The national park near us has several festivals each year.  One of those is the Cosmos Festival.  This had been the planned destination for the Family Fun Park Day outreach event, the event we had to cancel due to the typhoon 2 weeks ago.   Today being the 1st day we haven't had numerous things on the schedule and being a LOVELY fall day.  We headed to the park for a look around.

**I know that Bekah doesn't look thrilled, BUT Joshy actually had his head up - a rare thing, in deed.   I guess I should learn photo shopping so that I can combine pictures.  Then again, maybe someday I will get Bekah smiles AND Joshy with his head up at the same time.   YEAH, learning photo shop in my spare time will likely happen first.   Besides, getting that elusive combination might just do my camera in!!   SIGH!!

The flowers were not an numerous as I though they would be, but it was still lovely and we enjoyed a walk around the park.  We even discovered some areas we hadn't ventured to before.

Next month is the Fall Rose Festival, I hope we can get there back to see it.

Considering this month has had 2 - 3 day weekends, it has been anything but relaxing.  My date book is tired.  Thankfully we are almost through the 3 weeks with something each and every day.  In fact, I actually have a day coming up with nothing scheduled.  Sure there will still be the "givens": meds, laundry. general house work, but no appointments have to be kept... at least, not that I know of   Next week will be much the same as the past 3 weeks, but a day off before the craziness begins, will be much appreciated!

This week, a typhoon passed fairly close on the Pacific side of the islands, which brought us hot weather yesterday and cool, wet weather today.  Today's cooler temperatures, while deeply appreciated, brought the wake up call that fall is here.  And reminded me that a certain growing boy's wardrobe is in desperate need of some additions.   His sock drawer was even down to the red alert zone - after weeding out those that no longer fit, he was down to just 3 pairs :/  With sandal weather, for him, over and braces coming next week, 3 pairs of socks just will not cut it.

This afternoon after therapy, Bekah & I managed a shopping trip... 2 hours & 7 stores later, we came home with 3 sweatshirts, 2 long sleeve t-shirts, 2 pairs of fairly heavy pants, a winter weight vest jacket, & 4 pairs of socks (I want to wait to get additional socks until the braces are actually here).  I also found out that one of the stores should be getting more warm coats in soon, which means, LORD willing, that I can find a winter coat with a protected zipper for Mr. Chews Zippers to Death (in 30 seconds or less).    I think Joshy's top half is now set.  I still need to find pants, but I am hoping the heavy fleece lined jeans will appear in the stores before long.  If they don't I will see if I can get some made.

Speaking of cooler weather - time to drag out a heavy blanket.  It is nippy tonight - LOVE it!!

Before I go wrap up in a blanky, here are some pictures from Wednesday's school time.   He had so much fun playing with the balls - he didn't even realize he was working on balance  He even talked his teacher into letting him "play" a 2nd time after going out for a walk!

A walk about, for me, is not so much about pace, but more simply actually getting OUT the door and getting some steps in.  With Josh still in short stay, I didn't have to worry about getting back in time to give meds.  With it being a holiday, I didn't need to worry about getting back for school.  SOOOOO,  I headed out the door for a walk about...

Same park, just took some new paths, some new angles...

And discoveries some signs of fall...

Not to convince my aching body that it needs to get moving each and every morning...

CS - Church School - camp was a success!  This years theme was God's Family.  We were blessed to have a missionary family from Indonesia, as well as, a friend from Zimbabwe there to help with the program.  We wanted to show that God's family is not limited to race or geography - God's family is open for every person in the world, who is willing to turn to Him.

Saturday morning's focus was Indonesia.

Lunch was Indonesian fried noodles that everyone worked together to prepare.

Afternoon sports festival with relays, and races, tug of war, and a bob for apples type game where you search for candy in the flour.  Everyone had a blast!

Dinner was a Zimbabwean dish + a surprise birthday celebration.

Then a talk about Zimbabwe.  Followed by an international game time.

The girls took over the sanctuary for sleeping.  While the boys were upstairs in the parsonage apartment.  (The pews are not fixed so the sanctuary is a very usable space.)

Sunday morning was make your own American breakfast.

Clean up, worship, pot-luck lunch, & AWANA Club finished things up.

It was really nice to see a couple new faces participate in the events.  One woman who brings her children to AWANA club was there the whole time and her husband even joined in some of the Saturday activities.  There are a couple of young Indonesian men who have been come to church recently who joined in Saturday evening, too.

