Friday 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.

And then there was instagram.

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.

So, here we go...my first Friday (on Saturday this week) phone dump.

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.

Two Crazy Beautiful Years

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.

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.

I’ve learned that family will always be there. No matter how far the distance and no matter how long it is in between visits. I’ve also learned that family isn’t just the people who you are related too.

I’ve learned to not worry so much about money. 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…because it does work out, and most of the time it doesn’t make sense.

I’ve learned that I can in fact live without Target and Chickfila. And no, my friends, this isn’t a joke.

I’ve learned that it’s ok to cry. 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, and it won’t be quite as pretty.

I’ve learned that learning a new language is tough. I’ve learn to celebrate the little accomplishments of learning a language instead of looking at the big picture. Because the big picture seems impossible. And you might just give up if you don’t celebrate the little things.

I’ve learned a whole lot about what it means to be patient, and how I wasn’t patient at all before little feet ran around my home.

I’ve learned that you can substitute almost anything when it comes to cooking. There are countless ways to get around ingredients when you live in a country that doesn’t have them.

I’ve learned that love gets oh so much stronger when you share beautiful moments together. Our little family has never been this close and this in love, and it’s because of the moments we have been through, good and bad, over the past two years.

I’ve learned that it’s never easy to do the right thing. Like a big move, or breastfeeding, or waking up in the middle of the night to feed a hungry baby. Just to name a few.

I’ve learned that most of life does not turn out exactly like you had planned it to. And I have also learned that it is perfectly ok for that to be true.

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.

A Rainy Day Lesson

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.

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.

We were finally ready and we stepped outside.

To rain.

I knew the night before that it was supposed to rain today and I had completely forgotten about it.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Important.

What I Like About Winter.

I am NOT a big fan of winter. Not even a little bit. In fact, we have never been friends.

I much prefer it's cousin, Spring, or even Fall, and yes, definitely Summer.

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.

And I ask myself every year why in the world I live in a place that actually has this dreadful season. Winter.

I guess you can take Florida away from the girl but...well, you know the rest.

But there is one thing I do like about winter.

This.

And watching him play in it.

And seeing a place you always live in and see everyday turn into something different and almost magical.

And for one day out of the whole winter season actually saying: "I kind of like this winter thing."

I guess this proves in everything, there is something to be thankful for.

ICAN 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.

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 :)

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.

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:

An Update on The Perry Family

If 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:

Daddy and Noah Sliding at the Beach

Noah with His Cousin Dana

Noah with His Cousin Aiden

Our Family at the Beach

I hope you all are enjoying your summer! More to come!

Ladies and Gentlemen, We have a One-Year-Old.

To My Sweet Baby Boy:

Wow. It's been quite a year hasn't it? You were two months when we struggled with you to get a passport picture and three months when you received it. In the first six months of your life you lived in five different homes, three different states and two different countries. I'm sure you have figured out by now that if you wanted a normal, quiet, non-adventurous life this was not the family to be born into. But as you are growing and changing I am pretty sure that your bundle-of-energy personality would not do well in that sort of life anyway. In fact, I think you fit perfectly in our crazy, exciting, adventurous way of living. God knew exactly what he was doing when he blessed us with you.


As I sit here and think about the first year of your life it has been quite a journey. I still remember sitting in the hospital exhausted from labor and seeing you for the first time. How quickly my heart melted. You were perfect. And then I also remember taking you home that first night and taking night shifts with Grandma and your daddy because you did not want to be alone in your bed. I remember those weeks of having you sleep on my chest and feeling your little heartbeat. And I remember you first tooth, your first solid food meal and the first time I heard you say "dada" and "mama"; even though those words didn't mean anything to you at the time.


I also remember when I was feeling you kick, roll and hiccup inside of me. Back then I had no idea what it meant to be a mother, I had no idea what was coming for me, no idea how much hard work it was going to be. But I also didn't know the unexplainable joy and love I was going to experience with you in my life. And it's only the beginning! Oh, what joy and love is to come as you change and grow!


I am praying that one day you will know Jesus. I pray all the time that you will. Because even though I have an amazing amount of love for you as your mommy, Jesus loves you far more than I ever could. I hope one day you will see this. And I pray that Mommy and Daddy will be good examples and teachers to help you understand.

I love you very much. I am blessed by you. I am excited to see what year number two (and beyond) holds for you and our family.

Happy Birthday, Noah Boah.

Love,
Your Mommy

Getting Ready For the BIG First Birthday Bash!!!

So, we are getting so close to Noah's first birthday! I am planning an Under the Sea birthday party for the little guy and I have been making all his decorations. Here are a few I have made in the past two days:

Starfish Cups:


Crab Cupcake Toppers:


Didn't they turn out cute?!?! I am so excited to celebrate his first birthday!!

