Prayer, a Rendezvous

Jesus said, "When you pray, go into your own room, shut your door and pray to your Father privately. Your Father who see all private things will reward you." He made prayer sound more like a secret rendezvous than a spiritual discipline. 

Where do you meet with God? 

It's funny how different times in my relatively short experience of Christian life I've found myself in a variety of prayer "closets". I often met God on an early morning run, my running shoes covered in a layer of Mexican desert dust while my heart centered in Christ as the sun rose over the mountains. Sometimes it was the quiet deserted sanctuary of the church on campus, all echoes and cool freshness, no matter the temperature outside. Then there was the season of grabbing a blanket and a thermos of coffee and walking down to the sand, finding a spot to join the waves in their continual praise of the Almighty.

Currently, this is my place to meet God.

My favorite is to be sitting down at the table with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, my bible and the specific verses on index cards outlining my prayer requests, a playlist of worship songs playing over the speaker, and a sleeping toddler in the other room. It's sweet. 

When I think about what all these places have in common, it's amazing to me, first of all that the God of the Universe met me in all those places. Also, I'm struck by God' faithfulness in teaching me and guiding me to what works for me. I think it's safe to say we, as God's children, have different prayer styles, unique settings that draw us to our Father. Over the years I've learned mornings work best for me, something about starting the day with Him. Music is always a big part of getting my heart in sync with God. The view helps too. But the most important thing I've learned regarding prayer is the depth and richness added by praying God's Word back to Him. Ultimately, He knows better than I what I need, what my friends and family need, what the nations need, what the day holds, and from experience I can say He faithfully leads me to the Scriptures that move my heart to partner with Him in what He's doing. That's a beautiful thing. 

Switching gears, lately I've been challenged to listen to my own words as I pray. Do I sound like I really believe that Jesus Himself sits across the table from me? Listening, asking questions, smiling, reaching out His hand with compassion in His eyes. Is prayer just a way for me to process my own thoughts? Does it feel more like my words are just drifting away into space? Or is it a true rendezvous--a conversation between good friends? I desperately want the latter. That's what has me getting up from the table feeling rested, centered, ready as I go to attend the, "Mama! Mom!" cries coming from down the hall.  

What works for you? Where do you meet God--right now, or where have you met Him in the past? I'd love to see a photo! 

December/January Travels

Merry Christmas!

A little backstory, just before this sweet moment between Baby Jesus and His Mama, Eddie was banging Jesus against the roof of the stable saying, "Ouch!" Perhaps a little more typical of a two-year-old. When I mentioned maybe Baby Jesus needed a kiss from His mama since He'd gotten hurt, Eddie put to use his new found knowledge that Mary was Jesus' Mama. That's what he's saying, "Mama Mary".

Our family traveled for the holidays this year. It was the first time we went to Illinois to be with family for Christmas. After several California Christmases, which are a blast, don't get me wrong, we were excited for a taste of our Christmas roots!

Festival of Lights!

Jonathan's family grew up going to the Festival of Lights. I can only remember going with the Zobrists once, although it was something to remember--we went in a limousine! However, I can't recall anything about the lights themselves, I only remember I was sitting on my mom's lap, not buckled in and I was terrified the whole time the police were sure to find out and I'd be carted off to jail. 

Anyway...this time was much more fun! We drove through the displays after enjoying shakes at Steak 'N' Shake. All this while we were staying at Embassy Suites in Peoria. So fun! Manager's Reception and board games, swimming and hot tub-ing, late night conversation, omelettes for breakfast! 

Of course, we had to celebrate Eddie's birthday again! We'd had a little party at our house closer to his big day, but we had another celebration at Gramps' and Grammy's. 

Gramps made an epic cake--Thomas the Train coming out of a tunnel! 

Eddie's favorite!

Jonathan's blue rail train which is still at his parents house, was a BIG hit with Eddie! He'd seen it on FaceTime, but in person, he was hooked. Not even birthday presents could tear him away from it! 

Decorating cookies and a gingerbread house!

My sweet nephew, Archer!

Christmas Eve we celebrated with the Sauders.

