September 15, 2011

Soccer Season

The end of soccer season has arrived!  Let us all give thanks for the end of soccer season.  In retrospect, I have a new found reverence for our parents who took us through so many seasons of youth sports.  While it is fun to watch the kids play, fun to yell from the sidelines, and fun to just be outside - it wipes you out!  No wonder soccer moms are so tough.  Andrew had a great season with his team the Samurais and Peter with the Furious Sharks.  They both have come a long way in their ability to play this game.  Andrew is a tenacious runner and his speed on the field is his biggest asset.  Peter seems to have a knack for seeing where the ball is and is super aggressive.  Peter is also figuring out that he can dribble the ball past a lot of kids and had a few goals this year based on some tricky baseline moves.  Both the boys had great coaches who were super dedicated and a lot of fun.  They also had some good friends on the team.  My favorite part was that most of their games were near the playground, so we could let Emma and Abby romp around with Ethan while we watched the games.  Peter had 2 others kids from primary on his team.  One game, all three of them scored.  The Mormon trifecta!  In all, soccer season was a ton of fun, but I am glad it only happens once a year....for now.

Andrew:


Peter:

September 11, 2011

Helping Hands

As many of us pause today to remember the September 11th attacks in America, it also marks 6 months from the March 11th earthquake that devastated much of Northern Japan.  I remember having been in the Army 3 months and being in shock as the towers collapsed and as the Pentagon smoldered. I also remember holding on to my family thinking the world was ending on March 11th.  As part of the efforts to help Japan recover, the LDS church has chartered buses that go to Sendai and sights in Northern Japan several times per week to help with the clean-up process.  The scale of this volunteer effort is truly amazing, but it is just a small part of the overall restoration process that has been ongoing for the last 6 months.  Friday, 141 members of our District left to go up to Iwate to a town called takata which used to have 25,000 people.  2,000 people died in the tsunami and the majority of the town was destroyed.  We spent the day clearing debris from some of the rice fields by a school so that it can be planted again sometime.  A lot of progress has been made, but as these pictures show, it will be years before a semblance of this town begins to appear again.  It gives me pause to think that this is what it looks like after 6 months of continuous effort.  For those who have lived in Japan, you'll appreciate that as we worked in the field a van drove by several times throughout the day blaring over the loudspeaker thank you messages.  While we were there, there was an earthquake and we were told that if the siren sounded we should head to the hills behind us.  I have been through hundreds of earthquakes, but when you're clearing debris from a tsunami, it makes you think a little more about where your standing.  I've been to Hiroshima and seen the devastation that the atomic bomb left and it was similar to the destruction left by the tsunami.  Entire areas were just void of buildings, void of roads, and void of life.  6 months later, the land looks completely decimated.   Yet, from such destruction, like at Hiroshima, the Japanese people come together and rebuild. Their efforts are tireless, their resolve is unmatched.  It is amazing to see the sense of community that exists in Japan.  In the face of such destruction, their resolve is inspiring.


Of note, the rikusentakata tree has become a national icon as it was the only pine tree in the low lands to survive the tsunami.  If you notice in the pictures the hills surrounding this area are covered in pine trees just like the lowland parts used to be covered in pine trees.  There is only one left. It stands as a simple of resilience in the face of destruction.  It truly embodies the spirit of the Japanese people.

