"Do you understand?"

Just before I came to Japan, I was certain I would be fluent by the time I came home. Then a month into being here, I realized it was going to be a little harder. I have never made it through a entire day here, where I understood everything that was being said. Yet, when I reach to do my Japanese studies, I realize how far I have come. Today, for fun I looked back on my old lessons and the first lesson I had, I learnt how to say "my name is kaila", which now seems way to easy. I think to often we are to hard on ourselves to make it to the next step, or accomplish the next task. That we forget to stop and realize how far we have come. I think this is the same with God, we forget to thank him for everything he has done for us and go right into asking him to help us with the next situation. So, I have changed my prayers from asking God to wake up fluent to thanking him for what I have learnt so far and all the opportunities I have had to speak to the people who I normally wouldn't be able to speak to.

PSALMS 118:21
"I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation."

No snacks.....

Well it has now been two weeks of not eating snacks. I have to say only twice have I broke the rule and that is because, when people give it to me I have to be kind and eat it (But, not saying I don't enjoy it)! Now after today I will have one month to go. It's kind of interesting though, I thought I would find myself craving snack and wanting to buy them, but I am not! When I do want a snack I find myself wanting Japanese snacks like sweet bean paste and mochi(pounded rice) with ice cream in the middle. So, maybe this is good practice for when I come home and won't be able to buy these absolutely tasty snacks at the local convenient store or the grocery store down the street.

New Colors....

Are these colors okay with everyone?????
I am having a hard time trying to make it all match and work together, but this is what I came up with.....
What do you think???

My Valentine's Day Surprise....

Just so I don't shock anyone, I haven't gotten any flowers from any cute guys.............. well at least not yet anyways!

But I have a great story.....

Yesterday I went to the onsen (Public bath house) after spending a great day at a snow festival, pictures to come. But, as I was washing my hair in the onsen I realized that my eating lots of candy and ice cream recently is now starting to show. I didn't think about it much, but this morning when on the train I decided to stop eating junk food and ice cream (which does not go under the junk food catagory) until April when Sara, Janet, and Sam come. So, walking home I was so proud of myself for making this decision, it was the first time I have ever decided to do it. Got to my apartment and was making my lunch when the door bell rang, I thought who could it be at lunch time on a Tueday, but I procceded to answer the door. It was the mail man and he asked if I was Kaila Cook and I said yes. He gave me a bag with three packages in it. I was not expeciting it and to tell you the truth I forgot Valentine's Day was this week. I opened the packages to find Valentine's Day cards, candies, and popcorn. I was so excited and then I remembered my plan not to eat junk food. I literalty sat down where I was and pondered the decision, not to mention while all the yummy stuff was lying in front of me. Let's just say I decieded to start not eating junk food on friday.

I want to thank Nan, Pa, Janet, Jeff, 2E, John, and Annie for the wonderful Valentine's surprise. It made my day..... no my week......nope my MONTH.... thank you so much! I look forward to eating it all before friday when I can't eat any until April.

HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY!!!!!!!!!