Pajamas all day! Ebelskivers for brunch, a tradition. Themed stockings, this year was "wearables", and ranged from ear buds, to socks, to temporary tattoos, to band-aids. My favorite Christmas activity with the Sauders is what we call, Gifts to the Family. Everyone has to come up with something to share with everyone. We spread them out throughout the day, and it's a blast! I put together a little booklet of Christmas songs and played the piano while we sang them. We had a Christmas story or two, a slideshow of pictures throughout the year, board game time (during which Eddie played with the train. Seriously. From time to time we'd hear, "A boten" (it's broken) when he'd need help hooking up a car or fixing the track, otherwise, he played by himself for over an hour!). I'd highly recommend gifts to the family, so much fun!

Christmas Day we headed to my parents' house to celebrate with the Zobrists the day after Christmas. Zach and Amelia came over to spend the night too, so we had late night snacks and conversation and games (something we did several times over the course of our trip, we stayed up way later than we should have!). 

Cousins!

It's crazy to think what the next few years will bring for these little guys! This Christmas was pretty mellow with 2 babies and a toddler, but just imagine two years from now! Yikes! They'll be getting into all kinds of trouble!

Then we had another big Christmas party with my mom's family!

Eddie participating in the traditional Knapp Family Nativity.

Oh the memories I have of dressing up with all my cousins to act out the Christmas story! It was so fun to get to dress up Eddie and have him join in the fun! He really didn't know quite what to think. But he did know he wanted to be a shepherd. Weeks beforehand I'd ask him, "What do you want to be, a shepherd or an angel?" It varied. But that night he was sure!

Me and my little shepherd.

It was a wonderful trip! No white Christmas, but such sweet memories with family! It was exhausting! A lot more celebrating than we've been used to in the past few years, and not being home in your own bed every night takes it's toll. We were ready to head home when the time came! Unfortunately, the day we were supposed to leave there was an ice storm. Everyone was without power, and, of course, our flight was cancelled. Thankfully we were still at my parents' house, didn't have to spend the night in an airport or anything. We were all packed up ready to go, but then stayed two more nights.

At the airport a few days later, ready to head back to warm California!

Just in time for New Year's! A big deal just south of us in Pasadena! 

We met up with some good guys (Jesse, Steven, Andrew, and Ryan)

For our traditional (at least we hope it becomes tradition!) walk down Orange Grove to see the floats lining up the night before the Rose Parade. Yes, Eddie slept instead of looking at the spectacular floats. Poor guy was still on Illinois time and it was late! We watched the parade the next day from the warmth and comfort of our living room! 

Then off traveling again! To Phoenix for the weekend to celebrate and send off a dear friend, Kailey, who is spending the semester in Jordan. From there straight to San Diego. Jonathan had a conference and Eddie and I came along for the ride. We stayed right in downtown which would've been such fun to explore except it rained all week. We did venture out some, but did a lot of relaxing and playing in the hotel.

It was my birthday while we were there!

Jonathan took me out to a delicious modern Italian restaurant!

Most notable about our stay in San Diego was how much time we spent looking out the window. We were on the 11th floor and from our suite we could see the train station and trains coming and going, the airport and airplanes coming and going, and the harbor and boats coming and going. It was a two-year-old boy's dream come true!

I got to visit a friend who recently moved to the San Diego area. She's a dear friend, kindred spirit, so it was so good to catch up, meet her new baby boy and watch her daughter and Eddie get reacquainted and play together.

Probably Eddie's favorite San Diego adventure was our trip to the Children's Museum. I basically followed him around while he explored (I learned why one usually plans these sorts of things with other moms and their kiddos).

Building stuff!

He could've hung out here all day 

pushing the wooden cars on this cool track!

The last day we were there, it was finally sunny! We took the stroller out and found this antique carousel! I couldn't resist!

He pretty much looked like this the whole time.

Like he was ready to bolt and leave this weird experience behind.

But he said it was fun afterword.

After all that fun! All that's left to say is...HOME SWEET HOME!

The Shift

Sometimes having not written in a while makes it even harder to know where to start. This time, even more so. I've been bumping into the question of what exactly this blog is to be about. Is it just a chronicle for our family? A place to put photos and memories so I can look back and remember? Is it a way share with family and friends scattered all over what's going on in our life? Or is it meant to be something more? In mulling over the question, I feel prompted to make it the latter. The fact is, I enjoy writing. I love putting words to thoughts and ideas, to the stories and memories that depict a slice of the everyday. Just reporting on the big and exciting isn't really a complete picture. Only showing the fun, the good, doesn't make the chronicle very true, although it might be easier. I'm beginning to see the value in using what I believe to be a God-given gift: the love of writing, to process the good and the bad, the fun things and the hard things and the character growth that comes from those hard things. Who knows, in doing so, I might provide some encouragement to someone somewhere, and even if not, I'm the blessed one since I'll have a deeper understanding of the ways the journey, the sojourning, shapes me and the people I love.

