The Big D

I've been avoiding this post. I'm not sure if it is because writing it down makes it more real or if it reminds me of all that I have to get done in 12 days. About 2 weeks ago we got the news that Jeff is Deploying for 9 months in July. I'd be lying if I said there weren't signs along the way that God was preparing me for this. Many things that have occurred in the last several months I now understand. Things I have read recently that have struck a chord in me, I now know why grabbed my attention. I'm not sure I'm ready for this. It's been 5 years. I'm rusty. But my adrenaline is kicking in and there is no time for tears. Not yet anyway. We need to get things in order. Cars need maintenance. Bills need paid. Passwords exchanged. Packing, oh lots of packing. Every family outing feels pressured to make an incredible memory.  Time together seems much more precious and somehow much shorter. Everyday I am aware that "the day" is coming. Every day we are one step closer to that goodbye. To tackling every chore, tantrum, meal, tub, birthday party, holiday, homework assignment, and milestone by ourselves as a family of 3. And everyday while all that is in my head I am attempting to pretend it is not there. Attempting to focus on now. Attempting to be positive and strong for the kids, for Jeff. Attempting to remember where my strength comes from. Attempting to enjoy what we have. Because really deployment or no deployment we are never guaranteed another day. I should live each day fully. So I write this to ask for your prayers. Both for Jeff and for me and the kids. We absolutely believe that this is God's will for our family. Nothing happens to us that hasn't gone through Him first. We can trust Him with this. He has blessed us with an incredible church family and friends here in Okinawa. Owen's school is also a tremendous blessing. I was so touched that my sweet boy's first thought was to ask his teachers and class to pray for his dad. I can only imagine how sweet and sad it sounded as he told his class "my dad is going away for 277 days". I think he told me his friend Jack said "oh man, that is a lot of days". You gotta love 6 year olds. So, it is a lot of days. But we will take them one at a time. Some will be hard. Some will be fun. But we'll make it with the prayers and support of friends and family like you. Thank you for loving us! 

P.S. we are VERY excited to see many of you in 2 weeks!

Graduation and a LEGO Party

Owen has had a FULL weekend. On Friday we attended his kindergarten graduation. So cute! He was so handsome in his shirt and tie and belt. The kid never wears belts and you would've thought he was going to die by having to wear one for 2 hours. His class did a great job with their program. The other kindergarten classes performed things that they had learned throughout the year too. Then they received their diplomas. You would think this meant "school's out for summer" but sadly no. He still has 9 days. I wish he was done but actually we really need those 9 days to get things done. (I need another post to explain)

Then on Saturday we had Owen's birthday party. It was a LEGO party and I think it was a success. I tried to be low key this year but somehow I always do too much and worry too much and enjoy too little. I think Jeff may enroll me in a 12 step program for birthday party planning. Either that or make me the head of the party planning committee. My friend Toni helped me with the cake. It was adorable. The kids seemed to love it too. My friend Jen stepped in and helped with the water balloons as Jeff was called to an emergency at the hospital. And the other parents helped too when it was time for present opening. They were all so excited to give their gift to Owen. Can you believe that child got 7 new LEGO sets and not ONE repeat?! Praise God because I was a little worried if he would respond with "I already have this" or would kindly say thank you and move on. He did great and I think everyone enjoyed the day. 

Siblings

New Friends

Owen, Masa, baby Lisa, Jeff, Meg and Alison in front of the O club

Naval Hospital Okinawa has a Japanese intern program that lasts for a year. The interns begin in April and finish the following March. There are six interns who spend their days working hard to sharpen their English and western medicine skills in the hopes that it will help them enter a stateside residency program. This year Jeff is a sponsor to one of the interns and we are really enjoying getting to know him and his family.

Masa and Meg have an 8 month old daughter Lisa. They are such a sweet and hospitable family. They moved here from mainland Japan so Masa could participate in the program. Meg and I have had the opportunity to go out to lunch a few times and to go to the dragon boat races. It was such a blessing to have her along to be my navigator. She could actually read the signs that told us where to go. She and Masa also had our family over for a typical Japanese meal one weekend. The food was delicious! Both Alison and I ate our first sushi ever. Of course Alison ate it because it was pink (salmon and tuna) and she could dip it in soy sauce. She loves soy sauce! 

Our latest outing was to our church, Calvary Chapel Okinawa, and to the O club for brunch. We wanted to give them a typical American meal. They seemed to enjoy their time at both places. Our church is neat in that it translates the service and some of the songs into Japanese. 

We're looking forward to getting to know them better and learning as much as we can of Japanese culture and language while they are here. 

There's a Birthday Boy In The House

Owen turned six on Thursday. His kindergarten graduation is next Friday. He repeatedly tells us that all his old favorite pixar movies are "baby shows" and he watches "big kid" shows. He loves to laugh, run, climb, and work out his hands on the Wii. His favorite toys are LEGOS, video games, (bonus if the video game is a LEGO game), balls, and guns. He adores his Dad and loves his sister, most of the time. He likes to make people laugh which may mean we have years of him being the class clown ahead of us. He is very tender hearted, I think he gets this from me. Most of his personality is like his dad's, but the emotional side is more me. He still lets me kiss him goodbye at school and tells me he loves me too when I leave. He loves Jesus as much as a 6 year old can and I find myself wanting his childlike faith. He can almost beat his dad when it comes to memorizing scripture. He can definitely beat me at it. He's riding a two wheeled bike. Riding said bike may mean ER visits our in our future. He reads like a champ and is doing very well in school. He is the sweetest, silliest, six year old I know. It's going to be a great year! 

I Had A Lunch Date

And if anyone reading this is from my bootcamp, I swear I did not have fast food. At least not my own. I may have tasted a few french fries, but does that really count when they were not really mine? 

I have been told that I need to update the blog. That it has been a month and that it is annoying to keep checking it and not to see something new. So be ready. There will be lots of updates soon. 

This Little Girl...

Is one of my biggest blessings, but sometimes I think she is going to be the end of me. She is a much more challenging 2 year old than her brother was. God is growing us both up. I just wanted to post some of her sweet sayings before I forget them.

'I will get my mok from the chicken. " (milk and kitchen) I love that she calls the kitchen the chicken.

"I need to do my ecercises."   Then gets down and does push ups. So cute!

"I go serious big one."    This is not so cute, she learned it from her dad.

"Mommy lay down with me for a yittle bit. It's not too hard. "     Mommy laid down with her because I couldn't resist her plea.

"I want the pink one. "    I love her love for pink. 

"Hi, my friends. I'm here now. "  Definitely no self esteem issues here. 

"I"m big and drong".  (strong)