'Tis the Season

 for...

decking the halls...

the Thankful Tree...

that 4 year old handwriting is so sweet it hurts my heart!

soccer games...(first one was a big win!)

puppet shows...

 

with the cutest usher! (please notice the bow tie, created by big sister with love)

and field days at school...

First grade Purple Peacocks

Crazy Fifth Graders!

Nearly Perfect

Before our surprise outing. Em and I were feeling a little funky in our fun glasses.

This weekend has been just that, and I find that my full heart wants to document it, so I will remember. Beginning with a Friday night during which, after dinner, the children played wild and long, all together. Tim described it as "Thanskgiving with cousins" sort of play, the kind where they all run and scream and laugh with abandon and you want to tell them to please be more quiet but you restrain yourself because you only get to be a child once. Tim and I, meanwhile, had begun our weekly Scrabble game(s), and played an entire game during the fun-fest. We put the wild ones to bed and watched two episodes of the Cosby Show; laughing aloud is good for the soul.

Today held more Scrabble, our Saturday Morning Cartoons tradition, a swim (it was a 'cool' day in the mid 80's here, making swimming akin to the polar bear plunge. At least that's what was reported to me; I'm not about to swim in such weather!), and a run. While Daddy played drums at a nearby church tonight, Mommy had planned a fun surprise...our first ever movie in the theater! We went to see 'Frozen', and I didn't tell the children what we were going to do, just walked them down the street and through the mall, enjoying their guesses all along the way, and the excitement that ensued when the plan was revealed. Somehow circumstances have never aligned for us to make it to the theater for a family movie, so this felt like a special gift. The movie was fun, fun. We also spent some time while at the mall shopping for a gift for a little girl in a family we've come to love, a family that has little and doesn't (yet) have any cultural or belief associations with the idea of Christmas; we are praying that receiving a gift on the occasion of Christ's birthday, and being told that we give because of The Gift God gave to us, will help her and her family understand a bit more of who Jesus is and what that means.

Nothing in this life is ever perfect, and I have felt flustered and impatient today with repeating instructions multiple times, subduing squabbles, navigating complaints- all of the normal stuff of life in a family. Be our circumstances sweet or sour, though, we are privileged to be walking through this season together, and the beauty is enhanced when we take time to acknowledge it.

Father's Day and Long Live the King

Today marks the King of Thailand's 86th birthday. He has reigned since 1946, making him the world's longest reigning monarch. Amidst protests and much uncertainty as to the future of Thailand, today was a day to cease political striving in honor of this country's revered monarch.

It was also a day for us to rest and to love the Daddy that lives in our house, as today is Thailand's Father's Day. Ju and I had fun getting Father's Day t-shirts last week; he was passionate about the one with the mustache! When I look at this picture I am in awe of the wealth I hold, and so often take for granted. It's a privilege to belong in this family, walking along with the love of my life, with these little people growing in stature quickly and more dear to us by the day.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. - James 1:17

Footballer

Emmy surprised us all this week by trying out for, and making, the U-11 school soccer team!

Which makes me, officially, a "Soccer Mommy" (still a mommy, not a mom, and I'll take it as long as I can get it). Adds another dimension to an already very full life of work and school, but we look forward to sitting on the sidelines and cheering our sweet and spunky girl.

Yellow Belt

Two afternoons a week find our boy punching, kicking and kia!-ing his little heart out. Our warrior is loving this, and now he's the proud owner of a yellow belt. Well done, Asa.

Visiting Neighbors, and *Here at Home

 

Last month, we traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam during school's October Break. I see this as such a privilege and gift. Traveling as a family is something that makes me giddy with anticipation and awed during the experience- "we actually get to DO this!" Because of our aforementioned lifestyle in transit, we've had the opportunity to do some traveling, often en route across the world and very often with babies en utero or in arms- not the easiest way to see new places, but I've always figured traveling at crazy times in life is an adventure and far better than the alternative of 14 hours uninterrupted on an airplane and not having experienced said locale. This time was a relative piece of cake, with the youngest among us a very sturdy 4 years old. Also worth mentioning- our children get SO excited at the prospect of packing a bag and setting out somewhere- a by-product of their lifestyle, I think. Or maybe all children are this way.

