Lost a Few Inches

Not me, but this lovely girl...

before

She began to ask for shorter locks a few weeks ago (she has never had a real hair cut, only small trims at home to stem the tide of broken ends, so this was a significant occasion!), and persevered in her wish, so we made an appointment on a day off of school and headed out...

pre-haircut pad thai

introduction to the bliss of a salon wash

patient brothers

ooh, pretty!

And, after. So healthy and looking so young lady-ish!

For the girl with the 'Rapunzel' hair, this was a big step, and everyone has exclaimed about it and complimented her new 'do. Someone said, "She looks like a middle schooler!", and I think that's just about right. Here we go...!

Just Now

I've been thinking a lot about how to frame life at present. On one hand, we're living in a city that's in a declared 'state of emergency', with ongoing political protests that we've both watched roll by (think parade with flag waving, cheering and whistle blowing) and heard from our home. Today's the big election day, and it's been very quiet. In the past weeks, school and work and all things life have proceeded pretty much normally, outside of heavier traffic, the occasional roadblock and the need to avoid certain areas. So we're praying and trusting and waiting and living.

And on the subject of 'living', I have lots of fun pictures waiting in the wings...

being 'humans' at the zoo with friends

Em just ended her soccer season with a Saturday tournament, which was a first foray for us into such things, and it was great fun (although they were NOT big winners). It was a strange season, with several games canceled because of the political situation and teams being unable to travel. But it was a great experience for her to be on a team and to work hard at something new. We hope she'll play again, but we shall see. With those long legs, she's also had a lot of 'you should really play basketball' comments!

doing one of the things she loves to do best- draw

she's got an itch to cut her hair...will be very sad to see the Rapunzel hair go, but happy for her to express herself

Playing the lead in the 5th grade Christmas musical, "Good King Wenceslas". What an experience to see my little girl come out on stage, tall and shimmery and lovely, and sing a solo...she loves drama and I think it will play a part in the school years to come. I love to see this emerge in her, being who she's made to be. I told her recently, "wherever you go, my heart goes, too." Bittersweet, this emerging young beauty. I'm thankful to be alongside and to share such a sweet relationship with her.

Emmy Lisa

Now on to this python handler...He is beginning to chafe against the constraints of apartment life and looks forward to having grass and space to ride a bike at his disposal. He can be found climbing a tree if we're anywhere that has them climbable (admittedly, this is not often). This makes us thankful that we have been where we are for this period, and that in a few months we can move into a setting with both of those aforementioned things, plus friends to play with. God knows our needs. I love it that he's such a rough and tumble warrior boy, yet he still has a tender heart and loves to be hugged and to snuggle. He has a ready smile and is a dear friend to many.

an older taekwando picture from his white belt days- he continues to enjoy this so much!

Another thing that really defines this fellow is that he is a READER. Never mind that he's in first grade and his reading book still has large print words, he plows through big books like a champ, and cannot get enough. He and his big sister often share books now. Joy, joy.

Have you ever baked Christmas cookies with such an adorable Spidey, complete with heart ring? I mean, really, is it any wonder I am treasuring these days? And I am, keenly aware of the fleeting nature of this sweet time and the greater structure that looms just on the horizon. I know those will be good days, too, but I really am enjoying these days of quiet mornings, costumes and legos and park and library trips and just whatever we want to do with ourselves, then going to pick up the 'big kids'. When we arrive at school, he runs off to play with the many friends he has there...something I love about Ju is that he almost always makes a friend anywhere we go. 

He still says that sweetest, funniest things. He remains our baby and gets all the kisses that go along with that position.

drawing cats. This was later labeled "Daddy' and "Cub". Keeping that one forever.

Although we do a pretty limited amount in the way of structured learning activities at this point, this newly-turned 5 year old is showing lots of reading readiness and likes to work out addition and subtraction problems. So it will be fun to begin to channel that before long. The one academic pursuit that is regular for him is Thai 'study', with our sweet friend Num, whom he loves. They are working through a Thai preschool book, they sing songs and play games and it's just a lovely situation that we're so very thankful for.

And some sibling love to close us out...

