so it's been awhile again since i lasted posted.  i love reading everyone else's so i figured i should update mine as well in case others are looking to get updates on my life.  not much new is going on in my life.  working 40 plus hours a week and having fun after work and on weekends.  work is going well and i'm enjoying what i'm doing.  i was a little scared at first at how it would all work out but things are going smoothly and i'm liking it while i think others are glad i'm there as well.

my nite life has been filled....i'm so glad people are around to hang out with!  friends and family are wonderful!  shopping has also filled my time.  my biggest splurge lately was a pair of cowboy boots....yes you read it correctly cowboys boots!  my cousin Leanne talked me into them and we definitely had fun wearing them out for the evening.  we bought different pairs but the same size so we can switch if we ever want to.  good use of money.  that was actually a couple of weeks ago.  this weekend my purchase was not of clothing...i went and got my nails done.  i forgot how much i enjoyed that!  i think the last time i had them done was about a year ago...but then again i hadn't been working for about 8 months so the luxury of getting my nails done was not on the priority list.  so on saturday i went and got a manicure and pedicure done...the best part was the massages.  i think i would go and pay money just for that.....so relaxing.

 i rented the movie crash this weekend.  it was a great movie but there was definitely a lot of language.  if you can handle/don't mind that i would definitely recommend the movie.  i went to return the movie this evening and on my way home i was mesmerized by the sight of the moon.  it was full bright and filled the sky.  i went home to get my camera to take a picture and got my parents to come with me to see the view.  we ended getting frozen custard on the way back....my treat!  yes, i think at times it's good to treat the rents.  they treat me all the time so not a bad thing to do once in awhile. 

well, not much else is new....catches you up my life.  maybe i'll get better at updating this.  if not i'm sorry for those who check in on my life.  hope all is well.

love- heather

So it's been a long time since I last updated....sorry to all who keep checking in on my life.  So much has happened in my life since I've been back so I don't know where to start.  Went on family vacation for a week to northern michigan, Empire to be exact.  It's near Traverse City.  Fun times with the fam and laying out in the sun!  Steve and Susie came with us and brought their jet ski so we had fun times on the lake with that.  My granny even asked us to take her out so my bro did...good times.

After a week's vacation I came back and sent out more resumes.  That's been another story of my life.  Looking for a job.  Was not a fun thing to do.  Got one interview before we left on vacation but knew that wasn't going to pan out so I knew when I got back I would have to send out more.  Nothing teaching wise was available so I felt/knew in my heart God had other plans for me.  I sent out resumes to different child care places and also office jobs but didn't hear anything back.  I was starting to wonder if I would ever get a job but knew/wanted one badly.  The Lord provided!  I was approached by a previous employer and offered an office job.  Spare you the long thought process and details I accepted and started work.  Yes, I'm officially a working woman!  I can see the Lord's hand and direction and can't wait to see what else He has for my working life.

It's been great to catch up with family and friends since I've been back.  I didn't realize how much I'd missed by being in-and-out for sooooo long and there are some many more people yet to catch up with or keep up with.  It's been fun times!!!!! 

Well, that catches everything up, I think..... hope you are all having a good week.  Maybe I'll post some more pics later and I'll try and do a better job of posting more.

Have a great one- Heather

To my beloved family and friends-

I am back in the United States!  I arrived yesterday evening with no real problems other than tiredness from over 14 hours of travel..  I will tell you all about it in my entry here.  I hope it makes some sense since I did get some sleep last night but I know I'm still not fully here so hope it's not too bad.

 I started my journey at 6:30am Thursday morning which would have been 5:30pm Tuesday night here.  I  took a 3 hour bus ride to the airport arriving about 12:30pm.  Checked my bags, got through security then headed to the farthest point of the airport to my gate.  I waited about 15 minutes then the plane began to load.  We took off just  about on-time around 2:20pm (Japan time).  My flight lasted about 10 hours and 40 minutes crossing the International Dateline making me arrive the same day I left around 11:00am (Central Time) in Chicago. 

I made it through Immigration without any problems, then waited over 30 minutes for luggage to begin to come out and luckily mine came quickly.  From there I went to customs which I answered 1 question then proceeded through.  Right through the customs door they had a place to check through luggage so I dropped my 2 suitcases off with about an hour and a half until my plane boarded.  Plenty of time I thought but quickly moved upstairs to catch a train to the domestic terminals from the international terminal.  Since I had received my boarding pass in Tokyo, I proceeded to the security checkpoint.  This is where I wasn't sure I would make it.  The airport was packed with travelers and they only had 2 screeners open resulting in waiting at least if not more than an hour to get through security.  Standing there that long I knew exactly what to do when I proceeded as I heard the directions about 100 times over.  Again my gate was the farthest so I headed that direction right away as boarding was to begin in about 20 minutes.  I arrived at the gate with about 10 minutes to spare so I grabbed a smoothie to drink and a pretzel to eat.  Great first meal back in the US!  I finished eating and I boarded the plane.  I sat on the plane for about an hour before we took off.  Some other passengers just barely made it due to it being a connecting flight but then we waited for their luggage arrive as well.  I fell asleep for a bit and woke up again still in Chicago.  We took off over an hour late but made some time up in the sky arriving in Metro only about 15 minutes late.

Dad, mom and granny all were waiting for me at the luggage claim.  It again took a bit for the luggage to come but we didn't have to wait too long for mine.  We stopped quickly by home so I could take a shower and feel semi nice then we headed to Olive Garden to eat with Steve and Susie.  This was a much better meal than the airport even though I had only salad.  With it being about my 5th or more meal of the day I wasn't starving so salad sounded the best.  From dinner we dropped off my granny at her house then home.  I started to go through suitcases then headed to bed about 10:30pm as I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.  Being up over 24 hours had finally caught up to me!  Sleeping in my own bed again was wonderful!  I didn't even wake up at about 3am which normally happens with jet leg but slept until about 10:30am today.  Still feeling a bit tired I laid there and ended up falling back to sleep until about 11:00am.  I decided I had to get up or else wouldn't sleep tonight. 

So there is my last 48 to 72 hours.  I had a wonderful time but glad to be home as well.  I am still a bit tired but hopefully will get over it soon.  Thank you all for your prayers during my journey!  It was amazing and I can't wait to talk with you all.

Blessings ~ Heather