Merry Christmas, from Japan!

Howdy ya'll!

We had "Christmas Cheer Day" today at school, and it was a blast! Here's a few of our fourth grade kiddos. :)

Tonight, Britt and I were watching old videos of fun times with our friends and family back home.
SO funny! Man, do I miss you guys! Maybe I'll post another blog soon with those videos!

Britt and I have done a quick little Christmas cheer video for you! He says, "Take one," but then when I asked for a take two....it was a no go. So here's our very best (and only!) take at Joy to the World in Japanese!! Enjoy!!

Also, our Japanese class sang it using "Ra, ra, ra..." today....so here's that too!

MEERRRRYYY CCHHHRRIISSTTMMMASSS!!!

VIDEO BLOG!

Hey everyone! This is my first video blog...gotta mix thangs up, ya know? :)

Enjoy!
-Brittany

My Funny Valentine

Britt Holmes is hands-down, the funniest person I've ever met.

I just can't help but to smile when I'm around him. 

Here's a recap of our silliness and love over the years! :)

To the man who knows my flaws, and loves me despite them.

I love you so.

Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time there lived a very small girl.

She loved to play, ride her bike, and pretend to be a teacher since the age of 5.

That girl grew up loving the Lord. Not many of her friends did, though...and that was really hard for her.

Although she had a few crushes here and there, she wouldn't date any boy who didn't already pursue Christ.

This left her spending loads of time plugged into churches, ministries, and school. 

One day God opened up a potential door for her in Texas, which was the last place on Earth she could ever want to possibly live.

When she moved to Texas, that door closed. She was left with no friends or family anywhere nearby.

Another door opened at Bible School down the road from where she lived. 

She would obviously hate it and rebel against normalcy of this podunk Texas school. Not because she didn't love the Lord, but because their rules were stupid.

Then, this girl met a really cool group of friends. 

One friend in particular really sparked her interest and they began hanging out everyday, whether the rest of the group was with them or not.

After months of genuinely enjoying each other's friendship, the girl and her best guy friend began dating with the intent to marry. 

They loved each other very much, and even though the school's rules were stupid, they both realized they were rules set in place for very specific reasons. So they respected and submitted to what the school asked of them.

Praise God for "stupid rules". 

On their one year anniversary, her very best friend proposed to her in a profoundly special and romantic way.

She said yes, and 7 months later wedded him. It was God's grace that kept them pure until they said "I do."

Soon, they'd both be finishing college, and were praying about God's calling on their life. 

When the pair felt strongly to reach the 99% non-believing nation of Japan, they asked for God's wisdom and provision.

Boy, did He answer! Within 8 months of her college graduation  and 1 month after his, they were given an incredible opportunity to move to Sendai, Japan.

They worked in a place that was far more beautiful then they could have ever imagined. They got to work together and love on the children and people of Japan.

They worked hard and knew that all good things came from the Lord.

They were incredibly grateful for opportunity they'd been given wanted to spend the rest of their days pursuing Christ's calling on their life.

For now, you can still catch them holding hands, sneaking besitos, and asking for a table for futari in their new homeland of Sendai.

Onsens and Other New Adventures

Hi friends!

I thought I'd be posting pictures and blogs like crazy here in Japan, but it is a little tricky right now. I think when we get an iPhone set up, it will be much easier to post/share photos with everyone!

Things have been going great here, and I am genuinely enjoying my job. I love that I get to talk to my kids about the Lord, and I love that I get to see them being excited about coming to school!

For a quick recap of the month:

-Our favorite sushi place is about 5 min walking distance from our house and we love it!

-Our date nights usually include dinner and going to Book-Off in downtown Sendai, which is a giant resale shop. (I should mention that people here only wear certain clothes when they are "in season", unlike Americans that wear their clothes until there's holes in them! lol) So all the clothes there are SUPER nice, hardly worn, and really cheap!)

-We should be starting our Japanese lessons in the next month.

-We went out for some karaoke (a Japanese staple) and it was funner than I expected! I even sang some Adele with a few other co-workers, and yes....We brought the house down!! :)

-Britt and I have both lost weight, but I don't know how much yet...our clothes are fitting looser...thanks to the tons of rice we eat and the WAY smaller portion sizes!

-The desserts here are incredible. I enjoy them on the daily.

