A Snowy Japanese Indiana Wrap-up

This blog is to simply share some of the amazing shots I was able to capture while in Northern Indiana during the Christmas and New Year  holiday.

The following are of the snow in the back yard of our son and his family.

One afternoon I drove into Mishawaka and shot the following on the St. Joseph River.

Across the street from the river is a small Japanese Garden, the Shiojiri Niwa Gardens.  It is lovely in the spring and summer but amazing buried beneath the snow.

This Japanese strolling garden symbolizes the Sister-City relationship between Mishawaka, Indiana and Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

The Bronze sculpture of two American and two Japanese children was designed by Hidekazu Yokozawa and dedicated in 1992. It symbolizes the beginning of the special friendship between the two cities that started in 1964 when, under the direction of Hiroo Takasuna and Helen Amos, students from Nishi Primary School and Battell Elementary School first started exchanging letters, artwork, and gifts.

And this completes our wonderful, memorable and family-filled holiday.

A Snowy Hodgepodge

It is good to finally be back on the Wednesday Hodgepodge, so let's jump right in and see what questions Joyce has challenged us with today.

1. January is National Mentoring Month. Have you ever had a mentor? Been a mentor? How would you rate the experience?

Many years ago when I was in a deep spiritual and emotional slump, the dearest lady reached out to me.  She invited me into her home once a week for in-depth Bible study and counseling.  This dear saint shall forever hold a very special place in my heart.

I have not consciously mentored anyone, although there have been several times thru the years that I have counseled and encouraged specific women. I hope this was as meaningful a time to them as it was to me.

2. What current trend makes no sense to you?

No words necessary!

3. I saw a cartoon on facebook highlighting a few 'weird' things that make you happy as an adult. The list included-writing with a nice pen, having plans cancelled, freshly cleaned sheets, eating the corner brownie, cleaning the dryer lint screen, and sipping coffee in that brief time before anyone else wakes up. (Credit for the cartoon goes here) Of the 'weird' things listed which one makes you happiest? What is one more 'weird' thing you'd add to the list?

Freshly clean sheets for sure!

Bad weather makes me happy.  But this didn't just start as an adult.  For as long as I can remember, the worst the storm, the more I like it.

This was almost a white-out snow storm when we went out for the 11:30 PM Christmas Eve service.  Loved it!

Another thing that makes me happy is sitting on my back porch while it's raining, with a good book and music.  That's probably not too weird, but it does bring me joy.

4. What's the last good thing you ate?

My daughter-in-love always lets her children plan the Christmas Eve meal and they usually always suggest the same things.  We love tradition in our family.  There were so many delicious dishes but a new one was a Brie dip that we all fell in love with.  It is bottom center in the picture.

We had so much good food during this holiday period that it is seriously impossible to isolate just one dish.  Now, today I am looking forward to a very delicious Cabbage, Sausage, Potato Soup that will be the most delicious thing I've eaten lately.

5. Describe life in your 20's in one sentence.

I got married at almost 21, gave birth to my son at almost 25, my daughter at 26 and cried when I turned 30.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

On a very cold, snowy day during Christmas week, we took a road trip to Shipshawana, a small Amish town we always visit while in Indiana.

This trip was to specifically see the ice sculptures.

 

The nativity is always a favorite and never entered into the judging.

The three top winners were carved with much intricacy.

This Louisiana Bird, the Pelican was very much out of place but beautifully carved.

Then we strolled the snow covered streets and visited some of the unique little shops.

Yes, it was a wonderful excursion and one we will remember for a long time.

A Fun After Christmas Week

On the day after Christmas, two of our Texas granddaughters and grandson-in-law flew up to spend a week with us in Indiana.

Before leaving the Windy City, they visited The Bean.

We have never had this wonderful opportunity to spend Christmas with almost all our Grands before so needless to say, Dick and I were thrilled.

Some how they all ended up in one of the girl's bedrooms.

Then downstairs to laugh and catch up around the table.  Jackson tried his big hands at french braiding Cassidy's hair.  It left a wee bit to be desired, not bad for a football and Rugby player.

It was a week full of laughter, games, hugs, friends, and delicious food.

After dinner the first night, we gave the Grands our gifts for them, only to find out they had all gotten switched.  They decided it would be more fun to open each others present rather than their own.  And fun, it was!

These Texas Grands loved the snow off Lake Michigan and adapted quite well.

I read the following story today and thought it so relevant.

Holly Butcher was from Grafton, in New South Wales, Australia. She was an athlete, representing her state in squash and hockey. But she developed Ewing sarcoma, an extremely rare form of cancer, and died last week.

Her family then posted her letter on Facebook. It is making global headlines.

Holly notes that life is "fragile, precious and unpredictable and each day is a gift, not a given right." She advises us to "work to live, don't live to work" and to "do what makes your heart feel happy."

She realizes that time spent on small frustrations—"You might have got caught in bad traffic today, or had a bad sleep because your beautiful babies kept you awake, or your hairdresser cut your hair too short"—is time wasted: "I swear you will not be thinking of those things when it is your turn to go."

And she notes that life is not in our control: "I don't want to go. I love my life. I am happy . . . I owe that to my loved ones. But the control is out of my hands." However, this is in our control: "Tell your loved ones you love them every time you get the chance and love them with everything you have."

Facing death can bring great clarity to life.

Let's not wait until life is threatened or special occasions bring us together, to share our love for family and friends.



Tell them!  Show them!  Be there for them in big and little ways.



Dick and I will forever treasure these days spent with these special people.



We loved the way they loved each other.





Thank you John and Michelle for making it all possible and for being the perfect host and hostess.

It's as if Chandler is saying, "This is the way Christmas is supposed to be.  Why have we waited so long?"  And I have to agree!

Christmas and New Beginning

Happy New Year!

Do you do resolutions or just have new intentions to do what you wish you had done last year?

I'm more in the latter category.

One of the things I intend to do differently in 2018 is recommit to doing Bible Study.  When I taught a class, I was faithful to do deep research and study and have missed that.  Our church will be doing a joint Bible Reading program and I look forward to being part of that.

But, that is not study.  I want a new beginning of looking into the Word, not just at the Word.

If you are seeking a new beginning, look at these verses from Ezekiel 36: 26-27.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."

In these verses God is making a covenant with His people and reinforces that by stating it at least 14 times.  Why would He do that?

"I will put my Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land.  Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it..."

A faithful God makes this promise so that we will KNOW that HE IS THE LORD and that we can have new life - a new beginning in Him!

The most important thing to take away from this is that it is God who takes the initiative to complete His promise to reveal Himself to us.

God takes the initiative for His Holy names sake - it is not up to our will.

If you are seeking a new beginning in your life this new year, then you can find it in HIM.

Christmas Recap!

We had a wonderful time with family in a very cold and snowy Northern Indiana.

Christmas Eve is always a very special time as we go to the late service at their church.  This was such a moving service which always ends with hundreds of lighted candles raised in worship.

Afterward, we enjoyed trying to get some descent family pictures.  I will let them speak for themselves.

Thankfully, we woke up to a gorgeous snow on Christmas morning and it only got better from here.