Almost Opposites!

My journeys continue... to TN!

When I was in Japan, my host family offered me their sky miles to book a round trip flight somewhere. The list of possible destinations was rather long! (I’ve got the traveling bug!) I decided to visit my grandparents in TN for a week! Japan and TN are extreme contrasts, and, even though I'm still not sure which side of the road I should be on, are introducing me to new sights, sounds, and thoughts! I've been to TN before, but it was many years ago and I hardly remember the trip! I'm so thankful for this opportunity to get to know my grandparents better and get a taste of what life on a farm is like! A bonus feature of my trip destination and timing is all the Civil War battle sites and museums! I'm currently studying the Civil War to prepare for the DSST exam!

Here are some pictures of the farm my grandparents live on. They just moved here recently so they are in the process of building barns, putting up fences, etc., but it's still beautiful! 

View of the house from half-way up the hill

Chickens and Roosters!

The woodshed on the left and the old tobacco barn on the right

The horses! I don't have a picture of them, but they also have 4 cows in there.

Kallan and Kenzie! Very big babies! 

The skittish Belties (Belted cows)!

Inside the old tobacco barn

Old trucks!!!

A few "flowers" can survive these frigid climates! (I've been freezing the entire trip thus far! I don't get it! I'm supposed to be a thick-blooded Northern girl.... but I'm just not! At least I'm not thick-blooded!)

Sewing Alterations Experiments...

Though I never blogged about it, I had a lot of opportunities to sew in Japan! (Maybe I did blog about that...?) Mrs. Winters helped me and taught me a few new skirt and culotte patterns and tricks and tips to sewing! I'm so thankful to her for this! :) Being able to sew (clothes, household items, quilts, etc) is a life goal of mine, and I am excited to be working toward accomplishing this goal!

I have always greatly admired my Memere who, I believe, posses great crafting skill and expertise! It was she who inspired me (perhaps unwittingly) to "go at" some of my clothes with my seam ripper, scissors, and sewing machine! I had a blast last night altering a skirt, a hooded shirt, and some PJ pants. After I did these, I ran up to my room to see what else I could alter!

Of course... I forgot to take "before and after" pictures... but maybe I'll remember to next time! I took a pleated panel out of the front of the skirt and sewed a straight seam instead (it's hard to explain, but the skirt looked almost like culottes, so I took that piece out, which removed the under pleat, and sewed the two sides together).

The shirt was just way to baggy on me... which is why it has been sitting in my drawer for a few years, untouched. So, I put it on inside out, Mom pinned it where I would sew, then I took it off, drew a line, and sewed both sides to take in the tons of excess material that made me look so frumpy! Viola! Cute shirt that I no longer have to get rid of because it fits!

For the PJ pants... I cut the old waist band off and just made a new elastic casing and stuck a new elastic in it! Someone... please get me a Staples 'easy' button! :)

Blessings!

I May Just Be Biased...

But my niece is ADORABLE! Here is the evidence!

I love that little smirk!

She looks so much like my cousin Chloe!

Modeling her Ukata from Japan!

I love the big pink bow!!!

Laughing at her Mommy!

Happy Girl!

My little sis, Dani

Concentrating on the leaf!

Got it!

"Is it ok if I eat this, Mom?"

"Don't mind me, I'm just gonna snack on this leaf!"

Amazing Autumn Colors!

Sleepy girl after all those pictures! (This is one of my favorites!)

My little niece, Elisabeth, is a blessing from God! I can't wait to teach her about Jesus Christ and help her learn to love and follow Him!

Let's Go.... at 3:00 AM?!

Before I left, my missionary host family wanted to take a special trip to give me a taste of "old Japan" and spend some time with all of us together. So, we planned a trip to Kyoto, to old capitol of Japan. Here, we saw many temples, shrines, shopping streets, and traditional style buildings.

We planned to travel to Kyoto by car because it was the least expensive way to get there... other than walking, I suppose, but that wasn't an option! :) Mr. Winters is super savvy at saving money and finding great deals! One way we could cut back on half of the tolls was to get on and off the highway between midnight and 4:00 am. In order to do this, though, we had to get up at 3:00am to ensure that we got on the highway by 4:00! It was fun to get up in the middle of the night and grope to the car, just to fall back asleep!

Pictures are worth thousands of words, so I'll let them do the talking!

Entrance to the Emperor's Palace

A man in traditional dress

A women dressed in traditional dress

Notice the flower, this is the Emperor's crest. Also, the thick wood roof, this is many layers of thin bark strips.

Explanation of the roof layers!

Lines in the sand, painstakingly created by palace gardeners.

Palace gardens

Natsuki and I

The Emperor's crest

Again...

More to come!

Don't Worry....

I SURVIVED!

