Adventures in Raw Food with Reiko

Our second client from Japan arrived 2 days ago. Among other things, Reiko Ueda is interested in sampling American-style raw food. I am no expert in raw food, but I am an expert in trying new things and doing research. Over the next month while Reiko is staying with us I intend to incorporate one complete raw food meal each day, some days we will have two and occasionally three. So far eating raw is much easier than I anticipated. I love fresh fruits and vegetables, so what is there to be intimidated about? Like everything else in life, raw food diets can be as easy or as complicated as you want them to be.

Today we made a green smoothie for lunch that turned out to be delicious. Here is the recipe if you feel like putting your blender to good use. I'll keep you posted if we discover any other winning recipes.


Kale and Pear Smoothie with Herbs
Serves 2

2 cups kale

1 1/2 cups water

2 ripe pears, cored
1/4 cup herbs (parsley and cilantro both work great)
1 frozen banana (remove the peel, cut into 1-inch slices, and freeze in a plastic bag overnight)
1 cup ice
1 Tablespoon flax seeds (optional)
Protein powder (optional)
1/4 avocado (optional)

Blend water, greens, and herbs for 15 seconds - 1 minute (depending on your blender) on high. Then add the pear, banana, ice, flax seeds (if using), protein powder (if using), and avocado (if using) and blend for an additional 30 seconds - 1 minute. 

Mai Yoshikawa

17 months ago when we flew into Seattle from Osaka we thought we'd be on a plane back to Japan in eight weeks max. Ha! You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men. I can't believe things have worked out this way. 17 months ago I would not have believed anyone saying that we'd still be in Seattle more than a year later. Regardless of what I thought we'd be doing now, we aren't. Ha! It just makes me smile the way life seems to work out better than you ever imagined.

When our dreams of living in Japan ended we started lining out a plan to bring Japan to us. Two weeks ago our first Japanese guest arrived from Osaka. Mai Yoshikawa is 49 and she would kill me if she knew I told you that! Mai is here to improve her fluency in English, experience American culture, and shop! On her first night with us she asked why we were going to bed at 11 PM? In Japan, shopping can be done around the clock and Mai sleeps an average of only four hours a night to accommodate her favorite pastime. She would shop all day and all night if I would let her...but that wouldn't improve her fluency now would it? I know, I'm no fun at all.

Mai at Rain & Co. Salon/Dayspa

Mai has been working hard on basic vocabulary, verb conjugation and overcoming the overwhelming desire to say everything in Japanese. I'm so proud of her. Along with English lessons she has been able to attend the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker, spend a day at the spa, workout American-style, shop at five different Malls, try Mexican food for the first time ever and attend several American Christmas parties and concerts. We are planning a trip to Victoria, B.C. this weekend. Before she returns to Japan we are going to go snowboarding at least once among other exciting activities.

Our whole family is pitching in to make this experience unforgettable for Mai. Her husband sent her a box of Japanese movies, which she really needed considering we sleep for 8 hours a night. Off the bat they wouldn't play in our "Region 1" players. Fortunately, I am married to a technology genius. Adam hacked a DVD player and made the movies play. Mai practically cried with happiness. Go Adam! Despite his many successes with Mai, he will never be make all of her American dreams come true, she wants meet Harrison Ford. LOL.

We are really enjoying having Mai here. She is helping us with our Japanese. We laugh during every lesson and almost every conversation. One of her favorite topics to discuss is how big everything in American is, including Americans! Time to hit the gym. :) The girls adore Mai and like to help her with her English. "No, no Mai, L-unch, not runch-e," said Teryn.

She is teaching me how to make Japanese food twice a week...she asked to because she needs a break from all this crazy American food. She is NOT a fan of Kraft Mac & Cheese. Her exact sentiment was, "Noodles, yes, cheese, yes, noodles and cheese, NO." Haha! Mai bought some umeboshi (pickled plums) last time we went to Uwajimaya (local Japanese grocery store). Shoot. me. in. the. face. Yuck! So sour. Everything else Mai has cooked I have LOVED and so have the kids. She made yakisoba one night and okonomiyaki tonight. 100% successes. She's like the Japanese mother-in-law I never had. She also taught me the Japanese way to prepare rice; rice we had to shop at four different stores to find. She's kinda picky about her rice. :)

There is a Japanese saying:
雨降って地固まる (ame futte chi katamaru) Literally: after the rain, earth hardens 

Meaning: Adversity builds character./After a storm, things will stand on more solid ground than they did before.


Being jarred  from Utah, to Japan, back to Seattle and now to Kent has been difficult but I am very thankful for the more solid ground I'm standing on now. I hope Mai will enjoy her time in America, rain or shine.

