Best News, also, snow and a wedding in Tokyo

Hi Everyone,

Our very best news is that our granddaughter, Cassie, has begun her mission and is now at the Peru MTC practicing her Spanish and preparing for some of her best times to come as a missionary there!  Her brother, Taylor has received his great mission call to Raleigh North Carolina- Spanish speaking!  He will be working on his Spanish at the Mexico MTC! (This is their great family and I hope they don't mind that we use this photo as it was on Facebook.)
                              CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

                 

Now for less dramatic news: we just knew that you wanted to see that it really does snow here in Tokyo

Fortunately, it is warming up now and we hope that winter is over.

Is this a new Chandler couple?
Actually, we are having fun at a wedding reception for
our dear friend, Yayoi and her husband, Masaki.  Yayoi is a secretary
in our office.

Brother Aalders is rather entertaining, don't you think?

Here is sister Aalders and her sweet daughter, Scarlett.

This was the the wedding party.  The Mothers kimonos were so beautiful, too!
We were very impressed as the parents came around to each table
to greet all of us personally.  Fortunately, we had someone that could
interpret for us.

I didn't take pictures of the wonderful dinner that was served to us but we did get a picture of the dessert.
The numbers on the cupcake are kind of a special Japanese way of writing their surname, Iwanami.  
Each  number represents one of the sounds of the different syllables. 

For some of the program, the groom and his friends
demonstrated some of their old Scout cheers, or something like that.
Later, it was great to see many of the men get up and join them, Elder Chandler
included.  I was amazed at how well he could chant in Japanese.

Here's more of the great "chant-dance" on the program.

Here is the happy couple with some of us.

I think the flower girls are so darling, too.

Masaki and Yayoi had a wonderful marriage ceremony in the Tokyo temple in the morning
and a delightful wedding reception in the afternoon.
We are so happy for them.
 It is a wonderful beginning for their eternal family.
Congratulations!