The bugs are coming!

October 3, 2007

We have a tall dahlia plant out front. It has yet to produce flowers in three years. I hope it does so this year before it gets too cold. Last week we found several rather large caterpillars on it, just chomping away at the leaves. One was a really ugly brown and the others were a light green. Me thinks this will be a luna moth, but maybe not. Here's a little fella saying "hi" to all you folks out there!

A SAD DAY

Thursday, June 28, 2007

About noon today I was outside messing around in the garden after putting some kitchen scraps on the compost. With the container in hand, I went around to the path adjacent to our house and thought, "We need to find someone to watch our turtles while we are in Okinawa next week." We had two turtles named Therm, a larger one, and Spot, the smaller one. They were both in their black turtle container and left outside overnight. The previous night they were left there also.

However, as I approached the deck where the container was, I discovered Therm's shell upside down on the deck, outside the tank, and it was totally empty. Only the hind legs were left and parts of the shell were scattered about. Some cat must have gotten it. I said, "oh, no!" because it was my turtle.

Usually the girls tend to them every morning either feeding or cleaning the tank, but today they did not. It was a good thing, because they would have totally lost it. I was shaken at the thought myself. :-(

Knowing the girls would react very emotionally to this, I scooped up the shell with a dipper into the scrap container I was holding; got a shovel and went to the back slope and buried it under a tree.

Last July we buried Myrtle Turtle who was 5 years old and died an accidental death by being overheated. Teresa cried for hours over that one.

There was no sign of the little turtle named Spot. My guess is it was taken away because it was small. It could have been done by one of the crows, but I did not see any evidence of a crow about. My guess is the cat.

I told Henry about it. After lunch we told the kids and Sara was really sad because Spot was her turtle and she prayed all the time for it to grow and live a long time.

So when one is sad over a tragedy, the best thing to do is go shopping! So we girls went to the local mall and bought presents for a birthday party on Saturday.

THE TOADS HAVE ARRIVED

June 19, 2007. My sister sent a box enclosing these bubble-wrapped toads for my garden. They were designed by Sandy T. from my quilting list and it was at the Hobby Lobby that we saw them there in Colorado Springs. They make a nice welcoming addition to our front deck and church entrance. Perhaps they will be joined by some real frogs and toads very soon.

Trip to America, Week one

It started on April 23rd. We left around 11:00 am from our home to the airport with a van full of luggage. Noseh-san rode with us so she could take the van back. We left Kansai about 3:45 pm or so and headed east. It was a bumpy ride sometimes, but the captain told us before we landed that the 200 mph tail winds got us in about 90 minutes earlier than scheduled. So we had plenty of time to navigate the San Francisco airport before the next flight to Dulles in Virginia. We arrived there
sometime after 8:00 pm I think, rented a van and headed to Henry’s sister’s house in Mt. Airy, MD.

Uncle Rick and Aunt Carolyn were waiting patiently, so we all unloaded the stuff and then chatted for some time. Henry and his sister love to talk politics while the rest of us sorta went off to bed. Rick was stuck since he had to wait for Carolyn to help him. Their story is remarkable in itself and worth telling in another missive sometime. He is a quadriplegic from an accident in Vietnam.

The kids really took to their aunt and uncle, but Rick kept saying that they should be quiet because they make so much noise (not–he was just kidding). Henry and I took an early morning walk on Tuesday around the block, as it were, in the country and it was so beautiful. We saw horses, birds, and a couple of white-tailed deer in the woods by the stream. Henry got some wonderful movie shots of that area. Such wide, open spaces with lots of room to run if one had the inkling.

Wednesday, April 25 - 29; Missions Conference, Fairfax Baptist Temple, Virginia

Wednesday the 25th we headed toward Fairfax Baptist Temple in Northern Virginia for their annual Missions Conference. It was the first time in 17 years to be there, and their new facilities are just beautiful. There were eight other missionaries and families there. FBT treated each and every one of us like royalty. The conference was great, the preaching was spot on and the singing was so uplifting. So nice to hear God’s Word in your native tongue. On Thursday evening, Henry’s sister,
Mary, from Lakeland, Florida, had come up and joined us along with niece Kate and Mary Osborne, a family friend. It was good to meet them again.