Thanksgiving

Have you ever imagined what it would have been like at the first Thanksgiving? In a word, rough. Massachusetts in November is cold. The pilgrims were struggling in so many ways: sickness, hunger, Indians, and severe weather. These people were struggling to establish a life from scratch on foreign soil. In 1623 there was a near catastrophic drought in the Plymouth colony, and yet the Governor William Bradford wrote in his journal:

And afterwards the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing. For which mercy, in time convenient, they also set apart a day of thanksgiving… By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine now God gave them plenty … for which they blessed God. And the effect of their particular planting was well seen, for all had … pretty well … so as any general want or famine had not been amongst them since to this day.

On a daily basis there are unpleasant circumstances that must be faced. The car needs repairs, your kids haven't finished their homework on time, you sleep through your alarm on the day when you have an important early morning appointment, your new mattress isn't nearly as "cloud-like" as the sales people made you believe it would be, it rains when you have outdoor family photos scheduled....the list could go on forever. Despite challenges, through the mercy of God, I feel thankful for so much.


I'm thankful for the home we can peacefully enjoy as a family.
I'm thankful for friends who visit bringing cheer and goodwill this time  of year.
I'm thankful to feel warm and safe when it hits 30 degrees at night.
I'm thankful that our new church congregation has made us feel so welcome.
I'm thankful that my daughters are happy, healthy and thriving.
I'm thankful for my grandparents and ancestors.
I'm thankful for my parents, all six of them.
I'm thankful for my siblings and in-laws, all fifteen of them.
I'm thankful for my darling nieces and nephews.
I'm thankful for our family budget.
I'm thankful for an understanding of my infinite worth (and yours) as a human being.
I'm thankful for a sound body and mind.
I'm thankful for ever-expanding business and personal opportunities.
I'm thankful for a generous and thoughtful spouse.
I'm thankful for 33 wonderful years of life.


This Thanksgiving, I hope you have many things to be thankful for.

Seeing God's Hand in Our Lives

On saturday I helped host an event for the women of my church. The activity went from 10 AM to 2 PM and involved making crafts and a luncheon. The committee for the event had been making plans for months; what crafts will we do? what food will we serve? where will we have the activity? Many hours were spent meeting, purchasing food and craft supplies. By friday night, the night before the event, my nerves were a little raw.

As we met on Friday night to set things up I couldn't help but think, "Is anyone going to come? Are these crafts the right crafts? Do we have enough soup and rolls?" Every conceivable worry under the sun was plaguing me. We set things up preliminarily and went home to get some sleep before meeting back at the church at 9:30 AM to put the final touches on.

Despite all our hard work I went home feeling wound-up and filled with dread.

Fortunately for me, my husband is a very patient man. In my moment of inconsolable fear he reminded me that this activity was meant to help the women of the church bond and come unto Christ. "Perhaps," he suggested, "you should talk to your Father about how you are feeling and see if he can help." What a man! I did just as he suggested and felt an overwhelming peace and comfort that everything would be fine.

In the morning, I packed up the food and supplies and headed for the church. I was the first to arrive and when I walked into the gym I found all our tables had been put away. All the food, supplies and decorations had been taken down and left in a pile on the stage. There was a janitor mopping the floor, which was soaking wet. For one moment I contemplated throwing my pot of soup on the floor and calling the Bishop to tell him the activity was cancelled. Then, that same feeling of peace and comfort filled my heart and instead I began again to arrange all that was in my power to arrange. Soon my committee members arrived and had the same greeting in our gym. Somehow we managed to forge ahead and put together the activity as the floors dried and the janitor pitched in.

Before we knew it, it was 10 AM. Ladies started to arrive. They made crafts. They talked. They laughed. They ate soup, rolls, vegetables with dip, brownies and lemon bars. The projects were fun and cute. The food was delicious. It had worked!

Around 2 o'clock I was standing in the kitchen dipping chocolate spoons with some of the ladies when I looked at the vats of soup on the stove and thought, "What are we going to do with all this left-over soup?" At that exact moment I heard a knock at the kitchen door. I answered it myself and found a dirty and disheveled man who looked to be about thirty and a little girl holding his hand, who was around five, the same age as my daughters.

He quickly explained that he needed help and wondered if there was a Bishop among us? He said, "Someone told me that if you go to the Mormon church they will help you." I told him there was no Bishop at the church. I asked him what he needed and he explained that he needed gas money to get his family of five to shelter. I remembered the soup. I asked him if they had had lunch? He replied that they hadn't really eaten in days. With the help of the other ladies we loaded him up with soup, rolls, vegetables with dip, brownies and lemon bars.

I don't carry much cash these days, but I found a $10 bill in my wallet and offered it to him. He thanked me and headed out the door.

After they left we just stood in the kitchen and cried together. I know there are hungry people in this world, but for me being approached by them is very rare.

