Happy Again

Two months might not seem like a long time in the grand scheme of things. But when you are unhappy and waiting to become happy again...it feels like a long time.

My family came to Japan with a lot of hope. Hope of finding great friends (for the kids and for us parents). Hope of finding joy in our new home. Hope of fitting in within our new ward family. Hope of loving the culture and food experiences in Japan.

Being in a new place and starting one's life anew can be depressing. Even despite the love and hope you bring with you.

In Italy and then South Dakota Sterling and I were happy and strong. We were not afraid to get out and explore in our new areas. We didn't need a lot of love and help from ward members or military members.
Here in Japan I was surprised to learn that I am now one of the helpless and sad newbies. I don't like the Japanese food. I don't love being in Japan. I want to stay on the military base most of the time and live an American life while here. Waiting until I move, hopefully, back to America and close to family.

Despite the long list of wonderful things about living here now I was not happy. And Sterling in his new job...is not happy.

We want to be strong and thrive. So we keep trying.


                                I received some clarity from Heavenly Father within the last week on spiritual struggles I have faced. The revelation God gave me helped me to get out of my spiritual rut. And that led quickly to getting out of my unhappiness as well!

Another factor towards my frown turning upside down is this idea:
Sterling is not doing well at his new job training. And if he continues to do poorly he will wash out of air traffic control. This would mean 2 things; we would move away from here, Ster might have one last chance to apply for his dream job (OSI).

That thought helped me feel better about being happy now. We might leave within a year instead of at the end of 4 years.

I started praying for Sterling to succeed though. It is no fun to fail at anything.
Technically Sterling is not doing any worst at his job training than other people but for some reason his trainers are holding him back saying he is doing poorly.
The big issue is the language barrier. With the Japanese radioing to the Americans it can be impossible at times to understand the message being sent.

Sterling failed a test yesterday. A test he says he should not have failed ...that he has the knowledge to pass. But for some reason (nerves or destiny) he chocked.
This gives me hope that it might be God's plan for Sterling to wash out of air traffic and apply for OSI.

If it's God's plan for us then I hope Ster washed out. But if not, I am rooting for him to be successful in his job.

                           I love the safety the air force base supplies for our children to go out and play. I love the amount of playgrounds around the neighborhoods. I love that there are plenty of friends from our ward who live within a short bike ride away from our house.

This morning a group of mom's with children from our ward were going to an obstacle park about ten minutes drive from the base. We got invited. We took two extra kids in our car with us.
The park was so awesome and the kids had a blast! Free parking and no park entrance fee.

Then this evening my kids went to a friend's house to be babysat while Ster and I went on a real date! Our last date ended up being grocery shopping after our dinner. This time we needed to just have fun!
Sterling and I walked from our home, off base and to an Indian restaurant. It was a fairly short walk and we enjoyed it.
The food was amazing! Sterling and I had eaten Indian food in Italy and in South Dakota. This restaurant served bar far the best Indian food we'd ever tasted! It tasted home made and fresh and the flavors were wonderful! We will definitely be going back there again.

We then walked a different route and went to a wooded area I had not known about. Fussa is a small industrial place busy with vehicle traffic. But there are some wood parks (paths and trees) placed around. Ster took me to one of those little paradises. It was very pleasant.
Then we went home where we got comfortable and watched tv for an hour before picking up the kiddos.
As soon as we got home (8:30pm) I sent the kids next door for a campfire and smores. Our next door neighbor had messaged me that her promise to Athena was ready to come true (smores).
Misty is so sweet and her husband too. They have a baby and a toddler and a dog named Birdie.

The kids had a blast over there then came home for bed.

Today I feel so happy and comfortable. I feel like I have family around me. Helping take care of my children and doing what they can to get me comfortable here in Japan.

Athena is 5 years old. We still have caution and always will about protecting her. But she is old enough to tell us if something bad has happened. She is old enough, we know her well enough, to know if she starts acting different than her normal self.
We let her go to friends' homes that we trust and we send her big brothers with her. And if something were to happen to her when she went somewhere with Luke we would not put the blame on him. He does his best to protect his siblings. We have wonderful children.

This summer should be pretty awesome! The kids have loved their first week off of school for summer break. And next week we start Roundy summer school. Our kids have things they need to learn or improve on before the new school year starts.

Enrichment night:

 New dress:

 New bike and learning to steer and balance:

 Family sushi night:

 



Mine and Ster's date:

 Sweet coconut Naan and a creamy butter chicken curry

 Garlic naan

Activity day boys etc

Sterling and I were called in our ward as Activity Day Boys leaders and CTR 6 & 7 teachers. 

