Happy New Year!

Happy 2007!

from

The Pelikans

Shogatsu

January 1st to 3rd are called Shougatsu (Japanese New Year) in Japan. January 1st is called gantan and is a national holiday. Shogatsu is the most important holiday in Japan. People say to each other "ake-mashite-omedetou-gozaimasu" (Happy New Year) whenever they see at the first time in the new year.

Japanese people eat special dishes called osechi ryouri during Shogatsu. Osechi ryouri is packed in a Jubako box, which has several layers. The foods are colorful and artistically presented. Each dish has a particular meaning. For example, prawns for long life, kuromame (cooked sweet black beans) for health, kazunoko (herring roe) for fertility, tazukuri (teriyaki taste small sardines) for a good harvest, kurikinton (sweet chestnuts and mashed sweet potato) for happiness, and more.

It is traditional for Japanese people to visit to a shrine or a temple during New Year's Days. People pray for safety, health and good fortune. The first visit to a temple or shrine in a year is called hatsumoude. It is not a very religious event but rather a custom. Many well-known temples and shrines are extremely crowded. Some temples and shrines expect a couple million visitors during New Year's holidays each year.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Many people believe that the 12 Days of Christmas begin 12 days BEFORE Christmas, but actually we are in the midst of the twelve days, which began the night of the 25th of December and ends on the morning of January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany.

Today is the 3rd Day of Christmas.

In the Middle Ages these 12 days were ones of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which culminates on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas Season.

Some Christians assign symbolism to the gifts in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, and this symbolism is what I thought would fun to share with you today:

The 'partridge in a pear tree' is symbolic of Jesus on the cross.

The 'two turtle doves' are the Old and New Testaments.

The 'three French hens' are the three Persons of the Holy Trinity or the three virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love.

The 'four calling birds' are the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; or their Gospels. Which makes sense because they are "calling" out the story.

'Five gold rings' are the first five books of the Bible, or the Pentateuch.

'Six geese a-laying' refer to the six days of the Creation.

'Seven swans a-swimming' are the seven sacraments and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

'Eight maids a-milking' are the eight Beatitudes.

'Nine ladies dancing' are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

'Ten lords a-leaping' are the Ten Commandments.

'Eleven pipers piping' are the eleven faithful Apostles.

'Twelve drummers drumming' are the twelve doctrines in the Apostles' Creed.

This interpretation is usually taught with the story that British Catholics, suffering persecution in the 16th century, wrote the song with these hidden meanings. The song would have served as a learning and memory tool.

For some coloring fun during the Twelve Days of Christmas, check out this link:
http://www.kidsturncentral.com/coloring/12dayscolor.htm

The Magic of Christmas

The Magic of Christmas

The magic of Christmas is so many things. . .
A holly wreath gay and a church bell that rings,
A tree all a-glitter, a candle's soft glow
And moonlight reflected on new-fallen snow;

A kitchen's aroma of sugar and spice,
Bright packages wrapped up so pretty and nice,
Red stockings o'erflowing with candy and toys
And hung by the fireplace for good girls and boys.

The magic of Christmas is found everywhere. . .
Sweet voices of carolers upon frosted air,
The jingle of sleigh bells across hill and vale,
Glad ring of the postman delivering the mail;

Good friends dropping in and the laughter so gay,
Store windows decked out in delightful display.
Dear Santa Claus chuckling his famed "Ho, ho, ho!"
And little tots whispering as Santa bends low.

The magic of Christmas is so many things. . .
A candlelit church and a choir that sings,
The being together with people we love,
Belief that the Christmas Star still shines above;

The caring and giving and goodwill towards men,
The Christ Child reborn in our hearts once again,
Contentment and peace and a faith strong within,
A spirit of love that makes all the world kin.

The magic of Christmas is all this and more,
May your day be merry with much joy in store
And may the bright mem'ries and glow ne'er depart. . .
The magic of Christmas live on in your heart!

~Beverly J. Anderson

Wave of Joy

Only 6 days left until Christmas - wow! Where has the time gone?

Christmas is a beautiful time of year in Japan! I am continually amazed by the gorgeous Christmas lights everywhere, and the signs that read 'Joyful Christmas.' Favorite Christmas songs are piped through the stores, and Christmas cakes are displayed in bakery windows. In Japan, Christmas is known more as a time to spread happiness rather than a religious celebration. It's Japanese New Year (called 'o shogatsu') that is more like our traditional Western Christmas. New Year is the period where families get together, have a special meal, pray and send greetings cards. New Year is celebrated over five days from December 31st to January 4th and is a very busy time.

A very dear Japanese friend wrote to me today proclaiming her understanding of our busy schedule as we tried to plan our annual get-together with them. She proclaimed that "we are [all] in a wave of joy and busy at this time," and this phrase "wave of joy" has been ringing in my ears ever since she wrote it. It made/makes me happy!

Even though it's a busy time, remember the wave of joy that is Christmas!

Advent

Advent is the period preceding the Christmas season. It begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle, and covers four Sundays. Because the day it begins changes from year to year, so does the length of each Advent season. This year, in 2006, Advent began on December 3.

