Japan's Earthquakes & Tsunami

I've been responding to emails, texts & phones calls this morning. Some of my friends are asking if we are home yet. Others and letting me know they are thankful we are home. By the time I got out of bed at 8 this morning (having jet lag...Alex was up from 1 am until 5 am), I heard the news: Japan had been hit by a major earthquake & tsunami along with other earthquakes. I am so thankful we are home and safe. But, I am praying for the people of Japan!

We were mainly in Tokyo, which was not where the tsunami hit and was not the center of the earthquake. However, it was affected. I understand the train services are down. We rode the trains multiple times every day. Most of the people of Japan either use public transportation (we also used the subways) or ride their bikes. The trains are PACKED. In fact, I've seen photos of 'pushers' who push the people into the cars. We never experienced pushers, even during rush hour, but you do pack yourself in tight! I can't imagine if we'd been on a train when the quake hit. Or in a terminal. It is really crazy already with that many people running around. And, Alex was often the only child out of thousands of people. I'm wondering, as people rushed to get outside, how bad it might have been.

I've also heard that the tip of Tokyo Tower was bent. This is us (me, my brother, our new Japanese friend, Alex, and my brother's girlfriend) after we'd climbed down the steps of Tokyo Tower. I can't imagine being in that structure, which is a lot like the Eiffel Tower, during the quakes. Were people rushing down the stairs?

(Last photo I took in Japan showing trains delayed. Cause: Quake) 

I am praying for Japan. I loved it there. It was an amazing trip. And, I'm hurting for those who are affected by these disasters.

My brother's best friend's wife is from Japan. Her parents still live in the area directly affected by the earthquake and tsunami. We have yet to hear if they are OK. Please pray for them!

Thank you for your comments, thoughts, and prayers - Dana

We're Home from JAPAN!

Hi, everyone! Alex & I are back from Japan. We spent 4 days in Tokyo and 1 day on a 'day trip' to see the Snow Monkeys. I have so much to share with you all! I will try to get started later today.

(photo in front of a torii gate near the Zojoji Buddhist temple)

We didn't get home until midnight last night and our bodies are having trouble adjusting back to Central Standard Time. It is almost 3 pm on Thursday here. It is 6 am in Tokyo. We left Japan at 7 pm on Wednesday evening and got to Chicago at 3:30 pm on Wednesday afternoon. That's weird, isn't it?

Anyway, it was one of the most amazing trips I've ever been on, though I have loved just about everywhere we've ever went. We are actually headed out of town again tomorrow (yikes! lots of laundry & unpacking to do before then!), but then we'll be home for several weeks. We will be headed to St Louis the 2nd weekend of April for my 2nd half marathon.

I hope you all are well! And, I hope you are enjoying your school year!

-Dana

Another trip... this time, JAPAN!

Hi, everyone! I know it's been a LONG time since I've posted. I really have been concentrating a lot on my sports - I'm training for my next half marathon and my first sprint triathlon.

Anyway, my brother called 2 nights ago, and today I bought tickets for Alex & I to go to JAPAN! In 12 days!!! I'm so thrilled! And, I can hardly believe it. So, we will be going crazy trying to learn about Japan and prepare for our trip. I'll try to post all about it when we get back.

I miss you all and wish I felt more like blogging lately! Maybe it'll come back again some time. I blogged faithfully for 5 years. :-) I learned so much from you all and enjoyed sharing our lives. Take care!

Elements of a Story

We will be finishing up most of our subjects in about 2 weeks! Alex is taking both an online history and an online writing class and those will not finish until mid-June. But, I have been busy making plans for next year. One thing I realized we need to study (though we covered it some last year in Classical Conversations) is the elements of a story. So, I started by going to Google Reader so I could look through the blogs I follow. This always turns out to be so useful! My first 2 "hits" were a post by Free Technology for Teachers (yet again!) and Jimmie's Collage.

Free Techonology pointed me to a neat site by Lerner:

http://www.educationalrap.com/song/characters-setting-plot.html

The Cost of the 12 Days of Christmas

Will True Love cost more in 2010 than in previous years?


I found a cute online pop-up book that shows you what the cost of giving the presents in the 12 Days of Christmas would be in 2010. Evidentally, PNC has been doing this for quite a few years. They go through each day and tell you if the price went up or down since last year and then give you a total cost for the gifts. What makes this even more fun, though, is that you actually get to use your mouse to make the pop-up activities work! There are also lesson plans and some games, but I think we'll be sticking to the pop-up book this year.

A Date That Will Live in Infamy

This video is a clip of FDR's famous Pearl Harbor Address. I also plan on watching this documentary narrated by Tom Brokaw entitled Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack. It is a National Geographic film. I have only watched the first few minutes, but it looks good.

Remember Pearl Harbor

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. CurrClick is offering a nice mini study about Pearl Harbor by "The Whole World Publishing." It is only $1! I'm going to buy it and read the story to my daughter tomorrow. It also includes pieces to make a lapbook, coloring pages, and questions.

Half Marathoner!!!

I'm in a posting mood tonight! This is my 3rd post in the past hour.

 

Anyway, I ran am now a Half Marathoner! I completed my first half marathon almost two weeks ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours 57 minutes and 10 seconds. And, it felt GREAT!!! I am already preparing for half marathon #2 (in Fort Worth, TX in February) and #3 (in St Louis, MO in April). I love running and I love being an athlete for the first time in my life!

Homemade Christmas Cards

Today Alex and I went to the first of FOUR Christmas parties this week. This one was for our church's homeschool group. We started the party by singing Christmas carols at a nursing home.

Each family was to bring some homemade Christmas cards to give out to the residents after we sang. I got out my old scrapbooking materials and put these 5 cards together after seeing a similar card online. I thought they turned out cute and had to post them!

After the nursing home, we went back to the church for the second part of the party - a gift exchange for the kids and then some yummy treats for us all!

Christmas Around the World

CurrClick has chosen 10 bloggers to take us on a trip to view Christmas Around the World. The first stop is China with Jimmie at Jimmie's Collage! I really enjoyed reading about some of the unusual Christmas traditions in China. And the second stop is England with Cheryl at Crispy, Not Crunchy. I have not visited Cheryl's blog before and really enjoyed reading her post and learning about Christmas Crackers, Christmas Pudding, and Boxing Day!

You can follow CurrClick's posts on their blog and travel around the world this week. Oh... and each of the 10 guest bloggers is having drawings to give away free goodies! So, travel the world, learn about Christmas, and you might even win something, too!