I know that I started this blog while I was in Japan, and I'm sure it was much more interesting as I wrote about things I did while I was there... BUT... I feel like I just have to tell about one of my latest activities. Two Saturdays ago I went with Daddy to help at a church work day. While there, we were told we could have a piece of counter-top that had been torn out. We brought it home and after Daddy cut it 14x15" he attached sides to it and I had a soap mold!! Our family started selling homemade goat milk soap while I was in Japan. Being very interested in it, I started watching videos on YouTube about soap making. I fell in love with a swirled soap I watched being made. To be able to make swirled soap I had to have a new mold (which I now have). Today Momma helped me make my very first batch of soap!! It is Bergamot Grapefruit. I used a peachy-orange color for my swirl. It is in the freezer cooling now. I am so excited!!! I'll have to take pictures of it to post as soon as I can cut it. To see the rest of our soaps check out brightarrows.blogspot.com.
All my love,
Hannah
Mar 29, 2011
Mar 15, 2011
Earthquake
I lived in Tokyo, Japan for 222 days (exactly). I never once thought what would happen if a major earthquake or other natural disaster struck while I was there. I simply went about my daily tasks, business, etc. I took walks by myself and with friends. I made frequent runs to the 7-11 as you know from reading my blog. I made it to the trains and missed trains all the time! I never thought: "what if this is my last action?" Often I walked down the streets of Tokyo and Ginza, or Harajuku some of the top shopping places in the world. After being there and seeing all of it I wonder: "How could all of it be completely destroyed in 5 minutes?"
Doubtless you have heard about the earthquake, tsunami, and following aftershocks that hit Japan late last week. That 8.9 earthquake was the largest earthquake to ever hit Japan, and the 5th largest to ever occur. Thousands of people have lost their lives. When they left home or even woke up that morning, I wonder how many of them thought that this would be their last day. Even the people who have not lost their lives have lost much. The Japanese economy will suffer greatly. The Japanese people have lost homes, family, health, jobs, etc. The train systems that were punctual to the second while I was there are not the same now. The malls and shopping streets are all changed. The people I visited are now in bad times. What else can I say? I don't think it has all even sunk into my brain yet. Practically everything that I knew is now changed in some way or another.
I have heard from many of my friends. The Lowthers are all OK. The Fukuda family (the pastor of the church in Tokyo) is safe. Everyone in Chiba (the MTW team) is safe. To read my friend's blog about her experiences that day go to http://operation-arigatou-jesus.blogspot.com/ .
All my love,
Hannah
Doubtless you have heard about the earthquake, tsunami, and following aftershocks that hit Japan late last week. That 8.9 earthquake was the largest earthquake to ever hit Japan, and the 5th largest to ever occur. Thousands of people have lost their lives. When they left home or even woke up that morning, I wonder how many of them thought that this would be their last day. Even the people who have not lost their lives have lost much. The Japanese economy will suffer greatly. The Japanese people have lost homes, family, health, jobs, etc. The train systems that were punctual to the second while I was there are not the same now. The malls and shopping streets are all changed. The people I visited are now in bad times. What else can I say? I don't think it has all even sunk into my brain yet. Practically everything that I knew is now changed in some way or another.
I have heard from many of my friends. The Lowthers are all OK. The Fukuda family (the pastor of the church in Tokyo) is safe. Everyone in Chiba (the MTW team) is safe. To read my friend's blog about her experiences that day go to http://operation-arigatou-jesus.blogspot.com/ .
All my love,
Hannah
Feb 16, 2011
Valentine's Day!
I truly cannot believe it has been nearly a month since the last time I posted anything on my blog. Since that time lots of things have happened. I have prepared and served two Japanese style meals, delivered three goat kids, participated in the Dixie National Jr. Livestock show, etc. etc. etc...........