The word advent, comes from the Latin, and means “the coming.” For centuries, Advent has been a time of spiritual reflection as well as cheer and anticipation. Even as the Christmas season has become more secular - with advertisers urging holiday gift-givers to buy and buy some more - Advent still brings joy and the observance of ancient customs. Christian families find quiet moments lighting candles in the Advent wreath, and children use Advent calendars to count the days until Christmas.

Two Holidays

Today, both Japan and the US celebrate a holiday:

Pictured here is a rendering of the "First Landing of Columbus on the Shores of the New World."



By Presidential Proclamation beginning in 1934, the second Monday of October is Columbus Day.


It was a long tiresome journey for the 100 sailors of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. Weeks passed with no sight of land. The food, water, and supplies were almost gone. Most of the sailors were restless and wanted to turn back. But, Columbus cheered them by talking about the riches they would find into the Indies. Finally signs of land appeared. Branches with green leaves and red berries floated past the ships. They then saw in the distance LAND! Sailing closer, sandy beaches and green forests appeared. Columbus and the sailors thought they had arrived in India, but actually they had discovered America!


In order to give federal employees 3-day weekends, a 1968 federal law made several changes in dates of holiday observances. Originally, Columbus Day was observed on the 12th of October, until 1971 when it changed to the second Monday in October.
Italian-Americans feel pride in the day due to the fact that Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailor, sailed to the Americas. Many royal courts were interested in financing the voyage, but Spain financed the ships for Columbus' brainchild.

Trying singing these songs, just like children in America do, to learnChildren learn little poems to help remember the year Columbus landed in America:

COLUMBUS DAY("Mary Had a Little Lamb.")
Columbus sailed the ocean blue, Ocean blue, ocean blue. Columbus sailed the ocean blue, In fourteen-ninety-two. Columbus sailed the ocean blue, Ocean blue, ocean blue. I enjoy making discoveries,too. How about you?

OH, COLUMBUS("Oh,My Darling Clementine.")
Oh, Columbus; oh, Columbus, Sailed the ocean wide & blue. He landed in America, In fourteen ninety-two.

In Japan today is SPORTS DAY:

The second Monday of October is Taiiku no Hi, or Sports Day, a national holiday to foster healthy minds and bodies through physical activity. It was established to commemorate the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which were held from October 10 to 24. It was designated a national holiday two years later in 1966. Until 1999 the holiday was on October 10, but beginning in 2000 it has been changed to the second Monday of the month.

Kiss And Hug

Kiss And Hug
Remember the childhood lyrics:
Kiss and hug,
Kiss and hug,
Kiss your sweety
On the mug.

1. Of course, we didn't know it at the time, but that puppy-love activity holds the secret to some positive affects as an adult. Some time ago, a West German magazine released its fascinating results of a study conducted by a life insurance company. This study found that husbands who kiss their wives every morning:

live an average of five years longer,

are involved in fewer auto accidents.

are ill 50 percent less time,

earn 20 to 30 percent more money

National Clean Hands Week

September 17 - 23, marks the establishment of National Clean Hands Week started by the Clean Hands Coalition, a unified alliance of public and private partners, working together to improve health and save lives through clean hands.

• Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.
• It is best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds.

Sympathy

Sympathy comes from the Latin sympatha, from Greek: συμπάθεια transliterated as sympatheia, literally: to suffer together also: affected by like feelings or emotion. Thus the essence of sympathy is that a person's feelings reflect or are like those of another or that a person suffers as a response to, or because of, another person's suffering.
Sympathy exists when the feelings or emotions of one person give rise to similar feelings in another person, creating a state of shared feeling.

Dearest Friends and Family;
Elina wrote the following entry on her internet Live Journal. I (we) am so proud of this very special daughter.

From Elina:
it's a difficult thing to tell people that you've lost your child, that you're no longer pregnant. it's awkward to wait until they ask how the pregnancy is going.monday, monday i went to the doctor. i hadn't been in since august 2nd, before greece. i was to be 12ish weeks along, in to see my wonderful doctor baginski, who delivered the angel sleeping a room away. he was supposed to tell me baby number two was growing and healthy, to hear the heartbeat, to send me away for another two weeks.he didn't.first we couldn't find a heartbeat. that happens, he said. it's early still... then we looked from an external ultrasound... he saw something, but didn't say much. "could there be something wrong" "there could... but let's look inside". so we do an internal ultrasound.we found a baby, and we found a heart, but it wasn't beating...

we spoke in his office in soft sensitive tones, i was impressed to find him as ideal a doctor in grief as he was in celebration. there were lots of tears, and jesse and i spent the day together as a family watching the ocean foam and roar as it always does. its waters were warm and refreshing and washed me with a feeling of smallness, of a larger plan, a bigger picture. life is a dance.

the next morning i lead worship with the children, singing "You give and take away, ...still my heart will choose to say, blessed be Your name" and i raised my hands and let my voice echo in the crowded room, and made my choice. many are the plans of man, but the will of God WILL come to pass. this child has a great destiny, and it's not here with me.this morning was the hospital's collection of her remains. i drifted off to sleep with an oxygen mask, and awoke in a recovery room, one body instead of two.

Grandparents Day!

