So Tommy Galpin introduced us to this blog.

Check it!

Easter Feaster 2008

So...we have lots to blog about, especially about our trip to the Philippines. But that will have to wait as Vincent is still jotting down some notes from our vacation.

However, I wanted to pause from the topic of Philippines and wish everyone Happy Easter!

God blessed us with a beautiful Easter - Great Service and great time with our friends. Cooking and feasting with friends is most definitely a good way to be reminded of how much God loves me. And to be able to celebrate Christ's resurrection with our friends is definitely a blessing from God.

Thanks D and Brent for hosting Easter Feast 08...and Tommy and Ruth, it was so good to have you guys home for this celebration.

More pictures by Andy Monty.

The Full Tropical Experience

I feel sorta bad making a post about our time at the beach as Vincent is currently sick. Our days are full as I drag Vincent around showing him my old stompin` grounds...and I think it has finally caught up to him as he has the dreadful Filipino stomach bug. Bethany got something similar when she came with me to the Philippines, which makes me wonder if being sick is just part of the experience of being in the tropics...getting their nasty virus.

Other than experiencing the tropical virus, it hasn`t been a shabby experience. And couple days ago I was finally able to show Vincent one of my favorite places in the world.

Here are some picture!

...After a two hour bus ride and a two hour boat ride...

...in a Banca (pictured above)...

...and a Tricycle ride...

...we arrived to this beautiful beach at Peurto Gallera.

Here we are...doing the beach thing...

Here is Vincent getting a full body massage.

Here is the beautiful blue water...and healthy Vincent...

Wish you, our friends and family, were here!

And keep Vincent`s health in your prayers!

First Days in Manila

The rooftop pool deck above sits outside the Takata's condo. Another series of pool decks thirty stories up, on the building's roof, affords a view of the downtown Manila skyline against the mountain range that borders the city. Yesterday Kiko and I decided to sit up there in the heat and wait for a gray blue storm system we saw approaching in the distance. Though we could see the rain spout moving closer through the sky, it held out longer than our patience. I guess this says something about the visibility from up there.

If you pull out a camera in the presence of the local children, be prepared to stop and shoot them posing. They rushed us before we could refuse.

Another picture from Christmas...
But here is our Christmas Dinner,
which Andy, Christie and I replicated
for our friends for New Years Eve.

New Years Eve, we threw a Japanese style New Years Party.
Making appropriate dishes like Ozoni, mochi and Kuromame.

I cooked like mad, but it was worth it.
It was a joy to bring in the New Years,
as we all feasted around a big table
as midnight came around.

I'm finally getting around to taking down
the Christmas Tree...
(and posting about it.)
so, bye bye tree. 'til next year.
can't wait to see what memories you bring us next year.

Sleeping Beauties - Christmas Day

Yukari

Vincent

Yuji

'Twas the Bite Before Christmas

when all through the house,

the scent of roast was stirring, far richer than grouse.

Christmas china was set 'cross our table with care,

in hopes that Vincent's chicken would soon be there.

When it came to the woman he wanted to marry ...

John went straight to the top.
Congrats Bean and Simpson!
We love you and are happy for you!!

Domo Arigatou

Many thanks to those who became Secret Santa's for foster kids this year! It means a lot to me to know that you guys have helped put a smile on these children's faces.

(And Special thanks to Paul and Mary - the only people that actually responded to my blog post!)

Santa for Foster Kids?

You wanna be one?
That is... sponsor a foster child by giving him/her a Christmas gift...
Each child has written a "Santa Wish List" and I'm looking for anybody who would like to be their Santa this year.

For those that are interested, shoot me an e-mail (or a comment) and I would love to help you out. This is not financially threatening as most kids just want toys or clothes - and we are only asking you to purchase ONE of the items on their list. Okay, so most of the teens want ipods and play station 2. And if you want to grant their wishes, be my guest! But realistically, there are plenty of kids who just want puzzles, Thomas the Train, black nail polish etc.

So, if you could help, I would love you...and so would the kids.
There are 100 more children in Walker County that need Santas! Yo!
This is a last minute attempt to help my co-social worker...and I would need to get her the gifts by December 6th.

Good Cop, Bad Cop

(photo from BBC News)

Bethany brought to my attention that Hello Kitty is in fact taking over Asia.
Sad, sad, sad... (and kinda funny.)

Instead of docking pay or revoking privileges,
Hello Kitty is now used for punishment.

Who would of thunk?