In the back of my mind, I have been conscious that I haven't blogged in quite a few weeks, but a friend and my sister both prompted me to blog, because my last blog post was about the typhoon that passed by! I'm so sorry to have worried anyone! :) The typhoon passed with just a little bit of wind! It was not as bad as we were hoping... I mean... fearing... :) (I love storms!). Anyway, my days have been filled to the brim since my last posting, which is why I have been absent so long!

I had a life-changing time in Japan! God brought that trip at just the right time, and it was just the right length of time! I was so blessed, and I'm still realizing ways that this journey was a blessing to me! Not only did Mrs. Winters teach me how to sew clothes (which is a big life goal of mine), the Lord helped me overcome some trials and fears that have been plaguing me for over 6 years! Furthermore, I learned that I can live without so many things (truly, luxuries), such as a bed! Actually, since I've been home (~15 days), I haven't been able to sleep as well as I did the whole three months in Japan! I'm trying to see if I can get a futon here! :) I am also more productive here at home. I am able to get out of bed when the first alarm sounds! I think overall, my self-discipline has increased (if only slightly!).

While I'm speaking of blessings, my journey home from Japan was a blessed time! After a bitter-sweet parting with my second family, I made my way through security, entered the gate just as they were beginning to board the flight (just in time... I'm NOT Japanese, Mr. Winters! :) hehe!), and enjoyed my peaceful, 1 and a half hour flight to Tokyo. Then.... this is where I wasn't as stable as usual... I had a 6 hour layover before the long flight to NY where my parents, older sister, and niece would be waiting to snatch me up! I had a good book to read, so that held me over for about 2 hours, but then, I just wanted to curl up in a corner and cry! I just wanted to be home! I did feel quite small and alone in Tokyo. Though I was quite comfortable with Japanese and had good instructions from Mr. Winters about where and when I needed to be places. Finally, though, we boarded the B747-400 (that's for you Ethan!), and 30 minutes late, made a noisy and shaky takeoff. It was one of the older planes, so I think that's why it was so noisy. As we left the runway, I watched out the window and the wings of the plane were heaving up and down quite a bit, and I imagined them just popping off, leaving us 50 feet from the ground! Instead of being afraid though, I was chuckling to myself, and imagining pieces of the plane gradually flying off throughout the trip, and landing in NY with just remnants of the plane! Anyway... the flight was only about half full! So, I had 3 seats to myself!!! That was a HUGE blessing! I spent about 4 hours total laying down... trying to sleep! I probably slept only about 30-40 minutes in reality, but, laying down was still much better than trying to sleep sitting up... like the poor guy in front of me!

After anxiously waiting about 30 minutes in customs, I quickly scanned the various bags and luggage, looking for the yellow ribbons of my own! Finally, I found them, and, in plain view of an airport employee, struggled to heave the 50 pound bags off the moving belt! Then... I started running for the exit! :) I saw just a glimpse of someone down the long hallway, and I knew it was Mom! She about ran past the security officers to meet me! After our glad reunion, and my shock at how grown up my niece was, we headed to our car for the long drive home... still about 5 hours!

Honestly, I had WAY more culture shock coming BACK to American than I did going to Japan! When we were taxiing to the gate, I was shocked by the TRUCKS! It was so familiar, yet so strange looking at the same time! And I kept having that same feeling. When I walked through JFK, all I could think was, "It's so dirty here! And... everyone speaks English... and the signs are all in English... and the CARS are so BIG! and... AGH! Which side of the road are we supposed to be on, Dad! :)" It has taken me a while to get used to cars driving on the right side of the road, with the steering wheel on the right side... wait... it's on the LEFT! Oops! Ok, so I'm still getting used to it!

Throughout all, God has been SO good to me! He has blessed me, taught me, stretched me, helped me, comforted me, and loved me! His Word, the Bible, has been my closest friend, and prayer has been my life-line! I'm so excited to be back home, and I'm seeking to apply all the things I learned in Japan to situations here! I'm seeking to further strengthen the relationships I have in my family and church family, and I'm seeking to be a better steward of every moment that God has given me!

For my last Sunday in Japan, the church had a lunch and gave me a special desk calendar with pictures and notes! It was such a sweet surprise! It was a sad time of parting, not knowing when or if I will ever see them all again!

My precious siblings!

Playing a "Stand Your Ground" game

Still playing...

Batten Down The Hatches...

...We're in for a storm!

A typhoon is currently working it's way toward South Korea! We will get some sort of excitement as it passes by, but we are unsure of how drastic. I LOVE storms! I love losing power too! It makes me feel so "old-fashioned" because we can't flush toilets or use the lights! Anyway, I trust the Lord to protect us and even if we are not protected, I trust Him!

Most people, I will cautiously assume, do not relate to me in feelings about storms. When it comes down to it... I've really never been in a truly destructive storm (excepting the Ice Storm of 2008 in MA, that was destructive, but in a "gentle" manner), but if I was, I think I would be somewhat frightened.

