Gift #42- Closing Day

So today was closing day of Iwakuni Youth Baseball.  We had a closing ceremony in the base gym.  The color guard presented the colors.  The children and coaches took off their hats and held them over their hearts.  The National Anthem was sung.  I don't know what it is about baseball and the National Anthem that chokes me up, but it gets me every time!!  Looking out and seeing my four babies in their handsome uniforms with their hats and hands over their hearts just filled me up!  Some days I want to keep them little, but seeing them grow and become just thrills my soul.  Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars!

Gift #41- Technology

Ray 

Thanks to Face Time, I was able to "meet" my brand new nephew for the first time yesterday!  Sometimes technology can be such a blessing!  My sweet sister-in-law made sure to show me all his little toes and his sweet chunky thighs.  I wanted to jump right through the screen.  We sure do miss our families and friends, but we are so glad that we can use our phones and computers to catch up with each other.  It makes this great big distance between us seem a whole lot smaller.  Look how cute that baby is!  

My brother Ted and his beautiful wife Mary
Happy Birthday Mary!
You are a blessing!

Gift #40- Okonomiyaki

I have a feeling that out of the 1000 blessings that I am trying to count, 900 of them will involve food!  This is Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki.  It is delicious.  I have fallen in love with the food here and hope to take a cooking class or two.  Here is a little information about what goes in it:


When making Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki, cabbage and other toppings are not mixed together with the batter. Rather, the batter is spread on the grill like a thin crepe and the ingredients such as cabbage are put on top of it. After all the toppings are in place, the entire Okonomiyaki is flipped over and steamed. After steaming it for a reasonable amount of time, it is put on top of noodles. Hiroshima-style is characteristic of layering the Okonomiyaki on top of Udon or Yakisoba noodles. Then, an egg is spread on the grill and fried into a thin layer which is used to place the Okonomiyaki on top of it. It is flipped over again and is served after adding sauce and sprinkling green laver. In Hiroshima, the Okonomiyaki sauce is slightly sweeter than the Kansai type. 


I was able to try this delicious feast a few weeks ago in Hiroshima.  Mine had bacon and shrimp mixed inside!  The sauces on top are SO delicious.  Now I am getting hungry.  

Gift #39- Keeping the Classroom Bunny for the Summer

My sweet little Macy volunteered to keep the class pet for the summer.  So today I brought home a bunny named Fluffy and all of his gear.  Wait......  That is a blessing isn't it?  I will choose to count it as such!  :0)

PS-  Our wonderful neighbors and friends had a very sad family emergency and had to rush home to the states very quickly this morning.  (Please say a prayer for peace for the Goering Family).  We wanted to do ANYTHING to help them out so we very happily said yes when they asked us to keep their goldfish for the summer!  So now we have a Turbo, a bunny, and five gold fish!  I am lucky to have such a sweet sweet husband.  :0)

(PSS-  Hank if you are reading this, then you just found out that you are coming home to 4 kids on summer break, a dog, a bunny, 5 goldfish, a crazy wife, and a 1300 square foot town home.

I love you so much.  You are still coming home aren't you?  ;0)

Blessing #38- The Bottom of the Laundry Basket

I know that yesterday I said that unfolded laundry was a blessing.  And I still believe that it is.  

But I will admit, having an empty laundry bin feels pretty darn good also!  ;0)

Blessing #37- My Laundry Runneth Over

I know that this does not look like much of a blessing, but I try to remind myself to see it as such.  The letter below is posted on my refrigerator.  Hank and I both read it often as a reminder to enjoy every inch of the mess.  The letter comes from Ann Voskamp's website:  A Holy Experience with God (http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/08/weekends-are-for-unseen/).  After  reading it, I hope that you might come to see your dirty dishes, tracked floors, and piles of laundry as a blessing too.  :0) 

Dear Ann All of my chicks have left the nest. They are rearing and nurturing their own. It’s funny that all of the messy piles of unfolded laundry and the mail and important papers that lined the counter, the things I longed to have put in order when they were here — are still here. But, they and their sounds and their smells, the fragrance of their presence have gone. Drifted into the memories I hold and cherish. I do not live in the past but I would love to have one more day when I hear their laughter and their conversation drift down the stairs and the aroma of their shampoo from their bath and the clamour of books and items being prepared for school. Just the joy of their daily lives intertwined with mine and their activities shared with me hourly. It all escaped too suddenly. There were many days I wished for just a little quiet. Now the quiet is sometimes way too loud. So, a little revelation from one who has been where you are, in the middle of domestic chaos: Enjoy every inch of the mess and those responsible for it, appreciate the unfolded laundry and the scattered papers, books, and shoes, smile at the dirty dishes and tracked floors. They are all a real sign of real life going on around you. Life to be loved and lived and devoured one minute at a time. If only there were a way to lasso the days and slow them down and hold on to each moment and each child. If only! Your friend in Christ, Anna Margaret in Louisiana

Blessing #36- This Beautiful Mess

Look at those sweet little angels.

Even the deer can sense their calm natures and love for all creatures.  

What?  You don't believe me?  :0)  You are right!  This is a much more accurate portrayal of the Thomas Kids!  My Great Big Beautiful Mess!
Miyajima Island 6/4/12

Blessing #35- Sam

Sam

Some days a challenge.  Every day a blessing!

Blessing #34- Our Cozy Little Back Yard

This is our little yard.  It is small, but cozy.  My dad made the little potting table for me several years ago.  He made it out of an old fence that stood in our backyard when I was kid.  It has my brothers name white washed into the underside of it.  I just love it.  My Grandma gave me the white rabbit that is sitting on the bottom shelf.  She said that her mother painted it when she was a little girl.   The ear has a chip out of it where my Great uncle Pete shot it with a BB gun.  Check out the squash and zucchini bed!!  Just yesterday I noticed a few buds on the bell peppers and jalapeños.  The watermelon vines are growing like crazy and the tomatoes are too!  We look forward to spending some evenings out here on our little porch before it gets too warm.  

Blessing #33- Refrigerator Art

Our fridge is covered in Priceless Masterpieces.  And now we are officially HOME!

Blessing #32- Fifth Grade Field Trips

Today I had the pleasure of accompanying Jack's 5th grade class to the Miyajima Public Aquarium.  We had such a great time together.  It thrilled my heart that he still wanted mom to go on a field trip with him. I know that there will come a day when that will not be so cool.  Miyajima is about 30 minutes north of Iwakuni.  It is a tiny island with lots of shops, restaurants, shrines and deer!  The deer are very tame and walk around freely all over the island.      

 Jack and I on the ferry ride to the island.

 The deer are everywhere and love to be petted.

 Petting a penguin!

 Jack with two of his classmates- Jeremiah and Cyrus.

Miyajima is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on top of the water. The sight is ranked as one of Japan's three best views.