Sleeping Problem: Jet-lag and Spiritual Formation

Hiroko received many kind words regarding suffering of jet-lag.  Some said that Hiroko has not been suffering only jet rug but also the old-age tiredness, because Hiroko’s visitation to Japan wasn’t vacation, rather helping her sister-in-law and brother.  Yes, Hiroko worked very hard in Japan.  She told Hiroko to take it easy and rest.  This suggestion is very true.  Thursday is clean the house day at Hiroko’s house.  Dan-san has been vacuuming and wiping the floors, and Hiroko cleans the bath room and dusting all over.  It usually takes around 2 hours.  The cleaning the house this time makes Hiroko sooooo tired.  Surely, Hiroko is getting old, it is better to take it easy and rest.

Others gave Hiroko many suggestions.  One of them is sunbathing during the day-time, and others are aroma therapies, etc.  It is worthwhile to practice sunbathing, so Hiroko is sitting down under the sun and typing this blog article.  It is a little bit hard to see the computer under the sun, but it gives Hiroko very good feeling.  Until today, Chicago was cold and rain in April for vegetation, but today (April 11) is wonderful and fine day to sit under the Sun.

Here is Hiroko’s porch, where Hiroko is sitting down and writing under the full sun shine.

Other one is from the book called “The Good and Beautiful God” by James Bryan Smith, with which the group has just started to study.  Dallas Willard’s recommendation words are “The best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation” on the cover page of this book.  Isn’t it God that brought the best book to Hiroko to study?  Because at the end of each lesson, there is Soul Training, can you guess what the Soul Training in the first lesson is?  “Sleeping!”  It was called coincident or God gives his suggestion to Hiroko.  Hiroko has been practicing the sleeping about one week.  Of course this is 3^rd week since Hiroko came back from Japan, so it is time to get better in sleeping.  These couple days Hiroko wakes up around 5 or 6 o’clock, and she was able to go back to sleep.  Hiroko’s jet-lag would be gone!?

Hiroko has always have problem going back to sleep once she wakes up.  It is a good practice to sleep like suggested in this book. 

Hiroko must have a good night sleep after the sunbathing.

Thanks to God!  Thanks to friends! Thanks to God!  Thanks to friends!

04-02 Macy’s Flower Show called “The Secret Garden”

Hiroko wants to meet Arboretum-san, so it is a good chance to visit this flower show, and to eat Ramen noodle at 7^th floor at Macy’s.  We met at the Noodle restaurant Takashi on 7^th Fl. in Macy’s.

This photo was taken last November.  Hiroko forgot to take the Ramen bowl called Mushroom and Tofu Ramen which we ate.  It had interesting thinks which is not familiar for Japanese in the Ramen, but the taste of the soup was very good.  Hiroko drank all the soup.  This is food court, so no one says anything to anyone spending hours in this area.  We spent at the front of this restaurant for over 2 hours talking and talking of many subjects.

It became Rush hour time.  For Arboretum-san, it is better to leave this place soon.  Let’s visit the flower show and ready to go home.

This is entrance of the show.  At the entrance already very beautiful smell from the flowers was floating.  Arboretum-san said it was much better smell than snow and cold air.

The each booth might have the name or subject, but there was no explanation. There were so many flowers.  Emi-san would be explaining all these flowers.  Is she good in flowers?  Yes, she is.

In the midst of the garden, a pretty porcelain lady was standing with the dress made by those beautiful flowers.

Arboretum-san took photo with her camera.  It came out very nice.  Now Hiroko knows a real camera would be better than a cell phone camera.

By the exit of this garden, there was a Japanese garden like flower arrangement.

Spending almost half day we have been talking about health because Hiroko talked how she spent at Yamagata with her sister-in-law.  In the elderly age, they have many elderly friends, so they shared those experiences.  The interesting subject was that living in a apartment is better than living in the house for the elderly, because there is no headache of taking care of the maintenance..  Arboretum-san has to take care of the house after all the snow melts.  Her house is too big to warm up, too. 

