stretching is no fun . . . but so worth the time!!

We have been a fitness kick around our house.  Mike started running almost a year ago.  He has lost more than 30 pounds.  I started walking in the mornings a few weeks back.  I don't think I have lost anything yet, but I know I feel better!  There is just something about getting up and getting moving first thing.  I love the feel of the cool morning wind against my face to wake me up and get me ready for a day of schooling and family and fun. 

This post really is not about exercise.  It is however, about being stretched.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

I Chronicles  4:10

 

 

. . . Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed . . . . (give me the desires of my heart)

. . . and enlarge my coast . . . (give me a bigger vision)

. . . and that thine hand might be with me . . . (keep Your hands of protection on me and my family)

. . . and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, . . . (guard my heart)

 

 

Jabez prayed that God would enlarge his coast.  Jabez prayed that God would give him a bigger vision.  God would give him a larger area to minister.  God would stretch him.  God would take him out of his comfort zone.

 

 

 Every few months I will be reminded of this verse.  I will be reminded of how I want God to bless me, of how I want God's hand to be with me, of how I want God to keep me from evil.  I always kind of skip over the "enlarge my coast" part.   I mean really, I am a missionary.  I do live in another country.  I am suffering for Jesus over here. :)  And besides, that part is for "those Christians in America."  Right?? 

 

 

Wrong.  Wrong. Wrong!

 

 

That part, that whole verse is for me!!
 

Last Friday, Junko asked me if I would like to meet some of her friends.  I said sure!  She then told me that one Wednesday morning a month she volunteers at the Nakagawa Children's Center.  (It's a mother's day out type program.)  She went on to tell me about the five older ladies, who speak NO ENGLISH would also be there to help.  She told me that she would be very busy because she is the group leader.  She would be talking with the mothers, the other volunteers, and making sure all the rules are followed.  She then asked, "Can you help me at the Children's Center on Wednesday?"  I said yes but as the words were coming out of my mouth I felt the fear building up in me.  I am not normally a shy person.  I am not normally afraid of a new task.  But for some reason the thought of being in a room for 3 hours with ladies who did not speak English was terrifying. 

 

 

I came home and told Mike about it.  He said, "Great!  You should do it!" 

 

 

But I didn't want supportive right now.  I wanted someone to say . . .

 

 

 "Are you crazy?  Don't do that.  Don't befriend these ladies or help your friend.  Don't meet new people.  And don't you dare try to learn more of that Japanese language.  God will give you the language when you need it.  Now, come over here and lets eat a big bowl of ice cream together because calories don't count for Christians!" 

 

 

 Now that is what I wanted to hear.  All weekend I tried to think of a reason to call and say I could not make it.  I check the temperature of all the kids daily.  Surly, someone is going to get sick.  I would come up with excuses in my head.  I would try to convince myself that I could not do this.  And then it hit me.  Japanese Class!!  Bingo!  That was it.  I couldn't go because I have Japanese class on Wednesday afternoons.  God quickly took care of that excuse.  Our Japanese teacher got the flu.  She sent an email Tuesday night.  (Mike didn't tell me until Wednesday afternoon)

 

 

God was already working on my heart Tuesday.  Eli was looking for a Bible verse.  I couldn't remember exactly where it was.  I knew I had it marked in my Bible.  So I began flipping through my Bible, scanning the highlighted verses.  BAM!  I Chronicles 4:10 

 

 

I read the verses and my eyes were drawn to "enlarge my coast".  I stopped everything I was doing.  I felt guilt and shame. 

 

 

. . . enlarge my coast . . .

 

 

. . . enlarge my coast . . .

 

 

I was not willing to let God enlarge my coast.  My area of influence.  My comfort zone. 

 

 

 

 

I knew then that no matter how uncomfortable I might feel, no matter how I was going to struggle with the language, or how strange it would be to play with children who would not understand me, I knew I had to go.  I needed to enlarge my coast. 

 

 

Wednesday morning I got up and got Noah and Rachal off to school.  Then got Jonah and Eli started on there work.  I jumped on my bike and rode off.  When I arrived I was greeted by friendly smiles.  A 9 month old baby was quickly placed in my arms.  I sat down and began to play pat-a-cake.  With in a few minutes the ladies slowly began to come up and speak to me.  I told them, "I don't understand very much Japanese."  They spoke very slowly and little by little I was able to communicate with them.  One lady asked me what university I attend.  I laughed. "No I am not a student.  I am married with four children." 

 

 

Sometimes it is hard to be stretched. Let me tell you, when you put your fear aside and let God lead, it can turn out to be a pretty awesome morning.




Science and Space and Fun

For the January school field trip we had the chance to go to the Saga Prefecture Space and Science Museum.  Here are a few pictures from our day of fun!!

