Japanese lesson on Girls' Day

For our Japanese lessons this week, I told the girls about Hina Matsuri Day which is also known as Girls' Day. In the above picture, I am with my friends at a girl's day celebration. Girl's Day is a special holiday in Japan that takes place on March 3 every year. The families make wishes for the good health, growth and happiness for their girls.

Japanese families display dolls of the Emporer and Empress in their homes. Some doll sets also include all of the Imperial court; the attendants, musicians and their possessions. These dolls are not played with as they are usually gifts from the grandparents or inherited from the girl's mother and are quite delicate and expensive!


Hannah and Sophia painted pictures of Japanese girls in kimono and then made these princesses.

We set up our own red tier stand for our Emperial court. We didn't really have an emperor or empress or all that goes with it. We improvised.

A Japanese woman made kimono for my Barbies so there they are on the 2nd to the top. Along with Sophia's "scratchy bunny" that she sleeps with. And a samurai at the bottom to protect them all.
The girls loved dressing up in kimono and whirling the umbrellas around.
Then we played "mama-goto" or "house" with our Japanese play dishes.

I prayed a blessing on all my granddaughters. He has a special plan for each one.

Seven years

It has been 7 years since we moved into our home on this date.
Our care group (that's what we called them before Adam moved here and they were renamed community life groups), friends, and mom and dad helped us with the move. We lived 6 months in the country in a rental since our home in Quail Creek sold before our new home was finished.
The Josts (whose home we rented) loaned us a cattle trailer to load up all our furniture and boxes. They worked so hard to clean it out. Even put in a nice flooring! There were several pickups too.
Here our lawn is still dirt - no grass yet. And on the street running south there is only 1 house. Today there are 6 homes on that street.


laying down on the job

We had a delicious lunch provided by my friend Becky.

We enjoy our home, especially to host Bible studies or have friends over to eat. And in particular to have the family over! What a blessing. Our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been uprooted this past week due to the tornado breakout.
This day is also a special day for one of my young mom friends, who is celebrating her birthday. Happy Birthday Tami!

And I think of sweet Cora whose birthday it is on this day too. Cora's family grieves their loss as Cora is now with the Lord. Blessings to you, dear friends!

Kansas Restaurant, March

This is where we were going to go last month, but made a mistake and went to Logan's. Not that Logan's was a mistake, but the coupon I had was for here. And it was quite good!!

The couple we took tonight was Joel and Kendall. We have known them for around 9 years now. They came to our church as newly marrieds. Allen and I had just felt led to begin a young marrieds Bible study small group and they signed up. Here are a few pictures of the "old" days.

On a summer trip to Oklahoma.

A Halloween party we had. Aren't they so clever?!

Christmas - don't you like our holiday sweaters? And Joel being his old goofy self.

The food was quite delicious. Salads, warm bread, sweet potatoes, steak, chicken, ribs...


and a bottle for this little one who came with us.
Thanks for a fun night guys!

Spinning around

This year in Bible study I am doing Beth Moore's "David: Seeking a Heart Like His". This week we looked at Psalm 32. David wrote this Psalm after he confessed his sins. God forgave David of his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and of the murder of her husband.

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven.
"Blessed" means "sheer happiness". There is no one, absolutely no one He can't redeem. And because that is the kind of God He is, we can experience sheer happiness!

"Rejoice in the Lord and be glad"
The term "be glad" means "to spin around".

Have you ever watched a child spin around in delight? I often have seen my grandchildren spinning and dancing with joy. We can be going through awful times, but when we keep our hand in His, just like a child holds on to her daddy's hand, we can still be happy and spin around. I am so glad that in the "storms" of our lives, we don't have to go it alone. He is there holding on to us, sustaining us. Next time I feel down, I think I will just spin around to remind myself to "be glad" and "be full of sheer happiness" because despite circumstances that can pull me under (which is what the evil one desires) I can hold on to my Father's hand! He will never leave me nor forsake me. Ever.

Tonight at Awana, during our Cubbie singing time, Jon led us in a song called "Happy, happy" and we decided to have the children spin around while we sang it. It was so fun - but we sure got dizzy!



I had to include this picture of my son and his daughter getting ready to go to their church father/daughter dance this past month! Emeri did a lot of spinning and jumping around. She just loved dancing with her daddy!

Princesses

The girls are in ballet this year.

And they were having pictures taken at the studio.

The girls were to wear make-up so they wouldn't look washed out in the photos. They felt like little princesses!



They had to be careful how they would sit in the car so they wouldn't mash up their tutus.

At the dance studio.

Excited little girls! It will be fun to watch what all they have learned this year at their program in May!

World Impact

I believe this is the first winter I have not had to shovel the driveway. There has been no snow. Well, a trace perhaps. Have not had to deal with icy roads - which is a good thing actually. I do NOT like icy roads! But no sledding at all which is a little sad for the grandkids.

And another "benefit" of nice weather in Kansas - look at the geese who decided they didn't have to go south!

* * * * * * * *

On Friday I subbed for the preschool for an hour while Mrs. Smith went to a funeral. The children were learning their letter X. Of course I didn't do things just like Mrs. Smith does them and was promptly corrected by the little 5 year olds. But they are sweet kids! I have 2 of them in my Cubbies group on Wednesday nights.

When the teacher returned, I headed out to Wichita. The older ladies Bible study I am in was working at World Impact thrift store in downtown Wichita. World Impact works with the urban poor. They are such a blessing to that area! This day they had lots of free breads and cake they were giving away; very good quality too. Not just some old cheap white bread.

The neighborhood is quite interesting.



Unfortunately, there is a lot of gang violence in the area also. Often grafitti sprayed on the side of the thrift store. Shootings. There are lots of stories about the ministry. I was told that one day a woman came in. She said they needed a space heater as they had no heat in their home. And would you believe that just 1/2 hour before, someone had dropped off a space heater! The store plays Christian music and you can just feel the peace and joy of Christ inside! I commend David, Miriam and Gene for all they do!!

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

After a morning of sorting and pricing baskets of materials and laces, we went out to eat here.

If anyone else wants to help out, check out the web site for World Impact and get involved! They are always looking for more donations. They were needing men's clothes this week and so I had my husband go through his things. Before the morning was over, several of those things were snatched up!

Be a blessing to someone today!