Brayden's Birthday

Seven years ago, I became a mommy. I can't believe my Brayden is already 7!

Under 7 pounds at birth, he is now 72 pounds and 4 foot 2 1/2. Unreal! And he has an appetite of 2 grown men. His new favorite foods are sushi, dimsum, and luk chin. He prefers sticky rice, som tam, and salted fish over pizza! Crazy! He is quick to learn just about anything, mentally and physically. He is reading and writing Thai at a 1st grade level because he studies 5 hours a week. Then he has his English homeschool to do, then he does TaeKwonDo about 3 days a week. He is now a yellow belter. He is quite disciplined for being so young and I am really proud of my little man. He has adjusted well to our new life here. The hardest thing for him to overcome which he is still working on is being bored or lonely because of the lack of friends. Hoping that more doors of opportunity will open for him this next year.

Last year's birthday, his 6th, was a bit of a disappointment for Brayden. We moved to Thailand less than week before and he didn't really know anyone yet. We were pretty limited in what we could bring anyway, so stocking up with presents wasn't an option. So, I think he was in culture shock and just missing America and all his friends.

All year long, Brayden has mentioned that this next birthday was going to be his "golden" birthday because he was turning 7 on the 7th. While riding his scooter on our driveway, he would daydream about all the things that he would get for his birthday. The list kept growing and it was quite unrealistic. I love to celebrate my children, but getting a 7 year a Titanic replicated remote control ship that cost a few hundred dollars was not gonna happen. Sorry.

As his expectation grew for what would be, I feared his disappointment would too when all his wild imaginations did not come to pass. I shared with him of a few times in my life where my expectations for an event were so high, almost unattainable that it set me up to be let down no matter what. And then it caused me to forget to be thankful for what good did happen.

Well, it ended up being a great birthday for him anyway. He was celebrated for nearly a week. Missionary friends from another city came in with their children and we went swimming, played video games, went to the new mall, rode bikes around the lake. We had fun. His favorite cake was made and we sang Happy Birthday to him on Saturday the 6th. Sunday on his actual birthday, we took him to a really cool new restaurant that had a boiling pot of water in the center of the table and you could make your own soup by grabbing plates of ingredients from a conveyer belt that snaked around the room. It was interesting, Then after our church service on sunday afternoon, we had cake for everyone at church to sing to him too. Then again on Tuesday, his birthday was recognized at TaeKwonDo when I brought in brownies and chocolate chip cookies at the end of class.

All the Thai kids at TaeKwonDo were amazed that I made it myself. Even though my oven is just a puffy-sized Easy Bake, it still is a luxury because few Thai's even own an oven. About 20 Thai kids sang to Happy Birthday to him in English with strong accents. I just love hearing kids call him..."Badin". I know it's not really his name but it's cute. I guess it's better than Brayclen, which is what they were trying to call him at first because someone misread or mistyped "Brayden" on the roster. :)

So Brayden has now celebrated 2 of his 7 birthdays here in Thailand...with many more to come.

On The Way Home

As a part of our multiple entry visa requirement, every three months we have to drive to the border of Thailand and Laos. It's about a 3 hour trip each way, but the actual crossing takes only an hour. We just have to get a stamp to leave Thailand, enter Laos, the turn around and leave Laos and get stamped back in to Thailand. It's not hard. It's just a long day of travel. Since the children are not required to do this, we usually keep them with a friend back in Khon Kaen.

On our way back to our city, all of a sudden we heard a loud sound and instantly our windshield was shattered. So shattered that it was impossible to see out of it, like into a thousand pieces, no exaggeration. John nervously pulled over to off the busy highway. We quickly got out of the car because we could still hear it continuously cracking. It felt like it could caved in at any second. Thankfully, it was that safety glass.

We were so glad that this happened only 10 kilometers outside of the city because we had friends nearby to  help. If this had happened a couple hours earlier, we could have been stuck. I am also super glad that the boys were not in the car with us, this way we only had to calm ourself down. :)

I have never seen or heard of anything like this happening. There was no evidence of any point of contact with something that caused this. It was instant. Really strange.