Grandparents Day equals bragging day! Here are a few of the many adorable looks and wonderful moods of Miss Karis Lei, and
Miss Misha Rose ...







Every year, on the Sunday after Labor Day, grandparents all over America are being honored by their children's children. It's an opportunity to show love and help children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance an older generation can offer.

The water in Epidavros is warm, clear and refreshing! As Misha and I would go strolling around on our many walks in the mornings while Elina was in her icon painting class, we saw scenes like this:

The blazing crystal blue sky was a constant reminder that we were in another world. This first
picture is from a little nearby beach that looks back at the town of Epidavros. Isn't it just like way you always pictured a Greek fishing village would look?
Looking at this picture, it's hard to believe we were here just a few short weeks ago.


The scent of orange blows in on the onshore morning and evening breezes. Orange orchards and olive groves are in abundance around Epidavros, so you can imagine how delicious the fresh-squeezed orange juice tasted to our often times parched throats.

Today is Labor Day

Today, September 4th, is Labor Day in America. This national legal holiday is over 100 years old. Through out the years, it has evolved from a purely labor union celebration into a general "last fling of summer" festival.
The celebration and large parade in honor of the working class was first held in 1884, by the Knights of Labor. The parade was held on the first Monday in September. Later, in 1894, Congress passed a law recognizing Labor Day as an official national holiday.
Labor Day is generally regarded simply as a day of rest, and unlike May Day, political demonstrations are rare. It has come to be recognized in the U.S. not only as a celebration of the working class, but even more so as the unofficial end of the summer season. In the northern half of the U.S. at least, the summer vacation season usually begins with Memorial Day and ends with Labor Day.
Many colleges in America, as well as some secondary and elementary schools, begin classes immediately after Labor Day.
State parks, swimming pools, and campgrounds are all quite busy on Labor Day, as vacationers take one last advantage of the fading hot season. It's also one of the most popular weekends in the year for weddings; a time when friends and family are on a holiday from work and school, and therefore, able to attend the wedding. So ... it only made since for us to be married on Labor Day weekend! September, of course, is the month that marks the beginning of autumn, marking the time of year when the average daytime maximum temperatures take a plunge in most of the U.S.

34th Wedding Anniversary!

September 2, 1972

On this day 34 years ago, we we married!
A very wise father of the Church once said,
"The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together. Men will take up arms and even sacrifice their lives for the sake of this love. St. Paul would not speak so earnestly about this subject without serious reason; why else would he say, Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord? Because when harmony prevails, the children are raised well, the household is kept in order, and neighbors, friends and relatives praise the result. Great benefits, both for families and states, are thus produced. When it is otherwise however, everything is thrown into confusion and turned upside down. When the generals of an army are at peace with each other, everything proceeds in an orderly fashion, and when they are not, everything is in disarray. It is the same here. For the sake of harmony, then, he said, Wives, be subject to your husbands as to the Lord .... and husbands, love your wives!"


This was our wedding invitation:
"Our children, Tamera Lei and Philip John, will be united in marriage, Saturday, the second of September, nineteen hundred and seventy-two. Their vows will be spoken at six o'clock in St. Paul's First Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, California.
We would be honored to have you share these happy and sacred moments with us, witness their vows before the Lord above, and be our guest at the reception following at the home of the Bride.
May God bless this love of theirs, we pray,
Mr. and Mrs. David Robertson Keyte
Mr. and Mrs. Milo Samuel Pelikan"

We have loved each other these 34 years, and we fervently pray that we are granted 34 more!

california pelikans, signing in. big things coming, i can feel it in the air... expect big things.

The Pelikans in Greece

Whew! I made it to Greece and back! And what a journey it was too. After arriving last Thursday, I've realized more than ever that my body will get the sleep it needs whether I like it or not. With security at the various airports, and hours and hours of travel, there is no doubt it's all taken it's toll on me. It wasn't until today that I was actually able to get up and out of bed at a decent hour (0700 this morning) and back on my feet, so to speak.

So, where do I begin to tell you about my amazing trip? I think I have to start with my granddaughter, Misha. Getting to know her by spending every day, all day, with her, was such a delight! She got to know me too! She is a very sweet and friendly little baby, so she came to me right away. By the end of our visit, however, she reached for me like we'd been together forever - just what I longed for!

Each day Elina was in class during the morning and evening, so Misha and I went on little adventures together. Midday was much too hot, so we mostly stayed inside during the afternoons.

The icon that Elina painted during her class is exceptionally beautiful, and we are so proud of her. Isn't it breathtaking? The title of this icon is "Sweet Kissing" - The Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus are cheek to cheek with love for each other.

Elina worked very hard every day to raise her level of skill, and without a doubt, she accomplished her goals!

We saw so much that words can hardly do it justice, but at least this little bit will get me started with the story of the Pelikans in Greece.

More to come ...

The theatre in Epidavros ...

Hello from Greece!
Well, we all made it to Greece, safe and sound. Today is our second day here, and we are finally getting caught up with sleep enough to start enjoying ourselves.
I can say without reservation that we are in paradise! Epidavros, what a gorgeous place! It's very hot, but the heat is dry and bearable - especially in the mornings and evenings. Everyone here takes time in the hot afternoons to rest, and then prepare for dinner at about 9:00 PM!
I ate the best Greek salad I have every had, with the best of breads - this area is famous for it's bread (among other things that I wil write about later).
Misha Rose is an absolute doll, and a joy to be with. Just think, she's in Greece at 10 months of age - wow!
I promise to send pictures soon, and write here as often as I can.
Take care everyone ...

