I miss root beer!!!

The weather has been absolutely amazing the past few days. Today there was a high of 65 and tomorrow will be even better at 68. Spring is my absolute favorite season-it's so nice outside and everything is blooming! A few days ago Carly and I went on a picnic at the park just down the block from our apartments. It was a lot of fun. We had fresh strawberries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, oreos, and pringles! We laid out a blanket and ate our lunch under the beautiful cherry blossoms. Carly surprised me with bubbles she found at the store the other day. So we did what all 20 year olds want to do, blow bubbles! I will admit, it was pretty awesome.

Our delicious picnic lunch!

Bubble fun!!

The park we ate at.

Today, Saturday was pretty perfect. I got up this morning and talked to Joshua on skype for a bit before running to the 99 yen store for some food. That store by far is my favorite here in Japan. You can get almost anything there, including decent food. I got a bag of 3 huge bananas for only 104 yen (about $1.04). Right next to the 99 yen store is this adorable little boutique. I'd noticed some cute clothes there for the past week or so, but hadn't looked at any yet. I decided that since I had the time I'd go in. I found this adorable spring dress for only $10.00!!! I was so super excited that I ran home and put it on! Then I packed up my bookbag and headed to the "Forest Park of the 21st Century." It's a large park only a short bike ride away from my apartment. The first order of business when I got there was to get some ice cream! I got the black sesame seed ice cream and it was delicious. I can't describe the texture or flavor. It's like nothing I've ever tasted before, but I love it. After that I went and found an open spot on the ground next to the lake and laid out my blanket. I did some reading, some journaling, and some drawing. It was so relaxing and nice! The only bad part was that I managed to sit underneath a hoard of crows that hovered in the tree above me. I swear, they make the worst noise ever!

Yummy ice cream!

Beautiful trees at the park.

Flower garden!

Bridge and little stream.

My new dress!!!

After the park I had to head to church and be there by 5 o'clock for worship team practice. It was super fun. Everyone arrived and we set up and sang some songs. I learned a few songs in Japanese which was pretty cool. Hosana and I snuck out and went to the bakery to get a cake for a surprise birthday party for one of the women at church. It was so weird riding in the car with her. Besides sitting on the left side of the car in the front, everyone drives on the left side of the street! It's so backwards! When we got back to the church we all sang happy birthday and ate some cake and had some dinner. Then we did sang a bunch more songs. I got to go to the front at one point and practiced with the microphone. It was pretty cool. I didn't leave until around 9:30. Hosana and her mom drove me to the train station and now I'm home. Unfortunately i can't go to church tomorrow because now Carly and I have to go to school at 9:30 in the morning for the opening ceremony because it's the beginning of the school year. First is the senior high ceremony and then at 1:00 is the junior high ceremony. I guess we get to introduce ourselves to the whole school, so that should be interesting.

Ok, well it's late and I'm tired. Off to bed!!