Good Morning everyone!
Business first: Hair salon names, 'Bell Hair', 'God's Hair', and perhaps my favorite of all time---'Hair Make Lady Go'.
2010 ended in a big way with Katheryn and Micah's wedding. It was a wonderful day. Everything was beautiful. Thank you McKenzie for all your work! It was fun to be in Utah with family. I realized that I live in a completely different world in Japan. The people, the customs, the language, our schedule. It's like stepping through a door into a totally different life. Sort of like the cupboard in Narnia. I miss everyone at home, but when I was home, I missed everyone here. It's an interesting phenomenon.
The New Year is up and running for us as I know it is for everyone. We wish all of you a wonderful 2011!
We are carrying on at a very fast pace, as usual. The year started with missionary interviews and then specialized training for all the missionaries.
We have had Whitney here since the 22nd of December and we've enjoyed every minute of it. She'll go home on the 20th of this month and I really don't like to think about it. But what's most exciting for her is she will enter the MTC on January 26th. She has a little bit of the pre-mission jitters and there's been a little crying on this end from all three of us. Another new stage of life. You'd think I'd get use to these new stages wouldn't you? She is so excited to go, but all those things like leaving family, the language, being 5'9" in a 5'1" world, are a little disconcerting at times for her.
I know it doesn't seem like being tall in Japan should be a big deal does it? We went to the Suwa branch on Sunday. There were about 50 members. I think about 25 of them were in "Awe and Amazement" at her height! They all commented and then stood dumbfounded. The 14-15ish year old young women stood around her and did hand motions in front of their faces and screamed "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa". She was brave and just smiled. Anywhere we go, people stop and stare and point. I got to thinking about this 'predicament'. Whitney all her life has tried to do her best to not be noticed-----the Lord wants her noticed. So He sent her to Japan where she will 'stand out'. She is not only tall--- she is beautiful. She knows her Savior, she loves Him. People will notice and pay attention, just what the Lord needs here in Japan. She's going to be a 'SUGOI' (awesome) missionary! I can't wait to get her emails!
Yesterday, January 11th was her birthday. Scott was doing specialized training. Whitney and I went to Nagoya station and had Tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlets), then we went to Komeda's where we had chocolate milk with ice in it and ice cream on top (sounds weird but it's very good!) and a pastry thing with syrup and ice cream on top. We ended the day with Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Domino's Pizza. Can I begin to tell you what my stomach felt like all night?
Scott had ordered pizza because no one else here could, a language thing, and we were waiting for it. (Footnote: Whitney and I had felt brave enough a few days before to go through the McDonalds drive thru......this sounds easy I know....but not when you don't speak the language. They couldn't understand my "Big-u-Mac-u, set-o". When we got to the window all the employees were laughing, and I'm not exaggerating, full out laughing, so we laughed with them. They had to show us pictures so they knew what we wanted. Seriously, this is my life!) Back to the birthday night---We were watching a DVD and waiting for the pizza when Scott came in and said that Whitney had visitors. We went into the living room. There were the very cute, amazing youth from our Meito ward. They were all kneeling on our L-shaped couches, perfectly quiet, with their backs toward us so we couldn't see their faces. They had gotten our honbu missionaries to participate. Then all together they turned around. It was so hysterically funny!!!!! They had taken pictures of Whitney off her Facebook page and made 'Whitney masks'. They each had a different 'Whitney face'. We laughed so hard. Then they sang a song for her. One of the girls can play the piano very well and we all sang Hymns together. It was so fun. They had made her this yummy gelatin, it looks like milk jell-o and it had mandarin oranges on it, sounds not so good, but it's really good. Last night when we went up to bed they had taken the masks and had decorated her door with them and had a "Happy Birthday" sign. They had made her feel so loved and happy. The youth in this ward are amazing! When I see them, I have great hope for the church in Japan.
January has been a month with maybe to much excitement: We had a missionary go MIA on us for a few hours, McKenzie and Craig's Kimball, has a severe tree nut allergy and will carry an Epi-pin for the rest of his life, Lindsay and Kris are waiting on tests to see if there are problems with the baby they are expecting in July. We realize we are not the only ones experiencing trials and challenges in our lives. They are all around us. I am so very grateful for the peace and comfort that comes from the knowledge that "everything will work out". It will all be fine, no matter what. I am grateful for the Atonement. He knows exactly how we feel. He's felt it all. "Have I not commanded ye? Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid neither be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9. I know He's aware, that He is with us wherever and through whatever we go.
We love you all. Thank you for your emails and your prayers. We feel your support and your love.
Sister Baird, Bonnie, mom or grandma
Cultural tip of the week: For Christmas, the three of us went to Harry Potter. Fun! The cost of a movie here is 1500 - 1800 yen per person, that's about $20 to $22 American dollars. When you buy your tickets they pull out a seating cart and you pick the seats you want. They also give a discount for senior couples (Fu Fu, my small Japanese vocabulary, but it means couple), which in Japan, is 50. It's made me feel a little old, however, they did ask to see our license, that made me feel a little better---maybe they thought we came disguised to look old. When you buy treats at the theater, of course they put it on a tray, they put everything on trays.
Wherever you go, when you are paying, they give you a small tray to put your money or credit card on, then they give it back to you with your receipt or change on it. This is a very important custom, nobody just hands money to one another, it's always done with the tray. Very cool!
