Drum roll please..........................

MY NEW KITCHEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



You can NOT imagine how excited I am. It is awesome, sosososososososososo AWESOME!!! I absolutely LOVE the drawer system in the lower cabinets. I got ALL my mixing bowls, serving bowls, strainers, and pyrex baking dishes in ONE drawer! And they are so easy to take back out when I need them, because I can pull them out from above!

My burners LIGHT when I turn the knob!

My sink faucet doesn't fall off every time I turn on the water!

It isn't ugly pugly green anymore! and I have extra counter space, which you can't see all of in the picture but we had our friend extend the counter out to the right where the fridge used to be! You see the beginning of it to the right of the stove. We put some extra counter top on top of one of our newer cabinets we just bought after we married, and it extends all the way to the wall! I feel like I have a brand new house!

What an incredible dream come true for me. Glory to God and praise HIS might name for all the amazing ways He provides for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A mother's heart....

(this first paragraph from Hana's blog, and then some Mommy thoughts at the end)

Well Hana had her first death in the family tonight. For Christmas Baba gave Hana a little ceramic dog that barks when it detects motion. I wondered how long he would last. He was supposed to be perched in our entryway to announce visitors, but there was no way I was going to put him there where he would also wake up a little girl all the time. And Hana also would not have stood for bow-wow living in the entryway. For weeks she has carried this puppy around as a toy, feeding him, putting him to bed, giving him baths (in available card board boxes) and just generally loving on him like she does all her favorite dolls and stuffed toys. I was amazed that a ceramic dog was so appealing to a two year old, but she loved him. Probably partially because he was a gift from one of her favorite people. Well tonight while preparing herself and bow-wow for bed, Hana was carrying him and she tripped and fell on top of him. Mommy was at the gym, so Daddy was on hand to witness the event, and unfortunately bow-wow broke! Daddy says she was really upset that bow-wow met with the end of his life as her toy. We could glue him back together, but I think he would just meet the same fate again soon, and I would rather her not keep playing with a cermaic toy (although sturdy it was) so we are going to bury bow-wow tomorrow. Or maybe just let bow-wow disappear overnight.

I'm so sad for her, that something so precious to her has to go away. I understand now so much of what my own mother went through in my childhood. She used to be so happy with me, often happier than I was when I had some great thing happen to me. And she also grieved with me, when sad things happen, and I often wondered why SHE was crying about my cat dying or my brother's dog being run over, etc. She would always tell me that what made me happy made her happy and what made me sad made her sad. Now I understand. If I had been here when bow-wow broke, I probably would have cried with Hana. I cry when she gets shots, or just when having to be checked by a doctor makes her so upset. When she is sick, I think I feel worse for her that she feels so miserable, than she probably actually feels. And when she is happy, my heart soars!

Now I understand Mom!

One more blog today...

Don't miss the earlier blog entry about our great day trip but I had to blog again about something more exciting! God is providing for us in amazing ways again! He's made a way for us to get our kitchen remodeled, when we thought it was going to be several years before we could get this done! Praise praise praise! Because truely, my gas stove was so old and falling apart I was concerned about safety, and the Lord is providing for us to get all new cabinets and a new stove! In about two weeks I won't have to use a lighter to light my burners anymore, the handle won't pop off of my faucet every time I use it anymore, and I won't have to kick anymore cabinet doors to get them to shut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is what our kitchen looks like now...


and here is what it is going to look like very soon (except without the dishwasher in the middle, and the sink and stove will be reversed)


I am so excited I can hardly contain myself!!!!!!!!!!!!! No more 70's puckey green! AND the lower cabinets are drawers! This new cabinet system is so popular in Japan because it is so much easier to store things down low in drawers, and I never dreamed I get to have all new cabinets with the drawer system, THIS SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have I mentioned that I am excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Day trip...

