Jinbee for Ava-chan from Junko

Konnichiwa, tomodachi!

Hi, friend!

That's how our e-mails usually start. They end with kokoro wo komete, or from the heart. Junko Mizumukai, my sweet Japanese friend, moved back to Japan two years ago. Some of you maybe remember me posting about her on my blog. I first met her on aisle 5 of Walmart as she was serching for an ingredient for a recipe. I have radar for Japanese women in need. So, I approached her and asked if I could help her in very broken Japanese. She pointed to some words on the back of a box. I smiled. She pointed to Eagle Brand Milk. I'm sure she thought, "what in the world is that?" She was trying to make a pumpkin pie that fall. Pumpkin? Check. Sugar? Check. Cinnamon? Check. Eagle Brand Milk? Huh?

Well, we found it - finally. I even struggle to find it sometimes! She thanked me profusely, and that was the last time I saw her for about three or four years. That brief encounter had always remained special, and I never forgot it. Later, I would discover that neither did she. I think we knew that day that there was something very special about our meeting. We were instant friends.

The Lord has a way of bringing two people together again. I firmly believe that. Our time together was not over.

Three or four years later, I went to Jazzercise one night, and I was "dancing" next to a Japanese woman. Neither of us recognized each other at first. At the end of the class, we "introduced" ourselves, and before we could get our names out, we shrieked in surprise. We realized at the same time that we were the Eagle Brand milk girls of many years ago! A precious friendship grew, and we enjoyed many adventures in the year that she had left in TN.

She grew tomatoes and cumcumbers and heard in Jinglish about the God who loves her very much; I learned Japanese verbs, took a crash course in learning how to use her Japanese rice cooker that she left behind and understood more about her traditions and half-hearted belief of Buddhism. She was searching, seeking. I was trying in broken English to tell her about Jesu-sama. Jesus. Then, after the tomato and cucumber vines stopped bearing, she got on a plane and left TN to return to her home in Nagoya.

There was so much more I wanted to tell her. Can I trust God to water the seed I planted? I believe I can. One of my favorite verses in the New Testament is that the apostle Paul planted, Apollos watered, God caused the growth. Sometimes, I want to be the seed planter and the waterer (word?) and cause the growth. ugh. I'm learning every day to rely on the Holy Spirit to help me with this. I've been praying for water in Japan!! That God would send an Apollos!

So, when Junko left for Japan, my prayers went before her and behind her. The Lord promises to go before us and be our rear guard, and I'm still praying, knowing that the God I love crosses oceans and languages. He is the mighty God who can do all things, who hears the prayers of His people. I know He loves Junko and her family and desires for them to know Him and his unfathomable love for them.

We're an ocean apart, and as many times as I've said, "I'll come to Japan someday," we both know that we may possibly never see each other again.



I think we will.

I'm counting on it. :)

Some time last year, she sent Ava a Japanese children's outfit, called a jinbee. Now that Ava is one and about 24 lbs, it fits her perfectly. She looks so cute in it, and we remember Junko and her son, Ryota, everytime we wear it.

Remembering her and her family is like remembering to brush my teeth. I pray for them constantly.

How About That!

Ok. I have something to confess. I was an America's Got Talent junkie this season. I have never seen this show before, but Ben and I watched it one night, and I saw the bio of a man named Kevin Skinner and was hooked. I actually never saw his original audition, but I'd heard about it. For the last two or three shows, I've pretty much stopped everything to watch this show, to find out the "fate" of Kevin Skinner, the simple man from Kentucky who caught chickens for a living, who captured America's heart.

Well, in case you haven't heard, he won!!!! I haven't been this excited about someone winning a show since Miss Venezuela won the Miss World competion when I was in elementary school! I remember being so captivated by her- probably by her beauty and the way she carried herself. Now that I'm grown and further along on this journey of life, I was captivated by something different this time.

I looked up the original audition today, and I was struck by this simple man who has humility, who is genuine and honest. I was moved by this man considered common and poor. After watching how the audience, judges and MC reacted to him initially, I immediately thought about that verse in the Bible that says, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Kevin Skinner definitely didn't have the most talent or the best job. In the world's eyes, he didn't have much, but how incredibly rich his heart is. It made me pause.

I think the world needs more Kevin Skinners. I applaud his perseverance, his honesty, his humility and his being proud of where he comes from in this great big world.

He inspires me.

He reminds me of Jesus.

Sometimes, the world laughs at Jesus, even ridicules him. I remember reading that Jesus was so humble in front of his accusers. They mocked him, laughed at him, called him names, teased him about being the King of the Jews. I also remember reading that He answered them honestly and with love and compassion and sometimes, he remained quiet. He loved them fiercely, wept over Jerusalem because they rejected His love. And then He died. For them. For Us. For me.