In circumstances like this, I remember that people are praying for us, and I am so glad. And when I think  of what thinks could be like if NO ONE prayed, it's alarming. So thank you and keep on!

Living the Dream

Being light hearted is a good thing... both for you and for others.

My husband has recently been more light hearted and it's been so good. Finally being and doing all the things that have been trapped in his heart for such a long time has brought him so much joy... and I love it. I love seeing him beam with excitement about researching possibilities, meeting new people, networking together, sharing ideas. He says things like, "For this is the reason I have come." :) It's true. He is feeling so satisfied.

Aside from my own joy and peace that comes from me being truly content in where God has us, I rejoice at the change in my husband. It really is part of my dream to see him fulfill his.

The sacrifices of this type life can be seen as a lot to others. And even before we came here, they seemed pretty daunting. But really, the sacrifices are so minute in comparison to all the blessing.

Ok, so we gave up the American dream and the cute little white house with black shutters on the cul-de-sac, but we have a nice safe place here. And we traded in our 2 nice cars for a 95 Nissan Sunny (also gave up the car payments (: ) . We left family and friends but have been blessed with social networking sites and skype. My children no longer have frequent playdates at Monkey Joe's, but they have really cool experiences like feeding the elephants. :) They may not get to play in organized supports but they will get to work on ministry teams bringing the gospel into an unreached village. I don't have a dryer or a dishwasher and my refrigerator is itty bitty, but it's really not a big deal. I am not my appliances. I am certainly not known for my cooking abilities. :)

All these are trade offs. A sacrifice for a pleasure. It all comes out in the wash. BUT...then to have the reward of a fulfilled husband and and joyful father of your children...you just can't get that anywhere other than the will of God! And it's so good!

I am loving life. I am humbled, blessed and privledged. And I just love seeing my husband living the dream!

Writer's Block Sucks

I used to be able to blog once a day. I had enough going on in my mind and heart to do so easily. I still do, I just don't have the freedom of expression like I used to have.

I have become way too aware of my audience and it's been "mai dee"... umm, "not good". I am over thinking everything.

Oh, if I say this, then this person will think this. If I say that, another person could think something else. If I don't mention this, this way then they could think...!

Ouu, yuck! That is a writer's nightmare. Talk about stomping the gift.

I am going to breaking out soon. I am going to do that whole "dance like no one's watching" thing when it comes to my writing. Who knows, it could make jaws drop and heads turn. I will put myself in the danger zone of possibly being misunderstood. But I think that's a far better place to be in then being silenced and say nothing.

I have been pent up and frustrated verbally. Been too aware, but soon will not care!

Originally, this blog was intended for me. I would have wrote if no one read any of it. I need to get back there.

Beauty is...

In America, we see beauty as being thin, well no...super thin. In the summer, we desire to tan our light skin to look more beautiful, even to our own harm. American youth get braces on their teeth so they can have a beautiful smile. We will spend hundreds to go 2 shades lighter on our teeth, all in the quest for beauty. Cosmetic surgery of all kinds are now common. We buy lots and lots of products to be and stay beautiful.

In Thailand, people cover themselves head to toe in 100 degree heat to keep their skin from getting dark by the sun, because light skin is beautiful. Sometimes it's hard to find facial cleansers or lotions that do not have lightening/whitening agents. Thai youth think braces on their teeth look cool. Often they get them on for no reason other than to accessorize. Fake braces are still being sold even though I read an article of a teenage girl being poisoned to death by them.

My Nigerian friend recently shared with me that being bigger or fatter in her country is more beautiful. It means they are wealthy and are able to eat in abundance. She mentioned how she wishes she could gain weight in her shoulders and neck because she thinks it's ugly that her clavicle bone can be seen.

