Time flies when you're having fun!

It is difficult to imagine that Christmas is only about a month away!  It seems like we just started the school year!  I guess it means that I'm having fun, after all, "Time flies when you're having fun!"  
I'm thinking that the question you must be asking is, so what sort of fun am I having?  I guess it is just living life.  I have to admit it isn't all fun, but I have to say I enjoy the learning given to me by the challenges placed in my path, even if they aren't always pleasant.  
One blessing is the Middle School's participation in Operation Christmas Child (OCC).  I always remember my nephew and niece's story when they were in Kosovo distributing OCC boxes and that same year Washington Christian Academy and Silver Spring CRC both participated in packing boxes.  It was so fun to hear the story from beginning, packing the boxes, to the end, delivering the boxes to children.  

Middle and Elementary School boxes.  They were arranged for the picture.  :)

High School boxes, They were not arranged for a picture.  :)

We had collected a total of about 130 boxes.  That is almost a third more than last year.  I imagine that there are 30+ more children who will have a present to open and have the story of Jesus shared with them.  
Last week I went with a friend, Momo N. to IKEA.  She actually knew my brother's family and I was able to meet up with her here in Tokyo when I came here last year.  Her schedule and my schedule do not always coincide very well, but we were able to meet up last Saturday.  I did have a purpose for going to IKEA: to purchase a bookcase for my office, and find an area rug.  I did end up purchasing a bookcase, but it turned out to not be the one I wanted.  Not all was lost however, we did stop and buy some Swedish meatballs!  :)  

Momo

Today I am going to IKEA again with another friend and hopefully I'll be able to purchase the bookcase I want.  :)  
This weekend I have the privilege of staying at the VanderHaak's with Hana.  I really believe that a dog is man's and women's best friend.  Hana is always excited to see me.  I'm not sure if it's because when I come we usually go for a walk or if it's really that she enjoys my company.  :)  So this morning we went on a four kilometer walk down the river.  I usually enjoy that walk and I think Hana does too.  

Hana ready for a walk.

Whenever I walk the river on a Saturday, I usually find photographers taking nature pictures.  I'm always amazed at the equipment they bring and set up at the river.  

Some serious photographers.

The first part of our walk tended to be more of a "stop and sniff" type of walk.  It can take a while before we have walked a kilometer at this pace.  I do find that Hana will walk more towards the end of the walk.  

I'm sure there was something interesting to sniff!

It is a beautiful sunshiny day today.  I'm sitting outside with Hana as I'm writing this post.  I am grateful that I am able to serve God here in Japan.  People are generally polite, I had a number of people greet me while walking.  Just a little bit ago, there were some people taking some elderly folks in wheelchairs on a walk and we greeted each other, which brought smiles to their faces and warmed my heart.  I pray that these positive interactions may somehow show Jesus to them.