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)

Happy St. Valentine's Day

St. Valentine is a martyr from before the year 312, commemorated on the 14th of February. He was probably martyred on that date, but nothing else is known of him. (A Valentine, priest of Rome, and a Valentine, bishop of Ternia (Interamna), are both commemorated on 14 February, and now generally assumed to be the same person.) In many parts of Europe, it was once said that birds began to pair off for the nesting season in mid-February. Since our forebears often spoke of a given day by naming a saint connected with it rather than by giving the month and the number of the day, we find them saying that birds choose their mates on St. Valentine's day.

Historians have speculated that St. Valentine came to be given this title because his feast day fell around the time of Lupercalia, a pagan Roman festival of carnal love that later took on a more Christian character as well as the saint's name. For this to happen – if it is true – St. Valentine must have been highly regarded by the early Roman Christians. The saint is described as a brave, righteous and wise man and a kind and conscientious friend to those in need.

According to tradition, St. Valentine also cared deeply for the young: He taught lovers to read and write letters to one another, presented flowers to newlyweds and helped married couples in difficulties.

"Who is wealthy? He who is content with what he has." -- The Talmud

Collect more friends and fewer things. Friends need no packaging, mothballs, or insurance and they only need storage when they're the out-of-town variety. Besides, when we have friends to keep us happy, we need fewer possessions.

I am so excited! I have actually succeeded in adding an additional page of my own to my blog. If you look in the column on the right of the page, you will see a blogsite named: bee tidy. Check it out! It's a blog devoted totally to getting and keeping our homes and lives - tidy!

For war becomes a stark reality, when it camps on one's own doorstep.

DO YOU EVER THINK OF MOTHER?

Do you ever think of mother?
How I longed to see your face?
How I thought of you each hour?
There's no one to take your place.
How I prayed for you at twilight
When the evening shadows fall,
That our God would guide and keep you
Lest in some peril you may befall.
Son, don't forget my teachings,
Do right each and every day.
And, thank the Lord you did come back as pure and clean, sweetheart,
As the day you went away.

It's Monday here in Japan. The Super Bowl is over, and the weather outside is cloudy and cold! I have a pot roast in the crock-pot, and the house smells good. Warm food, good smells, winter cold - don't they just go together? But, when the weather outside is frightful, inside your home is hopefully warm and so delightful! Don't forget to protect your kitties, pooches, and all other furry little friends by following a few tips when the temperature takes a dip.

• Never leave you dog, cat, or any other animal friend alone in a car in very cold weather! A car can act as a refrigerator and your animal could freeze. Make sure that when you get out of the car, your pet comes along.
• Wipe off your dog's paws, legs, and stomach when he comes in from the snow, ice or rain. Salt or other chemicals might make your dog sick if he swallows them while licking his paws. What's more, his paw pads are sensitive and might bleed if snow or ice covers them.
• No matter what the temperature, windchill can threaten our pets life. Our dog or cat is happiest and healthiest when kept indoors. If your dog is an outdoor dog, however, he must be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow your dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his/her body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.
• Keep water fresh. Pets (and people) burn a lot of energy keeping warm in the winter, and need extra water to keep from getting dehydrated.
• The happiest dogs are those who are taken out frequently for walks and exercise but kept inside the rest of the time. As we all know, dogs and cats are social animals who crave human companionship.

Do you have tips for winter pet care?

As I said the other day, according to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow (a sunny morning), there will be six more weeks of winter. He then returns to his den and goes back to sleep. If however, he does not see his shadow (cloudy days), he plays around outside of his hole for a while. If he does not see his shadow, spring is just around the corner:

Did he see his shadow this year?


Phil Says Six More Weeks of Winter!
Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/06 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:

"It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Around the country there are many imitators of me.
In Harrisburg there is Gus who appears on TVworking for the lottery.
Then all around town,Cute groundhog statues abound.They all look like me, I found.
Today on the Knob as I'm doing my job,I don't like this likeness of me.
It's my shadow I see. Six more weeks of mild winter there will be."


Did you know ...
... that professional cleaners schedule every job? Nobody hires a cleaning service that promises to arrive "some Saturday when nothing else is happening." Take a tip from the pros, and set up a regular weekly cleaning schedule.
There’s nothing like the feeling of a completely clean home—but you won’t get it by cleaning in fits and starts! The pros don’t quit until the job is done, and neither should you. Schedule the job and stick to it to get the work done in record time.