-It has snowed almost everyday since we've been here. Walking to work with our snow gear/snow boots on is officially normal now.

-Right now it is in the 40's and it feels warm. THAT is really weird to say.

-Some of my favorite mornings are when I pass the little toddlers on their way to school. "Ohayōgozaimasu" (good morning) and "Kon'nichiwa" (hello) are so much cuter when they come out of a 4 year old's mouth! lol

-We went to an Onsen, and though I thought it was the weirdest thing I'd ever agreed to at first....it ended up being incredibly relaxing and enjoyable! Here are some pictures of Onsens/public bath houses/hot springs. It's where guys and girls separate by gender and relax in hot water for hours and hours. 

SO AWESOME! 

Come visit! :) Sayōnara!

Kon'nichiwa!

Hi friends!
I know its been awhile since my last post, but I had a few minutes and I wanted to say hi again!
First off-we've been in living in Japan for almost 2 weeks now! I wish all of you could come live here, it's incredible!

I want to brag about my new school and friends, but I feel like I've done that a bunch on Facebook already, so I'll just summarize by saying....BEST. DECISION. EVER. (Other than marriage, of course!)

We were a bit under the weather our first week here, but we're almost up to speed now! We went to the doctor and in Japan you get a pill for each symptom you have! So we ended up taking about 5-7 pills, twice a day. Guess how much our doctor visit & medicine was for the both of us? ......about $25 TOTAL!! (Thanks national health care!) It took less than an hour for everything too! Praise God!!

We have been going all around Sendai, and we even went to a new church today! We will try out all the English-speaking churches, and then hopefully find one that we can get plugged in at. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly, its been such an easy/pleasant transition here! :)
A quick story, and then I need to head to bed.....
We went to the international center the other day to sign up for Japanese lessons. Well, when I was washing my hands in the restroom, there was a mom with 4 little girls. They all smiled at me and the mom pressed the oldest one (about 6 yrs old) towards me and said something that made the girl talk to me! lol....She said, "Kon'nichiwa!". So I politely said..."Kon'nichiwa, Hello! Watashi wa Brittany desu!" Then I pointed at her sister's and her to get their names. They were so excited and they treated me like I was a celebrity! It was so adorable!

I can't wait to learn more Japanese and go exploring around the country. I already feel so at home, and I'm so glad I get to experience this with my best friend! So thankful that Britt and I get to work and play together, and SO excited for our kids to grow up here! (No, I'm not pregnant, but I will be someday...and we don't plan on leaving here anytime soon! :)

Love and miss you all, but having a blast here too!!

Oh! BTW! If you send us American care packages, we'll send you one full of awesome Japanese stuff too! 

Ideas for us are: Little Debbie snacks (oatmeal cream pies, swiss cake rolls, starcrunch, etc., brownie mix (the bag would be fine/probably easier to send), Fruity pebbles, Trix, Rotel, Velvetta, Dry pinto beans, Cumin, Xbox live giftcard....aaannddd that's all I can think of for now! 

Here's our address:              

              Britt & Brittany Holmes

K Heights A201

3-8-10, Kamiyagari, Izumi-ku,

Sendai, Miyagi, 981-3121, JAPAN

SAYONARA!!! :) :) :)

I'm sorry

When I look back at the friendships I've made and squandered I wonder, "What happened there?". I wonder if I took opportunities to encourage and uplift my friends. I wonder if I was overly-judgmental about their life choices. I wonder if I was as patient with them as they were with me. 

It's important that I do this, because it's so easy for me to get caught up in thinking that everyone else an idiot, wishing they were all on the same page as me with what's right and wrong. My opinions tend to become "what is right" instead of just an opinion. Others become more and more susceptible to failing in my eyes.

As a follower of Christ, I hate that I have these feelings towards others. I want to see the best in everyone, extend grace, patience, mercy, forgiveness, and love. Yet I find myself still treating my closest friends as if they could never live up to MY standards. 

Well, where did MY standards come from anyway? I know these things for sure:

1) We are born sinful. No sane person teaches kids to bite, or to be selfish when they are two. No, the words "Mine" seem to find their own way to the lips of toddlers, selfishly declaring what is theirs. So there you have it- I have been sinful and selfish since birth. 

