A Lixy Life

I love Laura so so much.

I love Laura's laugh, the way it bubbles out like pure sparkles of joy and drowns you right in it.

I love Laura's smile, that way it lights up her eyes and makes you feel like you're blessed to at that moment be in the most beautiful spot in the world.

I love Laura's courage, the way she stands in the face of danger and darkness and still walks forward believing there is hope and light within.

I love Laura's generosity, the way she gives her whole heart so completely to life, to love, to others, to the Lord, not ever measuring it or holding back.

I love Laura's love, the way she hugs you and you know everything will be alright, and when she's with you you know you are loved and that Jesus is near too.

So last night I'm in bed, I just turned off the lights and snuggled deep down under my blankets, I'm just about lost in sleep and my door creeks open. I consider staying lost in my covers but curiosity gets the better of me and a crack one eye open just encase it's some boogie monster I need to scare away. Nope. Not a boogie monster standing there. It is Mommy--with a computer in her hands. Oh no! It was too late to change my mind, she already saw I was awake so she bounded in and jumped on my bed. What in the world was she doing up so late and with a computer!

Now dear sweet mother was worried because we hadn't updated our blog for two days and people would look and not have anything new to read so she couldn't sleep until she posted something. Dad had started helping her and put the pictures up for her, but somehow she managed to erase them and he had fallen asleep and couldn't be woken up. So she ventured out fearlessly, down the dark hallways and staircase to seek me out so I could rescue her post. A little grouchy and brain dead, I still had to admire her dedication and care, so we got the blog updated and she skipped happily off to bed leaving a very convicted Lixy behind. Before I could fall asleep I promised myself I would update my blog the next day, so here I am. I don't really have anything to say, but thankfully mom gave me something to write about.

Mom is always rescuing me. She has the answer to everything in my life, from giving me beauty tips on how keeping my mouth closed can at times make me prettier, to knowing even all the brainier things that I'd have to carry around an encyclopedia for if I didn't have her, she remembers all my dates and passwords that I've long forgotten, and on top of that she always hangs up my laundry and gets me "shiner prizes" and she likes doing girly frivolous things with me--and I'm only one of 8 children! Everyone needs a Mommy like mine.

Sooooo, it's been awhile since I've actually written anything up here about myself. Course we've all been taught that nobody wants to hear someone talk on and on about themselves, but as this is "A lixy life" I suppose it should contain some of my life.
Hehe, I'm just now I'm just making excuses and killing space. Well, I am doing well and good. I've been here 3 weeks now, on my way onto my 4 week which would make it a month...woohoo. Time does fly. Last week I finally made it into "the city"!! We went through Toronto where I saw buildings for the first time since being home! Granted, trees are much more beautiful, but I thought the buildings looked pretty nice too, ha. I stayed with my parents and two youngest sibblings at my Grandparents house over the weekend, and also got to see my relatives. I really really enjoyed it, I have such an awesome family. I had remembered most of them from the perspective of a 12 year old, so it was nice being able to update my memory banks. (For pictures check out Weekend with the Relatives)


This week I started working on my Cooking and Catering course. The first module arrived in the mail with my first set of books and exams. I had some problems with registering for my online testing, so I had to call into Stratford for asistence--ALL BY MYSELF! I know it sounds pathetic, but I was scared. I'm not used to making business related calls because in Japan my japanese was not quite good enough to understand all that would be said on the other end and I'd miss quite a lot of information. So I had a bit of a stare down with the phone till I finally dialed up and got put on the line with a super nice lady who explained everything and helped me get it all worked out. Yay, I felt so grown up. *ok a little embarassed now* Anyhew, I completed my first exam yesterday and got 100%!! I love my studies. Jesus is taking good care of me. I still don't know a lot of things, there's still a lot of things in my life to do and not do, but as I take it one step at a time with him, I always find myself in a good place surrounded by good things wherever I go.

Last night my family had a special Japanese dinner. It was nothing super spectacular--I made some temakizushi and dashi soup, and mom made potato salad and tempura--but for Canada it is a rare treat. A lot of family friends back in Japan sent different japanese snacks and foods and tea with me for my family, so we were able to treat ourselves. Check out Treasures From Japan.
Lately I spend most of my time working on our new family blog with my mom so my own is sadly dull and lacking--I'm sorry. But I'm rather proud to be working with mommy on our blog as she is quite talented, and smart of course, and even though she fought it and whined constantly when I first forced her into it, she loves it now and she'll come bounding into my room at the oddest times telling me her new inspiration for something to post or something she wants to take pictures of to show everyone. You gotta love mom:) I want to be just like her when I become an older young lady too...but for now while I'm still just a younger old lady, I'm happy to be working and learning from the best. I love you Mom...and Dad too--He trained her too, heh. Will do my best to keep you all updated. Love you lots!

We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot.

Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain...
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call....
He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light...
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love.

May God fill your day with blessings!!


Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle!

I started a new family blog with mom to keep all our family and friends back in Japan and also here updated with all the goings on in the life of the Hatano Wallaces. Check it out at http://hatanowallacefamily.blogspot.com/

There could never be a more wonderful brother in-law in the world than Joey. I am proud to call him family and more than that, I'm so so thankful that he is a part of us.

The first I ever knew of him was after Cha met when she was 12 at her first camp. I was a little doubtful of this small punk and of course being so much older and wiser at the age of 16, I thought their "love" would fade out. But I was the foolish one.