All that to say, it's time to dig deeper, to be more vulnerable, and see what God brings of it.

The reason it's been hard to share even the fun things we've done in the past few months, is that there's been a shadow. I miscarried just before Thanksgiving, and the loss shook me. All the dreams and plans nurtured in my mind and heart those ten weeks that my body nurtured a little life had to be mourned and pieced together into something that made some kind of sense. There's something to be said for the glorious thing that it is to host new life in your own body. Then to experience death instead, and host that very death inside you, is strange and in a way unnatural feeling. Don't get me wrong, from the very first I heard that this little life wasn't meant to live, God gave a sense of hope, and I clung to that. But the ache for those dreams, the ups and downs of raging hormones, the loss of something so loved and hoped for, had to be felt, grieved.

Surprisingly, as God led me ever so gently through healing, He uncovered a truth and I believe it will be the good He brings from this bad season. True to form, He works all things together for good. Even this. I knew that to be true, in my head, logically. But now I've seen it, experienced it, and know it to be true in my life, my soul, my heart. What I came to see was that I had come to see my direction in life, my purpose, my identity, as a mom. Yes, I'm still a mother to darling Eddie, every minute of every day. But now I see a difference between having the role and responsibility of being a mother and having motherhood be my reason for living. It's subtle. So much of what I do and who I'm learning to be is wrapped up in my mothering role, so naturally I began to see my life through that lens. It's not a bad thing in and of itself. But, you see, I believe my real reason for living is to bring glory to my Master. In this season, much of how I do that is by becoming the mom He wants me to be, becoming more like Him through the refining process of motherhood, but once it shifted to being my primary purpose, the direction of my life, my identity became wrapped up in it. Jesus is meant to be my Source. I am loved by Him, therefore I'm a mom. I love Him, therefore I want to be the best mother I can be by His grace.

Now I find myself trying to figure out what that looks like practically. It's a wonderful thing for a Christian to say, "My identity is in Christ." It's a much harder thing to actually live. One thing I know for sure, a major part of shifting my purpose and direction in life is taking time to center. Being still and seeking God in prayer and digging into His Words. I'm far from having mastered it, but I can say now, truly, I'm thankful for something hard like miscarriage. I surely hope I don't have to repeat that experience, but the suffering and reaching for God to make sense of it all led to what I hope will make me a better mom. Because I know, I am sure, I will be a better mother when I approach every moment from a place of security in my Jesus' love for me. Let it be so!

Catching Up

It finally feels like fall. And while, since being back from a busy summer for a few months now, the change in weather gives it a more official feel to say we've entered a new season. The temperature has finally cooled down (my poor mid-western roots just can't let go of expecting fall to arrive once the calendar says September) and Angelenos are pretending scarves and boots are appropriate attire because they almost are! Hey, after temps in the high 90's, 80 degrees actually does feel cool!

The other morning, the crispness was real and made me pull out my autumn-time music. Do you have those albums that you first heard and loved at a specific season or in a specific location? I do. So Eddie and I ate our breakfast while singing along with Jon Thurlow to Your Faithfulness and Strong Love. It's a favorite, folks.

But if we were truly catching up about the past months, I'd have to include some major events, not just the lovely mundane. My parents and grandparents came to visit. So, so special. We had a wonderful time!

Enjoying the Beach!

My Mom and Dad brought Eddie a little Thomas the Train set and acommplished the establishment of Eddie's love of trains. All the train travel in Japan started it, but Thomas has opened his eyes to the world of choo-choo, tunnels, track, lights, STOP! and all that fun! He is now constantly finding anything that qualifies as a tunnel, building tunnels, crawling through tunnels. 

Books are another developing pastime!

I can't love it enough! He's learning so much!

We've had numerous beach days! And Eddie continues to love it!

He's gotten braver, actually getting wet and enjoying it! The beach in September and October is the best! The summer crowds are gone, but the weather is absolutely perfect--hot days and warm-ish water. 

Dates! Here we are at the Huntington Chinese Garden for the Harvest Moon Festival.

Thanks to Joe's willing babysitting, we also spent an evening at CalTech for a special viewing of the PhD Movie 2 which was super fun to watch with a bunch of PhD students in the audience.

