I am SO blessed

T5B: 1) I have AMAZING friends. 2) I have an eternally loving Father in Heaven who teaches me when I'm ready to hear His wisdom. 3) I have an opportunity to use my faith. 4) I found good deals on food. 5) I was able to spend time with Jake and Limor.

basal temp: 36.64

Today has been full of blessings for me, but more on that later. I slept very little and felt so nauseous and lightheaded this morning. I got up and showered and did laundry. I could hear the sounds of the matsuri (festival) for Monday's holiday - a grandparent's/elderly person day. I was still waiting for Jake and Limor to show up though. When they got here, we headed right out.

There were people milling around everywhere (and it was HOT and humid today). We started following all kinds of people in effort to find the floats (dashi). LOL We walked around in circles for a bit and then followed our ears. We found them! (And I had said it was at Hachimanguu Shrine when we started out - and it was, lol.) We got some festival food - no offense Japan, but EW. I got a pancake sandwich - cream instead of mayo. *SHUDDER* Who sells mayo filled pancake sandwiches!? Oh the Japanese. LOL They had bacon as well, and I love bacon but it didn't sound good. So I got cream. Ya, I didn't like it. I should have known as I don't care for pancakes. Still, I hadn't eaten much so I ate it. We wandered around inside the shrine, Jake and Limor bought fortunes and I walked with them. Several times throughout the day Limor asked if I was ok. I can't describe how much having a good friend means to me. She's incredible! I can see how I was acting out of character: the heat was draining me, I was nauseous and dizzy, and in pain. Still I don't think I complained, as I am trying to stop complaining completely as I have so many blessings. Still, I will love her forever for noticing. It was kinda weird to look back and feel like, "Who WAS that? Ann doesn't act like that!" I hadn't even noticed as I haven't really been around people who know me well. I have worked with these teachers everyday but we do our separate thing and then get together for class. I was thinking that must be why the office is so freaked out. I have visited a number of times and they must have realized I was "off." I'm so grateful for the people who notice and DO something about it.

Anyway, after we walked around the grounds of the shrine for a bit, we walked back to my place. We got into Limor's car and took Jake to the patisserie (a French one) down the road. Their cakes are yummy! After we did that, we went down to the station (we had to take the LONG way as many streets were closed because of the floats). At the station, we went to Jupiter (the store at which they sell imported food). I got some Chamomile tea (as Jerod said that would help my current situation) and dark chocolate. Then we were going to go to lunch. I told them I needed to go to the bank first. So off we went on a hunt. We had to walk to another building (near Aiina), but it was closed. :/ So Limor said she would spot me and I could pay her back after I went to the bank near my place. So we all went to a Chinese place in the station to which Ann had taken me before. I tried to get the same thing I had had before... but there was some miscommunication. They brought me a big bowl of sauce. ... Seriously!? I had to order rice. What the heck!? This is JAPAN - and it's CHINESE food! I was so upset. By the time my food even came Jake and Limor were almost finished with theirs, I was going to have to pay more, and I had to wait for the rice (of course that was out right away). I wanted to cry. I felt like I had no control over what was happening to me in my life in that moment. Jake saw my face and said, "Are you ok?" I shook myself, took a deep breath and said, "Ya, sorry." They had to wait for me to finish and my lunch was $2 more expensive, but the food was good. Although I ate so fast I burned my tongue. :/ The texture of my tongue is all weird now, lol. After that, we drove back (I probably neglected to mention - Limor drove us to the cake shop and the station that are opposite ends of Morioka from one another with my place about 2/3rds of the way to the cake shop). When we were in the car Limor said, "Jake, will you point one of those a/c vents at Ann? (as I was in the back)" I REALLY appreciated that. :,) After we got back to my place, we walked to the bank. I grabbed some money, we stopped at an incense store (and poor Jake was allergic to something and started to get all red - all the smells just made me nauseous), and then we walked back to my place. Oh! We stopped at Mr. Donuts for a special hazelnut donut that is in season right now. (Can I say that about donuts? It's a seasonal item is what I mean, lol.) We hunted one down... lol. There were two of the donuts we wanted and the kid in front of us started to go for one. So it went this kid, Jake, then me. I instantly started saying, "No, no, no, no, no!" His hand retracted.. WHEW! Then, he took one. NOOOOO! I was about to get out of line, but Jake said he would get one dipped in hazelnut chocolate. -The ones were wanted had the corner dipped in dark chocolate. How sweet is that!? I thanked him and off we went (this was actually on the way to the bank).

After we got to my place Jake showed me a disturbing music video, lol - but seriously... EEP. Limor had one last smoke and I hugged them goodbye and thanked them for coming. Then I went inside. At the bank I had taken out money. Technically this is my bill money, but I was thinking, I can't NOT eat. I don't want to feel like I'm starving and where is my faith!? So I am placing my faith in the Lord. I laid down for a while until I could convince myself to go grocery shopping. It was still super humid and nasty out, but at least the sun was down. At the grocery store, I had to buy some expensive items, but I was very blessed to find (dang it! I forgot something - gotta go back. :/) cheap things. I switched out some of my foods, skipped ice cream and got two items to replace what I had eaten out of my food storage. One of the things was pepper popcorn and they don't have it anymore though. :( Aww, com'on Japan! Still, this is probably the least I have spent on a shopping trip (that is shopping for the following week). I rode home telling myself, "This is all gonna work out!" I have $20 I can put towards my MRI so I hope that it will be around that price or less.

When I got home, I was still listening to my mp3 player and many songs in a row were from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This reminded me I hadn't finished the second half of the chapter for RS tomorrow. I got out my phone (I have the manual downloaded on there) and started reading. That's when the Spirit and my Father in Heaven taught me something very important. It feels like a key or hint towards my future. After reading I couldn't help but get on my knees and ask for help making the change I have been prompted to make. So another leap of faith for me (that is where it concerns my future). As I sat after my prayer, I could feel overwhelming love and a spark of hope. I felt in that moment, and I feel now that though things have been ROUGH - and I swear I don't LIKE to do things the hard way but it sure seems like that's the only way I do them! - I am incredibly blessed. Though my uterus is rebelling and I don't quite know how I will afford the surgery if I get it, I know that my God, my loving Father in Heaven, is mightier than this mortal frame and I have had promises made to me that doctors can say are impossible but HA! As if they could trump Him and His awesome power. I testify of an everloving God and answers that come when our hearts are open to receive them. Love you all! XOXO, A (gotta go back to the store... doh!)

The first dashi (float) we saw

This one is in front of Hachimanguu

Inside Hachimanguu

Hard to see - but there are two dragon heads inside that box! So sweet!

There were TONS of women dressed exactly like this

Me with glasses - I might end up getting a backup pair here

Jake and Limor LOVE glasses - they're the reason we stopped. They tried on some 10-15 pairs. I did two. LOL And the funny thing is, I am the only one who "needs" them.

Saw this on a sign advertising for a shop. You sell what now?!

Another dashi in Sakanacho (that covered shopping street) - the bank/post office is further down

Since you miss my face...