I didnt blog for the last few days because the internet at my grandma’s place is ridiculously slow. On the other hand it’s been nice having an internet free life for a couple days…but the time has come for us to head back home! Right now we’re at the Narita airport waiting for our flight :) we have a 6 hour layover until we can board the plane and sit through another 10 hours…here we come LA! I miss driving my own car, the spacious roads (and houses), working (surprisingly!), American television, and my roommates and friends!

Japan, you’ve been too good to me. Thank you for all of the amazing food, shopping experience and great customer service :)

Day 7

• went to go eat at a nice Wagyu beef restaurant :) Twas delicious
• went shopping around Kobe
• had coffee and tea and cake at a little cafe
• ate at a popular udon restaurant

Day 8

• went to go eat at restaurant that specializes in eel donburi
• looked around to find free wi-fi
• went to the Christian book store in Kyoto

I’ve been eating non stop! Everything in Japan tastes so good :) Today I bought a pair of kitten heels for $5! Whenever I go shopping, I always see advertisements that say 70% or 80% off sales. I wish we had 80% off sales at Foreign and Urban Outfitters, etc. :( 

• slept in
• went out to lunch with my dad’s good friend
• shopped around
• came home
• watched tv

Today was relaxing. We were able to buy most of the items that we need or want. The last item on our list is the Cola Hi-chew…I still can’t seem to find it anywhere :( Hopefully tomorrow will be the day we find it!

• went to church
• ate udon for lunch made by the lovely ladies of the church
• went out to a different city to visit some very good family friends who also held a service in the late afternoon
• went out to eat to fellowship with some of the people from the second church

Today we got to meet our very good friends Jack and Keiko. Jack is the American pastor who baptized both my dad and Keiko. They are missionaries and now hold a bilingual (English and Japanese) service every week in Osaka. They are such an amazing couple and I love both of them very much :)

Jack is now 83 years old but he looks AT LEAST 10 years younger than he actually is. His first wife Jerry past away when he was around 65. I had the opportunity to talk to him and he told me how he and Keiko got married. Jack and  Jerry were missionaries in Japan many years ago and helped to bring both of my parents and Keiko to Christ. After their missionary work in Japan, Jack and Jerry returned to the states and Jerry eventually passed away. Keiko was in LA at the time and Jack decided to visit her to see how she was doing. He told me when he visited her, he jokingly said to Keiko, “If I weren’t so old,  I would marry you” and Keiko looked at him and said, “What does age have to do with marriage?” Keiko is my parent’s age and she is 25 years younger than Jack. They have been married for 15 years now and have served the Lord together as missionaries in Australia and now in Japan.

God works in mysterious but marvelous ways. Jack and Keiko’s heart for evangelism is really inspiring to me. The way in which they faithfully serve the Lord together as husband and wife is really beautiful. They are truly a blessing to all those around them. They really encourage me to obediently follow the Lord and trust in the plans that He has for my life.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.     -1 Corinthians 15:58

• went out to meet with a family friend (he’s pretty much an uncle to me)
• ate ramen for lunch
• went to a Japanese dessert cafe like place
• my uncle took me out shopping and he bought a cute bag for me :)
• walked around the Nishiki market (where they sell lots of pickled vegetables and other traditional Japanese food)
• came home and Grandma made yakisoba

I am officially sick and am sure I caught a cold from my dad. My throat is scratchy and my voice is almost gone :( Thank God it’s only a sore throat and a stuffy nose…if I had headaches and a fever on top of everything, I would not be able to shop and walk around. 

I am very thankful for my “uncle”. He’s such a nice person and has always spoiled both me and my sister with gifts. He’s also extremely intelligent and has traveled all over the world.  A couple years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and is going to be admitted into a hospital next week. I am thankful that I got to spend the day with him today. His faith in the Lord is really admirable and I am relieved to know that there is a sense of peace in his heart. He is living his physical life to the fullest and he is looking forward to the day where he can be with the Lord. I hope that I can live my life in the same way he does.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus..

