it's been a long time

Well, it's been forever since I really wrote anything. That doesn't mean I haven't done anything...really it's been my life has been too exciting. I have stories about all that I've learned this past month and the fun I've had with everyone. Well, I got a job working with students from Tokyo International University that keeps me busy! And U of A students just started a 24/7 prayer for 40 days movement that has been pretty awesome so far, and I'm excited to be a part of it, I've already learned a lot just getting ready for it to start! And it snowed in Tucson (about a month ago now, though) and I watched the Saw movies and we had another midnight bbq and tests and adventures and super bowls and just so much... what I just listed are the "big" events but the things I've learned from just living life have been the most amazing parts. I remember having this problem before with livejournals etc. where I get so behind on what's been going on that I end up just not posting since whatever happened is old news by the time I have time to write about it. Well I know I need to get better and to be happy with making just little posts...ahh...this is why I'm not a creative writing major! I want to include every detail and then write too much!!

Well, in all this busyness I've really loved this that we read in Bible study...

"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young me shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:29-31. pretty awesome.

Anyways here's some pictures.

It snowed in Tucson!! Jen and I had so much fun in this rare experience! We made a snow man! And we found out that you can tell he's America-jin because he's made of 3 snow balls. Taro, Mizuki, and Taka laughed at ours cuz nihon-jin snowmen have only two...haha!

The pic below I stole from Jared Grinney when I snuck onto Kyleigh's facebook account....anyways, gorgeous!!!

TIU students!! I have the best job in the world!! As crazy as it's been it's been a lot of fun! Here are the girls at Amy's superbowl party, from left to right/top to bottom: Marie, Eri, Sachiko, Stacey, Stephanie, Chiaki, Yuko, Amy, and me. Marie and Sachiko are my girls! (I'm their counsellor!)
fun pic of Nori, Tomoya (aka Hashi) , Amy, and I (though I wish I could have gotten all of Tomoya's face!) I'm these boys' counsellors, too! Stephanie, Marie, and Sachiko. Along with the superbowl, we've also enjoyed swingdancing, the mall, Tucson high school, and more...just sharing life!
The other counsellors are Brian and Celeste! I've really enjoyed working with them!

Below is Takatoshi, the last guy in my group. He's one of the quietest of all the students, but that's totally okay because I enjoy him and respect him a lot, a lot because he can slow things back down when the rest are going crazy... :)

O has hung out with the guys a lot, which helps so much - thanks man! Tomoya's the first on the left (it's a better pic than before) then Minoru, O, and Nori. Daniel (Brian's friend), Brian, Marie, Sachiko, and Masa. Oh, here we're eating at a way-overthemed Japanese restaurant..but it was good real Japanese food!
lastly, here's some pics from my hitoride adventure in Sabino Canyon...

Let's just say that day told me how stupid I was but also how gracious God's love is for me and how beautiful His creation is...absultuely beautiful!

Till next time, which'll hopefully be sooner!

6 months and 1 day

So yesterday, before I started walking to class, I was a little upset with myself and how all I felt like doing was bringing other people down with me in honor of the sad anniversary. And I knew it was lame of me but I didn't care: the day was going to be horrible and I wanted everyone else to feel the same way.

But it wasn't going to happen that way.

I told Taro what day it was before class started. And it didn't phase him. And though my selfish little heart wanted to be upset with him about this...instead, I found myself laughing again at how, as always, he couldn't stay awake during lecture. And how it's so fun to watch Japanese people sleeping.

And throughout the day, it wasn't like I forgot what day it was. But as much as I wanted to force myself to be upset, since I thought I should be, things just kept happening. I recalled every sad moment of that night but I couldn't stop from remembering the amazing things too. I couldn't keep "Yesterdays" stuck in my head like I wanted to. The day kept going, and it kept going smoothly. And I wasn't expecting this, but I found myself just enjoying myself with the friends that, 6 months later, God has graciously given me. 6 months ago, John died. 6 months later, look at where I am. Wow.

And I'm sure John is not upset about being in heaven :D

Thank you, John.

Thank you, Taro.

And thank You, Jesus, for the hope of life after death, with YOU.