Speaking of leaving Eddie with a babysitter...the transition back to our activies, namely MOPS and Bible Study have been challenging as Eddie has been struggling with going to childcare. I've deduced that he's fine at home with someone he knows or even at someone else's house. It must be the overwhelming context of lots of other kids and in an unknown place. He is getting better at not crying when I leave him and actually braving the other kiddos to play and enjoy himself. But those first few weeks were rough! 

Speaking of rough...we are braving the Whole30: 30 days of clean eating (no grains, dairy, sugar, legumes). Jonathan has always wondered if we'd feel better, as people claim, going off certain foods for awhile. Well...so far, we can't report miraculous results, but we're hoping for a boost of energy, better sleep and focus. We will see. 

In the meantime, I'm cooking thing like this Sweet Potato Cottage Pie (so good!) 

and generally bemoaning all the yummy things we have to pass up.

Half way! 

A highlight was this past weekend! Baptisms in Altadena church! The first since I've moved here! It was a wonderful weekend, made even more special because of all the visitors, including Grammy and the aunts! 

We went to Travel Town. The trains made. his. week. 

My favorite was at the baptism, they invited the kids to come up and gather around close to be able to see. I took Eddie up, and he was mesmerized! As we sat down he said, "Water. Wet." So sweet. 

Mt. Fuji

So...picking up where we left off, talking about crazy adventures we had in Japan, allow me to regale you with the tale of our night hike up Mt. Fuji.

Mt. Fuji looks like this most of the year.

(obviously, not a picture we took, just one I found on the web)

But when it looks like this,

(as in, not snowy)...

Everyone decides to hike it. Okay, not everyone. Just a whole bunch of Japanese folks, and a bunch more tourists!

There's a saying in Japan, something like, "You're a fool if you don't climb Fuji-san once, but only a fool would climb it more than once." And that kind of logic was basically why I found myself agreeing to hike the volcano. It's a once in a lifetime thing. Worth doing to say I'd done it. Almost as soon as we knew our trip to Japan would coincide with the few weeks of the year that Mt. Fuji is hike-able, plans were made for us to fit a night hike into our trip. Jonathan and I and the girls, that is, not Eddie nor his grandparents who've been-there-done-that a few times and were more than willing to babysit instead. Since they'd done it before, they suggested we do the traditional nighttime hike to see the sun rise over the Land of the Setting Sun from it's iconic mountain. Sounds good and all. But times have changed a little. Before, one was allowed to drive oneself halfway up to the starting point, so hikers could start their hike anytime they wanted. We discovered that was no longer allowed, and we would have to take a bus to the Station 5 trail head. No problem. The trek up would take about 6-7 hours. We planned to take the last bus and begin our hike around 10 pm.

Did I mention the night that would work for our Fuji adventure was the night that came after our first day in Japan? We figured, we'll be jet-lagged, we'll have no problem hiking all night, it'll feel like day to our bodies! 

We left Shioda church where we were staying at 5 pm. FIVE IN THE AFTERNOON! We had about an hour car ride to the bus station where we met our "guides", two other Americans (one who lives in Japan and had hiked Mt. Fuji before, another who was spending the summer there, a first-timer like us). We all hopped on the last bus up to Station 5, which took another hour. We were on the trail at 8 pm, a full two hours ahead of schedule. Calculate about 6-7 hours from 8 pm. This was my fear when agreeing to this adventure: that we'd reach the summit several hours before sunrise, exhausted and sleepy, only to have a long wait ahead of us. None of us had any clue just what miseries the night ahead would hold!

It was dark when we reached Station 5, a tourist trap of buildings with provisions and sounevirs for sale--even use of the bathroom was for sale. We caved and bought 2 hiking sticks knowing that along the way, at each of the stations we could get a stamp burned into our stick to chronicle our hike. Kind of a cool souvenir, and since we're only doing this once, might as well have proof for future generations. 

It was a warm, humid evening, typical of Japan in summer, but we each had rain gear and sweatshirts knowing that higher up the weather could be different. 

We left Station 5. We took rest breaks here and there, especially as we grew more weary and out-of-breath thanks to the altitude and exertion. The lights of cities and towns spread out below were quite beautiful. 

We stopped at stations along the way, resting, eating our PB and J, rice balls, and clif bars, and forking over the yen for our sticks' stamps. Somewhere along the way, it started to rain. It was cold, but we pulled on our rain gear and realized we were somewhat warm while hiking, it was only frigid when we stopped moving.

