Tonight I went to my JTE's wedding. It was my first time going to a wedding here and Japan and boy was it memorable. First, the way they had theirs, I didn't go to the actual wedding ceremony. I went to the reception. But apparently the reception is bigger than the wedding.

Okay, so I arrive at this big wedding plaza, running late because there was so much traffic on the highway leading up to the place. Instead of it being a church, its just a huge wedding plaza. Very hard to describe. Anyway, i go up to the information desk and ask about for "Harada Chizuko's Wedding" at this point, its 4:54 and the wedding stuff begins at 5. I have to run in my heels and dress behind this bellboy who is running top speed into a totally different building. When I reach, I give the ladies at the door my envelope (you give money to the bride and groom here) sign my name on the register, recieve a seating chart and follow behind the bellboy who has once again taken off running as I hear him say "It starts at 5 right?" As I run through the door of the building of our final destination I see Ms. Harada in her kimono. Breathtaking!!! She looks so beautiful, but I can't pause to stare as the staff is fussing with me to get me into my seat in the dining room before the bride and groom walk in.

So, shortly after I'm seatin and say my hello's to my co-workers and former Vice Principal, the wedding planner (or whoever she was) announced the entrance of the bride and groom. Lots of bowing from the staff, and the couple walks in dressed in what look like VERY expensive kimono. Although it looks very difficult to walk, Harada is doing her best to walk w/all those heavy layers of kimono on and her hair all slicked up with dangly moving things in it. They both looked great though.

There were toasts and stuff like a usual western wedding but then as the meal is being served, the couple goes out again and comes in a few moments later changed into western style clothing. Him in a grey shiny, silky looking suit and her in a really nice white weddingd dress. During this change of clothes, they go around to all of the tables and take pictures with the people at the table. That was kinda nice because people got to take good up close pictures of the couple.

There was a bit of a break between the last change of clothes and this is where my Vice Prinicipal and Principal have had enough to drink so that they can become "themselves" again. I just witness this event a few nights ago at our End of the year Teachers party, and could sense the signs. They were so funny. Coming around pouring me wine and in turn I would go to their tables and pour them beer and wine. Then a random table full of men called me over to their table because they wanted to take a picture with me. The guy sitting next to me was the groom's cousin and he was flirting in his own little was most of the evening. Funny stuff. But I think the best was that the teachers at the table, Principal and VP told me that when I get married to please invite them. They really want to come. And that if I have my wedding in America, we should have the 'second party' in Japan! Hilarious group of folks.

So, then the couple come back in...well, first the groom. This time he has a Santa hat on and strapped to his bag a keg! He's going around pouring beer and such for about 20 minutes and then the bride comes back in wearing this weird Minnie Mouse looking thing. It was strange, but...not my wedding right? It wasn't an ugly dress, just looked liked something...hmmm...well just not something for a wedding is all.

At the end we got a take home copy of the photo taken with the bride and groom at our table, which was nice and a bag full of goodies. Two bottles of wine (small ones) red and white with "Just Married: Yuichi and Chizuko" on them. Then I got two bowls, not mixing bowls but glass like that. Nice ones though. Also some cakes and flowers from the table and a real wreath that was the center piece. The table stuff and flowers they told us to take. I didn't just lift the mess!

I love weddings. They are fun. Everyone seems so happy. The weird thing about all of this is...now I'm going to have to call her ". Sakai" and all I've ever know her as is Ms. Harada. I mean, with my friends who are married, I call them by their first names and always have, but I've always called her Harada. That is going to be very strange. Oh well, I'll get used to it.

Today I pray: that you will bless the union of Chizuko and Yuichi. They have the possibility to bring forth great children and much happiness. Keep them in your care I pray Lord. Amen

Have you ever had someone ask you for advice but then they really don't want advice but keep asking you questions and asking for answers? Gosh that bothers me!

Lately it seems like every time I blog here I its been ages since my last one and I have to explain why its been so long blah blah blah. Well I'm not going into all that. I move on from here.

So, I just joined this group called Friendster and its a beta version so everything is still slow ass hell and I can't get it to work. The girl who invited me swears by it and says it speeds here day along. But I can't get mine to work so I'm about to give up on it. Boo Hooo!!!

On to much better news: I'm going to Singapore and Malaysia. I can't hardly believe it myself but I am. I'll be sunning, travling, and beaching from Jan6- Jan13. You talking about a happy girl...I'm her! I'm going down by myself and traveling up to Kuala Lumpur by train (i think) and meeting up with another girl from here who will start her South East Asian adventure on Christmas Eve. I only wish I had the money to buy a video camera before the trip. But, when you make 4 international trips in a year's time...money tends to run short. Even when you're finding stuff on good deals like I have.

Gosh...its really been 4 trips. New Zealand in March, Korea in September, I just went home for Thanksgiving and Singapore/Malaysia in a few weeks. Talk about blessed. I can't even describe it as anything else than pure blessings. It seems like even when I don't have money, I end up finding it from somewhere to pay a bill or plan a trip ;).

Today I pray: with thankfulness in my heart for being blessed with the opportunity to just be in this country and build myself up. I've been having such a rewarding experience. So Lord, THANKS!

Okay, so it hasn't been QUITE a month since my last blog. Just shy I'd say, but it has been a crazy crazy 4 or so weeks. Tonight, I'm sitting here by my computer thinking about the brillance of God and how entertained he must be as he watches our lives. The decisions we make, the situations we face, he knows all of that stuff is going to happen before it does and then bam! We fall flat on our faces, we shine like the sun, we sit around and wait for things to happen. Its all amazing.

The weather here in Japan is so nuts. It was gorgeous this morning! Like 65 degrees when I walked out to the car at 8. I think it got up to at least 75 today. Just a nice nice day. I hope the weekend weather will be something like that. We have a National Holiday on Monday so a 3 day weekend is ahead of me. Mine is actually a 5 day weekend because my Midyear conference is tomorrow and Friday.

Whenever I sit and think about the things that my family can't do for me that other families can do for them something comes along to remind me that those things don't even matter. . . I've been looking for a winter coat and some suitable casual shoes for the winter as well. I haven't been proper shoe shopping since last December when I went home and even then I didn't get much. Well I found some stuff and I wanted to send it to my parents house and have them send it here but that's just like sending it home so that it can sit there and wait for me to come get it. I was just thinking about other people in my life who's parents would run out and do it immediately. Mine on the other hand, good folks, just can't depend on them for stuff like that. Well in the midst of all those kinds of thoughts my mom sends me 2 more birthday cards in addition to the 6 million she'd already sent just to let me know how special I am to her! :) Definitely lit up my face and made me put all those thoughts away. I have a great family and no they aren't like everyone else's but that's what makes them mine. For their abilities and their faults, they accept me through the deficiencies and triumphs. I love them.

Today I Pray: and am thankful for blessing me with the family that I have and helping me to appreciate all of them for who they are individually and collectively. I love you for helping me to see the good in what may be looked at as not so good. Thank you Lord! Amen.