Hanami

Hey Everyone!

How are you all doing? Does anyone look at this blog beside my mom? I hope you are all doing well. A few updates. . . I finished training for my new job as an ALT yesterday. I will start April 14th and I can't wait but it sounds very challenging!!! Please, pray that I will be able to prove I'm a good teacher and that I will work hard to win the school's approval because it sounds hard. Actually, kind of scary to be honest! A lot of school politics but that is what happens when you live in another country and teach in the public school system.

mmm. . . I am doing well with Tatsuya and I breaking up. It's been 2 weeks today. The first week was pretty shakey but at the end of the 2nd has gone well. I think waking up at 7am and having traingin all day helped. I really do thank the Lord for being busy the second week. mmm. . . training was good. I really liked my trainers.

I have started to take Japanese lessons twice a week at a Christian center here in Tokyo. It's really good so far. I will take 2 lessons a week for 3 weeks and then becuase of work I will change to once a week. I will find a private tutor/ friend to converse with once a week in just Japanese. 頑張ります. I am also taking piano lessons from one of my English students. . . she's like. . in her 50s or 60s and use to teach music in the public schools and. . . now does private lessons.

Right now Spring is starting and the Cherry Blossums are blooming and it's beautiful! My friend, Ai, and I went Hanami-ing in Jujo and Iitabashi area. IT was soooo beautiful!!! Today was the perfect day to go look at the Cherry Blossums!!!! Here are some pics.









We had these Japanese desserts that are pretty good.. I forget what they are called. . .Taika or something. ..Tai is a type of fish and that is why its a fish shape. . ..but usually on the inside there is Anko . .a red bean paste. . .but I had cream in mine which was nice. We could watch them make it too.

Well, I hope you are all doing well. Love you all.

Melody

. . .

Hello Friends and Family,



How are you all? I am doing well. If you are just starting to read this blog. . .well . . . I broke up with Tatsuya a little over a week ago. We've been in a bit of communication but nothing serious. Its really for the best. Please pray for us both though. He still is very special to me. But my heart is slowly healing. I have no idea how he feels or what he's thinking so really all I can do is pray. 達也が大好きですけど　達也は神さまを信じない　そして　日づけはむじかし。でも今私はまだ彼が大好き。頑張ります


Melody

Dreaming of Chad. . . or am I?

Last night I had a weird dream. . . well a few but one that really stood out to me. . . Here it goes. .

I dreamt that I was in a building . .. .it was night time and this building was bad. . .I knew that I was being held against my will. There were others too in the building and one night we all gathered together to escape. One of them was my friend, Yukiko, and my friend, Chad Cheverier. We were about to escape when a woman opened the door and Yukiko left with her. I went after them saying "We can't leave without Yukiko". I caught up with them infront of the elevator. There were a group of women surrounding her. I said "yukiko?" but she just looked at me dispondent and hurt. One of the women said "She's coming with us. We all have been through soo much together" (I guess all these women had been hurt or something together) But I felt odd about these women. . .so I just stayed there try8ing to get Yukiko to leave. But Chad came up behind me saying "Come on Melody we need to go now. " But I woudln't leave and so he picked me up and took me to the room we were in before. When we were in the room we had to leave But I was like "Yukikooooooo" and Chad said "melody, you know why I came to get you? Because I love you" and he grabbed me and jumped out the window which was over looking a HUGE river that was soooo beautiful and green and warm like. . .someplace tropical. The air was warm and he held me tight and as me plunged into the water we parted but then underwater I went up to him and kissed him but he didn't really respond. . . and as we came up I felt the water around me and it was warm too. When we were surfaced we saw a big fish that was bluish grey. Chad was scared and freaked out becuse it was coming towards me but i wasn't scared at all. He tried to distract it but it woudln't be distracted. It came so close to me but right before it touched my face it started to bubble. That was the end of my dream.

Interesting. . . I've been having a bunch of interesting dreams.

What do you guys think?

Photo Job

Hey,

Just a quick update. . .I have an interview with a photographer here in Tokyo. Please pray for me. I'm basically unprepared. He's seen my website and wants to meet but he wants to see more work. . . and I dont have my portfoloio so I'll be taking my labtop. Also I have no business cards. But I know that if I'm suppose to get this job I will and what not. It was really out of no where. . . I actually was just looking at photographers on line and found his and liked his stuff sooo emailed him. Really unofficial. He says he's not hiring now but looking. I'm not 100% sure waht that means but I'm meeting him Friday at 3pm my time.

