Merry Christmas!

Well, I wish we had as exciting news as our family and friends in Portland! We are so bummed to hear that you have received so much snow and we're not there to enjoy it, though it sounds like it's so bad that no one is enjoying it.  Two white Christmas' in a row, wow!

This past week and a half has been uneventful for the most part, which has been good because we've been able to focus even more on our language study. Language study has been getting more difficult and more time consuming. The vocabulary is growing and growing and that can get a little overwhelming, but little things keep us encouraged to keep going. Also, our senseis are very good at making us feel successful. I find myself feeling more and more like a child in class. You get to feel that way when you get a huge smile on your face from receiving a Hello Kitty stamp on  your homework for a job well done. 

Caden is doing better in his hoikuen. He is making more friends and the children, especially this week, are accepting him more and more. We met with his sensei this week to check on how he is and she said that he is very involved in what the other children are doing despite the language. Ashton's teacher sat with us and had some questions about his eating habits. The Japanese feed their babies very different than we Americans and it's going to take some time for me to get used to it. They are very surprised at how much he eats. He's eating almost 3 bowls of food at lunch and then they have to stop, though he could keep eating. I told them it's because he's an American. We tend to eat a lot.

We are revving up for Christmas though we know it will not be the same. Caden is very excited about Santa coming, but he wasn't so sure that he would come to Japan. Well, Santa must've understood his worry and showed up at his hoikuen to visit with the children and pass out some early presents. We've posted a picture of his visit below. Does Santa look familiar at all?

Today, our Christmas Eve, we will be going to a very popular park here in Okayama. Dana will be offering face painting and we will be passing out tracts to those who get involved. Please be praying for the people that we meet and that it will be something fun for all the children. 

We pray that you all have the best Christmas! To our family, we miss you immensely and I know we will be hopelessly waiting for you to arrive at our door. May the Lord bless you all this holiday season! 

Merry Christmas,

The Shadburnes