Before I loose my train of thought, I want to comment on the weather this week. Today we have had a wonderful day... After my mother and I came home from getting a hair cut, we had a yummy lunch of ham-sandwiches. After that I went out to clean off our front porch with the help of one of my sisters. She started pretending that we were on a HGTV home improvement show. :) She was the homeowner and I was the cleaner person. It was a fun way to get it done. The temperature is 72 degrees outside. After we finished with the porch three of us started a game of catch with an abandoned tennis ball we found outside. We were laughing, running, and having an overall good time in the warm weather.
Ok. So I want to tell all about my Japanese meal. :) I was quite proud of it. After one of my friends at church telling me that he works in an Asian grocery store I decided to check it out... It couldn't hurt to go look even if I didn't buy anything, right? When I got there and started looking around I got so excited! (You can ask my brother... I couldn't stop talking...) It had soooooo much Japanese stuff! There was green tea icecream, gyoza, seaweed, rice, tofu, seasonings, etc. They even sell ramune, the Japanese soda! After that I decided I had to make a Japanese meal when my brother's friend came to visit. I bought frozen fish and cooked it like Abi taught me how in the Japanese seasonings, fried some gyoza, made Japanese rice, cooked some mochi, and opened some rice seasonings and seaweed. I think everyone liked it. I surely did. I even made everyone use their hashi that I brought from Japan. I also bought some tofu and miso to make a miso sauce to go over the tofu. I made Japanese style green tea and served it without any sweetener. After that I gave everyone a taste of the Ramune. If I had not been going to a movie between the times I went to the grocery store and when I made the meal, I would also have gotten some of the green tea icecream. That'll have to be for next time. A few weeks ago I made some miso soup for my family to try. I also stuffed some mushrooms with cheese and seasonings... They were really really good. I haven't made any onigiri since I've been home yet, but I think I will before long... Now that I have my driver's license perhaps I can go to the Asian grocery store more often... :) HEHEHE
Now I want to get to the really exciting news... Our goat finally had her kids!!! After thinking she was about to explode nearly a month ago she had her kids last Wednesday, and I got to deliver them! To check out the entire story you can go to brightarrowsfarm.blogspot.com . But I can tell you that two of the three kids were stuck and I had to go in and pull them out. It wasn't as bad as it sounds... Well, I say that, but some people would not have been able to do it, I don't think... But after pulling the first one I thought it was dead. Then I saw it struggle and breathe. I was ecstatic. The thrill of a new born life flooded over me. I suppose parents have the same feeling when they first see their baby, only more, or in a different way at least. The second one was stuck in a position that could have killed it, its mother, and its younger brother. I had the amazing sensation after I pulled it that said "I saved their life!" After many prayers and a call to the vet God gave me the calmness, ability, and knowledge to keep them all from dying. They are soooooooooooo cute! Unfortunately they are all males which means we probably won't be keeping any of them. On Sunday afternoon we got them all out of the pen and let them run around in our back yard. It was adorable to watch them try to run. They kept running sideways and then falling over with a surprised expression on their face. :)
Other than that basically the only other exciting thing to happen has been the livestock shows recently. Our goats did amazingly, our cows not so great.... We still think our cows are great and are going to be wonderful for our herd.... The judge at the last show was not looking necessarily for good herd animals. It seemed that he was mainly looking for big, fat, show-feed fed calves... I don't know... Maybe he just didn't like our cows... For two weeks we spent up to 12 hours a day outside in the barns at the state fair grounds in below freezing weather. Mississippians are just not made for/used to that type of thing! Even in three and four layers of clothes we were still cold! We had to bathe and clip cows in that weather, and it was not fun to get sprayed with the hose-pipe with freezing water!
Well, my Daddy's home from work now and supper is nearly ready. I just want to leave with this note to Melanie and Jenna (in case you read it). I miss you both! I can't wait until you come home and we can all get together and visit one another. I have been thinking recently, as people still ask me how I enjoyed my time in Japan and whether or not I'd like to go back at some point. I've decided that while I miss the food, the trains, the different and interesting things, etc, I really miss the people. I almost can't read my blog without getting sad and missing everyone. I remember playing with Coen, reading to Eastin, and helping Aidan find Lego pieces. I remember Saturdays and Sundays and sleepovers with my two best friends (outside my family). I remember Dr. Pepper runs, grocery store runs, park runs. :) I miss Keiko and Yukiho, and even when Ju Young would tease me about killing a deer... :) Anyway, all that to say, I still miss the people, even though I've gotten used to not having everything else. Enjoy what you have when you have it! Love the people around you, and realize the blessings God has given you!!!
