Well, It's Been A While... I Know, I Know.... But I've Been Way Busy

Over the summer we had the awesome opportunity to host a Japanese exchange student. Our world as we knew it is forever changed. Since then McKenna has become obsessed, OBSESSED I tell you about Japan, it's culture, it's language and the *ahem* boy bands that are the cutest copy cat versions of the ones here in the United States. They call them "Johnny bands". What that means is think of the name "Johnny" as the most quintessential or most ideal name (as is the idea in Japan) for a boy here in America and ouila "Johnny Band" is formed. Or "boy band" as we would call it.

McKenna wants to go so badly to Japan that it is sad. It's $3000.00 to fly there, easily... so we are happily taking donations... tee hee hee. Just kidding. Well, hmmmm maybe not.

Anywho, Momoka was great! She and McKenna hit it off day one. McKenna has since dived head first into Japanese culture. She is teaching herself Japanese and is really, really more advanced than I thought she would be on her own. I still keep looking for a Japanese language tool at Costco, but no such luck.

I have to admit, the Japanese thing has been a GREAT carrot for our household. I could take away the phone from her and she would not be phased, same with the computer. But now??? If I take away her Japanese Cd's or Japanese pictures on her walls? Or just hint to? Wooo hoooooo! She is at attention. Don't get me wrong. She is a very well behaved young lady and does what she is told, most of the time. But you parents out there know even the best of kids' parents need a good carrot here and there.


This is the johnny-band she is most obsessed with. Hey! Say! JUMP. I have to admit that all of us enjoy it. The songs are catchy, the music really good and there is just enough English in there to let you know what they are talking about. McKenna, of course, translates the rest.

This is Momoka unpacking after arrival. In Japan they always do the "peace sign" in pictures. At first we thought it was kind of dorky and then of course, now we do it. It's nice if you think about it, you know? Peace? When is that bad?

McKenna is laughing over my shoulder because Momoka looks so tired in this picture. It was around 4:00 in the morning when this picture was taken. Momoka had a really difficult transition adjusting to our timezone. Of course, I later found out they were up all hours of the night. Unfortunately, the family would all be in bed and these two ding dongs would be up giggling and being silly. Talking, listening to music and writing letters. The really, really neat thing about these two and their formed relationship is that Momoka came here knowing very, very, VERY little English. McKenna and I practiced Japanese before she came but knew less than she did English. They (we) did a lot of hand gesturing and charades the first two weeks. But then everything fell into place.

She was wonderful. We love her and miss her terribly. We have phoned her twice since she went home. Once just 'cause we missed her so much and once on her birthday November 6th. She has phoned us and written and even sent a package to us. We really, really do hope to visit her family. The have invited all of us to come and stay with them. We of course have invited her family as well. Momoka has a sister the exact age difference that McLaine is to McKenna. They had so many things in common that it was great.

Ira has always had an interest in Eastern culture and would like to visit Japan, too. We are not ruling it out, of course. McKenna prays everyday that God make a way for us to visit the Abe family. And we all know God is in control. :0)