Today is Ground Hog Day:
The most famous forecaster of spring is Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog who makes his predictions in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. No one is quite sure how he gained his fame, but townspeople claim his predictions have been extraordinarily accurate. Every February 2, thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney to await the groundhogÂ’s verdict: the groundhogs are said to emerge from hibernation, prompting the popular forecast of an early spring if the weather is cloudy or six more weeks of winter if it is sunny.

Did you know ...
you can prevent good glassware from getting etched by minerals when running them through the dishwasher by NOT running them through the dishwasher! Wash them by hand in a sink full of hot water to which you've added a smallamountt of dish soap and one cup of vinegar. Rinse and towel dry. Viola ... sparkling glasses.

Did you know ...
To clean your car windshield, one of the best cleaning solutions is 1/2 cup baking soda mixed with a quart of warm water. This will clean insects off the windshield and clean the wipers too. Apply with a piece of mesh onion bag wrapped around a sponge.

I thought it would be fun to have a cleaning tip on my blog page, on at least a semi-regular basis. I'm trying to think of interesting ways to get my friends and family to visit, and I know that I would visit to catch the latest and greatest cleaning tip ...won't YOU?

If one advances confidently
in the direction of his dreams,
and endeavors to live the life
which he has imagined,
he will meet with a success
unexpected in common hours.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Blog Blessings ...

It's difficult, and at the same time exciting, to try something new; this blog is definitely new on the learning curve for me ... but a blessing and very fun. Hang in there with me, and please leave a comment - now that you can easily follow the prompts to post a comment!

A Mother's Joy!

Isn't this picture wonderful? Such joy on John's face - finally hugging his family after a long year at war! I can hardly express the feeling I had as Elina, Misha and I, together with Rondi and Karis, strained to see our son enter the gymnasium at Fort Irwin late on the night of January 5th. Memories of John throughout his life with us came crashing to my mind, begging to be remembered! It's a mother's joy to see this kind of happiness on his face. After-all, does it get any better than this?

John, Rondi and Karis are off to Georgia for his captains course. It's a five month course for final preparation to command his own Army unit. We are not sure where he will be stationed after the course, but at least the family is together during his time at school. Brad and Stephanie are there too. Even though Brad is a couple months ahead of John at the course, they will all have a few months together before parting ways once again.

I wouldn't have missed seeing this in person for all the world! It is good, however, to be home in Japan now with Phil. He wasn't able to be at Ft. Irwin for Johnny's return, due to his incredibly busy work schedule ... and he was sorely missed. But, we have wonderful pictures to share.

John and Rondi must be commended for the incredible job of maintaining a flourishing relationship while apart.

Karis and Daddy know each other, because of things like her "daddy video" where she can see and hear him reading books to her. And also from her "daddy bear" John had especially made for her with his own recorded voice telling Karis how special she is to him and mommy.

Phil and I are so very proud!

Let them both know how proud of them you are as well, by posting a message on this blog for them to read.

Please post messages here for John and Rondi. That way they won't be bombarded with email, but can read them at their leisure. There will be many days, as they transition, where access to a computer may not be convenient.

Well, this has been an absolutely incredible few weeks. Rondi, Karis and I left Japan on the 27th of December, and I took the train from Los Angeles to Sand Clemente to be with Jesse and Elina, while Rondi drove the rental car home. I got to stay with Jesse, Elina & Misha Rose a little longer than expected, since John's flight from Kuwait was postponed several times. We drove up to John's house in the desert on the 5th of January to anxiously await his homecoming. It was wonderful! (I will definately write more about this at a later date).
For the rest of these past few weeks, I have been busy seeing friends, helping (a little) with a combined 70th birthday for my dad, and a homecoming party for Johnny. Each one thought the party was for the other person, so it was a bit of a surprise for both of them. It was a wonderful time, and my brother Lee and his wife Janet did an absolutely terrific job.
I'm in Grass Valley, CA, now, taking care of puppies and the house while my aunt and Uncle Cliff are at the hospital in San Francisco. Uncle Cliff has been very ill with liver cancer, and these past few days we have been in the middle of another terrible episode of jaundice. It's not quite clear just exactly what is causing all of the trouble this time around, but a big difference for me is that I'm HERE, instead of across the Pacific, to help in any way I can!
I hope to write again soon, so ... stay tuned ...

Our son, John ( he's the one on the left), is returning from Iraq this week Rondi, Karis and I leave Japan tomorrow, and head for California. It's hard to believe that Johnny has been in Iraq for a year now, and it's so difficult to put words to our feelings during this kind of thing ... but, we are in the military and this has prepared us - somewhat .
All the family will be together again soon, and as I'm so fond of saying, all will, again, be right with the Pelikan Family!