Blessings,
Tamera

Today in History

On July 25, 1956, while sailing off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts bound for New York City, the SS Andrea Doria collided with the eastward-bound SS Stockholm of the Swedish-American Line in what was to become one of history's most famous maritime disasters. Struck in the side, the position (list) of the mortally wounded ship left half of Andrea Doria's lifeboats unusable, which might have resulted in significant loss of life, but improvements in communications and rapid responses by other ships averted a disaster similar in scale to the Titanic disaster of 1912. Most passengers and crew survived. The evacuated luxury liner capsized and sank the following morning.
The incident and the aftermath were heavily covered by the news media. While the rescue efforts were both successful and commendable, the cause of the collision and the capsizing and sinking of the Andrea Doria afterward generated much interest in the media, and many lawsuits. The Andrea Doria was the last major transatlantic passenger vessel to sink before airplanes became the preferred method of travel.

Monday Ladies

Hello to all of my Monday English students. Tonight's entry is especially for you:

How did you feel about English today? Did you feel like you were understanding more and more? Here are a few more reasons to keep studying English ...

Remember:
About 1,500,000,000 people in the world speak English. Another 1,000,000,000 are learning it.

• 75% of the world's letters and postcards are written in English.
• Almost all international conferences and competitions are conducted in English. For example, the Olympics and the Miss World contest.
• Diplomats and politicians from different countries use English to communicate with each other. English is the main language of organizations like the United Nations, NATO, and the European Free Trade Association.
• Travel will be more easy. You will communicate with people wherever you go — English is spoken in more than 100 countries. You can ask directions, have a conversation, or... ask for help. Who knows, maybe English will even save someone's life someday!

A NEW ENGLISH CHALLENGE

Studying English for just 15 minutes every day gives you much better results than studying for a whole day twice a month.

Liberty Bell Rings - July 8th, 1776

July 8th, 1776
The Liberty Bell was situated in the tower of the USA's capital building (at the time) the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall). It rang to summon citizens to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence which had been adopted on July 4th 1776.

The bell has the following inscription on it:

"Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof"
At the close of the reading the bell in the cupola pealed forth the glad tidings of the birth of the Nation and the spectators "gave their hearty consent with three loud huzzas and cried out "May God long preserve and unite the Free and Independent States of America."

Independence Day

It's just a few days before the 4th of July, so I thought a little history review might be in order .... It's fun for me to remember what it's all about too!

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."
When John Adams (the 1st Vice President and 2nd President of the United States) made the above statement, he was actually off by two days. Yes, the vote on July 2nd was the decisive act, but July 4th was/is the date of the Declaration itself.

The Declaration of Independence is the document in which American colonists proclaimed their freedom from British rule. The Second Continental Congress, with representatives of the 13 British colonies in America, adopted the declaration on July 4, 1776. The document included an expression of the colonists’ grievances and their reasons for declaring freedom from Britain. The Declaration of Independence’s eloquent rhetoric and political significance rank it as one of the great historical documents.


The first celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, four days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted. On that day the declaration was read aloud, city bells rang, and bands played. Within a few years the Fourth of July was observed throughout most of the new nation.
Today, many Americans observe the Independence Day holiday by having parades, picnics, barbecues, or other outings with friends and family. Community fireworks displays take place in the evening. The Fourth of July fireworks displays in many large cities are broadcast on television.




Learn more about this holiday:
http://www.sunniebunniezz.com/holiday/4ofjuly.htm

Read the Declaration of Independence text: http://www.imustread.com/html/declaration.html

Ten tips to build English vocabulary

Feeling overwhelmed trying to memorize so many vocabulary words? It doesn't need to be a daunting task! Check out these top strategies and practical pointers that can help you build your word power!
Connect: It's easier to memorize words based on a common theme. Make your own connections between words and possibly organize them in a spider diagram.
Write: Practically using vocabulary can help it stick in your mind. Write sentences with new vocabulary words or compose a story using a group of words or expressions.
Draw: Expose the artist in you by drawing pictures related to the words you study. Your drawings can help trigger your memory in the future.
Act: Get your moves on by acting out words and expressions you learn. Or, imagine and act out a situation where you would need to use them.
Create: Design flashcards in English and study them in your spare time. Each week make new ones, but continue to review all of them.
Associate: Assign different colors to different words. This association will help you recall vocabulary later.
Listen: Think about other words which sound similar to the words you're learning, especially complex words. Associate the other words with this new word to help you remember the pronunciation.
Choose: Remember that topics that interest you will be easier to learn. Therefore, carefully select words that you will find useful or interesting. Even the process of making the choice is a memory aid!
Limit: Don't try to memorize the dictionary in a day! Limit yourself to 15 words per day, and you'll gain confidence instead of feeling overwhelmed.
Observe: Keep an eye out for the words you're studying when reading or listening to English.

http://encarta.englishtown.com/sp/Portal.aspx?Otag=O00269

Don't Panic the Skunks

Marlene, a mother of six children, walked into the house one day and spotted her children huddled together in a circle. When Marlene approached her children to see what the intense interst was, she could hardly believe her eyes. In the middle of the circle of attention were several baby skunks.

