SAYONARA!!!

This is a picture of Osaka, the 3rd largest city in Japan with 2.5 million people. We will fly from San Francisco into Osaka and stay for 3 days here. Well, this will be the last posting until I return from Japan. We are very excited about all we are going to do and see and how great it is that we have no idea what's going to happen. We don't even know where we're staying. I'm determined to brush up on my Japanese during the 12 hr flight by making up "flash cards" with Jim's help. It's possible that we will have access to the internet while we're gone.

Everyone please take care and we will see you all soon. I'll be seeing the family on Saturday for Mark's baptism.

Sayonara!

Well, it has been several days since my last entry so I'm overdue. I've been worried about my friends on the Big Island due to the earthquake. I tried to call a few people on Sunday but their cell phones didn't go through. I did hear that people mostly got shook up and didn't experience huge amounts of damage to their homes. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

We will be leaving for Japan in 1 week and it's countdown time!!! I'm very excited about being able to go back to Japan again. We will meet with our good friends, Taka & Chibi, in Osaka on Tues. afternoon (10/24) and will stay there for 3 days. We will know what's next when we get there (for the rest of the trip until 11/1).

I need to brush up on the few Japanese phrases that we've learned. Konichiwa, konbanwa, sayonara, sumimasen, adigato, etc....

Today is Tuesday and I'm feeling soooo much better. I knew that I would need this evening to recoup before thinking about going back to Kickboxing tomorrow night.

Great news about Mike!! I never had a doubt that he would be back going to church one day. He has a strong testimony and always will. Way to go - we love you!!!

I love all my family members and cherish the time I have to spend with them. I always look forward to the times we can all spend together. I'm thinking that a GIRLS NIGHT OUT is in order soon! Reading April's blogs is only a substitute for the "real thing". It's making me think about being at April's house, turning the tv on and sound off and settling in for a night of incredible roars of belly rolling laughter that only stops for a brief gasp of air and continuing on and on. Let's not leave out the heads being thrown back in dramatic fashion along with the chortling of cackles. Keep it up SISTERS!!!! hahahahaha

Hello everyone! The star of my page today is my little nephew Cooper!! He is such a sweet baby Whuut!! What a fresh little hatch he is!

I'm back in business over here after being under the weather all weekend fighting a cold. I made it to work today, but felt like I should be sleeping instead. I've been taking Airborne & cold eeze to try and keep this thing in check. So far so good.

It's Monday night so that means a mad dash to get all of our clothes folded, ironed and put away before Betty (housekeeper) comes on Tues. It sometimes feels like we're doing a lot of "cleaning" before she gets here, but I'm greatful that I have the help. I just can't do everything I need to on Saturdays. That is the only day I have during the week and it doesn't provide enough time for some RR too.

The fall weather keeps getting better and better as the days pass on with the highs only being around 89 or 90 degrees. I started the morning off wanting to ride my motorcycle to work, but it wouldn't start so I had to push it back up the driveway and take the car instead. We aren't seeing patients this week due to the Dr. being on vacation, so it has been very boring. I'm planning on taking my little tv and dvd player to work tomorrow to watch some movies instead of sitting there reading or playing on the GameBoy.

Hope everyone is having a great evening relaxing and enjoying each other. I will too as soon as my work is done. Yeah!

It's Friday finally!! Whew it feels great knowing I can sleep in tomorrow morning until 8:00, get over to Gold's by 8:30 and come home and finish the 4 loads of laundry I never got to during the week. Now it's probably 5 or 6, plus the folding & ironing. Jim is really good about doing the ironing for me. He sets up the board down low in front of the chair, adjusts the tv just right and gets cookin.

I had a poem come to me on Thursday morning while I was half asleep titled "My Brothers". Once I woke up it was gone, so again this morning it came back in my sleep and I woke up running for the paper so here it goes....

My Brothers

I am blessed with two great brothers
Heavenly Father has sent to me
For years I've called them "the boys"
But their names are Mike and Danny

They are truly treasures from Heaven
to me and in God's sight
If they ever are in need of my help
I'm there...I'm ready...I'll fight!

We share many things in common
including two parents so dear
Because of the great bond we share
We have nothing to fear

My brothers haven't always had
the easiest time getting along
They've teased, fought, yelled and screamed
Thinking about it, haven't we all?

We've all been blessed, my brothers and I
with three beautiful sisters it's true
We love them so with all our hearts
And we know Heavenly Father does too

This experience of being on this earth
is difficult at best
We'll make it through, but get bruised at times
I know we'll all pass the test

At this journey's end we'll be
by Heavenly Father's side
Bound together as a family
For eternity and all time.

Today turned out to be another wonderful fall day in the desert. It was overcast with gray puffy clouds blanketing the sky and with a slightly cooler feel to the air. Gorgeous! I love it here in the fall/winter. By the end of the summer I start to wish that I lived up at 10,000 ft. somewhere and had to wear a ski parka, gloves, and knitted beanie to leave the house. I guess it's obvious I've never lived in that climate.

It is Thursday and lately, that means it is weigh day at Weight Watchers. I'm very happy to report that I am down 2.4 lbs!!! This is very exciting folks. One more week and I will officially be a LIFE TIME MEMBER and get my "key" charm and my "gold card". Whoo Hooo!

I came up with a poem during my sleep last night and named it "My Brothers". I'm trying to remember bits and pieces of it. I'll keep working on it.

This is a great way to express your feelings about a variety of subjects and amazingly I feel free to do so.

There are many decisions that are made in a day that take up our energies, but writing down a few thoughts can be difficult to communicate.

Today was such a beautiful day - the air was relatively cool during the day (91 degrees) and we are very grateful for that. Living in the desert makes you appreciate 90 degree weather which probably sounds crazy. I can tell that fall has arrived and inside I want to shout at the top of my lungs how glad I am that the heat will be leaving shortly!