Today I am leaving Houston and flying back home to Tokyo via Los Angeles. Today I am grateful for modern transportation that allows me to travel so far in such a short time. I am amazed at how often I have be able to cross the Pacific Ocean this year to visit my children and grandchildren.
Today I am grateful for my wonderful son-in-law, Luke, who gave all the big girls tickets to the Nutcracker for Christmas. We had a memorable afternoon.
Today I am grateful for my 14 wonderful, delightful, cuddly, loving grandchildren.
 
I planned to get this first gratitude post up on the first, but I am still learning to use my iPad. I installed the WordPress app and now I am learning how it works. I would like to be able to post photos to my blog from my iPad.
I have many things that I am more grateful for than technology, but today I am grateful, for the ability to connect with those I love.
This past February I ended a year of daily photo posts. The idea that year was to find more appreciation for the things around me. My goal was to make me more aware of my surroundings. In 2012, I plan to post thoughts and/or photographs daily with expressions of gratitude.
Rick and I just returned from a quick trip to College Station, Texas to meet our newest grandchild. John Richard was born on November 16 and weighed 6 lbs 8 oz. We are so happy that Rorey has a baby brother and that he is a part of our family.
Rorey and John
Leigh and John
Andrew and John
I have the magnetic cover for my new iPad (a fabulous surprise from Rick that was waiting for me in Kingwood) and the plastic case that snaps on the back. I was looking for a little more protection for it when I put in my purse. I found this Kokeshi fabric in the back of my fabric closet and made this:
We ventured out one Saturday in August to watch the dancers for the Japanese Holiday Obon. There were thousands of spectators. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the deceased spirits of one’s ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors’ graves, and it’s also when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.
It is already the last week of September so you can see by the title of this post that I am way behind. During July we left the heat and humidity of Tokyo and traveled to the southern hemisphere to catch a few weeks of winter. Winter in Perth still means trips to the beach, parks and city. We were there for Maddie’s birthday, baptism and just to have fun. Here are the photos:
Winter in Perth
Bell Tower
King’s Park
Maddie Loves to Climb
Izzie
Some things never change...
The skirts Maddie made for her and her American Girl doll
City Beach
Mr Wombat and us
Koala and Maddie
Kangaroo
Freemantle Croissant
Maddie demonstrates Minkie (field hockey)
Yesterday was cleaning day and the floor had just been cleaned. I scooped it up, but it didn’t look pretty. When Rick got home I asked him if he wanted to eat it or go out. I literally didn’t have anything else to make. So we ate it and it was fine…no questionable bits. I don’t think I could have eaten it if the floor had not just been cleaned.
© 2025 Life!
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