This summer, we spent time in the US visiting friends and supporters and forging new connections with those with a heart for ministry in Japan. It was a wonderful time and a great experience for our kids. While we were there, the subject of language was a topic in nearly every conversation. Do I speak… Continue reading TCKs and Education: When the Flow Doesn’t Go
Tag: lifeinjapan
All in a Name
It’s the end of the school year and I’ve been in the process of getting “all the things” that everyone needs: crayons, pencils, bottles of glue, notebooks, new school indoor shoes, etc. And labels. So many labels. Sticker labels of all sizes. Laminated ones. Iron-on ones. Sew-on ones. Gym clothes labels. Swimsuit labels. All the… Continue reading All in a Name
Graceful Exits
Well, guys… Are you still there? I’m still here. And I’d like you to know that I’ve survived the lowest ranks of PTA. I was quite nervous to begin with and my initial interactions within the meetings were quite humbling. But after several meetings, events and countless messages and confirmations and relays of information and… Continue reading Graceful Exits
PTA, SOS and other Acronyms
You know how when no one in a group wants to do a certain task and so everyone points a finger to nominate someone else? Well, that kinda happened to me, unawares. Several months before the end of the school year, I realized that I had suddenly been nominated to be the next contact person… Continue reading PTA, SOS and other Acronyms
Noises in the Night
A few weeks ago, we heard a startling cry in the middle of the night. I instantly knew it wasn’t my children. My husband had comically tumbled out of bed to a standing position, ready for action. I told him it wasn’t the kids and he peeked outside our curtains to see where the noise… Continue reading Noises in the Night
Please Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
About 10 days ago or so, we moved just up the street. You wouldn’t think that would be a big deal, but it was– packing up 5 people, 6 years worth of hand-me-downs for the kids, a kitchen, an office… all while keeping things running was more of a challenge than I anticipated. The last… Continue reading Please Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Crossing Your T’s
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post and a LOT has happened in the interim. I will probably write about all that later in a series that I’m thinking I’ll call “September Saga”. It was full of challenges, obstacles, God dropping things right in front of us, opportunities, grief, stress, answers to… Continue reading Crossing Your T’s
Keeping Count
Last time I wrote about writing postcards (hagaki) as part of the way Japanese maintain relationships. Today, I want to mention another way that Japanese maintain relationships, which is through gift-giving. Gift-giving is a major thing here. Obviously, housewarming gifts are necessary when you visit a home (fruit is your go-to gift), but there are… Continue reading Keeping Count
The Hagaki Life
Japanese people, in general, are very thoughtful and considerate of the relationships they have in life. It can be seen in so many aspects, but in the next 2 posts I’ll talk about some of the things we’ve caught on to while living here. The first year my daughter was in preschool (it’s a 3… Continue reading The Hagaki Life
Summer “Break”
I’ve been a little MIA over the last few weeks. Not only have we had a number of projects going on in ministry here, but our kids have been on summer break. You know– that period of time where kids start asking for the next meal’s menu four minutes after they’ve put their dishes in… Continue reading Summer “Break”
Ninja Mom 