The shocked mother screamed at the top of her voice, "Children! Run, run, run!"

At the sound of their mother's alarmed voice, the children each grabbed a skunk and ran. The screaming and panicking set of the danger alarm in the skunks, of course, and each one off them dispelled its horrible scent. Each and every child became mercilessly doused with the hideous smell.

The lesson here is quite simple: The mother had caused the very chaos the she feared simply by

overreacting to the situation. We can learn a lot about people and their reactions from this story.

Allowing situtions to be blown out of proportion does not help to handle difficult situations or difficult

people, for that matter. Don't allow another's difficult behavior to consume your life. It may caouse th double

stress - or as it was this case, six-times as much stress!

Once we become adults, most of us recognize without a doubt that social skills are critical to success and happiness throughout life. We need to effectively work with others, resolve conflicts, communicate, and make and sustain relationships. Friendship is not a structured curriculum taught along with reading and math. Children usually learn the subtle nuances of social interaction through trial, error, and experience, and by watching the adults around them succeed in social situations. But, so do we! We adults must learn these things as well ... remembering to:

• 
  Effectively work with others - Assumptions are the termites of relationships. ~Henry Winkler
• Resolve conflicts - Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. ~Paul Boese
• Communicate - When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen. ~Earnst Hemingway
• Make and sustain relationships - To know when to be generous and when firm—that is wisdom. ~ Elbert Hubbard

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one." ~C.S. Lewis

Of course, it goes without saying (ha ha ha), that speaking too loudly will irritate your listener!
A smooth, easy cadence when speaking will endear your listener to you and what you have to say. Make a choice to use a natural, friendly and pleasant voice.
Be aware of your voice and how it sounds. When you have a smile in your heart, it reflects in the tone of your voice. Which brings me to CELL-PHONES!

Cell phones are a technological privilege that most of us, of course, find useful in our day-to-day lives. At the same time, however, many people agree that cell-phones have also created an unwanted intrusion in our lives.
According to a recent article in the Washington Post, a transit police officer arrested a woman who was disturbing the peace with loud cell-phone talk. She has been charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Sakinah Aaron had, in George Saoutis’s view, been talking just a bit too loudly into her mobile as she walked into a Metro station in Washington DC. He told the pregnant 23-year-old to lower her voice - and was promptly informed that he had no right to tell her how to speak. There followed a verbal exchange and some pushing and shoving before Aaron found herself stewing for three hours in a cell.
Eventually, she was released but the Transit Police say the officer was protecting the peace by removing a woman who had overstepped the boundaries of civil behavior because she was loudly cursing into her phone.
While some free speech advocates say it's the Transit Police who overstepped boundaries, others believe that when it gets to the point where people are not using proper speech etiquette, the proprietor of a closed space has the right to enforce the etiquette.

Here are a few guidelines to follow in cell-phone etiquette, which we can apply when speaking face to face with a person, as well:

Speak softly and gently so you may not disturb others
Keep your distance from other people
Keep you conversation private
Keep a civil and pleasant tone
Turn off your cell phone or put it on vibrate or in silent mode where it would be rude if a phone rang. (such as at the movie, or during church - for heaven's sake!)

Initiative:
One of the great advantages of the swan is its abiltiy to fly as a flock in a V-formation. Its speed would be drastically reduced were it not for the flock's ability to fly in this manner. The whistling swan is capable of attaining speeds up to 100 miles per hour.
It has been calculated that 25 birds flying in a V-formation are able to travel 70% farther than one swan flying by itself. This tremendous increase in distance is possible because the lead swan "breaks the trail" for the others which follow. Consequently, air resistance is lessened as each swan benefits from the upwash of the widening wake of the one preceding it. Less total lift power is required!
The lead swan has the most difficult task. When it becomes tired, however, it drops back and a new leader takes over, giving it an opportunity to rest. For some swans the great northerly return flight may be as long as 3,000 miles. Because of the initiative of one swan in taking the lead, the swans are able to relieve the pressure from others in the flock and greatly increase the speed at which they travel!

"A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm." -- Enrik Ibsen

"Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things." -- Jesse Jackson

"Nothing so conclusively proves a man's ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself." --Thomas J. Watson

I must take a momentary break in "10 Tips fo Social Success," since the article I saved and am using has gone missing. In the meantime, however, let me talk to you about "Forgive - and live longer."
The physical healing we are looking for can sometimes come through forgiving others, but it's not easy! Experts say holding a grudge raises levels of damaging stress hormones, and that over time, this can harm the heart and raise the risk of depression!
But ... certainly forgiving takes time and effort, right? Well, that's ok!
Holding a grudge against someone brings on all kinds of invisible stress, and according to research done at Hope College in Michigan, when people remember past slights:

- their blood pressure increases
- their heart rate increases
- their muscle tension is higher

Other research suggests that stress hormone levels increase when we can't forgive and forget! The result is a weaker immune system and possibly imparied neurological function and poor memory - wow!