On Friday evening, Woody and Deane Ferrell came up from North Carolina to see us. They are both in their 80's now and still serving the Lord as fervently as they can. Mrs. Ferrell led me to the Lord back in 1975, so it was especially poignant to see them again. We got lots of pictures.



Friday afternoon we were able to meet Mary again at the Osbornes over in Herndon, VA, for a few hours. That was a good visit catching up on family things. We tried to meet up with the Ferrells on Monday the following week, but just missed them. However, we shall see them in heaven if not here on earth again.

Sunday night at the conference’s end, all the missionaries and families on the platform. Then the church members proceed to come forward, each with a gift and just lavished each of us with all sorts of things. It was so awesome. Sara was able to spend Thursday and Friday in the academy with the third grade, so a bunch of these girls all came giggling up to the platform with a huge bag of gifts just for Sara. They had such fun giving it to her; you should have seen the looks on their faces.
Priceless. Sara said, “Is this all for me?” Then they had a group hug–so sweet. It was really a joyous conference–our cups run over.

Henry, Mary and Kate


Monday April 30th, week two

Henry preached in the Academy chapel and Joe gave his first testimony.
Somewhat of a surprise to us, but a good one just the same. Afterward as we passed the lunch room, Sara saw her new friends and went in to say goodbye. They all wanted her to stay with them! Then another group hug and we left.

We went to Clinton, MD, and our home church, Independent Baptist, and met Matt just as lunch was being served so we ate there. Saw many faces from yesteryear and it was good. Then we went over to Mrs. Greathouse’s home near the church where
she had invited us to stay for the week. She is such a gracious, Christian lady. She and Sue Phagan had made space for all of us. It was very enjoyable being there.

Tuesday we had met the Long Family, missionaries from our church to Nigeria, who were home on a short furlough with their three kids. It had been a number of years since we last met. We also saw the Gill family while there; Ken, Mary and Anna. They are considering not going back to Nigeria for various reasons.

Tuesday, May 1st.

We went to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, for a tour. That place
will instill such a deep sense of patriotism in you that it will make you cry (at least it did me). Anyway, George’s home has been well preserved and is well taken care off. A must see for anyone going to The DC area.

We then headed to Goldvein, VA, to visit my former roommate, Pam, and her family. They live way out in the boonies, but the people are catching up to them. Met her hubby for the first time and her daughters who are now young teens. Their home is beautiful, all done by Jay over the years. He runs a construction business and has tons of equipment on the property. They had a couple of ponies and two puppies which Sara thoroughly enjoyed. Overall, a very nice visit.

Wednesday May 2nd.


We went shopping down in Waldorf to many stores and got many items on
my list. I ended up shipping a box of stuff back to Japan because it would not fit in any of the suitcases and we still had two stops yet to go! So nice to have the choices available and at reasonable prices. Did not go overboard, mind you.

Thursday, May 3rd.

 After packing and mailing a box back to Japan, we stopped by Peggy Elgin's home and had a short visit. She had not seen the kids in 11 years and never met Sara, so it was a tearful time.

Thursday afternoon we went over to Virginia to stay with Pastor Eugene and Sharon Nichols in Leesburg, near the airport. We had a very early morning flight so they graciously said we could spend the night. Their home is also gorgeous–big now that all the kids are grown. The yard backs up to a school so there are no neighbors behind them.

First, we went to Purceville, VA, and visited the Web Fabrics shop and spent mucho $$. I wanted one of everything, but settled for some brights, food prints, Fossil Ferns (these are really beautiful), but forgot the wide backing I was going to get. The store is moving to a larger facility down the road so they were busy with inventory.