Though I have never been through a hurricane or tornado (or other fierce whether phenomenon) that threaten the security of my environment, I have been through fierce storms of the soul. Now, I must say, that the "storms" of my life may look like just a little black rain cloud to most, but they are, nevertheless, great challenges to me! God has been teaching me, through His Word, the Bible, how to "batten down the hatches" spiritually during spiritual typhoons.

Here are some parallels, with Scripture, of physical and spiritual storms:

1. Everyone knows, that it is wise to gather emergency supplies in case of a storm. Since we never know exactly when the storm will hit, it is eminent that we be always ready with our flashlights, candles, matches, water, blankets, shovel (if you live where it snows!), and trail mix or granola bars!
Don't wait till the storm hits to be ready spiritually! Seek the Lord now! Before it is too late. Before your life is over, because no one knows how long they have left to live.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

2. When the storm is going to be too much to whether at home, escape to the nearest storm shelter! God provides an escape when the storms beat too harshly on my heart and I think I can't take anymore! I have a promise from Him that He will not give me more than I can handle and that He will be my shelter! My life verse speaks to this and another in Psalms:
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Psalm 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

3. After the storm, we must clean up the debris and destruction that is left. This can be a painful experience as one gathers broken and tattered bits of the life they once knew and attempt to put them back together and clear away the rubble, in preparation to rebuild. Even so, the Lord cleans us up and washes us clean and forgives our sins to give us a fresh start. But this is often a painful purging, but once it is done, we come forth as refined gold if we allow Him to work in us! 
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


So, how are you doing today? Is there a storm a' brewin' in your life, or are you in the midst of a typhoon? What will you do now? Will you reject the help and comfort and security the Lord wants to give you and is able to give, or will you submit yourself to Him, confess your sin, and run to Him, The Strong Tower?

My Favorite Day of the Week...

....is Sunday!

Saturday is my blogging day, but yesterday, the juices just weren't flowing! But today, I made a little video blog about our Sundays! I love Sundays! I love them because I get to interact with the Japanese people who come to the services, and fellowship with other Christians, and play hymns, and learn about how to become more like Christ and less like... me! :) If you don't understand what I mean by becoming less like me, let me explain. The Bible teaches that each person that is born into the world is naturally sinful. If you don't believe that, just think about little children. You don't have to teach them to lie, or be disobedient, or selfish... it's just natural! That is because every person lives in what God calls, "the flesh." God knows we are naturally sinful, in stark contrast to Himself, completely perfect. Since He is perfect, He cannot be in fellowship with sin, it is just against His Nature. This is why every person is not "automatically" on their way to heaven when they die, because God, who lives in heaven, cannot just allow us sinful beings to enter His glorious Kingdom.

This would be a devastating realization for the entire human race if this was where the story ended, but it isn't! God, who is eternally merciful and good, made a way, for every single person to be able to enter heaven when they die. Just as Adam and Eve were naked, exposed, and in need of a covering after they disobeyed God and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so, we are exposed to God in our sinful "natural" state. And just as God shed the blood of an animal to provide a covering (clothes) for them, God allowed the blood of His only, dear Son, Jesus Christ, to be spilled to provide a perfect covering for MY sins, and yours, and the sins of the entire human race!

This is not a threat or an accusation against you, it's just simple facts. Think about it for a minute, ask yourself if you have ever lied? If the answer is yes, than you must admit that you are a lier. Furthermore, ask yourself if you have ever stolen? Even if it wasn't a car, perhaps it was still something small, videos or music off the internet, that is still stealing! So then, you are also a thief! What about lust? The Bible says that even if you just look on a women with lust in your heart, it is like you have committed adultery! So then, you are a lying, thieving, adulterer! Phew! Those are some hefty charges if you were sitting in a court of law these days! But you know what... I've got great news for you! Someone has already offered to pay your time in court! All you have to do is accept His offer! You have already realized you are guilty, you recognize you need help, and you can be forgiven and freed from that guilt if you will just accept the free gift being offered to you! Jesus Christ died in YOUR place! In MINE! I should have been the one on the cross that day long ago on Golgatha! It was MY debt that HE paid! The thorns should have been pressed into MY head, and I should have been beaten and abused! The nails should have pierced MY hands and feet, and MY blood should have gushed out! 

But...

He loved me so much, that He gave HIS LIFE for mine...

He gave His life for YOU

Christ was truly perfect and righteous, and therefore, HE was the one that had to die so that I could live, live in heaven, because, I simply believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I was saved! Now, when God looks down from heaven, He doesn't see little ole' Jordan, He sees Christ's righteousness, because I accepted the covering that Jesus so freely offered!

So....

What are you waiting for? What is holding you back from giving your life to Christ, when He gave HIS life for you?

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Romans 6:23