I couldn’t believe that my paperwork was wrong. It was 9pm and there was literally nothing I could do. We had had so many challenges up until now. I knew from experience and from posts that what the officials cared about was the MOFA form as compared to the test results. So, the only thing… Continue reading The Saga- Trying to Get Back Home

So, I’m part of a group on Facebook that offers support and updates about the changing regulations for entering Japan as a foreigner. You’d think it would be pretty straightforward. But at the best of times, my dearest Japan prefers… more…. complicated approaches. And so this group is very necessary to even understand the rules… Continue reading The Saga- QTips up the Nose

Funerals are a blur of faces, tears, hugs, murmured condolences and shared stories. One of the most touching stories as my brothers and mom and I gathered alone before my dad’s casket in the moments before the visitors would arrive for his funeral was the story of a coin placed on his chest. It was… Continue reading The Saga- The Post I Didn’t Want to Write

After about 36 hours of travel, I was ready to end this leg of it. But I was the first runner-up among a crowd of people waiting for standby. The lady in front of me turned around and looked at me. I’m sure I was a mess. Sleep deprived, deep circles under my eyes and… Continue reading The Saga- Losing a Great Man

Cancelled. My flight was cancelled. I’ve flown hundreds of times. Literally. And I’d never had a cancelled flight. Horrendously delayed, yes. But cancelled, no. Carrying a baby in front, heavy bookbag behind and rolling carryon, I made my way to the long-lined customer service desk… as I updated family, they were shocked at the notices… Continue reading The Saga Continues…

Rookie mistake. Seriously, I couldn’t believe that I was already en route on a huge journey for me and realized I didn’t have my daughter’s residence card. It’s the equivalent of forgetting your passport. I could make the excuse that I prepared in 2 days what I normally spend several weeks planning for. Or that… Continue reading The Saga, Part 4… In Which I Discover My Baby is NOT a Jetsetter

The Lord had dropped answers in my lap, and I was grateful. We spent the weekend translating 20 pages of house rental contracts, marking things we were uncertain of, and waiting to hear back from my friend. She called to let me know that everything looked legit and good. There were a few points that… Continue reading The Saga, Part 3

I put the kids to bed and then I sat on the couch on September 22 to pray. We had SO much going on, I was having a hard time processing things anymore. We were in the middle of signing on a new house to rent— a process that involved pages and pages of to-dos,… Continue reading The Saga, Part 2

(This is part of a series that it has taken me a while to write…) I noticed a house while I was zooming by on my bike through a back neighborhood to drop my kids at their swimming class. That I noticed something along the way is a miracle in and of itself, my husband… Continue reading September Saga, Part 1