14 Weeks...

and counting. That's right, we have about 14 weeks until we fly home! We'll have been in Japan one or two days less-than a full 365 days. The time has gone by both tortuously slow and amazingly quickly. How both of those things can happen is beyond me...Some days really seem to drag on, and yet we're always saying how another week has just flown by. Every once in awhile, while riding the bus, I'll look out the window and take a mental picture of Japanese text on a sign, a shrine, or some other familiar sight; and I think, "This'll all be over before I know it." It takes a little bit of discipline to take note and appreciate things that seem so every-day now. But in just a few months, they'll be anything but. So, here's to the little things!

In honor of everyday Japan, here are a few pictures...

#1: Ramen!!! Not that it's actually our favorite thing about Japan, but we really do love it, and it's going to be tough to find the real thing back home. Here are before and after shots.

Pre-destruction:

and post-annihilation:

Mmmmm...was that great, or what? Here's hoping we find some ramen shops back home so we can take all of you to try some.

#2: Sakura (cherry blossoms)

I took this picture by the school right behind our apartment building. Jackie goes up this path everyday! Unfortunately, we were traveling during the bulk of the sakura season, so we couldn't enjoy them for their full duration. But we did indeed see plenty with what time we had. We went to many spots that were well-known for their blossoms, but I have to say, I enjoyed the ones by our house the most. For those of you who would like to see Japanese cherry blossoms, there are a bunch in DC. They were a gift from the Japanese some time ago, and every spring they have a cherry blossom festival. They look quite nice, whether in Japan or good ole' America!

#3: Off-beat signs and other text

This one needs no translation. Boy, that guy sure is mad! What a selfish lady. I'll always clean up after my dog! Consider the lesson learned.

On a more serious note, involving something that is indeed everyday but hardly common, I hope everyone had a most blessed Easter. Jackie and I celebrated Easter over a bowl of chanpon (Chinese noodles) and some gyoza (dumplings). I’ll never forget that Easter dinner! But, we had a nice conversation over 1 Cor 15, about how our own future resurrection is necessarily joined to Christ’s resurrection; and that Christ’s conquering corruption and death is not only the means, but also the foreshadowing of our own victory over sin and the grave. May we, too, put our hope in God and the Gospel of Christ, subjecting our flesh in obedience to the will and wisdom of God after the example of Christ our Savior, that we may truly share in his glorious resurrection! He is risen, indeed!!! Lord, help us to believe.

Thanks for reading, and check back again in a week or so...hopefully, I'll have added something new.