Doesn't matter what country or culture you are from, beauty is desired. It is just defined differently. It just seems to me that overall, we all are wanting something we do not naturally have. Like who we are is just not good enough. Could that be viewed as us telling God He made a mistake and messed up when He made us since we are not "beautiful"? I just don't think that anything that causes us to look at ourself and not like what we see could be good for us. Or one step further, could our extreme passion and desire beauty be a plot or scheme of the enemy to have us despise God's creation? After all, we are made in His image.

Dove has done a really cool video, you may have already seen it. If not, here ya go. Click here.

Although each country has it's view on beauty, there is one way that beauty can be seen in any culture.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

-Proverbs 31:30

Big Snake

Yesterday morning, Brayden was outside playing when I heard a scream. I ran from the kitchen to the front to take a look. And I what I first saw out the window was startling. The security guard was in our yard. I saw him beating something with a broom. I put Brayden's scream and this sight together and for a split second I wondered if he was hitting Brayden. Then I saw the snake! Long and black. This particular security guard was actually doing his job rather than sleeping and as he passed our house on his bike, he saw this snake slither into our yard. Brayden nearly stepped on it as the guard was shout in Thai to warn him. As Brayden ran down the street in fear, the guard came through our gate and saved the day! It was a six foot Thai Lion snake and not poisonous.

Poor Brayden, his heart was pounding out of his chest for a while. John had to pray over him and comfort him. This wasn't the first run in with a snake. We had one on our door step of our last house and Brayden also discovered that one. It was smaller but poisonous.

I am glad that this happened the day before John left for his two week ministry trip rather than a day or so later. We live close to a lake with a lot of vegation. We see dead flattened snakes on the road often. I like when they die before making it to the other side of the street by my house!

Many Isaan people eat snake and so we wonder what ever became of the six footer. We did see the guard later making sticky rice. Hmm.

Aslan's BIG BOY Hair Cut

This is Aslan before the hair cut celebrating our city's first mall opening, completely clueless about what is to come.

When we get home the torture begins, for him, for us, and the whole neighborhood.

I just love this picture. He is so pitiful looking. We were only cutting his hair!

Ahh, there's my BIG BOY! I can see your eyes, your face, and all of your many expressions that seemed hidden under all that hair. It's a good thing. You won't be so sweaty, showers won't take as long, and maybe Mommy will start treating you like a BIG BOY instead of her baby. :)

My Heart is Bursting

Ahh! Where do I begin?

Guess how my day started? I woke up around 3am on purpose, got all dolled up, stacked up books to prop my computer higher, arrange a comfy spot on the couch and did a video and sound check for skype. Then I "went" to a wedding in America while I was here in Thailand. This wasn't just any wedding though. My Mom and Dad got married ...again!!! I was a sobbing mess, I knew I would be. It was wonderful, amazing, incredible, fantastic, awesome, miraculous and every other overused and misused word out there! But truly. My heart is bursting. It was my wildest dream and greatest hope and to see it happen was just... (sigh) no words.

My family has been through a lot over the years, ups and downs, and ins and outs. Even though having gone "through" these things and even having "overcome", there were still places of the heart where there was still hurt. I realize that now because as I watched my parents just moments ago, I felt God's healing in my own life. I can't imagine what it was like for them. Restoration is so amazing.

I am so. incredibly. happy. for my mom. It has been years since I have seen her happy. It blesses me so to see a woman who has done nothing but pour herself out for others her whole life get the very thing that she desires! This last season of her life has been challenging. Her and my dad have been divorced 8 years, her youngest son died suddenly nearly 3 years ago, her mother was in a nursing home for several years before passing away in March. It has been a time of loss. I just love to see her smile for her... not just for the on-going lives of her children and grandchildren, but for her! My mom has never stopped loving my dad, never dated or considered another during all this time. I love seeing her be rewarded for that in this life!

My Dad and I have had our own bumpy road. For years we were not on speaking terms, he did not attend my wedding, we ignored each other at my brother's wedding, but we finally reconciled when Brayden was 2 1/2. And ever since, we have been building a relationship that is stronger than ever before. To see him go through the death of my brother was near torturous for me. Although it is was an awful and terrible thing that happened in our family, at least I see that good things can come after it. To see my parents together and happy is so beautiful to me.

