Spring in Japan

Things are going well here in Japan. We are entering the gorgeous months of Spring - the cherry blossoms are popping out everywhere! This weekend we will go to Hirosaki Castle where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Pictures to follow! Noah is playing soccer and is very good. Elly loves to go to his practices and run on and off the field! Dan's had a time of it with work - he's daily overwhelmed but that is the life of a commander. I am enjoying our new friends here - we had a really fun bbq at our house this past weekend. Things are just moving right along - at lightening speed! The Bealls come to visit us in 3 weeks and we are so excited to show them Northern Japan. It will be really fun to have them here. Then my folks will stop through in June on their way home from China - can't wait for that either.

Moments

Good morning! I have had the hardest time sitting down and blogging lately, for some reason. Maybe it is because there is so much to say that it overwhelms me.

We are doing well here in Japan. I am not sure why Noah's snowboarding picture won't rotate upright but, you get the drift: this kid loves the snow.

We thought that since all 180" we had gotten thus far had melted that spring was on the way.... no such luck! We got aboujt 5-6" last night. The temp has been up and down so much lately that I am sure it will melt but it certainly is beautiful to wake up to the sunlight bouncing off of fresh snow.

I am reading "One Thousand Gifts" right now and if you haven't read it, I highly encourage it. Especially for busy moms who long for night time when you finally have some alone time... Like me. I am learning that God has given us THIS moment - it is to be savored, enjoyed, and we are to enter His courts with THANKSGIVING for all things in that moment of time.

I have started my 1,000 list but haven't gotten far... there is so much for me to be thankful for. Even the mundane can be given thanks - and giving thanks when you don't have a thankful heart is so difficult, but God doesn't care. He doesn't want us to blanket our thanksgivings to Him. He knows our hearts and knows our struggles. So if we can give Him the thanks even in the daily struggles, our blessings will abound. As I said, I am learning an awful lot from this book. And when you are "mom tired" as I am most often, it is vital that we remain thankful and aware of the moment. Moments we will never have again with our babies, our husbands, our daily rituals - for once a moment is gone, it is gone forever. I don't want to look back on my life wishing I had slowed down, for life isn't a race - once run on this earth, it is but a memory. I want my babies to look back on their childhood with me and know that I took time for them, for their dad, for our family, but most importantly, for our God.

Things like my kids singing to each other, the way Elly's hair curls and hangs around her innocent face, the sound of Noah's voice, the soft breathing of my husband as he sleeps beside me, the cat's meows as he talks to us, lying on the couch reading what God is trying to teach me, the mundane of the daily routine, the soft snow outside my window, the phone calls from my mama from so far away, my sister's constant dry sense of humor that never fails to make me laugh, a wave from someone you pass on the street.... my list continues into infinty.

I encourage you to order either the book or the devotional (which is just as awesome) and read it and savor your moments in time with what God has given you. I admit, I struggle to do that most days - I get so caught up in myself, my anxieties, making it one moment to the next. But when I slow down, God blesses me and that moment.

Heading out to start my day as the kids are at pre-school. Enjoy this day and give thanks for it!

Hi!

Sorry I haven't been blogging much! The four of us have had the Misawa crud and it hasn't been pleasant. The kids got it first then Dan and I did and it has done a number on the adults! I ended up getting a sinus infection from it and finally got on antibiotics and I am still trying to convince Dan to go to the doc for the same. Men.... Hopefully he will soon.

The snow is still covering everything here but we are getting some warmer days so its melting a bit. However, it is currently sunny and snowing outside. So funny to me. I never thought I'd get tired of the snow but it is starting to wear me down a bit - I am really looking forward to the early spring when the snow has melted and we get the amazing cherry blossoms everyone talks about.

While we have free heat - and free everything - in our on base home, we don't have a/c.... and the months of August and September have been described as TORTUROUS! Like, you have to have dehumidifiers in every room because of the stifiling humidity and heat. Not a fan of the heat when it is that bad. Thankfully, that only tends to last about 2 months here.

The kids are doing great. LOVE their new school. Noah goes off base to a great pre-school five days a week and Ellyotte goes to the same place 3 days a week, sometimes more if she cries hard enough for it.

We haven't been snowboarding/skiing in a couple of weeks because of all we have had going on on the weekends. I had a baby shower here at our home for a great girlfriend of ours - we had 30 women come! Everyone loves Kara. And this weekend, we have the annual spouses' dining in. Our theme is Hee Haw - so I am in charge of decorations, etc and it has been stressful planning. But will truly be a fun night for the women on base - I can't wait to see how our OSS table and gals do this weekend! Hopefully we will win something for originality ;)

I am finishing up a term and will jump right into teaching another. That has also kept me busy. Despite the busyness though, I am starting to get homesick. Maybe it is the gray, dreary snow days getting to me; I don't know. But I do miss my family and home terribly. Some days are so easy, others are not. Today has been so-so but there is always so much to be thankful for.