The remarkable thing is that when we really love our neighbor as ourselves; We do unto others as we do unto ourselves; We hate others when we hate ourselves; We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves; We forgive others when we forgive ourselves; We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves. -- Eric Hoffer

Tips for Social Success - #3
Keep it Short:

Telling long stories about people and topics others may not know or care about will bore and tire them. It's better to get right to the point.

Be sure to make eye contact, include some questions for your listener in your conversation, and watch for signs of your listener losing interest:

• If your listener isn't making eye-contact with you, this could mean you've lost them already.
• Does your listener want to ask questions? Keep them on track by saying you'll get to their question is just a second.
• Is your listener relaxed? That's great!
• If your listener changes the subject, it may be he/she is unable to keep interested in what you have to say, and it's definately time to GET TO THE POINT!.
• Has your listener tried to change the subject? Not good! It may be that your listener is not practiced at being a good listener, but that isn't your concern right now.
• Is your listener smiling, or crossing her arms and shifting her weight from one leg to the other? Look for little signs that you're losing his/her interest by watching body language.

It's just make sense, and is definately good practice to remember to KEEP IT SHORT!

Baby Smiles


When I see her smiles, her giggles belong to me.
When I see her tears, my hugs belong to her.
A giggle – a grin,
A sob – a frown,
Mimi writes them all down.
Away, on the far side of the world,
Baby smiles, baby curls!

Jaroslav Pelikan falls asleep in the Lord
Christ is Risen!

We have just learned that my husband's first cousin and St. Vladimir's seminary trustee Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan, fell asleep in the Lord this afternoon; Saturday, May 13 around 2:30 pm ... after a long battle with lung cancer.

The schedule of services in the St. Vladimir's seminary chapel is as follows:
Tuesday evening; May 16, 7:00 pm VIGIL (FUNERAL) SERVICE
Wednesday morning; May 17, 9:00 am MEMORIAL DIVINE LITURGY
Recognized by many as the most noted church historian of our time, Dr. Pelikan, along with his wife, Sylvia, made St. Vladimir's his parish home upon his reception into the Orthodox Church in 1998.
Memory Eternal!

Click below to read more about this incredibly amazing man:

http://www.yale.edu/history/faculty/pelikan.html
http://www.loc.gov/loc/kluge/pelikan.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaroslav_Pelikan

How did Mother's Day begin, anyway?

The custom of honoring mothers goes back at least as far as 17th-century England, which celebrated (and still celebrates) Mothering Sunday, celebrated the 4th Sunday of Lent.

... but, in America Mother's Day was first suggested in the year 1872, by a well-known woman, Julia Ward Howe (she wrote the words to a famous hymn - The Battle Hymn of the Republic). There was already a day in May dedicated to peace, and every year Mrs. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Massachusets.

In 1907, a Philadelphia woman by the name of Ana Jarvis, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her own dear mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated throughout Philadelphia.

Ana Jarvis and her supporters began to write to everyone they could think of, with the idea of establishing a national Mother's Day. They was successful! By 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every American state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.

Tips for Social Success - Tip #2

"Don't flaunt knowledge. You may think it makes you look smart and informed, but others may find you pompous. "Talking at" people is the kiss of death in making a good impression."

To be enriching, knowledge must be combined with love. We must learn how to share truth and knowledge in love, without singing our own praises!

In the Bible (I Corinthians 8:1-2), the Apostle Paul tells us that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up:
"If anyone fancies he knows anything, he does not yet understand as he should; but if anyone loves God, that person is known by Him." The "building up" given in Scripture here is like the way it is when building a house, where "puffed up" carries a meaning of being inflated like a balloon.

Paul is certainly not condemning knowledge, and of course, neither am I. Indeed, he was probably the most knowledgeable apostle of all; a highly educated and cultured man. That knowledge was put to great use in the service of God later in his ministry, but before his conversion to Christ, he used his knowledge to persecute Christians. Later he confessed that he esteemed everything he had before he came to know Christ, including his knowledge, to be quite useless and meaningless.

Paul also said: "Faith without works is dead." Likewise, "Knowledge without love is dead." In fact, knowledge without love is a dangerous enticements. Remember this: true knowledge comes out of love. True knowledge is a fruit of love. It is humble, not boasting, not attention-seeking. False knowledge is occupied with the "self" in a bid to impress others. It only puffs up the soul in pride.

Seven seconds is the average length of time you have to make a good first impression.
Although individuals should be judged by their worth, it is often a first impression that determines whether someone will take the time to let you reveal it. What a shame to allow an unwitting social blunder, such as an incorrect introduction, an inappropriate question, or an absent handshake, be the determining factor of whether someone gives you the time you need to show your attributes and abilities. If your initial meeting is not good you won' t ever get another chance to make a good first impression.
Some years ago, I cut out a little article named "10 Tips for Social Success," with the hopes of sharing it with others, and just remembering these tips for myself. Over the next 10 days, I will share these tips, along with a little of my own commentary to go with:

1) "Share the Stage! Talking about your interests is fun, but remember that social encounters can be short and others enjoy talking about their interests too."