Our first activity with the boys at our house:

 We read and discussed the Proclamation to the World and made a list of things the boys think they can do at home to make happier families and happier homes.

Then we made superhero dads out of chocolate bars for their father's.

 Tiberias got invited to a friend's party ...a Harry Potter party. Complete with an owl delivering the invitation!

Stitches!

It has not been a full year yet since Tiberias got hit by a car. But, another traumatic accident happened to a child of mine!

Just three days after my birthday our family went on a bike ride. Sterling had just bought himself a bike and so technically we all have a bike. But Athena's bike is too big for her...her feet can't hold her up from falling over when she sits on it. And she had no ability to balance or steer a bike. It is surprising to me...as brave and coordinated as she is...she cannot ride a bike! She can jump from a chair onto a bench without a hiccup! But she cannot balance herself on a bicycle. She falls ride over sideways!

So we were considering what to do for her...get a balance bike or a third wheel that has a seat that attaches behind an adult bike.

So when we went on this family bike ride I decided it would be okay for Athena to sit on a little pillow on the attached rack above the back tire of my bicycle. Sitting behind me, her knees went pretty far out to the sides and I assumed she knew to keep her feet away from the wheel.

We went down the street but hadn't gone too far before Athena decided to have her foot touching the spokes of my wheel as it turned. The spokes apparently ripped her skin open above the foot of her heel.
It ripped the skin, not a couple layers of it, but all of the skin down to the muscle! Open!
She started screaming, I stopped the bike and grabbed my girl to see what was wrong.

It was as traumatic for me as when Ty got hit by a car and was bleeding from his head in the street! Because I had caused this horrific accident. I had caused Athena's pain.

Sterling took the little pillow and held it over Athena's wound. I rode my bike home and got the car. Drove to pick up Athena and Ster and took them down the street to the hospital. Luckily we live really close to it.

A terrible visit to the ER. Athena just wanted the pain to stop. I couldn't handle looking at her foot. I tried my best to distract her and comfort her while Sterling took care of the foot and the medical personnel did their jobs.
It seemed to take forever for them to get her the pain medication. And when they did it was a couple needle shots into the skin near the injury. No fun!

I stayed as long as I could handle, wanting to be there for Athena. But I almost passed out and I almost threw up. I did not want the doctors having to deal with that.

So I went home. The boys and I prayed for Athena. And as embarrassed as I was at my decision to put her on my bike I reached out to the ward via facebook...for immediate prayers. Prayers for Athena to not be in pain. For her comfort as well.
Our ward is very loving and outreaching.

I kept the boys calm as much as I could. They watched tv and cleaned their bedroom.

It seemed way too long...waiting for Sterling to say Athena's stitches were in and I could bring her home. 14 stitches!

                                       Athena's favorite pillow is a pancake pillow and it was ruined by blood that day. She was very upset that Ster threw it away at the hospital. So, I made her a new one. We had bought a nightgown at the store here and it came with that pillow case. I just stuffed it and sealed it. So, we got a new nightgown just for the pillowcase. Replaced it so she can be happy.

                                       The day of the accident, I signed Athena up for swim lessons and I paid too. The swim lessons would start first week of June. I had to cancel and get a refund. She will have to wait until July for swim lessons.

                                        Athena was allowed to walk with the stitches in. And play too. But at first she was on pain medication and she did not like being on her foot. So she laid on the couch a lot and hopped around on her good leg.

A friend came to cheer her up two days after the accident. Matthew Faggard. He is a good friend of Athena's! It was his mother's idea and it really helped get Athena off the couch and moving around.
Every Sunday for a little while Athena would say "I'm going to sit by Matthew in primary!" Happy and excited to be with Matthew. But...they play and talk too much so they always get separated early on.

12 days after getting the stitches in we went to get them removed. But the skin had been cut so deep it was taking a long time to heal closed. They did removed a lot of the stitches but left some in. We will go back soon to check on her skin's progress.

Recently I learned that the Toys R Us here in Fussa has decently priced balance bikes. So I went and bought Athena one. They didn't have Athena's sized. They only had ages 3-5 but Athena is a big 5, not a little five. So the bike I got her is a little too small. I bought it anyway knowing that it only takes a couple weeks before you no longer need the balance bike. So, I intend to sell it once Athena can balance and steer her big girl bike. Sterling worried she would refuse to ride this balance bike like she did the one we gave her maybe two years ago.

She loves her balance bike now! She rode it all around the main floor of our house the first few days because it was raining outside. And she rides it outside now when the rain is not here.
We went on a family bike ride a couple days ago! She rode her balance bike all the way to the big park up the street. That was cool.

 When we went to remove the stitches. The Dr. decided to leave a few in for a few days more.

In her pjs at the park while waiting for injury to heal.