On Solid Ground

My sister's email that is lovely to share.

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello! We send you our greetings and love. It truly has been a crazy, scary, horrible, and yet unbelievable, amazing two weeks of our lives. God truly has been with us during this time. I don't know where to begin for the stories are many. I was home alone when the quake occured and it was a very long 5 minutes.Then the earth continously moved and quaked for one solid hour. After that, there were aftershocks consistently, and continue to occur. Masato was working near the ocean and then had to help people move up to the mountain to avoid the tsunami. He finally met me at church Friday night aroung 8:00 pm. We spent that night in the church, and then Saturday afternoon, returned to our apartment to gather a few clothes, emergency food, bank books, and headed to the small town where I used to work. We were there until last week Thursday afternoon. Thursday morning we drove to a small airport in Ibaraki prefecture near the town called Mito. we
orginially had tickets to fly to Sapporo, Hokkaido (northern island of Japan) for sunday, but by the grace of God we canceled those tickets and bought tickets for Friday. Since Friday the 18th, we have been staying at Christ for The Nations Japan outside Sapporo, in the town called Ishikari. People here have been wonderful; feeding us, giving us a place to stay, showing us where to go shopping, helping me figure out bus schedules and subway systems. Hokkaido is safe, I am told, by everyone here, and even the US Embassy in Sapporo. According to the US Embassy, Hokkaido is clear of all radiation and aftershocks. Hokkaido has plenty of food, gas, clean water. I am connected with the US Embassy in Tokyo, and almost daily get notices from the Embassy informing people around the 50 mile area and now in Tokyo to be careful of water, radiation. We were checkeed for radiation after arriving in Sapporo and were told that we were ok. People normally range
between 50 and 100. We ranged between 110 and 150. I asked what number we have to start being concerened. That number is 10,000. So, we have very very very little exposure.

What We Lost:
we are thankful that we are alive, that we are together, and that we are not harmed. We left our home with about three-four days worth of clothes. I also grabbed our bank books, my passports, health card, two flashlights (dad taught me to be prepared), emergency food, our bibles, and some bottled water. We left our home, and all of our belongings. I do have to admit it is a bit easier to get dressed in the morning!

Our Plans for the Future:
The current plan is stay in Hokkaido for awhile. Masato will be attending Christ for The Nations Bible School. One year ago Masato started the second year of his job, knowing that it would end this year (2011) in March. As a result of that information we have been praying for the next direction. As December and january came, we had the sense that God was leading him to go to Bible School. At the beginning of March, he came to this school for three days. He had peace and was 80% certain that he was going to go to Bible school. He didn't know if he was going to start in April or in September. So, even though to you, this news may come as a shock that Masato is now going to attend bible school, this has been something that we have been praying and thinking about for the past few months. He will also start looking for part time work.

As for me, I have two job interviews tomorrow, Friday March 25th. One is part time work teaching English, and one is a potential voice recording work.

We are even blessed to have friends from our church in Iwaki attending school here in Sapporo. He protected us up to this point (the stories are endless) and I know that He will continue to provide for us in the days and weeks to come.

What Next:
we do know that Masato will be starting Bible school. I don't want to go back to Iwaki. The earth is still shaking, the nuclear power plant situation is not yet clear, and the US Embassy still has a 50 mile limit around the power plant. Gasoline, Food, and water are still major problems in Iwaki, even though many of our friends have started to return to Iwaki and have started work. Masato thinks that one trip back is needed. He thingks that he needs to fill out paperwork for his job, clean out the apartment, and pick up the car that is sitting in the airport and bring it back to Hokkadio. He is not too excited about going back in the near future because of the current situation in Iwaki and what US Embassy's restrictions are. So for him, when to go back and do this is a very big question and probably a weight on his mind. He also wants to see his family. They live in Onahama (the fishing port very near Iwaki and damaged by the tsunami)and have
decided to stay where they are.

