Happy New Year!

Wow! Is it really 2009 already? It's hard to believe how fast 2008 flew by, but why wouldn't it have felt that way? In January our oldest son turned a whopping 3 years old, and about to turn 4 in 20 days! In March our second little one came a long. In April we were appointed with the IMB. In June we quit our jobs. In August we moved to Virginia for 2 months for training. In October we finally moved to Japan and then November and December just flew by. Where did the year go?

This week was a tiring one. Both of our boys were sick this week with what we thought at first could only be chickenpox but turned out to be some funky virus. Both are better now but Caden's appetite is still trying to catch up. Ash recently received his top front teeth and this week I noticed that his two teeth on either side of the top front teeth are coming in as well. That mouth will be full before we know it! I'm sure he's more than excited because that boy is constantly hungry. I don't know where he gets it from. :)

We had a good week spending time with the S-sans. I think I already posted that we had them at our house on Monday for dinner and then we were invited to their house on Friday for dinner. It was a very laid back evening with us making our own personal pizzas. T-san also cooked mochi, which is rice cake. Imagine dough that has been chilled in the fridge. For New Year's the Japanese make udon and put the mochi in the udon broth and let it soften. I am a huge texture person and don't really care for mochi unless it's mochi ice cream. Then it's firm and filled with delicious vanilla. Thankfully Dana had told T-san that I wasn't a huge fan of the mochi so she wasn't going to be insulted if I declined the offer. However, I wanted to appear to be up for anything new and so I did try the mochi and I also did not finish it. Not firm, no vanilla, no good. Dana had seconds. 

On Tuesday M and Y-san came over with their kids No-kun and Em-san. We had a great time together and the boys get along really well. They brought us a gift: a huge bag of Peanut M&Ms!! I've never loved Peanut M&Ms more in my life! The bag is almost gone. Its been really good to munch on while I drink my Vanilla Caramel coffee. Thanks Kellers!! We are praying that we can really make an impact on this family. M made many references to God and how he really feels like God is blessing us and watching over us here in Okayama. Please pray that we can convey that He wants to do the same for M's family. 

Tomorrow we are loading our family onto the bullet train and heading for Shizuoka, which is outside of Tokyo. We are having our annual meeting with all of our colleagues here in Japan. We are very excited to meet those that we have yet to meet and finally meet those we haven't had to the chance to meet yet. Okay, I just read that and have been laughing about it for the past 2 minutes because I realized it said the same thing in it twice. I think you know what I was trying to say. Wakarimasu ka?

Please pray for:

1. Safe travel as we go to Shizuoka.

2. For our study time while we are not meeting with our senseis.

3. For the friendships we have been building here.

We love you all and appreciate you so much!

Love and prayers,

Amy