Christmas Traditions

Josh and I both grew up with many Christmas traditions, many of which we have adapted to our little family along the years. Many of our traditions happen during extended family gatherings and are bitter sweet memories now that we are so far away.  This year we went a little overboard maybe but it make the season meaningful.  We had seven countdown calendars (a candle, Hershey Kiss tree, felt board manger, Lego activity calendar, daily Christmas joke flap calendar, ornament tree, felt ornament tree) starting on December 1st.

Hershey kiss count down.  The kids take the chocolate out each day and leave the foil on the tree for the ornaments

Grandma Beverly Turner's felt tree made for us by Stacy Turner

 We like to do Light the World https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We watched a weekly video and did weekly activities to 1),Light the World,  2)Light our Community, 3) Light our Family, and 4) Light our Faith.  This really keeps service and the spirit of Christ present during the season.

Daily we read a different Christmas book at breakfast time.  We enjoy doing the 12 Days of Christmas to a neighbor each year.  It is always fun to think about those who might need a little extra love and thoughtfulness.  I have collected all the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Christmas concert DVD's.  We watched them all December long.  We learned about the members of the nativity and how they contributed to the night of Christ's birth with the Christ Centered Christmas.

Each piece of hay represents a secret act of service given to a family member or friend

We searched for ways that we might stay connected to our family members since we live so far away and cannot attend family parties.  Among the Turner's, we made a list of everyone's favorite things about Christmas, like lights, baking cookies, giving gifts, gingerbread houses, etc.  Then we all tried to do each of the things in our own homes to feel a connection to our loved ones.  We shared the experience through pictures with each other.  Here are a few of ours:

I have been very interested in family history this year as Bear has started joining us at the temple so I decided to research a few traditions from our heritage.

United Kingdom: Jones and Turner
1. Watch The Snowman on the last day of school, for us December 14th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE9KpobX9J8

2. Burn your letter to Santa so that the ashes may waft to him in the North Pole

3. Nativity plays on Christmas Eve

Costumes courtesy of friends the Justiniano's

4. Presents in stockings left by Santa

Germany- Kartchner
1. Advent calendars- we had that one covered!
2. Singing Christmas carols around the tree

3. Glass ornament given as a Christmas Eve gift

Schnauzer for Josh, Guitar for Bub, Yoga mat for me, Unicorn for Pants, and toe shoes for Bear

The Netherland's- Harenberg
Put shoes out on December 5th for Santa Claus to fill.  This year we were lucky to host Sister Missionaries from the Sendai mission for the night so that they could attend a mission conference in Misawa.  They got to participate in our new tradition!

Seven pairs of shoes are filled and ready to be discovered

It was fun to share the tradition with Sister Burrows and Sister Cordoso

It is also traditional to fill the shoes with a biscuit made in the shape of the first letter of the receiver's name.  I think this tradition will not be a passing thing.  Everyone had fun with it.

We are so grateful for our parents who filled our childhood with fond memories that we can pass on to our children.  We are grateful for the technology we have to allow us to stay connected to our family from across the sea.  We are grateful for the emphasis placed on service and giving and the spirit of Christ that has filled our home all month.

The Turner's visit us in Misawa

We were so excited to have Bob and Stacy Turner visit us in Japan.  Japan is not easy to get to and Misawa is even harder so we have been grateful when we have had visitors.  We do our best to show them as much of our little Japan. Josh flew to Tokyo to meet his mom and dad. They wanted to see Tokyo first before coming up to Misawa.  Josh took them to the Tsukiji fish market, Sensoji shrine, Sky Tree tower, the kabuki theater, the Tokyo tower, the Zojoji Temple, the imperial palace, and shibuya crossing.  Some new places that Josh explored with them were the Nihombashi bridge which is where the five original roads in Tokyo begin, the Fukutoku shrine that blesses prosperous business and they saw people ranging from businessmen to common laborer worshiping there.  They also traveled to Nikko, a 90 min train ride north of Tokyo.  They visited the Toshogu shrine, a world heritage site and the most ornately decorated in Japan.  Some of the most popular carvings are the see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil monkey carvings and the dream elephants.  The leaves in Nikko were amazing according to Josh, lots of vibrant colors and quantity of colors. This side trip was a highlight for Bob and Stacy.