The word ‘etiquette’ used to mean "keep off the grass". Louis XIV’s gardener noticed that the aristocrats were walking through his gardens and put up signs, or étiquets, to ward them off. The dukes and duchesses walked right past these signs. Due to this blatant disregard, the King of Versailles decreed that no individual was to go beyond the bounds of the étiquets. The meaning of etiquette would later include the ticket to court functions that listed the instructions on where a person would stand and what was to be done. Etiquette, like language, has evolved, but it still means literally "keep off the grass". Until the 1960’s, the importance of good manners were taught without question, but with the liberated 70’s came a decline in the popularity of teaching proper etiquette. In 2004, a new emphasis has been placed on returning to traditional values. Proper etiquette and protocol has given children and adults alike a vital tool that not only provides a competitive edge, but a sense of confidence.*

* From an article written by Dorothea Johnson, Protocol School of Washington

Celebrating Boys Day Koinobori - Carp Streamer By Keigetsu (1876-1963)


Golden Week in Japan is a group of national holidays, beginning with April 29th and ending with May 5th.
With well-placed weekend, this is not only the longest holiday period in Japan each year, but a very popular time for many family traditions, as well.
April 29: Midori no Hi
- Green Day, -April 29 was the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, Showa period, who died in 1989. Following his death, the holiday was changed to Midori no Hi, in honor of the environment and nature.
May 3: Kenpo Kinenbi
- Constitution Day - on May 3, 1947, the new post-war constitution became law.
May 4: Kokumin no Kyujitsu
- "Between Day" This recently created national holiday was added in order to make the Golden Week a continuous holiday period.
March 5: Kodomo no Hi
- Children's Day - This holiday was originally called Tango no Sekku or Boys Day or Festival. Families with boys would celebrate by flying koi nobori or carp streamers and gogatsu ningyo or May dolls.
Now all children celebrate this holiday with their parents and enjoy special foods such as rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and mochi wrapped in oak leaves. Oak and bamboo symbolize longevity and strength. Hinamatsuri or Girls Day is celebrated on March 3 and is not a national holiday, although there are many that feel it should be.

Travel Hint :If you are going to Japan on business, do not go during Golden Week! However, if you are looking for a lovely time of the year and a cultural experience, by all means, a visit during this week is a great idea!

Easter Babies!

Easter has always been a special time in my life. When I remember Easter's past, a flood of wonderful memories comes crashing in. This year is a special year too, however. New life is all around the Pelikans!
Easter is a time for celebrating the new life we have in Christ, and what I like to call "The Power of the Third Day." That Power is our Lord's victory over death, as He rose from the grave; Easter is the culmination of an especially long season of penitance and prayer, which helps us even more to appreciate Christ's sacrifice for us. The Easter egg is a symbol of resurrection, representing the emergence of Christ from His tomb to everlasting life.
This Easter Season, not only everlasting life, but we celebrate the return from war of our son, John, and his first Easter with his daughter, Karis Lei. (Last year John was in Iraq, and Rondi & Karis Lei celebrated Easter in Japan with Mimi & Papa)
We celebrate the new life of our second grandaughter, Misha Rose, as well. Jesse & Elina are continuing the Pelikan tradition of raising precious, joyful, and gentle little girls - Karis Lei and Misha Rose!
Even though we Pelikans are separted by many miles, our hearts are always joined in love, prayer, and devotion - for God, and for one another.

Just as we long to hear certain things from our husbands, our husbands long to hear us say certain things too! Here are a few ideas:

• Thank you .
• I'm sorry.
• Other men could learn alot about _____ from you.
• You are wonderful.
• That was really great.
• You're so smart.
• You look so handsome in that shirt.
• You brighten up my day.
• Thank you for being my husband.
• I don't feel whole without you.

Today is another day in the healing of my broken foot saga. It seems a never-ending recovery process, and I just want it to be all better - NOW! I take my time up and down the stairs, but I'm hopelessly impatient. I generally find it impolite to go on at too great a length about one's own aches and pains but I feel as though I need to document this publicly as part of documenting my life (I think).
Here is where the break is:
Looking at the picture you'll see the very tip of the 5th medatarsal bone (toward the middle of the foot) just where it meets the cuboid bone; this is where the break is. It is tecnically a toe-bone, and I broke a piece of it off, as well as cracking it somewhat. I rolled my entire foot, so all the toes were black and blue, and are only now starting to feel somewhat normal.
I must say, however, that it is wonderful to have my husband home! A few weeks of crutches, a two-story house, and trying to take care of myself, was no small feat! I did it though, with the help of a few friends and the love of my wonderful dog, Sherman. He was, and is, my constant companion.

7 Ways to show your committment to your spouse!

Go to a place that holds special memories for both of you and talk about the following commitments, or make a new special place, and promise to:

• Never publicly hurt each other.
• To protect each other's reputation and feelings .
• To be faithful emotionally and sexually .
• To keep promises .
• To be honest .
• To never threaten divorce .
• To love each other all through your lives
• Never throw trantrums!

... speaking of tantrums...

