Suksan Wan Christmat

Merry Christmas!

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:11

All Clean

Our team recently had a work day in a local low-income community in which we work, and it was so much fun to work hard in the heat with the folks who live there to improve their community. Emmy was a great worker bee, and her imagination was engaged as always; she wasn't just a girl picking up trash, she was an owl picking up mice! Here are a few pictures from the day...

My fellow worker friends- Melanie, Becky and Catherine

Long Live the King

Last week, Thailand celebrated the 80th birthday of her beloved king. It's always a very special day as no expense is spared in his honor- there are special shirts (yellow, of course, and also pink this year), lights, flowers, fireworks, pictures of the king everywhere, and lots of festivity. Here's Em standing in front of the tribute to the king at the entrance to our neighborhood.

The king's birthday is also the day Thailand celebrates Father's Day, and Emmy's preschool had a special ceremony to honor the dads. There was bowing, singing, and presenting of flowers and gifts...

and even a Thai dancer! Isn't she beautiful?

We also had a special service for fathers in our community the following Sunday at church, and a number of fathers came to worship with us, which was a tremendous answer to prayer. It's a real privilege for us to have the opportunity to experience and engage in Thai culture; we're thankful for this place and these people, and that God loves the nations.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

A perfect illustration of how Tim approaches life. One minute we had a tearful little girl who had just made a mess, the next we had a happy girl posing for a picture with her cool milk fairy. This is why he's such a great Daddy.

Just a few more

Some final photos of beloved folks from home, then we're back to our regularly scheduled Thai programming...

Cousin Bonding

Berry Bonding

Celebrating Rachel and her precious new Liam with Atlanta friends.

And who is that crazy man with the Raggedy Andy playing cards?

Emmy Does Georgia

Asa Does Georgia

This boy had a great time on his first trip to America...

We had lion rides...

tractor rides...

s'mores...

time with his aunties...

and bonding with his buddy Brennan in puppy dog pajamas.

Thanksgiving

It was an incredible privilege to be with family for Thanksgiving this year. A few pictures from the day...

Asa meets his great-grandparents...

his Uncle Andy...

and cousin Ashley.

Enjoying the country in Brooks...

cousin Drew...

and what's Thanksgiving without a walk in the woods and some time in a deer stand?

Home

We sure did enjoy our time in Georgia. Although we now feel that we have two homes, and it did feel like home to arrive back in Bangkok, here are a few pictures that speak "home" to me, Georgia-style...

Cousins

The railroad tracks in Locust Grove. Who are those little vagrants?

The field in front of Tim's parents' house...Tim and I once picnicked under those trees and had a close encounter with a large bull. Tim distracted him with Sprite while I ran.

Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup at Uncle George and Aunt B's kitchen table.

Emmy loved putting pennies on the railroad tracks with Daddy, and picking up the smashed pennies when the train had gone by.