Merry Unexpected Christmas!

Christmas day is almost over here in Japan.  It has been a great day!  A completely unexpected day.  Actually, a completely unexpected week!

Sunday was an unexpected when I received a message that my coworker was not feeling well.  By 1PM it was obvious that he was not going to be able to make it to church that afternoon.  Thankfully, we had already planned the themes for advent Sundays, so planning a message in a couple of hours was not quite as difficult.  Everyone at church was understanding and helpful.  We had a good time studying about joy in the story of Jesus' birth.

Monday morning dawned with a snow squall and another not quite as unexpected message.  Influenza had taken down two more of the members of my coworkers' family, putting the count at 3.  I continued with my day off as usual which included tea time with a friend.  God prepared both of our hearts and she offered as I asked her to play piano for our Christmas Eve service at church!

With that unexpected challenge cleared, I was ready to begin preparing for the service on Tuesday.  I spent the day at church, reading, preparing, checking out the programs from the last couple of years, and enjoying delving into the Christmas story again.  My friend came to get the music and help me check the Japanese on the power point.  We had another good time of fellowship.


Unexpectedly, I had just enough cookies left at home to take to my morning exercise friends at the park on Christmas eve morning.  It was fun to see their faces and hear the "Merry Christmas" responses.


Our Christmas eve service was beautiful and full of joy.  I am so grateful for our church, the lovely people, and the wonderful celebration of our Savior's birth.

Following the service, my piano-playing friend came over and spent the night.  We enjoyed fellowship late into the night and basically all day today.  What a blessing to have a friend with whom I can spend a day sitting at the table, chatting, snacking, laughing, crying, and sharing words of wisdom.  An unexpected Christmas was just what I needed!


(Although, I missed hanging out with the Ewing family and look forward to our belated celebration!)

Benefits of Home Assignment

While I am in the U.S. I miss being in Japan and part of ministry there.  However, I do get to join some events I miss while I am in Japan, like Father's Day.  (I also missed it in the chronology of blogging!)
I loved being with my family for Father's Day-and all of the other holidays this year.  The day before the holiday Dad, Tom and Andrew cut down a tree in the backyard.  Then, on Father's Day, we had a fun time making S'mores.  Flat Coco even liked them!

The hard workers!

Mom and Marietta enjoying the swing.

Abi and Flat Coco enjoying the flowers in the yard.

Front yard

Andrew demonstrates how to eat a s'more

All ready!

Kim gives Flat Coco a taste

Helping Flat Coco roast another marshmallow

Roger is all ready!

The Continuing Adventures of Flat Coco

Flat Coco enjoyed celebrating the resurrection in South Dakota!
Flat Cocoとサウスダコタで復活祭をお祝いしたことは楽しかった。

ココちゃんがイースターのカードを楽しんだ
Coco-chan enjoyed reading Easter cards

ハーム、ポテト、フルーツは美味しかった
The ham, potatoes and fruit were delicious!

We needed a group shot before heading out to hunt eggs.
エッグハントをする前に写真をとりたかった。

寒かったので、大人も手伝った
It was cold so the adults got involved in the hunt, too.

Because it was cold, we hid some of the eggs in the basement.
地下室にもたまごを隠れた。

家族と一緒にイエス様の復活を祝いしたことは楽しかったです。
It was really special to celebrate Jesus' resurrection with my family this year.

Memories

The Christmas season is filled with memories.  As I thought about putting up my tree and decorating my apartment, I wondered why I do it.  Not in a frustrated way.  Not because it is annoying or time consuming.  Just pondering as I decorated.

Then I realized, as each ornament was removed from the box, each one brought back memories.  Memories of the people who gave me the ornaments.  Memories of the time of life I was in when I received or bought the ornament.  The place where the ornament was bought.

Here are a few memories from my tree, in no particular order:
(The pictures are a little blurry.  I was in a hurry to take them!)

This is probably my oldest ornament.  I can't remember a Christmas without it on the tree!  My great grandma made it, if I remember correctly.

This ornament is from Sandy, from the year we did the children's musical, "Santa Bowed at Christmas"

I actually don't remember where this came from, but it reminds me of Delora because she collects Santas.

This is from my teaching days.  Wendy gave it to me when she was teaching 3rd grade.

This is from Grandma Reed, I think.  If it isn't, I always think of her when I put it up!

Thanks to Della I have this beautiful nativity ornament from Israel.

The bell from Shonda's and Paul's wedding!

And, a snowman ornament from Shonda and Paul!

A snowflake from Mom to remind me of the year of Shonda's wedding.

And, an angel from Mom.

Even an ornament from Aunt Karen.

HAWAII!

South Dakota!

I bought this at the Christmas Shop in Karuizawa.

Another ornament from teaching days, "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

This one is a little hard to see, but it is a snowflake.  I don't exactly remember where it came from, but for some reason it reminds me of my high school buddy, Signe.

Bought in Japan, but it reminds me of Texas!

Made by Phyllis from my home church.

Card from one of my roommates in seminary, Melodee, who is now a missionary in Europe.

And, my cute mouse from Mrs. Westall!

If you made it this far, thanks for sticking around for my walk down memory lane.  Of course, for me the best memories don't have to do with Christmas trees and ornaments, but with celebrating Jesus' birth with my family and friends.  What lovely memories to ponder every year.

Jesus and Me Getaway

This August has been one of those times when none of my plans worked out.  God had other plans for my time off!

Monday, late morning, I left with my little suitcase, a cooler and my beach bag.  I arrived at a little beach in Wakayama and set up my little, borrowed tent.  I had practiced the night before in my living rooms hoping I wouldn't look like a total klutz as I set it up on the beach.  I was glad I had!  It was windy on the beach and if I hadn't known what I was doing, the thing would be stuck on the shore of Awaji Island right now!

I enjoyed some water and sandcastle time before settling into the tent (open on two sides) for some reading and journaling, thinking and praying.  It was one of the best afternoons I have had for a long time.

I got in a little more swim time before I packed up and headed about 5 more minutes down the road to my evening stop.  I stayed in a lovely little hotel at the marina in Wakayama.  When I got out of the shower after washing off the sand and such from the day, I looked out the window and saw a beautiful sunset.

As I stood at my window gawking, I noticed just below next to the pool there seemed to be an outdoor BBQ, so I put on my shoes and headed down for dinner.  It was delicious!

Just when I came back to my table with my watermelon, the dad of the family a couple of tables over came with his daughter hiding behind him to ask if I wanted to join their family for a little chat time.  So, I picked up my stuff and moved over to talk with a lovely family from Hyogo.  We had fun chatting and the girls warmed up to me, even giving me good night hugs!

I was tired so went to sleep early, which meant I woke up early, too.  So, I went out for a walk!  It was a lovely morning.

Day 2 was spent by the pool, reading, swimming, people watching, chatting with my new friends for a few minutes before they left, and getting a little sunburned-I forgot to reapply after getting out of the pool!

That evening, I went back out to the pier to watch the sunset-after enjoying some lovely gelato!  I took a ton of pictures because I have a hard time not taking pictures of God's beauty.

Day 3 was to be shopping at the outlet mall on the way home, which I did.  But, I had the added bonus of waking up to an amazing rainbow that grew to be a full rainbow right outside my window!

I loved my time away and may write about what Jesus and I talked about, maybe ;)