Travel in this area of the world is relatively inexpensive and oh so interesting (we think), so it seems wise to use that God-given opportunity. It is life-giving to change our Bangkok scenery on occasion, and Hanoi was a city that we all enjoyed immensely. The legions of motorcycles, the constantly honking horns, the crossing streets in the midst of oncoming traffic that simply parts around you as you attempt to walk with some measure of confidence (this gets easier with practice)...the beautiful people, the gorgeous old trees and lake in the center of the city, the French colonial architecture...the stalls of interesting things to peruse, the history to learn...so much history...the steaming bowls of pho, the beauty and fun of water puppets, the employees at the tiny hotel who quickly became friends...I can only say thank you, God, for such a special time.

Just a few pictures. It's hard to narrow them down when Tim takes such lovely ones...

Halong Bay- a LONG bus ride, but worth the beautiful and eerie view

Enjoying phở, traditionally a breakfast soup

*I would be remiss to share about travels without mentioning what is happening in our own fair city. And what's happening is a lot. I struggle to talk about it because Thai politics are the very opposite of simple and easy to understand, and we are friends in a foreign land, which makes us well-meaning and prayerful, but not thoroughly knowledgeable. But here's a recent NY Times article on the subject, for those dedicated enough to follow. And for those who just enjoy good pictures, Tim walked through a major protest just a sky train stop away from us and captured some of the scene...

Please pray for Thailand, for peace and cooperation and uprightness.

On Halloween

Halloween is an interesting event. We live here in a culture that doesn't traditionally celebrate it, yet the city around us is also: saturated by materialism, heavily influenced by western culture, fascinated by the darkly supernatural, and replete with international people. So it seems that, more and more, Halloween is finding its way to Bangkok (although still not on the radar of the vast majority of people). Unfortunately, it's often the most macabre elements that are highlighted and for sale in the stores. A nearby mall had an event called เล่นกับผี, which translates, "play with ghosts" (or devils).

And yet, I do find a great deal of sense in the whole 'open your doors to your neighbors' idea. So when a sign went up in our building on October 30 announcing that trick or treating would happen the following day, for those interested, 'traditionally, from 6-7 pm' :), we opted in, which meant putting a little sign with a cat peeking out of a happy jack-o-lantern on our door. I volunteered to be in charge of making some special fun, so Ju and I spent some time that afternoon gluing olives onto bell peppers with cream cheese, and that sort of thing, to make the silly supper above. When the school kids came home, they found their bento boxes, three costumes laid out, and- the wonder of our sweet children- were delighted. The clothes had come out of their drawers, the capes out of their dress up box, the construction paper for the letters out of their craft box...add some little masks I found, and voila! Happy children. To quote Em, "This is the best costume I've EVER had!" Easy to please is a wonderful characteristic.

Super Trio. Add paper bags from the pantry and we're all set!

After we ate our veggies, we trooped up and down stairwells, warm and perspiring, with a smallish troop of Asian costumed cuties, spying out pumpkins with kitties pasted to doors. I reminded my trio to 'wai' their thank yous as the bags of dehydrated fish strips and various other interesting 'treats' were dropped into their bags.

With the cutie Thai-Japanese triplets that live upstairs

When the fun ended ('traditionally') at 7 pm, we retired to our home (mercifully cooled by the candy distributor) and watched Charlie Brown. A good time was had by all. I loved watching my dear ones as they delighted in the experience and we connected with some neighbors, which is a very good thing. We now have a substantial amount of sweet (and fishy) stuff hanging around, and, sadly, I can't find one thing in those bags that tempts me!

Provision

Tim has crystal clear memories from his childhood that I just cannot summon, owing at least in part, I think, to the differences in our experiences- mine largely in the same place with many of the same cast of characters, his widely diverging from multiple cities in the U.S. to life lived in two other countries. Neither situation is better or worse than the other, each has its distinct advantages.

I think about this occasionally because our family's life, unlike my childhood, is lived in cycles of transition. We don't move as often as Tim did, but nonetheless our lives have been, and continue to be, marked by transitions. We've lived in 3 homes so far in our 7.5 years in this country (and will add another this spring when our lease is up), and we have, so far, had 3 different 'homes' in the U.S., including our own home pre-Thailand and the mission homes we've lived in during our home assignments. Though these changes have, at times, been physically and emotionally trying, and there's a lack of sense of permanence (which is, in the most stable of situations, something of an illusion ), God has provided for us abundantly each and every time.

