Nice day. Had to run the dish washer this morning because of all the things I used while I was in my baking frenzy last night. Got two loads of laundry washed and hung out to dry. Skyler worked his way through school pretty steadily until lunch time. He lost a little focus after that, but he did manage to get done before his buddy came calling this afternoon.

After lunch I was able to fly over to Hanamasa and pick up groceries and even make it back before Tomo needed to be picked up. To that I say phew!

Tried something different today. I found some root beer concentrate while in the US, so I decided to bring some back and give it a shot. I made root beer today, and it was pretty good. To that I have to say that is just plain cool.

Right now I am babysitting the door. I am the guard tonight of Maya's door. Over the summer she gained a new skill...climbing in and out of her bed. I decided to take down her baby bed and move her into her big girl bed. If she is climbing in and out anyway might as well put her in the one that would be less dangerous to climb in and out of. Today is the first night with the big bed and she doesn't seem to like it very much. At nap she laid in the middle of the hallway and slept. Tonight we have had to put her back in bed repeatedly. I decided my time might be better served if I just sit by the door and blog. Hopefully tomorrow will go better. Hopefully she will get the hang of it quickly.

Friday was a busy day but a good one.  The highlight of Friday was seeing the kids I teach English too for the for time in several months.  I just love those kids.  Their mom asked me to teach them about Jesus.  I have been praying all summer long, and I can see God answering!

Saturday was busy too and guess what?  It was a great day.  We had a little bit of time to tidy the house in the AM, but from one o'clock on we had people in and out of our house.  We started with a game night and was delighted to see who came.  Another summer time prayer coming to fruition.  Unfortunately no one from that group stayed for church, but we are praying to see that one change.  We did have a family come to church, and we had a nice time of worship with them.  I am so excited about this family and praying that god will work through them!

Since we worshiped together as a family last night, we let this day be rest.  Although, I can say that I hardly rested.  After making 18 okonomiyaki (think supper type of pancake but NOT sweet) and all of them being consumed, after 8 loaves of zucchini bread baked and packed away in the freezer, after three mini loaves of English muffin bread, and after one loaf of sourdough bread, I am a little bit tired. But I am very happy to have gotten so much done today.  It means that I don't have to fire up the oven and heat up the house later since I did it all today.  It is still very warm here, so not heating up the house extra times is a bonus.

I know that as today is 9-11, it bears mentioning the significance of the day.  Today it is a day that I feel very reflective about two major and life changing events.  The first one was the day the planes slammed into the WTC, pentagon, and as well as the one downed in PA by the passengers.  On that day I had awoken early to nurse my sweet 3.5 month old baby boy.  We had both fallen back to sleep.  Corey had gone to a bookstore for his part time job of shelving books.  He came home and told me about what was happening.  We turned on the TV, and I remember looking at my sweet baby and wondering what kind of world that I had brought him into. 

Then six months ago with my "baby" nearly 10 years old and my 4.5 year old and 1 year old we felt the impact of the 9.0 magnitude quake that hit Northeastern Japan.  I remember their faces as they looked in bewilderment and fear at the feeling of shaking what seemed like and endless time.  BUT even that was no where near the devastation as seeing those waves rage into the coast of Northeastern Japan.  It is so hard to believe that that all happened just 6 months ago. 

Today was the health check for one and a half year olds in this city. I never quite understand why it starts at noon. Seems like such an odd time for toddlers. The time involves a myriad of lines the involve going over questions, answering questions, undressing child, weighing, measuring, dental check, general check by a doctor, and brushing practice. The subject of Maya's seizure came up at two stations, and both times she was cleared. At least it is documented here and if we have any further problems, we have a base to proceed from. No cavities and no problems. The fun thing for Maya is that they gave all the kids a book. Maya clung to the book like it was a treasure. With that check being the middle of the day, it really feels like that WAS my day.

Could you hear that creaking noise?  That was the sound of the rusty gate of my brain being opened.  It was so rusty I wasn't sure that I could even open that poor gate.  Parting of getting back to normal meant heading back to Japanese class.  I felt very rusty.  That's ok, because I am there to learn.

It was nice to see everyone again.  Before I could leave the door, though, I had to proofread three English articles.  I am not sure how I became the resident English proofreader in the class, but I am.  I guess of the English speakers in the class I just happen to be the one who has been there the longest.

The surprise of the day was that Skyler's shoes...yeah...they don't fit.  It seems like I just bought him shoes, but I guess now that I think about it it has been a little while since I bought those pairs of shoes.  I try to keep both a pair of indoor and outdoor shoes for him.  However, the shoes that he got the middle of summer...no, they shrank too.  What gets me is that just when you think you have them in the right size, blink, it changes.  I guess that is the nature of growing kids.  I have a whole collection of shoes for Tomo when he decides to skip shoes sizes here and there. 

Today was a much better day all the way around.  Thankful for that.  We might just be able to find our groove yet.  It has been a week since we returned from the States.  For the most part, I think the jet lag thing has left us, but I have to admit that it lingers a bit in both Tomo and me.  He is ready to crash right at 7 and busting to be up at 5 in the morning.  I also, at 9pm, feel like I could just drop.  So tired.