They talked about many other subjects, but the last subject was very important, and interestingly Arboretum-san started.  She has religious mind, and reading the Bible Hiroko gave, but she has read the other religious books, such as Buddhism and Islamism books along with the Bible.  She thinks everyone who lives in the United States should read the Bible because this is a Christian country.  She enjoys reading the historical books in the Bible.  Hiroko could share with Arboretum-san how Hiroko chosen Christianity over Buddhism.  Hiroko’s one of the questions is where her Grandma went.  Buddha died beautifully and Christ died on the cross, however Christ came back from the death. 

At the end of this conversation made Hiroko that Arboretum-san said any religions are same. 

This is very interesting statement.  Hiroko didn’t say anything.  Please leave your comment or idea about this statement.

Psalm 115:4-8

³But you, Lord, are a shield around me,

my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

⁴I call out to the Lord,

and he answers me from his holy mountain.

⁵I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

⁶I will not fear though tens of thousands

assail me on every side.

⁷Arise, Lord!

Deliver me, my God!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw;

break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸From the Lord comes deliverance.

May your blessing be on your people.

03-22 Steven B-Day Dinner

Hiroko has been suffering Jet-lag for weeks.  Hopefully everyone knows what jet-lag is.  It is awful feeling like walking in the air between Japan and Chicago.  Hiroko has been waking up around 2 or 3 o’clock and couldn’t go back to sleep.  During the day time Hiroko was half up and half in the dream.

Because of this problem, Hiroko tried to cook easiest food for Steven’s B-day dinner.  Well, corn beef is the best.  St. Patrick day was just passed.  Corn beef should be sold in inexpensive price.  It was wrong!  It was too late to buy corn beef 5 days after the St. Patrick’s .day.  There was only 3 corn beef left and each one of them was over 10 lbs.  Well, Hiroko had to buy it and cooked it.

11 lbs. solid meat was lot of meat.  It is lucky that Hiroko has over 2 gallons pan.  Corn beef was cooked slowly in this big pan over 6 hours.  It was done very well.

Hiroko forgot to take photo, but there was Tonkatsu for Richard.  He couldn’t come for his B-day dinner, so this was his belated B-day dinner.  He loves Tonkatsu.

No goma-ae, but there were cooked vegetable dish and salad

No one except Elsa and Lisa, loves this Shake (salted salmon) and Tarako (Cod roe) from Japan.  These were very, very delicious.

These foods were served for Steven’s B-Day dinner.

Birthday cake - The cake from Swedish Bakery which Steven loves was Steven’s B-Day cake.  Amanda told Hiroko last year.  

Steven was very appreciating for the cake. 

These people came for the dinner.

It was very surprised, Leo came for the dinner. Because of something happened in his labyrinthitis (inner ear balance organ) he has not been able to keep his balance.  He isn’t still well, but he said he went to dance once. 

As usual Lisa/Dave and Mikio/Steven   Sorry to hear that Amanda was not feeling well that night.

Elsa/Richard went home early, because Elsa wasn't feeling well.

Hiroko thinks she had the jet lag from traveling to Japan, too.  First couple of day in Japan, she could sleep through until 6 or 7 o’clock morning from 12 midnight.  But days passed by, she has been waking up around 2 or3 o’clock, and couldn’t go back to sleep.  Japanese rooms were very, very cold.  She felt like she was sleeping outside.  Hiroko’s sister-in-law was unexpectedly no doing well, so there were so many things to do.  Hiroko was scared because of very tired and cold and worried about her sister-in-law and her brother, she felt her limitation.  One morning she was crying out for the Lord in her bed, and then, she heard someone’s prayer in her mind.  It was the time of Mikio’s prayer time.  Hiroko realized Mikio was praying for her.  Hiroko felt very peace in Jesus, and slept till 6 o’clock in the morning. 

It is very blessed and important to have the faithful prayer partners.

