohoku Care and a verse on the back. The vests themselves are a powerful testimony and create a lot of conversation with people.<br /><br />Please continue to pray for the rebuilding in these areas. Pray for those who are working in these conditions everyday. Pray for the Japanese who have lost so much and are living in the small government houses. Pray that the light of Christ would shine through Christian volunteers and Japanese believers. Pray that the Word of God would go forth in this area.<br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-44087859590073381872011-07-09T18:13:00.003+09:002012-02-07T13:06:20.853+09:00An Update on The Perry FamilyIf you have stopped by our blog in the past couple of weeks in hopes to hear what we have been up to, I am sorry that there hasn't been much to read. If you did not hear our family is taking a much needed vacation back in Florida visiting family and friends. We are enjoying precious time with family, many of the places we miss dearly here in America and we are also enjoying speaking English to everyone around us. ;) I just want to share a couple of pictures from our time so far:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daddy and Noah Sliding at the Beach</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLR4RA9-UUp4yn25zGl7KnWD0LZuV7o1PyLE-R3bBG6KQ6NK31lwhM5Z4Zq63MymueYBMIjtee2CLmicCtNhVXfLigloL2qhB5owt8bOnpfu-pIHuwCLz-EPGZZiDKx4aGvUZXEPmpxbx/s1600/noah+and+daddy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLR4RA9-UUp4yn25zGl7KnWD0LZuV7o1PyLE-R3bBG6KQ6NK31lwhM5Z4Zq63MymueYBMIjtee2CLmicCtNhVXfLigloL2qhB5owt8bOnpfu-pIHuwCLz-EPGZZiDKx4aGvUZXEPmpxbx/s400/noah+and+daddy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627140050647324034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noah with His Cousin Dana</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsjmMZ20dETzTXgUMiNMTPGYHLtcebzy6BbFOi51G_eVrbcuZ930ZvjeVaW7NTDAYx4CnFK-4n6hMsl50NyMhcXdKSqd_SEK9TmnRNGuQSVE7QhScrBg4BFdFoikZdL2GBrcv05pUnDiD/s1600/dananoah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsjmMZ20dETzTXgUMiNMTPGYHLtcebzy6BbFOi51G_eVrbcuZ930ZvjeVaW7NTDAYx4CnFK-4n6hMsl50NyMhcXdKSqd_SEK9TmnRNGuQSVE7QhScrBg4BFdFoikZdL2GBrcv05pUnDiD/s400/dananoah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627140045307479298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Noah with His Cousin Aiden</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXSsWlZgtBxG5Dfw-7rEj6j1RijkoPieD1dlqv2ARny9b8Ge2svWcqSkIKhUOL7iGSDPABsEwtfeYWUGy3Cf7fIfYqwZGHNLA1yOXxQDqgS2o0hrNEDmVZrNH4ac277tNmdZP1C4-J2RA/s1600/Aiden+Noah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXSsWlZgtBxG5Dfw-7rEj6j1RijkoPieD1dlqv2ARny9b8Ge2svWcqSkIKhUOL7iGSDPABsEwtfeYWUGy3Cf7fIfYqwZGHNLA1yOXxQDqgS2o0hrNEDmVZrNH4ac277tNmdZP1C4-J2RA/s400/Aiden+Noah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627140038138800642" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Family at the Beach</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy96zwKJSBc3_O2JTPoMo6PfexJeDRq2M5iuYtaHpa624orfx4cDFPnRNyF15zej-F7sqmyM9MGPzrQCe_odjAu0xTq7vnc3fUG-guFQOVSult-rnEj9ryt1FMGbom1oI61ebPHDlm32P/s1600/st.+Pete.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy96zwKJSBc3_O2JTPoMo6PfexJeDRq2M5iuYtaHpa624orfx4cDFPnRNyF15zej-F7sqmyM9MGPzrQCe_odjAu0xTq7vnc3fUG-guFQOVSult-rnEj9ryt1FMGbom1oI61ebPHDlm32P/s400/st.+Pete.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627140058272198066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I hope you all are enjoying your summer! More to come!<br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-58850773940363737042011-07-05T09:06:00.001+09:002012-02-07T13:06:40.013+09:00A Lesson From Dr. Pepper.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09WrBfhL3RL7jXL7483T0pCgj0uVqwctjUinNXOprnqb84mAzNSSFuXUszgNxArEgfJ2xzsuPl4WukDppV7ADgBIJwekf3js1GVxwUItAldVelgdfCwixFHywELvbhBCEbDE36S59sUQJ/s1600/208044_535942687305_290400566_988132_6569076_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09WrBfhL3RL7jXL7483T0pCgj0uVqwctjUinNXOprnqb84mAzNSSFuXUszgNxArEgfJ2xzsuPl4WukDppV7ADgBIJwekf3js1GVxwUItAldVelgdfCwixFHywELvbhBCEbDE36S59sUQJ/s400/208044_535942687305_290400566_988132_6569076_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627137808628926546" border="0" /></a><br />When you are a new expat in a strange place far from home like I was last August, an import store can be just what you need to be your lifeline to the familiar land of America. Having those staples of an American diet like block cheese, popcorn, and Dr. Pepper can really energize you when you’ve gone weeks staring at grocery items like odorous raw squids and whole aisles of various tofu products. We have an import store about a 15-minute bike ride