Lions and tigers and bears, Oh My!

Sitting down to write this post...I have no idea why this title came into my head...when suddenly I recollected that I am now back in the Land of Oz...maybe the chant comes back intrinsically into my head somehow hahaha. Good ol' Dorothy says this as she's heading out on the yellow brick road and is expecting all kinds of unknowns. And no, Oz is NOT those Aussies or the love hotel,Land of Oz, that is situated between Goshogawara and Aomori City...it is my lovely state of Kansas, a claim I never had to dispute until I moved to Japan.

Christmas weekend flew by in a flurry of activites, comforts, relaxations, and generally eating more than my share of pumpkin pie. Christmas Eve traditional Swedish service...brilliant candle lights. Christmas morn service...hometown gurl trained in Italy singing some amazing Messiah. Awesome Christmas story...never get tired of hearing it and wondering how Mary must have felt giving birth to a King!! And Joseph there supporting her thru it all! The gifts and presents followed. Cousins....and more cousins. Brillant walk on a 55 F day...shockingly warm...but the sun on my face was everything I wished for.


(I used to play hide-in-go-seek here in the wheat field as a kid...now it's all development!!!)

Some more pumpkin pie. Puzzle placing w/ my sister-in-law, Inga. (We look like sisters...no she is not my real sister. Us Eastern European gurls tend to have similar characteristics I guess hahaha.) There was plenty of German flying...as that is the common tongue between my brother and wife. But I got to teach a few Japanese words to Inga....like the all important "yatta!" to say while arranging the puzzle.




(Inga (sister-in-law), Matthew (my brother), and Sarita)

(Kathy and Larry,a.k.a. Mama and Dad,...I'm sure they will love this less than flattering picture ^_^!! Oh well...gotta go with what ya've got!!)

Shuffleboard with my dad's friends...a traditional since forever. Calling of friends, etc, etc. And now back to that yellow brick road. In fact I'm still trying to find it here in Kansas but I know I've got my own road to follow (and I hope it's orange with an occassional turquoise ^_^) and there's so many unknowns, Oh My! But I've only gotta reflect on this verse to bring me back to center...and I hope you will all take a minute to do the same!! God continues to teach me and show me His miracles in my life!!! I LOVE HIM!!!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Phillipians 4:6-8)

Many holiday blessings and wishes. Abrazos y besos, Sarita chan
Ps. Funniest holiday question posed to me...."Do you speak English?" ^_^ And I thought my Japanese kids gave me some jolly laughs hahaha....