I sent my kid off to school today with his Tuesday gear plus some!  The poor kid looked bogged down with bags.  He had his normal bag.  The one that carries his message notebook, his cup, and his lunchbox.  Then there was the bag with his soccer gear, of which he is so proud!  That bag holds his soccer ball, socks, and shin guards.  He had is water bottle around his neck as well.  The thing that was unusual about today was the swim bag.  If we had been here this summer he would have carried that bag every day that was sunny, but as it happened to work out today was the last day for swimming.  This was the day for the pool closing ceremony.  He did get to swim and that made him very happy.  I guess it was worth carrying all those bags!  In his swim bag was his flip flops, swim trunks, swim cap, and two towels. 

I really didn't think the kid could carry much more, but I was wrong.  This afternoon he had to bring home his okra plant.  The children all plant something according to their class rank.  Tomo's class planted okra in their own pots.  The other kids all brought theirs home at the start of summer break, but Tomo's had to stay at the school and be tended by the school staff.  I brought home the plant and the first trimester report--think progress report, on Tomo.  My bike was full of boy, bags, and plant. 

Phew!  I am getting tired just thinking about it all. 

The past 24 hours have been rough.  There are just some days that I feel like everything is just plain off.  I know, I know...still getting used to this time zone, but I am so ready to be over it.  I am trying not to be too hard on myself, but that is a hard task to accomplish for this perfectionist.  Ok, ok...let's face it...I am not perfect.  There the secret is out.

Today has been rough.  The first day back usually always is, so no big surprise, but this one was extra rough.  By the afternoon, I was ready to curl up in a fetal position and go to sleep.  I didn't.  I kept on going.  Sometimes you just have to keep on going.  Oh, and shed a tear or two, sometimes it helps.  Lots on my mind.  Lots to think and pray about.  Still carrying the images of my daughter during her seizure, and it haunts me.  Trying to figure out where this school year is going.  What needs to be accomplished. Trying to gain perspective.  I think mostly I need a good night's sleep and honestly a trip to the onsen...by...my...self...could actually be what the doctor would order.

The icing on the cake was the kindergarten pick up today.  Today was supposed to be a practice for disasters.  Once a year, the school practices us picking up our kids as though there was a disaster.  This year the school has implemented a system where the parents' cell phone would be alerted that we should pick up our kids.  Last year we just had a set time to come.  The office lady and I worked together last Friday to set my phone up to be able to receive the important message.  We both thought that we had it all ready to go for today.

Afternoon came and I knew that I should be receiving a message at any moment.  I waited and waited and waited.  It almost got to be normal pick up time, and then my phone rang.  Not right.  They asked if I had received the message.  No.  No, I haven't.  After the call, I went to pick up my son and did the obligatory 'I am here for so-and-so and I am  so-and-so's mom.'  First thing Tomo says is, "Why are you so late?" Ugh!  The office lady and I tried to figure out why my phone did not send me a message.  The conclusion...we don't know.  Second conclusion on my behalf...epic fail.  I don't fault the school.  I think the problem lies within our phone carrier.  We switched phone carriers earlier this year, and though we like our phones, we DO NOT like our service provider.  We never had problem with our service with the other carrier.  For years we never switched because we knew that our carrier's service was good, but that the other service was occasionally spotty.  As in we have dead zones in our house with the new carrier.  I guess we will be going to the company and be asking them how they can make this right.  In case of a real emergency, it would be nice to know that the school can contact us through this system. 

Ok, today has not been a complete washout.  I did get a great exercise session in that left me in a puddle of sweat but feeling good.  I also managed to secure bedding for me little girl.  She has taken to climbing both in and out of her baby bed.  So...it is time to set the crib aside and move on up to her beg girl bed.  We had a frame from her, so we only needed to secure the futon mattresses and the sheets and things.  Hard to believe that my girl is getting so big!

Home. The land that I have come to know and love as home.  This has been a particularly rough year for Japan.  We are a week away from the 6 month anniversary of the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear reactor disaster.  The area is still trying to heal from that event, but it is just going to take lots and lots of time.  Keep praying.  Over the summer the area over to the west experienced flooding.  This weekend the country is being battered by a typhoon.  The bulk of it is battering to the south of us, but we are getting the winds and the random rains up here.  I suppose there is a certain amount of thankfulness we feel that the typhoon is hitting south rather than north as a suspect the north really could not stand another disaster.  Yet, hearing of deaths and injuries and people missing as a result of this typhoon doesn't make it any more easy to stomach.  Yet, this is an island and sitting in a wide ocean we know that is is not always our friend.  However, I for one will be happy to see this slow snail-like typhoon finally move on and downgrade to something considerably smaller.  When we look out the window we can see the clouds constantly moving very swiftly, you could almost get the impression of the swirling pattern that comes from typhoons and hurricanes.  It has been like this since Friday and here we are on Sunday still watching the clouds book it.  The rain is so random too.  When it decides to let loose, it POURS.  I am at least thankful that the pouring only lasts a few minutes at a time.  Otherwise we would run the risk of flooding too.  It makes knowing whether to have the windows open or shut quite a quandary.  To leave the windows or to shut them has been the question of the weekend.  The breeze is great.  We have been leaving them open only to run to shut them for the 5 minutes or so of the downpour, then we open them again.