And Happy Valentine's Day!!!
All my love,
Hannah
 |
| Three little darlings |
Ok. So I want to tell all about my Japanese meal. :) I was quite proud of it. After one of my friends at church telling me that he works in an Asian grocery store I decided to check it out... It couldn't hurt to go look even if I didn't buy anything, right? When I got there and started looking around I got so excited! (You can ask my brother... I couldn't stop talking...) It had soooooo much Japanese stuff! There was green tea icecream, gyoza, seaweed, rice, tofu, seasonings, etc. They even sell ramune, the Japanese soda! After that I decided I had to make a Japanese meal when my brother's friend came to visit. I bought frozen fish and cooked it like Abi taught me how in the Japanese seasonings, fried some gyoza, made Japanese rice, cooked some mochi, and opened some rice seasonings and seaweed. I think everyone liked it. I surely did. I even made everyone use their hashi that I brought from Japan. I also bought some tofu and miso to make a miso sauce to go over the tofu. I made Japanese style green tea and served it without any sweetener. After that I gave everyone a taste of the Ramune. If I had not been going to a movie between the times I went to the grocery store and when I made the meal, I would also have gotten some of the green tea icecream. That'll have to be for next time. A few weeks ago I made some miso soup for my family to try. I also stuffed some mushrooms with cheese and seasonings... They were really really good. I haven't made any onigiri since I've been home yet, but I think I will before long... Now that I have my driver's license perhaps I can go to the Asian grocery store more often... :) HEHEHE
 |
| The midwife: Me |
Now I want to get to the really exciting news... Our goat finally had her kids!!! After thinking she was about to explode nearly a month ago she had her kids last Wednesday, and I got to deliver them! To check out the entire story you can go to brightarrowsfarm.blogspot.com . But I can tell you that two of the three kids were stuck and I had to go in and pull them out. It wasn't as bad as it sounds... Well, I say that, but some people would not have been able to do it, I don't think... But after pulling the first one I thought it was dead. Then I saw it struggle and breathe. I was ecstatic. The thrill of a new born life flooded over me. I suppose parents have the same feeling when they first see their baby, only more, or in a different way at least. The second one was stuck in a position that could have killed it, its mother, and its younger brother. I had the amazing sensation after I pulled it that said "I saved their life!" After many prayers and a call to the vet God gave me the calmness, ability, and knowledge to keep them all from dying. They are soooooooooooo cute! Unfortunately they are all males which means we probably won't be keeping any of them. On Sunday afternoon we got them all out of the pen and let them run around in our back yard. It was adorable to watch them try to run. They kept running sideways and then falling over with a surprised expression on their face. :)
 |
| Mommy goat 1 month ago! |
Other than that basically the only other exciting thing to happen has been the livestock shows recently. Our goats did amazingly, our cows not so great.... We still think our cows are great and are going to be wonderful for our herd.... The judge at the last show was not looking necessarily for good herd animals. It seemed that he was mainly looking for big, fat, show-feed fed calves... I don't know... Maybe he just didn't like our cows... For two weeks we spent up to 12 hours a day outside in the barns at the state fair grounds in below freezing weather. Mississippians are just not made for/used to that type of thing! Even in three and four layers of clothes we were still cold! We had to bathe and clip cows in that weather, and it was not fun to get sprayed with the hose-pipe with freezing water!