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”    -Philippians 3:12-14, 20-21

• Got to sleep in this morning :)
• went out to get my nails done!
• did a lot of shopping for souvenirs etc.
• ate omurice
• came home and ate dinner with Grandma
• watched one of our favorite Japanese movies that was playing on TV

My first experience in a Japanese nail salon was amazing. Their customer service is phenomenal and they’re extremely gentle, delicate, and precise during the entire procedure. They even served me a green tea latte (which was AMAZING) and gave me a blanket to put over my knees so I won’t be cold. Whenever I visit Japan, I am always amazed by their customer service. People are treated like queens and everyone is always smiling and bowing politely. I don’t want to get my nails done in the States anymore…

(Notice I used the word amazing a lot…they’re just that amazing.)

@asunada: Kitten heels are NOT made out of kitten skin. That would be gross. Kitten heels are shoes with a small heel…usually around 1-2 inches. &no I do not know why they call them kitten heels. On a different note…I’m trying to find the COLA hi-chew…but can’t seem to find it anywhere! I am on a mission to find it for you!

• another hearty traditional Japanese breakfast
• went to Osaka to visit Mom’s side of the family
• ate tempura at a nice restaurant with the grandpa, aunties, cousins
• spent the day shopping
• ate at a super bomb revolving sushi restaurant
• finally home in Kyoto!

Today was much more tiring than yesterday since there was a lot of walking to do! Shopping in Japan makes me happy :) They have such nice quality items for reasonable prices. Today I bought a beige/mauveish blouse for about $15, two pairs of kitten heels (one silver snake skin and the other cobalt blue [for color blocking! :)]) and black suede ankle boots from Zara. The products in Zara are the same as the ones in the states (and also the same prices), but my grandpa and auntie gave me New Year’s money so I splurged a bit :)

I am definitely gaining weight since my aunties and grandma always tell me to eat something…but it is TOTALLY WORTH IT.

• Ate a hearty traditional Japanese breakfast (made by the lovely Grandma)
• went grocery shopping
• Grandma spoils me with a Sashimi lunch
• all take a walk down to Uniqlo for shopping!
• Grandma makes hotpot for dinner :)

Today was very relaxing :) I am thankful for the simple things I get to share with my Grandma. Walking with her to the market allowed me to experience what her daily life looks like. When we were at the market, she let me buy some traditional mochi and I told her that one of my favorite is Sakura mochi. She simply replied, “Just like Grandpa”  :) It makes me relieved to know that although she is now living on her own, she does not feel sad or lonely. It is evident that her sense of peace comes from the grace of Christ and her daily walk with the Lord is the source of her comfort :) Thank you Jesus.

On a much different note, I LOVE Uniqlo :) Today I bought an ivory corduroy flannel and a light pink flannel for only about $15 each! Both of them were from the Men’s section because sizes in Japan are so SMALL. Oh and I also love how Japanese men wear “girly” colors like light pink, lilac, and pastel yellows. Yay for shopping! I definitely think my love for shopping is genetic. My dad bought more items than me!

*Pictures to come after I return to the US since we didn’t bring the cable to upload.

JAPAN, oh how I’ve missed thee! It is FREEZING here! I already miss the California weather, but nonetheless I am thankful I’m in the motherland :)

Here’s to the start of a great vacation filled with delicious food, lots of shopping, and quality family time!

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

“Fight for us, O God, that we not drift numb and blind and foolish into vain and empty excitements. Life is too short, too precious, too painful to waste on worldly bubbles that burst. Heaven is too great, hell is too horrible, eternity is too long that we should putter around on the porch of eternity.” 
― John Piper

“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel 
   after that time, declares the Lord. 
I will put my laws in their minds 
   and write them on their hearts. 
I will be their God, 
   and they will be my people.”

-Hebrews 8:10

…just because the Katy Perry concert was so much fun! 

We were supposed to sit alllll the way up top in the 300s section at the Staples Center, but we got upgraded to the 100 level! Whooo :) 

&btw she does not suck live. I didn’t really like her performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show a couple years ago (or maybe it was last years?) but she was really good at the concert! 

I will love You Lord my strength
I will love You Lord my shield
I will love You Lord my rock forever
All my days I will love You God

Happy Sunday, the Lord is GOOD.