An Unexpected Blessing

I didn’t think I was going to be able to post for Thanksgiving today.  I have been extremely busy from sun up to sun down.  I was supposed to teach an English class tonight, but both of my students cancelled.  I am sorry for them, but thankful for the evening free as I needed to get some laundry done and just didn’t have the time earlier.  On a lighter note, Ann Tatum posted a link to a cartoon that says what I have been thinking perfectly!  Enjoy!

Daybook

For today 11/17/09…

Outside my window it is cold and raining.

I am thinking about all I need to get done today.  It’s Monday evening EST, but it’s Tuesday a.m. in my part of the world.

I am thankful for the kerosene heater that is blowing heat on me at the moment and a day to stay at home and catch up on a few things.

From the learning rooms…we are working on consumer math among other things.

From the kitchen…I’m thinking about something with chicken for dinner…maybe chicken and dumplings…

I am wearing my nightgown.  Need to get dressed and get movin’!!

I am creating a new website.

I am going nowhere today.  Tomorrow I want to go get a haircut.

I am reading my Bible.  Still trying to finish up Pride and Prejudice!  I’ve been busy!

I am hoping to get a lot done on homeschool paperwork today.

I am hearing the rain fall on the roof.

Around the house…need to do some laundry.

One of my favorite things…my miniature fall village that is glowing on this dark, rainy day.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Bible study, Japanese class, Thanksgiving preparations.  We will celebrate ours on Monday, the 23rd, since it is a holiday (Labor Day) here.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more daybooks, click here.

Giving Thanks

Today I am giving thanks for a wonderful day trip to Toba to visit Mikimoto Pearl Island and an aquarium.  A lady in our church took my children and me.  When we returned, my hubby had dinner waiting for us!  I will post more later.  Right now, I am very tired and going to bed.  A warm bed is something else to be thankful for!

Tho’ It’s Midnight

When I read of Paul and Silas, in the jail so long ago,
I can see this truth so glorious, that my Father wants me to know.
There are times the pain seems endless, and my suffering seems so long,
But my Saviour bears each sorrow and He gives to me a song.

Go to Jesus if you’re wounded, if you’re beaten down by sin.
Do not grieve alone in darkness for your Saviour wants to come in.
He will fill your heart with music that will last throughout your life.
He will drive away the darkness, every wrong will be made right.

Refrain

Tho’ it’s midnight in the prison, my loving Father reigns in heaven.
His arms enfold me, no bars can hold me
while I lift my voice and sing His song of praise.
Though my body’s held in shackles, Christ has set my spirit free.
Chains are broken, doors fly open, tho’ it’s midnight.

Tho’ it’s midnight, I will praise my God.

~Ron Hamilton, recorded on Worthy of Praise

As I pause on this Lord’s day and think on the things I am thankful for, the truth in this song is at the top of the list.

This and That

1~As I approach a certain age, my memory seems to be suffering, especially in the area of my curling iron. We were leaving for a family outing yesterday and I said that I needed to go back in the house to see if I turned it off. B, my #2 son, stated that I turned it off and he unplugged it! It seems I have done this frequently and he was prepared! HA! =)

2~I’ve been asked about the differences between blogger and wordpress.  I hesitate to go into it, because I do not consider myself to be very computer savvy.  I will attempt to answer this based on my own experience.

When I signed up with blogger, I was new to the whole blogging idea.  I didn’t know anything about it.  It was very easy to get your blog up and running and everything was spelled out quite simply.  I liked that.  There are a gazillion widgets, etc. that you can put on your blog.  This began to be a problem for me, because I was spending too much time on the internet looking for the latest thing to give my blog zing.  This, however, is not something that can be blamed on blogger.  =)

