one year older and closer to death!

Celebrating #53!

(I love this guy!) Enjoyed dinner at the Outback with some special friends from school.

March 11, 2011

Of course this was the day when a 9.0 earthquake struck Japan, near Sendai. This triggered a tsunami that devastated the east coast. In turn this damaged a nuclear power plant causing a meltdown and ongoing radiation threats that are still going on. Of course these things helped crush an already shaky economy and have left the people shaken, skeptical of the government and hardly knowing how to begin recovery. But you probably know all of that already. There has been ample coverage in the news. So I thought I would tell you our story. Where we were, what we were doing and how things affected us.
The second trimester at our school (Osaka International School) ends with three days of spring camps. Karen had offered a tour of English speaking programs at Japanese Universities.So she found herself inTokyo touring universities. They concluded during the early afternoon of March 11th. They had to hurry through the train station to catch their bullet train to head back to Osaka. They were about an hour outside of Tokyo when the earthquake struck. The train ground to a halt and there they sat for about three hours. Luckily they had a beautiful view of Mount Fuji. The tracks had to be checked manually to make sure there were no breaks. All of this was standard precautions for any earthquake. So after three hours of inspecting the tracks the train began moving but much slower than usual and stooping at every station where it normally would have passed through. Finally, about 5 hours later than planned, Karen made it home but rumors were flying about the big earthquake up north.
Meanwhile, Iwas up north with about thirty students at a ski camp. In fact we were WAY up north, not even on the same island. We were up in Hokkaiddo, near Sapporo at one of the premiere ski resorts in Japan. When the earthquake struck, we were on the slopes. I only fell once that day and it was at the right time for no apparent reason. I blame the earthquake for my fall! Anyway, we didn't know anything about it until we came in for the day around 5:30. Only then did we see the devastation. We had almost gone to Sendai to ski and had gone there two years previously. Amazingly we chose to go to Niseko and missed the earthquake. We flew home the next day with almost no delay.
Once back in Osaka we began a three week spring break. Again, we missed much of the fallout (literally and figuratively) by leaving the country on a holiday. Recovery is still going on and will probably go on for years. We are hoping to get up there to help with recovery efforts. We have been in touch with many of our friends from Sendai. The city of Sendai only had to battle the earthquake - only a 9.0 on the richter scale. So most of them were fine with relatively minor damage to their houses. The tsunami never made it to the city of Sendai and it is far enough away (and on the opposite side of the prevailing winds) that it is not affected by the nuclear disaster. Recovery is not something that will happen quickly. More on our spring break trip next.

Lost and Found!

Then Jesus told them this parable.. Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep!" (Luke 15)

And.. rejoicing we are! Poor Kristin spent several sleepless nights and stressful days searching for her beloved cat, Kobi-chan. What great joy there was when Kobi and Kristin were reunited- I can only imagine how truly amazing the celebrations are that take place in heaven! Thanks, Lord!

catching up...

How/where do we start? I can't believe so many weeks and months have passed since our last post. I certainly admire those who are so faithful in their blogging and am humbled by our lack of discipline in doing the same.

We are hoping to slowly get caught up- topics will include:

Japan -March 11

Turkey

Birthday fun

Singapore

Mother's Day

The kiddos

I am hoping that J will cover the update on March 11 but until then, here's a photo from our trip to Turkey.

School Arts Festival

We've just enjoyed a weekend celebrating the Arts here at OIS and it was amazing! The hallways, stairways, windows, etc were filled with student art work, the theatre hosted several short plays along with a mini version of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and the genkan was filled with dancing, singing and musical performances. I remain in awe of all of the talent and loved seeing the school so alive with the sights and sounds of creativity, beauty and fun!

Fun with Tyler

What a fun weekend- Tyler is a friend of Amberly's from Valpo who is here in Osaka for the weekend and we have been honored to enjoy a few days together- complete with snow! Friday, we celebrated Japan's Birthday by touring Osaka and visiting the Castle. Today (Saturday), we hopped on the shinkansen (bullet train) and went to Hiroshima and Miyajima.

We'll spend the day in Kyoto tomorrow before having to say goodbye... which I am already sad about. It's been such a treat for us to have Tyler here- we are going to miss him!

Update... finally

Happy New Year- can't believe that it is already February! One day, I hope to figure out where these days, weeks and months go, but.. until then- just a quick update.

Two words come to mind when I think back on our family vacation: Incredible and Blessed. We were indeed richly, generously, and incredibly blessed- in all things and beyond measure!! From safe flights, to the wonderful hospitality of Timmy and Amy, to fabulous weather, scenery, sights, sounds, experiences, and overflowing joy.

Highlights include: being together to celebrate Christmas (although we did have to wait until Dec. 28th when Amberly arrived), seeing Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands and Devils Tower in addition to Yellowstone National Park and Big Sky. (An added blessing and answer to prayer was Jeph's knees holding up to three days of skiing) .

In all ways, we were and continue to be so richly blessed! Thanks be to God!

Custer's Last Stand Mt. Rushmore... four heads really are better than one! Badlands National Park Devils Tower Began the New Year in Yellowstone National Park

Big Sky

Mr. K - one of our favorite runs... with three Mr. K's!

I'll close by sharing a sign we saw at Wall Drug- a fun reminder for the new year ahead!