December 30th

This is Dad when he has a very early call to make. Good thing the person on the other end can't see him! Christmas Eve at the Millers! Here is the beautiful table and beautiful Spenser (age 14) before our wonderful meal.

This is Brady Miller who is at BYU this year and was home for the holidays.

And here are all the Miller kids singing to us with their mom (Jere) at the piano. Brent (with pencil behind his ear) is at West Point, Spenser, McKenzie (a junior in high school and Brady) What great sports they were!

Here we are in front of the Christmas tree at the Millers - 2010

And here is our apartment Christmas tree complete with fiber optics!

The Liahona Magazine featured Larry's visit this month. Dad even ended up in the picture (see the person with a scowl on his face)!

Here is our area presidency - Elder Choi, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Aoyagi

And the story that Larry told the youth about the abandoned mine and the gila monster is here! Our friend will translated it for us.

The Liahona is a combination of Ensign, New Era and Friend with a center insert with the news of Japan.

We got some Christmas cards!

Dad on Christmas morning - hey, he has his "robe" on! (And his Chicago hat to cover his bed head!)

He looks thrilled with me taking his picture, doesn't he!

And here I am on Christmas morning!

It was a very different Christmas. We had many wonderful parties and gifts and celebrated it together!

Here I am modeling the apron that the Watabes gave me - I love it! It covers sleeves and is great to put on when I am in missionary clothes.

Christmas brunch at the Evans (where the Grames are house sitting for the holidays) - everything was decorated so beautifully.

The young and old missionaries were invited and we all helped to get things ready - we had the best French toast I have ever had! It was served with apple cider syrup that had been freshly made.

We had a Japanese speaking table -

and an English speaking table!

Clayton Grames (here for the holidays from BYU) does the dishes!

What fun! Here is Elder Grames videotaping the events.

This crow is trying to get his Christmas dinner from under the protective netting over the garbage. I think he succeeded!

Sweet Sisters posing after a dinner on the 27th at our house. They are showing off the rolls I gave them to take home.

And the Elders and their rolls. I had to fix a tear in Elder Bates' pants for him while they were here!

This is Mariko Dandoy who is a daughter of a man in our ward. She and several other performers put on a very professional event to benefit the scholarship program for the international school. This girl has talent! She sang so well in English, German and Japanese. There was a pianist who was very accomplished as well as a violinist and a cellist. We enjoyed the evening very much.

For the past little while, we have been noticing these arrangements of pine branches, bamboo, rope, fruits and flowers. They are to welcome in the new year and bring blessings and luck.

There are usually two of them - one on each side of the entrance. Tonight is New Year's Eve and the celebrations will go all night. We, however, will be in bed! We are invited out to dinner but we won't be doing the all night thing. Tomorrow we plan to go to a shrine and see how the celebrations are done.

So, this is my last blog for 2010. What an incredible year it has been! When I look back at the past blog entries, I just can't believe that so much has been packed into one year. We have been very blessed!

December 22nd

This is the most organized garbage I have ever seen! The Japanese take neatness to the extreme! Renny Grames and I found some Hot Lemonade!

It's December, but look at the flowers still blooming. This is the warmest Christmas I have ever had!!

Sister Ueno and Baby Marie at church! Love it!

Tokyo Tower and the lights of Roppongi. Even though this isn't a Christian country, they still love Christmas. Who could help but love the lights especially when we know what they mean.

Dogs everywhere - substitute children, I guess. These were brought out to see the lights and decorations.

Rulon and Sister Goth practicing. Dad sang a SOLO for our Family Home Evening Christmas program. It was "While Shepherds Watched Their Sheep By Night". He did very well and got lots of compliments. I was very proud of him!

Enjoying refreshments at FHE. We had dates, figs, flat bread, humus, etc. just as they might have had in Jerusalem at the them when Jesus was born.

A street all decorated for New Year which is the BIG celebration here in Japan. We got lost coming home from Costco and went through this neighborhood. You never know what you will see here!

I guess this is Tom Cat's Bar!

We saw this little shop on our walk. It represents many of the little stores that sell used items. The sign said "Do not throw balls or anything like that down the urinals!".

This was a restaurant - I loved the old metal signs they had on it.

This was a live tree all decorated. Most of the ones we have seen are artificial.

These decorations were at the Ebisu Station that we walked to today.

At a bookstore, they were displaying lots of favorite children's books. It was so different to see the word in Japanese. Here's "Where the Wild Things Are".

And "The Velveteen Rabbit" ...

And "The Giving Tree"!

Selling Christmas items everywhere!

Coming down the escalator at the Ebisu Station.

Dad at the fruit stand buying our supply of apples and bananas.

Tonight we had this delightful family come over to home teach us. They are the Aalders and have recently moved here from Australia. He works for the Church.

Here is Scarlett playing her violin while India sings "What Child Is This?". It was so fun to have them come and we enjoyed their delightful visit.

Just three more days until Christmas and little gifts keep appearing in our genkan (entryway). We even had a couple of Secret Santa gifts brought to us. We have been well taken care of this season!