We had an AWESOME day today! A local pastor has been wanting to take us to his hometown to meet his family and see his land so we set a date and headed off this morning for a two hour drive. Sensei comes from the "kuuuntry" (a.k.a. the boon-docks, ten buck two, the middle of nowhere, etc.) It is really rare to see areas this rural for us, we are often in the city here. Oh, it felt like home for me today (if it had been flat and windy, an a lot less green that is). But the fact that their neighbors where at least 100 paces away, the roads where barely wide enough for two cars to meet, and sensei kept giving me directions in distance instead of landmarks, made me feel right at home! We LOVED it! It was a day full of lots of clean fresh air, beautiful scenery, no need to hurry, lots of good food and a good ol' hot spring bath. Talk about a GREAT day!

Sensei comes from a family of 6 brothers and sisters. We met three of his sisters today and they fed us and spoiled us rotten! We had a great time getting to know them, and eating their wonderful home cooking. There is just something about the hospitality of kuuuntry folk, you just can't beat it.

We ate lunch at Sensei's sisters house, which is on the land where he was born and raised. He took us walking up into the mountains where he used to play as a child. Showed us the natural cold spring that feeds a creek he used to play in, a small piece of land that he owns and took us down the tiny narrow road that he used to take to school as a child (by the way it took him ONE HOUR to walk to school everyday, no such thing as a school bus here!) Then we went to visit his old elementary school and Jr. High. Another sister works at a hotel where they have hot spring baths so we stopped in there and had a relaxing bath, then went to another sisters house for a "light" dinner (NOT!) I am so stuffed it feels like I just got home from Granny's house at Thanksgiving!

It was so wonderful to have such a leisurely relaxing day, but at the same time getting to know his family and sharing our lives with them was a ministry to them too. We laughed and carried on, and Hana charmed them all! We got to love on them today and fill their homes with the Spirit of Jesus peace and grace. We even sang songs to "pay for our meal" at both homes where we ate and they loved it. It was such an awesome day.

We dream of having a retreat cabin in a place like that some day. A place to escape to for a short time, that is so peaceful and beautiful! You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl (or her Texas loving Japanese husband... hahaha)

I don't often realize how much I miss the country but I guess I do. Today was so wonderful, we made Sensei promise to take us back again sometime soon!

Flowers at a local country club, breathtaking!

Just under this bridge is the origin of the natural spring Sensei used to play in.

The view from a small opening in the forest near Sensei's land (there are more mountains in the background that you can't see cause it was a little hazy)

Hana walking down the small forest road in front of the land.

That small mountain in the middle of this picture is his land.

Thought you might enjoy...

My hubby's beautiful cherry blossom pictures! He's a pretty good photographer, gotta get him a good camera!!!!!! (someday soon sugarpie!)

My hubby's birthday!

Today was my sweet hubby's birthday! We spent the day with friends, and went to Costco! That is one of our favorite places and we had a great time today. We came back and celebrated with dinner together. It was so much fun.

Every year at Rocky's birthday I am reminded of something very interesting. I am reminded of how amazing it is that he is here and I got the chance to be married to him.

You see, the school I first worked at here in Japan is called Seinan Jo Gakuin and they have a chapel high up on a hill. This chapel, during WWII was supposedly taken over by the Japanese Military and was being used as a major communications hub. Our city, Kitakyushu, was bombed heavily because there are a lot of steel making factories here. I have been told by several people that the city of Kitakyushu and more specifically THAT CHAPEL up on the hill was the original target of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki. The day the plane flew over to drop the bomb, it was cloudy here in Kitakyushu and the pilot could not see his target so they moved on to Nagasaki. If the bomb had been dropped that day, Rocky's Dad was two years old and lived a few miles from that location. He likely would NOT have survived, and the course of history would have been changed. Rocky would never have been born. Even IF Rocky's Dad HAD survived, the school would have been destroyed and so many people who have played a part in that schools history as well and it may not have continued so that I would eventually come there one day to serve as a missionary in Japan!

There is no telling how many other things the Lord orchestrated to protect our mother's and father's before we were born, and then to protect us throughout our lives to bring us to where we are now. But when you know a fact as powerful as this one, it is eye opening.

I am so thankful for my precious husband's birthday. So thankful that he was born and we were brought together!

Happy Birthday, Sugarpie!!! I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!! I just can't help it! You are a precious and thoughtful husband, an amazing father and such a sweet best friend! I've spent 7 of your birthdays as your wife and I look forward to AT LEAST 70 more! (Would that make you 106??? *wink, wink*)

hugs and kisses,
Your Sugarpie

A child of God...