Fun times!!

TONS to do in prep for a busy weekend.  I decided to go ahead and post my "To-Do" list here:

• Laundry
• Shopping list for Sunday School Camp (over nighter)
• School outing at Park - meet @ 10:05 / leave about 9:30 to walk there.
• Girls have calligraphy class @ 10:30 - they have to bike to class.
• Pack for Joshy's weekend of respite care
• Pray that laundry drys while we are at the park - if not break in the dryer
• Clean / prep for guests who are coming for camp, but arriving tonight - Jerry helping with this.
• Teach from 2:00 ~ 4:45
• Pick up new glasses
• Main shopping for camp
• Pack for me for the camp
• Prep bedding for  5 3 people for camp (girls did their own)
• Bible Study @ 7
• Bake a cake
• Shopping for camp w/Tony for the ingredients I can't get.
• Oh yeah - family likely wants to eat - make lunch & dinner plans - Lunch = leftovers / Dinner = sloppy joes (from the freezer), french fries, broccoli, & salad

I think that's it...  I will be back to actually blog in a few days!

Dental appointment for Bekah - CHECK...  They did a minor surgery to help her tooth move into place.  She came home with medication.

MRI results/follow up appointment for me - CHECK... The MRI results were inconclusive :/  However, because my leg(s) is still quite swollen and painful, the doctor decided to start me on medication.  I go back in 2 weeks for another check up.   I think the reaction to the antibiotics and subsequent A-Fib played a roll in medication as well.

Three Fifths of us are now on medication... that number should be increased to four fifths, but Jerry refuses to take anything for his allergies - sigh...

Remembering the way things have to flow in order to get out the door for school...

Remembering the road we travel...

Remembering the parking quirks...

Remembering the fun of seeing other mamas as they drop off their kiddos...

Remembering staff & teachers...

Enjoying the squeals of "Joshua!!" echoing through the halls.

Yesterday morning, Joshua got to GO to school.  He has permission from the doctor to go to school.  However, even though he is allowed, he still has restrictions both from the doctor (avoid flu & cold season & large convocations), as well as, the school.  Last school year,  in hopes that he would be able to return to school, Josh was allowed to remain in the "B" course. ("B" course is for the special needs students who are not  mobile &/or need more care,)   This school year, Joshy had to switch to "C" course, which is for home-bound students.  Because Joshy is in "C" course "schooling", going to school, is more limited and the school nurse is not allowed to give meds or feeds.   This means mama is on a short lease.  BUT, yesterday was a special day.  ALL the mamas were there for a special music program.  Yesterday was also a practice day to see if Joshua would be allowed to come to school with out mama being there the whole time.  Joshua did well, and will now be allowed to stay at school a few mornings each month without mama being there

It was a fun morning!

Starting the school day, with the morning song, calendar, etc...

Classroom activities, gain trainers, standing frames, balls, toys...

Gathering with the whole "B" course + one of the 2 "C" course kiddos for music time...

There was the "Hamburger" song with lots of pats, taps, rubs.  Joshy was not so sure he liked having the other teachers touch him.  His teacher was fine, the others... not so.

Then there was the pull the "Sweet Potato" song.  The teachers had made a long tube, complete with shiny tape & bells, that was pushed, lifted,  shaken to that the sweet potato could be pulled

There was also a song that included a sort of wheelchair dance.  Joshy was ALL giggles after this one!!  (I took a video, but haven't figured out how to move it from facebook to my computer to here :/ )

After the music time ended, just before lunch, all the other mamas headed home while I gather Joshy up.  This prompted one more memory.

Remembering those few short hours of respite, when I know that Joshy is in good hands, being well cared for.   Those few hours of respite that make getting out of the house on time and driving back & forth twice a day well worth the effort.

Praying that Joshua's counts will be high enough that he can go back into the "B" course next spring!

I honestly believe that it takes certain personality traits to be a good immigration officer.  MY idea of what these are and the personal director's ideas do not mesh.  I have dealt with immigration officers in more than one country and rarely have I had a really pleasant experience.