Here is his website if you want to check it out.

http://www.boztsutomu.net

I have decided to make a short slideshow to show him some new work. And I dont know about business cards yet. We'll seee.

Love you all

Melody

Onsen

Hello all,

Here are some pics from Kunigawa Onsen(yes,and Onsen is like a hotspring here where you sit in the spring water. .and everyone is naked. but its separated men and womens.)



I liked the red seats



Inside my hotel






They had a great buffet with a bunch of fruit!!!!!



Everyone was wearing Yukatas in the hotel. It was a lot of fun



Here is the Kunigawa river. It was really beautiful and green





Kuni I belive means devil or monster. . . so here is teh Kunigawa monster

Kinugawa Onsen

SO I just finished a one night stay at Asaya in Kinugawa, Tochigi. It's an area with a lot of hot springs and a lot Ryokans (Japanese traditional hotels). Mine happens to be a mix of western and Japanese bedrooms. Mine happens to end up being western.

I got here last night at around 5pm and headed straight for the roof where the open air onsen is. . .it was amazing! I was able to watch the end of a sunset and see teh stars come out. The air is sooooo clean here compared to Tokyo too. The area is beautiful. Reminds me of someplace I've been but can't quit remember. The package included room, dinner, lunch, Onsen, and. .. yeah. All together with travel it was around 170 dollars all together which is a good price. A good price for a vacation.

I mostly onsened and ate then I went to my room and they ahve internet so I played on there and then journald a bit and went to bed by 11pm. Slept in till 7:30 and had breakfast. Unfortunately I couldnt Onsen again today becuase lucky me. ..my period started last night. So I go to enjoy cramps instead of a nice hot spring. Sorry if htis is too much. . I should sensor my blogs. Ooops.

As I was journaling today and praying I read about Hezakai(sp?) in 1 Kings and how he was a man of God. Well, he got ill and The Lord sent a prophet to tell him that he should get his life in order becuase he would die soon. Well, he prayed ot the Lord and He heard him. Well, the Lord added 15 years to his life. . .just for him to go and show the Babalonian's all his kingdom and treasures and for the Lord to tell him that his kindom would someday be empty and even some of his family would perish becuase of what he did. . . mmm and then he died and was buried with his fore fathers. Oh, and when Hezakai heard this he said it was good and then died. . . I dont know where I'm going with this but I wish Tatsuya was a Christian. Not just so we could be together and have babies but so that he would have a better life and have hope and eternal life and he wouldn't have to carry such a heavey burdon all the time.

Please pray for him.

I got to talk to aubrey today which was nice. We got to talk about breaking up with men we love becuase of our faith. It was good to talk to her even if it was only for 13 minutes because her line started to skip out.

Anyways, I'm doing okay and as they say. . . time will heal all wounds. . . .whatever that means. Time won't but God may. Is that a bit synical? mmmm. . .I am a Lewis. . .wow, this blog is going down hill. I'll end now.

Love you all.

Let me be a bit emo. . .

So I broke up with Tatsuya... if you dont know why then you can email me and ask. But for that reason I am allowed to be emo for one blog. . .

Lets start....


"But Not to Me" by Sara Teasdale

The April night is still and sweet
With flowers on every tree;
Peace comes to them on quiet feet,
But not to me.

My peace is hidden in his breast
Where I shall never be;
Love comes to-night to all the rest,
But not to me.

On my Facebook I asked a question " do we get to chose who we fall in love with?" and I came to the conclusion that we don`t get to chose who we fall in love with but we do get to chose to obey God in that love and how we act with those people. Today, I practiced that right to chose. . . I broke up with the one boyfriend who I am still in love with because it was for the best. How do I know? Becuase the Lord asked me to and the Lord knows best. Soem of you may not agree but that's your choice to chose. For me. . . it's not just the best way but the safest and surest way.

