'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.