There is one very special pastor here in Japan whom God allowed me the priviledge of knowing since my first year of service here. Sensei is so amazing. I always say I wish I could clone him and have about 100 more just like him. To put it in a few words this amazing man just adores Jesus! Everything he does is all about his Lord! He is kind and caring but straight forward and strong. He is so respected by so many and so loveable! Sensei is so precious to me.

Last year his wife passed away. It was powerful to watch him lose his wife with such grace. He did not tell anyone outside his immediate family that his wife had passed away because an engagement ceremony for a young woman in his church was scheduled for the very next morning. He blessed that couple and enjoyed the fellowship at the church and did a normal Sunday worship and message, while holding his grief at bay. I'v never known someone that gracious and giving. The next week he was at a concert we did. He had made a commitment to help at this conference and did so with true joy even though he was still deep in the fresh grief of his loss. I gave my testimony of losing my Dad at that concert and I could only look at him once as he was weeping in the front row on my far left and it was all I could do not to break down sharing in his grief! That day giving my testimony was one of the hardest in a long time. Later as we sang songs like Amazing Grace and Sweet By and By he sat in his seat with his arms raised high in worship to Jesus with tears just streaming down his face! That was a powerful picture of true worship to me!

This last Sunday he came to our Afureru! meeting and told us that his mother, who was 102 and 10 months old, passed away this week. For years he has also been caring for her and lately she has had a lot of demintia. Through out caring for her and his wife, Sensei conintued to pastor a church and serve other ministries all over. He is in his 70's but Rocky and I say it is like he is 17, he has so much energy.

His mother's passing was a powerful testimony at the hospital where she died. She loved the Lord too, and even in her latest stages of severe demintia, she had no problems remembering the words of hymns. When Sensei would go and visit her during her last month, he said she was totally unresponsive unless he would sing her a hymn and she would seem to try and sing along although she was in a deep coma. Also, at her passing when the heart monitor had been flat, a pastor was praying and when he said "Amen" her heart beat three more times. The doctors and nurses were at a loss to explain it and all were deeply moved.

As I talked to him on Sunday he said, "My wife is gone, my mother is gone and I also just retired from a church. For the first time in my life I am on my own. I have to find out who I am. I was a son, a husband, a pastor, now I am just me." At this point I was about to say to him that he needed to take it easy and take care not to get depressed. I was going to warm him that he might experience some issues similar to culture shock or post traumatic stress syndrome. But before I could say anything else, this is what he said... "I look forward to it. I am going to bask in finally being simply A CHILD OF GOD. Simply that, and that's all. I really really look forward to exploring what that is like."

WOW! I pray that if I ever find myself at that point in life, I can have such a precious and sweet outlook on what lay ahead. Instead of focusing on his loneliness, or expecting sorrow and difficulty, he is looking forward to being alone, to just being a child of God...

TEN years

I am feeling a bit sentimental lately. Thinking back on lots of things. I think what has triggered it is that this year marks 10 years since I came to Japan. Except for spending about 10 months back in America between my mission term and Rocky and I's marriage, I have spent all that 10 years living in Japan. Almost 1/3 of my life has been spent here. WOW!

Ten years is a long time. It seems like I have been here 2 or 3 years maybe. Time really flies when you are having fun. I mean it REALLy flies.

I was thinking back on a lot of things today for some reason. A lot of "if...then" type of stuff. For example...

If my Dad hadn't passed away of ALS, my relationship with the Lord would not have changed so drastically when it did.
If my relationship with the Lord had not changed so drastically I wouldn't have been as involved in church when our college group went to Passion '97.
If I hadn't gone to Passion '97 I wouldn't have received the call on my life to missions when I did.
I was called to missions so I applied to become a Journeyman with the IMB
They sent me to Japan
In Japan I met Rocky
I married Rocky
and on and on and on...

