I Can't Believe It's September

Hello! It has been a little more than a week since I last wrote. 
We are doing well here in Sapporo. It has been really hot this past week, but seems to finally be cooling down a little. The air is still very heavy feeling though. 
 Let's see, what have we been up to..... 
Keisuke is busy with work every day Monday through Saturday. They have been fairly busy with selling and buying cameras. Actually my Dad had given me a old camera. It was a Yashica and a very old style. It could use two types of film, and is very rare here in Japan. We gave that camera to Keisuke's family store (Seven Shokai) and they were able to sell it really quickly! :) Dad was surprised at how much it went for. 


 I got my visa back today. They gave me a 1 year visa, so I will have to renew it again next year. I think they just like getting money every year. hmph. :)
I am thankful to have any visa though. :) 

  Our church had a reception for us here in Japan on Saturday. It was fun to get to celebrate our marriage twice! I wore my dress again, and Keisuke wore a new suit he had bought.
 Keisuke's parents came and also several of his aunts and uncles, so it was nice to meet them. 
 The church did most of the planning and preparation for us which was a big change from doing a lot of the planning by yourself in America... In fact we didn't really know any of the program until it happened. It was fun to be surprised. :) 
 There was an MC type person, the Pastor gave our introduction (a little bit about us, and how we met) and then turned it over to the youth who put on a skit to show how we "met and fell in love"... haha it was pretty hilarious. The guys were all playing me and Alicia... and they had wigs on, and skirts. It was so funny. They exaggerated a little, but we were just laughing a lot! 
 There was really delicious hour-derv's that the church ladies had made, and cake that we had ordered. There was special music (Above All) in Japanese of course. And a few speeches that were nice. At the end of the reception we walked out to a flower shower :) and went to the park to take some pictures. Then walked back to the church where there was a "velo taxi" (a covered tricycle that has a driver seat, and a back seat) Everyone sent us away in that. The velo taxi driver took us all the way to our home. It was fun. :) Lots of people would wave and call out congratulations and some kids chased after us. :) fun fun :)  We even had a few Jr High girls squealing "aaah it so pretty" ("aaa suteki!")  and asking to take pictures. ;-) haha 
The photographer followed us so when I get pictures, I will send them! 


 Well, that is about all the news from here that I can think of. 
This week we have lots of haifu (passing out flyers) because there are some special services coming up with guest speakers that are coming in a couple weeks. 


 Thats about it! We are still getting a long well being married. :) 
This Friday we will go to the embassy and get my passport name change process started. Please pray for a smooth process with that... 


 Please write us and tell us what's going on with you! 
Love to all! We miss you! Love, Laura and Keisuke