Skype: A Wonderful Invention.

I sit quietly and watch my dad, who is quite a few miles away from us, interact with my sweet baby boy. Noah laughs and waves as Grandpa makes faces at him.

This makes my heart smile.


Communication overseas has come a long way over the past few years. It wasn't long ago that you had to pay for a long distance phone call to speak to someone you loved. Or even further back write a letter that could take months to get to the other side.

This is why I am so thankful for Skype. What a wonderful, amazing, incredible invention for those of us who live so far away from family. It would be a much harder life without that connection we can have back home.

Moments on skype can help ease the pain of living so far away.

The moments when Grandma gets to participate in snack time.
Or when Grandpa shares Renegade with his Grandson.
Or when our nephew can sing his favorite cartoon songs for us.
Or when I can share the newly fallen snow with my brothers and parents.
Or when I can show my husband's whole family the Linimo as it jets by our apartment.

Through this we can be a part of our families' lives. Through this they can be a part of ours.

What a wonderful, incredible invention.

For those of you overseas: Do you use skype often to share moments like these with your family?

Oh, the Joys of a Care Package.

I was having a rough day. It seemed like no matter what I did nothing felt right.

I didn't want to hear another word in Japanese.
I didn't want to eat Japanese food.
I didn't want to spend another paycheck just on the necessary groceries we needed.
I didn't want to live so far from family any more.

I just wanted to get in a car that I called my own, order a chicken nugget meal at Chick-fil-a in English and go grocery shopping at Target (oh, how I miss Target) so I could bring home a weeks worth of groceries for fifty bucks.

I wanted to go home.

As I was having my moment of frustration, the doorbell rang. I opened it and there stood a small Japanese man with two large packages. He held out his hand that held a clipboard and motioned for me to sign.

I was so excited. I knew EXACTLY what this was. It was some love from back home from my mother-in-law. This was EXACTLY what I needed today.

The three of us huddled around excitedly to see what part of the United States was waiting for us in this box. What kind of things my mother-in-law spent time picking out for us, what kind of things we would cherish for some time.

She blessed us with a bunch of clothing for Noah. I was so happy to have American style clothing in his size. Some underthings for me (ok, I didn't bring near enough when I moved here), some things for my hubby and some of our favorite American candy.

Noah Sporting One of His New Outfits.

This instantly changed my mood.

I was happy to be loved on like this from a family member.
Happy to have something to remind me of home.
Happy to have this reminder that we have amazing people back home who love us this much.

If you have a family member overseas for whatever reason and you want to show them love and bless them with something that would really mean a lot to them, you might want to consider a care package.

Tips for Sending a Care Package Overseas

*Make sure you check with the person you are sending the care package to about anything you should NOT send them in the package. There are things that customs might not let into the country or would be suspicious of if they opened the box. Cash is NEVER a good thing to send overseas in a care package.

*Make sure you have a gift for each person that you send the care package to. This let's them know that not only were you thinking of the family as a whole but each one of them has a special place in your heart.

*Pictures from home are great to keep them updated on what is going on back home. A picture of their niece's ballet recital, your last birthday event, etc. It means a lot when you keep families away from home in the loop.

*Email or ask the family if there is anything they really miss that they can't get where they are living. You'd be amazed how much a jar of peanut butter is worth to the person who can't find it anywhere where they live.

*By far the cheapest way to send care packages to most countries is through the US Postal Service's International Priority Flat-rate Boxes. Check out www.usps.com for more information.

For even more great ideas on care packaging tips check out this website here.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

I know, I know, I know. It is January. Christmas is over and I really should not be using a Christmas song as my blog title, especially since one of my own pet peeves is celebrating Christmas when it's not Christmas. But today I couldn't help but hum that song in my head.

This morning when I opened the curtains to let the sunshine in as I do every morning I was surprised to see that it was snowing outside!

Wonderful, beautiful snow.

Now bear with me because although I have seen snow, snow skied, and have actually had one white Christmas while we lived in Fort Worth, I am a Florida girl. No doubt about it. I get excited at even the smallest amount of sleet that falls down from the sky because I have no idea what it is like to live in a place where it snows constantly during the winter.

But today there was enough snow to bundle my 10 month old up and go outside to let my baby boy experience something new.



I love watching Noah experience something new. His eyes light up and his mouth opens and then he starts kicking and jumping up and down in my arms. It is the most precious thing. And today I got to enjoy one of those days as he laughed and giggled at the snow falling down all around us. Of course he instantly started trying to catch the snowflakes and when he finally did get a few in his hands I could see the shock in his face when he realized how cold the snow was. It made my day.

This is one of the many sweet moments I have experienced since becoming a mom.



What are some joyful moments that you have experienced with your children?