Well, my Daddy's home from work now and supper is nearly ready. I just want to leave with this note to Melanie and Jenna (in case you read it). I miss you both! I can't wait until you come home and we can all get together and visit one another. I have been thinking recently, as people still ask me how I enjoyed my time in Japan and whether or not I'd like to go back at some point. I've decided that while I miss the food, the trains, the different and interesting things, etc, I really miss the people. I almost can't read my blog without getting sad and missing everyone. I remember playing with Coen, reading to Eastin, and helping Aidan find Lego pieces. I remember Saturdays and Sundays and sleepovers with my two best friends (outside my family). I remember Dr. Pepper runs, grocery store runs, park runs. :) I miss Keiko and Yukiho, and even when Ju Young would tease me about killing a deer... :) Anyway, all that to say, I still miss the people, even though I've gotten used to not having everything else. Enjoy what you have when you have it! Love the people around you, and realize the blessings God has given you!!!
And Happy Valentine's Day!!!
All my love,
Hannah
Jan 19, 2011
...Rain
I am reclining on my living room couch as I watch the rain pound the ground outside our large double paned front windows on this grey, cloudy, and otherwise gloomy looking Tuesday afternoon. From that intro it might be easy to conclude that I have had a bad, unproductive, or otherwise disappointing day. I assure you, however, that quite the opposite is true! I have had a wonderful day.
Before I go into details about how my Tuesday began, I want to back up a few hours and tell how my Monday ended, and Tuesday for my friends began. Last night around 8:00 I had turned on my computer to review some pictures, and make sure they were adequate. As soon as my laptop booted a message popped up saying "Melanie Johnson is online!" I immediately opened Skype, and before I could send her a message, she sent one to me! After that she started a video call, and she and Jenna and I talked together for a little over an hour!! I couldn't believe it had been that long - it seemed like we were just getting started! I also got to meet the new intern that's working at the school now. It was kind of sad to hear all of the changes that have been made since I'd left, and all the new people they'd met, and friends they'd made... But it made me thankful again for so many wonderful opportunities given to me by God. It also made me think about how my family must have felt while I was over there. I mean, they could relate to some of the stuff, just like I could with Jenna and Melanie, but some of it seemed so amazing. Sometimes I still can't believe I lived there for so long and did all of the things I did... I can't believe I visited all of those famous places, or met all of those people, or learned so much from/about another culture!!! I can't imagine how left out my family must've felt for those 7 1/2 months!!! But all that to say, I really really really enjoyed getting to talk with Jenna and Melanie last night! Thanks both of you for taking time out of your busy day ;) to chat with me, it really made my wonderful Monday complete!
So now back to today...... This morning I rolled over and looked at my clock at 7:30. After lying back down and half falling back to sleep, I got up at 7:31. After washing my face and grabbing my house robe, I walked downstairs to make myself and my mother a cup of hot chai tea. Then I took out the dog, brought her back in, and gave her some breakfast. Then I sat down for my quiet Bible time. I am working on reading through Genesis right now. Aside from Romans, Ephesians, Hebrews, and Philippians, I think Genesis is my favorite book of the Bible. It is truly amazing to know that it was not written until far after most of the events recorded in it, yet it gives so many tiny details that are so fascinating.
After that I went out to check on our goat who looks like she is about to explode if she doesn't have her kids soon! We all wait excitedly for her to have her cute little babies. We're hoping most of them are girls, since they're the only ones you can get milk from! :) After that I decided to go ahead and milk the two goats that are giving milk right now, and do the other 'goat chores.' When I came in my wonderful mother had breakfast prepared for us. I don't remember what I did right after eating breakfast, but I'm afraid it was going to my room to clean out one side of my armoir. I ended up cleaning out one side of my armior, and one shelf in my closet. They both look much better, but I worked from 11:00 to 2:00 on it, took a break for lunch, and worked on it another hour after that... The middle of my room floor is still not quite clean but, as I said today, it makes a mess to take a mess!
After I finished that not so little job everything got dark outside, and started raining.... Now it looks quite gloomy outside, and the goat still hasn't had her kids, and it's too wet to go all the way down the driveway to look for mail, and I waited too long to go for a walk. But I don't mean to complain... I've had a wonderful day, and started working on a project (my armior) that I'd wanted to tackle for a long time...
