December 8th

Here is a little dress I made- the District (Stake) is having people make or buy dresses for children in the Philippines. In March, they are going to have a big women's conference with the theme of "100 Dresses". You will remember that little children's book about the little girl who was very poor but claimed that she had 100 dresses at home in her closet. Of course, the 5th grade girls all mocked her behind her back and didn't believe her because she always wore the same old dress to school each day. One day, the girl didn't come to school. She was absent for several days. The teacher received a message from the father that they had moved to another place where the girl would hopefully feel more accepted. This pricked the consciences of those who had made fun of her. The girls stopped by the old house that was now vacant. The door was open and so they went in. They went into the closet of the poor girl's room and there saw pinned to the walls, pictures of 100 dresses that she had sketched. What a lesson for those girls!
I am hoping that I can help with this project by making several dresses. People are starting to give me fabric!
This beautiful creche is on the grounds of the temple here.

Last night, we got to tend little Non chan while her parents attended the dinner for the stake presidents and their wives. She was just delightful and chattered away in Japanese all evening! I made play dough for her and we played every game I could think of. Grandpa loved trying to look up some of the things she was saying in the Japanese dictionary. WE MISS OUR GRANDCHILDREN!

Our Christmasy table.

We found a box of Christmas things in the attic. What fun!

This is the kokeshi nativity set that I want!! This one was on display at the office building for the party last night.

Here is what the tables looked like - Sister Stevenson is a master decorator!

This is an obi ball (made from obi fabric) done by Laura Hershie who also made the cranes.

They brought me a ball and a crane for helping!

I made these little table runners for each of the senior couples with a note that this was a little Christmas cheer for their tables.

Yesterday we went to a place in Tokyo where there is a street lined with ginkgo trees. The leaves were nearly all gone, but it was still a beautiful place and I can just imagine how it looked a little earlier this fall.

Can you see the street just covered in yellow leaves?

Yellow leaves against the bright green ivy - so beautiful!

Here are the women I went with - Corrie Inoye, Laura Hershie, and Sister Isa.

Sister Isa gave me her shawl as it was getting cool. She is a good example of someone who would give you the "coat off her back"!

And here is Risa with the Liahona magazine where we had Larry sign his picture. She was so thrilled to get this autograph from him! She thinks of him as a celebrity and I think she has a little crush on him!