Little Things

The little things - these small, overlooked blessings fill most of our life, rather than the grand, extraordinary things. This year, I am working on prayer journaling, and a big portion of that is noting things that I'm thankful for. It's amazing to realize just how much we've been given when we actually thank God for those things.

This week was just another week of life as I know it in Japan. This week was full of laundry, lesson planning, teaching, meeting new students, grocery shopping, cooking, Bible study, celebrating a birthday, a few catch-up calls with people back in the States, and everything in between.

Monday, I got up early to take my brother to the bus station so he could get a ride to the airport. When I got home, I thought I was doing pretty well to get not one, but two loads of laundry washed and hung out my window to dry! It figures that, on the day I was uncharacteristically productive in the morning, it rained. The rain turned to snow. For the first time since I've been in Japan, we had snow sticking to the ground in my neighborhood! (I did get my laundry back inside to finish drying.)

Anna asked me to pick up her boys from their bus stop, as she had plans for a few hours that afternoon, and we took full advantage of what would probably be the only snow of the year.

I enjoyed seeing my neighborhood blanketed with a layer of snow the next morning. It didn't stay long, but it was fun while it lasted! I also thought this row of snowmen at the post office was cute.

English classes were a little slim on those days of snow, but the rest of the week went well. Thursday we had a ladies Bible study. It's a small group, but oh how I appreciate those ladies! I praise God for the work He is doing in each heart!

On Friday, I got to change things up a bit. I have an adult English class I teach at a community center. This week, the center wasn't available, so we went to a coffee shop instead, and enjoyed some fun conversation and delicious food.

Today (Saturday) was the first day in a while I had no plans, and it was lovely to relax, play some music, go for a spontaneous walk, and enjoy a quiet dinner at home. Praise God for the gift of today and every day!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24