Station 10 was the summit. Simple math told us we'd reach 4 stations between the trail head and the summit. Nope. Just to mess with our tired legs, heaving lungs, and our wet, cold bodies, there were several extra cabin-like buildings along the way. We left Station 8, for example, plodding along the upward climb, our steps growing shorter, our breaths louder, and just when we were at the point of despair, above us on the trail we'd see the lights of a station which would lighten our step and instill a glimmer of hope as we'd tell ourselves, "Just a little more and we'll be at Station 9, then only 1 more!" Only to push our weary legs up the steep incline and realize it wasn't Station 9, it was "Old Station 8" and then "Station 8.5" followed by "Station 8 Hotel". Somehow we'd have to muster the gumption to press on, holding out hope that Station 9 would eventually appear. Unfortunately, it did. Only it wasn't lit up. It was a ruin. Barely able to block the icy wind, we huddled a bit for a rest, then told ourselves we couldn't stay there. At the top, at Station 10 there would be buildings, warmth, maybe even a place like the hotel we'd passed along the way. At this point, we were willing to pay anything to have a warm place to lie down! The hike between the abandoned Station 9 and the summit was the worst. It was bitterly cold in the exposed wind, even the exertion wasn't enough to keep us warm anymore. We all realized we were sorely under-dressed! We all gasped at the thin air that just wasn't providing us enough oxygen! I know I was thinking, maybe we should've stayed back there at that hotel and finished the hike in the morning just before sunrise. But no! We're so close! We'll get there and then rest!

Oh how wrong I was!

After what seemed like the longest 200 meters of my life, we made it to Station 10 at the top of Mt. Fuji! Hurrah! The trail leveled off. But it was so dark, no lit up, welcoming cabin. We soon realized the Station had closed for the night. It was 1 am. Sunrise was 3 and a half hours away, but there was no where to go! All the hikers who'd made it up the day and evening before were tucked away out of the wind sleeping (or trying to) on futons crammed side by side in the cabin. Doesn't sound ideal, does it. But try being the ones outside exposed to the icy cold wind and increasingly damp fog without a warm coat or mittens or a hat! We were shocked and frustrated! Would they really not let us in? We were poor foolish hikers and downright miserable! We would pay any sum, but there was no one to pay! 

Then--no joke, kid you not--we found a little shelter that was still open. A bathroom. Basically a port-a-potty, but made of wood and housing 2 stalls with a little entryway between them. Two hikers had already discovered it and were seated on a small bench inside between the two toilets. We crammed in, standing around inside the door, at least protected from the wind if not the cold. We huddled together inside the stinky bathroom standing, rather than sitting because of the questionable muck coating the floor. When one of our number got sick and ran outside to throw up the hot chocolate she'd gotten from the vending machine, we considered giving up on the sunrise to end our misery and head down the mountain. But by then a thick fog had settled in. It would be dangerous to hike down not knowing the steep trail well. We were stuck.

Soon, a few of us were desperate enough to pull the garbage cans out of the stalls and sit rather precariously on the lids. We tried to doze off, but the cold and the accommodations made that almost impossible. We tried to tell each other we'd laugh about this some day. We told stories and made conversation to pass the time. 

Jonathan managed to think of snapping a picture to record the fiasco.
That's our friend Javon in the blue, I'm in the yellow poncho leaning against the door to one of the bathroom stalls, and Hannah is sitting on Rachel's lap.

Time seemed to pass slower than usual. We held out hope that the Station buildings might open up as it got closer to sunrise. Mercifully, around 3 am the futons were rolled up and the doors opened. We found our way into one of the sleeping cabins which was transformed into a restaurant. The hot ramen soup we ordered was one of the most delicious meals I've ever tasted! The combined relative warmth of the fire-heated cabin, a place to sit comfortably, and the hot broth, worked wonders! 

After eating, we wandered outside, braving the wind again to explore the summit in the growing light. It was still shrouded in fog, so we couldn't see the crater of the volcano or the view from the mountaintop. Cold drove us back to the cabin where we found a spot among the growing number of hikers arriving at the summit. On the wooden benches, around a small fire, we pressed in to feel the warmth and wait for sunrise. We were joined by a few Scottish folk, friends on a vacation to Japan, who were absolutely so fun to listen to! Not only their accents, but their great stories of adventuring around Japan together. They were the kind of people you wished would get stuck in a bathroom with you. 

