day of japanese

Did you know that today is one of my very favorite days, and one of the best Holidays?

Did you know that it's been 29 years since my dad returned home from his mission to Sendai, Japan?

Did you know that I always eat too much on Japanese Day? It's like a pre-pre-Thanksgiving meal. Except, there's no turkey, and it's still warm outside. But we are grateful on Japanese Day, just like we are on Thanksgiving.

Grateful that my dad made the decision to serve a mission.

And grateful for the amazing example he is.

I bet you didn't know my dad is tougher than Chuck Norris...

And that he's a fantastic cook...

But more importantly...

My dad has an amazing testimony and is the most worthy priesthood holder that I know. He is incredible. 

I'm so grateful he served an honorable mission, serving in a foreign land, reminding our brothers and sisters in Japan that Jesus Christ loves them and that families can be together for eternity. I'm grateful for his testimony of the Book of Mormon and that he so freely shared it with me while I was young. 

I'm so thankful that my dad's mission was so important to him. It's so fun to celebrate his mission every year. It's my favorite family tradition. There's something incredible that happens when you realize  that what is so important to your family and those you love is also so very important to you. There's no doubt in my mind that celebrating Japanese Day every year played a role in my brothers deciding to serve missions of their own. And now we also celebrate Boise Day (Brans), Toronto Day (Austin), Chilean Day (Chad) and Manchester Day (Taylor) - In about 8 months, we'll celebrate Belgian Day (Blake) and in just under two years from now, we'll celebrate Micronesia Day (Bryson). [We need to start celebrating German Day for Branson's dad... Goulasch? Rouladen? Eis und Heiss? Yum.]

I love missionaries! I'm so glad so many members of my family have chosen to serve. I'm blessed to be a part of such a great missionary heritage.

Happy Japanese Day!

handiversary

Would you believe today is my "Handiversary"?

[No? You don't like my made up word of celebration? Fine... the Anniversary of my Carpal Tunnel Surgery.]

It's been one year. It's a little hard to believe that much time has past.

On one hand (no pun intended... ha ha... seriously... not intended, but funny.), it feels like forever ago. It's been so long since my hands have gone numb, or since my dexterity was compromised. I haven't dropped any dishes in months!

But on the other, it seems like I just got my bandages off a month ago. Like my stitches just came out. I still feel renewed strength everyday.

My scars are almost unnoticeable. They've healed beautifully. (Truth be told, they are still so alarmingly obvious to my eyes, but when I show anyone else, they almost don't know where to look, because they blend in with all of the other lines on my hands.)

It took awhile for me to feel strong in my wrists and hands after surgery. Six months later, I still felt like I didn't have 100% support or strength back. I couldn't bend my wrists back very far. I couldn't do anything that required full weight on my wrists (like a push up, or sitting on the ground, leaning back on your hands.).

But, would you like to know what my little hands can do now?

Just about anything I want... [grin]

I've been able to carry heavy things, play the piano to my heart's content, knead bread dough, decorate cakes, eat with chopsticks again - I've even been able to do a few push ups lately!

One interesting thing I've noticed lately... my handwriting has changed. And maybe only to me. But I noticed the other day that I've altered how I hold my pen, and it has resulted in just a slightly different way that I write. Better or worse? I'm not sure. Mostly, I'm just grateful I can write and not want to chop off my hands afterward.

I'm so grateful for how well my hands have recovered. And so grateful for modern medicine. Who knew that one little slit in each hand would alleviate so much pain? It's truly amazing.

I've tried to remember to thank my Heavenly Father everyday for all of the many things I can do with my hands. He's blessed me with the ability to do anything I set my mind to, and even more important, blessed us with the opportunity to be healed when we are broken. I'm so very grateful. Some days, I'll forget - because now almost everything feels natural again - but then I'll notice a certain way my wrist is moving when I do the dishes, or I'll be able to play a really hard piece of music that I haven't played since surgery, or I'll be doing something and have to twist my hand in a weird position. And then it will hit me again:

Look at that! I used to not be able to do that!

And more gratitude will ensue.

So... Happy Handiversary to me! [I don't care if you don't like it. I do. It's clever. And obvious. Ha ha]

I hope I always remember how blessed I am to have working hands that can do amazing things.

fraud

To the persons East of the Mississippi who stole all our money,

Stop it. Please.

Had you taken our money because you had none and were in desperate need of food and shelter for your family, I *might* have been more understanding. Had you been a beggar on the street who just happened to come across our savings in a delightfully labeled envelope that said "Please Take, and Spend Freely," I also would have understood.

But you aren't and you didn't.

How do I know?

Well because, dear thief, I monitor my checking account quite regularly. And what you might not know is that I can see everywhere that you spent my money, and other places you tired to spend at, too. Maybe you *needed* to spend $300 at WalMart to buy new school clothes and diapers for your unfortunate children who call a thief "mom" or "dad"... or for your girlfriend who thinks that $300 worth of jewelry and makeup from WalMart will make her feel better about having a stealing loser for a boyfriend...

But I am absolutely positive you did not *need* anything that cost $700 at the T-Mobile store.

Oh, don't worry. I'm gonna get it all back.

You see, my bank is pretty good to me and has great fraud protection, and has guaranteed that I'll get my money back.

Also, I believe that actions have consequences - and you will pay. Just like we all do when we do something wrong.

But more importantly, I pay a faithful tithe and I know that God will take care of us. I have a very strong testimony in the principal of Tithing and how it blesses us when we obey.

Now, it may sound like I'm holding a grudge and that I haven't forgiven you. Do not be deceived. My heart was hardened, but has since been made soft.

I forgive you.

You obviously weren't raised in truth and righteousness - otherwise you would have known that stealing is wrong. You also probably didn't know that we aren't rich, and that your access to our limited funds wouldn't get you very far, and that your spending spree would only last a few hours.

So, while you GREATLY inconvenienced us (seriously, folks - stealing someone's money at the end of a month, when bills are due, and it's a holiday weekend... could not be worse timing.) and made me more furious than I have been in a long time, I've decided to forgive you and move on.

Just don't ever do it again.

Sincerely,
Greatly-Inconvenienced-But-Trying-to-Be-More-Christlike
in Salt Lake City

elder bryson ashcraft

Today, my boy Bryson went into the MTC to embark on his epic adventure serving the Lord for two years in the Guam / Micronesia Mission.

I've been pretty emotional about him leaving. You'd think on my 5th brother (1-Austin, 2-Chad, 3-Taylor, 4-Blake) I'd have this whole sending-off-a-missionary thing down and that it wouldn't even phase me.

But it does. Every. Time.

I love Bryson. And I'm so proud of the decision he's made to dedicate his next two years to the Lord in serving and teaching, and reminding the people on those tiny islands in the Pacific that God loves them, that Jesus Christ died for their sins, and that their families can be together forever.

A week ago, he gave an awesome sermon for his farewell talk, and our family sang together a beautiful arrangement of "I Believe in Christ." (Also, a very emotional day. Don't judge.)

Last night, we were privileged to attend his setting apart meeting with the Stake President. It was truly a personal, insightful and comforting blessing that I hope Bryson remembers forever. The spirit was strong and the words we heard were truly inspired. I'm so grateful for that memory.

Bash is amazing. I've learned a lot from him, and have loved watching him grow up into such an incredible man.

No doubt the people on those islands will adore him.
How can you not?



Godspeed, Elder.

And Heavenly Father, please watch over my little brother, and keep him safe.