2011 will be one of those years that I don't think I'll ever forget.
This was the year that I realized just how much love I have for Japan, a place I had wrong, stereotypical impressions of nearly 5 years ago when we found out we were moving here. On March 11, at 2:46, in our minds the world stopped, but it sure didn't feel like it at the time! That earthquake will always have an impression on me and as I think about it now, I can't help but think and praise about how God protected our family and happened to place us in this country at this time for such a time as this. The emotions that I felt during that time varied from excitement to worry, to fear to humor, then to anxiety as we had to deal with the information pouring in about Fukushima. Trust me- we didn't know who to believe. Do we believe the over-sensitized media reports of David Piper (who I still want to punch in the face) or our command or information from Wikipedia about what really is cesium, plutonium, and radiation? So we lived on the side of MAYBE... maybe go, maybe stay. Maybe it's serious, maybe we're safe. Sometimes I had it all figured out and then I would go to school and get all worried thanks to my parents who were coming in all worried and pumping the rumor mill. So, the best decision we made this year was to stay. And the second best decision was to make that decision because previously we had lived day-to-day. We almost left... but I'm glad we didn't.
That brings us to the word of the year for us: Sievert- the form of measurement of radiation.
And the most interesting thing we learned: Plutonium doesn't go very far.
The rest of the year took us to big snow with our new church, as well as a trip to Hiroshima on Shinkansen. This summer I escorted my 3 children to the states to visit family while Russ stayed in Japan due to work. I hated that I got to enjoy Arby's without him, but I did bring him back some Mean Pig BBQ which lasted us about 6 months. We just used the last of it. We survived 3 different soccer teams with 3 different teams and 3 different practices (I completely understand why people stop at one child). Russ and I were honored to coach t-ball together and watch a great group of 5 and 6 year olds learn such an exciting sport. I survived my first full year of teaching 4 year olds and signed up to do it again (with plans to continue next year as well).
This became the year that we lost the last of our "first friends" that we made when we moved to Yokota, and now we are people's first friends- and they still may leave before us since we extended to 2013. This year our last kid FINALLY became a scout and almost won first place overall in his first pinewood derby race. As a family, we reached our 200 mark on geocaching and placed many travel bugs (one went to Honduras).
So, that brings us to 2012. Our future includes a move (don't worry, it's only about 200 yards away) in our very near future to a new house, a special spring break trip since the following year we'll be getting ready for retirement, Alexis in HIGH SCHOOL (OMG!), another pinewood derby race, another busy (but not so busy because it's only 2 teams) soccer season, and whatever else God blesses us with.
I hope and pray that this year is even better for you and this year we can see God's opportunities that He gives us to work for Him.
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