Mimi

Elsie Pauline was her name, but Mimi is who she was. 

She was born in the country.  Hermleigh Texas, July 3, 1928 to be exact. But, she loved adventure.  She loved the action.  She loved the business of the city.  She loved people. (and people watching) 

From as far back as I can remember she has always had many friends.  She may have only met them a short while ago, or maybe she has known them for years.  No matter the time or the distance between them, you knew you were loved.  Maybe it was a hug as you came in the house or a squeeze of your hand as you laughed over a funny story.  You could not leave her side without knowing you we're special to her.

Oh how she loved a new adventure.  When others grandmothers were playing it safe and driving a Cadillac or a Grand Marquis, Mimi was sporting around town in her Red Thunderbird.  When most grandmothers would have been content to join to a quilting bee, Mimi was joining the Wagon Wheel Square Dance Club!  When other ladies her age were overwhelmed by going to the mall, Mimi was packing her bags for yet another adventure. . . . . Bahamas, Jamaica, Brazil!  Where I am sure she made new friends. 

She was a fighter!  If you told her it couldn't be done, she did it.  If you told her it shouldn't be done, she did it. When the doctors said, "Elsie, you have breast cancer."  She beat it.  When the surgeon said, "Mrs. Ammons, you need not one, but two hips replaced." She did it.  When her daughters told her, "Mother, you can't walk anymore." Well, she never walked again, but she sure tried!  Because she was a fighter.

 
She was also a great story teller.  Oh how I remember the story of Epaminondus.  We would listen each time like it was our first time to hear the story.  Knowing good and well, that he was going to step in the mince meat pies at the end.  She also would sing silly songs to us as we curled up in her lap.  Silly songs about "three little fishes that swam and swam right over the dam".  Or a song I was sure had made up words.  It was not until I was older, I figured out that mares, do in fact, eat oats, and does eats oats and little lambs eat ivy!

So you see, Mimi was one special lady.  And not just anyone can fill her shoes.  She never liked to wear shoes anyway.  I know she is in heaven today.  Oh the grand time she must be having.  All the friends and family that have gone on before her, waiting to welcome her.  I know she was excited to see them again but I have no doubt that she said, "Take me to see my Jesus!" I am sure that she is running down the streets of gold, barefoot no less.  With gold dust between her toes.  Maybe she even dipped her toes in the River of Life.  So run Mimi, run and have fun.  Have an adventure with Grandy again.  Sing songs and tell stories.  I will see you again one day.

I am sad today,

not because she is in heaven but

because not everyone got to meet my Mimi.

Christmas in Japan

 We started our Christmas Break with the school Christmas Party.

 A pizza party!! 

Dominos Pizza just opened in our town.

 

 What do you get when you roll up packing tape filled with candy??

A very good time!!!

 

 

Christmas Eve and we have snow!!

 

Pecan Pie!!

 

Christmas Eve was spent with friends and food!!

Grape Fanta and Sprite

Just one more sleep 'til Christmas . . .

 

 

Mike got a package of BLUE mask for Christmas.

(this is a story for another blog . . . .soon)

Candle Light Christmas Eve Service

One Happy Little Boy!

 

It was a cold, early morning

Eli's new hat

 Rachal got a new hat and fuzzy socks.

 

 Mike got a shoe horn from Noah.

Rachal was very impressed!! :)

Eli was so happy to give Mike his gift from the dollar store.

It's a frog hat. 

I mean really, who does not want a frog hat??

On December 26, we had a Childrens Christmas Party.

 

We had 30 kids who got to hear about Christ's Birth

and play some fun games!

 

 Draw a picture of what Christmas means to you.

 

 

 

Christmas means love, life, hope and peace to me.

 

What does Christmas mean to you??

1000 stinky gym socks for lunch

So who's ready for lunch?  I mean after reading that title you should all be hungry, right?

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Mike teaches English to a business man in our town.  Each week they meet for around two hours to talk English.  It's a mix of English and Japanese.  We call it Janglish or Enlanese. 

The last few weeks Mike has been explaining Thanksgiving and Christmas to him.  And of course food has come up.  Mike has told him what American's eat for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  And he has introduced Mike to a few new Japanese food items. 

We have started eating, and liking, pickled plums.  We have tried - dried squid, dried fish, eel and sashimi just to name a few. 

Well this week we were asked to try natto. 

What is natto you may ask?? 

"Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans that are fermented."

~Wikipedia

Yes, that said FERMENTED!! 

 

As in rotten. 

 

Gone bad.  

 

Spoiled.

Because Mike is such a good sport and willing to try anything once.  We went to the store and bought natto. 

 

After he opened the container and stirred it around the aroma began to grow.  {1000 stinky gym socks}  He had been told to mix some soy sauce and hot spicy mustered with the natto to help with the taste. 

Now doesn't that just look yummy?   

Mixing it all together . . . .

 

Ready to eat!!!

{those are fried potato patties on the plate too}

 

"Stop taking my picture!"

 

 

Mike's review of natto - "It's really not that bad once you get past the smell."

 

Will you ever eat it again?-  "Sure, why not!"

 

After he tried the natto and survived, I thought I would give it a try.

 

My review of natto - "It taste just like it smells."

 

Will I ever eat it again? -  "Not it I don't have too."

 

Jonah and Eli also tried it and both said it was not too bad.

 

 

So what did you have for lunch today??

 

 



Tell me your story

Today I left the house to meet Junko for coffee, donuts and Bible study.

