Happy Easter Time!

Much for me to catch up on here, but for the moment...

A joyful Easter from HOT Bangkok- squinting into the sun! Our day, and the season, was full of ups and downs, just as life is, but at the finish we were able to praise God for His good and perfect gifts to us. We pray that this day, for you, has been full of the true joy of celebrating our risen Savior- hope and peace in the midst of all that life holds.

FINISHED!

Just before he died, Jesus shouted from the cross, "It is finished!"

What was finished?

Jesus was saying:

Everything you need to come back home to God,
Everything you need to be free and happy in God,
Everything you need to live forever,
I've done it all!

It wasn't a cry of defeat. It was a shout of victory. The great work of rescuing us was finished!

There is now nothing you can do to make God love you more- and nothing you can do to make him love you less.

It is finished!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"- 2 Corinthians 9:15

-From 'Thoughts to Make your Heart Sing', Sally Lloyd-Jones

School Days and Growing Up Moments

Three beautiful children all involved in learning these days...how quickly God grows these little people! I loved our baby days, loved them, through all of the incredible joys and challenges they held. It's been a bit of a grief process for me as we move to the next stage. Yet at the same time- this stage can only be described as golden. Really so much fun to have little people to talk to and relate with, to enjoy in real relationship. 

I was able to go with Em on a field trip recently, to a ship that docked in Bangkok's port bringing resources of education and books. They call it 'the world's largest floating bookstore'. It's always a treat to accompany Em's class out and about, and to hear her ask, "Mommy, will you sit with me on the bus?" That question makes me laugh; as if there's anywhere else I'd want to be and I already had plans with another 4th grader. Our growing up girl is simply a joy to be with- I never knew it would be so much fun to have one of these!

 We passed the time on the bus playing UNO and hangman with these cute friends...

...and here we are at the ship. I love this picture because these friends are from, in order- India, Taiwan, the U.S., Thailand and the Netherlands.

Not to be outdone, Ju's preschool co-op also visited the ship, with a couple of big homeschooling siblings along for the fun.

Em's school recently had a day to celebrate Thai culture, and here's our beautiful girl in her 'chut Thai'. Papa Jeff, these are for you- Phloi in the flesh.

Another milestone of the growing up years- Asa Bear lost his first tooth. Em's began falling out almost as soon as she turned 5, but little brother has waited until 6 1/2 for this big event. Doesn't he look adorable?

 

During all of this waiting, his grown-up teeth have become a bit impatient and the front two pushed their way up behind, urging those baby teeth out so that they can take their rightful place. You can see them in this shot. Here's hoping these guys straighten out all their own issues without needing intervention from the dentist!

Bangkok is an Interesting Place

For all the good and ill of this great big city we call home, it rarely fails to be stimulating. A few of my favorite of Tim's 'around town' pictures of late...

drivin' and grillin'

our little corner of the city- we're just down this street on the right!

Home School

These are sweet, sweet days. I find it a privilege and a joy to spend my mornings in the pursuit of learning (and a lot of other things simultaneously, as is the reality of life as a mother) with this boy. On the very best days, I find myself seated with a cup of coffee, Beethoven playing, working through math problems or a writing exercise with my handsome and lovable student. To be fair, we're doing kindergarten, and although much of the curriculum we have on hand and are working through is at a first grade level, we keep it light. Just the basics, and lots of free time to play and imagine and work and read (reading has fast become a self-selected leisure time activity, and that is thrilling). Of course, the days aren't always this optimum scenario; there are days when one of us is out of sorts and tempers are sour, when I'm trying to rein in an unwilling student or force a distracted boy to focus, when other urgencies present themselves and learning time is squeezed, etc. But those aren't the norm, and I'm so enjoying the norm.

One of our primary motivations for giving Asa another year at home, and choosing to put him on the oldest rather than the youngest end of his class next year, was to give him this year to be with his little brother, who has rapidly grown from a detached little sibling to a playmate and friend. I have a hard time saying no to, "May I play with Julian for 10 minutes before I start school?", and usually playtime prevails, at least for a time.