2) My background, what and how I was taught, has influenced me the most. Someone is tardy? Then they are lazy/poor time managers. Someone talked back? No respect for others. What? They didn't say "thank you"? Ungrateful. Someone drinks? SIN. Someone has sex? UNFORGIVABLE- that's for marriage only! How could you! Gay? Don't even get me started...

Condemnation waiting for you at every turn. (I'll address this in a minute)

3) The Bible is my ultimate authority. I know some of my standards are based on emotion or opinion, but ultimately, I strive to meet the standards that are asked of me in the Word.

That said, I will address the issues with point 2. 

Somewhere in between the mix of old church folk, my peers, and spankins', my view of people who were sinful got completely distorted. Never-mind the fact that I thought I was the only one in the world who barely sinned. (Making it that much easier to judge those around me!)

I had no tolerance, and no grace to extend to those that fell short. I believed that once you turned your back on God, he would turn his back on you. He was ready to boot you out of His kingdom if you said the "F" word one more time!! But obviously, the reality of it was that I had made myself god. I had made my standards and opinions, the ULTIMATE say so. (Cough, heresy, cough cough)

How wrong and sinful was I? Does the Bible not also say that we ALL fall short of the glory of God. We wrestle with sin on a daily basis. It is not, and was not my job to search and know people's hearts; To make known and rehash their sins to them; to make them feel the way I did.

Yes, God has specifically spoken to certain characteristics, and yes, as Christians we are to pursue Christ and strive to be like him. But there is grace, forgiveness, and healing that is offered in Jesus' name. We will sin. We will struggle- but God is constantly wooing us back to Himself. 

He is just, and there is consequences to a life lived without Him, but as long as our heart and eyes are fixed on Christ, he will be there faithfully throughout every season, every hour, and every second of our lives. 

Even as I write this, feeling so undeserving because of how I've portrayed Christ, I know that He knows my heart, has forgiven me, and has called me to repentance. I have been making progress slowly but surely, and for now I just want to apologize to anyone reading this who I've treated badly. I am truly sorry and I hope that, in my repentance you can see that Christ can even use crazies like me to spread His Word. 

On a similar note...

As Britt and I prepare for Japan, God has really been transforming my heart and preparing me to know that there will most likely be a resistance to people when we begin to share the gospel. People will not be like me. Not only in their morals, but with the God's they serve and the lifestyle they live. 

I pray that I will genuinely be able to accept people the way they are, and that they would do the same for me.

 I pray that they would realize that God wants them now exactly as they are, and not the future unattainable perfected versions of themselves. All I can ask is for God's divinity to be at work, and for ears to be open to the Good News, for myself and for others. 

I love you guys,

B

Chicago and Japan

I'm gonna try to make this quick because I'm supposed to be packing right now...but I just wanted to get some thoughts out (ok-procrastinate, call it what you will).

First things first, our trip to Chicago was so fun! Our recruiters flew us up there for the second round of interviews....75 down to 25 people...so we're very hopeful!  We bought CityPasses and were able to have 3 full days of adventure! :)

We got to see a Planetarium, Aquarium, 2 Museums, and the SkyDeck! This is the 8th tallest standing structure in the world, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere....we're talking higher than the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower....MADNESS! They have this glass box that sticks out of the building and its pretty stinkin' scary at first, but once you get used to it...its super fun to stand in and look out over the city!

Our interviews went really well and we felt blessed just to even be considered for the teaching positions. Britt and I both interviewed separately and then came together briefly with everyone at the end of the 2 hrs. It was one of the most exciting/nerve-racking/intimidating things I've ever done, but I really hope it will bring us closer to ministering to the people of Japan! :)

Please keep us in your prayers! If we get the job in November, we will head out for Japan on February 1st!

I am now working as an office assistant for a Mortgage Company in Dallas, which is very different from teaching, but I am learning a lot about Refinancing and Purchasing homes! lol

Britt will be graduating December 7th and is learning so much in his classes. Its fun to hear him talk eagerly about all the new things he's learning about the Bible and Theology/Philosophy. I'm glad I have a husband who loves the Lord and pursues Him wholeheartedly!

