today

They say you remember the things you would like to forget and forget the things you want to remember. 

Today was a good day. 

And if what they say is true, then I want to record things about today. 

Because one day, when all I don't remember all the beautiful little things,  I'll want to look back and remind myself of all the golden moments treasured. 

I'll want to re-live mornings snuggling cute babies, and wonderful, productive, quiet moments at the library - alone. 

I'll listen for that silence again, and try (hopelessly) to remember Kanji that I'm only just learning now. 

I'll listen for the echos of still afternoons with Madre and a good book...of casual, passing conversation, and kind words. 

I'll want to remember late lunches curled up on the couch....the way the Sound of Music record scratches over my record player and the feel of the spring breeze through my window. 

I'll look for remnants of warm sunshine and drives down long lotus-field roads with the windows down....and music loud:) 

I'll remember laughing hysterically to myself in the car at everything and nothing at all. Simply overcome with the joy of my situation...and the iced coffee in the cup holder next to me. There's something about the first iced coffee of the season - it's like a right of passage...a beautiful  introduction to summertime. 

I'll think about the complete satisfaction that comes with planting things, and the most adorable little flowers. I put in soil this afternoon. 

Sometimes I just need to plant things and get dirt under my nails. It's therapeutic, I think. 

"I just want to plant flowers where they aren't meant to grow..."

...In a few years, everyone will be much bigger, and I'll want to remember the afternoons at the gym with Wilbur and our joking over oblique twists and foam rollers.  

He's growing up too quickly. And he's turning out to be such an amazing boy...I'm so proud of him. 

I'll think about golden hours in my room with Mickelob - sitting in silence listening to music. Just because we can and we need it. Today it happened to be Julie Andrews and Andrew Plummer....so many good vibes. 

It will be nights at the bowling alley with the littles... how we got way too competitive and laughed hysterically over a medium fry and vanilla shake. 

I'll want to remember that I won;) 

I'll want to hear "Hey Jude" again...with the boys' accompanying at the top of their lungs and with their complete heartfelt emotion.  

That song will never be the same. 

The moments are fleeting, my friend. They really are. 

And when I think how quickly they pass, I'm just so thankful for a Creator who sees fit to fill each moment with such utter beauty and joy. 

He's good. 

I'll try and remember that too....years from now when things may not be exactly as I would have them and I get consumed in the mire. 

I'll remember how good He is. 

And I'll have hope. 

I'll be thankful. 

Until next time, 

G

intuition and the sea

My Madre has a wonderful intuition about things. She always has. 

It's a wonderful trait, really. She can sense situations from a mile away and always knows the right thing to say or do. Sometimes I don't understand quite why, and sometimes it's not always easy at first to follow her wisdom, but I'm always glad I do. 

Maybe it's a mother thing....I don't know. 

But I'm thankful for it. 

On Wednesday, my Madre proved herself once again when tensions were high and everyone was running around with their heads down - eyes fixed on our own separate roads of busyness, trying to avoid any collisions. Sometimes it's hard to remember greater perspective when you're so fixed on the tasks ahead of you. 

And Madre knew that. 

So at lunch, as everyone was high-fiving through the kitchen and trying to grab some food in transit, she looked at me across the room and said, 

"We need the beach. Let's just go for an hour or two." 

It was as if somebody flipped a switch in me, and I was filled with an urgency to get to the seashore...

Saltwater is the cure for anything, after all...even busy, hectic afternoons. 

So we jumped in the car, grabbed rice balls on the way, and headed off in search of salt air. 

And guess what...Madre was right once again. 

We didn't do anything significant. In fact, I think we only walked up and down the shore a few times and sat for a while just to watch the tide go out. But it was just what we needed....to breathe the cool sea air and listen to the waves crash on the sea wall. To not think for a while, and just be. 

It cleared my perspective. 

And I went home better able to handle all my busyness - with hair blown all over the place, toes covered in sand, and lungs full of sea spray. 

So I'm thankful for my Madre, today. For her ability to look beyond the present confusion, and turn to life's constant, simple pleasures....to rice balls, and windows rolled down, and to afternoons on the beach. 

She's a good one. 

Maybe I'm biased...but I don't think so. 

And I can only hope one day I'll be like her :) 

Sometimes road trips to the beach are necessary. Especially when you're alone, the sun is out, the sea breeze is calling, and a nap is on the horizon. 

These are the days of dreams, I'm telling you:) 

Today, I'm thankful for the rain and cool morning air. 

I'm thankful for the way wet hair blows over warm skin in the breeze, and the marks that a hard nap leaves on your face. 