The morning started out rough.  Not bad but, not good either.  The alarm didn't go off.  We woke up late.  We woke up almost an hour late!!  Mike almost didn't make his meeting.  Noah and Rachal were walking out the door still chewing on a piece of toast for breakfast.  Jonah could not find his pants.   By 9:45 am I had already prayed for peace for today.  I felt that I was two steps behind and that Satan was getting the victory.  I had not opened my Bible.  I had not even had a chance to glance over the Bible study lesson. 

 

"Be still and know that I am God. . . "

I heard these words whispered over my heart.  I took a deep breath of cold air.  Climbed on my bike and headed off to meet my friend.

After we had our coffee and donuts.  We made some small talk about how my language class was going.  We talked about the kids having a cold and how the weather had changed so quickly.  As I reached for my Bible she said,

 

"Tell me your story."

It took a moment to understand what she was asking.  "Tell me your story."  She wanted to hear my testimony.  She wanted to hear how God had changed me.  She wanted to know how I became a Christian.  The thought that crossed my mind was, "How can I tell my story unless I tell Jesus' story first." 

So I began in Romans Chapter 10.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.   For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:9-13

 

After I read the verses I began to share my story.  I started by telling how I was raised in a Christian home.  I was blessed to be able to attend church all my life.  I told her how when I was 13 I knew that my life was not complete.  I knew I was missing a very important part.  I knew I needed Jesus in my life.  I told her how my Dad took his Bible and showed me these same verses in Romans.  I was able to pray and ask Jesus to be the Lord of my life (and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation).  As I told her my story tears began to fall.  She told me to stop if it was going to upset me.  I smiled and said, "I am so happy to be able to share my story that I am crying."  She smiled. 

 

Junko thanked me for sharing my story.  She told me she is empty on the inside.  I told her that I was praying for her.  I told her that Jesus can fill that empty spot inside her. 

 

As I rode my bike home, I prayed again and thanked God for all the blessings in my life.  He turned what could have been a messy, stressful day into a wonderful day.  He allowed me the chance to share His story and my story with my friend.  I rode home with tears in my eyes, singing this song.

 

I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love. 
I love to tell the story,
because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.

 

I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.



Being Thankful

I bet you thought I had forgot to finish my 40 days of Thankfulness. 
 

So here goes a whole month of
 

I am thankful because . . . .

Day 8

God has called me to serve Him in the country of Japan.

 

Day 9

 I can always find something to smile about.

Even silly vegetables that smile!!

 

Day 10

I am an American

 

Day 11

I have food to eat. 

 

Day 12

 Noah is finally healthy and growing.

 

Day 13

For rain.

 Without the rain we would have no growth.

 

 

Day 14

For letters in the mail. 

Writing letters is a lost art and

I LOVE to get a letter in the mail.

 

Day 15

For the gift of sight. 

 I love to see beautiful colors.

 

Day 16

 God uses the simple everyday things to speak to me.

 

Day 17

For our churches in America who love and support us.

Some by prayer and some with gifts and for both I am very thankful.

 

Day 18

God always takes care of us.

(This is from a blow-out we had on deputation.)

 

Day 19

For the great state of TEXAS!

(can I get an amen?)

 

Day 20

For our military and the protection they provide.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

 

Day 21

I was able to travel around the United States

and see some really awesome stuff!

 

 

Day 22

For laughter.

This is my Mom.  She locked herself in my Dad's pickup.

Every time she would try to open the door the alarm would go off. 

We sat in the parking lot and laughed and laughed, because really,

who locks themselves IN the car??

 

Day 23

For Barbie.

She didn't grow in my tummy but she grew in my heart.

She will always be apart of our family.

 

Day 24

For the little things in life, like a hummingbird.

 

Day 25

For cousins!!

I love each of my nieces and nephew!!

Miss you all so much!

Day 26

For Mister Donut

Bible Study, Date night and point cards

that earn you FREE donuts!!!

 

 

Day 27

For the different kind of food and drink we get to try.

(I hope this one does not take off.  It was not the best idea.)

 

Day 28

For the flowers and all the things that grow after the rain.

 

 

 

Day 29

My kids have friends here in Japan.

 

Day 30

God gave me a talent that I can use for Him.

 

Day 31

For our mode of transportation.

It may not be what I want but it does

get us where we need to be.

 

Day 32

For Noah

Noah is an amazingly talented young man. 

He makes us laugh and drives us crazy.

 

Day 33

For Rachal

She is a beautiful young lady 

and a great helper around the house.

She has become an awesome little cook.

 

Day 34

For Jonah

He is growing up so fast. 

Each day he amazes me with his quest for knowledge.

Always reading, always asking questions. 

 

Day 35

For Eli

He has a kind heart and is always trying to please others.

He is growing up so fast.

My baby is not a baby anymore!!

 

 Day 36

For family time

Right not my kids are sitting around the table,

 putting a puzzle together and laughing.

Mike and I have no idea why they are laughing.

I don't even think they know.

But I love it and I am thankful for it!!

 

Day 37

For date night

Every week Mike and I are able to go out. 

Most of the time we just go get a 100 yen donut and walk around. 

I am thankful that after 15 years of marriage we still have fun together.

 

Day 38

For technology

Because of facebook and Skype I can keep

in touch with my friends and family. 

 I know I sometimes feel so far away but really

I am only seconds away from being with you all!!

 

Day 39

For home school

I am very thankful that I get to be involved in educating my kids. 

 At times I am overwhelmed but really I love it. 

I love helping them learn something new. 

 I love that I get to spend all day with them.

 

.

Day 40

For still believing in Santa

If you don't believe you don't receive!!

Merry Christmas!!