RocketChick

Returning to Fall in December

2010-12-09T04:44:00.011-05:00

It was only 9:30 PM when we stumbled in the door, but it felt like 5:30 AM, which it was back in Utah. After staying awake during the entire trip from Utah, Marin had fallen asleep on the bus. It is a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from the Narita Airport to Camp Zama, and she slept the whole way. She didn't even wake up when we carried her in to bed. She woke at 5:30 the next morning, having had 10 hours of solid sleep! Great! I could send her to school! I hadn't planned on sending her back to school until Monday (and this was Friday morning), but she was awake and ready to be active, so heck, why not!? I, however hadn't gotten that much sleep so I was glad to get her on her way.
When we got to her school her teacher told us that they would be decorating wreaths at 2:00 that day, and parents were invited. Perfect! I was so glad to find out about that! We would have missed a great time had we stayed at home.
After a couple more hours of sleep, I joined Marin at school. She had her wreath ready. Every 1st grade student had a wreath, which they had made a couple months ago from the vines of their Morning Glories that they grew, starting back in May or June, and tended at home during the summer. Now the vines were wrapped into a wreath and dried. Ribbons, colorful ornaments, and painted nuts and pine cones covered the desks of Marin's first grade classroom. Marin was very excited for me to join her in this project, and I was so glad to be there! We had a great time decorating Marin's wreath. Everyone had a great time. Their was an energy of excitement in the room that filled my heart. I don't know what it would be like to do something like this with Marin in an American school. I am sure that would be fun too, but there is something so cool about being a part of an authentic foreign school environment. This is a dream come true for me! ...and I'm living it!!

This is Marin and her Japanese American friend, Tiffany, who is bilingual.

After decorating the wreaths, it was time to pack up and go home. All the kids got their backpacks ready to go, and their yellow hats on. It's a 1st grade thing in Japan---for safety as they walk to and from school. Next year Marin wont be wearing the yellow hat and bright yellow cover on her backpack.
Once all the children were ready, the teacher quietly stood at the front of the room, without a word, waiting for every last child to settle down and stand quietly. Once they all did, they were released to go home.

Marin is 1/3 of the way over from the left.

It was a bright and rather warm day for December as we returned home. The leaves on the trees were bright and colorful Fall colors. We just missed the peak of it though when we were in Utah. The leaves change in late November and early December here. I don't know why.

This picture may not do this tree justice. It is such a bright yellow, and we see it from all the way down the street as we drive home. I love it! But soon the leaves will be gone. Then I'll look forward to Spring, when the Cherry Blossoms come out.

We even have a rose bush that blooms even in December.

Thanksgiving in Utah!

2010-12-07T21:42:00.016-05:00

Marin is a veteran flier. I've lost track of how many trips she's taken since she was 3 months old---several each year. As always, she traveled well. She never asks when we'll get there (unlike when we're in the car). She loves to watch the TV on the plane and stays awake for hours. She made it most of the way to Utah (about a 24 hour trip) wide awake, or seeming so. When our second flight, from LAX, was delayed, we stopped for food at a nice Mexican restaurant near our gate. Having just seemed wide awake, Marin said, "Mom, I'm tired". She laid her head on her arm and was deeply asleep and twitching in less than 30 seconds! I have never seen her fall asleep like that before! When I woke her up 15 minutes later to eat before boarding again, she looked up, groggy, and said the same thing again, "Mom, I'm tired". This time she looked like she'd been up the whole 24 hours she had been. She's a trooper! Thankfully, since our flight had been delayed an hour, most of the passengers had found other flights, leaving our flight mostly empty. Marin and I each laid down in our own rows and slept!

She's out cold!We landed in SLC an hour before we left Tokyo... LOL! Yes, we gained a whole day. Fortunately, we only had few more hours till bed time when we got to Grandma's house. I slept 11 hours and got used to Utah time pretty easily.

It was our first trip back home since moving to Japan. The biggest shocker was getting used to being on the right side of the road, and driving so fast! And oh, what HUGE roads the US has!!! And the lanes are big too! We are so used to the tiny streets of Japan, which we also share with bikes, scooters, and pedestrians. Needless to say, we have to drive very slow. The two-way roads (alleys, really) in the residential areas are just wide enough for one car. (Yeah it's a little tricky at times! Definitely humorous.) I'll have to do a post on driving in Japan some time.
It took me a few days of being a passenger to feel ready to drive on the right side of the road again. I was startled a few times by wipers loudly juddering across the windshield when I meant to sign a turn. Marin and I had a few laughs until I got used to the turn signal on the left side of the steering wheel again.
Jeff came a week after I did, just in time for Thanksgiving. He didn't give himself as long to get used to Stateside driving as I did, and made a few turns onto the left side of the road! Ach!

Utah got hit with a lot of snow while we were there, and the first dump of it was PERFECT packing snow! It was exactly what Marin had been longing for, and me too! We had a great time building a snowman in my brother's front yard. Then we went to a nearby park and had a fantastic snowball fight! We left Utah 4 years ago and have hardly seen snow since. I have really missed the snow. I felt like a kid again as I played with Marin.

We stayed at Jeff's parent's house, where they were finishing the basement. Marin and I both got to help paint the walls! We both love doing and creating with our hands. (We hadn't brought house painting clothes though, so we borrowed from Grandpa.)

The Anderson girls love to get pedicures, so we made a date of it. Marin loves it too.

My favorite part is the really good foot rub! I don't get into painting my nails though, so I didn't do a typical shade of red or pink. I had them do a shimmery BYU blue. ...It reminds me of EV-1, BYU's electric vehicle that I worked on several years ago with the race car team. I still miss my school, and study. ={

We spent our time well with family, bouncing between my dad's house and my in-laws. Family, on both sides of the family, traveled from Northern Utah and Colorado to gather for Thanksgiving get-togethers. It was so good to see everyone. It really hit us how much we miss being near family. I long to connect with family far more than we can, being so far away. Marin is growing up, and wants so much to be near family. Her best friend in the world is her cousin, McCord, who is 10 months older than her. They love and miss each other so much!!