Now I've got to go help a little sister make her special dinner. :)
All my love,
Hannah
Before I go into details about how my Tuesday began, I want to back up a few hours and tell how my Monday ended, and Tuesday for my friends began. Last night around 8:00 I had turned on my computer to review some pictures, and make sure they were adequate. As soon as my laptop booted a message popped up saying "Melanie Johnson is online!" I immediately opened Skype, and before I could send her a message, she sent one to me! After that she started a video call, and she and Jenna and I talked together for a little over an hour!! I couldn't believe it had been that long - it seemed like we were just getting started! I also got to meet the new intern that's working at the school now. It was kind of sad to hear all of the changes that have been made since I'd left, and all the new people they'd met, and friends they'd made... But it made me thankful again for so many wonderful opportunities given to me by God. It also made me think about how my family must have felt while I was over there. I mean, they could relate to some of the stuff, just like I could with Jenna and Melanie, but some of it seemed so amazing. Sometimes I still can't believe I lived there for so long and did all of the things I did... I can't believe I visited all of those famous places, or met all of those people, or learned so much from/about another culture!!! I can't imagine how left out my family must've felt for those 7 1/2 months!!! But all that to say, I really really really enjoyed getting to talk with Jenna and Melanie last night! Thanks both of you for taking time out of your busy day ;) to chat with me, it really made my wonderful Monday complete!
So now back to today...... This morning I rolled over and looked at my clock at 7:30. After lying back down and half falling back to sleep, I got up at 7:31. After washing my face and grabbing my house robe, I walked downstairs to make myself and my mother a cup of hot chai tea. Then I took out the dog, brought her back in, and gave her some breakfast. Then I sat down for my quiet Bible time. I am working on reading through Genesis right now. Aside from Romans, Ephesians, Hebrews, and Philippians, I think Genesis is my favorite book of the Bible. It is truly amazing to know that it was not written until far after most of the events recorded in it, yet it gives so many tiny details that are so fascinating.
After that I went out to check on our goat who looks like she is about to explode if she doesn't have her kids soon! We all wait excitedly for her to have her cute little babies. We're hoping most of them are girls, since they're the only ones you can get milk from! :) After that I decided to go ahead and milk the two goats that are giving milk right now, and do the other 'goat chores.' When I came in my wonderful mother had breakfast prepared for us. I don't remember what I did right after eating breakfast, but I'm afraid it was going to my room to clean out one side of my armoir. I ended up cleaning out one side of my armior, and one shelf in my closet. They both look much better, but I worked from 11:00 to 2:00 on it, took a break for lunch, and worked on it another hour after that... The middle of my room floor is still not quite clean but, as I said today, it makes a mess to take a mess!
After I finished that not so little job everything got dark outside, and started raining.... Now it looks quite gloomy outside, and the goat still hasn't had her kids, and it's too wet to go all the way down the driveway to look for mail, and I waited too long to go for a walk. But I don't mean to complain... I've had a wonderful day, and started working on a project (my armior) that I'd wanted to tackle for a long time...
Now I've got to go help a little sister make her special dinner. :)
All my love,
Hannah
Dec 25, 2010
Today
Merry Christmas, Everybody!!!!!!!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with lots of fun, love, and laughter... Enjoy this time of the year and remember, as they say, the 'Reason for the Season.'!
All my love,
Hannah
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with lots of fun, love, and laughter... Enjoy this time of the year and remember, as they say, the 'Reason for the Season.'!
All my love,
Hannah
Dec 23, 2010
Back on the Farm
Good morning everyone, I hope this finds you well... As for me, ...well, I'm not sick, but... Let me say this: Whoever invented singing your heart out in the freezing cold at night aught to be severely punished! My sisters and I all woke up this morning with sore throats.... Now don't get me wrong, it was loads of fun - lots of laughs, getting to see friends, Christmas lights, and then snacks when we got back to church. I loved every minute of it! I had a chance to talk to both of our pastors last night, as well as lots of other church friends. It was a great time. It's funny, but I sound sort of like Elmer Fudd this morning because of my scratchy throat. :)
Well, it's good to be home, and today I get to go down to the farm where my bull Columbus is, and also to work with my new cow Penny. I also get to visit grandparents for the day. My only concern: it's not even 40 degrees out side right now, and my coveralls seem to be missing. :( I suppose I'll manage somehow.
