New years Eve Pics...

We spent New Years Eve At church. We had worship service then a soup potluck. Lots of yummy soups to try. We played games and hung out til after midnight. All the kids made it. We played the game where you have to guess the persons name that is stuck to your back. Let's just same my best game time is not after 10:30 p.m. Jason on the other hand guessed people I have never even heard of. We had a great time and rang in the our first Japanese New Year!

Oki Zoo Christmas Celebration

All the employees wore Santa suits. The Americans

have taught the local people that Christams is all about

Santa. It is sad to see that this is what we pass on.

They had a snow machine that sprayed the audience.

It was alot of fun and we all enjoyed it.

This is the main field were the laser show was later
on that night. We made it through the show and then
carried a bunch of tired kids to the car!!

The $10.00 snow slide. It was really pricey and packed.
That is $10.00 for 1 ride.... Ouch!!

The winter snow pig! With the deflated Snow man in the back ground.

You gotta love living in a foreign land. It is all about the experience.

Happy New Year

I am excited to see what the coming year will bring. If God is for us who can stand against us?

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work withing us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Men and Shopping???

I was sent this link by a good friend in Germany. Jason and I cracked up!!

http://bewareofthedoghouse.com/videoPage.aspx

Those Crazy Kids!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

REMEMBER:
Jesus is Better than Santa
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says "You better not cry"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.
Santa's little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.
God bless you all

Taylor's Surgery

After many doctors visits and many yucky sore throats and giant tonsils, mouth breathing, rough nights and general discomfort. We finally have a physician who has listened to our concerns and is willing to take out Taylor's tonsils and adnoids. We have been turned down 2x for a tonsilectomy because she has not had strep enough times (that seems to be the criteria) here they listened to me and our concerns for her and the problems that come from her tonsils. Long story short, she is having surgery Jan 22nd.

The same surgeon has also allergy tested Taylor and found some interesting results. We have also found out she is highly allergic to dust (5) medium allergic to cats (3) and somewhat allergic to dogs (2) so now we are making some changes and trying our best to make her life better. The numbers are on a 1-5 scale, 5 being the worst. All of this is new to this week.

As you all are aware of we have all 3, dust, a dog and a cat. Unlike Virginia where the pets were outside, the carpet was new and the house was more conducive to her breathing. We struggle here for living space, clean air and a pet free zone. The dust is never ending, the cat is indoors (mandatory on post) and the dog is in and out. We cannot keep the pets outside 24/7 like we did in VA due to policies and the deadly creatures we live amongst. Anyways, we are making as many changes as possible to make Taylor's life better and still manage in our OKI quarters (house for you civilian folk!)

Please pray for the allergies in general here, many allergic reactions and allergies in general adapting to a new environment and new exposures.





Thanks for any and all prayers.....

Thanksgiving

The 1 man Airfoce kitchen. You could try to fit 2 people but you put

yourself at risk for serious injury.

This picture is not posed.
Real people eating real food. Yes they do have turkeys in Okinawa

but only on base (that would be the Airforce base).

Our table decorations. We all made turkey hands.
Almost there....silverware, food, people, and a few more decorations..
A litte early for a nap son.
Easy on the cider Katie!!Always a lady!! Refusing to take a picture while chewing.
Chowin' down in her cheerleader outfit!

(Gift from Daddy when he flew home 2 days prior.)
Yummy Mommy..

Zach's New Moves...

Eating while asleep...
Pulling himself up..
The Bumbo back bend...
Sitting up by himself...
Impersonating Baby Huey!!

Turning 36!!!

That's rite. Tomorrow I turn 36. At least tomorrow here, other parts of the world I will still be 35 a bit longer. Taylor thought I was 40 Katie thought I was 13. Or vice versa ~ anyways. I am blessed. The number is not significant, but I am grateful that God has allowed me another year with my family. This has been a remarkable year for many reasons. It will be a great day. We will wake up and have our devotions, do our schoolwork, go to the park, flute lessons and out to dinner. This is not a perfect birthday to some but for me the only thing missing is Jason!

I am losing my voice, so tomorrow I will be quiet before the Lord. God often uses tough measuress to get me to stop talking!! The past week has been full of fevers, soar throats, contact allergies, other allergic reactions. Our family has taken a beating in the sickness catergory. But as I told the girls, stand strong. We won't go down without a fight. Satan is trying to defeat us while Daddy is away. We will not let him win. We are a bit slower but we have not been overcome!

We have to remember that even in our daily walks that the battle already won we do not have to struggle. Jesus has won the battle and will provide. He always does. Like a meal from a friend, a neighbor who picks up your dog food that you forgot at the commissary so you don't have to run back out, a sister in Christ who makes you laughs and encourages you! A husband who is faithful to call and pray with you! A daughter who cooks a wonderful dinner by herself, kiddos who try to help even in the little things, like making Bubby laugh or keeping him out of trouble so I can shower and know all is well for that 10 minutes.

Thank you Lord for all the good things in my life.

Bubby on the Move

Zach is movin' and a shakin' nothing can stop him from getting where he wants to go...

A tribute to being 3

Being 3 is the best. Katie just does what she wants to Zach, here she is

putting matching caps on and just loving him.

" Momma I need Zachy in the basket" sure why not. He is happy anywhere!

Here Katie had called me " Momma help I'm hot" As I start to take

her dance clothes off, she had put 6 different leotards on. No wonder she was hot!!

This was Katie getting herself ready to go to the Doctors.
Head Band On - check
Socks Pulled Up - check
Groovy Dance - check
Proud 3 year old - check

Life Is Good !!!!

Crazy Hair Night

Wednesday night at church it was crazy hair night in children's church. We went a
little pipe cleaner crazy but we all had alot of fun!!!

YOU ME

I recieved a phone call from a local Okinawa woman last week. Her name is Yume - "just like you and me she said". She just wanted to talk about Jesus. So I sat and talked with her. She calls phone numbers to talk about Jesus and share what He has done for us. It has been great talking with her. She said that she just calls numbers in order from 1-??? and talks to whoever will listen. We read scriputres together and share with each other about Jesus and His promises.

It has been really wonderful. She is very kind and is knowledgeable in the Word. It is a strange thing to encourage someone from another country and share since we are sisters in Christ but have never met. What a bold witness for Christ she is. What an example of sharing the gospel. She will call me again next week and we will talk about God's promises. Today we read

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. 13 Let us hear the

conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,Whether good or evil.

What a neat thing to read and discuss God's word although she is a stranger in this world she is not a stranger in the body of Christ..

Katie Turns 3

Katie had a great day! Our friends (Meghan, Dustin, Lily and Annie) came over to celebrate with us! This is really the first year Katie totally gets that it is her birthday.

So she was really excited. This is Katie pretending she is a clown with a tutu on her head...
Zachary (wearing what Jason calls his jail suit) and I hanging out..

Jason surprised us all with Jelly Bean the clown. He came and did a few tricks,
made balloon animals and really cracked us up.

I was a little worried when Jelly Bean sat down in this chair it was Jason's when he was a boy. But the chair survived..

Our friends listening intently to Jelly Bean... Meghan helped Jelly Bean out with several tricks. Meghan loves clowns!! Surprise!! Surprise!!

Meghan doing her thing..

Zach partied out!!

What's a birthday without a little Karaoke..

More Jelly Bean!!