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Tuesday, 21 May 2013

  • Couple Days

    It is Tuesday!  Where did Monday go?  Here are a few of the highlights from the week thus far...

    • The car is in the shop.  We had gotten a big ding in Joshy's door on a really windy winter day when the car was in a parking lot.   Not sure who hit us.  Then I added another scratch & a nick trying to make a tight corner.  Long story short the shop called Mon. morning with the repair info.  Said yes.  They ask when.  I checked and said either this week or the 1st week of June.  They dropped off a teeny, tiny loaner & took my car off to be fixed up Monday afternoon.
    • Joshy had an appointment with an endocrinologist this morning.  Can't say it was a great appointment, but it wasn't bad.  Don't know much yet, but we will be wading into this new field of medicine over the next few weeks/months.
    • Rediscovered WHY, I insisted on sliding doors on my car... Getting Josh in and out of a traditional door car is mega hard to do... especially in a small car!   The loaner is a 5 passenger car, but the hatch area is not big enough for either of J's wheelchairs, meaning we have to fold down the seat.  The chair takes up "2" seats worth of the back seat.  Fighting the door on one side and the wheelchair that was trying to take over the entire back seat on the other, while the front passenger seat was blocking any escape... shockedangry  I think we will walk to therapy on Thursday!!
    • Contractor came by to take final pictures which need to be submitted to the city office.
    • My LEGS hurt!
    • Biked to the electronics store & grocery... didn't want to drive cause I really don't like how the loaner handles, either.  Another reason we biked was so I would know how long it takes to get to the dentist.  Kei has an appointment tomorrow and I want to bike.
    • Allowed Bekah to buy a notebook computer.  She has been saving hard and had 1/2 the money, the rest will be paid back in installments.
    • Still fighting a cold.  Monday was not a good day for this, today is better.
    • Joshy also had 4 more teeth cleaned today.
    • Sad to see the tornado news.
       
       

     

Sunday, 19 May 2013

  • Shiozake Marathon

    Today was the day - Kashiwazaki's Shiokaza Marathon day!!

    Shiokaze Maraton consists of a maraton, a half marathon, a 5k fun run, & a 12k walk.  The race starts at the sea and the 1st part is along the coast.  .   The 12k walk has the most climbing; we went from sea level to 140 meters/459 feet, back down to 70m/229', then back up to 150m/492'.  We hit the 10K mark during the final climb - WHEW!

    I left the computer this morning, with my fitbit saying I had 406 steps & 1 floor.  At the finish of the race I had 20,900 steps & 62 floors shockedpleased   YES, I did make it to the finish line!

     

     

    At the start... <we walked with students>

       

    Encouragement along the way...

      

    Sights along the way...

       

      

    Walking with friends...

     

     

    Thoughts...

    There were times when it felt like the uphill climb would never end... that is so much like life!  There are struggles we all face that feel like steep uphill trecks.  These struggles feel like they will never end, like there will never be any relief.  However, If we can focus on something other than the problem we can see God's hand.

      

    If we keep going, down hill, or at least flater, surfaces do come.  AND there is a goal / finish line! 

Saturday, 18 May 2013

  • It's Finished

    True to ther word, the installers were here bright & early.  They worked and tinkered and twinked, finishing up about lunch time.  The head contractor from the lift company came and went over the dos & don'ts, making sure we understand the operation of the chair.  He also gave us the paperwork, contact information in case of trouble, all that good stuff.   Joshy had a ride...  <Sorry, no video>

      

    He looks so small in that big chair!  However, at the rate he has been growing, I'm sure he will fill it up before we know it!

    This week, I have been experimenting with my dehydrator, in fact, it has rarely NOT bee running.

        

      

    <tomatoes, lemons, onions, peppers, & shitake mushrooms are in now> 

    Earlier in the week, the veggie stand I like had flats of tomatoes for a good price so we tried our had at tomatoes.  They are SOOOOO good.  Tonight when I ran out to get milk, I picked up another flat to dry... They also had big bags of shitake.  YUM!

    Tomorrow is our big 12k walk!  We picked up our numbers this afternoon. 

    I am not 100% sure that I am going to be able to walk.  I came home with the start of a cold yesterday and have been running a low grade fever today.  Praying that my temp breaks and the weather is cooperative so that I can walk.  <I am feeling better this evening.>

    Well. I am off to bed early in hopes of sleeping off this cold, because not only do I not wish to be sick, I REALLY want to walk tomorrow!

     

Friday, 17 May 2013

  • Still Working

    The carpenter was scheduled for 3 days... they finished in 2, working 8~5ish.

    The lift installers were scheduled for 2 days... they have worked 8:30~7 or 8 both Thur & Fri and they are still not done!  The will be back tomorrow morning... part of the work that needs done is filling holes in the steps.  They had positioning trouble shocked

    BTW ~ the chair talks / plays music when it is going up & down.

Thursday, 16 May 2013

  • Up LIFTing

    The chairlift crew, 3 men, arrived at 8:30am and set to work turning this pile of boxes...

    into piles of parts...

      

    which then started looking useful...

       

    The work is not quite complete, so the workers will be back again tomorrow morning.  I anticipate they will finish it up before noon.

    BTW ~ when workers come to your home, you need to provide a snack at 10am & 3pm for their break time.  Here is a pic from today's 10am snack.  I think they liked it because there was nothing left pleased

    In other news...

    I tried out my new dehydrator.  Due to a mix up, I ended up with 2 big bags of onions.  I now have 5 onions dry... did you know that 5 big onions fill about 2" of a quart canning jar?!?

    The girls had dental appointments this morning.  Chan took them so that could be home in case the workers needed anything.  Everything looks good.  As a surprise, the dentist did not start Bekah's braces... I will have to sort that out next week at Kei's weekly checkup.