WOW!
ten years

If you had told me even 11 years ago that I would become a missionary I'd have laughed in your face. If you'd told me I would someday speak another language fluently, I would never have believed you. If you had told me I would marry a Japanese man (or anyone not American) or that I would live in a foreign country or any of these things, I'd have declared you insane on the spot. NO WAY. Not this small town girl. I wanted something different in my life, something with a little more adventure, but not THAT MUCH adventure!

What an incredible ride it has been, and it is just beginning really. WOW

7 years and going strong!

On this day, in 2000, I married my sweetheart! I can not believe it has been SEVEN years! At times it seems like it was just a few weeks ago and other times, I can't imagine a me without him. How did I go 24 years without this part of myself???

We had a busy day, but at some point today I thought back to what I was doing 7 years ago today. I got up VERY early the morning of our wedding day to take a long hot bath. Taking a long hot bath was my thing as a single person. I LOVED long hot baths, any time of day, as long as I wanted, because there were no other responsibilities, no one else to take care of or think about. So on that morning it was like my last time to enjoy totally single-person non-responsible time all to myself. Granted, I had to get up at 4:30 in the morning to enjoy it, but I did. Me and my Dr. Pepper and my Bible! It was wonderful. Then I headed off to my hair appointment at 6:30 am and then up to the church. I had plenty of time to put on my make up and hang out with my brides-maids. We took all the pics before the ceremony. The wedding ceremony was AMAZING, even with a few small glitches, the time to greet everyone who came to the wedding and enjoy the cake and fellowship at the reception seemed to just fly by and we were off on our honeymoon. It was by far one of the most incredible days of my life. I didn't have even an ounce of nerves or doubts, just pure and total JOY. I was marrying the man of my dreams!

He is still that today and more. 7 years of marriage have only made me love him more. We have been through so much together. Starting this ministry having no idea where our month to month financial and physical needs would come from. Years of trying to conceive and then the intense and unbelievable wait for our precious daughter. CD projects, national and international concert tours, countless Bible studies and concerts, and more that I can't think of at this late hour.

I'm so thankful for EVERY step of the journey and I so look forward to the future with this amazing man!

Once when I was in my teens and totally frustrated with dating and boys, I asked God to just show me the man He had planned for me in the future. I thought if I could just see a glimpse of his face, know he existed, and be content that he was out there somewhere, it would somehow make all the junk I was going through easier to deal with. I thought it would make the wait easier. I never could have imagined what I would have glimpsed that day if God had shown me. I think it would have blown me away! But today it blows me away because my life is so amazing and my sugarpie is so amazing!

Thank you Lord Jesus! You have totally blessed me above and beyond. I can't imagine what is to come.

A rare sight...

Every once in a while I see something in Japan that is so out of place, it GRABS my attention. This evening after I dropped Rocky off at a Gospel music class, Hana and I stayed in the shopping center where the class is held to have dinner and walk around a bit. As I was wheeling Hana down the corridor in her Mickey Mouse car/entertainment center (you gotta see these strollers, someday I'll take a picture), something caught my eye. There were small benches in the middle of the corridor for shoppers to stop and have a rest and there sat an older couple. The first thing that struck me as odd was they were smiling and laughing with each other, as I took a closer look, they were sitting close to one another and the man had his hand on his wife's knee, patting it and affectionately holding onto it as they laughed together. I found this sight so surprising a smile spread wide across my face. They noticed my smile and smiled back and then began to adore my sweet little cart occupant.

Those of you in America are probably thinking, "Now what was so odd about that sight?" It shouldn't be such a unique thing to see, but I can confidently say I have never seen a married couple, especially older, show each other that sort of affection in public and enjoying each other's company. I rarely see couples even speak to each other, so to see them talking and laughing together was also quite unique. It warmed my heart, and was a bit of an encouragement to see that there may be some happy couples somewhere out there in this country.

I dream WAY too big!!!

but that is totally NOT a bad thing. I think sometimes Rocky wonders what he's gotten himself into though (I don't blame you honey, I'm nuts!). But I always seem to be so far ahead of myself (and everyone else sometimes). I recently looked back on the BIG dreams we had when we first married and I am amazed.