After 4 years away I'm feeling ready to come back to Utah, next move, if the slim possibility presents itself. Utah is home base. I have moved in and out of Utah countless times through my entire life. I actually like it that way. Utah is great, but I can only take in doses!! LOL . It's not up to us though. The Army sends us where they want us. I had a vivid dream while in Utah that the Army told us that we were going to China next, no choice. sigh Anything is possible.

My highlight of the trip, next to building the snowman with Marin, was getting a night away with Jeff at the Castle Creek Inn nearby. It was wonderful to simply sit and talk, as time together is rare and brief.
We stayed in the King's Lodge room, a huge room that had a pool table.

Jeff and I love bed and breakfasts. We've stayed in 4 now, each one with it's unique appeal. The Johnson Mill in Midway Utah is our favorite so far.

In our last few daylight hours in Utah, I had to stop by The Wood Connection, a little store that sells wooden letters and wall hangings. I think it's well known in SLC, but it's new to me. I was looking to do Marin's name to put in her room. I felt like a kid in a candy store! After selecting the letters I wanted (They have different fonts and sizes) I chose pink and brown scrapbook papers and matching paints, to go on the letters. I am so excited to make them. I'll post them when I do. These are examples they had in the store.

A year and a half was too long, being away from Utah. We plan to return in the Spring for another visit. I would love to get two visits in next year, but that may be wishful thinking.
I sure hope we at least move closer to home next, but again, we could be sent anywhere in the world, which has it's appeal, but home is nice too. Cross your fingers for us!

Parent Observation Day

2010-06-25T08:47:00.014-04:00

Today (6/25/10) was a parent observation day at Marin's school, during the last class period. Of course Marin loves it when I come to her school. Can you find Marin in the picture waving wildly?
About once a quarter, parents are invited to come observe the class going about their typical classroom activities. It is so fun, and such a rich experience to be in this foreign class environment. Childrens paintings line the back wall, each signed by the artist, in hiragana, the simplest set of Japanese characters. On large peaces of paper, hung near the front of the room, next to the piano, words to school songs are written for singing practice. The teacher is a very good pianist, as many Japanese teachers are. Every classroom has a piano for the almost daily singing time. On the board is written the study schedule of the day, in Hiragana. The date and month are posted in English so the children can learn a few English words.
This is a Hiragana chart.
Today's visit happened to be during math time. It was interesting to watch the teacher teach math to all these cute little 6-year-olds using big yellow magnetic blocks on the chalk board, suckers in her hands that she would "add" and "subtract", and writing basic arithmetic equations on the board. I couldn't understand much of what she was saying except for the numbers, which are some of the few Japanese words I know. I was surprised how well the kids focused on listening and doing their math assignment while parents quietly lined the back of the room.
It was really fun to watch Marin follow along well enough, even though she doesn't understand a whole lot of Japanese yet. It's a really good thing that they are teaching with the regular numbers that we know, and not their character numbers, or worse, numbers in kanji!! Yes, they have kanji for numbers. (Click image to see better.) After class Marin showed me her "wish" on the bamboo tree. There is a bamboo tree in the hall way where the children each hung a colorful piece of paper on which they wrote a wish of what they want to be. Marin wants to be a Pegasus.She wrote it in katakana on the yellow strip of paper. (left yellow paper) This activity is a traditional thing that the Japanese do at this time every year.

Marin loves her Japanese school. She does very well. I am so glad that she takes such interest in learning! She picks things up so quickly, and she has the perfect personality to send to a foreign school and to thrive.

School Lunch: Japanese Style

2010-06-20T01:29:00.009-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of eating lunch at Marin's school, to get an idea of what Marin experiences every day. Many mothers came to enjoy the same, each wearing an apron, a face mask, a scarf on their head, and indoor shoes. I took this picture off the internet to show you how Marin and her class do lunch every day. The white attire is their lunch uniform. The children serve each other lunch from two short, slender tables that are brought into the classroom just for lunch. One table pulls out from under the other. The Japanese really have their own unique way of doing pretty much everything.

Lunch was served in a classroom in the same way it is every day for the kids, and it was very much like what is pictured above. I really enjoyed it! I was surrounded by Japanese mothers, and I couldn't understand anything that they said. It is such a different experience being in the minority.
I sat next to another mother I met recently who is Brazilian. She has lived here in Japan for 10 years and has picked up some of the language. Other than that, she speaks only Portuguese. We sat together and had as much of a conversation as we could. It was quite amusing since there wasn't much overlap in the words, in any language, that both of us know. Between my few words of Japanese, and a few more words in Spanish, which is close enough to Portuguese, and her limited Japanese, we could communicate a few basic things. She's cool lady and I enjoyed her company.

At the end of lunch a survey was collected. I couldn't write much about the food, except, in romanji, "oishii kata" --- "It was delicious". I had to laugh to myself when I had to look at my name tag to remember how to write my name. It looks like this:
エミリーアンダーソン
How often as an adult do you have to think really hard about how to write your own name? It's funny, but very humbling.

Missionary Marin

2010-05-22T08:32:00.005-04:00

I know it's been forever since I last posted anything. So many wonderful and amazing things have happened that I wanted to post, but never got around to it. Life is busy. I keep thinking it will slow down, but then it gets busier. I hope to catch up on some big things soon (cross your fingers), but for now I have to write about one of the most awesome thing that has happened. This one I definitely can't miss.

This afternoon I was sitting in the dining room and overheard Marin in the front room talking to her friend who is not a member of our church and doesn't go to any church right now. I wish I could have recorded what she said. It was so precious. She said to her friend in her sweet little voice, looking at a picture of Jesus that she had cut out of the Friend Magazine and mounted on colored paper, "Do you know who this is? This is Jesus! He died for us. He died on the cross for our sins. Do you know what sins are? It's when we make wrong choices. He died for you, and for your family!"
I couldn't believe my ears! I couldn't have said it better myself. What an awesome little missionary!!!

A couple months ago, we were having dinner at a restaurant and Marin leaned over to tell me a secret. She whispered in my ear, "Do you know what I want to do when I grow up? I want to teach people about Heavenly Father and Jesus." I had no idea she would say that. It was really hard to hold back the tears. I was so touched, and proud! Tonight I told her that she doesn't have to be grown up to teach people about the Gospel because she is already a missionary, a 6 year old missionary. She got a big grin on her face, realizing what she had done. It obviously came easy to her. I am soooo proud!
There is nothing more uplifting and fulfilling to me than sharing the "good news" and watching it change lives like nothing else can.