We hadn't seen eachother for a week and when we met up he gave me a present. YEsterday was White Day which is the same as Valentines here in Japan except V-day is for men and W-Day is for the ladies. He bought me some nice cookies. He'd planned our day abit. . . a park, the zoo, a museum, or Kabuki (japanese traditional play) or a Japanese comedy show. We decided on a Japanese history museum (mom and da would love this. . .it was just like all the Korean ones we went to except.. .we just went to one. . not like 4 million of the same ones). It was really interesting. We went to one area that changes every so many months. It took us like an hour to get through since there were SOOO many people. It was really interesting though. Afterwards he was thristy so we sat down and I realized that we weren't going to eat a meal together. . . so it was now or another day but I 'd written in the card I'd given him about us breaking up ( oh, I gave him some gifts in a package too) so. . . I needed to. IT was really shit time to because we were having such a nice time and it was sooo beautiful and.. . .I was sooo happy to be with him and yeah. . .it was nice. But he took it well. . too well maybe. . . he said he still wants to be my friend (yokatta!) but afterwards I wondered if I did. . .I felt soooo hurt and so sad and wasnt sure I could still be his friend. . .I still loved and cared for him. But he seemed fine. . . we went to the rest of the exhibition not talking at all and then at the end he ws like.. .can you find your way to the station? I was kind of hurt but then what do I expect? I'd just broken up with him... and he was really kind about it but even so. . .I felt like. . .rejected. . but wait I was the one breaking up with him. . . .yeah. ..weird. . .. weird. . .mm. . .weird. . . I know that time will heal it. . . but I know it will take time. . . I take sooo long to heal I feel like...something I can't put words to... I chose God and in my head I know it was right but I also know I'm sitting in an internet cafe with tears running down my face. . . .

Love is feeling feeling love
love is needing needing love
love is wanting to be loved.

not really true but it's emo so it goes into the BLOG! The EMOBLOG. .. hee hee hee.. not really.

Please pray for:

me to not feel rejected (I have the tendency)
me to be strong in my faith (knowing this was the right thing to do. . not my faith faith)
Tatsuya to know Christ and to not feel rejected either.
that we some how can make a friendship work. He's the most amazing man I've ever met. . and I know people like David Esler and my 4 brothers and my dad. (okay he's on par with my dad)

Anyways. . .I need to go. . .ugh. ..

Sarah Teasdale

Recently I found this poet, Sara Teasdale, and I've kinda fallen in love with her work. I really love it. . .that and "Small Time Blues" By Pete Droge. Its from "Almost Famous" if you recognize that title.



I love this song and I live this album its on. Check it out.

Oh, but back to Sarah Teasdale... here are a few of her poems I like. ..


"I would live in your love"

I would live in your love as the sea
grasses live in the sea,
Borne up by each wave as it passes,
drawn down by each wave that
recedes;
I would empty my soul of the dreams
that have gathered in me,
I would beat with your heart as it
beats, I would follow your soul
as it leads.


"It Will Not Change"

It will not change now
After so many years;
Life has not broken it
With parting or tears;
Death will not alter it,
It will live on
In all my songs for you
When I am gone

"After Parting"

Oh, I have sown my love so wide
That he will find it everywhere;
It will awake him in the night,
It will enfold him in the air

I set my shadow in his sight
And I have winged it with desire,
That it may be a cloud by day,
And in the night a shaft of fire.

"The Mystery"


Your eyes drink of me,
Love makes them shine,
Your eyes that lean
So close to mine.

We have long been lovers,
We know the range
Of each other's moods
And how they change;

But when we look
At each other so
Then we feel
How little we know;

The spirit eludes us,
Timid and free --
Can I ever know you
Or you know me?

I've realized yet again that I know nothing...

I've come to really embrace the verses in Proverbs talking about man preparing for the day but the Lord will lead his foot steps and such. . . . I'm not a titled missionary but I'm coming to understand trusting in nothing but the Lord and completely relying on my faith in Him to provide for me which He has and always will. Just an update on that. . .I have another interview with an ALT company on Friday and I actually just heard back from Interac and they are seeing if a position in Saitama (where I live) will pass and if that happens then we are a GO! hahahhah the ups and downs of Japan. I've been pretty stress free though so that's good.