Jonah on a Moon Walk simulator

Not a great picture but Jonah sure had fun bouncing around like a real astronaut.

A school of fish

Eli feeding the fish

Noah feeding the fish

Looking at the different types of frogs in our area.

Hands on learning in the Human Hamster Wheel

Earthquake Simulator

Rachal having fun playing with the speed gun.

Everyone wanted to see who could throw the ball the fastest.

Even Mike wanted to play.

Eli riding in a car powered by magnets.



 

Standing inside a bubble! 
I don't think they knew what to expect. 
They seemed a little scared.

The second time they are more excited about it.

Eli trying to hear like an elephant!!

Rachal in a bubble!

 Did you ever see Space Camp - a movie from the 80's?  This group of kids goes to Space Camp for the summer.  They train just like real astronauts.  The top group will get to sit in a real space shuttle while NASA fires up the engines.  Anyway, something goes wrong and the shuttle takes off and these teenagers have to fly back all on their own. {it scares me to think of teenagers driving a car much less a space shuttle} So in the movie, the kids train on this orbit spinning thing.  I have always wanted to try it.  I didn't try it, but Noah did!!



Getting strapped in . . .

All happy and ready for his adventure.

It was spinning supper fast.
(this is why I didn't do it)

He did great! 

A very normal day

I wanted to share what a "normal" day for me in Japan looks like.  I have noticed that I am slower at posting on the blog.  I have also noticed that I am worn out by 8 pm every night.  I often want to write something but then I think about the warm bed and how tired I am.  The warm bed wins!!  So here is a very normal day for me.

5:45 am - first alarm goes off.  (notice I said first.  It take me a while to get up!)

6:00  - out of bed to go turn on the heater in the living room.  It's usually 12c (53F) in the morning.  So I hurry back under the covers.  I read emails, check facebook and read the Bible.  Finally getting out of bed around 6:45ish.

7:00  - I start cooking breakfast, start the coffee, start the laundry and start making lunch for Noah and Rachal. 

7:15  - Last call for getting out of bed.  At this point, if you are not physically up and moving around you are free game!!  This could be anything from me singing off key to take your covers away or even a spray bottle of nice cold water!! 

7:20 - 8:15 - Eat breakfast, get dressed, clean the table and dishes, make beds and get school stuff ready.  All this done by the kids.  I finish lunches, hang the laundry out to dry, get Mikes breakfast and lunch ready and try to drink a cup of coffee before it gets too cold.

8:15  - Noah and Rachal head to the church for school. 

8:30 - Jonah and Eli at the table for school.  I help them get started on the day with Bible, Spelling, and Writing in their journal.

8:45 - I leave the house.  Monday is food shopping day and Mike stays home with the boys. I am home by 11:00 am.     Tuesday - Thursday I go walking with some mommy friends for about 40 mins.  From 9:30 - 11:30 I teach Jonah and Eli math, grammar, science and history.

11:30 - Reading time/ make lunch time.  Eli sits on the kitchen floor and reads aloud to me and Jonah reads in his room.

12:00 - LUNCH! 

12:45 - Back to work.  The boys finish up any lessons from the morning.  After all work has been completed, they work on Math Centers or Language Centers.  These are games that I have made to reinforce concepts they have learned in Math, Grammar, Spelling and Science.  This also gives me a chance to have some quite time to work on my school work.  I am currently finishing my degree in Missions, learning Japanese, doing a weekly Bible study with a Japanese friend, doing a Bible study with a Missionary friend and working on a scripture memory challenge for the year!!  Wednesday I have Japanese class.  I have to take the train into the city.  I leave around 1:00 and don't get home until 5:00. 

3:00 - School is out!! 

3:15 - Noah and Rachal are home!  We now have 15 mins for snack and talking about their day.

3:30ish - Math Time with Noah and Rachal.  I sit down and go over their lesson for tomorrow with them.  While they work on the practice problems I grade the school work they did from today.  Then we review anything they are not getting and fix the mistakes.

5:00 - I start dinner.  Most nights I have at least one child sitting on the kitchen floor while I continue to teach or make corrections from the days work.

6:00  - We sit down for supper! 

6:30 - 8:00  - Family time, baths and showers, kitchen clean up.

8:00 - Jonah and Eli go to bed

9:30ish - Noah and Rachal go to bed.

10:00 - I am drifting off to sleep!!  Thank you Lord for another amazing day with my family!!

As I look at everything written out, it sure looks like a lot of work. 

But I don't see it as work.  I see this as ministry. 

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.

1 Timothy 1:12

Oreo Chocolate Cake goodness

Got this from a friend. 

 

It's awesome. 

 

I'm going to share.