This morning as I was in and out of sleep, still trying to convince myself to be on this time zone rather than Eastern Standard time, I felt the bed shake.  As I said in the last post, the bed doesn't shake unless the whole ground moves beneath it.  Sure enough, we had a little 4.7 this morning with the epicenter in Southern Saitama.  We are a hop skip and jump from Saitama's Southern border.  It felt more intense because we were so close.  Most people would have missed it, and I might well have missed it if I had been really sleeping.  Our kids were all awake and felt it, but all the other sleeping people missed it.  I know this seems strange to say, but it is nice to be back.

Next week will get back into the swing of things.  Classes will be going, school in session, just life as usual.  I am hoping that the kids will be up to it.  Tomo came to the table for dinner last night and literally fell asleep at the table without any supper.  Maya and Skyler fell asleep during a movie we planned on watching as a family, and though I made it through the movie, I had to head to bed early because I couldn't keep my eyes open.  I haven't gotten nearly as settled back into the house as I would like to be at the point, so I feel like I am running into this week little unprepared.

I suppose I should go now and at least get ready for homeschool in the morning, or come up with a plan of attack for this week. 

The kids and I are home.  Good to be back.  Good to be a family again. 

I haven't written much this past summer because I was stateside and the biggest reason I blog is to keep in contact with family there.  Since we were there, it seemed strange to write.

As I sat down to write, my mind is swirling with things to write about, and I am not sure what to write.  So many things to say.

The summer was nice.  I think it was good to get away for a bit.  This past spring was particularly challenging with the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster....which is still a mess.  But being away made me realize how the quake affected me.  As silly as this may sound, I discovered that box spring beds really freak me out.  They move so much more that futons do.  The sensation of movement was just too discomforting to me.  It was nice to come home to my bed that doesn't shake at all unless the whole earth shakes.

It was nice to see family and friends and visit churches.  I went to 6 different churches for worship and none of them did communion the same way.  I have no problem with that, but I just wasn't sure from church to church what I was supposed to do.  Three weeks in a row and at three different churches I heard the same exact scripture recited.  Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) "Where there is no vision, the people will perish."  Talk about convicting!

Tomo lost a tooth!  Skyler went to church camp and told not a soul that he lives in Japan.  Funny boy!  Maya had a seizure and had to be taken by ambulance to the ER.  Never a dull moment in the US.  We went to an amusement park, the zoo, the Indiana State Fair, and a little trip to Nashville, Indiana.  We caught lightening bugs, jumped in ponds, swam in pools, ran through sprinklers, and ate ice cream. Oh, and guzzled root beer!   There was a funeral and photo sessions.  Of course, there were churches to visit, people to see, and meals to consume.  New friendships were made and old ones brought up to speed. 

Now we are back.  Tomo hopped off the plane and a few hours later he was in uniform and back at his school for a half day.  I didn't make it to the parent meeting, but Corey went in my place.  The first day was challenging.  Today I am doing better.  Got the September meals planned and shopped for a major part of this month's groceries from Costco.

In just a few more days, I should think that all will be up and running in full force again and things might be as they should be, like the state of this house.

Now, my eyelids are telling me it is time to head to a well deserved rest today. 

We spent about a month in Illinois with my husband's father and family.  From there wee spent a bit of time traveling.  Corey took the bulk of it in a whirlwind trip to Florida and back whereupon we went to Northeast Tennessee and the back through Louisville, Kentucky.  Corey pulled off something like 5 states in 4 days.   Up until now we have have seen 5 of our supporting churches.  Corey's journey ends soon.  He will return to pick up where we left off back home in Japan.  We have 3 supporting churches that I will report to in August.  That only leaves our Iowa church unvisited, but I am still thinking about whether or not I can swing it.  If not, I will just check in via phone.

If there are any churches in the Indiana area that would be interested in hearing about what God is doing in Japan, just let me know and I will see what I can do.

Things are going well.  Just finished a VBS.  Lots of fun.  It is amazing all the new faces that we met and how grown up the kids are that we knew from our days of old as the youth minister of that church. 

Just wanted to check in, but better get going for now.

Just wanted to stop in and say hello. We made it in from Japan about a week ago. Everything went well, and I highly recommend Air Canada. Maya did as well as could be expected considering she fel crummy. She did not really sleep for the equivalent of two full days, but she is feeling better and has her days and nights straight again. International travel is not for the faint of heart.

We have minimal access to internet as the only place that has wifi is the library. I was a bit surprised that not even the McD's in town has wifi. Welcome to small town America.

I will write when I can. Shields family is headed to Holiday World after Corey preaches on Sunday. Basically the next several Sundays will be busy with speaking and such. Better get going for now.