I just got a pay stub from Japan too saying my wages should be deposited soon. Yayyayayyayy (mom :)). I must say that I'm soooo thankful for my mom and dad right now and for the most part ALWAYS! If I didnt have family and my parents I think that life would be sooooooooooooo much harder for me. Not that I dont trust in the Lord for my needs and my life but He has also blessed me with parents who want to be a part of my life and who love and care for me. I'm not going to say "no" to that :). It has been such a blessing to have a loving family and loving parents. I can't tell you how much it has blessed me. . .beyond words. So thank you mom and dad, jason and anna, glen, scott and brandie, paul and wendee, beth and erik. I love you all and you being a part of my life is soo important. Even if I'm in Japan and you're in America. I hope you know that I love you and think of you often. I think I'm the luckiest youngest sister in the world. I may have been picked on and bullied by my older sibs at times but life now is as close to perfect as I can imagine. I love my sibs and their partners. I love my nieces and some day nephews. I love my parents. And they all love me. . .who could ask for more? Hmm? Who could ask for more? My life is sooo full of love that even when the downs come it can't take me tooo low because there is just TOOOO much happiness in my life.

Thanks family.

Prayer Request

Dear Friends and Family,

I am writting though about a prayer request. Recently I was hired by Interac and it was an answer to a lot of prayers. I had to wait till April though to start because that is when the schools here start up their new year. Well, last month I got placed about 30 minutes from my house which was a HUGE answer to my prayer too. I also recieved a 3 year visa which is kind of unheard of. My rooommate actually only recieved a 1 year visa. Anyways, when I returned back to Japan in January I was pretty much 50/50 on staying in Japan or returning back to the states. I was really open to the Lord's will and what He wants me to do. Well, in less then a week I had my job at Interac (which I'd thought I woudlnt be able to work at.), they would give me a new visa (my old visa ended in February), and the job itself had GREAT days off, weekends, holidays, etc. It was an answer to many prayers. Well, today I just found out that the scool district I was going to work for has pulled its contract from Interac so now I have no placement. It also means that I won't start in April like planned. Interac is still promising me a job but it could be as late as August but as early as May. I just depends on when and where teachers are needed. you see they always have teachers who randomly quit or transfer and they also always pick up new school districs later on in the year. SOOOOOOO. . .there are no garentees (like usual) and no time promises.

SOOOOOO. . . please pray about what I should do. I could find a part time job to pay for my expenses till Inerac has a place for me, I could return back to the US (I'm open to but I really don't feel at peace about it since I really feel like the Lord wans me to stay here at least another year. but another photographer in Portland has been contacting me about working together as a portrait/ wedding photography company.), also I have recently been working at Grace Christian Fellowship, the church I originally came to 2 years ago as a volunteer, this week and next week. Well, Pastor Jonathan has asked me to pray about doing an internship with the church. I'd work at the church and school 3 hours per day and live in a communal housing, learn japanese, etc. They would pay for my housing and other costs. I'd be recquired to cover food, my student loans, and other things. I would probably have to be supported partially and work outside of the church partially. I'd also have to move, etc. Soooo. . . .it's a lot of stuff to think about.

To be honest I have NO idea what the Lord wants me to do besides be here. . now. I know He will provide for me and I know that His will is good. I just don't know what that is. Just like Interac and Japan I feel like that the Lord will just plop it in my lap and it won't be a forced thing. I usually freak out a bit and then the Lord just calms me down and reminds me that He is my provider and that no matter what I do His way is best. So just sit back, pray, and trust in Him.

Mostly I'd just like to ask you guys to pray with me for what I'm suppose to do and that I'll be able to follow the Lord's guidance.


Thank you for all your prayers thus far. I am not afraid about the money because I know the Lord will provide and I'm not afraid of much right now but I know my parents are and it is a bit daunting at the same time.

Love you all and again I cannot say how much it means to know that you are praying for me.

Melody

Hawaii again?

I just finished editing some Hawaii pictures I took of my nieces and my sister's new family. Here they are :)



So I've decided that shooting a lot of children is difficult and that I'd wrather not. . .and I kind of suck at it right now. But the children themselves are adorable!!!





Here are Beth, Erik, and Jasmine. Tadddddddaaaaaaa!



I love this picture. . . look at those cheeks!!!!!









I love this picture too. (sorrry they are sooooo small but I'm on a PC and I cant size them down the same way I can on the my mac adn when I do they end up distorting so I have to use the photobucket tool to resize)





The family again





I love this picture













I love this photo toooooo.

Rollercoaster

On Sunday I went to a rollercoaster near the Tokyo dome to do some shooting for a magazine at my church. The first issue is on Momentum sooo. . .I photographed the rollercoaster. Afterwards my friend, Amy, and I went on it. . . it was soooooooo FUN!!!! At the beginning it just takes you up and drops you almost in a nose dive adn then it goes from there. here is a pictures of us and a video. Enjoy




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