Haiku-a-Day

     On August 1, 2025, I started writing a haiku every day (and am still doing it, as of 9-24-26). I don't always write them on the actual day but write them about the events of that day. Many are not impressive or fancy but serve as a quick snapshot of each day, much like the app 1 Second Every Day (where I have been uploading a 1 second snippet of every day of my life since January 1, 2021).  Traditional Japanese haikus often focus on nature themes, but all include 3 lines -- 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. As I'm learning Japanese, I'm realizing that much of the language and culture relies on restraint in expression and carefully-chosen words.  In conversation, pronouns and subjects are often dropped entirely, and you have to decide from the context who or what the person is referring to. For example, "nansai desu ka?" means "how many years old?" but it could mean, "How old are you?" or "How old is your son?" or many other things, depending on the topic. In a similar way, Japanese haiku have few syllables but are still able to communicate a deeper meaning.

(Note: Japanese is a syllabic language -- instead of letters, there are syllables that all share the same length.  In English, some pronunciations of certain words are different depending on the speaker or region. I'm realizing this even as I typed my first haiku below. In English, "haiku" is two syllables, but in Japanese, it's three -- ha-i-ku. So, the syllables may be a little off, and even after doing this every day for over a year, sometimes I still mess up the 5-7-5 pattern)

    Here are some of mine...

8-1-25
A haiku a day
Creativity flowing
We'll see how it goes

8-2-25

Better as a team

Sharin' the adventure

   and laughing a lot

8-4-25

I'm a connector

to God, His Word, and others

That is my calling

8-26-25

Camping in a tent

A 24 hour day

Outside all hours

9-18-25

Coins gathered for years

Sorting, stacking, rolling them

Five hundred dollars!

9-20-25

A well-earned Sabbath

Morning till night hard labor

Now I get to rest

10-8-25

Permanent marker

Left out on my night table

Permanent on wall

10-16-25

Six to Eight-thirty

Pray, Praise, Pause, Read, Ruminate

Morning with Jesus

11-10-25

Brain buzzing 'bout boat

Transpacific worldschooling

Thisclose to booking!

11-24-25

Table of bounty

Heart is as full as stomach

Smiles all around

12-28-25

Henry and Debbie

Dinner feast, gifts for the boys,

Hit neighbor jackpot!

12-30-25

It's my happy time:

End-of-year reflections and 

New Year goal setting

1-18-26

Japanese daily

Practicing, watching, reading,

Listening, speaking

2-8-26

Sad? Mad? Repentant?

Doubting? Take it to Jesus--

Welcomes emotions

2-16-26

Feels almost like spring

Gives me a spring in my step

Winter's not always

2-28-26

Productive work day

Good to reset some spaces

Clears the air, my head

4-6-26

Gas at $4.19

$3.22 in Hebron

Thank you, Speedway app

4-10-26 (4-8-6 because of break-up of words)

むすこ と

かあさんのいえで

うれしいです

Translation: 

With my sons,

at my mom's house

I'm happy.

4-19-26

Back to Jacobson

Prayed as I walked in. I am...

Haruka's "first friend"

4-20-26

Backyard campfire

In memory of my dad

here on his birthday

4-21-26

Date night together

Cache, walk, eat, dream, plan Japan

Heart and belly full

5-3-26

Layers and blankets

Frost on tent feels like a badge

We did it! (survived)

5-26-26

Today was the day

Colson now a bike rider

Even Sunnyside!

5-17-26

Pattern of Offense

Seeds turns to bitterness root

Grows, scatters more seeds

5-30-26

Biking to yard sales

Some-jackpot, others a miss

Don't know till you go!

6-18-26

Didn't want to go

but in going, I was blessed

Lighthouse--light to me

6-26-26

Solid Rock in Hughes

Standing with the Steadfast class

There's nothin' like it

6-28-26

I am a shover,

a scrambler, flustered flinger

Mishmashed packer-type

7-20-26

Magic tricks at park

Carter in his element

"Now I'm popular!"

7-25-26

Prepared a table

Opened our home and our hearts

You are welcome here

7-28-26

Riney B pool day

Boys played, splashed, swam, slid, laughed, jmped

I swam, talked with friends

8-17-26

First day of school-ish

Too much? Or too little? is

ever the question

8-25-26

A song in my heart

whether in a school hallway

or out n the trails

8-26-26

Sunrises, sunsets

up atop this holy hill

They never get old

9-5-26

Vacation recaps

on my humble, little blog

Memories. Grateful.

9-9-26

One last Zoo day--hot

Gorillas, lorikeets, tram

After - Frosty treat

9-21-26

Checking things off list

Going to Japan NEXT WEEK

So excited! Yah!!!!