Friday, May 4th.

Matthew was to join us about midnight after he had cleaned up from the graduation at Independent. He did not get there. Henry did not sleep waiting for him to come. Matthew finally left MD about 5:00 am We left after 6:00 am on Friday to get to the airport and found out that Matthew had taken the wrong exit and was going down 95 instead of around 495, so he made a u-turn and got back on track. We told him to go directly to the airport and park in long-term parking. We got there about 6:45 or so and turned in the van we rented. Called Matt and he was taking the bus to the terminal, so it worked out fine. We met up with him at the elevator.

We also met Peter who had flown in on the red-eye from Los Angeles, so we had a mini-reunion in the waiting line. We also saw Pastor and Mrs. Calvert who were also going to Greenville on the same plane.

At Greenville we rented a 12 passenger van and loaded all the luggage and went to the college to find Stephen.

The Bob Jones University campus is a stately, old campus–celebrating its 80th year, so you get the feeling this place has been here a long time. We met Stephen and went to lunch at the IHOP. The banter between the boys on the way over was just like old times. I was getting choked up just to have my family back together again (sniff). In the restaurant they were all acting like they normally do. Henry had given Stephen a cell phone so he was figuring that thing out. Now the three boys
can call each other at no charge and hopefully, call home occasionally.

At 2:00 pm on campus was a performance of Henry IV by Shakespeare which was a really good production. I saw the second half of it. During the first half I met with Jim and Sharon Pitts, friends from our home church years ago. Now they are in VA. Their first and second sons are undergrads at BJU.

I also met Becky Mullenix (Hunt) who graduated with me from high school back in 1972! Her daughter was also graduating. I had met Rose in 2005 when I attended a Bible class with Stephen. She came over and introduced herself then. Looks just like her mom. We met during the play intermission. Come to find out that son Stephen had a girlfriend he never told us about! A pleasant surprise, but she was not there at the play.

Friday afternoon we all went over to the student center with the Mullenixes between play and concert and spent a couple of hours there. It was good to catch up with Becky and family. They are/were missionaries to the Mormons in the West and are now in Grand Junction, Colorado. Becky has MS and is in a wheelchair.

So, who is this girlfriend? We met her that evening at the 8:00 pm concert. Her name is Stephanie Jones and is a math major, also graduating. They had shared some advanced math classes. I may have seen her in the class I attended in 2005, but I don’t know for sure. Anyway, she is a very nice, pleasant girl and seems suited to Stephen. Now they did not say anything about anything and are just friends. After all, her mom only met Steve this past February, I found out Saturday. Stephanie is in the Army Reserves and goes for training this summer. After that she wants to get into grad school.

We checked into the hotel after 10:00 pm because of various things. Charlene Rider, who taught Shakespeare to our kids back in 2000, and her parents drove down from Indianapolis. It was really good to see her again and meet her folks. So the boys had one room, Teresa and Sara were with Charlene, and Henry and I had a room.

Saturday, May 5th, Graduation

The Ward Men








Saturday, May 5th. We had breakfast at the hotel and left about 7:40 for the college graduation, tickets in hand. Henry dropped us off near the auditorium and found parking. It was drizzling. It was supposed to be sunny, but twas not to be. Anyway, Mr. Main was having trouble walking so he and wife were let in a side door and the rest of us waited in line. We found seating right next to them on the right side of the auditorium on the main floor.

Program started at 9:00 and everyone started marching in. We sang eight stanzas of All Creatures of our God and King, (come lift your voice and let us sing, hallelulah.) The faculty and staff came in on the upper level from both sides and walked into the choir loft. Looked like little ducks at a shooting gallery. Then the graduates started receiving their diplomas. The program had each listed under their
school and degree (B.S., BA, Music, etc). They each walked up to the platform and shook hands with the college president then walked across the stage. No names were announced. There were two large screens and the grad’s name would appear so you had to pay attention. Meanwhile, several students gave testimonies. Those with honors had ribbons on their shoulders. White was cum laude. Red was magna cum laude (3.75 - 3.90 GPA) and Gold was summa cum laude (above 3.90).