Using Time-Outs

Most of us know that when kids are somewhere between 2 to 3 years old, they are also ready for a fairly new concept to them - the Time-Out! Time-outs work like this: When your child misbehaves, for every year of her age, she gets one minute to sit quietly in a chair or in her room to calm herself down (for example, a 3-year-old gets three minutes). She gets up when you say so, or the bell goes off on the timer and time-out is over.
Of course, every child is different, and no one discipline method will work all the time. Our role during this phase is to teach our children to make choices, to teach them to grow up as dependable, highly functioning people, right? But the more practice you get working it out, and the more your child understands boundaries, the happier everyone will be. Most young children have temper tantrums at some point. There are three basic reasons: one, she is tired, sick or she is overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness and frustration, and these feelings can't be held in any longer; two, she's angry because you didn't give in to her and she wants to be independent and have her own way; and three, she's trying to get your attention because she feels left out, ignored or lonely.

With this in mind, it might not be a bad idea that when I misbehave (extended temper tantrum phase), should I not sit quietly in a chair or in my room and set a timer for 50 minutes to calm myself down? (Hmmmm ... this could be profound!)

Ten Things to Never Say to Your Spouse

• What's wrong with you?
• I wish you were more like__________.
• All you ever do is complain.
• I can never make you happy.
• What did you expect?
• Don't you think you got what you deserve?
• You're lazy. All you do is__________.
• You're irresponsible.
• You're just like __________. (your mother, father, sister, etc.)
• I don't know why I put up with you.

Happy Birthday, Jess!
It's March 3rd here in Japan, but in America it's March 2nd ... a very special day for the Pelikan family. Or now32 year-old son, Jesse, was born on this day, and the Phil Pelikan family began! He has a family of his own now(pictured here with his new baby girl, Misha), and we are so proud of him, but especially today! We honor him~

Today in Japan it's girls day, Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Day Festival, which is held every year on March 3rd as a celebration of spring, when the ornamental peach trees are in bloom. Traditionally, the dolls have been given to a girl on the occasion of her first "Hina Matsuri" by relatives and close friends. They are often passed from mother to daughter as family heirlooms.
Karis received her first doll when she was here in Japan for her first Hina Matsuri, by our very dear friend Satchiko Young. Now that we have this precious new addition to our family, she will need her own doll too!

Today is Sunday, and we had 63 people in our morning worship service. What a wonderful morning we had.
It's a rainy, busy day, but a good one.

Why do we meet on Sunday anyway?

Sunday originally was celebrated by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans as "the day of the sun." Christians transformed the day of the sun into a weekly celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.

One New Testament account tells us that the Christians met to break bread "on the first day of the week" (Acts 20:7), which they called the "Lord's Day." For a time, it appears that Christians who were of Jewish origin marked both the Jewish Saturday and the Christian Sunday (maybe anticipating our own two-day weekend- ha!). The Sabbath (Saturday) being a day to rest before beginning the work-week, and the Lord's Day (Sunday) being the day of worship in the "liturgy," which means "the work of the people (for the Lord)."

keep reading ...

Sunday seems to have become the Christians' special day for two reasons. First, to make a distincion between their day of worship and the Jewish sabbath on Saturday. Second, Sunday was the day Jesus rose from the dead, so it was natural to celebrate the resurrection every week on the day when Jesus first came back to life. "It is Easter which returns week by week."

One early Christian writer, Justin Martyr, put the idea of the "sun's day" and the "Son's day" together: "Sunday... is the first day, on which God transforming darkness and matter made the universe, and Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead on the same day." Jesus, the Son of God, fills our lives with light, similar to the way the sun pushes back the darkness of night, which can symbolize sin.
These ideas seem to go together neatly, but it was hard for Christians in the first few centuries of the Church to share the Eucharist on Sunday. For about three centuries, Christianity was an illegal religion in the Roman Empire. To be a Christian was to be a criminal.

one little paragraph to go ...

Until the 300's when Christianity was tolerated and then made the official religion of the Roman Empire, Christians had to work on Sunday. They probably attended the Eucharist early in the morning or late at night. In the city of Rome itself, they crowded in the catacombs underground to avoid being caught. (And we think we have a tough time getting to our worship service!)
In the year 321, the emperor Constantine, who was a follower of Christianity, declared that the "venerable day of the sun," Sunday, would be a day off for everyone. But it wasn't until the year 506 that a Church council laid down a rule that Christians had to attend worship services every Sunday.

Adapted from The Sunday Zone:Keeping theLord's Day Holy
by Christopher M. Bellitto

So far away; doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore; it would be so fine to see your face at my door; doesn't help to know; that you're so far away ...








Oh, how we miss these sweet little girls!

There Is Always Hope


Near the end of the movie Old Yeller, Fess Parker makes a wise comment when he states that sometimes, for no reason at all, life will just knock a person to his knees.

But, let's be honest, life is not always like that. Often better times are just around the corner - and we can hope in that!
There is a great and powerful verse in the Bible that tells us to: "Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things." (Jeremiah 33:3)
When life seems too tough, and you feel lonely in your futile circumstances, you can revive your heart through prayer.

God promises that if you call on Him in times of trouble, He will deliver you! (Psalm 50:15)




"Once a decision is carefully reached, act! Get busy carrying out your decisions--and dismiss all anxiety about the outcome." (Dale Carnegie)