it's not life that matters but the journey...

I need to post some more thank yous, some of these are long overdue:

Thanks to dawnie1970 for the three virtual gifties on my profile page - the santa bear and candy cane are perfect for the holidays, and the hugs coupon I will definitely keep for times when I need it... how about now?
And thanks also to jojobruin for the virtual candles and the virtual snowflakes! The candle will help light my way through the decisions and things that must be done at the beginning of the new year!

Also a big thank you to dragonsrmd for the gorgeous Christmas card I got in the mail the other day. It's really a beautiful card - it looks home made. If so, I'd love to know how to make something so pretty! And also thank you to wolfpurplemoon and bayareajenn for the Christmas cards. I don't want to take down my tree and put away all the cards I got this year - they're all so lovely!!

Yesterday was more productive than Monday... In the morning we drove to Numazu to meet with some ladies about the classes we're going to start teaching in April. I guess we'll be doing two classes, one with 1st-3rd graders and another with 4th-6th graders. I have lots of time to prepare - it will just be twice a month for three months on Sundays, so it won't be too much work. If we get lots of students, we can make up to 10,000 yen in a day (which is about $80 at the current rate), which isn't bad. They will also be putting my picture and a little mini-bio in their insert which goes into the Shizuoka newspaper - which is great publicity for me and my new school!

In the afternoon I studied a little bit of Japanese - I really need to study more, like up to 2 hours a day! Then in the evening, my friend Akiko (who used to be my supervisor at the high school 12 years ago) came to pick me up. We ended up meeting her daughter Emi, who's 26, at the Chinese restaurant in Shin-Kambara, the town where I used to live! The dinner was great, and we had dessert (I didn't get a picture, I ate it too quickly), and I ended up with a new student! Emi wants to study English with me, and she's starting on January 15th! So as of now, I have two private students! Hopefully with enough time, this will double, then triple, then... well you get the idea!

There are moments when we feel overwhelmed with all that has to be done. But we really want this to work!

So today I'll finish my cards and packages and get them in the mail. Then focus on writing lessons, blogs, and studying Japanese. If only I could organize my time - it's already Wednesday and my vacation will be over far too soon!

Thank you to all my wonderful friends for all the gifts and lovely messages and posts! I got picspams from moondropz , ageless_aislynn and virtual cupcakes from dawnie1970 and dove95.

Also, dawnie1970 got me an extra special present - you are so awesome! what did I do to deserve such awesome friends??!

last night my husband bought me some nice cakes from the japanese bakery, and we each ate a piece each last night - strawberry mousse. we still have four pieces left - two cheesecakes and one chocolate, and one other that he picked out - we'll eat those after our spaghetti dinner which I'll pick up on the way home.

tomorrow I'm taking the day off from work, taking my husband to the airport (he's leaving for Japan for 10 days and won't return until June 9th), and then going to see Prince Caspian. Then I'll meet some friends for dinner and drinks at Bennigan's in the late afternoon. should be a nice day!
I'm a bit sad that my husband will be gone for 10 days! I'll miss him! but he hasn't seen his family for 2 years, so it's about time for him to take this vacation!

well i gotta go now. will post again soon!

to the lovely and amazing serialbathera for her appreciation post. she said the kindest things, and posted the greatest music and fanfics for me. you are such a sweetheart!

thanks again, Amanda!!