Mican Picking and Cherry Blossoms '10

Whenever the transfer round starts I start to think about Europe. I check out the Facebook posts of my friends who have ventured to that distant continent before me. Their snowy pictures are so lovely and inviting. Sledding, skiing, bundling up in front of fireplaces...those images beckon-they truly do. BUT....then...the cherry blossoms start popping here in Okinawa. The sun peeks out and the coral reef shows off its glorious bounty in front of me. Spring really does seem to come here at the end of January each year and I am renewed and satisfied to stay here for..one more year...
We spent a few hours Saturday, Jan. 30th exploring the Nago area with Marti and her boys. We went mican (Okinawan orange) picking for the first time ever and then we hit the Nago Cherry Blosson festival for our yearly fix. Three Cheers for Another Lovely Day!

New Year's Resolutions-2010

I said I wasn't going to make a resolution this new year but I did end up doing just that to model a lesson for my third graders and now I have THREE! #1-Get to church on time! #2 Read and write two out of the three Japanese written languages-Hiragana and Katakana (the easier ones-maybe I will move on to Kanji next year to commemorate 20 years of living here!)and #3 Add to this blog at least once a month (to motivate me to work on my photography skills) So here I go blogging again!
Here are some photos I like from the last 6 months or so! Pictures of my 15th wedding anniversary trip to Italy and Switzerland (Tim gets the photo credit for the tiny purple alpine flower), our trip to Northwest Oregon this summer,a reflection on Mosquito Lake, natural Casey on the beach, Kyan's sunset silhouette,Jacy and Cam Fisk, Casey looking like a tropical beauty, the shed at my childhood home covered in snow, and one of Daddy from summer 2008 which reminds me to pray for all those who are afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease today. I miss you, Dad...