The mountaintop was getting increasingly more crowded as people who'd spent the night in lower Station hotels trekked the last bit to the top in time for sunrise. There was literally a mob of people swarming all over the place. The time for sunrise came and went and the fog didn't budge. Nothing to see. What a letdown. 

Here's our obligatory group photo overlooking the volcano crater.

Yeah, I didn't see it either, and I was up there for several hours.

Like my fashionable yellow poncho? Hey, at least it trapped some body heat in.

We gave up and headed down, after visiting the restroom. The one we'd huddled in had been locked and another one was open and charging a fee for entry. These toilets didn't even have seats, but were the squatty-potty types. One poor soul, suffering from altitude sickness, was frantically trying to find one available to vomit in but had to resort to puking in the corner since they were all in use. Made me realize things could be worse.

Soon we were sliding down the loose volcanic gravel on the downward hike, making bets about when the fog would clear and we'd be able to see the view. What was it, 25 minutes? and we looked back up to a perfectly clear summit and this spread out beneath us:

 It was a pretty spectacular view!

Jonathan bemoaned the fact that we hadn't waited at the top just a little bit longer, but none of us were game for hiking back up. 

Pretty amazing how sunrise can lift your spirits!

I look how I felt. 

Like I'd rather be in a warm bed fast asleep.

Finally we could see the landscape we'd been hiking through all night.

As we descended, with the sun's rising, we quickly warmed up, and by the time we reached Station 5 and the bus, it was hot! So strange considering how cold we were just a few hours earlier.

We made it back to the church around 10 am and crashed. Unfortunately, while we'd been feeling pretty good just 24 hours previous, like we were adjusting well and getting over jet lag, the night hike had taken it out of us and put us back at square one! Oh well, now we can say we did it. We survived. 

And we'd be fools to do it again.

(I won't mention any names, but a few of our group would actually be game for doing it again. I am not one of them.)

Good old Mt. Fuji.

I'll never think of it quite the same again.

Japan: Part 2

Let's talk crazy adventures. We had a few of those along the way!

Day 1: Longest Day Ever! It began early, like 5 am or something, as we loaded up and headed to the airport. After all the airport rigmarole, we were on our way to Hawaii. When we arrived, it felt like late afternoon, but it was only noon on the Islands. Seven hour layover? We're not Jonathan is not the type to spend a layover lounging around an airport when there are sights to be seen!

 So we visited Pearl Harbor!

 It was a beautiful monument! And came along with lots of great history!

(P.S. Please note, because of this adventure, lil' Eddie did not nap.)

And then! We're off! Boarding a jet plane!

Late evening we left Hawaii with one bonkers toddler--we're talking uber slap-happy! The goal was to keep him awake as long as possible because our arrival time in Japan, after an 8 hour flight, was only 11:00 pm, so the goal was to jump-start his acclimation to the time difference. We ate. We played. He had a major meltdown. He crashed. Not bad. Not bad at all, this kiddo wins the medal for traveling toddlers, hands down!

Whew! So we're off to an adventuresome start! Touch down at Haneda airport. Little mister was obviously awake for the airport and customs, he's too curious to sleep through that. A little wait for our hotel shuttle, during which I was desperately trying to force food into Eddie's stomach so he wouldn't wake up hungry once we all finally crashed at the hotel.

And what a hotel! I'm sure it's been said somewhere by someone before, but Japan wins the prize for beautiful, well-designed efficiency.

 Here's our room.

Photo taken just inside the doorway in the (very) narrow hallway.

Bathroom was to the left. Super small, but still had the shower and sink separate from the toilet, a must (and let me just insert, I THINK THAT'S BRILLIANT! Why would you want to brush your your teeth and wash yourself where you just flushed away all the yuck?). The picture may lead you to believe that way down at the end where the bed is, the room gets wider. Barely. Hardly at all. But they still managed to fit in a table back there (to eat your rice at, that counter midway on the left was the kichenette complete with rice cooker, of course). Wow! What a feat! For being so small, it was comfortable and had more amenities than we needed. But enough of the hotel review. The important thing was sleep. After such an incredibly long day chasing the sunset across the world, it felt so good to lay down in a bed! And Eddie did sleep several hours straight! Mission accomplished! We awoke rested!

Food was one adventure after another! To be expected, but what I didn't expect was how much I'd love the food. Me. The one who'd never even really had Japanese food, sushi included, until I was brought into the Sauder family! 

