Ya Ya Sisters, Japanese style

Candi and Michiko, two of my Ya Ya Sisters. The three of us have been to a school and community center to read the "Three Little Pigs" in our native languages. Candi is Taiwanese, Michiko is Japanese and I'm not sure what I am anymore, ha haha. We have added to our readings of late the "Hungry, Hungry, Caterpillar". It is such a hoot to see how children/adults speak english and understand english. For instance in the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar when we got to the days of the week, the children call Friday, Flyday and relate Saturday to "Saturday night Fever" movie. Obviously their parents have been teaching them english.

This is Candi again, with Takako and Tomoyuki. These are my three lady friends/neighbors that have joined together to meet once a month at each others houses to visit and learn to bake, cook or a craft/hobby. This meeting was at Takako's and she taught us how to prepare body oil from sesame oil and fragrance oils from India. The oil has helped Bethany's egzema like nothing has helped before, waalaa! Last month was at Michiko's and she taught us how to deep fry "Okinawa Donuts". The month before was at Candi's and she taught us how to make Ichigodaifuku. Have you figured out what that is yet. It is a mochi (pounded to smooth rice) covered strawberry with sweet bean paste. It is oishi (delicious). My favorite dessert. While at Candi's I taught them how to bake brownies, but too much chocolate for the japanese. So we cut them in small pieces and nibbled. There kids love them. Next month they will come to my house and we will make "Cool Whip Jello Pies". That should go over much lighter and not so sweet for their taste buds. While together we also share our photo albums of wedding pictures and families. I just love getting to know these ladies and the culture through them. They always have so many questions regarding our family and now many more since our adopting Tomoyuki.

Bethany is so busy!

All lined up and ready to go catch the local bus!!!!

Bethany is in the older class at the yochien this year and get's opportunities to go on many field trips. For the past month she has been earning yen doing chores at home to pay for her bus fair to Naha and back. While in Naha, they would visit the fresh meat market, including whole pigs, many kinds of local fish etc....they would visit a kimono museum and enjoy traditional Okinawa Soup Soba, which Bethany loves and can slurp like a local.

Ai no Kesshin Volunteer Phone Counselors

Here are my faithful Ai no Kesshin Phone Counselors. These ladies are such a blessing to me in so many ways. They faithfully answer the free dial at 12 hour shifts a few times a month, sharing this responsibility with about 15 ladies in all, from Okinawa to Japan. They are also mighty prayer warriors. On this particular day we had met for prayer and praises. Please continue to keep Ai no Kesshin in your prayers as God continues to bless this ministry here and in Japan.

"Now I lay me down to sleep...."

Goes something like this....."Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, Angles watch me through the night, until I wake in morning light, Amen".....

Well....Bethany prayed it this way the another night..."Now I lay be down to sleep. I pray the Lord whose supposed to keep Angels watching me through the night, til' I wake in morning light, Amen". I'm sure there is some theological lesson in that misinterpretation of that age old prayer, of what exactly we do expect the Lord to do, or what He is supposed to do. Why don't you ponder it on your own and have your own bible study with it, all I do is report the news from this end, ha ha ha.

Little Boy Blue

What a sweet heart of a baby boy. If all you had to do in a day was drink bottles, learn to roll over, exercise your arms and legs and entertain the family, wouldn't you take a wink or two given the chance????? Tomoyuki's adoption paperwork is underway, please pray for that process. Pretty user friendly, don't forsee any snags along the way.

Happy Father's Day TOM

Happy Father's Day "Tom". What a very special dad you are to each of your children.
"Your the best dad in the world, so funny and crazy", so say's Bethany.

Tomoyuki posing with his new haircut. He has great hair, goes all over the place, certainly the style of the times.