For Ben and Anna

(photo by: Andy Monty)

Come spread the love~
~From here to Ethiopia.
From a family of two to four.
yeah! yeah!

Back in the Game!

...in blogging and climbing.

We've been super busy all summer. As fall has come around, we are finally slowing down a bit and enjoying the out doors. The weather is perfect for climbing now - so with gear and all, Andy, John G., Simpson, Kristine and we took a trip to Sand Rock, AL.

...thanks to John for forwarding these pics so I can get back to blogging...and there are pictures of me on the rocks, but all you see is my butt sticking out, so I'll spare you all...

The True Shine Gang

So. I've been in denial but it's time to come to grips with the fact that my camera is gone a broke. It's been broken for two weeks now, but it was this weekend that I really felt my loss.

Brandt Sykes planned a True Shine Weekend for all his workers and their family out by a lake house in Spring City. There were so many Kodak moments to captures as we swam in the lake, did assortments of water sports, had ping pong tournaments, played card games and just having plain fun hanging around the big porch roasting smores. But alas, I don't have pictures to show people. However, my camera still takes videos, so I am able to show you a glimpse of our weekend and the beauty that surrounded us.



So pretty, huh? It's what we needed. So relaxing and rejuvenating. Good social time and good food. Thanks B Sykes!

Yukari is now 25 years and a day old! Yeah!

My baby sister turned a quarter of a century, as of September 11th. Yes, yes - 9/11. It's a date that the world will always remember. And it's a date I will never forget 'cuz 25 years ago I got a sister. My go-to person. When no body gets me, no one wants to fight with me, no one wants to shop with me, no one wants to laugh with me, no one wants to cry over chick-flicks with me: Kari has been there. 100%
She stood by my side, when I got married. She was there when Vincent proposed...the second time. She was one of 4 people to come see me walk for my M.S. Degree. She went jogging with me in the middle of the night so I can de-stress from writing my S.I.P. She has been there for all my significant events of my life...So, to my dear dear annoying sister...

I love you and happy happy birthday!!!

Quake

(image by BBC.com)
Some of you may have heard - Indonesia has experienced another earth quake measured at 7.9M off the coast of Sumatra. In 2004, they experienced an earth quake of 8.9 M (possibly up to 9.3), which lead to a Tsunami that killed over 220,000 people. This was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the world.

The reason why I bring this incident up in my blog is because my mother is currently in Jakarta for a business trip. I have gotten word that she is fine and I have read on the news that Indonesia has lifted their Tsunami watch. Thank God! But please continue to pray for her safety and also for those in Sumatra.

By looking at the image above, it may seem as if Jakarta (where my mother is) is far enough away from where the earthquake hit. However, if you look at the image below (from wiki), the quake was farther away in 2004, but by looking at the countries most affected by the Tsunami then (yellow), its great news that my mother is okay. Thank God, Thank God.

365 days ago...

...we got married!
(picture by Andy Montgomery)

A toast

Well, Ben and Bethany have been married for a little over 6 months now. But it was only this weekend when we finally got to celebrate their marriage with them. So much went on, I don't know where to begin. It's always great to have an excuse to see friend, be with friends, come together as friends to celebrate their joys in life.

I didn't really give much of toast at the dinner or the party, because as most of you know, I can't go through one without crying. So, here is my toast: Bethany, you have been a true friend, as you have seen me through the thick and the thin. You are interwoven in so many of my memories, good and the bad. Jeff Buckley, Outkast, Radio Head to Portishead - they all make me think of you. You have known me more than anyone out there and have still stuck around - which says a lot about you as a friend. And Ben, you are lucky to have found a person like her that will stick by your side as she has me. I am so so happy for both of you. It was a joy for me to see your relationship grow - from the first time Ben came over and brought over a tomato, you two reading the Narnia books, to Ben buying out Green Life's supply of cheese, to Ben's book bag being a fixture in our living room...such great memories. I hope to be apart of more. Congratulations you two. Cheers! I love you both.

And all that said, Bethany deserved to have a girls night out before her big 'bash' on Sunday. So, some of us girls met up at the Meeting Place for some cocktails. It was so fun, we have to do it more often. We need to get those 'mothers' out more often! :)

Somers No More

So, the month of August is jammed packed for Vincent and me. We kicked it off by driving down to Little Rock, Arkansas for Jill and James wedding with Kristine.

This weekend is the B&B reception! Lots of festivities to come. But in the midst of it all work is wearing on me, I got tons to do...so if you remember, keep me in your prayers.