WAY OVER DUE

Ok, so I took a break from blogging while we were in Japan because Nathan had already come back to the states for a job interview. We had already planned on coming back, but it was a surprise to some of our family! Anywho, then we got back and it was Christmas time and Nathan started working and blah blah blah....so here it is! WE ARE BACK IN THE USA!!!

Nathan got a great job in Auburn, WA! We are up in Edmonds at the moment. We are house sitting until April and we are trying to figure out where to live. Nathan would like to be closer to work so that he is not commuting for so long. His brother also came back here with us and just got a job in Bellevue. So we are thinking either Bellevue or West Seattle. We shall see.

I joined MOPS at our old church and am having fun with that! We are also going to a parenting class about how to deal with crazy (which is normal) kids! AND we will be going to a fusion group at our church covering the same subject. We are excited about that because we are hoping to finally meet some other young families at Canyon Creek!!!

That is it....well, in a nutshell anyway! Super excited and happy to be back in the US!!! =)

Humble Pie

For those of you who don't know me and didn't want to read the novel that is the background info on me....my family and I have had a rough few years financially. We have uprooted and moved chasing one opportunity after another. Our emotions have been up and down and down and even further down! To add to our stress we had baby number two during the roughest part of our marriage to date (sweet blessing that he is). And now we are in Japan where I am constantly uncomfortable, annoyed and reminded that I am not where I want to be in life. But today I joined a networking website with our home church and as I was reading through the various prayer requests that people were making regarding their baby's heart transplant, or a friends 5-year-old's brain surgery hoping to cure the seizures she's been having 6 times an hour for a year or the prayer for a friend who got home from a 12 month deployment from Iraq and tragically watched his wife get hit by a car and killed right in front of him. And remember the funerals I went to of friend's children I knew who went home to Heaven far to early for one reason or another. And I have to say I feel blessed. During this time of giving thanks I have been struggling to stay positive, to not be angry at our situation, to remember our blessings and not be selfish. But it is so hard sometimes! Today I remember that as uncomfortable as I am, and angry as I am at our situation in life I AM BLESSED! I have two wonderful, healthy, beautiful children who are loved and fed and happy. I have a WONDERFUL and loving husband who would walk to the ends of the Earth for his family. I have two sets (thanks to marriage) of spectacular parents who are willing to go out of their way to put a roof over our heads in our time of need. I have many other family members who are willing to help and be supportive to us during our struggles. I have a multitude of friends who love and care for me and my family's situation and pray for us to find steady work and get back on our feet. And I have a God who, even though I can't always hear Him, loves me and has a good plan for our lives. So during this time of trial and tribulation, the nights of no sleep and days of constant anxiety over the next step in our journey together...I AM THANKFUL. I AM BLESSED. And I pray for all the people out there who have to deal with cancer and illness and death and infertility and financial hardship and divorce and other losses. You are not alone and you are loved!

Hairy Situation

Nathan couldn't stand it another day so he and Stephen tried to cut their own hair. LOL First, by using a beard trimmer and then by using some actual barber scissors. Stephen was the one experimented on and when he ended up looking like he had hair plugs he decided they needed to get an actual hair trimmer. They got one and then the fun really began!!! First it was just Nathan and Stephen...then Keagan, Caleb and even Jack!!! The only guy who missed out on the buzz cut today was Rick! hahaha The boys look soo cute =) It's so weird to see Keagan without his little faux hawk!! He looks like such a big boy! Jack doesn't really look any older, he kinda looks more like a baby with no hair. His hair is so thin still anyway that having it short doesn't make a whole lot of difference. Except to somehow make him cuter....if that is possible!!! =) Both boys loved it! Keagan was super excited to be a part of the action and Jack thought the trimmer tickled!! I would have cut my hair too, except the grow-out stage is such a pain in the butt!!!

"throws hands up"

Ever heard of having a bad day?...Try having some bad years! So sick of all the crap. Is it so bad to want an average life? I feel like I did used to be somewhat materialistic, not any more that your normal everyday Joe, but somewhat. Now the only things I hold onto are my toothbrush and contacts. Seriously. My thinking has shifted so much from when I was kid. Its crazy.

