this post is for my family

This post is for my family. As you all know I won't be home for christmas this year, but here is what I'll miss about christmas at the lukasiewicz home.

Dad: I'm going to miss you yelling at me from the bottom of the stairs to get up, get ready, and get down stairs to help clean the house for family. I'm going to miss the 15 minutes it takes for all of us to open our gifts seperately or altogether (which ever one we decide on this year). I'm going to miss making faces at you to let you know that something rediculous has just happened in the lukasiewicz household and to make sure you're well aware of it also. I'm going to miss the random gift-o-neccessity that you give us from the bottom of your heart.
I love you dad. As you're opening gifts this year minus one of your children just remember that I love you and I'll be missing you.

Mom: I'm going to miss your rants as we're all cleaning for family on Christmas day after opening gifts. I'm going to miss your comments as presents are being opened. I'm going to miss getting the house ready for company with you. I'm going to miss your wise-cracks about dad. I'm going to miss your laugh when one of us kids says a wise-crack about dad. I'm going to miss hearing you talk about the christmas past when family showed up 4 hours late for dinner. I'm going to miss seeing your wonderful christmas decorations filling the house. I'm going to miss your colaches. Just remember that I'll miss my friend on christmas and I'll be wishing I was helping you roll the dough for colaches. I love you mom.

Matt: I'm going to miss the one time a year that I get to see my older brother. Random though: thanks for helping me with math all through high school. I'll miss seeing you and sophie. I'll miss the way you take on your oldest son qualities and make Trent do something other than watch tv as the rest of the family is cleaning for company. I'll miss talking with you after everyone has gone to sleep. I'll miss hearing about what's been going on with you for the past year. I'll miss having my big brother back for this one time of year. I love you and can't wait to see you again. I'm sure your japanese is much better than mine and i'm ashamed to say that seeing as how I live in Japan and you're in Nebreska.

Linz: I'm going to miss you getting upset that people aren't helping as much as you when it comes to cleaning and cooking. Thank you for being such a wonderful sister. You're the perfect role-model of a daughter and sister. I'll miss hearing your commands directed towards me like i'll actually listen to you this time. I'll miss seeing you in the kitchen with mom mashing the potatoes for the perfect supper with family that will soon follow. I'll miss seeing you and mike sitting at Grandma and grandpa's cirle folding table eating grandma's wonderful chili soup well after everyone else is finished b/c you two just showed up. I love you and I'm sorry I won't be there this year. Maybe I can make a dvd of myself making different faces and you guys can play it as your opening presents and cleaning the house. I'll make happy facial expressions for you to look at while opening presents and I'll make yelling, mad, and "oh shut up." faces for you to look at while you're all cleaning. I'm sure you'll love it.

Trent: buddy, I love you and miss you. I'll miss seeing how much you've grown in the past year. I'll miss seeing you in the computer room drinking Mt. Dew and playing xbox. I'll miss asking you to get off of xbox live so that I can check my mail. I'll miss being in awe of what a wonderful young man you're turning out to me. I have to say for a while there i was worried;) just kidding. I'll miss seeing what you're doing with your hair these days. I'll miss running into hastings with you to do nothing. I'll miss seeing you and mom and dad interact b/c it's so different than how us kids were when we lived at home b/c you're basically an only child and it's just interesting to me. I'll miss having to reach up, instead of down to hug you b/c you've grown so much since i left for college. You're a great guy trenner. I can't wait to reach up for a hug again. Be safe and keep growing in Christ. You amaze me buddy.

My family: I love you. May God bless you and keep you safe for when I come home in April. Dad, feel free to make faces as if I were there to see them. I'll understand even from Japan. Mom feel free to think of me while you and dad get up early to have coffee and oreos. You can even set out a cup of coffee and six oreos for me at my usual spot. Wait...better made it 5 oreos. i'm trying to cut back on sugar:) Matt, feel free to stay up and talk to yourself at the bottom of the loft stairs like i was really there. Linz, feel free to shout commands from the kitchen to me to help out or clean something I'm not presently cleaning. Trent, feel free to play xbox the entire time the family is cleaning for company and then go watch the borne supremacy after everything is done.

thanksgiving dinner

It's kind of late at night and I need to go to sleep seeing as how I'm a responsible young adult who every year (oddly around my birthday) seems to have a new revelation as to just how much sleep I need and feel happier and happier to give myself those additional hours of sleep. THAT was a looooooong sentence.