Hello to All those who come to Hiroko’s Blog

Many are thinking about Hiroko, and some called what Hiroko was doing, because there has not been new posting for one and half month.  Thanks for your concern about Hiroko.  Hiroko and her family have been in good condition.

Hiroko’s sister-in-law had cerebral hemorrhage about 3 years ago, and during those 3 years no therapy at all, so she has been getting very weak.  Hiroko visited and took care of her and her family.  Hiroko wanted to renew her blog, but it was not easy to connect her internet at there. 

Hiroko will put new post about her dinner party, this crazy winter weather, etc., so please come again.  It is March 12 today.  This morning the snow was fallen about 7 inches during the night time.  Day before the temperature was 50 degree, and now only 20 degree.  It has been crazy weather at everywhere.  Everyone wants to know where the spring this year is.

Well, the spring will be coming soon.  Let’s have hope to see blooming the flowers soon.  Please take care of yourself in this crazy weather.  Thanks again.  Hiroko

Physical Therapy, Christian Thought

For the last Thanksgiving Luncheon at church, Hiroko cooked over 15 lbs. turkey.  The turkey became easily closer to 20 lbs. with stuffing.  Front of the oven in Hiroko’s kitchen, there are big heavy table, so the oven door doesn’t open fully.

Can you tell from these photos?

Hiroko was reminded in her heart that the table should be moved before picking up the turkey from the oven.  But Hiroko didn’t to move it, and picked up over 20lb. turkey sideways from the oven with the baking pan filled with juice in the bottom of pan.  You guessed!  Hiroko’s sciatica nerve made the noise ‘clicked!’  For one week Hiroko didn’t have any pain, but Hiroko experienced a terrible pain on the left side of her hip. 

One of Hiroko’s friends had suffered so much with sciatica that Hiroko knows the pain of sciatica.  She doesn’t want to have that kind of pain.  Hiroko wondered which is better to do, physical therapy or chiropractic.  Last time Hiroko attended the chiropractic to treat the pain on the leg and back from falling down from bicycle for three years.  The pain was gone after three years but it came back after a year later.  Hiroko decided to treat this sciatica pain by physical therapy.  So, she went to the internet to find some exercises.  There are so many exercises in the internet, but each one of the exercise mentions that it is better to do this exercises under the instruction of a licensed therapist. 

Hiroko went to ask her doctor to write the follow-up paper, and started to do the physical therapy. 

This is the front of Athletico Physical Therapy place.  Hiroko has been the doing physical therapy at this place twice a week for 6 weeks.  The therapy is helping her very much.  No more pain on her calf, but the pain at the side of her hip come and go.  Hopefully, I can say ‘good bye’ at this place soon.

This center proudly announces to do therapies for many Chicago professional teams; such as the Bears, Bulls, White Sox, Black Hawk, etc.

Before starting the therapy, Hiroko have to ride this bike for 8 minutes to prepare the body.

This is inside of the Athletico.  One of the man named Mike is my therapist.

This is front desk.  All the workers in this center are very friendly and kind.

Hiroko didn’t have to go through this therapy if she had listened to the small voice in her heart at the time she picked up the turkey from the oven.  Do you have the experience like this? 

As Christian, Hiroko believes that God speaks to her all the time, and warns her many things for her sake.  Hiroko knew the voice came from God, but at that moment her heart was so hardened that she didn’t do what God wanted her to do.  Then, things happened.  In Hiroko’s life this often happened.  It is very sad for her.  Hiroko is not thinking her thought is the best for her, but the fact is not showing in her action.

In the Old Testaments, God said about this subject in Proverbs 3:5-8: “⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight .⁷  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.   This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

Pray that God speaks to everyone in this world, and Hiroko continuously, and give everyone to discern the voice, and prepare to act upon the voice of God.

2013 Handmade Christmas Presents

Hiroko received so many Christmas and Birthday Presents, but she forgot to take any photos.  Give thanks to all the friends and relatives who gave the presents to Hiroko.

Here are Hiroko’s handmade Christmas presents.

