Last time we were Stateside family photo
Events of July 2025
Sara and Yuki got married July 21st, a holiday here in Japan known as Ocean Day. They have dated for about a year. Her brothers Stephen, Matthew and Joe, plus Teresa and cousin Kate came to the ceremony from the States. The ceremony was held at Yuki's home church in Osaka, a big church with plenty of room for everyone--over 100 in attendance. The bride was beautiful and the groom handsome and everyone was happy.
Three brothers: Matthew, Stephen, and Joe came from America
The happy couple Sara and Yuuki
Grandbaby #7 is here!
Jennifer Ward was born June 6 at 2:32 p.m. in North Platte, Nebraska. Son Peter and his wife, Jewel, welcome their third girl and fourth child.
Peter and Jenny
Spring in Ono Cherry Blossoms
Christmas Photos
This is so cute! Love it!
The latest from son Peter and family
September 27, 2024
Below is a photo of Peter and family with David and Jenny Harris of BIMI who were in Nebraska in late September.
Left to Right: David Harris, Ben held by Dad Peter, Arianna, Mom Jewel with Elorie and Jenny Harris
Just an update
Henry and I are feeling our age. He's 70 now and I will be on the 18th. I did get my Japanese driving license renewed Tuesday, though. I had to sit through a two hour instruction class and take a road test around the driving course to do it, but I passed and have the new license for 5 years. That is good news :-)
Henry has turned into a veggie farmer with lots of lettuce, tomatoes, cukes, spinach, squash, onion, potatoes, and other stuff. He has a bunch of plants to still put in the ground someplace. The garden stuff does taste good. He has learned how to drive a tractor and the owner has him plow the two fields he has for growing squash. He is also handy with the hammer and tools and will go up to northern Japan and help a fellow missionary renovate their new church building (starting the 13th). He is very handy to have around. :-)
Our six grandkids are growing well. Peter and Jewel's Little Ben is crawling and trying to climb stairs. Big sisters Arianna and Elorie just love him. He is about 8 months. Joe and Christin are homeschooling their 3 girls. He works for Amazon. Steve works for Coca Cola in SC and still not married, but he takes care of his siblings. Sara stayed with him many times when she was on deputation until recently. Matthew is a manager at Panda Express and involved in our home church by singing in the choir. He has grown a beard. Teresa is in her 12th year teaching in Katy, TX. The single ones don't have a person in which they are interested, at least they have not told us yet. All of them contact us at least monthly.
Easter Grands 2024
Sakura and wood carvings
Update on my illness
It has been two weeks since I was admitted to the Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, Massachusetts. When I got there, they took three vials of blood for tests, then after the admission process, I was put in a private room because I had tested positive for Covid. I did not know they were going to do that test. So I changed to a hospital gown, got in bed and had IV's in both arms. The right one was a slow drip of something that would counteract covid--took 10 hours to drip and I had two of those. The other arm was for something that I don't remember. I was able to eat the simple meals they provided.
The nursing staff was very helpful and I had excellent care. They checked on me frequently and I was able to nap that afternoon.
I met a doctor on Wednesday afternoon and he said I was to stay overnight. He had had covid and was not going to let me out early. I did not like that idea, but could not do anything about it. He mentioned I may have to stay a couple of days.
Thursday morning I woke up and was feeling OK and had breakfast. The nurses checked on me and put another drip bag on my right arm. In the early afternoon, a different doctor saw me and said I could leave that afternoon. She made me happy and I looked forward to being released. When the IVs were removed I had bruises on both arms and found one on the back of my left arm. This must have happened when I fainted. These took about 10 days to disappear.
I was discharged at 5:00 PM. Henry came and got me. He could not come in the hospital, so I had to be wheeled to the entrance and got in the car there.
Henry and Sara got a test kit from a pharmacy and they were both covid positive, as well as Mr. Fukumoto. The pastor of the church at which Henry preached had booked hotel rooms for our family and Mr. Fukumoto who was with us. We stayed there Thursday night. On Friday, Henry took Sara and Yuki to the airport. Sara was going to Maryland and Yuki back to Japan. That went smoothly.
Henry and I moved into the church's prophet's chamber in Friday and we stayed there for about a week, then went to meetings we had scheduled in Maine.
Through it all, God was so good in taking care of us and people praying for us. It is truly a blessing to serve Him.
