Showing posts with label Ben. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben. Show all posts

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Archery Fun




I surprised my oldest son today by taking him to an Archery Range to celebrate his 16th birthday.








Friday, June 6, 2014

Exchanging Languages

 
What a wonderful day. Bennett had his first experience teaching someone English one on one.
 
 

The best thing about this was they both were exchanging languages. He would teach "Mrs. Ueda" English words and she would teach him Japanese words.

 

 
Both helped each other with words they did not understand.
 

 

 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

International Friends and ESL



We had an awesome opportunity to be a part of an International ESL class at a local church in our area. Since Bennett has been teaching himself the Japanese language and culture this has been a blessing. We have met some awesome friends in the process and look forward to volunteering more in the fall.


I was invited to the end of the year celebration given by the ladies group. The mens group had a dinner as well but I was not able to get any pictures.


The ladies were really nice in explaining to me the difference between American Japanese and Japanese food. They always laughed when I showed them what was considered Japanese cuisine here. It was nice to try authentic Japanese food.  


Bennett has really enjoyed this experience and looks forward to the direction that God leads him. 


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Friday, April 25, 2014

ESL Classes


I am so proud of my oldest son Bennett. He has been asked to volunteer as a ESL teacher. The program organizers were so impressed with how well he spoke Japanese fluently. Did I mention that he is self taught. The class has 8 class members right now. Seven are Japanese and one of them is from Sri Lanka. Generally averaging around 3-5 class members in attendance each week.
Volunteering will give him some exposure to what it's like to interact with Japanese men and to understand their needs and interests.
The main purpose each week is to build friendships with these men, discuss life issues & experiences, help them understand any English words they don't understand, learn everyday American expressions (i.e. Idioms), read a short story from bible and also sharing how Jesus impacts our everyday lives.

Monday, April 14, 2014

First Day of Driver's Ed

 

It seems like just yesterday he was riding down the hallway on his battery operated Jeep. His feet could barely touch the floor. He needed assistant just to get up on it and ride.

 
Recently he went on a bike ride with his dad. Standing almost as tall as his dad. So many years flashed before me eyes he will be sixteen this summer.
 
 

Today I took him to his first driver's ed class. It was a tough pill to swallow watching him walk through the door of the school. He was excited about taking this big step to independence. The goal is to have him take his time and learn the rules and regulations. My husband will be his driving partner because my nerves can't handle him driving yet.

 

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Japanese Grocery Store Field Trip

My oldest son Bennett loves everything Japanese. So today I took him to a local japanese grocery store which also has a restaurant in it. I thought it would be a great experience for him to order his food in Japanese. He did a great job! He was very confident and spoke clearly.
 
He really likes Pocky Sticks.
I think his goal is to try them all.
It was so much to choose from and very appealing to the eye.
The staff was very friendly.
He ordered a spicy roll combo.

 

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Holocaust Museum

 

Last Friday, my husband took our oldest son Bennett to the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, MI. The museum is well known throughout Michigan as the first freestanding museum dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust, and houses an array of exhibits to shed light on horrors that the Nazis and their allies brought upon Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. At the museum, They saw pictures, videos, and exhibits that gave them a deeper understanding of the Holocaust.

Earlier in the school year Bennett read the book "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl ". I thought this field trip would give him more information and view points of the holocaust.

 

 

 

 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Another Eye Surgery

 

On a day that most schools were closed and we were expecting near blizzard conditions. I was on the road driving two hours to the hospital which should have taken about 40 mins. Talk about being scared in the moment seeing cars spun out in the ditches. Mommy had to be a big girl and drive while all the people in 4x4 flew by her. My oldest son had to have Chalazion surgery. This is his third surgery for the same problem, the last surgery was last year. It is really stressful when you have to deal with doctors and the thought of surgery. We are praying that this is the last time he will need this procedure.

While waiting patiently I crocheted him some fingerless gloves to cheer him up.