I started having trouble with blogger on my old computer.  At first, I attributed it to the computer.  It was on a rapid decline and was making life difficult.  Sometimes blogger worked, sometimes it didn’t.  Sometimes I could load pictures, sometimes I couldn’t.  Sometimes it would center my text, sometimes it wouldn’t.  I was getting frustrated and the blogging slowed down.  Another problem that I had was with uploading pictures.  I had to decide what I wanted and load them in order from the one I wanted last to the one I wanted first.  It was almost impossible to change the order once it was loaded.  I know others have had this issue as well.  This was quite frustrating when I wanted to load several pictures and then realized I forgot one.  I realize there are programs out there that I could use, but that seemed to defeat the purpose of having a free blog to me.  When I got my new macbook, I thought my problems would be solved.  Not so, in fact, some became worse.  Firefox worked far better than Safari, but there was still the photo issue.  It was getting to a point where I was ready to forget blogging all together.  I didn’t really want to do that, so I started looking at other options.  I created a website with a blog feature, but comments couldn’t be accepted without doing some things that I didn’t want to do.  I checked into wordpress and decided to give it a go.

WordPress is not as simple as blogger at first.  I didn’t have anyone to show me the ropes, so I plugged away at it until I found out how to do what I wanted to do.  Google is my best friend!  Anytime I have a problem on my computer or with wordpress, etc.  I do a google search and I always find the answer.  I am not having any of the problems that I had with blogger.  I love the page feature at the top of wordpress and I have more to come in that area.  The best thing is that when I am typing away and decide to enter a photo, I can add it and it goes right where I want it instead of the top of the post.  If I forget one, I put the cursor where I want it and the photo is loaded there.

I don’t have to go to a bunch of places to check on comments, stats, etc.  It is all right there on the dashboard.  I see recent activity at a glance and it I want more details it is one click away instead of several clicks, entering passwords, etc.

On a more personal note, I love the simplicity of the designs.  I chose a clean design and it is simple to change the photo at the top whenever I get bored with it.

None of this is very scientific, but there you have it!

3~I am planning a Christmas tea party this year and I am so excited!!!  I finally feel like I know enough people who might come.  It’s taken 4 years to get to this point, but I’m finally here.  This is the photo on the cover of the invitation.  The lettering is katagana for Christmas.

4~My days of praise continue…I am giving thanks for the friends that my children have made here.  It can be quite lonely at times for all of us, but my heart grieves when my children are lonely for friends.  Today, my daughter had two of her friends over for a baking time.  My son joined in, since he loves to be in the kitchen.  I told him that I felt bad that most of his time was spent with girls.  His reply…”I’m not complaining.” 

Grateful for…

…the fact that the Lord held off the rain so we could enjoy our new annual outing to Asuke.

…wordpress.  Should have made the change a long time ago.

…my macbook.  It makes life so much easier. =)

…vehicles that run and are paid for.

…my American kitchen appliances.

…God’s loving kindness toward our family.

Strength

I had a rough day on the agenda today.  Before I started it, I was reading from my Bible and the Lord gave me Psalm 138:3, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”  I cried and He answered.  It was a good day.  Thank you, Lord, for strength and answered prayer.

It’s time for the fall festival in Asuke again.  We are praying for good weather tomorrow…

Today I am thankful for…

~the rain

~a clothes dryer

~hot soup

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

~I Thessalonians 5:18

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills…

Yesterday I gave you a sneak peak at Chasuyama.  A friend and new Christian has access to a beautiful vacation home.  She invited me to go with her for our own little retreat.  We had a wonderful time in the mountains.  The temps were cooler and the walks were lovely.  The views took my breath away.  For me, the  most relaxing place to be is the mountains.  If there is a body of water or a small stream that is perfection!  Here are a few pictures from our time away.

at the top of Chasuyama

Chasuyama

the view drving down Chasuyama

This area is known as the southern alps of Japan.

This photo was taken with the self-timer on the deck.

I am thankful to the Lord for His beautiful creation and for the memories we create with friends.

Giving Thanks in Everything…

view from Chasuyama

I’m thankful for my great kids and the wonderful time we had out this afternoon.  It was spur of the moment and involved a trip to Starbucks!

I’m thankful for the friendships that are truly “iron sharpening iron.”

I’m thankful for my home that was built by Americans.  I can live like a true American within its four walls.

I’m thankful for my yard and garden.  Most homes in this area are on very small lots without any yards.

I’m thankful for electronic English/Japanese dictionaries.  Mine has saved my neck many times!