Update January 2024
This morning 1/17/24, I woke up and walked around the bed,but ended up on the floor. I was able to get up slowly,, but passed out a second time. I do not recall how I ended up on the floor.
We went to an ER about 10 am and it is now passed 4pm. There have been many tests like MRI, blood, CAT scan, etc. I feel OK.
Doctor wants me to stay overnight because I hit my head and to rule out things. Please pray. Thanks.
Christmas in America
We had a wonderful Christmas last week with all the children and grandchildren in one place--Joe and Christin's home in West Virginia. Except for Peter's family, we all slept in their house and managed not to step on each other :-) Sons Stephen and Matthew played the Uncle part very well, keeping the nieces happy and playing with them. It was so good to see them interact.
Joe's three daughters were really taken with Stephen as he just grabbed their attention by doing and saying things they loved (I could tell by the squeals of delight). Matthew came on Monday and joined in the fun.
Peter and Jewel's family came in on Monday night and stayed in a hotel with their two daughters and 5-month old son, Ben. When they came over Tuesday, it was crazy all day. Everyone got excited about the gifts they opened and found new favorites.
Thursday, Henry's sister and her family came over so that added another six people for dinner. We did get photos, which will be cherished for years. May be the last time we are all together at the same time and same place. We shall see.
Peter, Elorie, Arianna, Ben and Jewel
L to R: Elorie, Willow, Clarity, Alora, Arianna and Ben
down front: Around Stephen: Clarity, Arianna, Willow on his lap. Alora behind Teresa and Elorie on her lap.
Little Benjamin
Joe's family in the fall: Clarity, Alora, Christin with Willow
We arrived in WVA safely on Monday night where Joe picked us up and we drove to his home in Ranson. Then Tuesday morning we headed out to Chattanooga to talk to folks at our mission board and get paperwork started. Henry preached at Lakewood Baptist Church on Sunday. We started driving to TX on Monday.
We stayed at a hotel the first night which broke up the long drive. We drove three days to Katy, TX, to meet our daughters. Henry preached at their church on the 20th and had a good meeting. We then drove back to WVA with Sara and Teresa in a second car following us. We stayed one night somewhere along the way and got back to Joe's on Friday the 22nd.
Matthew and Peter came in on Monday. Stephen arrived Friday night, just in time for Christmas. Sunday we went to First Baptist of Ranson for Christmas services and saw their cantata that evening. We are all together celebrating the birth of our Savior and enjoying family, especially the grandkids! Photos to follow.
2023 is Ending
We are headed to the States on the 11th for two months. We need to take care of some things because we turn 70 next year. We first fly from Kobe to San Francisco over 15 hours of flight time. Then we fly to DC, another 8 hours' flight. I need some reading materials :-). We will stay at Joe and Christin's place and go to Chattanooga to do the paperwork on the 12th. Then we wll be traveling to several churches for meetings and return to Joe's just before Christmas. This Christmas all of our six children and all six grandchildren will be there--time for a group photo! We get to meet little Ben, our first grandson! January and February we are back on the road to various churches in the northeast and midwest--long hours of driving.
Henry planted lots of veggies in the garden and we have feasted on broccoli, cabbage, spinach, daikon, carrots and such. Beans and onions are in the ground to be harvested next year.
Sara is at 18% support to raise money to come back to Japan as a missionary. She, too, has long hours of driving, so keep us all in your prayers.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Large Japanese bird
Recent Grandbaby photos
Peter with Elorie, Jewel holding Benjamin and Arianna in front.
On a nostalgic note here is a photo from 2013 when we were in California visiting a supporting church. Patch the Pirate, aka Ron Hamilton, and family were part of the program. We were able to get a photo with him. Ron went to heaven earlier this year and is sorely missed. We had a bunch of the Patch Adventures when the kids were younger. I told Ron that some of the songs sung on the CDs became part of our family vernacular like: "If you make a mess, clean it up, if you wear it, be sure to put it away, if you get it out, put it back or you will turn your home into a messy shack." Character-building songs that have stuck in the brain all these years.
Wood Carving Company
There is a wood company near us in Ono City. They have these carved animals on display. .The work is fantastic. Kitten, Owl, Rabbit and Monkey holding a chain saw
The bear and other critter are at the end.
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