Something else I am curious about...why do we live our lives worried about what other people will think or say. Even now as I write this totally nonsensical post I am editing out some things I really want to say. Its so stupid. Will people love me less if I am completely honest and if that honesty isn't beautiful or even nice. Do I have to have sunshine coming out of my butt at all times in order to please the freakin world around me. I am so sick of having my hands tied and my mouth shut and my thoughts sensored. If you are reading this please know that I probably love you, or at least like you in someway, so please don't be offended. Don't read it if it offends you, don't expect me not to write it. This world doesn't revolve around you, it revolves around me. It's my blog.

I'm cranky and going to bed.

Japanistic

So, I have a few things to blog about today. And for the most part they are un-related! lol First, I was talking to Kelly (my SIL) the other day and she was telling me the Japanese people sit on the floor in the shower!!! WTH?! She asked her hubby about it, because he is Japanese, and he said that taking a shower is supposed to be relaxing and standing up isn't so they sit down. hahahaha! Gross! But they do have special mats that they buy so sit on the floor while they shower. If you want to sit while you bathe...take a bath??! Silly Japanese people.

Ok next on the agenda is that in the last few years I have realized how very few good friends I actually have and its really sad. I am here in Japan and I find myself wanting only to talk to a few choice people. Not that other people aren't important or lovely to be with, its just interesting to see who actually gives a $h^# when it matters. What bugs me most is when the people who ought to care don't. The people you wait for a response from and it never comes. The people who consistently disappoint you but you keep hoping. A big part of me wants to throw my hands up and say "fine, screw you," but I can't because, again, these are the people who are supposed to be there for you. So to all you out there who are loyal and actually care...THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. And to all you out there who don't, but should, thanks for nothing. You make my life just a little more miserable and you suck. (cuz its all about me of course, its my blog damn it)

For my final word...I have decided that Japanese isn't a real language. I have been here for two months! Its just a bunch of made up sounds and random scribbles, because seriously....I still don't get it. Is it because I don't like fish??? hmmmm

Good Day, Bad Day, Happy Day, Sad Day

Sunday was an interesting mix of good and bad, happy and sad...lots of mixed emotions! Mostly it was good. Keagan did great as far as potty training goes! NO accidents all day! And we had a family birthday party for Jack-a-Mo, finally! He had no idea what was going on, but we all had fun and he got some cute stuff =) He was mesmerized by the candle, but Daddy had to blow it out. Keagan was all for helping open the presents til he realized that he couldn't just take whatever he wanted from them! lol I made the cake and the frosting - because they don't sell frosting here and I didn't find the cake mixes until after I was done! *sigh* The cake turned out "alright" but the next time I make one from scratch there will be a few minor modifications to the recipe. I sorta kinda made a Winnie the Pooh looking character with my home made frosting. Luckily there was some really good ice cream to go with the cake!!! Eh....I tried!
The sad part of the day was learning that my grandfather had finally gone to be with Jesus. I'm glad I had so many distractions because otherwise I would have just cried all day. I have so many mixed emotions about not being able to be there for my parents now. Not being able to say goodbye or attend the funeral. But I know everything will go fine and he is in a better place now. So I just gotta suck it up and not feel sorry for myself, because ultimately that is what it comes down to.
In other news, happy news, Jack finally signs please now!! He just really got it yesterday!! He still squeals at you for whatever it is he wants, but he says please at the same time so its ok! =)

Shizuoka

Ruthanne, Nathan, the kids and I all went to Shizuoka today to turn in visa paperwork and application stuff. It was pretty fun! =) It's pretty small for a big city, but we did get to go to Starbucks!!! Crazy how something familiar can be so comforting and nice =) The elevators in the building for the immigration office were so small that the double stroller and I barely fit into it and we all had to go separately! Me and dbl stroller in one and Nathan, Ruthanne and the umbrella stroller in the other! lol And even though we were downtown there weren'y really any sidewalks on the main streets! Tre-weird I say. We did get to cross the road diaganally which was pretty darn spiffy though. Got some good video footage in the car of the kids....they are just so cute! And of course we had to stop at MacDonald's fo lunch or Keagan would have never forgiven us! hahaha Oh, a day in the life....