We didn't deserve it, but He loved us that much. He wanted to save us from evil and death, from our sins and our failures and our mistakes. He was God who came to the earth as a simple man to love all people. He came to be the way for us to be reconciled to God after the fall that separated us from God. God knew after that happened that He would someday send his son to earth to walk among men and teach us how to live with honesty and humility and compassion.

Kevin Skinner made me think. Do I show those qualities? Do I love without reservation? Am I honest? Am I genuine? Am I humble? Am I compassionate? Do I have quiet confidence in the face of persecution?

Last night was about more than winning one million dollars and a headline show in Vegas. Check it out. Don't forget to pause the playlist music on my blog- right hand side- scroll down.

Here's the opening audition.



The winning moment.

Hurry, Noise and Other Profound Stuff

Daily

That's how often I need refreshment, a pouring into. Anyone relate to that?

What can zap that for me, among many things, is hurry and noise. In our culture, we are pretty much surrounded by it.

I have to be intentional about being still, about being with other women, other encouragers. I also have to be intentional about eliminating a lot of the hurry and noise in my life, be it internal or external.

There is a man and a book that is rocking people's perspective on those types of things.

It's called Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. I had a chance to hear this man speak at a conference called Catalyst a few years back, and I was so deeply moved by what he had to say, that I've remembered it year after year. He's for real. He's humble. He's hungry for God in a way that is so refreshing.

He separates Jesus and religion. Religion is dry and empty. Jesus is alive and full.

With all this said, one way I seek refreshment is by going to Bloom. I added a button for you at the top of my blog. It's a site created by Angie Smith whose blog is Bring the Rain. She's also one of the guest authors on the InCourage site that I've raved about. I have been following it for a year now. She's raw and real, too, has experienced profound suffering and hope and speaks to women's hearts everywhere. Bloom is a book club that was specifically created to be a book discussion group on-line for seekers, non-Christians, wandering Christians, doubting Christians, on fire Christians - They're discussing the book, Crazy Love, and are only on the first chapter if you'd like to get plugged in. It's awesome. Warning, though. It will challenge you, it will search your heart and know you, something the Lord desperately wants to do and is doing with each of our hearts. Oh, how the Lord is using this simple man to spread a holy fire in people's hearts.

Here's the video from today. I would strongly encourage you to say "No" to noise and hurry for just a few minutes and listen to this clip in its entirety. It's only about 8-10 minutes long.

Walk away empowered, uplifted, refreshed.

We all need a drink.

Come and get your fill.

Crazy Love (chapter one) from Pete Wilson on Vimeo.

Roomie Reunion with Kiddos!

California,

Tennessee

Miles

South Carolina

Laughter

Practical Jokes

Romantic Dreams

More "not the ones" than we can count

Roomies

Friends

Sisters

Broken and Desperate for Jesus

Sojourners

Lifelong



Today was no ordinary day. It's not everyday that I get to visit with my roommate from college - maybe over the phone or by e-mail, but there's nothing like meeting in person - to squeal with glee, laugh, remember, commiserate, share our hearts, ponder, encourage, dream, be together - again.

Today, Ava and I woke up in anticipation of a visit from my college roommate who now has triplets! You can find her blog on my list on the right side and follow their adventures. Her name is Emily Fletcher Kapic, but her college buddies lovingly know her as "Fletch." I was Emily Monday, and everyone called me "Monday." Hence, Monday and Fletch. Fletch and Monday. Two peas in a pod. Always up for an adventure.

We had a great time catching up over sippy cups, wagon rides, wet grass on feet, Corn Chex dumping, sprinkling rain, Southern pecan coffee, cat petting and protecting, dirty diapers and energetic, tired babies.

I know that an opportunity like this may not come again for a long while, so I tried to just soak up the time I had with her, Fletcher, Parker and Bailey. Ava loved her new friends!!! Sure do wish we lived closer. Love you, Fletch, love you, love you, Fletch!

Here are a few pictures from our visit this morning.

Table for four anyone?



Fletch and Ava meet in person!



Let's go for a wagon ride!



Get in boys! We want to go for a ride! Cozy but perfect for four... :)



Is it ok if I stand while you pull, Fletcher?



This was a really sweet moment between Fletcher and Ava. Ava had grass on her feet, and Fletcher was helping to remove it. Aww...



On to the the next outdoor activity - balls and a thrift store boat find!



This picture so captures Ava right now as she's a climber! In, out, under, around, between!



Pat, pat the kitty time with Leo



Girl time sharing a snack. Ava is all about their snack cups! I'm going to have to find those!

Yay! I finally have a video of Ava to show! We love our video camera, but the software is difficult to navigate, and Ben and I have been learning the best way to edit and upload videos. We're getting there, but it's taking some time.