I'm thankful for gigantic chicken legs at Sanzoku (Chicken Shack), and an omusubi that was bigger than my head. 

I'm just thankful for good food in general, really. 

Today, it's giggles that turn into peals of laughter and looks that translate into more than words.

I'm thankful for nose-wiggling lessons with one of my new Japanese students. 

For new opportunities and new beginnings. 

I'm thankful for mornings spent playing in the rain with Bo. For ending up soaked, streaked with mud, and looking like a Wild Thing, but completely satisfied. I don't think I ever want to reach a point in life where I can't run around in the rain without abandon. It's the little things. 

I'm thankful for the veritable feast of flowers that sprouted up in time for summer and for the deafening sound  of crickets at dusk. The lotus fields turn into a symphony hall of summertime as soon as the sun goes down. 

It's one of my favorite sounds. 

Today, I'm thankful for quiet walks home under the stars and the thoughts mulled over during them. Sometimes solitude is necessary. 

Dear last year in Japan, 

Yes. I'm thankful for you too. Because even though I can't fathom that you're here, and still cringe when I think too hard about you, you're helping me appreciate each moment so much more deeply than I thought possible. Everything is sweeter when it's temporary. Thank you for teaching me to take nothing for granted. 

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend :) 

G

laugh because it happenend

    

a sunset over Kintai //  a road trip up the Nishiki River  // paddle-boarding 10 miles down said Nishiki River  // cliff jumping  // ponderings and snacks between Dr.'s Appointments ( I'm in love with Japanese hospitals) // sneaking into a random flower garden //  my babies  // an evening walk among the lotus fields.

I've been enjoying a whole lot of life lately.
It's my last summer in Japan, and I want to pour everything I have into maintaining an appreciation and a wonder for even the little things.
This life is far too beautiful to be bored. And I never want to become numb to the vibrant moments of blessing around me.
Instead, I want to stand in the waterfall of God's presence - continually thankful and aware of his blessings and gifts.
He's blessed me with an amazing life...I'm so undeserving.
My cup overflows.
And I am filled with gratitude as my eyes continue to open and I become aware of even the most minute of blessings.


'Don't cry because it's over; laugh because it happened."
Dr. Seuss.

悦び: Summer Days

                     

Things have been a beautiful blur, lately.

I'm not quite sure I've known what to do with myself since graduation, and summer days have commenced.

The other day, I sat for on the shores of the Nishiki river for over an hour and watched the small wooden boats float under lantern light. I felt almost as if I was in a dream...I had no where to be, no papers to think about writing, and could simply drink in the moment for all it was worth. I can finally focus my efforts on soaking up as much of Japan as possible. 

So, in light of that grand thought, the next day I made time for a stroll through the temples and gardens of the Kintai area to see the Irises and Hydrangea in bloom. And again, I was reminded of how blessed I am to live here. The flowers were beautiful, the herons were everywhere, and there were countless Japanese families just sitting under trees, sketching flowers.
It all doesn't seem real, sometimes.

On my stroll, I met a small group of  adorable Senior Citizens simply savoring the new flowers, and received the most adorable little phone call from my little Iori-chan that started something like this: 

"Graysie-sensei! Ohisashiburi desu....sabishikatta desuyo."
(It's been a long time...I've missed you!)

Sometimes, so many beautiful moments compile themselves together so perfectly, I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.

And then I had sushi 3 times in 4 days. I don't quite know how it happened, but I'm definitely not complaining. 

After two exceptionally late nights and equally early mornings, I have fallen asleep in the craziest places and circumstances. So far, my list of napping places includes the middle of a conversation, the pool deck, and the hospital bed at Physical Therapy - while my legs got electro-therapy. I'm pretty sure my mouth was open, and the poor Corpsman had to come wake me up.
It's quite the pitiful state of affairs.

This time last year, I was in the States visiting family for the summer. I didn't get to see my Nihon home mature fully into summer time. So this year, I'm trying to soak it all  the change in - even the budding humidity and mosquitoes.
Summer in Japan is magical...there's just something about it that makes me feel completely at peace.
So, I've loved getting to see it all transform - to see the lotus grow taller each day and the mountains turn a brilliant green. I've loved the changing smells and the ocean breeze that blows away the steamy haze of the lotus fields. It's a good vibe.

I haven't really been able to walk or run around too much, due to my leg injuries - but somehow, adventures have still managed to find their way into my little world. 

 It's funny how beautiful and exciting even the menial things become with a little perspective.
I think I need more of that sometimes - perspective.
My perspective needs to be molded by gratitude and joy.
So I'm trying to appreciate more - to be thankful.

And man, is it turning out to be a beautiful task :)