I (and then Rocky) dreamed of building a music ministry where we did concerts ALL over and even had our own CD's. I knew that, through music a powerful impact could be made for the Kingdom of God in Japan. Where are we now? We do about 70 concerts a year, we have 3 CD's out and more to come (as soon as we find the time), and Rocky is active with 3 other bands in ministry as well. We have been all over the US, to New Zealand and Fiji, and all over Japan. In the near future we may be ministering in several other countries as well!

We dreamed of have a studio in our home. Rocky now has all that he needs to produce an entire CD project and has done so for our own Cd's and 4 clients!

We dreamed of owning our own home! We are now living in a wonderful, spacious (by Japan standards) home that God provided in a miraculous way!

We dreamed of making our ministry a 501c3 non-profit organization in the States so that churches and individuals could send us their support. That is now a reality!

I could think of many more now that are happening, have happened, or will happen soon. There are very few visions that I've had that didn't come to pass. That is NOT to say that I am in any way responsible for them happening. It is all because I believe God gave us those visions and they happened because HE made them happen! He is so amazing and so full of grace and mercy.

We started our marriage with VERY little, and these dreams all seemed impossible when we looked at our situation back then. Now I look at where we are and what we do and it's like, "OF COURSE! God can do anything!"

My dreaming never stops. And I have learned now what are the dreams I dream out of ME and what are the ones that come from God! The dreams and visions from Him are different, somehow. Some HUGE things are going to happen in the near future. Get ready for quite a ride! God is just getting started.

Saturday ALREADY!!!!

man time flies. I can not believe it is Saturday already. This week just flew by.

OK, a pat myself on the back.... I ate soooooooooo healthy this week, AND I worked out 4 times!!!!!!! Yihaw! I'm on a role again, and feeling great.

So nothing else really exciting here except that I need to get in bed, and Hana has some cute funnies on her blog so go check them out!

Love ya,
me

Days off!!!

I totally LOVE Mondays, especially when they are nice and sunny. We took off this morning with Hana in the stroller, went to lunch with Baba (grandma) and then walked over to the park near their house. We spent quite a while just letting Hana run around and play, taking our time, hanging out, playing ball, going down the slide, chasing birds and discovering rocks. Then we headed home (a good 20 minute walk or more) and took it easy this afternoon. It was beautiful and warm outside. What a wonderful day.

I hit the gym this evening but all that running and playing with Hana certainly took something out of me. I could tell a difference. But I did my normal work out.

It was a great day!

Bunions and lonliness...

Well, my Mom says that when I was a little girl I had a pair of shoes that I just LOVED and refused to stop wearing them even when they were too little. Because of this, my feet are deformed! HA! Well, what she calls deformed is really just an accelerated case of bunions. Most people have problems with this when they are like in their 60's and 70's. I get the joy of beginning to deal with it in my early 30's. So I went to the Doc today to see if anything can be done to keep it from getting worse. My year of working out dilligently has really bothered especially my left foot, and I just wanted to get ahead of it before it gets out of hand. Well the doctor had no special words of wisdom for me and basically it was a waste of my time and money. But while I was sitting in the waiting area, I witnessed something very interesting about lonliness in this country.

It is very common for the more elderly population to visit a doctors office almost daily in the morning, so they can talk and gossip with their friends in the waiting room. It never ceases to amaze me that they gather and carry on, updating one another on their various ailments, their family members, current politics and so forth. They greet one another with a nan-shalant, "hey there" instead of "fancy meeting you here!" which makes it obvious to us less regular visitors that it is normal for them to meet up like this. Japanese national insurance is very good and medical attention in Japan is relatively inexpensive. Plus doctors humor these folks by prescribing treatments that require them to come to the hospital or clinic often. Things that we would normally be allowed to do ourself at home in the states, Japanese don't or can't do at home, they must go to the doctor. This creates a little culture of people who have made friends at the doctors office and they gather daily or several times a week to hang out. They are pretty lonely I guess.

I had an early morning appointment today so I got to see this daily ritual. A group of ladies were gathered with their little push carts, talking away. I was a little annoyed because I was trying to hear a sermon on my mp3 player through just one ear phone so I could hear when they called my name with the other ear. This proved to be pretty impossible with all that chatter.