 I ate that.

That thing, the one staring back at the camera. It was actually delicious!

 And this. Yep. Even the flowers and greens. 

(As you can see, presentation is half the battle. 

If it looks that pretty, anything is worth at least trying.)

The one thing I didn't love.

Mochi. Just saying it makes me gag. It's just that I don't do super chewy.

And this is super-duper-duper-lump-in-my-mouth-why-can't-get-this-swallowed chewy.

Did I mention the above pictures were all part of one meal? An eight course meal. It lasted 2 and half hours. Two and half hours of very quiet, very formal dining consisting of foods Eddie could not/would not eat. How did he do? FANTASTIC! He sat at the table the whole time, ate the few snacks I had packed in his diaper bag, and played with one small bag of toys the whole time. Miracle child. Or just plain miracle, one could say.

This next food experience was wonderfully memorable as well! 

 The restaurant, consisting of numerous small traditional huts, private rooms,

was surrounded by gorgeous gardens--put the Huntington to shame!

 First we just walked around oohing and ahhing!

Fish!

 This is the view looking from the gardens into our dining hut.

 Tatami floor, of course, but we didn't have to dine sitting our our knees with our legs falling asleep, they had "western-style" chairs for us to sit in. 

The main course was brought out as raw chicken and vegetables on skewers

to be cooked over the coals placed in the center of the table.

It was an epic evening! So beautiful, so delicious, and wonderful company too!

Other eating adventures...

 Crazy crepes!

Never ingested so much whipped cream in one setting in my life.

Haha! And this one! Good story!

Shortly after we arrived and were settled into our accommodations at Shioda church, we were struggling with some jet lag, feeling hungry at odd times, and I was feeling a bit queasy from the lack of sleep and long drive from the city out into the country. So when someone stopped by bearing Pizza Hut, we were thrilled! It sounded delicious! Hit-the-spot material! Even Eddie was chanting "pizz, pizz!" Until we opened it. One was topped with seaweed. No joke. The other sported mayonnaise for the sauce, and corn and potatoes for topping. Umm. No thanks! Some brave souls tried it, even enjoyed it. I was not one of them!

 Let's see. Other adventures...

Meiji Shrine

We took off one afternoon, just us 4 to do some exploring of Tokyo.

(Jonathan did a stellar job navigating Tokyo's intense train system, 

hence why it went smoothly and we didn't get lost!)

 Jonathan spent one day meeting up with some work connections and ended up sampling this guy's sushi which he heard about through an NPR feature. He's a true chef, wants you to get the best tasting sushi, which means it can't sit at all, even for a few seconds. He told Jonathan to use his fingers if he wasn't adept enough at chopsticks--anything to get the sushi into his mouth while it was still fresh!

Not pictured, for obvious reasons as you'll soon understand, was our delightful evening at the onsen. It's a public bath. Uh huh. As in, you go in, men go one way, women go the other, you undress, down to your birthday suit (appropriately, we went on Mom Sauder's birthday), and bathe with a bunch of other people. Sounds weird. It's cultural, folks. When in Rome... It was a little strange, but that sort of faded as you felt the glorious hot spring mineral water! For all the weird, we wished we didn't have to leave and talked often throughout the trip of how much we wished for another free day to spend at an onsen.

 Dipped our toes in the other side of the Pacific!

(The beach was black sand, hard to tell from photo.)

What do you think? Christmas card worthy?

 These crazies went to the zoo. Ask 'em about it!

 Hottest, most humid, sticky, sweltering day, I've ever experienced.

(And I lived in Mexico in the summertime in rainy season without air conditioning.)

Seriously. Never been so hot in my life.

Usually, you can't get Eddie out of the stroller, he loves it. Not this day, it was too hot. He was a sweaty, miserable little boy!

Adventures by train:

Adventures by car:

 These narrow ally ways are meant for 2-way traffic!

Yikes! Way to go, Dad Sauder, our faithful chauffeur!

 Visiting the tallest tower in the world!

This guy. That double chin.

(Oh, and the glass floor that one is supposed to be scared to walk on? He laid down on it. Just laid down. Didn't want to get up.)

 Senso-ji Temple

 We are very sweaty here.

 Odawara Castle.

 Couldn't go inside as it's being refurbished, or whatever they do to thousand year old castles.

But the greatest adventure of them all...da da da daaaaaa! 

Oh, but surely you're all tired of reading this extremely long post. I'll have to save that one for another day...