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Wednesday, 01 July 2009

  • Saying goodbye : (

    I had to say my first tough goodbye yesterday. Emily and I got to spend one last day together Monday. It was so nice having some quality time together. She took me to eat, just the 2 of us, for my birthday. We spent the morning at Andi and Nadine at Andi's for pumpkin pancakes (our last time all together). And, we spent the girls nap time knitting and chatting. What a perfect day, until it came to an end. Instead of saying goodbye, we made plans to get together Wednesday for coffee.

      

    Obviously, the girls love their Auntie Em too. 

    Emily is such an awesome friend. I hate leaving her. I am so blessed that God put her in my lif here in Japan, and I know this is not the end. We will see each other again (I will make sure of it). Right now, she is beginning her long adventure of train rides, airport waiting, flying, more airport waiting,a dn even more flying to get to beautiful CA for a week with her best friend and brand new nephew. I know she is going to have so much fun. Please pray for safe and stress-free traveling, and a day surrounded by sweet, helpful, loving people.



    I have actually really enjoyed our time here in Japan, especially the past few months. It has been pretty hard here and there, but we have grown to love it. I am really going to miss it here, especially the dear friends God has put in our lives.

    We also had one last family gathering with our dear friends Monica, Mas, and Chiharu. It was so much fun. It's always hard getting all of us together, with Alex traveling with the navy, and Mas being a pilot 5 days a week. We had so much fun! Mas cooked us a delicious dinner,a nd Monica and Chi made a birthday cake for Monic and me.


    We blew out candles (which was so much fun for the kiddos too : )

     
    and then opened sweet presents from them. Monica gave me a beautiful cross necklace from her favorite glass store in Okinawa. It is so special. THank you so much!


    Chiharu gave the girls awesome beach towels for Papaw's pool.


    After that, we headed outside to do fireworks. What a treat!




     


    Oh my goodness. I am overwhelmed with the love God has poured out on us here. What amazing life long friends we have made. And oh, the growth in Christ and in Faith in Him that we have experienced out here is an eternal blessing.

    I know God has so much for us in Texas (although it is really hard to leave Japan right now, at leaxst until travel season starts back up again ; ). I am so excited to see where His path leads. God's timing and His will are perfect. He promises to be a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path. He never once promised to give us the Google map of our future (thank you Chaps for that awesome picture). We trust in the path God is leading us down, even though we don't know exactly where He is taking us.

    And, just for fun, here are a few more pictures fromt he last week:



    Hannah is so good at folding towels and clothes, and she loves to help.



    Faith and Isaiah, partners in crime. 



    Faith just loves Isaiah.  She asks for him all the time.  They have so much fun together (and act like brother and sister at times.

     
    Check out the beautiful flowers I found at the Commissary for around $10.  This would cost $50 or more if I bought it already arranges from a florist.  It made our house smell so good for over a week,a nd it brightens my day every time I see them.



    Hannah fell asleep this way one night.  Too cute : )



    That's my Hannah Banana


    And my sweet Faith girl, fast asleep in my arms.  (Hannah took this picture.  Pretty good!)

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

  • Karaoke, Japan Style

    So, we've been here nearly 3 years, and finally decided to try out karaoke.  It was so much fun!!!  Especially with our closest friends.  We made a night of it.  First, we headed out on the train to a delicious Indonesian restaurant in More's City (a shopping mall type place), where we met the Sams, Sullins, and Wylie/Therault clans.  Indonesian food is oh so yummy.  Living in Japan has given us an awesome appreciation and love for so many different styles of food.  We had such a great time visiting with our friends.



    Here we are!  Our girls and Isaiah were having a ball with a babysitter.







    Unfortunately, I missed a photo op of the John, Nadine, and adorable Justine.


    But I did get some pictures of Justines big toothy smile.  What a cutie!  She gets more beautiful every time I see her.



    Check out her kids meal.  That's some good lookin' food.  That drink is hers too.  Orange juice with a beautiful flower floating in it.  Fancy fancy.  I love the presentation (the beautifully cut veggie slices and banana). 

