Birthday Girls

April 28, 2006! Our first official birthday together....Mia and I celebrated with Daddy and Nykolas by going out to lunch and then spending the afternoon exploring. We went to a cool 'family owned' Japanese place for our meal. Mia was totally the bell of the joint! She entertained the staff with smiles and friendly banter.

I still cannot believe she is one! So fast this life passes..... Stay tuned here for the birthday party planned for Saturday, May 6th....pictures sure to come.

All boxed up.....

Dog sitting....

The 'real' Gucky....and the fringe benefits of having a dog around (the crate!). Not a bad life for a dog or wee chicos......

Interactive Movie Watching....

If you are watching Herbie you must be playing with cars....if you are watching Dreamer you must have your horse in hand....if you are watching Lassie then a dog must be at your side..... So, with that in mind there are certain movies that are off limits at our house...King Kong for instance, especially if we are living anywhere near the Empire State Building!

Cultural Humor...

Finding humor in differences is always a good way to alleviate cultural transitions. In the Philippines there are more people than there are jobs, in and of itself not humorous at all, but with so many people with nothing to do you see lots of self appointed 'traffic directors and car parkers'. quite funny really as people are in the middle of streets telling you what to do usually, I've found, in spots where it is perfectly obvious what you are to do....stop at the red light and go at the green light, etc. Anyway, you must laugh as they often expect tips and if you aren't laughing....well the alternative isn't as soul inspiring. Also in Manila, security is a huge deal and there are security guards every...as you enter the supermarket or mall, standing in parking lots etc - usually their job is opening the door for customers BUT they have the uniform.... Over the holidays I saw the essence of the Filipinos personified....a security guard inside a Dunkin Donuts with a Santa hat on....now tell me you wouldn't think twice about knocking off that establishment!

Here in Japan it's the drink machines. They are everywhere. You can be driving down a deserted road with no houses in site and there before you glowing like a beacon is the one iconic international word "Coca-Cola"....at nights the machines light your way like sporadic fireflies. No snack machines anywhere but drink machines that dispense everything from cold juices and sodas to hot coffee, tea and sometimes corn chowder. Those of you who know me well know I DO NOT like corn, never have. In our first week here we went to church on Sunday and both kids fell asleep in the car. I stayed outside with them while Chad and Riza went inside. Of course, there was a drink machine right there and I thought..."um a cup of coffee sounds nice" so in went my money and out popped a hot can. I opened it and took a big swig and yes, you guessed it, hot corn chowder. Not a nice taste when you were expecting creamy, sweet coffee.

I will be on the look out for cultural oddities to laugh about in the good ole' US of A this summer. Maybe there aren't any, I mean cultural things.... My dear Scottish friend, Andrew Reid (who in spite of this poke at Americans does like them, at least he likes one) once told me a joke..."What is the difference between yogurt and an American?" Answer: "The yogurt has culture" Ha....I do make Chad tell that joke to break the ice after he has told all his Texas jokes that the foreigners don't understand. Americans don't find that so funny but the rest of the world manages to find the humor!

Pure Delight....

When was the last time you experienced pure and unadulterated delight? I try every once in a while to breathe deeply and take in the world around me, wherever I might be, and glory in God's design. I never want to be one who finds the majestic Rocky Mountains mundane or the variety of humanity ordinary or the giant swaying oak humdrum or the amazing array of seashells lackluster..... Mia had her first pure delight experience today. We took a walk outside...Mia's first 'walk' where she actually did some of the walking herself. Standing in the middle of our driveway with two feet planted in cute white tennis shoes, hands raised to the sky and eyes gazing to heaven....all she could say was "WOW" over and over. ....makes me look at the cloud filled sky differently somehow. A deeper understanding dawning of why Jesus said we must become like little children.

Glory in the hard places.....

Hitomi...

Our new friend. She is here as staff for the YWAM base. Scott and Susan Moore met her while she was in high school and had a hand in leading her to the Lord.

Resurrection Sunday

What better way to celebrate our Risen Lord than a baptism?! We visited a Japanese Assemblies of God Church in Naha and joined them for a baptism at the beach and a picnic after the service. Scott preached the sermon. The church felt like home.

Nykolas, of course was drawn to a little puppy someone brought to church.....they played tug of war with his socks, instead of intently listening to the sermon. Mia and Ya-Ya stayed home as Mia had had a fever all week and it was windy and chilly.

Nykolas Moore Hammond meets his namesake, Scott Moore!

Capturing the moment.....

God thought of us......

Where did you come from baby dear? Out of the everywhere, into the here. Where did you get your eyes so blue? Out of the sky when I came through.
What makes your forehead so smooth and high? A soft hand stroked it as I went by. What makes your cheek like a warm, white rose? Something better than anyone knows.

Where did you get that pearly ear? God spoke, and it came out to hear. How did they all just come to be you? God thought about me and so I grew. But how did you come to us Baby Dear? God thought of you, and so I am here. George MacDonald

Our Friend Lauren's 13th Birthday......

Our Daddy.......

When daddy got sweet cuddles this morning he declared he wanted to quit his job, effective immediately and only be the dad of Nykolas and Mia. I think he was just kidding but he sure did snuggle in deep on the sofa with two wee ones glued to him.

Tita Hollye Boxes!!!!!

.....with a stick horse!!!!! And loads of other goodies.....