Lastly, we are moving into a 2-bedroom apartment right downstairs in our complex! I'm SOOO excited about this because they have just put in a dishwasher, have re-painted the entire place, and are putting in brand new carpet this week! Honestly-I'm just ready to have a dishwasher!! BOOOO hand washing dishes!! BOOOO standing at the sink for an hour!! YAAAAYYY dish-washer....we are ready to love you!! :) haha....oh man, two years of hand-washing dishes is HISTORY!!! (Can you tell this is the chore I hate the most??)

Ok- I know I was trying to make this short, but oh well! Glad we could meet again and catch up! :)


Brittany

New Seasons

Have you ever met someone who you just genuinely enjoyed being around? (Other than a spouse, relative, etc.)
Me too....and when you're married, its not always easy to find other couples that both the husband and wife enjoy being around.

Well a few years ago I met Zoe Bell at SAGU and our mutual hatred for a specific class we were in AND the fact that we were both getting married soon  joined us in a new friendship that I'm sure neither one of us were expecting!

Zoe and I both went to each others bridal shower, which lead to exchanging numbers, which lead to her asking about our apartments, which then lead to her and her Micah moving into our complex literally right down the hall.

Eventually one thing lead to another, and after an EPIC game night with a few of our other close buddies, Britt and I both knew that Zoe and Micah were two awesome people.

After a whole year of pranks, adventures, gaming, REALLY REALLY late night talks, dinners, movies, and lots of other great quality time together.....sadly, it is all coming to an end. Our sweet friends are moving back to San Antonio to be with their families and to follow in the direction that God is leading them to in this new season of their life.

It will be so sad to see them go, but I feel so blessed to have had such a unique friendship with such great people. I know we'll all stay in touch and be lifelong friends-but there will still be a little void in Waxahachie now.

Zo- don't worry, I'll always let you know if it still smells like fajitas/weed/The Collector on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and if the new lady moving into your apartment likes it when we leave old junk on her doorstep. (Something tells me she's not gonna like it very much, but who knows....maybe she'll be a good sport! lol)

We love you guys and will definitely miss you! Thanks for being so incredible! :) 
  

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart." 
-Elisabeth Foley



Time for a RECAP:

Bad Dreams

This morning I woke up at 6:15 on the dot.
I woke up because I was hit in the head (in my dreams-not in real life!) and it freaked me out! I jolted really hard and woke up with chills all over!

So here's a brief version of the dream:
My sister was visiting me and Britt at our apartment.
We were all sitting on different parts of the bed just talking and it was getting later and later.
The way I was sitting made my legs "fall asleep" and they were getting all tingly.
All of the sudden I heard this loud bang on the front door.
Britt and Amy think its the neighbors slamming their door, but I get a really bad feeling and I think its something worse.
I try to get off the bed to go see whats going on, but because my legs have fallen asleep I fall face-first into the ground as my legs collapse like jello beneath me.
The banging thrashes again and I feel the vibration on the ground as I try to fumble my way towards the living room.
Right before I am able to make it to the door, it is flung wide open by 2-3 men who look like the police.
However, they are not the police. They are robbers.
I try to yell to warn Britt and Amy but its too late because our apartment is tiny, so the men have already made it to the bedroom.
Fear rushes over me, and I cannot defend myself.
I try to get up but one of the men hits me in the head with the same metal instrument that he used to knock down our door.
A stream of blood runs down my face, I black out.

END OF DREAM.
I jolt wide awake at 6:15am with chills covering my whole self.
I am terrified and I go check the locks on our door.
Then I pray...hard. I pray for God to wash me of this dream and of the fear it brought with it.
I pray that God would protect me and my family.
Then I think about buying a baseball bat. (Should there be any real-life intruders.)

Do you ever find yourself in situations like this?

"God please help me to trust you. God please protect my family/finances/etc."
But then we go and find the answer ourselves?

I trust You, but I'm buying a bat just in-case you don't exist or don't come through for me.

I trust You, but I trust myself more.

(If you're still reading at this point, thank you...I know this feels a bit lengthy.)

I'll try to wrap up by saying this:
God does exist. He is faithful to his promises, and we need to be able to fully put our trust in him.

His word says in Isaiah 12:2, " 2  “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” 

I must trust without my guard up and know that God is in control.

I long to trust without any hindrances and any doubts. I pray that you would too.

Grace and Peace,
Brittany