Dismantle the Ancient Scaffolding

Today Leta asked me if I would part with The Book of Miso and The Book of Tofu - two of the cookbooks that were so crucial to my adaptation to Japan. The cookbooks of her childhood. My first thought was "Oh dear. I'll have to track down some used copies for her."

But why? I haven't used mine in years. Sarah, and now Mary, make the Japanese meals these days. And they use Orange Page.

My house is full unsorted corners filled with things needing to be culled. Although all of it was important once upon a time. Sigh....

It reminds me of a paragraph I read last night:

Perhaps the time has come for us to dismantle the ancient scaffolding that clutters our lives, homes and churches. Like Martha, we are anxious and distracted by many things, "but one thing is needful." Like Mary, we must choose "that good part" which can never be taken from us.

Warren Wiersbe's "God Isn't In a Hurry"

Of course, the key thing is making time for what matters. If I spend all my time sorting I won't have gained anything!

Tea Parties Again - Eva, Where Are You?

My niece is sending me photos again. This time a "tea party" out of my past. I think it was snowing . Or maybe it was raining. And it was probably 2002 because Eva was with us. My sister was checking out coffee shops around the prefecture before they made Cafe Iris... this was a nice little Cafe in Aomori City somewhere.

Naomi, me, Mary, Bethany, Sarah

Back Row: ? , Eva

It brings back such memories of good times. Eva, where are you? We miss you!

Yamamoto Yae

Can you believe that this gentle looking old lady cut off her hair and manned a gun during the Bosshin War?! That is until a sharp-eyed general spotted her and sent her back behind the lines with the rest of the ladies.!

After the war ended she went down to Kyoto to help out her brother. But it appears she remained a woman of independent spirit. She and her brother became Christians and in 1875 Yae, now 30 and unmarried, was dismissed from her job as a teacher for her "outspoken approval" of Joseph Niishima's plan to start a Christian School in the ancient capital of Kyoto.

Yaeko Niishima

In their book "Ten Against the Storm", Marianna and Norman Pritchard write: "She was not a docile, old-fashioned Japanese lady; she was a fiery dreamer like Niishima. The two set their wedding date for the following New Year season."

We've just launched a series of mission stories in Aji Church bouncing off the Pritchards' list of ten famous Japanese Christians: Joseph Hardy Niishima, Hiromichi Kozaki, Gumpei Yamamuro, Kaji Yajima, Kajinosuke Ibuka, Masashima Uemura, Yoichi Honda, Kanzo Uchimura, Inazo Nitobe, Michi Kawai. But I couldn't resist a separate story for Niishima's wife.

Niishima Jo , incidentally, is perhaps more famous for stowing away on a Boston-bound ship back when it was still a capital offense than for founding Doshisha University in Kyoto!

Saturday Night

The workers on night shift may have to come to church weary, but there is no reason why most of us can't plan to arrive rested and at our best... The Christian who goes to bed too late on Saturday night is going to rob himself and God on Sunday morning.

A weary body is usually the sign of a foggy mind. We must prepare our minds if we are going to listen to God's word with any degree of understanding and enjoyment... Preparation is essential to good listening. Yes, it demands discipline, including saying no to many Saturday-night invitations; but the results are well worth the sacrifice.

Warren Wiersbe's "God Isn't in a Hurry"

ENJOY the unexpected changes!

When my classes at Hirosaki University were canceled today - our building was closed for inspection - I thought it would be a good opportunity for a party introducing G to some of my Korean classmates. (The young man living with us just now studies Korean and wanted to practice.) But it didn't work out the way I thought.

In the end, only one student came. And she's not Korean!

Mary's "Tea Party" on Monday was a little like that.

The guests waiting for their hostess (and playing crokinole)

When Mary said she wanted to have her cousin Aaron over to thank him for the pink glass tea things he gave her for Christmas I suggested asking Aaron to come over after a run or two on the ski hill. (He sometimes goes snowboarding on Mondays.) And I was definitely thinking of inviting some of the many young people around us.

But when her Aunt answered the phone the party took on another shape. It became a Ghent-Elliot party... and was plenty of fun I might add.