    Josh had PT this afternoon.  That went better than expected.  Still need to work some things out with the therapist, but I think a tiny amount of progress was made.

    This is my 2nd attempt at blogging.  I had my blog all done, was finishing te spell check, and the computer ATE it.

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

  • Insanity

    What ever possessed me to schedule my day this way... pure insanity!

    • 9am I was at the store when it opened so we would have food in the house for lunch.
    • 9:30 leave for Preschool to teach 2 classes, by bike.  <Greet Joshy's teacher as she arrives/I leave>
    • Swing by ECS to grab teaching materials AND prep for afternoon Preschool classes.
    • 10:00 ~ 11:05 classes
    • Run by another store to pick up things I forgot earlier.
    • Drop teaching supplies off at ECS & bike home.
    • 11:30 arrive home in time to say good by to Joshy's teacher.
    • Lunch - Thankfully, Chan had that well under control happy
    • After lunch, check the girl's homework, give a spelling test, etc...
    • Blog silly  I need a sanity break, which blogging provides!!
    • 1:30 leave for class
      • 2:00~2:45  <4yo class @ preschool>
      • 2:45~3:30  <5yo class @ preschool>
      • 4:00~9:05  <4 classes @ ECS>

     

    My Wednesdays are pretty much back o back classes from 2~9.  I am still trying to get used to that.  The added cravat was having preschool classes in the morning.  I have made a mental note to NOT do this again.  Throwing in grocery shopping wasn't really on the plan either.  Need to do a better job in this department...

    And now it is nearing 1:30... best get moving!

     

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

  • Carpentry

    Today saw the carpentry side of the chairlift project finished off.

    How it looked last night / early this morning...

    After I got home from the cancer center...

      

    The door is ready to go.  <It has now been stained and you ca hardly see where the extra wood was added!!

     

     

    The chairlift was also delivered today and is sitting patiently in the garage waiting for Thursday...

     

    AND, good to his word, the carpenter moved the banister to the outside entrance steps...

     

    WOW!  This is actually happening!!!!

Monday, 13 May 2013

  • Hammer, Hammer, Pound, Pound

    Construction has started! 

    The carpenter arrived just after 8am and before long the stairway looked like this.

     

     

    Then we progressed to this.

    Then the new support was added an the old support removed.

     

     

    Now the wall is well on it's way to being narrowed. 

    It has been a busy, noisy day around my house! 

Sunday, 12 May 2013

  • Happy Mother's Day

    I would like to wish everyone a very happy Mother's Day!

    Mother's Day hasn't always been a happy day for me.  The years of infertility were hard.  Today, too, had some ups and downs.  I miss seeing our oldest daughter and her 3 little ones.  It is hard being a long distance grandmother!  Today my mom has also been on my mind.  She has been gone nearly 6 years, but Mother's Day is always a reminder.   There was also some grief due to Josh's illness... no going to church as a family or going out to eat when you have an immune suppressed family member.  

    BUT...

    I am still thankful for what I do have!!   I tried to make the day happy even with the sadness I was feeling.

    This afternoon, Chan & I took Josh for a walk while Jerry & the girls were at AWANA.  We went in search of wisteria laughing

     

     

    Then Jerry & the girls brought home gifts!!

     

    Jerry also agreed to ordering a food dehydrator... so that will be coming in a few days pleased

    It has been a blessed day.

     

Saturday, 11 May 2013

  • Rec... er...

    Yesterday was 親子レク <Parent/Child Recreation> for Joshy's school.   We made lamp shares out of washi paper & origami.

     

     

    There was some time to play with friends.

     

     

    Then we had lunch together.

     

     

    I'm not sure what the last part of the day held because we needed to leave after lunch so that I could get to work & Chan could get to Japanese class.   I wish we could have stayed longer, but I am thankful that we were able to go for the time we did.

    Leaving @ 9am to get to the gathering point, then spending the morning doing activities ~ Dropping Joshy off @ home before heading to work ~ Biking to work & working til 7:05 before biking home for Bible Study @ 7:30 ~ everyone hanging around til 9:30 or so, made yesterday a L~O~N~G Day.   A fun way to to end a busy week, but long, nonetheless!

    This morning, Chan & I worked on getting the garage ready for construction with will start bright & early Monday morning.   We usually keep the recycling shelves under the stairs - not an option with stair construction.

     

     

    In the process of cleaning this area we also cleaned & reorganized the Harry Potter room, the cupboard under the outside stairway silly.  Then we made a safe, sheltered outdoor storage area for the girls bikes & moved Jerry's & my bike to another area of the garage so that the "bike bay" is clear.   The recycle bins now sit along the side wall, out of construction way.

    In light of everything... this afternoon we CHILLED.

    Chilling was a lovely way to wind down the week laughing

     

MOM2_4

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    • Name: Laura
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    • Member Since: 12/11/2006
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About Me

  • My theme song is "Hats" by Amy Grant... I've been married to my honey for 27 years.. We have a married daughter (27) & 3 grandchildren. We also have 15 & 12yo daughters at home along with a special needs 10yo son who also suffers from Aplastic Anemia. DH & I are tentmaking missionaries in Japan. I homeschool, teach conversational English classes, do all the mommy stuff and make all the PT/OT/ hospital runs with our son. And just so I'm not too bored... there are outreach events and kid's club.

Why I blog...

  • This blog is a rabbit trail to our life in Japan. The things we do as a family or for ministry. My thoughts and feelings as a missionary, a wife, a mom to "normal" as well as special needs kiddos, etc... I blog to relax and get my thoughts in order. To share a bit of our lives with others. I do not blog to put on aires or make people think that I am super woman or the busiest woman they know or anything like that. I often share the things I do in a day, but it's only as a sharing point and a way for me to remember and reflect the day.