ahhhh!!!

Mom and Laura are going to be here in 6 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!

I went for a run the other day

and look what I found hidden amongst the convenience stores, office buildings, stadiums, houses, playgrounds, and electronics stores of Akita...

gate to the shrine

in bloom! the gateway

buddhist something. I don't know what it is, but it was pretty impressive.

Prayers

looking forward...

These will be in full bloom sometime in the coming week or so... along with all of their little (and big) brother and sister SAKURA (cherry blossoms). In Japanese, cherry blossoms in full bloom is: mankai no sakura. Can't wait!!

Praying works. Just thought I'd let everyone know... and also warn all of you out there. ;) grins This winter I prayed for snow (yes, believe it or not)... and Japan got the most snow it's had in 88 years. We were buried in snow. I swear I only prayed for it so that we could have snow for Christmas. Then I stopped (and it kept coming). As winter began to melt and turn into spring, I started praying that the sakura would wait for my mom and sister to come so that they could witness the sakura in all of its full bloom beauty... even see a sakura fubuki (blizzard - a cherry petal blizzard). In order for this to happen, however, it was necessary for Akita to have a somewhat late spring... which means colder weather for longer (PLEASE don't hate me Akita!!). And last I heard... the sakura are due to start blooming in the next couple of days. grins Which means that my mom and sister will be able to see them in full bloom. Thank you, Lord, for the small blessings that you sprinkle my life with. They are so valuable.

So, yes. #1. Looking forward to sakura. :) Something I've dreamed about in a small way since I was a girl.

Numero Dos (#2). My mom and sister are arriving in Akita in 6 days. Not 1 week. Not the Thursday after next. No. 6 days. Less that a week. And if you can't already tell, I AM EXCITED! WAHOO!! grins

San ban (#3). All of the time I get to spend doing all sorts of awesome things and seeing all sorts of awesome places while they are here. grins The great majority of which include seeing sakura. grins

4. After my mom and sister leave. I get to go home. :) I'm excited. I miss my family.

5. Kat and Paul's wedding. And not simply the wedding, but the entire week before that I will be spending there with people that I love and some of which I haven't seen for a YEAR!!! Carina! Michelle! :) I'm giddy with excitement! hehehe yaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!

tanoshimi!!
tanoshimi!!
tanoshimi!!

("looking forward!!!")

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE!!!

Friday, April 14

Tanjoubi Omedetou!! 26! :)

Good Friday...

Good Friday... today Jesus suffered for me... today the skin of God was torn for me... today he bled for me... today he carried his cross and my sin and shame.

Today Jesus was a man of sorrow and despised because of my sin that was upon him.

And last night... last night he shed drops of blood as sweat while he was praying to the Father about "this cup"... last night his "friend" handed him over and those closest to him abandoned him and another friend denied him... and I am the least of these.

Last night Passover began, and the people he loved and for whom he came and was sent to redeem did not recognize their Lamb... the Lamb of God. And I... I was numbered among them.

The miracle that will take place a few days before Kat and Paul's Wedding...

The miracle that will take place a few days before Kat and Paul's Wedding...
Originally uploaded by auro-borea-rs.

This is the back of an envelope which I sent to Carina (or rather, Ben's parents in Fillmore for when she gets there). BUT I wanted to share it with the 6 other girls (plus a whole lot more people) who also have their names on there. So, this is actually for all of you girls: Kat - the inspiration and reason for the creation, Carina, Becca, Amy, Michelle, Tegan (and me, but that goes without saying). grins And as an added bonus you get a nice view of the toes of my slippers. :)

SOOON!

My mom and sister are going to be here in 19 days!! woohoo! And then, I'm on a plane to NY 12 days after that!!! Ah! Can't wait! Bouncing up and down in anticipation! (not really... maybe on the inside and then every once in a while it bubbles to the surface when I'm alone in my apt where I can dance around without anyone thinking I've gone mad. grins) I can't wait to see you all!!! (the all of you that I will see when I go home. haha)

bowling escapades

Girl's Night Out. grins

(Brooke, Ikuko, Emi, me, Honey)

And was it fun! hahaha



How to get bowling shoes... Japanese style.










Brooke: I will conquer the evil bowling pins!











My first spare!!! (This, my friends, is an event which is worth taking note of... as it only happens once a game.)

Emi! The winning shot! ...roll...

Ikuko and Emi goofing around.







p.s. Sorry that the format is so messed up. I can't figure out how to fix it. No, that's not true. I probably could if I really put my mind to it, but I don't really care all that much. grins So, sorry if poor formatting is your pet peeve... this just isn't your lucky day. ;)

I'm not sorry

to witness this change. Analysis: How the US 'lost' Latin America