Thanksgiving

So last weekend we celebrated our first Thanksgiving in Japan.  This was also our first major holiday without family, and I was dreading the homesickness that I knew was inevitable.  This holiday though, is about being thankful and the many blessings the Lord has given us and I need to remember that more often.

Andrew and I decided to invite our friends from the Tokyo assembly to celebrate with us.  Though they do not celebrate here as we do, we wanted them to know how very thankful we are for them and the fellowship and kindness they continually show.  The actual day of thanksgiving was obviously not a good day for them, so we decided on the weekend before.   They arrived with incredible gifts (you always bring a gift if you ever visit anyone here) flowers, chocolates, soaps, appetizers, cheeses and even gifts for the children.  The turkey was photographed dozens of times (they don't eat turkey in Japan) and they really seemed to enjoy it and all the trimmings.  I am very glad we had them over.  The language barrier is always difficult, but with a shared love of Christ and what he had done for us it overcomes all barriers.

I do hope this becomes our yearly tradition.

Mt.Takao

In Nova Scotia, the first 2 weeks of October were always my favorite time of year.  In Ohio, the last 2 weeks of October and first week in November took that place.  Now, here in Japan, it looks like November, and even some of December will be when I hear the leaves crunching beneath my feet and the stunning fall colors are to be admired at every turn.  Japan is famous for its cherry and plum trees in the spring, but from all accounts its Japanese maple and Ginkgo are equally gorgeous in the fall.

The weather has been ideal, in the mid sixties most days dipping into the forties at night with beautiful sunny days.  I have been loving it and looking for any opportunity to get off base and see the colors.  On Veterans Day, or as I know it Remembrance Day, we took advantage of the day off school and work to explore Mt. Takao.  Mt. Takao is about 40 min from Yokota Air Base and famous for its hiking trails and gorgeous views of Tokyo on clear days.

Being a Monday, and not a Japanese holiday, I had hoped for less people with the same idea, but to no avail.  I can't imagine going to such a place on a weekend.
The children fussed and complained most of the time about being hungry or having sore legs, and this being no fun, but if you ask me they had it made.  What other hiking trail gives you the option of a chairlift up, and down, with vending machines and snack shops all along the way.  Cake walk hiking if you ask me.  It was hardly a resounding success with the children, and the leaves were not quite at their peak in most places but I am glad we went, a day spent together is not a failure in my mind, always a success.

                                             Veterans Day Ceremony with our two cub scouts

Andrew towers above most Japanese.  Waiting in the very long line to go up the lift   

              

                                                      Going up, chair lift with no bar in the front.
                                                       Very nerve racking with a fidgety 3 yr old!

Tommy and Stanley were loving it behind me

                                                                 View from the top

                                                               Sibling love

                     Sticky rice on a stick. Daanga is very very popular here, but very disliked by
                                                                    us all

                                              It looked good!  before the first bite.......

                       Woman praying at a shrine.  There was a long line to pray at this particular one.

                                                                      Coming down

                                                               My little sunshine

                                         These last 2 were taken at the trick art museum across from the                                                                      mountain, the children especially loved all the optical illusions.

Fulfilling a dream

When I was growing up I made some wonderful memories of visiting my Grandma Allan's home in Ottawa, Ontario.  I used to spend hours pouring over old photos, reading books, and thumbing through stacks of Uncle Phillips National Geographic magazines.  On one such occasion, I remember coming across a photo of a young Japanese woman reading a book in a little shelter on the edge of a pond.  The caption described the setting as a park oasis in the middle of Tokyo, a city with such a dense population but teeming with wonderful parks such as this one.  The setting looked idyllic, and I have just never forgotten that picture.

Well, when we found out this spring we were moving to Tokyo, Japan, I have oft remembered that park picture and dreamed of sitting in that same place.  As most of you know, I go into Tokyo most every Friday, and have been to a lot of these wonderful parks.  Ueno, Yoyogi, Showa, Hibaya, Shinjuku Gyoen....I looked for this spot to no avail.  Did it exist?  Was I daydreaming the location?   These were all beautiful places...but not what I was looking for.    Last Saturday as I was reading on yet another visit Japan website, I saw it.  The spot.  I couldn't believe it.  Happo-en park truly was a tiny park in this city and not in any of my numerous sightseeing books.  I had finally found it!!

So today I went.  I can't say it was the most beautiful spot I have ever seen (for there are so so many here) but it was an utterly tranquil, quiet, and wonderful place.  There were very few other people there, it is truly a unknown treasure for it was mostly full of brides getting there photos taken.  I think I counted 8 different bridal parties.
So I had my photo taken in the spot by my friend Jamie...and I fulfilled a dream...

                                                 the location...my iphone camera could not do it justice

                                                                 Finally fulfilling my dream

 

                                                                 The best exploring partner EVER

                 

                                                          Other views of Happo-en

                                                          One of many brides    

See ya later!