After spending the last three years in Japan, the time has come for me to continue on into the world, and my lixy life is now one that is now a life that will be living in Canada. One thing I've found in my 23 years of living is that all things change, but truly, Jesus never does. It's amazing how you can be in one country one day, and in another just hours later, you can be a world apart from where you were yet still be the same, you can be surrounded by people of such different forms and culture yet still be with the same love and laughter, because when it comes down to it, all that is good in this world comes from Jesus and so long as I've got him with me I'll always be surrounded by what I love most and what makes life worth living :)
Latest updates: I made it safe and sound, the trip was so smooth it almost worried me, but I'm not complaining. My bestest and most long time friends Joanie and Mike took me all the way to the airport to see me off in style, and my favorite big brothers, Kuni, Shuji, Yuki, and Hyami came all the way out to bid me farewell.
Dad, Mom, Greg, and Boo were there waiting for me on the other side, all looking beautiful and very welcoming. The first thought that struck me was that it wasn't all that different from Japan, but there were just too many gaijin's--everywhere! It's beautiful here though in every way, and people are very friendly and warm hearted. The rest of the welcoming committe was awating me back at the house and I knew I was home.
The first day my jetlag wasn't bad. The last 2 weeks have been a mad rush of insane off timed everything, so it felt just right to be off time once more but today it's finally catching up with me and feel tired and crankyish, but I'm still so happy to be with my crazy splendid family.
Tonight we are having a belated birthday party for the littlest princess Annie, so in honor of her we are dressing up to give her a royal atmosphere. I'm in pink! So I figure that's about the most grandest honor I could give her.
I will do my very bestest to keep regular updates of how I'm adapting--heh we will see if I will take my place as one of "the survival of the fittest". Thanks to my sweetest little big brother Greg I'm connected to the internet so I will live on :) I love you all muchly! A big thank you to everyone that made and does make my life one filled with love and worth living always no matter where I am, what I'm doing and how I am doing. I am truly blessed and properly grateful!
Happy Birthday Mika!
There is no one in the world like Mika, and I'm so happy God put her in my world:) Everyone needs a Mika in their life. Forget a the latest trend or fashion...Mika is so the fashionable thing! She is one of the bestest friends ever.
Mika is truly one of the most generous loving person I know. She gives her love and friendship freely and without measure or cost--unless she doesn't like you, then don't worry, there is someone who does, but you won't find or coax it out of Mik's so you shouldn't waste your time. Mika doesn't give or take any bull *doodoo, she is the genuine, real thing, and you get what you see. She will always be there for you and whenever you need her, whatever you need her for, you can count on her charging into your rescue blindly, whether you always want rescuing or not:p On the same note, she expects the same service from you, and will fall into your arms to save her whether you want to or not, so beware. Mika doesn't think about life, she lives it. She is a happy soul determined to find happiness everywhere around her and thus makes it so, and that's why she is the perfect person to have around you. Mika is my lucky charm, she makes gloomy skies brighter, and bright skies beeatiful.
I love you Mika! And I pray the Lord fills your year with all this too and so much more. You can always count on me...I don't know what for, but I'll definitly do something:) Cheers!!
Our Happy "Daddies and Mommies" of the FDTP--David Iona Stevo Lixy Gene Mercy Rob Laura
I love Oli. He is my good Shepherd:)
Cryssy and Meg are the Queens, they rule our hearts
The Aussie's were glorious and their legends will forever live on
Iona and Nicole were the most awesmest! They are my role models
Laura was my other half, my friend and companion in laughter, tears, joy, sorrow, crazy faith, and just plain crazy. Steve and Rob often had a special place too, giving us love and care and always always something to laugh about:)
Our manly men models
Our love lady lords
On September 20th, 2009, FDTP came to Tokyo. Laura and I were team leaders and of course as leaders we had absolutely no idea what we were doing. We wanted to do something exciting, groovy, and different to show everyone we had an exciting, groovy, different God, but somehow we all just weren't feeling it. Of course when you don't feel crazy the next best thing to do is look crazy and to varying degrees this was something we all seemed to be rather spectacular at.
Once we got there it was so amazing the way the Lord's spirit just fell. We didn't even have to work it up or try to convince anyone, because people could just see and feel it and we were surrounded by so much love and desire, it was definitely God's groove.
If weakness is a wound that no one wants to speak of
Then "cool" is just how far we have to fall
I am not immune, I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Can I lose my need to impress?
If you want the truth I need to confess
I'm not alright, I'm broken inside
And all I go through, it leads me to you
Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone
And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on.
'Cause honestly, I'm not that strong.
I'm not alright, I'm broken inside
And all I go through, it leads me to you
Leads me to you, Closer to you
I'm not alright, I'm not alright
I'm not alright ... that's why I need you.
I first heard this song last month in one of the classes that were given during the Academy. The day before I had been taking with a friend about experiences we've come through in the past and the way they still are with us or affect the way we are today. In the end we came to the conclusion that we were just damaged in a way and thankfully we had the Lord's love and that was enough. And then I heard this song, and it felt like the words to my heart, and I realized, we weren't damaged. We are broken, we aren't always alright, but it brings us closer to Who we love, and who we want to be. In the end, we wouldn't want it any other way.
I got to be a mother for the day, and a godly one at that. Me and my darling did absolutely everything together and he followed me everywhere and wanted to crawl into my arms every chance he got. My perfect little man:) I love you Kayden!
Let me introduce you to my babies.
September 3rd, 2009, the Lord gave me 6 beautiful--and I mean really beautiful! like top to bottom, side to side, in and out, and all around--Ladies to be my very own. I had just as much love, laughter, heartbreak, victories, joys, fears, craziness, friendship, family, sleepovers, bonding, caring for each other, hugs, kisses, hi's and goodbyes in our short time together then most people get in a life time.
At the closing of the Academy they all received their certificate and commendation from the Lord, and I also had to write a message from my heart to my girls:
I was thinking about how to commend you for all that you've learned during your time here at this academy, but when I tried to write it down, all I could think of was how much you all taught me. From the first day you each took me and each other into your lives, you accepted me, and showed me such an unconditional friendship and love that I don't think I've ever felt so welcomed before, and I learned that I want to welcome others into my life in that same way. We lived together this past month and I've seen you give and share everything, from your personal belongings, to giving your time, encouragement and prayers to the other, supporting and loving each other like family. These last few weeks you've all gone through something different, you've had to change your lives, your styles, your personal desires and your space. You've had to open your life up, and I know how it costs. You've had to face decisions and places inside yourself that haven't been easy to look into, but you have, you didn't run away, you've each shown more bravery then I've seen in others a lot older than you, so I just want to say, you've won my respect, my admiration, my love and my heart. We've gone through good and bad times together, and you've been there for me just as much as I've been here for you, and I couldn't have made it without you. My greatest pride and hope after having had this time at the FDTP with you, is knowing that what you've given me and each other is something the Lord is also going to be using to bring so much love and joy to other lives too. If ever you feel you can't make a difference, I want you to know you can, because you already have right here for me, for each other, and for all of us, and you will do it again and again for others. You will always be Lixy's girls to me, and I'll always be your Lixy.
I love you Genty, Manami, Kaori, Yurika, Nana, and Angela. You are my angels, my girls forever.
After total and complete cyber silence, I am back, still alive, still kicking, still happy, and just a little less then really crazy:) Despite my being the Phantom of September, I have been haunting you all in my prayers daily, just as I know it's due to your prayers that I made it back to you. I can't thank you enough.
My month at the FDTP Academy was an experience I wouldn't have missed for the world, it was one of those moments in time that stays in a life forever.