Our son had a red one, so he was easier to spot. We saw Stephen Patrick Ward on the screen and did a soft “yeah!” and cried as he walked off. It was such a long, hard road for him, but we are so happy it is over and that he really did well. My son, the magna cum laude grad.

After the ceremony everyone went outside and it started to rain. Groups of people were scattered all over. We went over to the Science Building where Stephen was supposed to be, but found out he was with Stephanie’s family first. So after about 30 minutes, they finally caught up with us under the causeway. Lots of photos were taken. Stephanie’s younger brother was also there, as well as Charlene and her parents from Indiana. Mrs. Jones came over and we chatted a bit. Come to find out that she met Stephen just in February this year. Surprise, surprise! She teaches in the nursing college there at BJU.

Magna Cum Laude









Hugs for Grandpa Main

Later that afternoon we all went over to the Young’s house for a celebration. Melissa and Louis Young have been gracious enough to board Stephen during the summer since 2004. They have a beautiful home and Melissa outdid herself in the food preparation. Simple, but oh, so delicious. Stephanie and her parents were there and there were lots of photos taken, again. Sara, being the youngest, was a bit bored with it all, but did find some books to read and toys to play with.

Along about 5:15 pm we left there to go to Prof. Wooster’s house. His daughter also graduated so they had a celebration, too, but we got there after everyone had left. This is also another beautiful home in terms of size and location. Love the big kitchen. They had a pool and I could tell Sara was itching to get in. Didn’t happen. We stayed until about 6:00 and determined when Sunday School started and where we were to go.

Then all eight of us went back to the hotel, where we had a room just for the boys. A bit more crowded than when we were on deputation in 1990! I think we all fit in one room then.

Regarding Pastor and Mrs. Calvert mentioned above. He was there to receive one of four honorary doctorates the school bestows yearly. It was a surprise to us. Another recipient was a twin brother of a faculty member; another was a pastor in NJ for 54 years and the last was a man from Maryland who works with the Association of Christian Schools.

Stephen said he has signed a contract for employment there in Greenville. It is a start-up company that will be making programs for computer programmers. The owner is a former BJU student who started another business about 10 years ago; sold it for mucho $$ and is now starting this one. Steve is the first employee and they hope to have five. Looks to be a good position. Now Stephen has to acquire the driver’s license, a car, and move into a place that already has some other guys there. Job starts about July 1st.

Sunday, May 6th

We went to church at the Hampton Park Baptist Church where Stephen was saved and baptized in 2006. It was good to hear preaching and singing in English. The kids all had a place to go, so they got deposited and we went to an adult class.

After the morning service we went to lunch at Golden Corral, an all-you-can-eat buffet. Great choices and I did not overindulge. The boys loved it, of course. Even Sara ate better than she had been. Good eating!

Monday May 7th, Colorado Springs - week three

Early. We left the hotel at 6:00 am to catch our flight to Colorado Springs via Chicago. There was a problem with the machine that prints the routing tags for the luggage so that delayed us and we had to run to get to security, then remove the shoes, all metal, etc., and then run to the plane. Fortunately, Greenville is a small airport. We were almost the last ones on, but it was easy to find our seats.


Breakfast was a drink and pretzels. Don’t airlines serve peanuts anymore? We had a couple of hours to wait in Chicago and got photos of the kids sitting on the floor. The original plane had “maintenance problems” so there was a delay. A bit later we were told that a toilet facility had flooded and cleanup was not going smoothly, so they assigned us to another airplane. We were in terminal A. The new plane was in terminal C and all passengers had to get on the shuttle then walk down to the end of
said terminal. It’s never at the entrance; always down at the other end. Once on the plane it was a smooth ride to Colorado Springs and we arrived about 11:30 a.m. The COS airport is small (yes!) and easy to navigate; no big crowds of people like Chicago or Dulles or SFO or Kansai. Barb and Gerry were waiting for us near baggage claim. So good to see them. Hugs all around. We had luggage and more luggage maybe 15 pieces of checked, plus carry ons.