Aaron, G, Mary (our hostess), Bethany, Aunt Mae, Naomi

You can't really see the pink glass in the photos, but it was pleasant eating ginger cookies and crackers off the pink dishes while we drank the flavored tea that Micah (now gone back to to school) gave us for Christmas.

I like to be spontaneous when I make the changes, but sometimes I'm not really very good at rolling with the punches when others make the changes! But really, the the apostle Paul was right when he said "all things work together for good for them that love the Lord" and its best to just ENJOY the unexpected changes to our cherished plans.

(Why do I get so quickly attached to my ideas and plans anyway?!)

Growing Up

The other day I taught my niece how to send photos and she's sent me some nice ones like this one of her in the Bird Park in Singapore. (I was there once, too, but so long ago it now seems like another lifetime in another universe!)

My niece, Bethany, in the Singapore Bird Park

I think this is a particularly lovely photo. But it reminds me that all the kids are all growing up. When you live out of the city an integral and important part of growing up is getting a driver's license. That's where Bethany is right now. She's pretty close to the goal - just needs a bit of prayer to manage that last hurdle. You know how hard it is when someone/something screws your confidence!

My Help Comes From the Maker of 岩木山

Every New Year's Eve we draw for verses. (See my nephew's blog.) Last year my verses were Psalm 121:

I lift up my eyes to the hills--
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip--
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you--
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm--
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Mt. Iwaki (as captured by my niece)

This year my verse is Hebrews 10:39: "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (But I've decided to take all of Hebrews 10:35-39. )

That "new 畳（たたみ）” smell

I love the smell of new 畳 (tatami - rice mats)! After 11 years, last week my husband finally broke down and changed the covering for the mats in our bedroom. (Yes, that's our bedroom. We just put the bed in the closet every morning!) This was an act of love - he had to unscrew the bookshelf from the wall as well as move all the furniture. (There's a heavy desk and filing cabinet at the other end of the room.)

My beautiful new floor!

I love the smell of new rice mats! And I love my husband!

The cousins

Daughter # 1 is still sending me photos and while this one is NOT a very brilliant photo of the uncles... I did promise Daughter #2 lots of photos of her nieces.

Unfortunately, I don't take a lot of photos of anyone. Mary takes a lot of photos of the cats - A LOT of photos of the cats. (If anyone wants a large collection, I have one for you!) And I take photos of Mount Iwaki, and of parties - usually after they're over! Sigh.

Luke & Grace Elliot with Jun & Erin Watanabe

We did have an official photographer for the English Camp who was very enamoured with Grace. So, Leta, if I ever get around to organizing the camp photos...

In the meantime here are some more cousin photos for anyone who's a sucker for photos.

Anna brings Erin to meet the Ghent cousins

Grace enjoys Christmas with the Ghent cousins

Who says babies have an easy life？

Erin Watanabe

Yesterday Daughter #1 sent this photo of her own daughter and wrote "She's quite frustrated that she can't move forward… she has managed a few impressive pivots, though!"

Its a good reminder to us adults to try and try again when we can't do things first try. Sometimes you just have to go back to being a baby!

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve we continued the tradition of 手巻き寿司 but the "at midnight" part of the tradition was modified a bit for the younger Elliot family. This year we had our sushi BEFORE the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service!

Watanbe Family, Luke Elliot Family, G, Kris, Mary with Erin W.

and Mel (in front)

Anna, Jun, (me looking very tired), Yuko, Luke and Grace

Erin was very popular! (Especially with Aunt Mary!)

Enjoying the feast!

Mary and the Watanabes put it all together - I think Jun was the moving force behind it this year. (Yuko retired with morning sickness.) It was nice to have Anna's family with us - its the first time Jun has been able to come since he joined the police force the year before they were married.

And then after everyone went home we opened our presents!

But Advent Candles first!

Grace was an active participant this year!

Our Happy Girl

Erin wears"grown-up clothes" now

Here's the latest cellphone photo from Daughter #1. (As you can see, her daughter has the same impish smile!)

Undeserved Gifts

"Gifts aren't usually given because its fair," replied my husband. "Gifts are given irrespective of whether you deserve them or not."

- Jill Briscoe in "Married for Life"