3 John 1:4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Halloween in Japan

2009-11-06T00:31:00.009-05:00

Halloween this year was pretty cool. Marin dressed up in the same beautiful Afghani dress that Jeff sent home last year. Is it bad that I like to reuse our super cute costumes if they still fit?

Marin loved the whole evening. We went around our little military housing neighborhood and found some pretty cute Halloween displays and lots of candy. Even the fire station down the street handed out candy. Marin had fun with all that, and then when her Halloween bag was full, she was excited to go home and hand out candy to Trick-or-Treaters. She enjoyed that even more!
We were surprised to find that most of the Trick-or-Treaters that came by were Japanese! They were brought on post by their American friends. Below is Marin with a large group of kids that came to the door. One mom wanted some pictures of her kids with Marin, so they all jumped in the picture. It was a lot of fun.
One of Marin's classmates, from her Japanese Kindergarten, came by too, and was excited to see her. When she saw her, she excitedly ran up to Marin saying her Japanese name that basically sounds like Maylin-chan! It was fun to meet Shiun and her family, but the language barrier kept us from communicating much.
Costume contest photo, taken at the commissary.

Sponge Bob!

Marin, handing out candy on our porch.

Spur of the moment photo of a mob of Trick-or-Treaters. What a treat for everyone! The Japanese kids love Halloween. Since Japan doesn't celebrate Halloween, I wonder where they got such great costumes.

Marin was in heaven!

The girl in the white dress is Shiun, from Marin's class. I'm guessing the other girl is her younger sister.

The best part about Halloween was that Jeff was with us. He travels a lot. Halloween happened to fall right between two back to back trips Jeff had to make to Virginia and Hawaii. The military wanted to send him straight from one to the other, but he pushed to come home in the middle of them for one day--Halloween. And then he was able to get home a day earlier, so we got him for nearly 48 hours. He's almost home from the second trip now, and then we get him for 3 weeks before he's off the Northern Japan for two weeks. Our time together is very precious. Halloween would not have been the same without him!

Crazy Busy

2009-10-27T22:03:00.013-04:00

Yes, I know it's been forever since I posted anything on my blog. I haven't forgotten about it. We're just busy. We've had a lot going on since then end of August. All at the same time we moved into the house, I started school at the Education center on post, and Marin started school at the Japanese school (which took a lot to prepare for and get used to). Also, Marin has taken swimming lessons, violin lessons, plays on a soccer team, and is in Girl Scouts. Jeff, has played softball and flag football, and I have been busy with school and several church callings and Relief Society activities. We really jumped in with both feet, and then found ourselves busier than we realized we would be! Jeff doesn't mind being busy, busy, busy, going from one activity to another with no down time, but that doesn't work for me. I need flex time and breathing room.
Here are some pictures from recently, in no particular order.
violin!girlscouts!soccer!thenmyJapaneseclass!andHalloweenparty
toputonatthechurch! Yeah, pretty much just like that, all in a couple hours time. Phew!
Marin playing soccer. She's in blue, with her hair braided. Can you find her?

Marin in her summer uniform, going to catch the little yellow school bus. The car is our Honda CRV.

This is the picture I took at Marin's school of the things I had to go find at a Japanese supermarket. A picture says a thousand words--in any language!!

Marin with Girl Scout friends.

There is Marin hanging on to the fence, watching Dad, #77.

These are all Marin's school supplies that I had to label with her name on every individual piece.

Marin loves swimming! Here she is floating with the help of her teacher, Mei.

Music Playlist Removed

2009-09-16T19:22:00.004-04:00

I have just removed my music gadget from Playlist.com due to sicking ads found on their site. I will no longer promote their site on my blog. I apologize to anyone who may have gone to Playlist.com from my blog and found inappropriate material. I encourage anyone else who has an account with them to submit a complaint, as I have, about the inappropriate content of their ads. I know this stuff is common all over the internet, but that doesn't make it okay to be complacent and just live with it!!

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke

Stand firm for truth and righteousness!

Into a house now

2009-08-27T10:49:00.004-04:00

We finally moved into a house yesterday. It's really...something. This house is so old that it's a bigger adjustment moving into this house than it was to move to Japan. It was built in 1952. It has all wood floors, solid wood doors, really old elecrical boxes and external wiring on the walls, and there is a glossy shine from ceiling to floor. The walls and door frames have been painted so many times in nearly 60 years that they are rounded and gloppy. On our wood floors you can see marks and repairs where the radiators were. Marin has described this place as "creepy" and "spooky". I'm not sure yet how to make it feel like home, but we'll get there. Right now I'm just glad to have a whole kitchen again, and the smaller of two shipments of our stuff. The rest will come later next month. We can't wait.

Check back soon. I'll add more to this post later. I just wanted to get at least this much up for now. We're really busy right now.

'Lil TAC Officer

2009-08-15T01:10:00.006-04:00

We have carefully considered all schools to send Marin to, and have placed her in a very strict military school. She has done so well that they have already promoted her to head *TAC Officer of her class, and possibly soon, the head of the whole school. Here is evidence of her hard nosed, strict leadership skills that will take her far in her military career.
*TAC Officer; a drill sergeant for aspiring Officers

Joy, in the Truest Sense of the Word

2009-08-11T07:54:00.008-04:00

Tokyo, Japan Temple
On Friday night Jeff and I had the opportunity to go to the LDS Temple in Tokyo. It was wonderful to be there to feel the power of the Spirit and peaceful solitude, like a comforter. There is no equal in all the world to the Temple of the Lord. It truly is His house. It is very much set apart from the cares world. In no other place do I feel so close to my Father in Heaven. What a blessing and a privilege.

