I AM WITH YOU

  I AM WITH YOU.  These four words are like a safety net, protecting you from falling into despair.  Because you are human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience.  But the promise of "SOMEONE'S PRESENCE" limits how far you can go.  Sometimes, you may feel as if you are in a free fall, when people or things you had counted on let you down.  Yet as soon as you remember that "SOMEONE IS WITH YOU", your perspective changes radically.  Instead of bemoaning your circumstances, you can look to that "SOMEONE" for help.  You recall that not only "that someone" is with you, "that someone" will always hold  you by your hand, and guide you with counsel, and afterward you will surely feel better.  This is exactly the perspective you need: the reassurance of someone's presence, and the assurance that your situation will never worsen but instead be better so cheer up...... find that "SOMEONE".

In my child rearing, I always make my children feel that I am always with them no matter what.  I do scold them when they make mistakes but at the end I make them feel that I did it because I care and I am happy that they tell me everything, be it good or bad.  I WILL ALWAYS STAND RIGHT BESIDE THEM WITH TENDER LOVING CARE.

Christmas Time

   Christmas is one of the most wonderful time of the year for me.  It's a day when we celebrate it with the family.  When the family is together, it helps you appreciate the love in our lives that we often take for granted.   During this season, let us take time to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life.  Let's give, remember and share the love especially to the ones in need and reach out to the people who touched our lives. 

Rice Terraces in Wakayama

I had the chance to visit this beautiful place in Aridagawa Town.  I've been living in Wakayama for 19 years but I never knew about this place not till I met a friend who told me about this last month. 
As I was looking at these sceneries, these things just flashed into my mind.  All true beauty reflects to our eyes as they are.  Let go of the bad vibes and welcome the good ones.  Know what you need in life.  Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way.  Finding fulfillment in things that you cannot buy like love, friendship, trust and faith is important.  Be satisfied with what you have.  So long as you are happy, that's the only thing that matters.  Instead of grasping and controlling, learn to release and receive.  Cultivate what you receive and release it again.  Trust yourself in every situation.

SPEND YOUR FREE TIME WITH NATURE

 

Learn to unwind whenever possible.  Just rest, relax and feel the breeze of the cool wind.  This electronic age keeps us “wired” most of the time and too tense.  How much time and energy do we waste by being always on the go, rather than taking time to seek the direction for our lives. 

 

I had a time to visit Oishi Highlands (Oishi Kogen) to see the Japanese pampas grass.  It was my first time to see such and I was so amazed of the beautiful scenery of it and its surroundings.  The weather was cool since it’s on the mountain but it was so refreshing that you wouldn’t really mind the little shake it brings to your body.  If you have time please visit it. I would really suggest that you visit the place and you can forget reality even for an hour or so.  It’s like recharging your overused battery.

Sharing your best moments

Some of the Best Moments at Home 1. Having dinner with the whole family with laughter. 2. Seeing my eldest son playing with the youngest inside the bathroom. 3. My two dogs keeping me warm while we all lie down on the sofa. 4. My son putting the blanket on me while I’m about to sleep. 5. Sharing jokes and simple stories with the family. What are yours?

Child Rearing (Sports Festival)

No matter how busy I am, I see to it that I find time to see the activities of my kids in school. But what can I do if I really want to see the event and yet my child doesn't want me to come? Let me tell you a story about my son. I'm not really sure what his reason was but since I want to respect his thoughts about it, I've decided not to go to his school events for two years. It was his last year in high school and I asked him if it's alright to go. He said no, he doesn't want me to be there. But I've been contolling myself not to go for two years even if I really wanted to, just for the sake of our relationship not to be complicated. So I told him straight, sorry but I really wanted to go and even you tell me not to, I will go since it's your last year. Do you have a problem with that? And he didn't react badly as I was expecting but these were his words, "Have it your way!!!!". And yes I told him, I'll do that. I readied my video camera and he borrowed the camera. On the day of the event, I asked him what game he is going to participate and he encircled the program. He saw me taking video and he did wave his hand to me. He danced and while I was taking the video he was all smiles. It was kind of weird. When I went home, he asked me whether I saw his great performance in the "cavalry battle". This boy said he doesn't want me to go and yet asking me whether I saw his outstanding effort? Really a weird boy. But maybe I was just lucky that everything turned out well. It has been my policy to say directly what I want to say. To my kids, I let them do this too but always reminding them that they should be very careful on how they say it. I'm basically their mother that should always be respected but can always be a friend if they want to.

Being a mother

Yesterday, I had a talk with my son and his teacher. After hearing what the teacher has to say and all of his advices to my son, I just end up saying "Son you have the capability of doing what the teacher just said so I guess you just have to do your best."
He replied this way, "I feel annoyed of what you said, mother." The teacher said to me, "Don't worry about what your son said. The teen-agers in his age feel that mothers are annoying." If I was younger, my reaction would be scolding him in front of teacher.
But I guess I've learned and matured to be a better mother. So I just told him that, "The more you hate me, makes me think that I'm doing my job as a mother very well." And the teacher said, "You really are a positive thinker."
It's so hard to raise kids in Japan basically they have a different culture as mine. No matter how hard I try to do it in my country's style, it just doesn't work sometimes.
Before it was so easy for me to cry when something happens but now, not anymore.
I try to look at situations on the different side and if I am capable, think of my children's feelings at the time the situation occured.
Being a mother is difficult and frustrating sometimes but once you overcome the hurdles, I always thank God that He gave me the opportunity to be a mother to my kids.