Ways To Help:
One way is to please pray for us. we are still processing all that has happened. We do have needs: transportation, financial, healing, and others that we are not sure that we have right now.

words of encouragement are always welcome! Email, facebook, letters/postcards are welcome. I have enjoyed your emails/postings and hearing about daily life stuff is great! (thank you Dad for your email the other day about simple every day life. I really appreciated that)

Some of you have asked if you can send money. Yes, you can. we humbly say thank you. I am not sure the easiest way to send money from the states to Japan. i have always done it the other way. If you are interested in sending us money, please let me know and I will contact you personally with our bank information.


Our Mailing Address is as follows:
Christ for the Nations Japan Bible School
c/o Masato and Debbie Tanaka
Hanakawa kita 6-5-157
Ishikari, 061-3216 Japan

If you have any questions, please let me know and I will do my best to answer them. We both love you. We thank you for all of your prayers, concerns, and love.
God willing, we would love to come to the States to see all of your beautiful faces,
Love,
Debbie and Masato

From the Land of Tomorrow

An update from my sister, Debbie, who lives in Iwaki, Japan - in the Fukushima prefecture, near the nuclear plant.

She is quite shaken - physically and emotionally. It is truly a miracle that Masato and her are together. They live 15-18 km from the ocean, and within 20 km of the nuclear plant. Masato works close to the ocean. His car was the only car not swept away and that could start in the parking lot. The water was up to the tires. He was able to get to Debbie. They shook for an hour during the initial earthquake. Their 3rd floor apartment, in case of a Tsunami, would be safe unless it was a huge Tsunami. The earthquakes in Iwaki, where they live, have a jolt kind of feeling. The earthquake night they slept in the church as it is a newer building with better earthquake building technology. They did not want to be on the third floor with all of the aftershocks. Then they went to Funehiki, 45 km from the plant. That is where she lived and worked first before moving to Iwaki. There, the aftershocks are felt more like a swaying or rocking back and forth. She can hear the earth rumble before she feels the swaying as the earth continues to move beneath them. They have 2-3 days worth of clothes with them and she has her passport. Masato does not have his. Iwaki has no water, no gasoline, no food, no electricity. It is good they are not there, especially with the radiation issues. Funehiki has water, gasoline, limited food, and limited electricity. All of her friends are accounted for, scattered, but alive. On March 20th, they have tickets to get to Hokkaido, where they have friends who are there and have prepared everything that they need. I think that means they will leave their car in Funehiki. Also, if she has to leave Japan, it will be easier for her to leave from Hokkaido than it is to try to get to Narita. At this point in time, they have peace at this time about the decision to move farther away from their home, again.

Please keep praying for them as well as all of Japan during this difficult time.

Three Sleeps

Three sleeps,

until my little girl

turns 3,

on 3-17 ! ! !

So very exciting. We started the celebration by going to the St.Patrick's Day parade this past Saturday. I thought I brought a newly charged camera battery, impressed that I changed the battery. The charger light was green, people. However, contrary to the green light, the camera did not even turn on at parade time. We have one picture of the bundled kiddos waiting for the parade to start. It was fantastic fun, chilly, but a good time had by all. (Despite the frowns in the only picture we have)

We have been enjoying corned beef. Easy to prepare, tender on the taste buds, and oh so good!!!

Lessons Learned Prior to the Cookie Jar

Baking cookies is usually a delectable experience. Usually is the key word.

I learned a long time ago from a teacher with whom I was blessed to work, that adding a 1/4 cup of flour to chocolate chip cookie dough creates a more domed cookie. This is interesting to note, if you, like me, do not enjoy a flattened cookie post cooling. I have utilized this technique so many times that I believe it is fool-proof. This may be my first cooking secret to share.

I learned recently that substituting stick margarine for real butter is totally fine and acceptable. Cookies are still quite tasty, and the missing butter is - well- not missed.

However, tonight, with a sore knee on my mind along with two kids in the tub trying to NOT splash water out of the tub, I decided to start a batch of cookies. Our small group/Bible study meets tomorrow evening and we are to bring the treats. I was trying to get ahead.

