Sweet Home Alabama

I went to Alabama for a little visit July3-10 and had wonderful time! It is always great to see family and friends! My brother and his family also got to be there at the same time which is nice since they live in Colorado. Usually I go home during Christmas and by the end of my stay everyone is busy and they have to go back to scool or work etc, but this time it was summer so a lot of people had extra time off and wasn't so busy so it made it hard to leave. My time there seemed so short. I know that I am up here for a reason and moving to Japan for a reason and I  know I am right where I need to be. I am so excited to do God's will for my life! There is no greater place to be. Even though I don't get to go home and see my family and friends as often as I'd like, because of that it makes the time I spend there so much sweeter. I really do value my family and friends there. I am truly blessed to have Christian parents and family members who have always wanted me to follow God's will for my life. I love all of my family! I am also thankful for my church family back home. I grew up having a wonderful Pastor and church family! I am very thankful for Shelton Beach Rd Baptist Church and the role it has played in my life and my family's life.  I also got to spend more time with my dear friend Natalie which usually I only get to see a short time while home. All of the time I spend with everyone this trip was so special. I got to go to Presley's Lake with so many of my family memebers and really enjoyed it. Even though my time there was short I got to have little conversations with different people that was just great. I know I kinda sound silly but I truly value the relationships of those people back home! I cherish them. That's what is great about it. No matter how far away I live or how long it has been since I have been there we always pick up right where we left off.  I am blessed!

Amy  Ashton & Rebecca*~Buds~* Chad & River

Chad & River

Austin                                      Samantha & Patrick

Amy & Jayne                        River

Jamey, Sherry, Jim, Sam & Kyle                          Me & my Mama

Chad playing in the sand                Bobbie & Kendall

Amy & Jimmy                             Kyle eating some PB&J 

Ashton getting some sun           Kyle & Paw Paw playing in the water

Kyle showing me his "muscles"                     Amy & Sabrina 

River watching some seagulls 

River & Deborah                        Chad & Stephanie

Me holding Holly's new baby Brylee  ~  Her big sister Kaydence

Les and Kaydence                    Holly & her girls 

Andy & Erica                           Natalie & Jeremy

Holly & Les                      Erica, Nat, Amy & Holly

Me and Emily at her bridal shower 

Amy & Kathy                        Leslie & Amy

Hunter & Kellie

Samantha & Aunt Amy                   Jimmy & Aunt Amy

Kyle & Aunt Amy                      My sweet friend Angie and her little girl Claire

My dear friend Natalie and I at Orange Beach!

We were REALLY thirsty!

Haylee & her new puppy Tippie          Kendall striking a pose for me:)

Tori & Josh               Tori, Haylee & Kendall

As you can see my trip was great!

Currently Listening Howl's Moving Castle Original Soundtrack see related

Hair Cut!

I got my hair cut last night! It was getting pretty long and somewhat annoying. It was in a ponytail by the end of everyday, so I decided to go short for summer. Kristen Sachlaben is my hair dresser. She is really fantastic! Well here's the pics:

the front

the side

the back

What do you think?

Shin and Yasuto and Megumi came for a visit!

It was really nice to see all of them and get to spend time with each one. I really enjoyed the time while they were here! They are all so much fun! :)

While they were here we had dinner at Dennis and Gloriann's house! Shin Onogi came down from Ticonderoga to eat with us too! He is a good cook!

It was Naoki's last day here. He went back to Japan. It's funny because when I was in Japan in 2005 I had a conversational English class with him, and then that fall he came to the Bible Institute. I can't believe his 2 years here have already came adn gone! Time goes by so fast! It was great to watch him learn and grow these last 2 years! We will miss him!

Ok...so these are my 2 favorite pictures of Yasuto! :) While Yasuto was here, he got accepted with Word of Life to be a full-time missionary in Japan! Congratulations Yasuto! I have also really enjoyed getting to know Yasuto and watching the Lord use him in many ways. I met Yasuto when I was a 1st year student in FL. He came down with NY students to be in the plays. I also did 2nd yr with him but didn't really get to know him very well until my summer in Japan in 2005. I am so happy for him! I am glad that he will be serving the Lord in Japan! Please pray for him as he will start his support raising in the fall!

Megumi is a friend I made in Japan in 2005 as well. She is always smiling and happy! I am thankful for her! She's been to visit friends in NY twice since we met, and both times she's been here, we've had a lot of fun together!

I really had a lot of fun spending time with Shin! He always makes me laugh. Even though he's my brother-in-law, I haven't been able to spend much time with him since 2005. When he was here for the wedding, I was so busy and so many people were here, so it was nice to be able to hang out with him! I'm glad he got to come here for vacation and hope he had as much fun with us as we did with him!

Shin and Fujii                                                     Amy, Fujii and Shin

Amy and Shin                                 Kazu, Amy, Yasuto, Shin and Fujii

Kazu and I also celebrated our First Anniversary together on June 3rd! We went to Longfellow's which is a nice resturant and inn. We had a wonderful meal, stayed the night and also had massages! I am so thankful for such a wonderful husband. We have had an amazing first year of marriage and every day I love being married to him even more. I truly am blessed!

Time for an Update!

Well, the Adirondacks is beautiful this time of year! The Summer season really is the best up here. I have some pictures of some trees that I absolutely love!!

Isn't it pretty?!

Also my good friend Aubrey got married yesterday to a great Southern guy named Steve! I am so very excited to the two of them! Steve and Aubrey are both on staff at Temple Baptist. Steve is on the Pastoral Staff and Aubrey is heading up the Children's ministry. Here are some pictures from the days event.

The beautiful bride

The Girls

Jacquelyn,Amy, Christy, & Mary Beth               Jacquelyn andAmy

The Newlyweds          The whole bridal party

Amy & Kazu                            Chris & Jacquelyn

 My Birthday!!!!

Well my birthday was on Wednesday and I have some pictures to share with you!

Kazu got me the game Viva Pinata and it is so much fun! (he also got me a webcam and a new hair dryer:)

I got these flowers from Jamey, Sherry, Jimmy, Samantha, and Kyle (my brother and his family) Aren't they beautiful?!

I had an appointment with the oral surgeon so Kazu went with me and afterwards took me out to eat at Trappers! It was so delicious!!!

Kazu had this Prime Rib

And I had this Salmon! It was Rosmary and Herb crusted, also the rice had a sweet honey mixture in it and it was wonderful!

These little flowers that were on our plates made us think of Thailiand! When we were there for our honeymoon, we always got these! I can't believe in a month we will have been married for a year!!)

I also had my wisdom teeth surgically removed yesterday morning! I was so very scared! Kazu has been taking good care of me though! I can only eat cold smooth things like yogurt, pudding, ice cream, smoothies etc. I won't be able to eat hot stuff until tomorrow night or Monday! I can't wait to eat soup! I'm hungry! All in all the surgery went really well and I am doing well even though my mouth and jaw is sore!