I just remembered that I wanted to tell some about my trip home. It seems that not many people want to leave Japan for Christmas, so there was plenty of room on the long flight. I had a window seat, and the guy sitting beside me moved somewhere else, so we'd both have more room. I was able to sit with my back against the window side, pull my legs up on the seat beside me, and sleep for about 2 hours right before we got to Dallas. There really weren't any good movies to watch besides Despicable Me, so I used my iPod most of the time for listening to music. When I got to Dallas I never found a piece of my luggage, so I had to go on without it. It's a good thing I didn't wait for it anymore. After going through customs again I took the SkyLink to my terminal, walked to my gait, and walked directly onto my plane! Then when we landed in Jackson we didn't come up to a walkway. Instead, we landed in the middle of an open space, and they had stairs up to the door. I felt like I should have stepped down and waved like the president. I probably would have if there hadn't been a whole line of people behind me. :) Well, my piece of luggage didn't show up on the Jackosn carousel either, so I made a claim on it. They had it delivered to our house, so now everything is 'hunky-dory'.
Lessons from a future housewife:
#7 When processing laundry, washing cotton is fine. If you intend to wear the garment again, I would suggest not drying it in the dryer. Drying cotton shrinks it.
This lesson has been learned over and over...and over... :) Just don't do it!!!
All my love,
Hannah
P.S. I just decided to add a random picture of me being a wax statue in a phone booth. :) I kind of like it. What do you think?
Well, it's good to be home, and today I get to go down to the farm where my bull Columbus is, and also to work with my new cow Penny. I also get to visit grandparents for the day. My only concern: it's not even 40 degrees out side right now, and my coveralls seem to be missing. :( I suppose I'll manage somehow.
I just remembered that I wanted to tell some about my trip home. It seems that not many people want to leave Japan for Christmas, so there was plenty of room on the long flight. I had a window seat, and the guy sitting beside me moved somewhere else, so we'd both have more room. I was able to sit with my back against the window side, pull my legs up on the seat beside me, and sleep for about 2 hours right before we got to Dallas. There really weren't any good movies to watch besides Despicable Me, so I used my iPod most of the time for listening to music. When I got to Dallas I never found a piece of my luggage, so I had to go on without it. It's a good thing I didn't wait for it anymore. After going through customs again I took the SkyLink to my terminal, walked to my gait, and walked directly onto my plane! Then when we landed in Jackson we didn't come up to a walkway. Instead, we landed in the middle of an open space, and they had stairs up to the door. I felt like I should have stepped down and waved like the president. I probably would have if there hadn't been a whole line of people behind me. :) Well, my piece of luggage didn't show up on the Jackosn carousel either, so I made a claim on it. They had it delivered to our house, so now everything is 'hunky-dory'.
Lessons from a future housewife:
#7 When processing laundry, washing cotton is fine. If you intend to wear the garment again, I would suggest not drying it in the dryer. Drying cotton shrinks it.
This lesson has been learned over and over...and over... :) Just don't do it!!!
All my love,
Hannah
P.S. I just decided to add a random picture of me being a wax statue in a phone booth. :) I kind of like it. What do you think?
Home Again
Hello everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I made it home safely. Thank you all for your prayers. I have had a wonderful nearly 3 days at home with my family! I fully intend to write about the two days I didn't have time to write about before I left Japan, and about the flight home, but not now... I am still in the middle of unpacking all of my things, and currently have a bit of a mess in my room, but now I have to go and get ready to go Christmas caroling with our church. :) I have wanted to go caroling since about November 20th, and now I finally get to. :)
All my love,
Hannah
All my love,
Hannah
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