Tying Up Loose Ends on Sept 29

"We've been here a month already." Kinya and I looked at each other. We could remember thinking we had only a month to pack for the move...but we've been here in Okinawa a month?! Transforming the photo museum into a home has made the 4 weeks zip by.

This post is going to be a hodgepodge of loose ends, because I just want to report things I know you want to know about, and there's no way to keep them connected.

First, I want to say a big thank you for praying God help me keep my head on straight, that I not lose sight of what's important. There've been days I've almost forgotten, and the Father has had to yank me back with a "Where do you think you're going? Haven't you forgotten something? I can't afford to start the day without gazing into God's Face...any more than anyone could start the day running outside without his clothes on! Tomorrow, I'll be working on learning the last verse of Rev. 4--yes--my goal was to do chapters 1-5 this year!

While clearing out my Dad's study, and taking down all the photos around the house, I was able to compose 5 different types of "slide shows" with them to display on the monitor in the study. I did an experimental slide show just to see if it could be done; a short tour of the house BEFORE taking down the pictures; a longer one showing Missions in Okinawa; a detailed one giving Roy Oshiro's history; and a family one for relatives or any who might be interested.

Oh yes--I mentioned my Dad's beautiful Canadian clock had wreaked havoc on my foot when I dropped it last week. But it's doing nicely, see? My Dad, when he was making the photo museum, fell off a ladder and hurt himself--his hand got all black such he phoned us in mainland Japan, and my husband and I flew down and finished the construction work at that time. I just thought about it. Doesn't that mean there are some places Kinya actually dismantled the very things he built years ago?!

My stepmother's sewing//reading/room, we were going to let Keima use, but since it doesn't have AC, it can get uncomfortably warm in the summer, and my son opted for the dining area near the AC, moving the tables and chairs into the main living room area and bringing his mattress and computer desk and equipment in where it gets cooler. The smaller room will be my private workplace to write, draw, translate, read...of course, later in the evening, when it's cooler..

Yesterday, with the bulk of the cleaning out of the way and everyone pretty much set on where they wanted to sleep, I decided to get out my colored pencils and watercolor markers. I haven't done any serious drawing for about 3 months now--please pray it come back to me smoothly. Of course, God may want me to forget all the bad habits I picked up in Iwatsuki and do it right this time!

Take Your Time; Hurrying Can Hurt

So God doesn't forget. Even 8 years after Daddy's gone?

"What can I show from his study today?" I wondered. After all, when I came the end of Aug., the construction people had done a wonderful work on the window frame but left the place in a shambles; making it easier to think of it as a forgotten room in the corner, perfect to store unused things! No! I wanted Daddy honored most in this house--his place must NOT be made into a dust bin! (Besides, it's the room Daddy promised me.)

That thick wooden clock on the wall with all the flags of the Canadian provinces is so pretty, I thought, and walked over to look at it. It had stopped moving a long time ago, but it was still relatively clean and bright. Maybe a mere change of battery will have it moving again, I thought, and reached to take it off the wall. But something caught, and when I tugged a little stronger, the certificate above it fell from the wall.

Surprised, I dropped the heavy timepiece...and the edge hit a joint on my left foot toe--YOWWWW! It hit at just the wrong angle. I applied a bag of ice to the area (had a towel wrapped around the bag) to keep the ugly purple and swelling down, but I think I took a little too much time. 6 days later, it's looking like this. 

No hurry June, God seemed to tell me; just take it one step at a time, and if you need to rest a bit, that's ok too.