Salt Lake Temple, Utah

A Great Week

2009-07-31T15:07:00.012-04:00

We're having too much fun here. Between the three of us we have seen and done a lot! Last Saturday, I took a "train class", a guided excursion to Yebisu Garden Place in Tokyo. It took an hour and a half to get there by train. We were given 3 1/2 hours to explore the area, shop, and eat. I went to lunch with 4 young Japanese tour guides who speak little English. That was really cool. We ate at an old western style restaurant, and I ate a really good burger. A bit ironic, I know. Then we walked over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. It was impressive, yet humbling. It featured images taken all over the world over the past year by expert photojournalists. Many images were gruesome, showing the violence that has occurred in far away places like Georgia (the country), devastating natural disasters, and even effects of the economic crisis. I don't even know how express how it touched me, but it left me with a solemn feeling, for sure. It definitely made me all the more grateful to be a citizen of a very civilized and relatively safe country. (Japan is safer than the US.)
Also on Saturday we moved into a suite. We had been in a small, one room hotel room with a tiny fridge and a microwave. Now we have two separate bedrooms and a living area with a kitchenette, a table with chairs, a TV and a love seat. It's a relief to have more space, and separate rooms, not to mention something of a kitchen.We found our way to church on our own on Sunday. Good job Jeff!! It's 30 minutes away, through the tight, maze-like streets of the city. Jeff has an amazing sense of direction. Church is interesting. It's in a very nice new building that is completely different from anything you'd find anywhere else. It's on 3 levels. The bottom level is brick floor parking and a small lobby with an elevator and a stairway. On the next level is a small chapel, with only cushioned folding chairs, and the top level has the classrooms and Branch President's offices. The Branch is tiny, especially since it's summer. It's a Military Branch taking in members from several military bases. There are usually about 35 people in Sacrament meeting, about 15 in the one adult Sunday School class, 8 to 10 in Relief Society, and the same numbers in Primary. We're still trying to figure out the personality of the Branch. It's different. Jeff has very good experiences in Priesthood, better than he's found in past wards. The Relief Society also has a very different feel from what I have experienced anywhere else. I'm not sure what to say about it except that I hoping to help strengthen the RS and do what I can to bring the sisters together and lift their spirits. Several of the sisters' husbands are deployed, which explains a lot. I know all too well what that's like. I'm really looking forward to getting involved. The Branch just received our records and we are ready and waiting for callings.This week, Jeff and I did Japanese Headstart. It's a full time, week long introduction to Japan, its history, culture and language, in a classroom setting, plus a day trip to Odawara Castle---an hour and a half away by train, right by the ocean. The class was taught by two really funny Japanese men. They were practically comedians! It was a whole lot of fun!! We got certificates of completion with our names in Japanese yesterday.Sensei Onozaki, our instructor and a samurai master

The same day that we went to Odawara Castle, Marin went on a full day field trip with the CDC* to Ebina Fantasy Land! She had a lot of fun, though she doesn't know how to explain what she saw and did there. The preschool does a full day field trip to really cool places every Thursday. Last week they went to the Enoshim Aquarium, also an hour and a half away. The Aquarium featured a dolphin show where the dolphins performed. Marin was bouncing off the walls when we picked her up that day!

We've seen and done a whole lot in the short time that we have been here. We couldn't have gotten here only 3 1/2 weeks ago, could we!? It feels like longer because we've packed so much in. It feels like we're on a cruise---living in a hotel, eating out all the time, Jeff being with us all the time, and frequently traveling and going on excursions to great and exciting places in a beautiful foreign country. Three years here wont be long enough.

Things will change a bit after Jeff starts work on Monday, but not much. His schedule will actually be light, for a total and complete change from the past several years! We will still go on lots of excursions with ACS** and Outdoor Rec. Jeff will take some kind of a samurai lessons from one of our Japanese Headstart instructors. I will start taking a Japanese class in a few weeks through the University of Maryland, and Marin will start school in September. We also have Marin signed up for violin and swimming lessons in August, and soccer this Fall. Could life get any better than this?!

*Child Development Center
**Army Community Service

Dreaming of Bumper Cars

2009-07-29T00:08:00.002-04:00

Well, we have a car now, and it's nice to have wheels again, especially since it's been so rainy here lately. I'm ready to be done getting drenched whenever we have to go somewhere. So, now we're getting used to driving in Japan. It's a whole different experience driving around here and we're still nervous about it. First, we drive on the left side of the road, from the right side of the car. The gear shift and wipers are on the left and the turn signal is on the right. It's all backwards! Then, the roads are so narrow (off post) that you have to squeeze your way around, and in many places it's too narrow for two cars to pass each other going opposite directions, so you have to wait for cars to come through from the other direction before you can go through the narrow part. Plus you have to watch for pedestrians, bikes, and mopeds using the same small space! And you also have to watch for telephone poles planted out in the road too! Yeah, it's crazy. I think it would be a great idea if they just drove bumper cars instead. They're the right size for the roads, and driving would be a lot more fun and less stress!

Every Day Here is a New Adventure

2009-07-23T09:39:00.012-04:00

Yesterday, Jeff and I went to the Newcomers Brief. There were many presenters from all different offices around Camp Zama. It was good, very informative. The presenters were very personable and told us how much we would love it here. The only people who don't like being here are those who have no sense of adventure, and fortunately there are very few.
We had our favorite dinner last night. The Community Club has it every Wednesday night. It's Mongolian BBQ. We get a bowl and fill it with all kinds of raw veggies and raw meats, add some sauce to it and then the cooks stir fry it for us in the kitchen. This was our 3rd Wednesday eating there because it is so good!
After dinner we went to a Girl Scout meeting with Marin, our first ever. There were lots of girls between 5 and 10. Jeff and I enjoyed visiting with other parents while the girls did their opening exercises and sang their songs. The activity of the night was trying Sushi! It was hard to do on a full stomach, but I did it just to say I did! It was okay. It would help to be hungry when I try it again though. Jeff really liked it. He also liked the rice and tuna covered in bright orange salmon eggs that burst between your teeth. I tried that too, but wasn't too ready for that. Again, it would help to be really hungry. Marin wouldn't try it at all.
As for girls Scouts? I'm not sure what to think. I'm sure it's a good thing, but I come from a family that is not in the least into scouting. And singing cheesy songs is so against the grain for me. But Jeff is an Eagle Scout and is all for this. He was helping Marin memorize the motto on the way home. That's fine. It will be their Daddy Daughter date each week! Just don't rope me into it.