Philosophically, there's much in home school that appeals to us. The practice of keeping our children home longer has proven to be a joy, although it does put us out of step with the mainstream around us, particularly in this culture where children generally enter school full time at the age of 3. These years pass so quickly, and they are priceless. I sometimes ponder the possibility of longer term home schooling, but know that there are particulars in our setting that make that even more challenging than it might otherwise be. I'm also aware that God has provided a place that is nurturing and life-giving, full of opportunities to learn and grow in community, in the school that Emmy goes to, where we plan for Asa to go next year. So for 4 more months, I'm savoring these days with two little boys and a bird.

Since Christmas

As it turned out, Christmas was a blur. Of sickness, canceled plans, and, even so, joy.

After the wacky New Year/Christmas apartment party, fever joined up with achiness and it took a week to feel normal again. We had a Christmas party for our new church plant group, and a good time was had by all, although I was home in bed. Because I still had a fever, we couldn't have people over as we'd planned on Christmas day, and it was a quiet day where I felt well enough to mostly enjoy the day but not well enough to really enjoy the cinnamon rolls I made. But I really, really enjoyed my sweet family and it was a day of celebrating The Gift that is the reason for our gifts, and basking in the excitement of our children, who are in the very best stage of childhood for enjoying the fun of Christmas.

A perfectly captured "choo"- enjoying a newly expanded train set

Late on Christmas night, we welcomed Granna and Papa Jeff for a long-anticipated two-week visit. Granna almost immediately got sick, but managed to lift her head periodically and have some big adventures- she was really a trooper and we had such a good time with them in spite of our obstacles...

 Ayutthaya, an ancient city full of amazing ruins

riding a long tail speedboat on the Chao Phraya river

Happy New Year! Traditional black eyed peas and...kale

Em treated us to a concert, with her faithful little brother as announcer. She's showing much more interest in and enjoyment of her piano endeavors this year, and that's good for everyone involved.

This skateboard was a favorite gift for our little man. He's faithfully learning to ride and holding his own with the big guys at the skate park at our local park...

...including this big guy!

We celebrated a very special 4th birthday during the visit. Here's the birthday boy basking in the glow of his traditional birthday cake in bed. He is a treasure.

 

We had a fun birthday exploring a place we'd never been- a lesser known and lesser developed island of sorts just a hop across the river, known colloquially as 'the Green Lung', as its verdant landscape helps to absorb the pollution of busy Bangkok. We hired rickshaws to go across the island to a beautiful park. Several times during the ride, the birthday boy looked up at us and stated, with a grin, "This is so much fun!"

We found a spot that was our home base for the day, and had the train cake that his daddy decorated for him. This picture captures his complete happiness and contentment in being celebrated by his family.

Just two days later, we celebrated 14 years of marriage- it passed in a blur of adjusting to life after Granna and Papa Jeff, getting back into the swing of regular life and taking down Christmas decorations. We have a plan for a real celebration soon, and hopefully will have opportunity to process this milestone and our growing friendship and love. So thankful for the many years God has given us together.

And as we began the new year with a fresh perspective, we were able to spend a day with our friends/teammates in prayer and planning. We are planning to begin a weekly meeting of our early church small group this Sunday, and are excited to see how God will continue to build His church here.

And finally, Tim was able to partner with this visiting musical ensemble and arranged for them to perform a concert at our local park. (This is the park that is our new yard...our building is one of those in the background.) These people are amazing musicians with a heart to serve God with their music, and it was a beautiful night, perfectly timed in the short break of lovely weather that has since been eclipsed by the hot and humid status quo.

Merry Christmas From Bangkok!

All of our loved ones in the West, with your cozy fires, chilly holidays and picturesque vistas...Bangkok does Christmas much the way it does everything else- big, bright, colorful, loud and HOT!

Tonight our apartment threw a Christmas/New Year's bash, and it was quite the event...

Nothing says Christmas like a traditional bucking bronco. I double-dog-dared Tim to do it, but he had a flimsy excuse about not wanting to hurt himself before he leads worship tomorrow. 

Imagine attending this party with a 101.5 degree fever- that was my evening. A bit nightmarish, with blaring Thai Isaan music accompaniment (for the record- it's after 10 and it's still blaring. Sounds like it's in our apartment. Unlikely to stop anytime soon). Wacky but fun- that's Bangkok.

On another note, we have a more staid (but still fun- oh, so important!) Christmas celebration planned tomorrow evening as a precursor to our new church, which is moving toward beginning meeting early in the new year.