Sashiburri "Long time no see", great phrase the japanese like to use. Well, I like to use it too. Sorry I haven't posted, we have been having fun getting to know Tomoyuki. Some friends from church gave Tomoyuki this "Wiggle Worm" activity mat. He loves to lay on it and try to pull the toys hanging down and especially smiles at himself in the mirror hanging. We try to have "Tummy Time" everyday on the Wiggle Worm. He can pick his head up and legs at the same time, "Airplane", but not yet raising up on his arms. Bethany is proving to be his best therapist thus far, spending alot of time instructing him on daily exercises and cheering him on. What a week we had last week. As Tomoyuki joined in on our daily schedules, he was able to meet so many folks. From Bessy's Yochien "Japanese Preschool", Yochien mommy's ESL class, Juda's school/classmates/teachers/therapists, Uemura "Mommy and Me" class, Ai no Kesshin Volunteers "Prayer Meeting" ladies, neighbors, Koza Church family and Goya Church family. We gave him a haircut, as he was in great need of one. He wasn't real thrilled about it but survived. He continues to love his evening baths. By the end of the week he along with Bethany and Juda were sick with a cold and cough. His turned into croup. After a few trips to the steaming mist of the warm shower room, his breathing got better. He continues to sleep so well at night, it really spoils us. He wakes up just cooing and oohing in the morning, so happy to see us, plays a bit, then has a bottle, plays a bit more, then dozes off into a little nap, wakes, plays, eats, dozes, throughout the day, going wherever we go, without complaining, riding nicely in the van. He is quite a trooper, and quite a joy to have. We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to be his family.

Welcome Home Tomoyuki

A few months ago we heard about Tomoyuki possibly coming to Ai no Kesshin for placement. Sarah already had one little boy with Down Syndrome she was fostering who was waiting to have heart surgery. God has heard our prayers regarding the Down Syndrome children of Japan not being placed in orphanages, at least for two most recently. Well it took a few months before Tomoyuki's family could make up their mind to place him for adoption. Please pray for his family as they grieve terribly over his little life. Through a course of events, God revealed to us that we should adopt Tomoyuki. We were very surprised by this opportunity and very excited. He was only in foster care for 8 days. So those of you who wrote and said, "Did I miss something?", NO you didn't, we just dit not have time to inform anyone before bringing him home. He is such a sweet baby boy. Although he has Down Syndrome, he is so healthy. He possibly has some hearing loss, not sure to what extent. For now it is convenient, the kids don't have to be quiet when he is sleeping, ha ha. We will do further testing soon. Pray that God will restore what loss he may have.

Everyone that accompanied Sarah at the airport to give me Tomoyuki. Ako, Co-Director of Ai no Kesshin, (beside me) is Emma (Ako's Daughter) Aya, Hannah and Maddi (a few of Sarah's children) then in the stroller is Jotanabe "Jo", on his way to his new family in Chattanooga TN. I am still laughing at what the people in the airport must have thought as they witnessed this scene. Up walks this American lady with all these Japanese children, passes one to another American lady, laughter and tears commense, we sit for just a moment exchanging paperwork and filled my suitcase with Tomoyuki's things. Scrambled to keep on schedule to get Sarah on her flight with Jo to America. Then there off, blowings kisses and saying "I love You's" heading up a near by excellator, then in a moment they ALL return as they were headed the wrong way, then once again the "I love You's" and blowing of kisses. Then I head to the restroom to get Tomoyuki in a front pack, then over to get my boarding pass and head to my departure gate. Isn't life great and isn't God even Greater.

Bethany couldn't wait to get her hands on him and hold him. He is quite a hand full and a little floppy. She has given him more bottles than we have. She is a great BIG SISTER.

Tom has sure got his lap full. Tomoyuki can't figure out what Juda thinks is so funny. He says, "Maybe it is my hair dooooo!"

Not sure if he is signing "Thank You" or being the ever so polite Japanese and covering his mouth when he laughs?????

He loves to smile and laugh. What a joy and treat he has been in just a short time. We are in for some fun.

Tomoyuki just fit right into the family as if he'd been here all along. Bethany has taken on the role as the Big Sister with a Baby Brother. Juda has taken the role as.......well, he is just Juda, keeps us laughing. He laughed so hard at Tomoyuki knodding his head up and down. Juda would laugh and Tomoyuki would knod again and again. Oh my goodness, what lies ahead.......alot of laughter that is for sure. Hey, we're always ready for a good laugh!!!!!!