Today---Finally a break! We have been going, going, going constantly the whole time we have been here, plus we live in one small room so I don't get time or space to relax in privacy. I am someone who needs plenty of that. So, today Jeff went to another day of Newcomer Briefings, I opted out, and Marin went to the CDC (Child Development Center). She went on a field trip with the CDC to an aquarium an hour away and had a great time!!! I enjoyed a day of personal time alone in the peace and quiet in our room!! I feel so much better now!
We have been trying to get a car for the last week, but there have only been a few cars here for sale and they are not available for another 2 weeks. There is a car lot near our church that has great cars but we can't get there without a car. So, when a friend of ours said he was heading over there to get a car for his wife, we asked if we could go with them. John was happy to take us, especially since he didn't know the way there and Jeff did. It worked out very well and was a fun evening for both families. Both families piled into their van and we went over to the lot. The kids had fun wiping the big water drops off the cars after a day of pouring rain, and the adults had fun looking at all the cheap cars!!!
Used cars are ridiculously cheap here! It's great, especially because the Japanese take care of their cars and things far better than Americans do. We got a '96 Honda CRV for about $2500, plus other fees. It looks great and we're excited about it.
Our friends got a car too. After that we went to McDonalds on the Navy Base, and all had fun there too. We really like our friends. They have a 6 year old girl who gets along well with Marin.
Here is our new car! It has a sun roof, fogs lights, side mirrors that electronically fold in for all those tight squeezes, and an extra side mirror on the front end so we can see down on the left side of the car. For us Americans, who are used to having the bulk of the car on our right, that will be immensely helpful. (Jeff hit a curb and almost took out some construction barriers, all on the left side, when we test drove a car the other day.)

Look at the Japanese writing. It's crazy to think they can actually read that, and someday I will too!

We Are So At Home Here

2009-07-21T08:57:00.002-04:00

This evening we went to the park for a surprise birthday party for one of Marin's new friends that she met at soccer last week. It was a lot of fun. Jeff and I chatted with the other parents while Marin waited anxiously with the other kids for Isabella to show up with her family. When she did, Marin was at the head of the pack of kids running to meet Isabella in the middle of the field. Marin ran with arms wide open and gave Isabella a big hug. It was so cute! There was so much excitement among the kids as they ran to the playground to play, then came to the pavilion for cake, and then ran back to the playground. All three of us really had a great time! We are so happy here!
We really enjoyed walking around this evening, to and from dinner at the Community Club, to the park, and then to lodging in the dark and the quiet rain. It smelled so good outside, and felt so peaceful.

We would have taken pictures, but it was already getting too dark. The sun sets here at about 6:50 PM and is totally dark by 7:30. Then it's already getting light at 4:30 AM and 9:00 AM looks like noonday. It's really different here. I wonder if Japan got confused on what time zone they're actually in. I really have no idea. I'm curious to see how early it gets dark and light in the winter!

Anyway, we are very, very excited to be here. There is so much for us to do, learn, and explore! Jeff's leadership (who he will work for when finished in processing) are totally laid back, relaxed, and very excited to have him working for them. And me? Well, I'm not sure yet what I'll spend most of my time doing, but I am very excited about many opportunities and possibilities. This is a dream come true for us, to live in a foreign country and to immerse ourselves in the culture, and this is a great country to do it in. We are already very at home here.

Oh, Where To Begin?

2009-07-20T07:36:00.018-04:00

Wow, it's been almost 2 weeks since we got here and I haven't posted since the beginning. We've done so much and taken so many pictures. It will take me a while to catch up. I think I've decided that I should go ahead and post about things as we do them and add the pictures later as we get around to downloading them. We don't download pictures very often.
So, since we got here, we have eaten at all the places, accept one, that this tiny post has to offer. We have discovered everything on post on foot, since we don't have a car yet. Jeff and I got our Japanese drivers licenses and now they think we're "professional drivers"! Scary! Driving here is completely different. We have gone swimming, bowling, to the park and the library, to a kids Japanese class, and ventured off post to eat at a pretty good Chinese/Japanese restaurant and to look through quite a few little shops. We found Disney movies dubbed in Japanese and bought a couple. Marin did a week long soccer camp that was coached by British Soccer (football) Pros. They were a lot of fun! Marin loves soccer and we have her signed up for the Fall season.

Marin is our soccer kid! Whoa, I guess that means I'm a "Soccer Mom" now.

All tuckered out

Marin took this one! She's good at centering the people she takes a picture of. I didn't crop this at all. I'm so proud of my kid!
(Notice the designated parking. I am among my own kind now! Let's just hope that I don't have reason to use this parking for at least a couple years.)

This is lodging. Can you see Marin waving in our window?

The cars here are tiny!

In town

Fish anyone?

These trees are commonly found over driveways, though driveways themselves are not common.

The coolest thing we have done so far is take a trip with Outdoor Rec to Mt Fuji. We traveled on a tour bus for 2 hours to the small town of Kawaguchi. It was a beautiful drive! Much of it reminded me of the drive from Charlottesville to Wanesboro---many forested hills jutting up here and there and you can see for miles and miles. I'm glad to see that there are actually parts of Japan that aren't packed city. While there, we picked blueberries that were delicious right off the bush! Then we went to a tourist area where we went on a little paddle boat on Lake Kawaguchi. But the best part was taking a tram up a small mountainside and took a short hike where we could see down both sides of the mountain, the lake on one side, and on the other, a city filled valley with an amusement park between us and Mt Fuji. It felt like we were on top of the world. Beautiful, majestic views in all directions!!

Blueberries! Yumm!

The paddle boat. Marin steered, and we wove back and forth all over the place. It was lots of fun, and just beautiful!

Kawaguchi Lake from the tram

Top of the tram

Majestic Mt. Fuji---the inactive "active" volcano

Something beautiful

I think we landed in Paradise!