The first lady to arrive though, really got my attention. She comes marching in with her little push cart. These little carts are multi-functional, acting as walking support, a miniature wheel barrel for holding their belongings and purchases, and a small seat when needed. She had sticking out of the top of her seat area a large doll, and the doll was talking! This is another recent trend among older aged women in Japan, these talking dolls as companions. They are programmed to respond appropriately to movement, air temperature, and even sometimes what you say. Her doll was one of the largest I'd ever seen and he/she was just a talking away. But that wasn't the most interesting part. What was so eye catching is that she was shamlessly, in public, talking back. She sat down on the waiting bench and turned her little companion around to face her and began talking with her. She'd nuzzle and kiss her, straighten her clothes, brush the dolls "hair" out of her face and so forth. She carried on with this doll until her buddies showed up, much in the same way I would with Hana. It was captivating. She really addored this doll.

What depth of loneliness she must know to need a companion so badly. I sat and prayed for that sweet woman and all the others like her, that they could know their Lord and Savior and the complete peace and comfort that a relationship with Him brings.

Anyone with a chronic medical condition want to come live in Japan as a hospital waiting room relationship bulding missionary?

I broke the house!

There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything I'd like to do, including keep a more consistent journal on this blog. Sometimes I wish I could either add hours to the day or sleep less or something! Don't we all!!!

I am doing very well though, just busy as ever. Trying to keep up with working out and being a mommy and wife and missionary and cook and maid and driver and friend and on and on, takes so much! But I really enjoy the life the Lord has given us.

I broke the garage door this week though! When we bought this house our favorite thing was the garage door and the fact that is was remote control, not so common a thing in Japan. We splurged a little on it, when remodeling, in order to have the luxury of not opening the door by hand in the rain and so forth. And my biggest fear has been messing it up, since it was so expensive! Well, I finally did it this week, or should I say it finally HAPPENED. It was sort of my fault and sort of not. I was driving away and I heard the sound of something metal fall. It had been a very windy night and I was leaving early in the morning. When I heard the sound, I look all around the car and couldn't see that I hit anything or that anything in the garage was out of place. As I backed out further in to the street I could see that the were lots of things strewn in the street because of the strong winds, so assumed the metal noise I had heard had come from the street. I hit the garage door button and drove off. Well it turns out that a couple of pieces of metal that had been resting against the wall near the garage door had been knocked over by the wind. And one of them just so happened to fall right into the door railing. So as the garage door came down and hit the piece of metal on one side at the railing, it kept going down on the opposite side only and the whole thing buckled and bent. It was a mess. I was a mess when I found out. I felt so horrible. WHY didn't I get OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECK! If I'd just done that, I'd saved us from this huge headache and who knows how much money. Rocky says when the door finally stopped, the whole house shook and it woke him up! I told him, "I broke the house!" He just laughed. I just knew the whole door was going to have to be replaced and it was going to cost us a thousand or more dollars! I was just SICK the whole day and into the next until a mechanic came to check it. He fixed it! Somehow? I don't know how, but he did, PRAISE GOD! We don't know yet how much they are going to bill us, but hey, it can't be a thousand dollars. He was only out there for like 30 minutes. He banged on some spots, cut away a few bent pieces, and somehow got it all working just like new again! I was so shocked and so thankful! Now I don't ever want to drive away until I have seen the door go safely all the way down! ugh

I always thought Rocky would be the one to break something important in the house! hahaha! He has the gift of breaking things. Really, he'll be the first to admit it. He just picks things up to look at them and they break! But no, it was me! I did it. Maybe my husband's "gift of breaking things" is rubbing off on me! (Sugarpie, when you read this, know that I think your talent for breaking stuff is funny and cute! Well, most of the time I think so... at any rate, you're so precious to me!!! hehehe)

Sweet moments with my little girl...

