Merry Christmas

今日は, Konnichiwa, Hello and greetings from Misawa, Japan! We hope this letter finds all of you doing well and enjoying the holiday season with your family. We have had a very busy year ourselves and can’t believe we just hit our one year mark of being here in Misawa. Time has flown by so fast. I will admit it’s been a little tough especially during this holiday time being away from Mark, family and friends. Though we are very grateful for the opportunities and blessings this assignment has brought to us for it has opened many doors that may have not gotten opened if we had not accepted this assignment to Japan. This truly has been another testament of how the Lord has a plan for all of us and will plant you where he wants you. There is a time and season for everything; we just have to be patient as things unfold.
Well if you haven’t heard, Mark has been away from us for the last 3 months. He is currently doing a tour over in Iraq and is due home sometime next year. Thank you to all of you that has kept him in your prayers, sent him cards, letters, and packages. You don’t know how much that keeps his spirits up. Though he has to be away during the holidays, we understand and our grateful he is serving our country and protecting the very freedoms we all cherish. Hunter, Joshua, & Hailey understand why he’s gone, but to hear Rylan say when asked, “Where is Daddy?” and replies, “In Iraq, helping.” just makes my heart melt that he has a sense as to where and why his Daddy is gone! Mark is able to call twice a week. He has also been sending home a package about every other week of him on DVD reading a book. The USO sponsors this program called United Through Reading where it gives troops the opportunity to read a book and be recorded reading it. Then the DVD and book is mailed home to their family. So, Mark has been going over to the USO trailer on his day off making us DVD’s. The kids have really enjoyed getting a new book in the mail from him as well as being able to see him and hear his voice on a regular basis. I have gotten enjoyment seeing their faces light up when they see him on the DVD and follow along in the book as he reads it to them. Especially that little Rylan, he tries so hard to keep up with turning the pages!

The kids are growing up so fast…Hunter and Joshua are now 11 and 9, Hailey is 5 and Rylan is 3. They are all enjoying school! Being in a DOD’s school has brought great educational opportunities for the boys and Hailey. Hunter was selected from his class to compete in the Geography B finals in January. Here he will compete among his peers and continue on to District should he win. He is looking forward to the competition and has been studying and reading the newspaper in his extra time. I laugh to myself when I see him reading the newspaper because he reminds me of my mom, Grammy Barbie when he reads it…lies on the couch and has 3 or 4 newspapers to catch up on! (LOL) Hunter completed all of his requirements as a Weblos Scout and has crossed over to Boy Scouts and still playing soccer. He’s enjoying his season playing in the 11-14 year old league with this being his first year of playing in this league, he is learning a lot and having fun!
Joshua is playing indoor soccer too! It is such a treat to watch him play soccer as well as any sport because everything comes so natural for him. He is on great team this season and they are currently undefeated. Joshua was elected Mayor at school in November by his peers. We had weeks of campaigning and Hunter quickly stepped up and said he would be Joshua’s campaign manager since he knows so much about history and had just completed a unit on the electoral college. I just laughed when standing in the kitchen making lunches the morning of that conversation! Joshua is also learning Spanish as well as Japanese. He can speak both languages rather well and always has a hand in helping me with my Japanese when we are off base He has a few laughs at my expense when I say the wrong thing in Japanese…and let me tell ya I have made my share of mistakes!

Since moving here and starting kindergarten, Hailey has come out of her shyness bubble and knows everyone she sees wherever we go! She’s become my little social butterfly. I spent the summer working on her reading skills and was so proud of her starting the school year reading. All of her hard work has paid off and her teacher just moved her up to the next reading level before the Thanksgiving break! She was so excited to show me her new reader that had more than one sentence on the page to read! She grinned from ear to ear when she came home. I also signed Hailey up to play indoor soccer. Her Daddy would be so proud to see how aggressive she is going after the ball and how good of a goalie she is. Just last week the team they played scored a lot of goals and the only quarter they didn’t score a goal was the quarter Hailey was the goalie! I love that she can be rough and tough but also a little lady when she needs to be.

Mark will be coming home to a different little boy then what he knew when he left! Rylan is now a “big boy” like his brothers. He walks like a big boy, talks like a big boy and he lets you know, “I’m not a baby, I’m a BIG BOY!” He really has become “the” 3 year old toddler. After Mark left, Rylan learned how to go potty on the potty, climb the cabinets, make water messes whether it’s in the sink or the bathtub, ride his bike, started preschool, knows all his numbers, is learning his letters and letter sounds AND would play soccer if they had a league for 3 year olds. Maybe I should start one and be his coach! He loves Thomas the Train and could tell you everything and anything about Thomas along with Lighting McQueen and TowMater from Disney Cars. The kid just doesn’t miss a beat and tries so hard to keep up with the other three. Even though he’s now a big boy, he will always be my baby!
As for myself, I have taken up the hobby of photography and enjoying every minute I have behind the camera of capturing those special moments of the kids. Those moments are priceless memories that I will have forever. We are ever so busy as you can imagine, always on the go…but I am truly enjoying just being a mom and having the opportunity of being at home raising my kids. They are growing up before my eyes way too fast! With Mark being gone I have had ample time to reflect over the many blessings we have received over the last year, and there just isn’t enough words to describe how very grateful we both are. I love this time of year because it allows us to not only reflect upon the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ but also our own personal lives and blessings. We wish all of you the very best with the upcoming New Year. May all of you find Peace, Joy, Love, and Happiness as you celebrate this holiday season.

Love,
Mark, Melissa, Hunter, Joshua, Hailey & Rylan