2009-07-09T00:10:00.003-04:00

Camp Zama, Japan

Well, here we are! We're in Japan! We are doing very well and LOVING our adventure! Everyone is telling us too, that this is a great assignment---very kicked back and relaxed, and lots of amazing cultural and travel opportunities for the whole family---and it's evident in how happy and relaxed they are as they tell us. We are given tons of time to in process and acclimate to the new time zone at a very relaxed pace. Jeff wont even start working til August 1st, but we're finally getting paid again! Phew!

Japan looks very different from the US. I don't even know how to describe it well, but to say that everything here is very cramped and compact---cars, streets, walkways, buildings. Camp Zama has more of a US feel to it, not so cramped, but most everything here is Japanese made.
The vegetation is beautiful. We can see mountains. It's extremely humid here. Virginia's humidity is nothing compared to this. I love that it's low elevation. I struggled with the high elevation last week in Utah. I could hardly stay awake, but here I have lots of energy! Marin and I adjusted quickly and easily to the new time zone, but Jeff is still working on it.

Camp Zama is very small and everything that we need is within about 5 minute walking distance from Army Lodging---shopping and dining (the basics, nothing fancy), Army Community Service Center, medical and dental offices, schools, the library, the park. It's a good thing because we don't have a car. We'll get a nice cheap one after we take the class for driving in Japan next Tuesday. There's a '98 Beamer for sale for $5000, but most are for maybe $2000 or even much less.

Last night we had Mongolian BBQ. It was so good!!! The set up was buffet style where we each filled a large bowl with all the raw veggies and raw meat that we wanted stir fried together and then they took it back to the kitchen to stir fry it for us. Even Marin's pizza was a self made pizza that they took back to bake.

Everyone here tells us that this is a great assignment and to kick back and relax! The work load and work schedules here are very light, even for the Lt. Colonel (high ranking and usually a very busy position). He met with us yesterday for a while to welcome us and chat for a while. That's not the case anywhere else in the military. Anywhere else it would be a quick, impersonal 5 minute "hi, welcome, we'll see you at work".

This morning we stopped by the MWR facility (Moral Welfare and Recreation). That's where we can check out sports and camping equipment and sign up for fun trips to do all kinds of fun things---group hikes, trips around Tokyo and other areas for festivals, Disneyland, clam digging, berry picking, you name it! This is staring to feel like a 3 year CRUISE!
We are SOOOOO excited to be here!

Can any of you blog junkies help me change this text back to only text and not a link? I don't know how it happened and I can't undo it.

After the 11 hour flight, with our 11 bags! Marin wouldn't look.

Our very first sight of Japan.... HOW THE HECK DO YOU FLUSH THE TOILET?????

Well, uh, I'm not sure this is much better...no thanks...

Yen!

The bus from the airport stopped next to a sweet car show for a little 10 minute break. I couldn't resist taking some pictures! Too bad it was getting dark out.

Check out the mail boxes here! Somebody like Star Wars.

So, uh, who's gonna visit us in JAPAN?!?!?

2009-06-15T19:16:00.007-04:00

It is official! We have orders and we're shipping out very soon (date to be determined)! We will be there for 3 years, maybe more, and we are ecstatic!!!
We will be stationed at Camp Zama. It is 25 miles southwest of Tokyo. No, I don't know a word of Japanese, but we certainly will be learning.
Check out this link with beautiful pictures of Japan.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/

私は日本を愛する。日本、私達はここに来る。

"Hurry Up And Wait"

2009-05-27T09:59:00.011-04:00

Well, I have been waiting till we had official word to make any kind of announcement about the location of our first Active Duty station, but we have waited almost 4 weeks past the time that we really should have had orders, and still nothing. It's a frustrating and complicated situation and I'm not up to trying to explain it. The info we have to give only brings up more and more questions. Nothing in the military makes sense anyway.

Since we are blessed with so many people that are interested in us and our lives, and are asking what's going on for us, here is the word...(drum role)...we have none.
We are still in C'ville. This is where we hope to stay. Chances are good that we will stay here. But if we are moved, it literally could be anywhere in the world, and we would move in a few weeks time from receipt of orders.

When we do get orders, trust me, I will be making a HUGE announcement---a big blog post, a mass email to everyone we know, announcements in Relief Society. I've been very anxious to do all this. My silence has not been out of lack of interest in keeping friends in the loop, only a lack of orders.

...and government competence.

Where is Heaven?

2009-05-14T13:15:00.007-04:00

Sometimes I hear people speak of the question "where is heaven?". I used to wonder too, but now I know. Heaven is being right here at home with my husband and daughter. Being together as a family is something we have learned very well not to take for granted. When we are together it is bliss, and right now we're on "Cloud 9".

Photo courtesy of my good friend Rachel

Trip to Utah

2009-05-09T22:22:00.015-04:00

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted. I'm sure you're all on the edge of your seats waiting to hear of my latest adventures. So, I wont make you wait any more.

We went to Utah a few weeks ago for my brother Andrew's wedding in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful day, minus rainy weather. Andrew married Hilary Glenn, a beautiful girl who I am very excited to have in the family. They are a great couple and will accomplish great things. I feel bad for them though. The rain nearly rained out their reception, and then they went to Mexico on a cruise for their honeymoon----and so did the swine flu! They ended up on a cruise of all sea days, rather than touching ground on Mexico. (I love sea days on a cruise, but I think they wanted to get out and explore Mexico.)

The happy couple

Reception at sunset, in my Dad and Brentz's beautiful backyard, from atop the cascading waterfall.

1196 Gavin Circle; Brandt Reception Center for a day

Paul and Brentz Brandt, almost done getting this kid married off!! Just a couple more exhausting hours putting on the big reception party, and it's done! Great job.

By pure chance, or synchronicity, the day we flew in to SLC happened to be the day of my favorite author's book signing for her brand new book, "It's Just My Nature". After landing at the SLC airport, I had just barely enough time to get our bags in the door at my in-law's house, freshen up, after a very long day of travel, and drive down to Draper to Carol Tuttle's Center for Living Your Truth. I got there just in time to get one of 30 free books for the first 30 people to show up! And I met Carol and she signed the new book as well as her other book that I am reading with Jeff, "Remembering Wholeness". We are really enjoying it and gaining a lot from it.
(For anyone wanting to live a richer, happier, and more fulfilling life, I highly recommend this book, and for that matter, all that Carol has to offer. See her link under my favorite links.)

