Gift #211- Life, Air, and Shelter

Macy decided to start naming her own 1000 Gifts.  

Gift #210- A Japanese Opera

A few weeks ago, Hank and I had the opportunity to attend a Unicef Charity Concert featuring a famous Japanese opera singer.  She sang many recognizable pieces and finished her performance with Christmas carols.  Singing Silent Night in English together with the Japanese people singing in their own language was such a beautiful sound.

We ordered one western plate and one Japanese plate.  Both were very Japanese.  :0)  The above picture was our main course- a Sashimi Plate. Sashimi is raw meats and seafood served as a main course in a formal Japanese meal.  It is usually presented with rice and miso soup.  Hank and I tried a little taste of everything on the plate.  We didn't necessarily love any of it, but we didn't mind any of it either.  (except for the yellow tail- very fishy).  We had a great time.  It was a unique and wonderful way to begin our holiday season.

Gift #209- Sam's New Little Friend

Sam has been begging for a hamster for 2 years now.  Hank and I have firmly resisted.  But when he told us this year that all he wanted for Christmas was a hamster and that he would love it forever, we found ourselves on a mission to find that little boy a hamster.  We read that hamsters are not super cuddly and that they are not too fond of being held.  Sam wanted a pet that he could hold and squeeze and literally name GEORGE!!!  We researched sugar gliders and found that they met Sam's criteria for "squeezeability".   We found the sugar glider at a pet store in Yanai (about an hour away) and hid the little guy in our closet for 2 weeks!  It was crazy!  We are crazy!  Completely and Certifiably Crazy!

Sam could not believe it when he unwrapped his sugar glider cage!  He could not believe that he had a pet of his very own.  Hank had already named the little guy Mojo.  But when Sam saw him, he immediately named him George.  And then he changed it to Charlie.  And yesterday he changed it to Jake.  Jack and Josh call him MC Hammer.  The poor little sugar glider must be so confused.  But seeing Sam hold Mojo George Charlie Jake MC Hammer Thomas in his little hands, makes all of the crazy worth while.  I think.  :0)

Gift #208- New Years Eve

Gold Rush Marathon Food

New Years Eve was always a big day at the Randall house.  My mom always made a bathtub full of Texas Trash (party mix), a pan of Nestle Golden Brownies, and a few gallons of lime sherbet punch.  She made many other treats as well, but the Texas Trash. brownies,  and punch were the staples.  Mom would set the table up with snacks inside and my dad would build a fire outside and drag out all the chairs that we could find.  We stayed up until midnight and my dad would shoot his shotgun to ring in the New Year.  As the Randall kids got older and started dating, we always made sure to come home on New Years Eve to join in on the festivities.  Our friends were always welcome.  Even after we moved away from home, my mom would send us a box of party mix in the mail on New Years Eve.  A few years ago, Jack got to shoot the first shot of the New Year.  He still has the shell to prove it!  The memories of New Years Eve at 811 Avery Street is such a gift!

No shotgun firing allowed here on base in Iwakuni!  So we will celebrate a little differently.  We are having a Gold Rush Marathon!  Gold Rush is our very favorite show!  We downloaded the current season and we will spend the evening watching TV and eating gold foods-  golden brownies, cheese fries, golden oreos, corn bread bites, golden graham squares, ginger ale, etc.  Maybe we will fire off some party poppers or sparklers at midnight.  Maybe we will just stay in where it is warm.   We can FaceTime Avery Street tomorrow and hear Papa's shotgun ringing in another New Year!

We pray that God's greatest blessings will be upon your homes and ours in 2013.

Happy New Year!

Earlier in the day, we had a block Party to celebrate the new year.  It was freezing!  But it was fun being together with our wonderful neighbors.

Gift #207- My sister's 15th Anniversary!

So happy for my sister and her sweet husband Oscar.  Congratulations on 15 years!  

I hope that the next 15 are even more wonderful.  

Gift #206- Eternal Father

To close our chapel service each week, we sing "Eternal Father Strong to Save."  I love singing it all together with our church family.  I sat beside Macy yesterday and noticed that she knew every word and that she sang it out so beautifully. I love hearing Macy sing anything.  She can do a mean Taylor Swift.  But hearing her sing a prayer about the Navy and Marine Corps just made me feel so proud.

Eternal Father, Strong to save,

Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,

Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep;

O hear us when we cry to thee,

for those in peril on the sea.

Eternal Father, grant, we pray

To all Marines, both night and day,

The courage, honor, strength, and skill

Thy land to serve, thy law fulfill;

Be thou the shield forevermore

From every peril to the Corps.

Gift #205- My Jack

Today is my Jack's 12th birthday!  I just can't believe it!  The days go too quickly.  Jack you are so kind and helpful and perfect!  I love you so much and am so proud of you.  Here is a mushy little poem that I wrote to you when you were 5.  You are still "handsome and kind and helpful and smart."  You still "help fold the bath cloths" and will forever have a big heart.

I know a boy

His name is Jack

He’s Super-de-Duper

And that is a fact.

He loves playing with Legos

And riding bikes very fast

If he were in a race

He wouldn’t be last

He loves cartoons

Like Jerry and Tom

He’s super-crazy

He gets that from his mom

He loves cookie dough ice cream

And popcorn and candy

He thinks peas are gross

And pizza is dandy

A race-car driver

Is what Jack wants to be

Something much slower

Would be fine with me

He wants to play drums

I am hoping guitar

One thing’s for sure

He’s going to go far

He’s getting so tall

His feet hang over the bed

I wish I could put

A brick on his head

He’s handsome and kind

And helpful and smart

He helps fold the bath cloths

He has a big heart

Jack is so special

I just can’t wait to see

The wonderful man

That he’ll grow to be.