Today, Jerry & I headed to Niigata to the Immigration Office to get our new foreign registration card (Gaijin Card) similar to an American Green Card.    We were not looking forward to the experience.  Today we were surprised.  In fact, we left the office wondering what we had done wrong!!  First, the office was not crowded!  Second, the officer was FRIENDLY and helpful!  Third, we were done, new cards in hand, in all of 10-15 minutes!!!   We hurried to the car and left as quickly as possible, just in case someone discovered the ease of the visit and came after us

Because it had not taken half of forever and we were not at wits end, we headed toward Toys-R-Us to search for a birthday gift.

I knew the visit had been too easy!!

I HATE driving in Niigata city.  I CAN manage to find Toys-R-Us, 2 hospitals, & the Christian walk in closet book store... but then again, they are all along the same main road that just happens to be the road where I get off the highway.  I can also find the airport because it is well marked.  Anywhere else in Niigata city usually results in a wild goose chase,  I have in the past made it from the airport to the other points of interest mentioned above, but I have NEVER managed to get there via the same route or without feeling lost.  Today was no exception.

Niigata City Map

We wondered all over the city.  We were by the ferry port, the station, back over by the road to the airport...  We even drove right past the White Swan Stadium - I have only ever seen them from a distance... from the highway :/

We did finally make it... only took an hour

Maybe next time, I should simply go back to the highway & drive to the exit I know.  Well, then again, we don't have to go back for 7 years.  I might be feeling adventuresome, by then.

BTW ~ We were also successful in finding a birthday gift

Instead of heading to the national park today for a family fun day with students we battened down the hatches and stayed inside.  Typhoon 18 spread destruction the length of Japan.  We stayed dry & safe, but many others were not as fortunate.  The full force of the storm struck south of us and the news is reporting at least 2 deaths, dozens of injuries, thousands evacuated.    In our area, there were issues with a dam and one of the big rivers flooded causing evacuations.  I do not have a lot of details, but I do know that the river has crested and the flood waters are receding.   The rain has stopped for the most part, but the wind is still howling.

Please pray for those who are in shelters and must face the hard job of cleanup.

Some things are chew-able; vitamins, cookies, gum.  Other things are not chew-able: seat-belts, Velcro, zippers.  WELL... unless you are a certain little boy who lives in our home and our hearts, that is, then those things are perfectly chew-able!  Actually, they are quite entertaining and fun

Josh finds zippers particularly chew-able.  Zippers on the other hand do not hold Joshy's teeth in the same fond terms.  Actually, if zippers could talk, they would likely yell, scream, run & hide, warning all zippers of the death one small boy can deal out.  I am sure zippered items all over the world have been given his profile.

Winter is the time zippers are in the most danger, likely because in winter layers upon layers of clothing are required to keep warm.  On a typical winter day, Joshy wears, a long sleeve undershirt, a fleece turtleneck, a fleece jacket or sweatshirt, 1-2 pairs of long johns, & fleece lined jeans.  (Yes, this is IN a heated room/house!)   If we go out a jacket, 1-2 pairs of socks, and blanket(s) are added.

Joshy is on a growing spree.  The few things that did survive last winters chew fest are few and stretching their size limits.    It is still quite warm, but I know that warm days are fast drawing to a close, not to mention, Josh has been having some internal low temp days just to see how much additional sweat mama will produce by bundling him up  This in mind, I have been searching for zipper-less, Joshy proof, clothing.  Do you know how difficult it is to find fleece jackets without zippers?!?  Even covered zipper jackets have to be inspected because Joshy's 2nd favorite chew-able is Velcro

Yesterday, Jerry, Kei, & I went to the mall.  I could not find any clothing for Josh.  I have looked on line and found a few things.  I really want a couple Angry Bird sweatshirts from Walmart  I am hoping to get these shipped   I also found a super LLBean fleece lines flannel shirt - I am just not sure I want to fork over that much money.  Closer to home, I found a couple possibilities on Amazon Japan - but I was not thrilled with the selection.

This afternoon I picked the girls up from AWANA and we checked 2 stores in town.  Of all the clothes, we found 3 that will work.  One is a zipper jacket that has a snap rather than Velcro zipper cover   The other 2 are pullovers.   The best news - the 2 pullovers were on clearance for about 70% off   Three will not be enough to keep a boy clothed, but it IS a start and I am thankful that I found them.

I also mentioned seat-belts... Let me just say, I am very grateful that seat-belts are strong!!  He has yet to chew his way through a seat-belt, not that he hasn't given it his best effort!

AH... the challenges my boy provides!