Beansprouts

Today we went for our first Sakura picnic. Two events in Japan that I love the most is Sakura time and matsuri time. I guess matsuri is like festivals. Usually Japanese are very polite, meek and quite in the interaction with others, but during those two events, they drink and sing and laugh. I really enjoy to see them in such a joyful spirit!

Wonderful Lily-Flower made the lunch boxes for all of us, God bless her, it was a big job. Thank you so much Lily, you are the best! She cut the sweet potato and carrots with the kids and she cooked and prepared the lunch boxes, they looked wonderfully yummy! We all had such a wonderful time–beside it was a bit cold today! I am just very thankful that Patrick was asleep most of the time! We are planning to go again, at least at a nice sunny day, so the photos of the flowers will look much prettier! Amanda came later, so I didn’t get to take a photo of her, since I went for a walk with Calvin and Nathalie and when we got back, we just pack and left. One fine day!Praise the Lord!

Here are some photos of last Christmas, we took the kids to three day care centers for elders for a visit. It was fun for the kids and fun for the elders. They performs a simple show. Then the children past out posters of why do we have Christmas. We celebrate it ecause Jesus was born! Kids also took some photos of their dressed up as shepherds, angels, three kings, Roman solders, Mary and Joseph…it was one fun day! And the big horse for the three kings is Oli, haha!

Everyone in our home got a name that we could give a present to, nothing big, just a few hundred yen’s presents. It’s the heart that counts. And we all try to make it looked nice! It was lots of fun to put the presents underneath the tree. Aren’t they beautiful?!

We are so blessed to have family, friends, sisters and brothers.

Are You Dissatisfied with Yourself?

We are often discontented
and much dissatisfied
That our wish for recognition
has not been gratified.

We feel that we’ve been cheated
in beauty, charm, and brains,
And we dwell upon our “losses”,
forgetting all our “gains.”

The qualities we think we lack
make us miserable inside,
As we brood on supposed “deficits”
as seen by selfish pride.

We begin to harbor hatred
and envy fills our heart
That we do not possess the things
that make others “seem so smart.”

And in our condemnation
of the traits that we possess,
We magnify our painful plight,
sinking deeper in distress. 

Oh, Lord, please do forgive us
for vanity and pride,
For desiring to please the eye of man
and not You Who sees inside!

Little do we realize
how contented we would be
If we knew that we are beautiful
when our hearts are touched by Thee!
–Author Unknown

                   “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

            God has two dwellings: one in Heaven and the other in a thankful heart.–Izaak Walton (1593-1683)

I live with this wonderful girl call Mercy! She goes around the house each night to hug everyone good night. Mercy, you are our hug angel! I should say this to you each time you gave me a hug, sorry that I didn’t. I love to have a good night hug from you, feel loved and cared! Thank you for giving us hug! You are our hug angel!

I have the sweetest mother and father in law! I am really thankful that I am living with them, they are a HUGE blessing for me and the kids and such joy to be around! I think it’s very important for the kids to have a good relationship with their grandparents. I lived with my grandparents, and I really liked it.

My sweet mother in law cleaned up with me tonight and daddy in law helped me with the baby while Oli was with other kids. Living together will always have the days that things just rub each other the wrong ways, but rubbing isn’t all that bad. Like the story of the oyster or whatever you call it, you know, the kind that can turn the sands that rub them in the wrong way into pearls! Same with relationship, any kind of relationship, no matter how strong your love for each other is, there will be days that you just rub each other the wrong way, but you can always turn that terrible experience into a beautiful pearl! Love, humility, forgiveness and communication plus prayers always solve all things! Just have to forgive and forget! Give each other a new page to fill out each day!

They have the biggest heart to tolerate us that are not as experience to life as they are, yet we think we are smart parents, haha! Lord helps me! I am thankful that I live with them! They are the best parents anyone can have! I am really blessed to be their daughter in law! This is the tenth year that I live with them, looking forward for many more ten years to come! I can’t make it this far without you! I really appreciate all of your love and prayers! I really love you! You are the best!