If you want to imagine how I feel during moving apartments while in Japan, imagine me smacking my forehead and using the last fragments of my voice to utter an “Uhhhhhhh” to the sky. Granted, these last couple of days, I’m in a sweet spot where I just have to pack up an apartment and… Continue reading Moving Along

I play Candy Crush. It sounds like something you’d say at a recovery-type meeting.  Perhaps it is.  A friend introduced me to it some 3 years ago talking about how she was so addicted to it– I already knew about the game, but had no interest.  However, one day I happened to be looking for… Continue reading Lessons from Candy Crush

Recently we made the announcement that we’re expecting a number two (I had early dreams that it was numbers 2, 3 and 4). We found out shortly before Father’s Day and thus before the team came.  Thankfully my morning/night sickness was light, my only big issues being exhaustion and a sensitive nose.  One of the… Continue reading On Babies and Byouins

Last week, we had the great privilege to attend our organization’s international conference– something that only happens once every three years.  There were a few different hashtags flying around it, but one of them was #wearefamily. You can jam along.  It’s ok. We always say it’s like a giant family reunion, and it is. This… Continue reading Cue Music

I usually have a number of topics floating around my head and then when I sit down to actually write a post, my mind goes blank. At any rate, if you’ve been wondering why we’ve been MIA, we’ve been preparing for and hosting a team from our home church.  You can read more about their… Continue reading Finding the Sweet Spot

Two weeks ago, I learned something very important.  Something that I wish I had known a year ago.  Something that will improve our quality of life here in Japan. I learned how to make sour cream. This may not seem like anything of value to you, but to me…. Let’s just say that the night… Continue reading Missionary Hacks

Recently, while checking my mail before bed, I got a reply from a friend who will be shortly leaving for the one of the first steps of on-field missionary life: language school.  At the end of it, she mentioned that she wanted to “glean from your missionary-ness”. I clicked my phone off and pulled the… Continue reading Gleanings

Nearly 2 months ago (cringe), I began a question and answer series on this blog. And between last time and this, many things have happened.  I’ve had this blog on my to-do list for literally 6 weeks. Surely that says something. Anyhow, without further ado. Two people were worshiping a god of fire? What reasons… Continue reading Answers, Part 2

Hey guys!  There will be a post soon. Unfortunately, my laptop went kaput shortly before our return, which put me all out of whack.  We are also slowly getting back to life in Japan, and back to a familiar time zone and routine. I still have the remaining questions and that should be one of… Continue reading Absent!

Hey everyone! So we had an event on Sunday to talk about Japan and the Gospel. We received some questions and we promised to answer the leftover ones on the blog.  We’ll do it in two installments, I think. *What kind of food do you eat there? We eat a lot of rice or meals… Continue reading Questions