Gift #316- My Sister Kim

I was lying in bed this morning and it dawned on me that I had not been posting about my family on their birthdays over the past few months.  I am not sure how I let that happen.  Aside from my salvation, family is truly the biggest blessing that the Lord has given me.  I am going to spend the next few days catching up!

I do not remember a time when Kim was not my best friend.    She knows me inside and out and still likes me!  :0)  I remember fighting over who got the shower first in the morning and who had to wash the dishes, but never a time when we weren't close.  We shared many of the same friends in high school and did not let college moves keep us apart.  When I was a starving camp counselor making $80 per week, she was a starving new teacher.  She scraped her pennies together and paid off my wedding dress as a surprise.  To this day, she is quick to send a cheerful package.  She does mock me from time to time with pictures of Shell Island and dolphin encounters, but I can take it.  Kim, your 40th birthday came on May 6th.  You said that this will be your best year yet.  I have a feeling that it will.  You are one of the biggest blessings that the Lord has given me and I don't know where I would be without you.

Gift #315- Jack's First Guitar Lesson

Jack and his new guitar teacher- Adam.  Adam asked Jack to choose the song that he wanted to learn first.  Jack's choice- Limelight by Rush.  You can do it Jack!

Gift #314- Panama City Love

Just checked the mail and had an awesome package waiting!  8 cans of boiled peanuts!  (3 of them had my name on them and I am not sharing!)   Harry and David's Macadamia Moose Munch, lollipops, a birthday present and some sweet little clothes for baby girl! We are in the thick of rainy season here in Iwakuni, but a package from home sure did make things brighter!  Thank you Dad and Ms. Diane!

Within 2 minutes of tearing open the package!

Now all we need is an Avery!

Gift #313- 4 Days in Tokyo

We returned home late last night from our trip to Tokyo.  We had a great time together.  The kids have some wonderful friends here in Iwakuni, but it sure was nice to get the kids away and have them all to ourselves for a few days.  The trip was a reminder to us of how we need to get out as a family more often.  We traveled over night on a tour bus.  We went straight to the pool after arriving at the hotel.  I think that we could have skipped Disneyland and the zoo and everything in between as long as we had that hotel pool!  We went to the top of the Tokyo Tower, toured a temple area, took a river cruise, shopped at Odaiba, went to the Ueno Zoo, traveled on the Tokyo subway, visited with a dear friend, went to Disneyland, ordered room service for Father's Day, and the list goes on.  It was a memorable trip and we are so thankful for the time spent together.