Gift #204- Garden of Light Children's Home

This Christmas morning we were so very fortunate to be able to visit the Garden of Light Children Home to hand out gifts and play with the kiddos.  The kids did not know that we were there or that they would be receiving gifts.  The directors brought them into the gym area where we were all hiding behind a curtain.  When the kids were all seated and quiet, the curtain was opened and the kids could see that the stage was LOADED with presents!  They were quiet at first, but as soon as the gifts started being handed out, the noise level quickly rose!  Many of the kids did not open their gifts right away.  They wanted to save them so the moment would last longer.  In fact, the little guy that Josh chose, did not open his gift at all.  As we were leaving, he was carrying his unopened package back to his room.  He wanted Christmas to last a little longer.  I knew exactly how he felt.  

Hiding behind the curtain for the kids to come in.  I never expected to spend my Christmas morning this way-  standing in our socks with 6 other families and some single Marines on a small stage in a Japanese orphanage trying to keep our kids rounded up and quiet.  I wouldn't change a thing!

 

Hank got in on the fun!

Jack chose to buy for a 12 year old boy named Amano.  Amano loved his gifts and spent much of the morning shooting Nerf darts at his friends.

Macy chose a 10 year old girl named Sawada.  Sawada loved her gifts and Macy loved watching her open them!

This is the sweet little boy that Josh chose- Abe.  Josh bought him a remote control car and some Legos!  We did not get to see him open the gifts before it was time to go.  But the memory of him saving his gifts meant so much to us.

Gift #203- Christmas Morning!

I love Christmas Morning!  This was the scene at our house BEFORE the kids came down.  Santa brought each of the kids a Pro scooter and a stocking full of treats!  They were so happy!

Turbo was pooped after helping Santa deliver all of the gifts

It just wouldn't be Christmas without Egg Nog and Moose Mugs. 

Hank made me this beautiful manger out of an old pallet!  I will use it each year in my garden for decoration.  I am so proud of it!

Google Maps kept us updated on Santa's location.  The kids were happy to learn that he does indeed fly to Japan!  

GIFT #202- The Greatest Gift of All

Candles glow from frosted windowsRooms are filled with twinkling lights,There's a manger scene, boughs of evergreen,Someone is singing 'Silent Night'...And every gift my heart remembers, of easy laughter, dear old friends,Precious faces and smiles,All remind me once again:The Best Gift of All is JESUSHis love knows no season or placeYou can see Him in the firelightReflected on each face...And though we cherish the blessings of Christmas, When his love seems especially near...The Best Gift of All is Jesus - ALL THROUGH THE YEAR!

Gift #201- Sunday Mornings

After 13 years of wedded bliss you would think that we would have figured it out-  our Sunday morning routine.  But without fail, 10 minutes before church begins, we are still at home rushing around trying to find shoes, brush teeth, slick that last little bit of hair down, etc.  Someone is usually crying, someone else is grumbling about having to wear a collared shirt, and on a few occasions, Hank and I are not speaking to each other.  :0)  From what I hear, this is a fairly common phenomenon for most Sunday morning church-goers.  This particular Sunday morning at the Thomas house was no exception.  I tried to get up a little earlier than usual.  It is the final Sunday of Advent and I wanted it to be peaceful.  After all, our sweet Sam and Macy were about to sing in the children's choir and Hank was about to play the role of a life time.  But, with 10 minutes until show time, Macy was waiting for me to find sew on a button, Sam was crying about his sweater, Josh was MIA, and Jack had just slipped his pink Iwakuni football sweatshirt over his head to wear into the house of the Lord!  To make things even crazier, I was up to my eyeballs in making a Jesus costume for Hank.  His beard needed to be adjusted this morning, so, in true Amy fashion, I waited until the very last minute.  I found myself muttering some mild curse words under my breath as I am attaching the last little piece of elastic onto a Jesus beard made of felt and a ladies scarf.  Talk about crazy!  Oh, did I mention that it was potluck Sunday and that I forgot to turn the oven on when I put my casserole in?

Hank went ahead to church with the kids and I arrived shortly after the service began- just in time for the children's program.  There is something so very beautiful about little voices singing Away in a Manger.  (Unless you are the mom of the child who on stage making funny faces and covering his ears.)  I was not that mom this year and it was glorious!  Last year was my year.  Right Sam?  Hank made his brief appearance as Jesus and he looked just perfect- beard and all.  The advent candles were lit.  The pastor gave a very short and sweet message about peace at Christmas time and then we sang O Come All Ye Faithful together.  For a brief second, I longed for home.  But as I looked all around me, I realized that I was already there.   My casserole cooked while we were at church and it turned out just right.  We sat with a wonderful Japanese family during the potluck and talked about our many different Christmas traditions.

After church, we quickly straightened up the tornado-like mess that we had made this morning.  The boys played with friends, Hank and Sam went to the gym, and Macy and I stayed home, watched Christmas movies, and painted our nails red and green.  We were almost done with our nails when we noticed from the window that it was snowing!  It was perfect!  For a brief moment, everything was so peaceful.  Today I am so very grateful for a Savior who is the Prince of Peace- even in the midst of crazy every Sunday morning at 1275D in Iwakuni, Japan.