How long has it been?

Okay - its been a while, and a LOT has happened...

I'll start (or restart) this blog today by talking about service. Then I'll back track through our many experiences that brought us here. Last Thursday night, after deciding to stick it out in Japan while a couple thousand people clear out of Misawa Air Base, a friend approached me with this:

Friend: "I want to do something for the USAID team that will be coming through the base on their way back home.
Me: "Okay"
Friend: "I need it done quick, next couple of days. I need it done well. I don't have time to do it."
Me: "Okay"
Friend: "I want you to (and your church friends) to take it on"

Me: "Consider it done"

I got home from that little get together and shot an email out to our branch's Relief Society president. We chatted for 20 min and had a skeleton of a plan. It's now 10:15 and I head to bed. The next morning I call a gal in the branch that happens to be an event planner. We hashed out (okay she instructed me on what and how to get it done) and between her, the RS pres, and me - threw a shlew of of emails- we worked out all the details...so we thought.

It's now 4:30 Friday afternoon. I'm about to take a shower (conserve is the word of the week!) to host Mark's office spouses for some light hors-d'oeuvres and virgin drinks, when my friend walks in my door and says,

"The USAID team will be here tonight and will be leaving back to the states tomorrow night. Can you get the bags ready by tomorrow afternoon?"

My response?..."Yes, we can do it." Okay, I admit my stomach did a couple of flips and I thought, "there goes my shower." Which proved to be true...peeeew!  :(

A couple of phone calls and emails later we had $600 worth of donations (c/o our Commissary - base grocery store), plenty of supplies, and mothers who had a desire to help but were limited with young children. The following morning (Sat) 9 mothers of young children are busy making no-bake cookies. By noon 20 extra kids have arrived at my house plus 5 responsible youth to care for them. I hop in the van to pick up the cookies and deliver them to 9 other moms who are assembling 200 goody bags for the rescue team.

Around 2:30 the bags are delivered and the rescue team are grateful. They mentioned that they don't receive such hospitality because in their line of work there usually aren't any means to give it. I'm humbled. We are even more grateful for the help they provided to our gracious Japanese hosts.

Way to go moms and USAID!!!