Lovin Japan ~ Kintai Kyo

This is an amazing sight to see. I've written about our visit. If we did this trip again, we'd schedule enough time to explore the Iwakuni Castle as well.  Miyajima Island, Kintai Kyo and a day trip via train to Hiroshima makes Iwakuni a nice staging area for further exploration. 

double-h via photopin cc

d'n'c via photopin cc

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Adorable Children / Mission Trips

The Children in Japan (as everywhere I suspect) are simply adorable! I love their attempts at English. I love their humorous, good-natured correcting of my attempts at Japanese. These photos are all taken on various Protestant Youth Of the Chapel mission to Miyako City in the years after the Quake Tsunami.  Photos are courtesy of PYOC Misawa's  Facebook page. 

Fruit Loops - an international craft item

Arielle with Children

Jared with child

Nolan - center right

Not sure WHERE she gets these things from ::snort:: 

Fun memories of interacting with the children of Japan. 

Note Adorable Children and Mission Trips are both on the list. I realized I covered both and that will help us fit all our loves in before we move. 


Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Bitten by the Spring Bug!

Sometime between studying the solar system and Explode the Code it BIT me - the spring bug! I stepped outside and sure enough it was WARM.  It was 11:30 p.m. and time for RECESS.  I was positively giddy when we discovered we didn't need our coats! 

ALL the kids decided to join us for this celebration. We went to feed the ponies...and waved at "our farmer" who also seemed to be enjoying the first real spring-like day in months.

On the other side of his garden he has cleared a spot for a community park.  

Even the big kids enjoyed the swings

Stacia wants to know if we can build a house like this at the new house - I don't know. 

We continued our walk by visiting the pond. The ducks and geese were all out enjoying the pond....but quickly left when we arrived. 

We had no idea this pond or the ponies were the next block over when we signed our lease. What a blessing it has been to have so much nature down the street. 

It was at this point that the "noon music" began to play. We stayed another 30 minutes and started home for lunch. We talked about bringing lunches over (and the kayak). Arielle reminded us that in a few weeks the "vampire bugs" will be back....so we'd better act on this impulse before it really warms up enough for the critters and snakes to wake up. 

Go Yuuki! 

Yuuki enjoyed exploring the pond

On our walk back to the house we ran into a group of homeschooling siblings also out enjoying a break. The outing motivated us to finish up by 2:00 p.m.  and get back out in the sun. 

I met a friend over at the produce market. We sipped our drinks in the green house under the banana trees, talked as we enjoyed the foot onsen, did a bit of produce shopping....and met another friend in the parking lot as we left. Shannon helped her mother and I make a connection: we are both women who had our last child at 42. This meeting was a heavenly hug. I've had a few struggles lately and I saw the possible  face of  my future as I embraced Shannon's vibrant and coherent mother (her last recently graduated!). 

After a quick dinner, Akikosan came over. A Three friend day - it doesn't get too much better than this! Akikosan is going to attend the talent show with us next week. 

Michael shocked us by pointing out that our things may well be packed out in 3 weeks. Um...YIKES. We are wrapping our mind around what to send when. We could be done with school in 3 weeks...and if our things were packed out...maybe we'd feel more free to just explore. 

The night ended with a meaningful family circle....life is good. 

My heart whispers, "I can't  possibly say goodbye to this place." Yet, we are learning to lean into the pain of goodbye and embrace the next step...slowly. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lumpia (Vegan)

Note - add meat if you want it. ::grin:: This made over 40 - 60.  I think this is one of those "throw what you like in" recipes...but here are measurements I found online. These are great to freeze.

Ingredients: 
2 C bean sprouts (I couldn't find any so used extra cabbage and carrots)
1/2 head finely chopped/shredded cabbage
2 carrots - finely cut in slivers, or use the matchsticks
1 1/2 C green beans
1 1/2 C snow peas
3 onions
1 head garlic
2 T soy sauce
1 tsp sweet chili sauce
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt (Optional)
veggie bullion (Optional)

If frying - 1 1/2 cup of oil - enough to cover lumpia. If baking - preheat oven to 450* and spray pan. Bake for about 20 min - turn at 10 min.

Mix all together. Put 2 - 4 T of filling per lumpia wrapper. Wrap up sort of burrito style (search for lumpia recipe if you need more directions), lay them seam down and fry or bake.

DIP
Soy/Ginger/Vinegar
1/4 C Brown Sugar (Rapadura)
1/2 C White Vinegar
1 tsp Soy Sauce (Low sodium)
2 tsp water
1 tsp corn starch
2 - 3 ts FRESH grated ginger

Dissolve sugar, combine water and corn starch. Whisk in and heat until it thickens, add ginger.

Favorite Sweet and Sour Sauce - take your pick

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Shoeless!

What's not to love about a country where life slows down just a bit each time you enter or exit a home  as well as many places of business.

This sign will move with us

Entry ways are a bit lower....slippers ready to slip on...shoes left waiting to slip on when you leave.

Temples, churches and onsens always provide slippers

melanie_ko via photopin cc

Many restaurants as well - though many don't have lockers for your shoes.

Gwydion M. Williams via photopin cc

This one surprised us...but obviously one should remove shoes before entering a dressing room. 

And always, always, slip into toilet slippers before entering the "bathroom." This also seems like a wise practice. 

i_marinari via photopin cc

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ Bowing Construction Workers

I've said it often, "Every thing is cuter in Japan." It's true...even the construction signs are polite. Note this worker is bowing....Often there are mannequins which bow up and down and wave a flag as you approach road work. There are also digital signs with instructions and of course the bowing icon.

Hollywood North via photopin cc

Road work continues through the winter...and it's been an amazing process to watch. We've never caught a bow, but here are some photos from a recent outing. 

Always one looking at the sky. ::grin:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lovin Japan ~ White Gloved Taxi Drivers

lincolnblues via photopin

The lace car seat covers are pretty epic too! One of my fond memories is arriving home in Misawa without a ride home. I had never realized that my address was "not a Japanese address" until my white-gloved taxi driver schooled me. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...