This is after nearly 16 hours of traveling from east coast to west coast. (one of my least favorite things to do) Pardon the hat hair, angel hairs peeking through, and tired eyes.

Okay, here is a picture of us at the Joseph Smith Memorial building during family picture time. We had to get one of just us while we were all dressed up and had someone to take a picture. What you can't see though is that Marin has BYU basketball shorts on under her skirt. Anyone who knows this kid knows that she cannot help but pretend to be a horse and gallop all over, very fast I might add...yes, on all fours. I knew there would be no stopping her. It's in her blood or something. So, the best I could do was at least make sure that she would still be decent, even when her skirt flies up on her back at full gallop. It worked, and yes, it was necessary. (chuckle)

Welcome to my newly remodled blog!! Can you tell I had fun with it?

2009-04-15T09:53:00.003-04:00

I have admired a lot of really cute blogs in the few months since I started this blogging thing. I wanted to have fun and be expressive with mine too, but I wasn't sure how. First of all I couldn't figure out where everyone was getting the cool templates, and also, the scrapbook stile, while super cute and thus very popular, it just isn't me. I've been hesitant to make my blog truly expressive of who I am, for fear of letting my weirdness out of the bag, so to speak,...but I finally decided to go all out and make it me. Though I still have some gadgets to figure out, I think it turned out well, and I am very happy with it, "different" or not.

Let me introduce myself. This is ME!

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!

Settled In

2009-04-12T21:28:00.002-04:00

Well, it has been a WONDERFUL 6 weeks since Jeff returned to us again! He is still on leave, and will be for another couple weeks. We are busy being lazy and doing whatever we feel like, when ever we feel like it. It's great! It will be a big adjustment when he goes back to work. I'd love to keep him home with me all the time! Actually, Jeff thought he would be bored by now, but he says that he is loving being home all the time and would love to be a stay at home Dad. Boy would I love that!!!

Jeff returned to us Friday morning at 5:20 AM, at the Salt Lake Air Base!

2009-03-03T14:04:00.021-05:00

It was a snowy winter morning as families gathered in an open airplane hanger for the arrival of the 142nd MI Battalion. We arrived early,...and so did the blue and red Southwest Airliner, carrying the eagerly awaited cargo. Now we only waited for Jeff to make his way off from the back of the plane. Marin was crying, cold and tired, having been up since 1:30 am. She hesitantly asked if Daddy was going to stay with us for long. Our last good-bye, after two weeks together in August, had been so difficult for her. She sobbed the deepest sobs that day that I have ever heard from a child. I could do nothing but hold her tight. Since then she dared not believe that he would actually come home again, and stay.
Now, soon enough, joy would equal and replace our sorrow. I sat, holding her tight, watching the snowflurries speckle the dark sky, lit only by the lights of the open hanger. We didn't wait long as minutes later Jeff joined us in joyful, tearful hugs. The reunion was filled with far deeper, richer, and greater joy than our first union (our wedding). As we hugged and kissed and drank each other in, brimming with tears, it truly felt like sacred ground. I don't believe I have ever in my life felt such incredible relief, gratitude, joy, and love. Words can't fully describe the emotions we all felt.
It has truly been a sacrifice for all 3 of us, as Jeff has been deployed or traveling on military business for most of the last 3 years. We certainly hope that it is a long time before deployment strikes again, but still, we always have to be ready for anything,... seriously. If you're "military", you'll know exactly what that means.

Stars and Stripes, Sacrifice and Freedom

Anxious Anticipation

What a Sight For Sore Eyes!

"Marin, look it's Daddy!"

First Moment in Daddy's Arms, Not Yet Believing It's for Real.

First Embrace

Whole Again

Words Just Can't Describe

Long Awaited Lip Lock

A Joyful Dance (those were tough roses to survive that!)

Dad Gets Pummeled With Kisses!

Jeff, Emily and Marin

2009-01-29T20:16:00.003-05:00

We had a blast of a party for Marin the other day. We had 7 friends over! (and thankfully several mothers stayed to help!) We made personal pizzas on sandwich thins, which were really good! (Google it. I can't get the link to go in here.) The moms were asking what I used and want to do the same thing at home. And we decorated cupcakes, opened presents, and broke a pinata. I made the pinata for Marin which was a lot of fun too. Marin and all the kids just had a blast! Marin was so cute all day. She was so excited, it was like Christmas times 10! It really was a great day. The weather was even warm enough to go outside to do the pinata, which by the freezing temperatures of the past week, I did not expect, but was very grateful for!
Then next Tuesday, on her real birthday, she and I will spend the day together doing things that she will love, like meet a friend at the local ice cream parlor, possibly ice skating, whatever else she wants to do, and a little shopping spree at Target of all places, courtesy of Grandma Denise. Marin is so funny about Target. She's frequently asking if Target is open and if we can go. I don't really know why she likes it so much, but you'd think we were heading to an amusement park by how jumping-for-joy-excited she gets. Maybe she got that from her Papa and his enthusiasm about Cosco. She's a funny, and a very fun kid. Happy Birthday Marin!!

A New Year and New Adventures

2009-01-01T22:21:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!!! This is my favorite holiday! I love the fireworks, and the worldwide celebration! My favorite thing is First Night in Salt Lake City with 60,000 people excitedly bustling around in the cold, the noise, and the many activities and performances to be taken in in so many locations around the heart of downtown, and of course the fireworks.

Since we are in Virginia, we couldn't go to that, obviously, but it's fun to remember. I still love New Year's. At the end of a year I either feel a sense of accomplishment, a relief that it's over, or a combination of the two. And, I feel that I have a clean slate, chance to start fresh and set out on new adventures. Being a military family, with many moves and deployments, every year for us is usually very different from the one before. This past year brought some tough personal challenges, but those challenges presented incredible and unique opportunities for me to grow in some amazing and deeply rewarding ways that are changing the course of my life as I knew it. Yeah, it's that cool. But, sorry, it's personal stuff, so I wont say more than that.

This year will bring a new set of opportunities to grow as we "go Active Duty". We do not know yet where we will be sent, but it will be a whole new world in Active Duty. Really. It has a culture and a language all its own. I have new goals for this year and I can't wait to see how this year unfolds!