Joey was the best guy I could ever wish for for my sister, and he was just what she needed which was just what we all needed. He brought his own uniqueness and liveliness and touch to our lives. He was a good boyfriend to Cha, the best friend to Greg, and big brother to Lainy and pal to the little ones, and though me and Cha were going through a phase at the time that we would find every flaw and joke possible to make about eachother's love interests, deep inside I always really admired and respected and liked Joe...and I try to believe Cha felt the same sometimes, heh.

It hasn't been easy over the years. I suppose I should have been the first to have to break a man into the family, but as I always thankfully shirked and avoided that responsibility it fell to Joey and Cha. But Joey was the best man for the job, he has the right measure of pride and humilty, craziness and calm, strength and weakness, and though he's come through a lot, the difficulties and things he faced only made him better and his love for Cha grow more and more. So I have to say I trust and love and honor Joey as a true brother, friend, and family, forever and always.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

It's been a week now, and here I am, still alive, and still kicking, and becoming more and more of a country girl by the day. For the last three years I've been quite the city girl, living in Tokyo amid the rush of life, fashion, trends, attitudes and business, and it's easy to, without even realizing it, get pulled along somewhat by the whirl of the world around you. I have to admit, I rather like the crazy life, as inside my hopelessly gemini mind I have too many random modes and cravings and I like to be in a place where I can find what I like when I like. But this can also be a danger for me I suppose, as like with most cravings, when is enough enough?

Thankfully I have a good God who knows me better then I do myself and loves me as I am, as well as for what I can be. These past years I've learned a lot on having to pace myself, to go slow when things are moving fast, to be at peace when stress builds up, to stay bright on gloomy days, and to smile when I feel a frown drooping to the floor. That's not to say I've mastered these things--considering I probably started with a bigger minus to my score then the average--but I'd like to think I was bad enough to have made good enough progress, heh. I had the honor of living with good people, really truly genuinely good people that I would have to say are more heroes to me then any super man or wonder woman. Some people take vitamins and health supplements to fill in for the needs that their body is lacking. Well my home, my partners, my friends, my family, my hero's, they filled in all those parts in my life and will always be a part of me and my future for ever.

Now the time came for me to move on--to go on to give to others all that others gave to me. And so I move, I change, I go on. The city girl once again becomes a country girl.

I love it out here. It's different. It's quieter. It's slower. It's big, and green, and with less people there is a greater feeling of God's presence. Last time I was in a place like this was four years ago when I lived in Brazil. It scared me. I took the lack of people as a lack of life, the lack of busyness as a lack of living. I had to learn to find Jesus' within myself, to hear his voice in the silence, to see his face in nature, to feel his love in my heart and mind. It's not until I learned this that I could really have faith which gave me hope which gave me love which gave me peace. And so I'm here in again, in the boonies, away from most of "civilization" and yet surrounded by life, and I am happy. I'm still having to adjust, to find my pace in body and mind and spirit, and I do miss Japan. I miss the people, I miss my people, my Matsuoka family and especially my Eiko and my girls, my Chiba family, my June-san and Noel, my favorite neighbors of all time, Yasu and Dawn, my most loved big sisters Celeste and Grace, my bestest friends, Mike and Joanie and my godbaby Kayden. I miss my friends, I miss my Laura, my knightly big brothers, and my too many precious priceless friends that have given me love and joy and life. But I love that I'm here with my family, my big papa bear, my crazy beautiful best friend mom, my favorite role model and awesomest Cha, and her Joe and Jason who are my pride and joy, my prince charming big little brother Greg, my darling life loving Lainy, handsome Boo, smart cutie Chris, cuddly lovable willy bug, and pretty princess Annie.

No matter where I go or what I do or who I am with I've come to know and trust that God will always be there to fill my life with lessons, with love, with family, with faith, hope, and love. And so whether I'm a city girl, a country girl, or just a girl, I am a happy girl.

It's so amazing, no matter what the question, if you believe it in your heart you will always be able to answer "Because God loves me" and know that because that is true everything makes sense and everything will be okay. I know God loves you, and so I know wherever you are, whatever you're doing, however your doing, you will be okay too.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Because God loves me He is slow to lose patience with me.

Because God loves me He takes the circumstances of my life and uses them in a constructive way for my growth.

Because God loves me He has no need to impress me with how great and powerful He is because He is God, nor does He belittle me as His child in order to show me how important He is.

Because god loves me He is for me. He wants to see me mature and develop in His love.

Because God loves me He does not send down His wrath on every little mistake I make, of which there are many.

Because God loves me, He does not keep score of all my sins and then beat me over the head with them whenever He gets the chance.

Because God loves me He is deeply grieved when I do not walk in the ways that please Him because He sees this as evidence that I don't trust Him and His love as I should.

Because God loves me He rejoices when I experience His power and strength and stand up under the pressures of life for His Name's sake.

Because God loves me He keeps on working patiently with me even when I feel like giving up and can't see why He doesn't give up with me, too.

Because God loves me He keeps on trusting me when at times I don't even trust myself.

Because God loves me He never says there is no hope for me; rather, He patiently works with me, loves me and disciplines me in such a way that it is hard for me to understand the depth of His concern for me.

Because God loves me He never forsakes me even though many of my friends might. Because God loves me He stands with me when I have reached the rock bottom of despair when I see the real me and compare that with His beauty and love. It is at a moment like this that I can really believe that God loves me.

Yes, the greatest of all gifts is God's perfect love!

The little princess of the Hatano Wallace family has turned 7 years old at last--seven wonderful years we've had together, each and every day filled with more love and laughter then the day before. Annie is the queen of smiles and cuddles and we'll always love her and honor her in our hearts and lives.