Some Mother's Son

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I shaved for you.

Bento Means New Love

Anyone who knows me knows of my love for tiny things and organization. So, when I arrived to Japan I quickly fell in love with bentos. I have finally found myself the perfect bento to eat all my future lunches in. Now all I need is the cute little animal toothpicks, silicon cup dividers, and cookie cutters to cut all my food into nice shapes. I have learned that its not a bento unless everything is molded into shapes.

It even comes with a pair of chopsticks (I am still learning the art of how to use them but am excited none the less).

Mrs. Gold and Mr. Mud

We kicked off Golden week with a trip to the Fukuoka temple with our district. We now realize how fortunate we are to have always lived so close to temples.

Despite the lack of sleep we had a great time.

With a week off of work and only three weeks left in Japan we decided to take a trip to Kyoto.

Here is Peter at the main gates of Sanjusangen-do

Sanjusangen-do is known as the "longest wooden structure in the world". I have noticed that Japan likes to claim most world records.

Peter and I climbing the steps to the Kiyomizu temple.

These three fountains are near the Kiyomizu temple. There is a huge line to drink from there waters which are said to promote either: health, wealth or beauty. With everyone drinking out of the same cup we decided against the germfest.

During holidays or when visiting temples a lot of Japanese will get dressed in their Kimonos to go out. I love how traditional they are here in Japan.

Kiyomizu-dera was our favorite site. It is set on the side of a mountain and the view is simply amazing.

One of the most visited sites in Japan is the Golden temple, or

Kinkaku-ji temple. To be honest, with the way everyone talks about it, I was expecting something a little grander.

This was the general feeling for the trip.

With Kyoto being so close to Osaka we couldn't pass up the chance to go to the Osaka aquarium and see the two whale sharks that live there.

I was having a lot of trouble getting photos of the whale shark, this is the only one that gives you a good idea of how big they were. I was hoping they would be a little more wild like a great white shark. But they are so tame and gentle. I was hoping for some Deep Blue Sea action.

These are Japanese Giant Crabs. These photos really didn't turn out either but I wanted you to see how big these crabs are in comparison to our bodies. They look like something out of an Aliens movie.

I love the way a jellyfish moves.

Our 24 hour trip to Kyoto/Osaka was up there with my favorites since we have been in Japan.

One Family Under a Groove

It's been three years since we got married and almost 11 since we met. This year had to be the craziest of all, thanks for sticking it out with me.

Your my favorite!

Animal Farm

Whenever we go to the grocery store I always get really excited to find fun new candy to try. These are my new favorites. They're little cookies with animal faces on them.

Monkey face.

Other animal faces include: hippo, cow, cat, bunny, hedgehog, bear and mouse. They're all too cute to decide which one is my favorite.

I think the boxes are sometimes more fun than the candy inside.

Homeward Bound

PETER GOT INTO ASU FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL!

UNCROSS YOUR FINGERS, HE DID IT. THE DANGERFORDS HAVE OPTIONS AND ASU IS MY VOTE!

Church House Steps

We recently got a new church building, this is not it. This is the building that we used to meet in. It was dirty and cold and had no redeeming qualities.

Here is Peter teaching sunday school in the old building. I really just put this in to again remember how beautiful he looks with that long beard.

This was the bathroom, notice my photo is taken from outside in the hallway from a window that looks into the bathroom.

Here are some of the branch members getting ready to take a photo on our last Sunday in the old building. My favorite little girl isn't in the picture. I have been trying to get her to be my friend for months now, but to no avail. I think this is the month she will finally succumb to my friendship. She kinda looks like Shelly Kesler as a small chubby girl, but Japanese.

This is the new building, isn't it great? I wish we would have had it for more of the winter seasons. It is the first building I have been in here that has double pained windows that keep out the cold.

Its close proximity to McDonalds is nice when church meetings run a little long. Unfortunately, you have to walk right by the chapel windows in order to get there.