A Message From Pres Bush to Me!

2008-12-15T21:11:00.013-05:00

As you may have heard in the news, President Bush paid a visit to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on Monday morning. Jeff was among those who got to see him in person, and hear him speak to them! One of the things that he told the troops was to go call their wives and tell them thank you from him. He is aware of the major sacrifice it is for families to live without husbands and fathers for so long while they work in harm's way to protect our country. It means a lot to me. I take it as a personal "thank you" from none other than our Commander in Chief.

Before Jeff deployed the first time, in October of 2001, the families of Jeff's unit were shown a video message from President Bush, recorded specifically for deploying military families. It felt up close and personal as he sincerely thanked us for our sacrifice as we were sending our soldiers away. I felt his sincerity then too. His gratitude for my sacrifice lifts me.

Click on any picture to see it full size.

Following is Jeff's telling of President Bush's visit.

All -
Last night at about 6 pm, my command asked for any volunteers who would like to attend a meeting with an unknown distinguished visitor. The report time was 2:30 the following morning (and yes, it was very cold). I volunteered and am very glad I did. Shortly after I agreed to the meeting, we heard that President George W. Bush was visiting Iraq, so we put two and two together.

We were escorted to a very large tent, where planes are repaired. The tent was well decorated with military vehicles and such. Hot cocoa was served (thank goodness)! About 500 or more soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines were in attendance. After waiting for about four hours, the President arrived in Air Force One. I have to admit that that is one amazing airplane! It was awesome to see it land and park right in front of the tent. In addition, I was able to get close to the walkway, and was literally inches away from the President. This is the second President Bush I have met in person!

The President talked for about fifteen minutes about several topics. He first said that everyone is asking him what he will miss the most about being the president. His answer was first that he would miss his airplane, Air Force One, but above all else he would miss being the Commander in Chief of the US Military. He thanked the men and women in uniform for their sacrifice and service. He then went on to explain how the Afghanistan's Demographics have changed, due to the work of the US Military. Girls are now able to go to school. Public executions and beatings are now done away with. And, elections are taking place next year, all courtesy of the Service Members.

He then told us to relay a message to our spouses and families, to thank them for their sacrifice and support to their servicemen. He acknowledged that spouses and family deal with the heaviest of the burdens placed on the military. They are the ones left at home to deal with the challenges of life while living with the fact their spouses are in danger while serving their country. The President specifically wanted to pass that message of thanks on to the families.

It was a wonderful experience to see and meet the President, even if he is president for only 35 more days.

Jeff

Ele-vated

2008-11-29T21:19:00.007-05:00

Check this out! My sister, Erica, designed this t-shirt and won 2nd place in Woot.com's latest design contest! Good job Erica. I'm going to go order one before they run out. I hear giraffes run pretty fast.

If you want one too, go to
http://shirt.woot.com/Derby/Entry.aspx?id=24912

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2008-11-28T14:14:00.010-05:00

We had a great Thanks-giving day! We enjoyed a fancy dinner with my professor and his wife at their country club. I have been working for him for a year and we have all become great friends. And, boy, do they adore Marin! They feel like family.

The Best Thing I've Done For Myself in a Long Time

2008-11-26T19:22:00.001-05:00

I've gotten so burned out doing the single mom thing for so long, trying to keep up with a seemingly endless list of things that need to be done last week, not having time to call friends or not being able to get a hold of friends, and the house has gotten only more and more out of control, even though I feel like I'm cleaning all the time.

So, today I had forget about everything else for a while and do something for me. While Marin was preschool, I went to Barnes and Noble to just sit and read! I pulled 5 books off the shelves and got totally lost in those books for three hours, while listening to some of my favorite music on my iPod. It was great! I read about graphic design and watercolor and learned a lot. I hope to buy the books eventually, probably on Amazon.com.

Feeling so much better, I was able to come home to the house that's a wreck and start to get it more under control.

I hope to do some watercolor soon. I've done some watercolor in the past. I don't know a lot about how to do it, but I've come up with a few decent pieces of work. All but one is in storage in Utah. The one above is the one I have with me. It is of Thanksgiving Point, behind our house in Utah.

Jeff, Emily, and Marin Anderson...a Military Family

2008-11-09T21:01:00.006-05:00

Jeff came home for 2 weeks at the end of August! It was wonderful to actually feel like a family again, even if so briefly, in the middle of 13 long months apart. This is his 3rd deployment since 9/11 and we are ready to be a whole family again.

We are proud to serve our country, and grateful that we can in such a significant way. But being apart for so long really takes it's toll on us as individuals, and as a family. I'm not saying this to complain. It's just how it is. I think any military family would say about the same thing.

I certainly have grown a great deal over that last several years, though, because of the challenges of these deployments, and I am grateful for it. I do love personal growth, stretching to greater heights, and becoming more than I was last year, last month, or even last week.

Honestly, I might be pretty bored in my life without these real challenges to push me so far out of my comfort zone. So, as hard as it is to be married to the military (yeah, pretty much literally!), I know the challenges in my life have been skillfully tailored for me by a loving Heavenly Father who knows me and my potential far better than I know myself. I know that I am well watched out for. What more could I ask for?

My New "Window" into the World

2008-08-29T22:45:00.003-04:00

The word "blog" was completely new to me at the begining of this year, but I am now slowly discovering what they are and how they work. (Okay, so I'm a bit behind the curve in the area of cutting-edge technology and the World Wide Web).

The wonderfully accidental discovery...

Upon finding a want add on Criagslist for an old farm window for use as decor, I responded just to find out what ideas the woman had about how to fix it up. I have four of them myself and want fresh ideas. Kelly emailed back with excitement about her plans and sent me a link to a great blog about "Window Mistreatments", which has many links to other blogs. This is my first real "window" into the blog world. I looked at many blogs, and I am begining to understand.

An entirely new world is opening up to me. I am excited to see where blogging takes me, particularly because it gives me a peek into people's lives, to see how they live, how they experience their ups and downs, how they express their wonderful uniqueness.
I love humans. They're so much fun to watch.