Day 111

Ok. I've given you all a fair chance by now... Happy first day of September!!! (Did I say it first?) This tradition was started by one of my sisters. On the first or last day of each month, we have a little unofficial competition to see who remembers it first. Usually the three place winners are Daddy, Zoe, or me. Since I've been in Japan, I've won the last several times due to the date line. I didn't mention it in my post this morning, so that I could give you all a fair chance. :) I did think about it earlier today, though... I was thinking how special just this simple thing is to me. Without it, I feel like I don't really experience each month. The change of a month should be more than just going to bed one night, and waking up the next day in a different month. It is a whole new set of days that God has put before us. We should be thankful for every moment we have, and every month is like a 'complete set' of days. I feel like this reminds me where I am, and what's happened in each month. It's so... sad, or, boring... when you just go through each month as days and days, and one month fades out of existence into another... I really treasure this little tradition of ours. :) Thanks Zoe!

Today, this first day of a whole new month, has been a very good one. After lunch Hinako cameover for about two hours just to play. I took Aidan, Eastin, Hinako, and Coen downstairs to the deck to play. The 4 of us (excluding Coen) played soccer together. It was probably the most physical play I've had in the last three months, I'm sad to say. We played for a little over an hour. Nearly the entire time, Coen just walked around dragging a yo-yo by the string. He does this almost every day. We call it his pet, and he regularly takes it for walks all around the house, and even the halls outside. :) He is so adorable! After that, we came in and had a cool down snack. I then helped Aidan read a story in English while Eastin and Hinako played with a train set. Not long after Hinako left, Roger and Abi went out too. So I made a quick dinner, and the boys and I watched the new Karate Kid. It is really good. For dinner I made sort of an impromptu lasagna. I half cooked some gluten free macaroni while I browned some chopped chicken. I added spaghetti sauce, herbs, and spices to the chicken, and then layered the pasta and sauce with grated cheese in a pan. I put gluten free bread crumbs on top, and baked it at 300 degrees for 40 minutes. I thought it was really good, and the boys must have too. All three of them ate everything I gave them! After dinner and the movie were over, I "played Karate Kid" by telling them chores to do like Mr. Han had done in the movie! It worked wonderfully. They completely cleared and wiped the table for me while I just sat there! All I had to do was wash the dishes when they got done!!! Then I put them to bed with much more ease than past attempts... Except for Baby, that is. He was determined to stay awake with me, so I let him stay up a little longer.

Well, it's nearly 10:00 here, so I should probably go to bed. I've been trying to get up before 7:30 this week... I think I've woken up at 6:30 every morning, but haven't gotten up until nearly 7:00 or a little after.

Oh. I just have to tell you this! Abi just walked in and told me about the latest news 'decree'. Over 200 people have died in Japan this year due to heat stroke. All of the news stations are telling people to use their air-conditioners. Japanese people rarely use their air-conditioners, even when they do have one. I think it's funny that some Americans use either their central heat or air all year long, and most Japanese don't use theirs even when they do have one! Just so you don't start to worry, we run the air in the living room during the day, and I keep the one in my room on at night...

Speaking of my room at night, I think my little futon is calling me! :)

My love to you all,

Hannah