My friend back home, Alithia, sent her little man's Flat Stanley to us so that was fun taking him around and taking pictures of him and "teaching him" all about Japan. It is currently back in the mail with lots of pictures and info for Houston to show to his little class. Noah liked helping out with his friend's project all the way here in Japan.

Dan's job is definitely keeping him busy and gone a lot. But it is awesome having his office literally 3 minutes away. And so far, he's not slated to deploy or go on any long trips so we are thankful for that.

This is just a short update as I have to wake up Elly from her nap to go get Bubba (Noah) from school. But I wanted to let you all know we are alive and well here in the Land of the Rising Sun!


 

A Time of Need

Friends,

The below email is from one of our pilot friends here at Misawa AB. He lost his good buddy in the F-16 that went down off the coast of Italy. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/body-of-air-force-academy-grad-captain-lucas-gruenther-found-in-the-adriatic-sea-after-f-16-crash

One week after GAZA's body was found, his first child - a little girl named Serene, was born. Please consider supporting/giving to Serene's college fund in honor of GAZA. He made the ultimate sacrifice in honor of our great nation.

  -----------------------------------------------------

Weasels,

My good friend, Major Lucas "GAZA" Gruenther, was killed a couple weeks ago in the F-16 that went down over Aviano. The River Rats have started an Air Warrior Courage Foundation fund in his name to help his daughter, Serene, attend college later. She was born about a week after Gaza was killed. Mom and daughter are doing well and are healthy. Please read the message below from the River Rats on how to contribute, if you would like. Just follow the simple instructions. Gaza was a great man, a great husband, and would have been a great father. Thank you for supporting his family.

Cave Putorium!
Thud

Christopher "THUD" Behrens, Capt, USAF
35 OSS/OSK

***In response to the tragic loss of our fellow River Rat and Active Duty USAF F-16 pilot, Major Lucas "Gaza" Gruenther, the River Rats in conjunction with our charitable arm, the Air Warrior Courage Foundation (AWCF) has established a college 529 to accept tax deductible contributions for his daughter's college education.

It is very important to follow the directions below, particularly the "In Memory..." verbiage. All contributions are tax deductible.

There are two ways to give.

1. Send a check to the AWCF, P.O. Box 877, Silver Spring, MD 20918. In a note or on the check say "In Memory of Major Lucas 'Gaza' Gruenther."

2. Using a credit card. Go to our home page at http://www.airwarriorcourage.org/ . On the Home page is a DONATE button. Click it and it will take you to a page with a GIVE DIRECT button. Click it and fill in the blanks. In the COMMENTS block put in "In Memory of Major Lucas 'Gaza' Gruenther".

Please help us get the word out so that we can all support the Gruenther family, part of our River Rat family now and forever, and please give.

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Thanks, and please spread this entry to as many folks that you know who would be willing to help Baby Serene Gruenther and her family in this time of unfathomable loss.

Katie

Back and Not Private

Hi Readers, Well, after the last post - since removed - I recieved a mixed bag of comments. Mostly positive, some incredulous and some downright stunned by what I had shared. I forget that what I write affects so many close to me, so I chose to remove it, stop blogging for a little bit and pray about how to share about what I have truly gone through. I know it has helped people immensely, but I don't want to hurt anyone in the process of being honest. So, I will return with my story, my updates and will be more careful with my words. Stay tuned. Love you all.

Winter wonderland

Japan is just amazing. Have I said that before? I never anticipated loving this place like I do. It is truly a mystical land. And in the past 2 weeks, we've had about 2.5 feet of snow! Every day at some point, you can look out your window and see the biggest snowflakes flying. We have a massive hill behind our house that all the neighborhood kids sled on - my Noah is absolutely in heaven throwing snowballs and sledding every day. I remember the few times in my childhood that it snowed, and those are among the most fun memories of mine.

Ellyotte: she and snow are not friends. She literally goes out in her snow gear and after 2 minutes tells me it is time to go inside!

We've been skiing several times while here - and it is yet early in the ski season so we are pumped. I've skiied for almost 2 decades with my mom and sister; from British Columbia all the way to the east coast (NOT real skiing in my opinion!). Aside from my favorite mountains (Breckenride, CO and Whistler, BC), Mount Okunayama here in Japan is running a tight race in being my first choice!

We took Noah skiing yesterday (well, Noah and Dan snowboard, I ski) and it was Noah's first time to snowboard. OMGosh, I was the proudest mom! We three went together on every run and we ran the mountain all day. THAT KID WAS SHREDDING and TURNING and TRICKING it out! I was floored. We knew he was atheletic but dang - Shaun White watch out :) He's got the snow fever now so we will be spending many of our weekends on the mountain in the near future. There are 755 ski mountains in Japan, by the way. This is a winter sport's lover's dream country.

My mom comes Thursday for 2 weeks! She's a skiier too so we will be going - Mom, Noah and I - while Dan has an exercise and Elly will go to school. Can't wait for her to get here so we can show off our new home.

For anyone who turns their noses up at the thought of visiting Japan or feel sorry for us for being so far from home, I encourage you to come see this land FIRST and then make an opinion! I was one of those snobs and I am eating my foot now as I brag about how awesome this place is. Every day is an adventure and we thank God for where he has us now.