Josh took all the family but me to Hirosaki to see the Chrysanthemum festival.  I had been sick and stayed home to rest undisturbed.  He took the kids out of school so they could enjoy a full day with their grandparents.  Bob and Stacy enjoyed seeing the castle.  They enjoyed the models adorned with colorful chrysanthemums as well as the fall foliage.

We have spent so much time on ITT tours that we cannot let someone visit us and not take them on an adventure too.  We to Hirazumi.  We wanted to show the Turner’s how we have enjoyed seeing Japan on our monthly outings.  We saw the wooded shrine, lovely leaves, and the golden temple.  Then we traveled to the Geibikei Gorge for the boat cruise.  The Turner’s seemed to enjoy the song that the oarsman sung as we floated on the boat.

The incense is supposed to heal the body if breathed in.

Autumn is stunning in Northern Japan

We went to Morioka Round 1, a sports amusement center.  The kids have always wanted to go there, and it was fun to have grandma and grandpa along.  There was a ball pit area, soccer, basketball, bowling, tennis, baseball, and a large rink where we roller bladed, tried motor bikes, and segways.  I loved the segways but Bub crashed on the motor bikes.  The kids had a blast going from thing to thing and were reluctant to leave.  Too bad it was back to school for them tomorrow!  As we arrived home, we took them to Kappa Sushi because everyone should try conveyor belt sushi in Japan. 

We traveled to Aomori to stay at a traditional Japanese hotel, ryokan.  We had two traditional rooms with Tatami flooring.  They had a little sitting area, bathroom, table that drops into the floor so that you sat on pads but did not have to kneel, and Yukata robes and slippers for all of us. We put on our slippers and watched a shamisen show in the staging area and then went to the onsen.  I was proud of Bob and Stacy for trying out the public bath.  I don’t think they particularly enjoyed it but I think they wanted to say that they had tried it.  We slept on traditional pads (no beds) and we brought an air mattress for Bob and Stacy.  I really love the experience of Japanese hotels. 

Tatami mat flooring- no beds!  We slept really comfortably actually

Japanese style dining in our room

In the morning, we woke to beautiful ocean views out our large window.  One side of the room was just windows and it was fun to watch the fishing boats fill the bay.  Tessa and I went to enjoy the onsen one more time because it also overlooked the ocean and we wanted to see the view while we relaxed.  We also enjoyed a traditional Japanese breakfast buffet before leaving.  

We spent the day in Aomori and started at the Nebuta Museum where we learned about the floats in the famous parade.  Four winners from this year’s parade were displayed there.   We also got to play the taiko drums, cymbals, and learn the dance from the parade.  We took Bob and Stacy to Showa-Daibutu to see the big buddha.  I had never been there in the day and it was a little different experience.  Inside the buddha, pages of artwork and quotes of wisdom were displayed.  Stacy really liked them and was able to find the book of quotes in the gift shop.  We then traveled back to Misawa and we ate at the free member buffet at the club.  I figured that it was probably a good idea to change up Japanese food occasionally.

The first ferry boat from Honshu to Hokkaido 

 We found our zodiac signs inside the big buddha.  We could make a donation and say a prayer to each one.

We ventured to Lake Towada while Josh went to work and Bear went to school.  We walked around the lake and it was quite cold.  Then we went into the gorge to see the waterfalls.  Stacy and Bob played lots of games with Bub and Pants while Bear dutifully did homework.

We went sea glass hunting at Shipwreck beach.  This was one of the best days we spent.  I don’t know why it is so fun and fulfilling to pick up colorful pieces of glass, but we all enjoyed it.  Bob and Stacy were excited to have things that they collected from Japan to take back with them.  I always love time by the ocean.

We were just happy to have Bob and Stacy visit and it was so great for the kids to have one on one time with their grandparents.  We had a wonderful visit and created some lasting memories.