We finally had a chance after a crazy week to sit down and edit a video of Ava and Leo, the kitty. Leo is my parent's kitty, and sometimes, he likes to come over and visit when they're out of town. Ava has had a ball with him as you can see in this video! There is sound with the video so you may want to pause the music on my playlist. :) This video cracked us up when we first saw it. She could play with him for hours, but I'm not sure he could play with her for hours!

Video Time!

Ben and I have taken a lot of videos of Miss Ava this year, and when he gets home, he has promised me a tutorial on how to upload them! We have several that we think you'll really think are a hoot! I'd really like to go back to the "archives" and pull some earlier videos. We'll upload her birthday videos and playing with Leo the kitty first!

In the meantime, I wanted to link you to a video that Ben had made for me for my 25th... oops, typo... 35th birthday! He thought it would be special to chronicle the final years of waiting, the preparing for Maia (with all of the paperwork chasing) and finally, the birth of Ava and the year with her. The video that I was able to create a hyperlink to (I'm feigning tech-savyness) is hopefully linked to here. It's called Ava and her Mommy, and our dear friend, Donny Anderson, who owns Homespun Memories did this for us. You'll have to download Quick-time to view it. I think it will give you that option. I'm going to try this first and see if it works. If it doesn't, I'll keep using my tech-savyness to get it to work! Don't forget to turn on the speakers. He found a song by Martina McBride that I had never heard to go with the video.

Click here!

More 1st Birthday Fun and Celebrations!

On to celebration #2!

We celebrated Ava's 1st birthday all weekend! After the festivities in Nags Head with Ben's family, we headed back to Tennessee to celebrate with my family. We had a great time on Sunday, gathering as family, to celebrate Miss Ava's arrival into the world and into our family!



We also remembered my sweet grandmother, Ruthie, as we celebrated Ava's shared birthday with hers - August 21st. She'd be celebrating with us and saying "Bless her heart." I can just hear her. :)



Most of you remember the bakery, Sweet Celebrations, where I was working as we were waiting for Maia. I had stopped teaching sixth grade to prepare for her arrival which was always looming as "maybe soon." This sweet place is where I found out about sweet Ava. I don't know if I mentioned this last year, but the owners of that bakery sold it soon after I found out about Ava, which means that I never would have met Patty Boss, the owner's sister, who introduced us to the birthparents and family. There is no doubt in our minds that the Lord had prepared that meeting in advance for both of us. He's right on time! One of my favorite verses in the Bible is that even if we keep silent, the rocks will cry out with praise to the Lord.



I have found myself in the grocery store, dentist office, a bookstore or countless other places, telling the story of Ava. It's in my heart continually, and I will never stop praising the Lord for His gift of her in our lives. It is my heart's desire that others will see Him in this story and that the glory will be reflected to Him and not us. The title of my blog, "With Open Arms" is the title because of the sweet place I came to after the suffering. "Lord, whatever you have for me is ok with me. I have open arms." I often read through those years that God will give you the desires of your heart, and I will say wholeheartedly that when you pray for the Lord to transform your desires into His desires, He comes through on that promise. He transformed my heart, and I know only He could have done that. Thank you, Jesus.

Before we left for the beach, I planned to serve Cuban food from a great new cuban restaurant in town called Aroma Cafe and cake and homemade ice cream.
I contacted the former bakers of Sweet Celebrations, Kate and Dena, to make Ava's cake. They did a beautiful job. Our theme was nature with butterflies and flowers.

Here are some celebration pictures to share from our party on Sunday the 23rd. I'm excited to put together a 1st year slideshow of pictures of Ava soon. She's changing so fast! She took her first steps this past Saturday!

Pre-birthday fun! Mimi brought over a musical lion that Ava could push as she walked before we left for the beach. She loves it and is always on the go!



Everything is ready. I think. Let the festivities begin!



Ava's cakes made by the former bakers of Sweet Celebrations. They're almost too pretty to eat!



Mimi and the birthday girl



Ava and her buddy, Sera Arendale, riding the musical animals together



This a picture of my entire family plus the Arendale family, our friends, who are really like family!



This is how we really act most of the time. :)



Tada! Here's my cake!



Yummy...



I'm making a big mess! In Nags Head, she was very clean and dainty. Maybe she was just warming up that day, or maybe it was the chocolate cake under the cupcake that she liked so much today!



This is SO yummy!



At some point, I think someone gave her a bowl of homemade ice cream? Ok. Who's the culprit?



I'm over this cake business! Someone clean me up!



Karen, this is Ava on the beach ball that is half-way blown up! I've got some pictures that I'll load in a few days of it fully inflated. She loves it! Thank you so much!