 

Parties and Earthquakes

The season is upon us! Lots of Air Force events, parties, and fun with our new friends/family in Japan. Last week we had Dan's Ops Group Christmas party and the Bealls won a new waterproof "Bloggie" camera. Just what we needed because I have managed to ruin 4 of our last 4 nice cameras! We were excited.

The kids are in Santa mode and can't wait to open presents. It has been hard to keep them out from underneath the tree. My mom can't stand it anymore and will be visiting most of the month of January. I CAN'T WAIT! Gah, I miss my mom, dad, and sister/brother in law soooo very much. This is a terrific experience for us four and we are loving each moment of it but being away from our precious family is tough.

What isn't tough is getting to enjoy the S-N-O-W!!!! This place continues to awe me with how it turns into a Winter Wonderland with each snow fall.

I experienced my first Japanese earthquake the night of the Christmas party. I had just gotten out of the shower, Dan and Noah were out at the Tree lighting ceremony on base, and Elly had just awakened from a marathon (typical) nap. I was literally wearing nothing but my Spanx when I got a siren alert on my phone in Japanese that had a picture of a man running..... What in the world, I thought.

Not 15 seconds later, the house began to sway and shake and groan. I kid you not, I thought I was dreaming. I threw on a t-shirt, still in my Spanx only, grabbed our 2 year old and held her tightly under the door frame of our bedroom. I just started praying and pleading the Blood of Jesus all over us, our home, my husband and son who were outside and then my mind shifted to all the thousands of people killed/affected by the earth quake in Southern Japan last year. I thought "what in the heck am I still doing inside?!" while things fell all around us.

I ran down the stairs shouting for God to protect us and straight out of the door... into the falling snow.... with all of our neighbors (high ranking officers and families) around us... with my babe in arms.... IN MY SPANX!!!! I squatted on the porch in a tshirt and Spanx and prayed that a) we'd be safe and b) that no one would see me! After about 3-4 minutes, the earthquake stopped and Elly looked at me and said "mommy, why you in your underwears?" HAHAHA!!!!!

It registered at 7.8 magnitude off of the coast (about 10 miles from our home). So what we felt registered at just under 5 magnitude in strength. No joke! We were fine but I was definitely in the throes of laughter and fright!! I also got a lot of "welcome to Japan" comments that night at the party.

It has been sad not to get a lot of Christmas cards this year - a favorite of mine during the holidays. But I know it is because people think we have a foreign mailing address. It only takes a stamp though since we are on an American military installation. I didn't know that till we moved here - I thought postage would cost a fortune!

On the other hand, I did order our Christmas cards from Shutterfly mid-November and they still aren't here!!!! I had to place a complaint and they re-sent them... haven't gotten those either. So I can't complain because ours havent gone out either :(
Love you all and miss you tremendously

Beautiful Japan

We TRULY have fallen in love with this country. Living on base surrounded by awesome military families has helped, too. But this place is exquisite. We are in the North and have snow covered mountain ranges all around us. There are evergreens everywhere, dense forests, and amazing sushi and food. The Japanese here love the Americans so much. Misawa City is a sweet, crowded yet rural town.

Every trip off base is an adventure - there are so many Ramen and sushi restaurants! Our favorite is Kappa Sushi where you order your choice on a computer at your table, the sushi is freshly made and it shoots out on a little train and arrives at your table. We love that!

Since being here, I have acquired a mamasan - she comes once a week (or more if needed) to clean our house, teach our children Japanese, babysit and cook should we need it. It is amazing and I was so excited to find her.

Noah has made his lifelong BFF in Aaron, they live down the street and both of our families have fallen in love with the other. It is so sweet how our children love each other and how us parents love the other's children. Noah's had about 6 spend the night parties and they have become brothers. It is so fun watching your babies meet their first best friend.

Dan's job is super busy - but as a commander, he is doing a fabulous job. The troops and leadership love him and I am really proud.

We have had about 5 snowstorms already and they have rid the trees of the final beautiful colors Japan had to offer. We are all decorated for Christmas and can't wait to spend the holidays with our new Misawa family. This is far different than being at home - which we really miss - but new experiences are fun and exciting too. Plus we get the advantage of starting our own traditions as a little family of four.

Noah is loving his Taiko drum classes. He goes each Tuesday and is really into it which is great. We are still waiting on him to get off of the waiting list and into his preschool. He and Elly go to a sitter several hours a day so I can get some work done but he's desperate to get back into the routine of school; as am I..... I am expecting a call anyday that he's off of the list but every day waiting is still agonizing.

We had the privilege of having Trace Adkins come perform on a USO tour. Not many people make it up this far north so for him to make that effort spoke volumes about his patriotism. My friend, Denise (Aaron's mom), is the Squadron Commander for the unit that helped get him here. He performed in an aircraft hangar and we were on the front row. I'm not a huge fan of his music but having him here was a big morale booster for the troops. Afterwards, Denise took us back and we got to spend some time with him before he left for his quarters. It was great.