The airport was under construction of some sort so we walked to the parked cars. Well, Barb and Gerry have two sedans. There were eight of us and two of them. The trunks were packed with suitcases and people had to hold them on their laps, a couple were put in the windows. But we managed to get it all in in one trip. Barb’s car is a little older and by the time we got to their house, the tires seemed a bit low. I am sure it was relieved to have all the weight removed.

Barb and Gerry moved to Colorado Springs maybe three years ago and purchased a new home for about the price of a previously-owned one. It is big and pretty. Their back yard has a view of Pike’s Peak that had snow on it. Beautiful.

Waiting in Chicago



In the back seat between two brothers--a happy little clam!

The house in Old Town Springs



That afternoon the kids decided to stay at the house while we four adults went over to 635 North 30th Street where Barb was born and our family lived from 1956-1962. We dared each other to ring the doorbell. No one was home, but a dog was in the fenced back yard. Dad had planted several Colorado Blue Spruce trees along the right side and in the front about 1959. Now those trees must be over 30 feet tall. Took photos. The living room picture window had a beautiful view of Pikes Peak back then, but now the neighbor’s tree across the street was so tall it obstructed that view.

Then we left and went around the alley in back to see what we could see. Big, locked fence and dog. Through the cracks could see some toys and an unkept yard. I remember the house sitting farther back from the street out front and a huge back yard, but in reality it is quite short on both ends. Wonder what happened? Maybe I grew up.

After that we went over to the elementary school where I attended first and second grade. Took a photo but did not go inside. I remember the big drainage ditch in the center of the street and got a photo of that.

Tuesday, May 8th,in Denver


We all decided to go to Denver to visit our brother, Donald, and the house we lived in in Lakewood. Arrived late morning and knocked on the door. The owner had put a covered porch on which was really nice. He answered the door after the third knock and Barb and I told him we lived there back in the 1970's and could be come in and take a look? He was very kind and said sure, come on in, excuse the mess. His name is Admir Petrovic and bought the house in 1995 after dad had died. He had been making improvements like a new kitchen and blocked the entrance to the basement from inside. He finished the basement and his uncle lives there. I asked him if the mural I painted was still there and he said yes. I shook his hand as the artist! He said he would take a photo of it and send it via email.

We got to talking about what we do and mentioned we are from Japan and missionaries there. Admir was stationed in Okinawa when he was a marine. Henry started to tell him about how we are trying to witness to the Japanese so they can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Admir then asked, “Can I have my sins forgiven?” Wow!

He went on to explain that as a marine he had done some bad things and you could tell it weighed on his heart. So after a few minutes, Henry asked if they could sit down somewhere so we all exited and went into the yard, then Henry, Admir and I went into the covered porch while Henry took my new testament and lead him down the Romans Road. Praise the Lord, this man got saved that day! It was as if he were just waiting for us to come by. You could tell he was ready. And the smile on his face was just worth it!

We then took some photos out front with the family and with Admir. We exchanged emails and promised to keep in touch. Since we did not know of any good churches in the Denver area, we would need to do a little Internet research once back in Japan. Barb and Gerry also have his name and know where he is.

Dad had enclosed the porch out back which included 9 windows. Dad also had a room built on the back of the carport which was his office. Now it is a room for Admir’s sister during college break and he was in process of putting in a bathroom. The porch area was his office. He has a transport business and seems to be doing well.

The back yard is now bi-level, used to be just a slope. The clothesline is still there; the waterfall mom built is not. The lilacs are there on the left, but trimmed back. The shed is still there but in need of repair. He said his mom comes and plants a garden every year in the lower part. That back fence is still there (the one Blacky (the cat) hung himself on when we moved there in 1969).

