General January

New Years meal with neighborhood friends

Does the holiday season seem like a distant blur to you? To be honest, it was a fantastic holiday for us. We invested in our kids, our little family, and in experiences. And we rested. Thanks to the incredible generosity of family, we went to a beautiful place by the ocean and were able to gift each kid with an outing: big rambling parks, ferris wheel, and an aquarium. Slowing down, revisiting the closest relationships, and resetting priorities for the new year are the best gifts we could dream up.

This month marks a full circle – one year ago next week, we first thought we were losing this little boy who is now drooling up at the fan, laying on my lap as I write. And we continued to live the question – will he make it to today? How about tomorrow? Now he’s laughing and kicking, wrestling with his favorite pacifier. We’re grateful to so many of you who walked through those days with us.

Now we look ahead. I’ve asked for prayer many times for choosing which of the many opportunities to commit to and which to let go. It’s a daily balance, isn’t it? Several things had to go on hold during this year, especially things that were primarily hosted or facilitated by me. We’ve re-started two of the groups, one meets in our house and another in a friends house.

Recent student shop project

For one group, the focus is praying for our kids; we’re considering introducing a book reading and parenting conversation in addition to the prayer time. This group began long before I became a mom, but I’m currently heading it up. I’m so thankful for the group of praying women who gather; we need each other, and we’re grateful to grow together in this season. Please pray for this group! Being moms of young kids, it is hard to find a time when everyone is healthy and able to attend! We meet again next Monday.

For another group, the focus is playing in English. We also chat, and create a safe, welcoming space for moms and kids; most of these families have been meeting for nearly five years. Please pray for these women and their kids as they visit each week.

This is Spiritual Life Emphasis week at CAJ. Please pray for the couple who is speaking, and for students and staff as they listen and engage. This week is also the start of the second semester for CAJ; it’s a full spring ahead with a full set of classes, trips and the core of the senior’s projects. Like the US, Tokyo has also had a particularly bad flu season. We’re so thankful to be healthy, but two classes have shut down at our Japanese preschool and one class at our Japanese elementary school, in addition to many kids and teachers sick at CAJ.

This week marks the 70^th anniversary of my family’s presence in Japan. My grandparents and aunt arrived by cargo ship just after World War II, and some members of my family have been here ever since. It’s humbling and challenging to be part of such a legacy!