Dugh......10 pounds

Me with Ms. Sano

Recently I was reading an article online about all these movie stars who have had children. So I can say I fit the category of recently giving birth. This normal new mom was complaining about the image the movie stars were portraying after giving birth and losing weight so fast and looking fabulous. She was hurt because the movie stars were making normal moms feel bad about not looking great soon after they give birth. As you can see in this photo I am too a bit overweight, actually 10 pounds I still need to loose. But when reading this article I thought the normal mom was stupid. I spoke to the computer "don't read articles about these movie stars"!! I don't have the opportunity to see all the trashy magazines bombarding me every day but I do see size 3 ladies and below in my face everyday, tempting me to say, "I want to look like that, or why can't I be that thin". But ladies, come on don't read garbage that will make us feel ugly and attack our motherhood. God created me just like he wanted and until I read the Word, how will I know that HE has created me wonderful and perfect in HIS eyes. New moms, put down everything that does not encourage you to be all you can be in JESUS. He will tell you you are beautiful and that is what matters. When we stand before HIM, HE won't say, "why did you not loose that baby fat right away" no He will say "what did you do for ME"? That's what matters!

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.." Proverbs 31:31

Check out the entry below "New Neighbor"!!

Nakamura san asked Jesus into her heart yesterday! It was amazing, she came over and this week is "Obon", a time when the Japanese celebrate the dead. So Wataru took an opening and asked her where she was going when she died? Well through the conversation, she wanted to repent and ask Jesus in her heart! THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR HER! Will post pics later, just wanted to share the best news ever!!!

"Wendy pie"

You might say to yourself, that looks like a blueberry pie but for me its a "wendy pie" Last year my good friend Wendy was in Japan and she went blueberry pickin. I was not able to go so she in her awesome self made me a blueberry pie. It was awesome, she is a martha stewart type. So this year God opened the door and through an incredible way, God introduced us to a blueberry lady. She grows blueberries and asked me if I wanted to come pick some, some!! I have picked over 8 kilograms (16 pounds) of blueberries for only 5000 yen, that is so cheap and it is such a blessing, so in my friends honor I made a blueberry pie, the secret ingrediant, (sweet memories of my great friend wendy). Plus, I have made, blueberry muffins, coffee cake, cake and whatever else I can stick blueberries in. Wataru asked each day, "what will Heidi make with blueberries". Since God has blessed us, several kilos have gone to my mother in law and friends. Thank you Jesus for the awesome blueberries!

Meet Ms. Nanako

This is such a cool story, Wataru has been playing praise and worship at the train station every night. One night Nanako was walking by and heard Wataru playing a famous worship song and stopped and listened. She approached Wataru and asked if he was a christian and she said she just became a christian last year in America. Well long story short, she told an English school owner about Wataru, where she studies English. Wataru called the English school for a possible job and we met Yumiko and her husband, the English school owners. So from there Wataru and I went to the church "Rainbow Church" and met more people. I asked Nanako if she would be interested in meeting with me for discipleship. She was so excited. So these pics are our first meeting. I was making a pie and she had never separated eggs before so that was fun. We are studying "who is Jesus" and building a foundation for her. She is a sponge, please pray for her. She is a senior this year and will be going to America to a University to study English. I am praying for the right city where she can get plugged in to. The first pic is she turned 18 when we met.

"I hate Japan" pie

Now do get your panties in a bundle! I love Japan and thought about a name for a pie I could not find how to make, "Green tea" pie. I named it that because I don't like green tea, it is pretty much tasteless, but I'm sure you have heard "its good for you". Okay, I challenge you to eat rice cakes every day and tell me yuck, "but they are good for me". So I went to work and created the first green tea pie, and guess what? It is so tasty! Wataru and my family loved it. I shared it with a house church we had and they loved it. So it is a keeper and oishii (tasty). Wataru laughed at the name and we share the name with only a select Japanese.

Pecan pie next to Green tea pie, American and Japanese, So fun! I have also made a green tea chiffon and it is really tasty too.