Lessons learned tonight:
1. Baking powder, baking soda, and salt add an important amount of flavor and lift. Forgetting these creates a bland cookie tasting experience, discovered after batch #1 came out of the oven.
2. Not adding the full amount of stick margarine/butter is not recommended. Quite important for spreading and browning effects, discovered after batch #2 came out of the oven.
3. Forgetting both 1 &2, not recommended.
4. I truly believe that all problems can be solved. The first batch was quickly determined a failure and became company to the contents of the garbage can.
5. Then, I added not quite the full amounts of salt, baking soda, and baking powder. The taste of batch #2 was close to delicious, even though they were quite dome shaped. Not much spreading action occurred during the baking process.
6. A bit more margarine, from the tub this time as my sticks were gone, was added. Oh my goodness did these cookies spread, quite flat I might add. A bit more spreading than I enjoy, but I am sure they taste fine.

I considered scrapping the whole baking event after batch #1, but then I would have to make a plan B for treats for tomorrow. My mantra of "use what I have" would be totally negated. We'll see how they look and taste later when my main and honest cookie-taster comes home from an evening meeting.

Waiting for Spring

We are all waiting for Spring. Simon is not sure if it will ever come. We seem to be going at status quo over here, which still seems quite busy. Our day starts at 5:30 am with Little Miss ready to play "spider". My hand has become her affectionate little "spider" that tickles, plays, hugs, and converses with Norah at any given cuddle time. Morning is declared at the first hint of sunlight with the declaration of "hungry in my tummy tummy tummy". This girl can eat 3 breakfasts and loves cereal. Then we race to catch the bus or get to work. Mommy days are jam packed with a variety of activities. The race is on to pick up the small fries after work. A smooth running machine to make dinner, clean up dinner, read, finish any schoolwork, record reading, clean the kids, pack the backpack, pick out tomorrow's clothes, brush the teeth, say prayers, settle into bed. And then it is usually 8:00 p.m. With another list to tackle.

Oh, and did I mention how well Simon is reading?!?!? It is AMAZING what he has learned in 6 months. So we are spending more time with our noses in books.

AND, Norah still needs quite the assistance to remember the value of "underwear is fun to wear, keep it dry".

And, it is IEP season. Lots of computerized paper work to complete now and calendar double checking to make sure nothing is forgotten. Whirlwind of mental thought.

But spring break is fast approaching, well, 3 weeks away. Not quite here, yet. However, we are planning a trip to St. Louis. See some friends, the zoo, City Museum, the arch, the wide Mississippi River. A quick restaurant search just discovered Eleven Eleven Mississippi. Now how cool is that? Too bad we won't be there on the 11th of the month.

Not much else. Realizing that Kindergarten is almost over and my little girl will be 3 next week. Toddler-hood will soon transition to a preschooler. Don't tell her that, she believes she is turning 3 and going to Kindergarten.

The Saturday Box

We have been having some clean-up issues. Mostly because the 2 1/2 year old still dumps a whole bin to find one small toy to carry around and then leaves the toys dumped. Only to repeat with another container 2 minutes later. Partly because the 5 1/2 year old creates great set-ups that really are difficult to take apart, but pieces stay scattered around the set-ups. Somewhat because Mommy has decided that she is not going to put away plastic that she, herself, did not take out to enjoy. Frequently because toys are not put away when done being played with and the mess just expands throughout the day. Occasionally because nobody really tries to clean up abandoned plastic and the house wakes in the morning as if little elves continued playing all night long. Mommy desires a put-together house at the end of the night without put-it-away battles in the clean up war.

I stumbled upon the greatest idea and may have WON the clean up war! I initiated "The Saturday Box". We announce it is time for the Saturday Box clean up and announce what areas are to be cleaned. The timer is set for 15 to 20 minutes. And then the two tykes clean, some guidance is provided by stating what needs to be picked up and put away. After all, she is only 2 1/2 years old. Reminders like "edge to edge and corner to corner" help the little guy put on his careful eyes. Upon hearing the beep beep that ends the clean up time, butts are sat upon our couch. Then Mommy and Daddy go through the pre-determined rooms to be cleaned and pick up ANYTHING left behind. Those treasured items are stored in a bin in our room and are gone until the next Saturday. The first thing done on Saturday morning is to put away the Saturday box items, in "Saturday Box" fashion.

