Mountainous Moments of 2017/2018

It only seems appropriate that our family photo be taken at the base of Mt. Fuji, one of our biggest accomplishments as a family.  We’ve talked about climbing Fuji since we arrived in Japan 2.5 years ago.  Making our dream a reality and now a memory that will be forever a etched into our mind; bleeding the blood, pouring the sweat, and wiping the tears together was quite a feat.  Our climb of Fuji started before the sun had even woken and we finished just before the sun descended to bed. We ended the day equally exhausted and elated.

Fuji wasn’t the only mountain we climbed this year, there were so many more hypothetical mountains we conquered and many valleys we maneuvered as well.

For Juan, the lead mountaineer and Fuji guide for our family this year brought him to yet another peak in his career.  He has climbed to another facet and will be joining a team of medical providers at the White House.  His pack was full, he conquered a mound of paper work to apply for this prestigious and competitive assignment.  Also in his work pack he managed to care for numerous patients.  He carried  the load of our family by planning a trip to Cambodia in April, Okinawa in May, Colorado and D.C in June, North Carolina and New York in July, Kyoto and Hiroshima in September, and Bali in October. We started off 2018 with a trip to Sapporo in February, Thailand and Vietnam in March and into April, as well as a short trip to South Korea  in May (sans kids). He’s quite the travel  guide.  We’ll end our  time in the pacific with a visit to Australia and New Zealand.  Juan was selected as one of 5 officers on base to be nominated for the Wing award, an honor indeed, the Air Force is lucky to have him.  Word on the street is he’s so great at his job, he’s indeed found his trail! In his free time, he manages to volunteer at church, help coach cross country, wrestling, and track as well as serve as VP for a running club on base.  Thankful for this man and the moral compass and gear he brings into our family.

As for me, Kathryn, besides the mounds of laundry and dishes that I try to keep below Mt. Fuji level, I’ve had some peaks and valleys.  In May of 2016 I assumed the role as president for our base PWOC, a women’s ministry.  This role brought me to one of the greatest valleys; to say it was a challenge would be an understatement, but by Gods grace, I’m climbing my way back to the top to see a panoramic view of the climb I’ve made.  I passed the torch in May and was able to hop a plane with the kids back to Colorado, a peak of the year.  Our trip home allowed the kids and I a great taste of the USA and some needed family time and healing.  I was blessed to join Juan in North Carolina for a work trip where we were able to catch up some of our most dear friends, we made our short 2 days packed full with the most rich company and laughter.  He and I then made our way to NYC for another work conference, allowing us to see Wicked on broadway and visit the 911 memorial.  The kids and I made our trek back to Japan via California and a 19 hour layover in Shanghai, China-definite valley, one which I wasn’t sure we’d live to tell, but we survived and I can take China off my bucket list.  Our fall travel adventures were amazing, I feel I’m in a dream.  And yet another valley was sending our baby, Olivia to kindergarten this year, though I’ve come to appreciate this as a peak as well.  I’m grateful to have shed my pack of women’s ministry, but am enjoying this year as an attendee and school volunteering and (silent moments in the house) and a fair amount of running this fall, I’ve knocked out  many 1/2 half marathons this year as well as a lifelong dream of “running” and finishing a marathon.  I conquered more than Fuji this year!

Isaac, a mini mountaineer and expert climber...he certainly overcame Fuji. Isaac scaled that mountain, he was ahead of all of us and cheered us on as he waited at each station.  This boy, has learned to navigate the path of life quite well, he’s made honor roll every quarter (some probing from mom and dad).  Isaac also discovered a talent of running and ran away with the league championship of the 2 mile and a 2nd in the mile.  Cross country brought him to a few hills in his running, but he was able to pull away with the title of champion at the league meet as well.  He also played football this fall  He spends his free time playing outside and chatting with friends. He just finished this years season with another league championship in the 2 mile.  We are so excited to see what the future hold for him with academics and running. Good thing I got hired as a sub to help feed Isaacs insatiable appetite.

Isabelle was skeptical about climbing Fuji, but boy was she focused.  She got on that mountain and had one thing on her mind...reaching the top...and she did indeed. We were so proud of her and seeing her well up with pride and tears of joy as we reached the bottom was certainly a highlight.  Izzy is still so in love with the arts, she takes piano, sang in a children’s choir and participated in art club.  She geared up and climbed into a performance of Lion King Jr and was a star indeed. She is in her element on stage! She received an honor of having her art published in a book, what a keepsake.  She’s been enjoying her last year as an elementary kiddo, loving her after school activities and social time while still having time to craft.

Eli was dead set on climbing Fuji and he showed that with the confidence he had stepping on that path.  Eli chooses his trails, he is Mr. Movement, constantly skipping, jumping, running, and dancing around life.  He loves school, has quite an opinion on his wardrobe and his meals and what’s “cool.”  If school we’re a playground, Eli would climb it everyday.  Eli played baseball, a first, this spring and finished the year playing football.  Eli also joined Isabelle on stage this spring in the Lion King Jr and may have found a new and exciting trail in his life.  Eli commands the room, football field, playground, and even a group of middle schoolers.  We pray that his influence continues, but he will take the narrow path while leading others.

Olivia, she’s tiny but mighty.  When we decided it was all for one and one for all climbing Fuji, we were doing it together as a family, she was on board.  We loaded up our packs with some fun snacks as motivators, she laced up her boots and grabbed her pole and marched those little boots straight up, we didn’t carry her or hold her once.  Blisters began about 1 hour into our day and she still pressed on.  We know this is such insight into her future.  She marches into school much the same.  Olivia sets her mind on something and she does it.  She has always taken challenges head on and Fuji was no exception. She has navigated school in the same fashion. She puts her pack on with a readiness to face whatever comes her way! She knows exactly where she wants to go on the map and she’ll find a way to get there, be it by paving her own way or setting a new course.

The best quote of our time on Fuji  can be summed up by the kindergarten climber (Olivia) “Mt. Fuji looks beautiful from far away, but it is NOT pretty close up.”  So wise beyond her years.  

This is so true of those mountains of life.  Distance gives us prospective, we can appreciate the peaks and the valleys, but while we’re climbing we seem to focus on the rocks in our immediate path.  We pray that this year will bring you moments of panoramic views of the silhouette of the mountains and valleys you’ve conquered.  May your “Mt. Fuji’s” of 2018 bring you the greatest joys.