So here are some pictures from this weekend. I'll write more later explaining my past couple of weeks, but right now I just want to post these so you have something to look at. Be sure to tune in later for explainations.


Rusty, Jason, and Aaron.


We had a small chugging contest.
Jon, me, Travis A., and Robbie Dobbie


Robbie and I PRE eating all of this glorious food...


We foreigners know how to stuff ourselves!


Robbie and I won the fake smiling contest.


My thanksgiving table. These guys were a great fill-in family for the holiday.
Jon, Traivs, Robbie, me, Holly, Stone
Greg, Marianne, Denver, and Peter.


Fake smiles all around!!!

Just so you all know...
I'm thankful for my wonderful family and friends. I'm thankful for the gift God gave me by sending me over here to experience Japan. I'm thankful that I have the use of my arms, legs, fingers, eyes, toes, and every other part of my body. I'm thankful for my shelter, food, clothing, and education.

More to come...

Halloween

Okay people. This is my costume...Mistreated Doll. Notice the cotton coming out of my wrist and the unhappy facial expression. Tattered clothes and twisted skirt. Aside from the fact that I had to tell everyone what I was, I think it was a pretty fantastic costume. What do you think?


left to right: Becca, Catera, me

Sorry for taking so long...

Yes I realize it's been about forever since my last post and I apologize. Things have been busy and when they slow down I don't really feel like blogging.
But finally tonight I kick my butt enough to come leave a little note on my blog for those of you who still check it out.

Lately I've been to a Halloween party, surfing, training for a marathon, and I've started doing pilates. It's been kind of crazy. People are coming and people are leaving and it's tough keeping up with everything.

Two weekends ago the AET's had a halloween party. There were "E-Males", cats, Kendo players, dorky prom guys, cows, cowgirls, Harry Potter and his Mogule, and a variety of other ideas represented. I, being the creative girl that I am, went as a "mistreated doll." I had cotton coming out of my wrists, nasty hair, a dirty face, and torn hose. OH! And only one shoe. The night held a chili contest and a costume contest. I tied for 1st in the costume segment of the night. A good time was held by all. I'll get some pics up soon.

Like I said I went surfing for the 4th time a couple days ago and I have to brag on myself a little bit. I stood up for about 5-6 seconds and actually rode a wave before falling over. I also must tell you that I was the only person out in the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean without a wet suit on. You can either look at that as me being incredibly tough or incredibly stupid. BUT the fact still ramains that I was able to endure the chill of the ocean and still push through to achieve a personal best in surfing.

I'm going to end this little update b/c I just got back from running and I'm tired and want to take a shower before reading and going to bed.

But just so you all know...I miss you. I love my family and friends. God has been good. That's SO just like Him. It's amazing to look back at events that took place only 8 short months ago and have the ability to see what God was trying to show you and thank Him for being patient enough with you to help you through whatever it was you thought was so hard and impossible at the moment. God is constantly amazing me. I hope I'm returning the favor.

I miss you all and I pray God watches over you and keeps you safe.

The Little People

This little guy is possibly the cutest kid ever.


This kid JUST dodged the ever hurtful concho. A concho is a crotch shot for little kids. It's completely normal to take a knock in the "precious zone" from the one who, just moments before, was your best friend. Oh kids!


Here they are practicing for their sports day. This, if you can't tell, is tug-of-war.

So these precious little people are the ones that get 2 hours of my life, once a month. If you ask me I should go every week, but the powers-that-be think differently. I would love nothing more than to get to hang with these cool, tiny, humans at LEAST once a week.