As we moved downtown, I felt a real separation from my community in the area in which we used to live. It's only a 20-25 minute distance as the crow flies, but the crow doesn't fly in this gigantic city, rather, the traffic crawls, and distances sometimes feel insurmountable. I haven't lost my connection with those I value in our former area (largely because the children still go to school there), yet God has also been faithful to give us new family friends in our current setting, friends with children whose ages and interests relate to those of our children, which is a unique blessing. We recently took a weekend trip with a family we've known for years from our old neighborhood and one we've known less than a year in our new one.

That's a lot of kids on a bull!

We spent an incredibly rainy weekend in a 'resort' that did not deserve that lofty designation, with leaky toilets but wonderful Thai food, and spent Saturday dodging showers at Khao Yai national park, one of our favorite places in Thailand.

And in other news, we are very thankful to have a camera again. After ours spent a long time at the doctor's office, we received the news that the illness was quite serious and would cost ridiculous amounts of money to treat. So it seemed the right time for a wee upgrade, and Tim is now the possessor of a Nikon some number or other, and we're all happy to be able to take decent photos again. So, in celebration, pictures of our recent Saturday jaunt to Wat Arun, Temple of the Dawn, on the bank of the lovely (and oh so filthy) Chao Phraya river.

With our 'brilliant' British friends. That's Wat Arun behind us to the right.

Lisa was in town from Cambodia and joined the fun!

Worship Today

We're on the brink of the second worship service at Grace City Bangkok- scheduled to begin this afternoon, about 4:00 Bangkok time. We're coming together for worship the first Sunday of every month for the next several months, coming together as a smaller group for a study the other weeks.

Our first service, on September 1, was a tremendous highlight and encouragement, and we're praying that God will continue to bring many together to hear His Word and to worship!

If God gives her a man like her daddy, I will rejoice.
If God builds them into men like their daddy, I will praise Him.
Because their father reflects His Father.

Happy birthday, my love!

Simply Stupendous at Seven

We celebrated our sweet Asa's birthday recently (sans camera, still, alas!)...and celebrated, and celebrated some more. We love those special mornings when the whole family gathers outside the birthday blessing's door, lights the candle and enters singing. Bites are shared all around and we're able to tell that child, "We are so thankful God gave you to us."

This birthday fell on a busy day, the very first worship service for our new church (!) (will share about that wonderful thing soon), so we had a quiet morning, Japanese for lunch (the birthday boy was hoping for a restaurant called 'Corn Dog Dude', but, sadly, upon arrival we found that the corn dog magic did not work on Bangkok, and our spot was all closed up)...

 ...home for Optimus Prime cake, and then off to an evening of worship.

The next day we celebrated with his adorable class at the end of the school day...

And then, the following Saturday, the grand finale- a few best buddies came over for a celebration that included...

swimming...

A Lego challenge game...

with their final creations

 

...and another Transformers cake.

This fellow's big transition is that he's just begun first grade, and a month and half in, it's safe to say that he's thriving. He's finding all of it- friends, books, math, music, computer, p.e., art- to be a big wide world of great adventure. He revels in playing soccer with his buddies at recess and he's kicking and punching (natural affinities, you may recall) in taekwando after school, as well as dabbling in piano every other week. We couldn't be more thankful for where he is, nor for who he is and is becoming. Our boy is a treasure, a unique combination of sensitive spirit, sweet smile and warrior constitution, and we give thanks to God for His good gift to us.

A Birthday

Our camera's in the shop, but life goes on and we're depending on Em's to document life these days...low resolution is better than no resolution, and the memories are precious...

I had a birthday this week. A really, really good one. One of Em's friends saw me after school and knowing it was my birthday, asked, "Whadya get?"

I got...

 ...time with my favorite people in the world.

Japanese food all together, looking out over a big city, then a foot massage all by myself. What more could I ask for? (I did also have an impromptu birthday party with snacks and birthday song with two dear friends at school pickup, and that was a treat for my heart, too:)

cake donut courtesy of Krispy Kreme, which now resides in the mall just steps from our home!

As I begin this new year, I am rich in love. Thanks be to God.

On a Sunday Morning

Because these days are fleeting, and sweet...

Snaggletooth...finally lost the one that's been dangling...and the tooth fairy was generous. 

Stairsteps- 10, very nearly 7, and 4