Business first: Hair salon names, 'Bell Hair', 'God's Hair', and perhaps my favorite of all time---'Hair Make Lady Go'.
2010 ended in a big way with Katheryn and Micah's wedding. It was a wonderful day. Everything was beautiful. Thank you McKenzie for all your work! It was fun to be in Utah with family. I realized that I live in a completely different world in Japan. The people, the customs, the language, our schedule. It's like stepping through a door into a totally different life. Sort of like the cupboard in Narnia. I miss everyone at home, but when I was home, I missed everyone here. It's an interesting phenomenon.
The New Year is up and running for us as I know it is for everyone. We wish all of you a wonderful 2011!
We are carrying on at a very fast pace, as usual. The year started with missionary interviews and then specialized training for all the missionaries.
We have had Whitney here since the 22nd of December and we've enjoyed every minute of it. She'll go home on the 20th of this month and I really don't like to think about it. But what's most exciting for her is she will enter the MTC on January 26th. She has a little bit of the pre-mission jitters and there's been a little crying on this end from all three of us. Another new stage of life. You'd think I'd get use to these new stages wouldn't you? She is so excited to go, but all those things like leaving family, the language, being 5'9" in a 5'1" world, are a little disconcerting at times for her.
I know it doesn't seem like being tall in Japan should be a big deal does it? We went to the Suwa branch on Sunday. There were about 50 members. I think about 25 of them were in "Awe and Amazement" at her height! They all commented and then stood dumbfounded. The 14-15ish year old young women stood around her and did hand motions in front of their faces and screamed "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa". She was brave and just smiled. Anywhere we go, people stop and stare and point. I got to thinking about this 'predicament'. Whitney all her life has tried to do her best to not be noticed-----the Lord wants her noticed. So He sent her to Japan where she will 'stand out'. She is not only tall--- she is beautiful. She knows her Savior, she loves Him. People will notice and pay attention, just what the Lord needs here in Japan. She's going to be a 'SUGOI' (awesome) missionary! I can't wait to get her emails!
Yesterday, January 11th was her birthday. Scott was doing specialized training. Whitney and I went to Nagoya station and had Tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlets), then we went to Komeda's where we had chocolate milk with ice in it and ice cream on top (sounds weird but it's very good!) and a pastry thing with syrup and ice cream on top. We ended the day with Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Domino's Pizza. Can I begin to tell you what my stomach felt like all night?
Scott had ordered pizza because no one else here could, a language thing, and we were waiting for it. (Footnote: Whitney and I had felt brave enough a few days before to go through the McDonalds drive thru......this sounds easy I know....but not when you don't speak the language. They couldn't understand my "Big-u-Mac-u, set-o". When we got to the window all the employees were laughing, and I'm not exaggerating, full out laughing, so we laughed with them. They had to show us pictures so they knew what we wanted. Seriously, this is my life!) Back to the birthday night---We were watching a DVD and waiting for the pizza when Scott came in and said that Whitney had visitors. We went into the living room. There were the very cute, amazing youth from our Meito ward. They were all kneeling on our L-shaped couches, perfectly quiet, with their backs toward us so we couldn't see their faces. They had gotten our honbu missionaries to participate. Then all together they turned around. It was so hysterically funny!!!!! They had taken pictures of Whitney off her Facebook page and made 'Whitney masks'. They each had a different 'Whitney face'. We laughed so hard. Then they sang a song for her. One of the girls can play the piano very well and we all sang Hymns together. It was so fun. They had made her this yummy gelatin, it looks like milk jell-o and it had mandarin oranges on it, sounds not so good, but it's really good. Last night when we went up to bed they had taken the masks and had decorated her door with them and had a "Happy Birthday" sign. They had made her feel so loved and happy. The youth in this ward are amazing! When I see them, I have great hope for the church in Japan.
January has been a month with maybe to much excitement: We had a missionary go MIA on us for a few hours, McKenzie and Craig's Kimball, has a severe tree nut allergy and will carry an Epi-pin for the rest of his life, Lindsay and Kris are waiting on tests to see if there are problems with the baby they are expecting in July. We realize we are not the only ones experiencing trials and challenges in our lives. They are all around us. I am so very grateful for the peace and comfort that comes from the knowledge that "everything will work out". It will all be fine, no matter what. I am grateful for the Atonement. He knows exactly how we feel. He's felt it all. "Have I not commanded ye? Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid neither be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9. I know He's aware, that He is with us wherever and through whatever we go.
We love you all. Thank you for your emails and your prayers. We feel your support and your love.
Sister Baird, Bonnie, mom or grandma
Cultural tip of the week: For Christmas, the three of us went to Harry Potter. Fun! The cost of a movie here is 1500 - 1800 yen per person, that's about $20 to $22 American dollars. When you buy your tickets they pull out a seating cart and you pick the seats you want. They also give a discount for senior couples (Fu Fu, my small Japanese vocabulary, but it means couple), which in Japan, is 50. It's made me feel a little old, however, they did ask to see our license, that made me feel a little better---maybe they thought we came disguised to look old. When you buy treats at the theater, of course they put it on a tray, they put everything on trays.
Wherever you go, when you are paying, they give you a small tray to put your money or credit card on, then they give it back to you with your receipt or change on it. This is a very important custom, nobody just hands money to one another, it's always done with the tray. Very cool!
7:28 AM |
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