Family Picture Op

You'll need to use your imagination and add Andy into the pic, then it will be a complete "Smith Family Picture". Check out Juda's short shorts, he he he

What do you think, do they look like brothers?????

Bethany on her way to the planetarium

Bethany is in the middle of the pac and can you spot Tom holding Tomoyuki in the back of the crowd and Juda leaning against the wall to the left of the pic. Bethany is a bit nervous to go on this field trip.

They gather for announcements and prayer before heading off to the planetarium.

Bethany and her yochien class off to the planetarium in Naha, another bus ride experience for them.

The Three Jamigo's

Juda loves to hold Tomoyuki and asks all day long to do so, only second best thing to do in his world. First being to KISS Tomoyuki.

Yes, I will admit that adding another one to the crew has turned us a little upside down at times.

Here we are again, see I told you that is what Juda wants to do all day long. He and Juda have their own language already. Juda greets him always with "Heyyyyyyyy" then plants a wet one on him.

During the rainy season when it rains for several days in a row, the snails head for the high ground. This guy is working hard, thinking that the rainbow promise is not so true after all and is planning for the flood. He is at the top of the door on the second floor. What a determined slimy guy he is.

Bethany did some "Finger" painting while at her friends birthday party and we captured this "Bird in Flight" on her hand. What do you think.....can you see the forest below and the blue sky above with the "Bird in Flight". All in the hands eh.... Let us know if you see something else that we didn't see.

Tomoyuki is getting stronger holding his head up more and more while on his tummy.

These feet are made for walking.......I didn't include all the family feet because at some point and age, they aren't so cute anymore.

I'm in position but getting nowhere fast. Tomoyuki is rolling over from his back to his front, but not from front to back yet.

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.