September 4, 2011

Shimoda Beach Resort

Mike and I spent a night down in the Izu Peninsula in celebration of our 13th year Anniversary. A fellow coworker from the hospital had given Mike some gift certificates to the Shimoda Beach Resort in gratitude for Mike 's willingness to take on extra call last year. I don't know what it is about our timing but I recall that it rained on our getaway last year as we headed up to Hakone. The drive was still beautiful as we drove along the water the entire way down the eastern side of the Izu Peninsula. It was just nice to have some alone time together after a summer full of activities. I can't say that the inside of the hotel was updated or even that nice looking. It was actually a bit older than we had anticipated and a bit dingy but our room was pretty nice. We opted to spend a little extra to request a room with a private onsen on our deck. The view was beautiful down to the "white sandy" beach that was advertised on the brochure. I think if it weren't for the fact that we were on the tail end of a typhoon the beach would have looked a little better. It didn't really matter though because this trip was all about relaxation and hanging in the onsen, sleeping in, and enjoying each other's company. Since we didn't arrive until the early evening time we missed being able to sign up for massages at a decent hour so we headed to dinner at the Japanese restaurant. It was interesting and very traditional. It wasn't really my cup of tea the stuff we were eating but I managed to eat some of it. Even the dessert wasn't that great. I had to keep reminding myself that it was all about the experience. I was glad that Mike agreed with me on that one. There were some things even he wouldn't touch. We had our own private eating area so we were able to completely relax and just talk...and make fun of how much traditional Japanese food sometimes is just not that great. I am not sure how much my palate agrees with so much fish. At the end of the meal there was this crazy looking fish. I would not even touch it but Mike tried it and then after it snapped in half he just had some fun with it. I am glad that he can find humor in most everything. That is one of the things that I just love about him. It is never a dull moment when he is around.



It was nice to sleep in especially because we usually don't get to sleep in on the weekends past 6am because of our long runs on Saturday and church on Sundays. We went for a run, ate breakfast at the same not so great restaurant and then headed down to the beach. It was still a bit overcast and the weather was cooler than I would have liked so I passed up getting in the water. Mike grabbed the boogie board and got right in. The waves were pretty strong and after some great attempts to catch the waves he realized that he really needed flippers. We headed back to our room to relax in the onsen before heading out. On our way home we decided to take the more mountainous route back through the center of the Peninsula. We stopped to see a really powerful waterfall, saw fields of wasabi plants, and even tried a moche covered strawberry which was delicious. It was a great little trip!

September 3, 2011

Parenting 505...and sometimes 805

I am not at all surprised by how much I love being a mother. It definitely helps that I was raised by a wonderful woman who has served as the best example of what it takes to be a truly great mother. Still, there are times when I think to myself, "I don't know what the heck I am doing." After 10 years of motherhood I have learned so much but the number one most important thing I have learned so far is how DIVINE motherhood is and how devoted I need to be in order to be the kind of mother I want to be. During our church's last General Conference back in April 2011, I was blown away by one talk in particular. It was a talk given by Lynn G. Robbins of the Quorom of the Seventy. Of all the things he said, this one quote has meant so much to me already.
     
"A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in Parenting 101. If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505. Rather than wonder what you might have done wrong in the premortal life to be so deserving, you might consider the more challenging child a blessing and opportunity to become more godlike yourself. With which child will your patience, long-suffering, and other Christlike virtues most likely be tested, developed, and refined? Could it be possible that you need this child as much as this child needs you?"

Motherhood for me has really been such a joy. It has definitely had its ups and downs but with all of the learning I can't imagine my life without my four kids and my wonderful husband. Sometimes I think that things just couldn't get any better and then I am humbled by a challenge that one of them is going through. I have learned more about myself and what it means to give of myself and to truly be patient and loving. They teach me more than I could ever learn in any book. The kids have just started school I am excited for them, a little anxious for some more quiet time, but really I am sad to be losing my kiddos for so long during the day. I am pretty sure it won't take long to adjust. No, I'm sure I will sigh a breath of relief pretty soon. I am excited for them to be learning again and to make new friends this year. This last year one of my biggest goals as a mother has been to spend more quality time with each one individually so that I could really get to know them even better than I think I already know them. I think I have done a pretty good job at it and I have learned more about each of my kids through doing it. I can tell that they love the special time that I give them. We call it "mom time." They beg to have mom time with me and that is really flattering to me. I know that they all feel loved and in turn they are pretty good about showing love to each other. Most days being a mother is fantastic. However, during those times when I feel enrolled in Parenting 505 or maybe even Parenting 805 I just have to stop and think about how much growth I will have during those times. For me it's all about keeping things in perspective because sometimes with all the chaos that goes on all around and the same challenges that always seem to creap up on me I find myself burdened and overwhelmed. Life is as good as you make it and attitude is a big part of that. I truly believe that because I love being a mother I will do whatever it takes to be a great mother.