The first two days of this new battle plan filled the bin to overflowing. Three or four days later we had great cleaner-uppers. Simon was appalled that his blanket and Blue Bear disappeared on day one; Norah missed many furry friends. I think it is working!

The clean house treaty is in effect. Peace and tidiness have been restored.

Snowed In

Seriously, we were snowed in our house! We were not able to open our front or back doors! Thanks to the garage door to let us out. After almost 24 hours of snow flying and wind howling, we ended up with 23 inches of snow! After wind gusts of 50 mph, we have snow drifts that vary from knee-high to waist-high! . With a small patch of low snow under the swing in our tree. Snow drifts are amazing. We can see only 2 inches of our 3 outside garbage cans that stack together next to our back door

With EVERYONE ELSE in the exact same predicament as us, we are sitting at home warm, well fed, happy, and having fun. The kids L.O.V.E the snow and were outside forever this morning while we plowed out. Simon and Daddy-o are sledding at the local hill as I type. Norah is napping, hopefully forever. The dear girl woke up at 4:00 needing a bath and felt it was playtime and breakfast time immediately following. Nap away honey bunches!

Simon's school district already declared a school closing for tomorrow. I think it is because they cannot dig out the buses by tomorrow morning and the cold that is to come. That is why the boys are sledding, slide away while it is warm!

The last time we went sledding I thought about the irony of sending my beloved child sliding down a very large hill of snow and ice on his backside, when I freak out about him climbing high or dangling dangerously at the park.

Great pics to come.

It's Still a Vertical Month

Usually I am all out and gung-ho about vertical days and minutes. I acknowledged 1-11-11; however, I was not all that excited throughout the day. My mind was heavily focused on a big IEP meeting for a tough student of mine. I may have caught 11:11 a.m. during school that day. highlights were two simple emails sent by a co-worker that said "Have a won-derful day!" and from a friend, and a voice-mail message left at 12:12 wishing me a happy vertical day and minute!

Then I came home with my two lovely children, and decided to make something of the day. So we had hot chocolate and I used our vertical mug. Simon is old enough to take somewhat of a decent picture and then Dad came home to capture the rest. Vertical day ended well.

1-11-11

Do you get it?

Why no couch cushions covers, you ask? Well, that is because even though Norah subscribes to the fact that "Underwear is fun to wear; keep it dry!", she does not always keep it dry. She happened to have an accident while sitting smack dab in the middle of the couch. Literally, on the crack between the two cushions, which caused a quick stripping of the covers and off to the dry cleaners.

Skating on Thin Ice

Today after school, Simon bundled up to his nose with snowpants, coat, and multiple accessories. I slapped on Simon's ice-skates and he hobbled out the door to skate on the sidewalk. Yep, I said sidewalk. You see, snow then rain then falling temperatures then more snow resulted in the slush freezing to a sheet of ice. EVERYWHERE! Since it has been cold, we have had ice-walks for a few days now. If Simon was a more advanced skater, he could have actually skated around the block. Seriously, nobody's walks are clear, despite shoveling efforts! Shoveling seemed to have a worse effect. Norah cried because she wanted her skates. Somehow she forgot that she doesn't have skates. Her options? Stay inside or put on boots to play on the ice. She stopped crying and chose the boots. Simon lasted longer than I thought and did quite well. Norah does not last long outside. Her tiny hands get so cold, even with mittens. Hot cocoa upon returning inside was necessary. We warmed up, ate lunch, and he went back out for round 2, while Norah napped!

Even though . . . .

. . . . . I lived the first 15 years of my life in Green Bay, WI and 2 years of graduate school in Madison, WI, I will not drink out of my "W" cup anytime this week. No Wisconsin influence will be happening in this household! We proudly fly the Bears flag. Bears vs. Packers? GRRRRRR all the way! Bear down, Chicago Bears! We are after all, Monsters of the Midway! And the Midway is where we'll play (and win)!!