museum of modern transportation with my boy (and wee girl)...

Sakai...

On Friday we went with Aika , Kazuki and the girls to 'Harvest Hill' a great kids place about an hour from our home in Suita. We played on bikes and a cool slide then had a picnic....it had been FREEZING....after we finished lunch it started raining so an executive decision was made to head to the nearby children's museum.....a big hit with the kiddos and the parents, as we finally thawed out!

putting on the pounds....even if they are stuffed animal pounds :)

my view of Noa in her pram....cute at any angle!

Things continue on as normal here....school, adventures, friends, meals...yesterday we tried for the aquarium only to find it closed, then we tried the zoo, closed too! Note to self: In Japan so much is closed on Wednesdays.

Chad is still in the northeast region working with Samartin's Purse. We will get to see him this weekend for a bit before he heads back up north then on to India and th Philippines again. Ahh the life of a traveling daddy. Me thinks he is worn out....

enjoying a day in the sun with friends.....

makes my heart ache.....

picture from BBC.com

Hymn sung at our church this morning...

Oh, how sweet the glorious message, simple faith may claim; yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same. Still He loves to save the sinful, heal the sick and the lame, cheer the mourner, still the tempest Glory to His name.

He who mid the raging billows walked upon the sea...still can hush our wildest tempest, as on Galilee. He who wept and prayed in anguish in Gethsemane, drinks with us each cup of trembling in our agony.

Yesterday today forever Jesus is the same. All may change, Jesus never. Glory to His name.

The other day, a few days before the tsunami and earthquake that rocked this country, I was in the parking deck of the local shopping center.....I heard music, then I recognized English then I totally recognized the song.....Chris Tomlin's 'Your Grace is Enough'

Great is Your faithfulness oh God
You wrestle with the sinner's heart
You lead us by still waters in to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

Great is Your love and justice God of Jacob
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God

Your grace is enough for me

The kids and I have been reading in the Old Testament, specifically about Moses pleading before God on Mount Sinai for mercy on the people of Israel. God was so angry, as the people had continually complained about their circumstances in spite of their miraculous rescue from Egypt. Moses said "Remember your promises and just think what the Egyptians will say about you if you wipe these people out in the middle of the desert where you have led them!." It encouraged me to pray for mercy....interceding for this country that has consistently denied their Creator. So amazing that merely days later such catastrophic events would take place and God's people would have the unique opportunity to show God's love in such practical ways.

Mercy, Oh Lord!

our days....

The love, prayers and encouragement we have received from loved ones far off has been so uplifting. Thank you all.

We are carrying on almost as usual. School has been set aside for the time being...the kids have enjoyed that bit of our current situation. Seth and Hannah McAllister have been here since Wednesday night with their two sweet wee boys, Ezekiel (3 years) and Malachi (4 months). They have been such a blessed distraction for us. Noa loves loves loves Malachi and kisses him incessantly whenever he is within her reach. Nykolas is soaking in boy time even though Ezekiel is younger. They took a bath together tonight....Nykolas is always on his own for bath time, so a playmate was a delight.

My sweet friend Michiko and her family came over this afternoon and joined us for lunch...udon noodles and sandwiches....then off we all traipsed to the park. It was a nice sunny afternoon and the kids were able to play for hours on the playground with an ice cream break along the way. Really nice to soak in the sun and fresh air (something I do not take for granted anymore!)

In spite of the somewhat normal way we are carrying on, our hearts are still heavy for the hurting in the regions north of us. And I will be honest, that even though I am perfectly at peace with where we are, I have moments of panic....news reports, chats with neighbors, etc can trigger the fear within me. The US Consulate in Osaka is saying we are well outside the radius of danger. We have a plan for departure if we feel the need to get to a safer place. I even have bags packed should we need to move quickly.

Today marks one week since the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. 6000+ people have been confirmed dead and thousands more are still missing. Relief efforts are being hampered by the nuclear facility that is floundering and releasing radiation into an area already devastated from natural disaster.

Chad is in Tokyo coordinating efforts to get 90+ tons of relief supplies to the shelters in the hardest hit areas. He is busy from dawn until late at night. Please pray for his stamina and wisdom as to how to deal with the radiation danger and the needs so desperate not so far away. He is meeting with Japanese Congressmen and Ministers of Defense and the US Military based in Japan all to make the distribution of the supplies and future rebuilding to progress smoothly. The reactor is still a major issue. Every time you think of Japan or see the news pray that God will supernaturally cool down the rods in all 6 reactors.

I want to stay and be a part of all that needs to be done in this country. I am excited to see Christians jump at opportunities to serve....to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Seth and Hannah are a part of a Christian owned and operated lodge in Matsumoto to the west of the hardest hit areas. The local authorities have asked if their lodge can become a shelter for the refugees. What an amazing time....displaced, hurting people being loved on fed and served by believers. I keep hearing of all that God is doing through His people and I think 'here are we for such a time as this'. I am not trying to be noble or take risks I shouldn't....I am more than normal....but I know we have one life to live...one brief vapor of a time to walk this earth....why wouldn't I want to use this time making an eternal difference......