John and I began our journey to Thailand shortly after my brother death. It seemed like really bad timing. My family was already grieving and then I was going to move with 2 grandsons half way around the world. It was like another thing to grieve. I was so heavy hearted about this while we were in decision. I so needed to make sure I was doing the "right thing". It stretch my faith and trust in God. My mom and I were both children of God. Surely, He (God) wouldn't ask me to do something that would devastate her. So painful, but I had to believe that He had a plan for her. And indeed He did! These two people -I love and care about them -I have always been concerned about their future. Well, each of them were the answer to my prayer for the other! Double whammy!

Today on the heels of this "awe"some family event, John will be preach at The River a message on "Restoration"! God wants to restore all that has been lost, stolen, and destroyed in our lives. ("God is so good" sigh).

Well, it's close to 7am here in Thailand and 7pm in America. As my parents celebrate with dinner and cut of the cake, me and my family will also eat cake...for breakfast! Come on, it's a miracle we are celebrating! Gotta do something unusual! The boys are gonna love me! :)

Other Related Posts here and here

Brayden's Taekwondo

This is Brayden doing his Taekwondo after only ONE day of class. He's been through five two hour classes now and loves it. He's meeting new Thai friends, getting his energy out, and learning alot about self-discipline.

M-M-M-My Melissa

Melissa is more than my friend, not quite my daughter, kind of like my sister. Sometimes I don't know how to refer to her other than "My Melissa". She was once my neighbor and then became our roommate so she could finish her senior year of high school. She knew me during life's craziest moments- planning our exploratory trip, fixing and packing and selling everything we owned, and she still loves me!!! The girl who desired to finish high school is now a grown woman and a sophomore at UNCC- Charlotte. I am so super proud of her and all that she has set out to do and accomplish! She is quiet and reserved and would never tell you how awesome she is even if you asked her. I have been missing her a lot lately. Please if you see this girl around at Freedom House Church, make sure you tackle her with a hug for me!

For more about Melissa, read these posts.

Red Light Relationship

At some major intersections in our city, people walk through the stopped cars and sell flowers. These flowers are typically used as offerings on spirit houses but can also be given to people to show honor or for special holidays.

These people are in the hot bright sun all day. Even though it's 100 degrees they still cover up with a jacket, hat and some type of covering their faces to avoid burning their skin. They were quite a site to our eyes when we first arrived here, but now we are used to it. This one particular sweet lady always comes up to tap on our window and look in at the boys. She tells us how cute they are even though Aslan would scream in fear at the site of her. He has adapted and now he wai's and says "Sawatdeecop". We love this lady and pray for her that she would be blessed with salvation... and a better job.

Since it's a 120 second red light, I often find myself stopped at this main intersection. If this sweet lady looks in to see that their are no children in the car, she asks about them. Her and I have built a relationship through dozens of red lights.
Last time I saw her, she asked for my phone number. I was able to give it to her just as the light turned green. Then she gave me one of her flowers that was she selling! So now hung on my review mirror is a necklace of tiny flowers that make the car smell of jasmine...a gift from my friend. :)

We are still praying for her and looking forward to the time when we can have her over for dinner. When God gives me his heart for someone and then when she boldly asks for my phone number, it makes me wonder what He is up to!!!

Finally A Home

Ahh, finally a home. It's only our fourth place since arriving in Thailand 8 months ago. The first place was a temporary 400 sqft apartment that only lasted a month (Thank God), then we stayed at the Hughes' home while they were in America for 3 months, then when we searched high and low for another house, we were blessed with a big beautiful, fully furnished home. It was esthetically pleasing to the eye but very formal. It was nice to not have to purchase a single thing when we moved in there BUT because nothing belonged to us, it still did not feel like "our place". The idea of moving again (move #28 in the last 14 months) was so unattractive to me, but it was necessary.

