One Month

Today marks one month in our new home. Amazing how much life can change in so short a time. We walk to and from school, the children play outside almost constantly, and we have reclaimed our bedroom because Tim has a studio and office- computers and music equipment no longer make walking through our bedroom a stressful endeavor! Those are just a few things we're thankful for in our new abode.

And it's quite surreal to think that one week from today we'll be in Seoul, Korea, en route to Georgia and HOME!

We've had some excitement around here, and the children and I are having a very restful day off of school because of the military coup that happened yesterday. The things we miss school for- floods, toxic fires, protests, military coups. Never a dull moment! We're very concerned and praying for this country we love, but so far things have been peaceful.

There's so much I haven't written about since the last real update. Suffice to say that God has been faithful in the midst of the intensity that has been life of late. I'll just share a few favorite photos of late and head back to making lists for our departure in less than one week!

One of my favorite pictures of all time. Our first grader has discovered a new passion this year, and loves to play goalie. Does he not look 16 in this shot?

Grace City is meeting for weekly worship!

Grace City's first members

I love this. Tim's been playing and singing at a coffee shop in one of the red light districts. Light in a dark place.

Moving

Today is moving day. There are a million things to do, but I'm taking a few quiet minutes to mark this place in time. I just sent the schoolchildren off this morning with a long last look, and in less than 3 hours this space will be a jumble of movers. Today marks a move toward simplicity, space, outside play...so many good things. Walking to school after two years of commuting- amazing. We're all excited. It's clearly time. We took a little time last night to do one of our moving traditions- looking back, saying goodbye. With cake. And a sign made by my favorite 5 year old.

This space we've inhabited for two years has been very good to us. We've learned to be Bangkok urbanites, with all of the inherent perks and challenges. Riding elevators, trains, taxis, buses, tuk tuks...all in the regular course of things. Walking to great Japanese noodle shops, the grocery store and the park. Massage or manicure? Down the street. A sweet sewing man just outside our building who stitches anything up with a gentle smile for about three dollars. Guards that work all around our building whom we will truly miss. The couple down the way who makes somtam and always greets us so kindly. A street constantly backed up with exhaust-pumping traffic, often making road travel highly inadvisable. The frustration of knowing we live just over there, but we can't get there in any sort of timely manner because of the thousands of other people who are simultaneously trying to maneuver vehicles in the same direction.

I doubt that we will ever again live within easy walking distance to four 7-11 stores and 3 Starbucks.

This home has seen many, many joyful family times- movie nights, Saturday morning coffee and Scrabble games, birthday parties and wild rumpuses. It's seen tears and frustration. Dinners with old and new friends, meetings and times of worship. We open our hands in thanks for what we have been given, and look with anticipation to what is to come.

saying farewell to home- with the sign that Ju made

current view- we've descended into chaos

A Little Different

I find that after a while I begin to think of our lives here as basically the same as they would be in our home culture, and that is true of a lot of rhythms of home, etc. But then we go back to the U.S. and I see that land with fresh eyes and realize again that the two places are quite distinct.

Here are a couple of recent pictures that stood out to me as illustrative of some of the unique experiences of these three...

Monday mid-mornings usually find Ju and I walking down the street to the big mall, under an umbrella to shield us from the scorching sun. We ride the escalators up to the fifth floor, toting our beloved reusable bags from favorite Atlanta grocery stores, and do our weekly grocery shopping. It's an excellent store (albeit a bit expensive), with an entire aisle of Japanese food products, a hot soup bar and an impressive selection of clothing for pets. When our shopping has been done, Julian has collected his usual samples (baked ham and rice cakes, with the occasional offer of a barley drink or raw salmon), and our cart is loaded, we push it to the elevator, take it to the ground floor and wheel through the fancy make-up section of the upscale department store, to the door where taxis wait. We walk through the door to the salute of the guard that we know well after two years, a kind attendant loads the taxi trunk with our bags, and we take a short ride home. Upon arrival at our building, one of our friendly guards brings a shopping cart from the lobby and loads it with our bags. We then get on to the elevator with our loaded cart, take it to the seventh floor, wheel it into our apartment and straight in to the kitchen, where the groceries are unloaded and put away. Recently Julian has taken to building himself a cozy lunch nest (lunch- sticky rice, grilled pork on a stick, fruit and veggies) before the cart is sent back down on the elevator.

Makes me laugh- sometimes when I stand back, I realize how different so many of their childhood experiences are from my own...

...and in that vein, look at these sweet hill tribe siblings on Thai culture day at school!

15 (and 1/4)

So very thankful for a whole night away, in a fabulously lovely place down by the Chao Phraya River. Celebrating 15 years plus a few months (better late than never) of God's goodness and grace in bringing these high school sweethearts through all these many years together.

Big, big thank yous to the 'aunties' who made possible this time of rest and reflection- what a gift.

Beginnings

It's a privilege to get to be a part of these early steps, laying a foundation for all that's to come in the lifelong journey of learning. He's ready to begin. Kindergarten, here we come!

Field Trip

When I look back on these early days of schooling, these will be some of my favorite memories- getting on the big rental bus with one of very my favorite people and those people who comprise their school day worlds- sitting together en route to some exciting destination, sharing snacks and games and anticipation. On this day, we walked toward a big ship...on one side, Asa held my hand while he and his best buddy from Brazil walked with their arms around each other. On the other side I held hands with a lovely Chinese girl who clasped hands with her Thai-Indian friend.

I mention their cultural backgrounds only because they are each so unique and beautiful. And as first graders, they don't yet see division- only the fun of walking hand in hand with a friend into the exciting next. I'm grateful to get to be a small part of their lives, and a big part of the life of the tall boy from the U.S., my treasure.