    After dinner, we said good night to Justine and family (babies and pregnant mommas need their sleep), and we headed on to Karaoke Go Go.  This isn't your typical American Karaoke bar.  You rent a private room, fully equipped with microphones, the Karaoke system, couches, a table, and the all important tamborine.  All of this for the low low price or 500 yen per person per half an hour (we ended up paying ofer $100 for a couple hours - not cheap, but well worth it).  All of this came with an all you want ice cream/soda/tea/coffee/candy cane bar.  We also had a telephone in our room where we could order food and drinks. 





    It was much more exciting than the photos look.


    Alex gave a memorable performance of When a Man Loves a Woman while indulging in passionate bites of chocolate ice cream.


    This  video gives you a great view of the room we were in.  And, it's proof that I actually attempted Karaoke.  Great time for tha camera - right when I can't keep up with the king of Pop

    The song of the night was Alex and Chris' love seranade to Top Guns You've Lost that Loving Feeling.  Enjoy!

Thursday, 25 June 2009

  • Happy Birthday to me

    ...And it was AWESOME!!! First of all, Alex took me out for a hot date, juts the two of us, all night long, Andi and Chris and Isaiah came over for a sleep over with Hannah and Faith. What a blessing! They are such sweet friends, and we had soooo much fun!

    First, we headed to the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, where we had a room reserved for the night. This is a very nice US military hotel int he heart of Tokyo. Our room was only $40 for the night. Can't beat that. We took our time getting ready for the evening without the sweet, but distracting interuptions form our girls. Then, we headed for Indian food at Priya. Mmmmmmm...My mouth is watering again. It was oh so good. I recomend you try it out. Then, on to a jazz concert at:
    Birthday1
    Blue Note Jazz Club in Tokyo (and, it was smoke free : )

    Birthday13
    It looks small, but it is all underground. The concert was actually 2 floors below the ground.

    Birthd1
    This was taken from our seats. I love the intimate atmosphere for a concert. You can't get a bad seat

    Birthday14

    Oh, you are probably wondering who we had the pleasure of hearing...Roy Hargrove Quintet. They were great! We really enjoyed it. We should really get out and hear more live Jazz. It is so relaxing (when it's played well). I can't wait for Denton Jazz and Arts Festival.

    Well, in the middle of a beautifal song, Alex gave me a birthday present that he picked out for me in the Philipines.
    Birthday15
    It's so beautiful in person (I just couldn't get the picture right). I haven't been able to wear my wedding rings since being pregnant with Faith and getting bigger. My engagement ring was stollen by the first movers. Now I have a beautiful ring that I can wear. I just have to get it sized to fit.

    What a wonderful birthday. Thank you so much sweetie : )

Sunday, 21 June 2009

  • My sweet big girl

    I've been having a bit of a tough day when it comes to patience with Hannah and Faith, and it just keeps building, making each thing they do wrong (as kids do - they are learning, after all) just pile on and cause even more frusteration. It's just one of those bad attitude days on my part where my focus has been off (unfortunately, it happens often).

    Well, Hannah just came in to ask if I would read to her and Faith for bed time, and I told her no because I would like to spend some time in prayer and reading my Bible. I told her I'm sorry I have been yelling at her so much today, I've been having a rough day. She said, "That's ok mommy, I can pray for you" with a beautiful smile on her face. She got down on her knees, folded her hands together on my knee, bowed her head, and prayed for her mommy. That was the sweetest thing ever. What a prayer! My frusterations and attitude just melted away (with the tears pouring down my face) with my 4 year old's prayers of love. Hannah's child-like Faith and love is awesome! I have a lot to learn from her.

    "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever recieves one such child in My name receives Me," Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-5

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

  • Haircut

    Ok...tell me what you think. It's a bit drastic, but I think I like it. I may end up going back to get the front a little shorter. I don't know. I loved my cut before (it needed a little trimming though), but I was already sweaty and hot from having my hair on my neck, so I wanted it off. I hate my hair in my face, so I wanted it long enough in the front to pull back or put behind my ears.

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ivyleaguebaby

  • Visit ivyleaguebaby's Xanga Site
    • Name: Hannah and Faith
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 3/31/2005

About Me

  • Hannah Alyse Ivy (Grace of God) Born March 14, 2005 9 pounds, 8 ounces 21.5 inches Faith Marie Ivy Born September 6, 2007 10 pounds, 8 ounces 21 inches

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