 

 

Here's what you need ~

 

2 cake pans (9" round or 8x8" square)

1 package of Oreos
1 cup of whipping cream or Cool Whip
2 Tbs sugar (for the whipping cream)
 

3/4 cup of butter

3 eggs

2 cups flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups milk

 

Or you could use a box chocolate cake mix.  I wont judge you!!  :)  If you do that, read step 1 and then skip down to step 4 for the rest of the instructions.

 

Here's what you do ~

 

1.  Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.  Grease the bottoms and sides of pans.  Separate Oreo cookies.  Line the bottom of each pan with Oreo halves. Place remaining Oreos in a baggie and set aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

 

2.  Preheat oven to 350* (180c).  In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Gradually add in sugar 1/4 cup at a time until well mixed.  Beat in eggs one at time.  Add vanilla.  Alternately add in flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture. Beat on low speed until all mixed.  Beat on medium speed for 30 seconds more.  Pour cake batter into the pans and over the Oreo cookies.

3.  Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool cakes in the pan for 10 minutes.  Turn out on to wire rack to cool. 

4. While cakes cool take baggie with Oreos and crumble into small pieces.  In a chilled mixing bowl add 1 cup whipping cream and 2 Tbs of sugar.  Beat with electric mixer on medium until soft peeks form.  About 5-7 minutes.  Stir the Oreo crumbs into the whipped cream.  After cakes are cool spread whipped cream mixture on top of one cake.  Set the second cake on top.  Spread the remaining mix over the cake. 

Enjoy!! 

 



It's been a year

 One year ago today we were leaving America and arriving in Fukuoka.  We were scared, excited, tired and a little over whelmed to say the least.  We have had all of our "first" in Japan.  We have seen things and done thing and even eaten things I never imagined.  We have laughed, we have cried, we have grown, we have prayed.  We have grown closer as a family and closer to God.  We have survived our first year on the mission field.  {insert round of applause here}

Here are a few highlights from our year. 
Most are funny, some are sad but remember

everything that God brought us to this year,

 HE also brought us through.
At the end you can click on the link to
see a short video of pictures from our year.

• We arrived in Japan.  You can read about that day HERE.

• Rachal made our first trip to the doctor in Japan.  January 20, 2012 was the beginning of "Flu Week" for us. 

• January 28, 2012 we moved into our apartment. You can read about that HERE.

• February Mike passed a large kidney stone.  This was also his first ride in an ambulance (ever).  This was hands down the scariest thing we had to deal with this year.  Being in that much pain and not speaking the language.  When Mike arrived at the Red Cross Hospital and the doctor spoke English, tears of JOY (and pain).

• We were talking to a friend over skype.  She asked, "Can you cook the same foods you use to cook in America?"  I replied, "Yes, I can make most of the foods we used to eat in America.  The only difference is here in Japan we make a lot of things from scratch."  Jonah then chimed in, "We never ate scratch until we came to Japan.  I really like eating scratch."

• I made a Japanese friend.  You can read about that HERE.

• Mike's mom was asking the kids what they thought about Japan.  Eli said, "Japan is exactly like America, except only it's WAY different."

• We were attacked by Mothra the killer moth.  You can read about that HERE.

• In June I cut my finger while cooking dinner.  I was sure I needed stitches.  I called our missionary friends to come over and take me to the hospital.  Once we arrived at the hospital, the nurse was asking for my medical history.  She would ask the question, Mike Winters would interpret, I would answer and Mike would again interpret.  She asked if I had ever had surgery before.  I said, "Yes, a c-section."  Mike explains it to her.  She looks puzzled and asks again.  Mike says in Japanese, "Yes, a c-section."  Again the puzzled look.  After a minute she just nods and walks away.  Mike pulls out his electronic dictionary to double check and make sure he was saying the word "c-section" correctly.  Turns out he was mispronouncing the word.  He was saying Uranus (the planet in outer space) not c-section.  No wonder she was confused!!!

• I started language school.  You can read about that HERE.

• We saw our first Rainy Season.  Growing up in West Texas I was excited about the rain . . . . at first.  You can read about that HERE.

• We had the chance to help with Vacation Bible School and serve with a Missions Team. 

• Mike and I both lost family members this year.  It has been hard to be away from our family when we know they are hurting.  We have wanted to  jump on a plane and run home.  God has given us that comfort that we needed.  Thankfully, we have Skype.  It makes life a little easier!!  :)

• We started back with home school after a nice summer break.  You can read about that HERE.

• I cut my finger in the most unusual way and I found out that I have been introducing myself with the wrong word.  You can read about that HERE and HERE.

• We have tried some really crazy food and some really yummy food.  The hardest thing was eating rotten beans.  My brain kept saying "Don't eat this!"   You can read about that HERE.

• Speaking of food, I have really had to work on my "Betty Crocker-ness" this year.  I have learned to cook all sorts of things, like a cake.  Without a box cake mix.  :)

I hope you enjoy this video!

 

 

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??