away called Yamaya where we can get all of the aforementioned American items just about any time we have a craving for them . . . or so I thought. Last week I waltzed in and strolled over to the beverage aisle to realize that there weren’t any Dr. Peppers on the shelf in their usual spot. In fact, the place where they go on the shelf was completely gone! Will they ever return? I don’t know, but I sure hope they do. My favorite popcorn has been gone for three weeks and counting . . . <br /><br />In reality, most of the American items you find at a typical Japanese import store are only there until the store decides to stop carrying them. You never know from one trip to the next if that one food item that really gets you through the rough times is even going to be there. I have learned to appreciate these American products while they are available to me, but I don’t take them for granted and I don’t foolishly believe they’ll always be available. Those are just the facts of life when it comes to imported items in Japan.<br /><br />I think this was what Paul was getting at in his letter to the Philippians when he implored the Christians in Philippi to be content in whatever conditions they find themselves. Paul throughout his ministry had times in which he was treated well and was safe and had enough to eat and a warm place to lay his head. But he said he learned not to expect these things to be there forever; he knew that one night he could be dining at a rich man’s table and the next he could have to be lowered out a window in order to escape persecution. He knew the words of Job well when Job declared “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, but no matter the circumstance, let the name of the Lord be blessed.”<br /><br />I hope that I can take the lesson of the Dr. Peppers and apply it to my life in a broader sense. The things that the Lord gives to us are just things, no matter how nice they are and no matter how much you attach yourself to them. It’s best if we use them in a positive way to impact His kingdom, but even if we do they are still only temporary. We might enjoy them for a season, but we can’t expect any earthly thing to be there forever (nor should we). I have learned (and am still learning) to live with that reality. It really does free up your mind to care about more pressing matters and attach yourself to more important things in life.<br /><br />Last year at this time, I owned two cars; now I own none. Last year I didn’t have a bicycle; now I have a great one. He gives; He takes away. Let the name of the Lord be blessed. <br /><br />-JP-<br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-9683853830295462312011-05-29T09:44:00.002+09:002012-02-07T13:06:49.185+09:00Thoughts About Bike Riding.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5maGtoznJx6WSvw73N9I4Ik3OhKZzPTcwLvyLit2aMS9i6J7Q6EBF8sMTUdBVxdYAIBCvSLXSrTfVLccEDVe1IqdaX9__QzHJm90TPbnfhF4SyOoTPMAZWLkidmIja7k1zIBCYSu1oiGJ/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5maGtoznJx6WSvw73N9I4Ik3OhKZzPTcwLvyLit2aMS9i6J7Q6EBF8sMTUdBVxdYAIBCvSLXSrTfVLccEDVe1IqdaX9__QzHJm90TPbnfhF4SyOoTPMAZWLkidmIja7k1zIBCYSu1oiGJ/s400/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614160871383907746" /></a><br />This past week in Nagoya, we experienced four consecutive days of rainy weather. In America, I never fretted the rain too much because I knew the most I’d have to suffer through would be a quick jaunt from the house to my car or from my car into a store. The car that I was privileged to have shielded me from even the harshest of weather conditions outside. The weather in my car, without fail, was always a climate-controlled 70 degrees with no rain.<br /><br />Since moving to Japan, however, I have lost the luxury of using a car for my daily transportation needs. All that remains is my trusty Giant (brand) bicycle to take me to and from wherever I wish to go. With this reality comes the additional reality of losing the power of “climate-control” that we all love so much about our cars. Now, I must tolerate whatever weather conditions come my way, be it rain, sleet, snow, hail or anything in between. This means that I have had to ride miles a day through heavy snow, across icy sidewalks and streets, through absolute downpours, into 30 mile per hour headwinds uphill, through freezing rainstorms, and with any number of tumultuous conditions the atmosphere chooses to send my way. But any fair analysis of the reality of bike riding has to also touch upon the positive aspects of this unpredictable mode of transportation. On a bicycle, I get to see the gorgeous Japanese sky as it changes from summer and autumn to winter and spring then back again. I get to experience cool, crisp autumn breezes, the gourmet aromas of restaurants pouring out their front doors as I pedal by, sublimely perfect spring days when the sunshine is just enough to warm your face and the breeze just cool enough to offset the heat of the sun. Those are days on which bike riding is truly joyful.