Happy 38th Anniversary to Us!

October 29th is our 38th wedding anniversary!  I am amazed when I think back over the years at all that we have experienced together.  That phrase, "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be" sums up how I feel!  I'm so glad we have eternity together.  

As I thought about our wedding I was reminded of family that shared that happy time with us.

George's parents Walt and Orpha Lewis

Aunt Mary Finch, my mother Bessie Montgomery, Grandma Finch, and my Daddy Jake Montgomery

George's sisters Karen and Tammy.

George's brother John

My mother's brother Edward Boyle, Aunt Dawn and cousins Doug, Scott and Bill.

I couldn't have asked for a better life nor better people with whom to share it.

Tokyo #13

I am sure you have all seen pictures of Mt. Fuji.  It is a perfectly shaped volcanic mountain.  I was anxious to see it so I did a full day group tour of Mt. Fuji!  I really enjoyed talking to the people on the tour; a father and son from Israel whose son was just about to go into the military, a couple from Massachusetts traveling with their adult son, a British man who loved traveling the world but did it alone because his girlfriend didn't share his love of travel, a man who had spent a week visiting his son in Korea and stopped in Japan on his way home, a couple from South Africa currently living in Singapore, and several other Americans.  Love making new friends for a day!

If you notice in almost every photo you see of the Mt Fuji the top is covered with snow.  That is because late fall, winter and early spring are the best times for clear views.

                                                                

The week we were in Japan it was unseasonably warm and as a consequence most of our views of the mountain were like this:

 In the late afternoon while we were on our lake cruise, the clouds thinned a bit and we did get a 'sort of' view!  Everyone on the tour was so excited!

 The clouds just made the photos more interesting, don't you think?

Truly I think our own Mt. Hood is just as beautiful and I get to see it every week when I drive to Guide Dogs!

Tokyo #12 Favorite Temples

I visited many temples in Japan but this one is my favorite! When I joined the LDS church in 1972 there were 16 temples and I believe all but 3 of them were in the US.  Now there are 141 operating temples, 15 under construction and 14 more that have been announced.  Japan will soon have 3 LDS temples!  About half of all temples are outside of the US! That is some amazing world wide growth!

                                                    

                                 

At the end of our day hiking in Kamakura, just after we visited the Big Buddha, we happened upon the Hasa-dera Temple which really touched my heart. The grounds of the temple are home to hundreds of small Jizō  statues, placed by parents mourning their deceased children. These statues remain in place for about a year, before being removed to make way for more statues. Jizō, is one of the most loved of all Japanese divinities. Traditionally, he is seen as the guardian of children, and in particular, children who died before their parents. He has been worshipped as the guardian of the souls of stillborn, miscarried of aborted fetuses.  Jizō's features are commonly made baby-like to resemble the children he protects.

Tokyo #11 Modern Japan

Modern Japan is also worthy of a blog post!

 Our hotel in Yokohama took up the top 20 floors of the highest building in Japan.  The elevator was the fastest in the whole country and made my ears pop every single time I went up to the room.

The modern sculpture by the hotel reminded me of an amusement park ride. 

Our view could take your breath away!

And speaking of amusement park rides, the bullet train can go almost 200 miles an hour.  Right now another type of bullet train is in the test phase.  This one rides above the rail, the so called 'floating train' and can go at speeds of up to 310 mph! Made me think of the 'hover-boards' from the Back to the Future movies.  I guess I'll have to go back in 2028 just to take a ride on one!

Right by our hotel was an absolutely enormous mall.  I spent a lot of time just walking around there.  This was my first time on a curving escalator!

 Another unusual building on Odaiba Island in Tokyo Bay.

 Four inverted pyramids make Tokyo Big Site an unusual Convention Center!

This building reminded me of things the kids used to build with legos.  

Tokyo #10 - The Search for Enlightenmnt

While most of our faith were listening to the broadcast of our semi-annual General Conference from Salt Lake City, George and I were hiking the hills of Kamakura, Japan in search of the Big Buddha!

Unfortunately we got on the wrong trail and were a bit lost.

 Finally we happened upon a sign....didn't help us much!

 This nice Japanese couple proved to be much more helpful, even with their limited English and our non-existent Japanese.

 With the aid of our map, they got us back on the right trail going in the right direction.

 And we found him!

                                           

The Big Buddha of Kamakura is about 44 feet tall and is the 2nd tallest Buddha in Japan.  The statue was cast in 1252 and originally was located inside a large temple hall.  However the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by typhoons and a tidal wave in the 14th and 15th centuries but the Buddha survived.  Since 1495 he has been standing in the open air.  Think about that, he has been standing there since Columbus discovered America.  Makes me remember the relative 'youth' of our country.

Tokyo #9 - The Mystery of the 7 Pounds

My friend, Jackie, went to Japan a few months ago to visit her daughter who is teaching English there.  During her two week visit she lost 7 pounds!  She attributed it to the Japanese food and all the walking.  Sounded great to me!  I certainly walked a lot so surely that would equate to weight loss.

Jackie and her daughter probably ate authentic Japanese meals like this one

 From top left that is braised seaweed, seasonal fruit, dried radish with sesame sauce, rolled omelet, sashimi (sliced raw tuna),  braised soy bean fiber,  braised vegetable, seasonal vegetable salad, and fried chicken (one very small piece of fried chicken). It was a great meal! Japanese eat like this for lunch....and there are NO fat Japanese!  All of us Americans wondered when they were bringing us our dessert!  It's right there on the plate - fruit!

I ate other typical Japanese food on other nights, like this very delicious Udon Noodle soup.  We loved it!

One morning I joined the line of school children sampling these little deep fried treats filled with sweet, red bean paste.  Very unusual flavor but quite enjoyable! 

So I did eat like a native some of the time!  Unfortunately I discovered that the vending machines had my favorite Dr. Pepper.  Perfect little pick me up after walking for miles and miles!

And the mall by our hotel had a Mr. Doughnut shop.  Don't really think this fat lady cut out was that great of an advertisement for eating doughnuts!  I only went there once.

My real downfall was finding this cute little French bakery also in the mall by our hotel.  Every morning it was packed with skinny Japanese buying sandwiches and pastry so I joined the group.  Actually I went there almost every morning and got my breakfast and my lunch.  I don't even eat at the bakeries in France but this place just called my name every day!

I guess there is no mystery as to why I didn't loose 7 pounds.  It probably is a good thing that I didn't gain 7 pounds.

4T's Trail in Portland

Johnny and Scott came to visit and we took advantage of the absolutely beautiful weather to complete the Portland 4 T's Trail.

At the Oregon Zoo we started on the TRAIL......

And a beautiful trail it was!

 

At the highest point in the city we got spectacular views of both Mt. Hood 

 and Mt. Saint Helens.

Next it is the TRAM.....  

 

Then the TROLLEY to downtown Portland for lunch at one of the famous Portland food carts.

And to end the adventure you get on the TRAIN to go back to the zoo. Trust me when I say that they had much more fun than their expressions would indicate!