Fall and Other Delights

This fall is simply stunning. This is the view just out of our front door at present- that could hardly be more lovely (in the city, anyway).

And looking down, just for posterity...
The brevity and the fact that we experience this only once every few years makes it all the sweeter. There's nothing like driving or running with a shower of falling leaves around you. God is simply glorious in His creation.

Even as we revel in experiencing the beauty around us, we're thinking of and praying for the people of Thailand, who are experiencing the worst flooding the country has seen in 50 years. We are praying for our church as they give aid to those suffering and continue to wait to see how our area will be affected. It's odd to have your heart and mind in two worlds.

On this side of the world, we've been soaking up our time with loved ones. We've celebrated some grandparent birthdays...


Done some camping with family...

Splendid Tallulah Gorge in north Georgia

At the zoo with our dear friends and former teammates- it's always amazing to me to see how the bonds formed in Thailand don't break. These little girls fall right back into giggles and closeness even after living worlds apart for the past several years.

Soaking up friends in Atlanta, too- at the Botanical Gardens

We had the fun of a visit with our friends and future teammates, which was such a joy, and we're all anticipating Baby, who will be making his appearance this month!

Ceramics has played a major role in our time here, which has been refreshing and stretching for Tim. He has loved working as an artist again and desires to see his gifts mesh with the work we've been given in Thailand. He had the opportunity to show his work this month, which culminated in a closing event last weekend. It was a privilege to share his work and to use ceramics to help fund work in Thailand. Our amazing photographer friend took pictures from the show, and perhaps I'll post some of those when we get them.

playing with fire- an ancient japanese firing method called raku

a more traditional firing- a load of pots ready to come out of the kiln

students at our local school visit the studio for some instruction from the potter

I had the privilege of spending the weekend at Berry recently with my four closest friends from college- it was refreshing and a reminder that these are forever relationships- I'm so thankful for these girls.

Halloween was just fun- a visit with Uncle G and Aunt B, as is our tradition, then dinner and trick or treating with dear friends. Because we don't do this every year, Asa had no trick or treating experience and was a little slow to warm up to the whole endeavor...he thought Halloween meant hiding candy in the house to find, which we've done in Thailand in an attempt to celebrate in some small way- so funny!

Recent travels have taken us to Nashville, which we really enjoyed- beautiful honky tonk city that it is. We visited good friends, then ate burgers and signed our names in sharpie on a rusted out car in a country-western bar- how's that for fun?

And that about sums up our recent weeks. Life is full.