<br /><br />It’s true that by having a car I could avoid all those wet, snowy, and otherwise contemptible weatherconditions. But by hiding away within the climate-controlled comfort of my car, I would miss those crispautumn breezes, the aromas, the warmth of the spring sun, and the other little joys that I experiencwhile riding my bicycle through the city. The spiritual parallel I think is this: it is easy to give into the temptation to take control of your life as a Christian and try to create a “climate-controlled” life foryourself that is comfortable and protected from the unknowns of the world in which we live. Can you insulate yourself from many of life’s dangers, challenges, and uncertainties? Sure you can, to a certain degree. But by building that comfortable shelter around yourself, you are also shutting out some of the glories of a life you could be leading had you not insulated yourself from the unknown. And, to be sure, a life submitted to the will of God and without your constant micromanaging is one that will be unknown to you. I never know from week to week just what type of weather I’ll be pedaling through, but I’d surely never give up those periodically amazing days out of fear of a spot of rain every once in a while. So goes bike riding, and so goes a life submitted to God.<br /><br />-JustinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719338515393921859.post-56758180793477551492011-04-29T23:12:00.006+09:002012-02-07T13:07:02.442+09:00A Japanese Green HouseThere is something about greenhouses that make me smile.<br /><br />Maybe it's the beauty of new life:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7fTJbUs3dSTQRPG8cUsDe-XesiOQ8O2sRt6mVRAU6q1YzjAHXnlyC95FGscivVsH-2aF7AJeTt2fTmTLXr71jnigg88U8CYo5jPy0uq9qYAAzuO5TvBDg83FyLX8RF6AYvurg5-F5xV-/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 595px; height: 445px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7fTJbUs3dSTQRPG8cUsDe-XesiOQ8O2sRt6mVRAU6q1YzjAHXnlyC95FGscivVsH-2aF7AJeTt2fTmTLXr71jnigg88U8CYo5jPy0uq9qYAAzuO5TvBDg83FyLX8RF6AYvurg5-F5xV-/s400/IMG_0122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601008930650355954" border="0" /></a><br />Or the how colorful they can be:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpyoBCzyo8H7X9BuiFuLH6X1lXLSvLrd_DzcmLcnCK3qj0tmXFjmg8pnOFKIDmWIDne7VQJ9-JJK6fgPnhkVIyrF9SQ7eEGFOrhiEYnSEc7ZMcgSZDbB6q7HVodTc9TougFtbCaS5PFAu/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 593px; height: 444px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpyoBCzyo8H7X9BuiFuLH6X1lXLSvLrd_DzcmLcnCK3qj0tmXFjmg8pnOFKIDmWIDne7VQJ9-JJK6fgPnhkVIyrF9SQ7eEGFOrhiEYnSEc7ZMcgSZDbB6q7HVodTc9TougFtbCaS5PFAu/s400/IMG_0123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601008829685314850" border="0" /></a><br />Or maybe it's being able to see the different stages of plant growth in one place:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmKx8ASkT9JQhJfMRLDZredjHBCVwoNx9z4yqLbKSPIVs42xCIy4dugVpAwR5vF98SRu74iyfJxlDGPNKh3micuvyHnaPDWPR4fWTOtVUcuQPWJysCsD-c4U3ctiJJNxsvwYS9o2HFCBj/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 596px; height: 446px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmKx8ASkT9JQhJfMRLDZredjHBCVwoNx9z4yqLbKSPIVs42xCIy4dugVpAwR5vF98SRu74iyfJxlDGPNKh3micuvyHnaPDWPR4fWTOtVUcuQPWJysCsD-c4U3ctiJJNxsvwYS9o2HFCBj/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601008722453895922" border="0" /></a><br />Whatever it may be, finding this little gem really made my day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKSL8S5ulg0FnZZptg9C7hKEH4kIb-FEY-VNTvOUwtydFF80UYxbdFGyvYUYKYmzlJM1eZ0QOIkU5JKJQJMb1ormgHfqmpeGXVsV4QtfDvQAhTFWxfKbigrEaK5uPv-chJSpAN_wu_ghL/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 592px; height: 443px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKSL8S5ulg0FnZZptg9C7hKEH4kIb-FEY-VNTvOUwtydFF80UYxbdFGyvYUYKYmzlJM1eZ0QOIkU5JKJQJMb1ormgHfqmpeGXVsV4QtfDvQAhTFWxfKbigrEaK5uPv-chJSpAN_wu_ghL/s400/IMG_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601008377966764914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><script>var linkwithin_site_id = 476641;</script><script src="http://www.linkwithin.com/widget.js"></script><a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><img src="http://www.linkwithin.com/pixel.png" alt="Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger..." style="border: 0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1