The Westland Baptist Church facilities out back and across the street are up for sale. Where they moved, I don’t know. Admir also said that Lakewood High School was rebuilt. We did not go see it for lack of time.

The living room. Dad had the fireplace built back in 1969.








Admir, Henry and Celeste out front.



We then went across town a bit to visit our brother Donald. He is in a wheelchair and does not have his legs due to blood clots and such over 20 years ago. He is also over 300 pounds, has long gray hair and has lost many teeth. He lives in a small house/apartment for disabled/elderly in an assisted living facility. He seems to like doing what he does, which is not much really, except taping tv programs for people. When I asked him about what happens after he died, he said he was just not
interested, and it was fine for other people to believe that, but it was not for him. The contrast between Donald and Admere was remarkable–one so ready and the other totally not interested. However, his attitude is not one of bitterness like one might expect. Donald is one who needs to get saved, he just does not realize it yet.

Garden of the Gods

We then all headed back to COS after lunch. Peter drove Barb’s car with me a little shaky in the back–just a few sharp wheel turns was all. He did fine. We then went to the Garden of the Gods near our childhood home. http://www.gardenofgods.com/parkinfo/index_253.cfm This is an outcropping of marvelous rock formations. I remember this place as a kid. We took plenty of photos
by the balancing rock and in front of the mountains. By then it was after 5:00 pm so we headed back to the house across town.

Wednesday, May 9th

We took the cog-train ride to the summit of Pikes Peak. That took an hour up the 14,110 foot mountain side. It was cold, about -20 and windy at the top. But it was a clear day and the skies and mountains were just gorgeous. At the summit is a monument to Kathryn Lee Bates who wrote America the Beautiful when she saw the view. Breathtaking. The snow plows were still clearing about three feet of snow. Peter was in short sleeves. It was a bit tough breathing at that
altitude, but doable if you drank water. After some time in the gift shop, we boarded the train for the hour ride down the mountain.

In the evening we all got packed up since Henry’s sister, Penny and nephew Greg, could not come down from Denver as originally planned. We had sukiyaki for dinner which everyone enjoyed, then chatted for a time before heading for bed.

Atop Pikes Peak

Thursday, May 10, Leaving Colorado

In the early morning, like 4:00 am, everyone but Stephen and Matthew had to arise to catch the early 6:20 flight to San Francisco and a connecting flight to Japan. Peter was going to Los Angeles about the same time so he came with us. There was more room in the cars since two were not going, so the trip to the airport was easy. Barb and Gerry dropped us off at the entrance. We hugged and said our goodbyes (sniff, sniff). The trip to SFO was uneventful. Again breakfast was a drink and pretzels.

We got to SFO about 9:30 am and waited until 12:30 for the Japan flight. In the meantime we ate breakfast (very expensive at Just Desserts) and then took a shuttle to the terminal, thereby bypassing another security check-in. Once there we went down to our waiting area and waited. Henry and I at different times took a few laps around the upper terminal which I judged to be about a km or so for twice up and down that hallway. Got some sourdough bread and a couple of magnets and then got on the plane finally. The trip over the ocean was about the smoothest I have ever been on and for that I am grateful. We landed in Kansai about 4:00 pm and Noseh-san met us outside with our van. We had arrived in Japan.

Came home to a yard that had a three-week growth of weeds. We missed all the tulips blooming, but the iris and the columbine are in full bloom now. It will take a couple of weeks to get around to cleaning up the place. Strawberries seem to be doing fine. Henry did not plant a garden so we don’t have veges to pick. Also found out we have carpenter ants eating away around the laundry room door. Found a sizeable pile of sawdust on the floor. Tadaima!

All in all, the trip was expensive but well worth the cost of having the family together again even for just a few days. The kids got to meet their aunts and uncles and get to know them. We got to reacquaint ourselves with friends and see some childhood places. It was all so good, and way too short a time. God is good, just the same.