One Year Later

In just a year, most of the fear from that day has faded.  But watching something like this brings it all back in an instant.

This one is pretty long.  Something to watch as a family tonight perhaps?  (After little kids are in bed.)


This one is pretty fascinating.  For all those people who tell me "California has earthquakes too!"
Yep.  I know.

Skip to about 1:45 if you're short of time

The first time I saw this (second movie) I started feeling sick as the days clicked past.  And then the explosion on March 11th was like being punched in the stomach.

I don't think most people in the states comprehended that the earthquakes never stopped.  And with the constant reminders, it's hard to get the fear out of your head and heart.  I never felt completely at ease until I left Japan.  Which was a sad way to leave a place we all loved so much.
The stress decreased over time, but those constant little earthquakes were constant little reminders.  (Some not so little.)  My friends there are still living with them.

The thing is, we wouldn't have traded our time there for anything.  Although the earthquake was a low point, the great things that started happening after were amazing high points.  It was a great experience to be part of the clean-up.  To see the amazing pride and grace and resilience of the Japanese people.  To see destruction repaired.  To see things rebuilt.  To see the outpouring of love from other countries including America.  It was great to be a part of that.

We will always love Japan!


Looking Back:

First post post-quake:  surviving-earthquake-in-japan.html
Aftermath:  earthquake-aftermath.html
Mormon's go to work:  humanitarian-aid-for-hachinohe.html
Sharing hugs from America:  american-refugees-from-sendai.html
Frustration:  sigh.html
One Week Anniversary:  should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-now.html
Feeding the French:  feeding-french-rescue-workers.html
Cleaning Up!:  cleaning-up-mess.html
Perspective:  an-american-mom-in-japan/
Emergency Preparedness:  preparing-to-be-prepared.html
Short Video by Me:  more-ways-to-help.html
Doug cleaning up in Noda:  operation-tomadachi-noda.html
First Preparedness Post by Janeen:  misawa-monday-paeparedness-perspective.html

Thanks for remembering with me!
:)