The never dull life of moi!

Hey everyone! Sorry for my silence. I can't believe it's March already....

I am actually borrowing internet while at my staff conference but... I wanted to take some time to tell you the highlights since my last post.

Three days after Okinawa I went to Utsunomiya's snowboarding camp... I got stranded at a teeny train station when a blizzard hit. Luckily Alan was there so we had a cup of coffee and waited for Tomo to come pick us up. I joined their BEST club to give a talk on "Why I am In Japan". It was a fun talk as I told mostly stories and gave a word picture of what hope is like. (Thanks Dad, for letting me use your cancer story to give an example of what sin is like... a nasty cancer!)

Two days after the Utsu trip I was home but packing for a quick trip to Kie's parents house. Here I made my own bead for a necklace (melted glass), watched Japanese drummers perform (amazing) and learned the word for "separate stomach" when they brought out dessert. Kie's Dad explained that you always think you are full after dinner but then dessert comes out and "waddya know?" you have room. :) It was a great time. It really warmed my heart to her family and to their relationship. Praise God.

Christy Haley came into town from headquarters so I took her around downtown Tokyo...

And then I came to Nagano for the Staff Conference. Jerry Bridges has been giving the messages and I have had an opportunity to share meals and have heart to heart talks with his wife Jane. I love amazing men and their wives. Especially their wives. I truly believe the saying that behind every amazing man is an even more amazing woman. All the great men of our time, like Bridges, Billy Graham, etc. they have amazing love stories and amazing wives. What a blessing to meet such a beautiful woman. She told me a story about another country and teared up when she told me. I, once again, realized how beautiful and tender it is when a woman cries... she's amazing.

Not to worry my parents (or Mikey) but I got sick with all my running around. I think God allows sickness to remind me that my body is not made with superpowers. I can't do everything! I got a sore on my chin which I have no idea how I got it. It looks like a quarter sized scrape! But to top it off!!! It got infected... which led to my lymph nodes swelling to the size of a gumball. (it sounds small but you never want that size of a lump growing really anywhere it's not supposed to). Man, oh man! Do I live an exciting life or what? I went to the doctor and got antibiotics. So I hope to be in the clear now.

I'm pretty sure I scared Mikey when I wrote him and told him I was sick... and then I lost all tower strength on my cell phone. Which means his emails to me were getting unanswered.... needless to say I'm going to be doing lots of groveling at his feet...

when i go to CALIFORNIA NEXT WEEK!!!!!! It's true, the traveling diva Joanna Kay, will once again be living out of a suitcase in the glorious presence of her amazing boyfriend Mikey and her amazing friends. I can hardly wait.

It's been great having all these plans but saying yes to some things means I have to say no to others... so it's making me focus on WHO and WHERE I want to spend my time...

I hope to share the things I'm learning from the Bridges some time soon... and I promise to post pictures (of everything but the sickness)... until then. I am off to continue living the exciting life God has blessed me with. Sorry to leave you all hanging... (however, my dear Jordan, it was great to know you are still reading my blog. I've missed your requests to keep up my blog.)