It's Christmas ... Christmas in Japan! If we roll all of the years together, this actually our 10th Christmas stationed in Japan. The first three Christmas's were when we were first married; from 1972-1975. We came to Japan again from 1995-2000, and then again starting in January 2004! Wow - 1/4 of our marriage has been spent here in Japan.
It's not so bad though.
Our first Christmas we experienced here in Japan after coming back in the 1990's, began with surprise music and signage. We are astonished and amused in early December each year, when in practically every store Christmas music is playing—in English! Everything from Nat King Cole - roasting chestnuts on an open fire, to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the trance remix. Huge Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas and my personal favorite, Joyful Christmas banners flap in the wind from the sides of the various department stores. Christmas in Japan is a relatively new festivity which is celebrated mainly in the cities ...
For most Japanese people celebrating Christmas, it's a purely secular holiday, however, devoted to the love of their children. They do not have a turkey or plum pudding, rather the day is spent doing nice things for others—especially the elderly. Some decorate hospitals with Christmas trees to lift the spirits of the sick, and children are even chosen to sing Christmas Carols to the patients! Others may even put on plays about the birth of Jesus. Christmas decorations abound through-out the cities. Tinsel and lights are hung, and trees are decorated with paper ornaments, small toys, gold paper fans and lanterns—even little wind chimes. *NOTE: The Christmas trees are usually purchased with the decorations already in place. Artificial trees --- there is no live Christmas tree market.)
Japanese children call Santa, "Santa Ku-roh-su" and he is believed to have eyes in the back of his head so that he can watch the children all year Children often call him "Santa no ojisan," which means "Uncle Santa."
There are two special Japanese Christmas customs: First, is the Daiku, or Great Nine, which refers to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. This is traditionally performed in many places at Christmas time (though probably as much in conjunction with the New Year), sometimes with huge massed choruses for the famous part with what American Christians sing as a hymn—Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.
All in all, it doesn't feel a whole lot different for us than being in America. There are crowds of people shopping to help us feel "right at home." (ha ha) With our daughter-in-law and granddaughter here for Christmas this year, new feelings of joy waft from the kitchen of the Japan-Pelikans!
Merry Christmas to all ...

Why is December 24th called "Christmas Eve"?

In old times, days started at sunset, so the evening of the day, the "eve" happened first. Then we changed to days starting at midnight. So now the "eve" is evening of the previous day. So "Christmas Eve" is the day before Christmas.

Is there a way to lessen the feelings of pressure that seem to attach themselves to the Holidays like annoying little flies--ewwww? I believe there is! Here are just a few things to do on the spot to quickly bring the joy of Christmas back to the situation:

1. Look at picutures of your children and/or grandchildren (our newest addition to the Pelikan Family, Misha Rose - born October 17th... are you smiling already?)
2. Listen to happy music
3. Watch a Christmas movie
4. Drink wassail with lots of rum in it! (hee hee)
5. Laugh
6. Sing
7. Take a nap
8. Do something nice for someone
9. Clean something
10. Cook something

What do you do to bring instant Christmas joy to the situation?

I'm thinking ... should I have a distinct title with each entry? It seems like others create blogs that way. hmmmmmmm?

... and if this is a good thing, it will look good too.

Christmas and children just seem to go together, don't they? This is our granddaughter, Karis, when she first saw the Christmas tree. I was commenting recently about the way it seemed like there was three months between Thanksgiving and Christmas when I was a kid. Now, what with deadlines and committments, Christmas is here and gone before ya know it! But, these precious smiles keep shining long after Christmas has passed.

How can we make Christmas memorable for our children and grandchildren? As Rondi and I were talking about today, one of the best ways to do that is by having yearly Christmas traditions. Here are a few that come to mind:

• Build an ornament collection for each child in the family
• Make your own greeting cards
• Invite someone for Christmas dinner that would otherwise be alone
• Read the same special stories each year
• Japanese oranges have a special meaning to the people who live in the Canadian Prairies. A gift from the East, their arrival at the coldest time of the year has brightened many homes and Christmas feasts for 110 years. To many, the festive season begins when Santa Claus welcomes the first major shipment of Japanese mandarin oranges at the Port of Vancouver, accompanied by young Japanese girls dressed in tradition kimonos. On Christmas morning the flavourful fruit find their way into many children's Christmas stockings.

Do you have Christmas traditions in your family? Would you please share a few with me?