God's hand was made manifest in that moment. God knows each of us, our needs, our circumstances. He knows. He calmed my heart in my hour of need and he sent this man and his family to my door in their hour of need. It was no coincidence that we were at that specific Mormon church building.  Our leftovers were no coincidence. I was right were I was supposed to be.

Mother Teresa once said, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." Our little activity for the women of the church was overflowing with love.

In the Bible, Jesus told Peter, "If ye love me, feed my sheep."

I thank God, my Heavenly Father for my life, my husband, my church, and opportunities to feed his sheep.

Self-care

Almost everyday I have a conversation with someone about taking care of yourself. Recently it came up with a lady I go to church with who stays home with her busy toddlers, like me. Caring for yourself has come up with strangers at the YMCA, my yoga instructor, my brother, my neighbor and my landlord. The fact that this subject keeps coming up has made me consider my position more consciously. How does one "take care of themselves?"

There are millions of self-help books dedicated to this topic, seminars taught daily from coast-to-coast and millions of psychiatrists, counselors and therapists who have dedicated their lives to helping others discover the best ways to take care of themselves. I offer only my opinion. I hope something I suggests helps you to take better care of yourself.

Psychology Today says of self-care, "Self-care is not self-indulgence.  Popularly, the terms self-care and self-indulgence are used interchangeably, as in "Oh, go ahead, indulge.  You deserve it."  We tell ourselves that we are practicing self-care when, in fact, we are engaging in self-indulgence.  Self-indulgence is characterized by avoidance of the effortful and substitution of quick and easy antidotes.  We tell ourselves that the stresses of the day have drained our energy and that vegging on the sofa with a quart of ice cream is all we can expect of ourselves.  Rather than shouldering the hard work of self-care, we settle for temporary and largely symbolic fixes - some of which actually stress our systems further."

Self-care begins with a healthy diet, regular exercise and getting enough sleep. If you know these areas of your life need improvement, start there. Make simple goals for improvement that won't overwhelm you, for example, "This week I will eat one salad instead of a carb-heavy meal I normally eat."  Or, "This week I will ask a friend to join me in doing a physical activity I enjoy, like playing tennis." Just having a goal written down on your fridge can help you remember that you and your needs are important. 

Here are some strategies for relieving tension and caring for yourself:
1. Deep Breathing
2. Guided Imagery
3. Mediation
4. Progressive muscle relaxation
5. Yoga
6. Praying
7. Music
8. Walking outside in the sunshine
9. Positive self-talk
10. Playing with children

One critical mistake I've made when managing my stress and tension is relying too heavily on my spouse. People get married to have someone around, besides their mother, who will tell them everything is going to be ok and give them a band-aid. This is a helpful and positive role your spouse can play in your life, but they are not an open keg you can tap to fill your emotional cup. Hence the SELF in self-care. 

I know it can seem daunting, but when you accept the challenge of caring for yourself the rewards are huge. You, your spouse, your children, your friends, neighbors, and complete strangers all benefit. 

I found that positive affirmations can also be extremely helpful in relieving stress, shifting your awareness and reframing your situation. Here are a few that have been especially helpful to me:

"I accept myself for who I am right now."
"I allow myself to think and dream in unlimited ways." 
"I expect only the best to happen and it does."
"I trust that everything comes at the perfect time and in the perfect way."
"All my experiences are opportunities to gain more power, clarity and vision." 

There is a Chinese Proverb that says, "Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are." Spend some time by yourself. Get to know who you are and what you need. You'll find much more satisfying solutions to your challenges if you do. Take good care of yourself. 

Lead Me

I love this song and just thought I'd share. Keep up the good work Fathers.

Mia's First Day of School

My oldest daughter, Mia started school today. She is the beneficiary of a Federal education grant that her school administrators applied for. As a result, she and 19 other five year-olds get four extra weeks of public education. Her first day of class consisted of a school provided breakfast, storytime, arts and crafts time, math, recess, and school provided lunch. She mentioned that she played "princess and the dragon with a boy named Micheal who has yellow hair." Sounds good.

I was surprised to learn that the kids would be getting breakfast and lunch as part of the program...but I'm not complaining. Her teacher explained that they want the children to be able to focus on learning, not grumbling tummies. Hmm. I always thought my daughters tummy was my responsibility. I don't want to get on a political soapbox here, but these kinds of things are happening a lot. Why? Why do they expect that I won't feed my child? What's next? School showers? Bunkhouses in the back for kids who can't get a good nights sleep at home? I honestly don't know what to make of it. On the one hand I'm pleased with the convenience offered, but on the other hand I feel like I'm getting benched as the chief cook and bottle washer. And don't even get me started with, whose paying for all this.

In any event, I asked Mia how the first day went and she said, "It was AWESOME!" Then I asked her if she wants to come back again tomorrow and she said, "YES!" Our adventures in education have only just begun. Wish us luck!