5 is BIG

blow! (firetruck cake, with Krispy Kreme wheels)

Oh, can there be any doubt? 5 is BIG. Our big 5 year old remains our little snuggler, though, whose kiss store is often open and who freely proclaims his love for all of us. This little man has surprised us from day one, doing pretty much everything in his own, unconventional way. This began with growing to a gargantuan size en utero and then giving us a first year that was both incredibly difficult and deeply joyful. Who can forget allergies and eczema and endless trips to the doctor, up all night all year long, wrinkle-nosed smiles, bowie mommy and the bottom-scoot-instead-of crawl? (His mommy will certainly never forget.) God was with us in tangible ways through it all, and we could not be more delighted with the gift God saw fit to give us. 

Happy, happy birthday, beautiful boy. May the Lord bless you as you bless us each and every day. 

A few images of this birthday...

last night of 4!

morning cake in bed

birthday morning Cheerios, thanks to a timely package from Uncle Tom and Aunt Cortney!

celebrating with his favorite people at a fabulous play venue

watch out criminals of Bangkok!

I thought I'd add this one for humor's sake...taken a few days after the big birthday, when we were finally going to get around to taking down the Christmas tree...but these three simply were not ready to let the Christmas spirit go. The tree was protected by fierce mercenaries- please don't miss the blur of the whirling nun chucks in the foreground. I was able to overcome these forces and the tree is tucked away awaiting the next 'deck the halls' night, but it didn't come down without a fight.

Big Days- Today and Tomorrow

Today-  our first worship service of the year, in our new space...literally on the same street as our home! We're anticipating what God has for Grace City Bangkok in this year to come.

Tomorrow- the first day of the "Bangkok Shutdown", an anti-government protest aimed at paralyzing the city by filling major intersections with protestors. One of the intersections is walkable from our home, at the next sky train stop. We don't anticipate any danger, but the challenge comes in not knowing how life will look in the coming days or how long this situation may last. The children were supposed to resume school after the Christmas break tomorrow, but it has been cancelled and everyone is waiting to see what tomorrow holds before further decisions are made. We are praying for a swift and peaceful resolution to this very tangled knot of political frustrations, for wisdom and forebearance for protestors, government officials, police and military alike.

If you want to read about the situation as it's anticipated now, this is a great resource:

http://www.richardbarrow.com/2014/01/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-bangkok-shutdown/

And now, just for the sake of visual happiness, is an old smile from a VERY special boy who celebrated a big birthday this week. Pictures to come, promise.

Christmas

We really savored this Christmas. There were parts that felt frantic (baking for 4 different events on the last two days of school...), but we did things we value, seeking to share the love of Jesus and savor that love. This season was full of beautiful and special people.

 

These first photos are from a Christmas Eve 'Christingle' service at an international church that we love. This was our first Christingle experience, and it was both fun and sweet. After racing across town on the sky train and a tuk tuk, trying to avoid traffic that was even more unnavigable than usual, we arrived breathless to find that the children got to dress up and be a part of the service- lovely! So we immediately had a wise man and an angel, and a wonderful, worshipful time was had by all.

Other snippets of Christmas...

Funny library Santa

Asian Christmas party- leave your shoes at the door!

Reading Christmas stories to first graders

Sister Christmas gifts

Brother Christmas gift

A house full on Christmas day

I mentioned in the previous post about the New Year's Eve lanterns in the sky...I was just beyond thrilled to get to see such a beautiful sight. We got in on the act the following night and released a New Year's lantern of our own...but no picture, as the children found it stressful to grab hold of a flaming paper cylinder- was a moment to remember, though! At least Tim was able to document the preparation of these folks...

preparing to launch lanterns on the beach

And I would be remiss not to mention that we are celebrating a VERY special boy's 5th birthday today. 'Twas a fun day of treasuring our treasure, and I will share about it soon!

Flying High

Where's Asa?

After a very FULL Christmas (about which I will share soon), we saw the New Year in on a balcony in Hua Hin, watching fireworks and paper lanterns float across the sky. It's been a sweet, quiet pocket of time after the intensity of Christmas activities and before the reality of responsibilities are fully upon us in the new year. Back to big city life tomorrow, but not before one more romp with the kite!