Tonight Hana had a really hard time going to sleep. Her nap was late today AND she slept long, so she wasn't really ready for bed when we put her down. She was SUCH a good girl, not making any fuss, but after about an hour of talking to herself and rolling around a lot she called for Daddy, he went to tend to her, took her potty and put her back down. A good 45 minutes or more later, after talking to herself, clapping and singing songs to herself to stay entertained, she called out some more. So I went to check on her. I took her to the bathroom again, although she really didn't need to go. I put on my fleece jacket to go upstairs because it is pretty cold up there. She LOVES for me to wrap her up inside my fleece jackets, so instead of putting her right back to bed, I wrapped her up, grabbed blankie and we cuddled and rocked in the rocking chair. What a sweet memorable moment. We talked and talked. Today in preschool we did the creation story so we went back over the things that God made. By the way, God made lions and dogs and bears but he did NOT make giraffes (according to Hana). ;) All the while she kept reminding me she didn't want to go to bed, "Mommy, night night all done!" she would say between each day of creation. I would assure her that Mommy would rock her for a little longer, and we'd cover another day of creation. After we talked about how God made boys and girls, and that includes precious little girls like Hana, she decided it was time to go night night. But not without another night night kiss from Daddy, who I promised to send upstairs for a kiss after I tucked her in. I put her down and had Daddy go give her some kisses and we never heard a peep out of her again (finally more than two hours after bedtime). What a special, precious little Angel!!!!!!! Makes my Mommy heart melt!

More QTbaby...

We have started setting up QTbaby a couple days a month at a small shopping center near where we used to live. It is going quite well. It makes for a LONG day, I head out with the car loaded down at about 8:30 am and set up for the stores open time at 9:30. Then we spend the day standing and helping customers until 6pm and head home. My feet are KILLING ME! My precious hubby just gave me a great foot rub though. Each day that we have the store gets better and better. We look forward to watching what will happen from here with this, but it is a great way to get started. I just wish I had more time to devote to it.

Officially down 10kilo!!!

Well for the past three days my weight has been in the 62's. When I joined the gym I weighed 72.6 on my first day. I think I lost 1-2 kilo before I joined the gym but I am counting that first weight as official I guess. So today, in the evening (I always weight the most at night) I was 62.6 kilo!!!!!!!!!!! I was 62.1 this a.m. YIPPPEEEEEEEEE! Bravo for me, I am so excited. My BMI is 21. Normal is 18.5 -24.9

My final goal is 60kilo. I had a goal of being in the 62's by the end of Jan but I hit that early. I will see how a heavier work out schedule will affect my weight before I set my next goal. I was too busy to work out much in Dec. but now will have time to go at my normal rate.

I am amazed at how easy it is to maintain this weight really eating as much as I want of whatever I want. I just keep to my rules of stopping before I over eat, and staying with healthier choices like more veggies and fruits and less carbs and meat. I enjoying all that I am eating, and feel so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tonight we had taco rice and I just kept the rice serving lower and piled on the veggies! It was soooooooooo yummy!

I got my hair straightened today. I'll have to post a picture in a few days when it "relaxes", right now it is SO straight.

Things are going quite well! God is so good to us, and I am so blessed!

odds and ends...

Nothing really exciting to report these days. We had a CRAZY Christmas schedule and now that is all over. We are off to a conference tomorrow for three days. I am really ready for a good break and that will come after the New Year (when we return from the conference Rocky's brother and his family will be here for a visit).

Because of our schedule I haven't been able to work out for more than a week now. OH I HATE when our schedule gets in the way of working out. It can't be helped right now, but when the new year rolls around, I am back at the gym every single chance I can get. I am however maintaining my weight just fine, even with the holidays and all the food. I never over ate, and even enjoyed some sweets! We actually bought Dr. Pepper as a little treat for ourselves, but I am totally in control of not drinking them too much! I don't know why this will power and real desire to be healthy showed up so suddenly this year, but I am SO glad it did. I really enjoy eating right and excercising now. Love it!

Just thought I'd check in. The most adorable photos and news are over on Hana's blog though!

I forgot to add....

I forgot to tell you guys in the last post just WHY my sweet hubby's present is supposed to benefit both of us! The reason is because I was driving him nuts telling him almost daily how much I wanted one! He said it benefits both of us, I get one early, and he doesn't have to listen to me ask for one until Christmas day! He also says I was calling him names like "slow-poke" but I don't think that is true.... hehehehehehehe He's imagining things!