Preparations for future hardships

My husband has told me about Dave who visited his company today.
He works for a different engineering company.

He says he often goes to Japan on a business trip.

He had been at Fukushima until right before
Great East Japan Earthquake hit that area.
He took off Japan forty minutes before the earthquake struck.

Also in the event of Great Kobe Earthquake,
he was in Kobe driving on the express way.
He was also protected then.
Incredible!！

His story has reminded me of being watchful
and being prepared in prayer for hardships in future.

Count Down in Times Square

The New Year's Eve in NY is famous for the count down in Times Square.
The place is packed with people this year as well.

Three major TV stations broadcast live that celebration.

As the clock strikes 12:00, cheers and Confetti fill the air.
This kind of revelry is performed
only in a limited section of the city;
People at large lead a daily life as always.

Since the new year of our church begins in Nov. 2011,
I don't really stick at the new year's celebration
and haven't cared about fixing OSECHI (Japanese New Year's dishes) which has disappointed my husband.

What I have realized anew as we entered the new year in Nov. was
that God is truly the heavenly Father who loves us, cares for us,
and leads and guides us and disciplines us.

He responds to us who ask Him;
He comes closer to us when we get close to Him.

(This is the aerial fire work in the new year on the East River
shot from the window of my apartment.)