For this recorded cold weather these socks Hiroko made hopefully be useful for everyone who received.  7 or 8 socks were made for all men who came to the Christmas party to the home of Lisa/Dave.  A pair of socks was also given to Jesse, Dan-san’s niece’s husband.

Photo is not very good to take, so it is very hard to understand what they are.

They are scarves, and hiding fingers gloves.  Niece’s daughters were very happy to receive this scarf, and said “Thanks for this ‘eternal scarf’.”  Hiroko learned the name of scarf from them.

More eternal scarves for everyone, total 12 scarves were made.

It will be sub-zero weather from tomorrow (Jan. 22), so hopefully all these handmade knitting socks and eternal scarves are helping them to keep warm.

In this cold weather, Hiroko with her friend went to see the third opera, “Madam Butterfly” in this season.  

This is the hallway in Lyric Opera House in Chicago.  Everyone was wearing boots, and heavy over coat and hat.

Some ladies said with red eyes that this opera made her cry all the time.  Many are very happy to come to see this opera even though in this cold weather.  This opera made Hiroko exhausted.  Her friend told Hiroko you wouldn’t sleep tonight for haunted by Cio-Cio san.  It happen.  Hiroko closed her eyes to sleep, Cio-Cio-san’s singing and acting came to her.

These things haunted Hiroko’s heart that night:  Cio-Cio-san said she has to change her religion to her husband’s, Lt. Pinkerton and pledged her love to Pinkerton’s God at their wedding day; and no communication from Pinkerton for three years, Cio-Cio-san thought Pinkerton’s God would not answer to Cio-Cio-san’s prayer because she was far away from America, and Cio-Cio-san lost Pinkerton’s love and her baby boy, and only thing she can do is to kill herself, the Soprano, Patricia Racette sung and acted very well in the scene; reminded Hiroko’s heart over and over again.

2014 Belated New Year’s and Amanda’s B-Day Dinner

New Year celebration was held January 11^th.  It was good not to do on New Year Day, because the day’s weather was very bad.

As usual, Hiroko forgot to take the photos before everyone devoured the food.  Remembering to take the photos, foods were half gone.

This celebration was also for Amanda’s B-day Dinner, so her favorite Japanese food Sukiyaki was cooked.  This Sukiyaki photo was taken at the second round.  Lisa had just put all the ingredients in the pan.  All the left over will be packed as doggy bags for everyone. 

The couple of pieces of Sashimi, Tuna and Yellowtail left on the plate with pink Kamaboko on the photo.  Umani, which is Elsa’s favorite foods in a Japanese New Year box, placed on the right side of the Sashimi plate, and Soy Beans and herring roes, which are Lisa’s favorite foods in the plate in front of the photo.  Kinpira Gobo was prepared for Steven. 

Everyone loves to eat shrimp and vegetable, carrot/green beans, tempura.  Everyone said the chashu was very tasty and melts in the mouth, but they couldn’t eat at the dinner, so they made doggy bag to go.  Hiroko wanted to make soft and tasty chashu like served at the ramen restaurant “Santoka” so Hiroko tried cooking many times.  Finally, she could make little bit closer to the Santoka chashu. 

No one took home cooked dried cods and Japanese pumpkin.  Hiroko enjoyed eating these foods for her lunch.

Many kind of beer, water, white and red wines, and tequila which was given to Hiroko as her B-day presents were served as drink.  With the tequila, they gave a toast to health, peace and happiness in 2014, and Dan-san gave a wonderful prayer.

Give thanks to Saeru/Tetsu for the Electric hot water pot which was given to Hiroko as Christmas present.  Before going home, Steven has to have caffeine.  This time he’d like to drink green tea.  With this hot water pot green tea was very east to serve.

Amanda, very, very sorry! For not good photos were taken.  Hiroko thinks her hand was shaken.  She took two photos, but those both photo were not good.

Amanda is giving her wish in front the cake with candle.

Amanda/Steven, and Presents.

She received many Illinois lotto tickets, so she scratched those lottos with expectation.  She might have gotten total $30.00.