Unlike our last place, this new home does not have a spirit house. Also, before we lived here, the home belonged to our worship leader. What a difference both of those factors make. What a refreshing change from our last place. With all the spiritual warfare outside, the home has to be a refuge. We would rather live in a smaller place with peace, that's for sure.

We have done a few needed things to the place. A fresh coat of paint in the color of our choice went a long way. Everything is now bright and clean. We also had to make a few "small" purchases -like beds, a sofa, and kitchen cabinets. Yep, it's pretty common to have to buy a kitchen. So with our own things, photos of the family scattered through the house, Aslan's art work stuck on the refrigerator with ABC magnets, Brayden's toys left in tripable places, and a wireless internet connection (sigh).....it FINALLY feels like home.

Lighthearted Randomness

I have been a bit heavy hearted in my posts lately so...here ya go. Some lighthearted randomness

I ask Brayden..."Where are your manners?" just after he attempts to burp his abc's. His answer..."I left them in America."

Aslan's learning his abc's and sounds and it keeps him from sleeping at night...to busy reciting them all.

Aslan reminds me so much of my brother Dean. I love watching him line up his matchbox cars and then move them all six inches ahead at a time. He says to the next car, "Come on, let's go."

I love my computer. I bless it to keep working until I am ready and I refuse to hate it even though it erases what I write. I need nine more lives!

Ever since I have found out about needing to move again, I have been hardly housekeeping. Not a great idea since now I have 4 more weeks. Sorry guys. Worse part is the evidence that geckos live with us.

Realizing that I favor the color schemes of brown and blue...in like every room. Whatever will I do if I no longer like it anymore?

Really excited about having my kitchen table be an old door with glass on top. (something I have been wanting for a long time). Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice and opens to me, I will come in and eat with him. That makes me happy.

Brayden wants to interview for a show on history channel about Asia to be their host. :) And he is so serious.

Went to the lake to ride bikes and John's powder pink rental bike!, it's handle bars snapped. He had to put the handle bars in the front basket and awkwardly walk it back. Humility lesson? We were already being stared at for being a full farung family. But that was funny.

Worked on our schedule today, after seeing all the overlapping colored blocks on the screen, we realized that MAYBE that could be why we have been a bit stressed lately. :) Working on that.

Thinking about signing Brayden up for karate to help him get his boy energy. All he can think about is breaking a board and getting a trophy. I am just wondering if teaching him how to kick and hit will be a good idea with his strength.

Been craving baked macaroni and cheese, but I have no oven. :( ...for brownies, for cookies, for... I plan to get one for the new house. Happy again.

A big big mall is coming to our city in December and I am getting very excited about having convienences so close by. There will be a ToysRus there and Brayden thinks that God made that happen just for him. :)

Instead of pizza, Brayden asks for sticky rice and papaya salad. Turning Thai. You should hear him read! (trying not to be jealous)

Emotional Rollercoaster...the ride is over!

I can't tell you what an emotional roller coaster the last couple weeks have been -move, not move, move in 10 days, then give us 4 days longer. Looking like crazy for houses, finding nothing safe, suitable and available. Feeling the insecurity of not knowing where we will live in a just a few days. Thinking through what life would look like if we had to return to that 400 sq.ft. apartment we had stayed at initially. That was stressful. With a 2 year old, a homeschooling second grader, and both John and I studying language with a tutor that comes to the home 5 days a week, that apartment wouldn't work well.

We have found something that might work but the timing wasn't working out. Our friends, Petter and Jenny, missionaries from Sweden are needing to return to Sweden to have a surgery. Their house would become available once they left Thailand October 13th. It is in the same neighborhood that we wanted to live in, the one where our Pastors from Khon Kaen International live. This way Brayden and Aslan would have friends close by. The only way we could pursue this home was if we did indeed live in that apartment for 6 weeks! (Ugh...I would so hate that.) Then, we talked to our landlady and asked if we could possibly stay longer. We were surprised that she quickly and easily said "yes". What a relief! So a move is not needed for 6 more weeks and then it will be to a place already known and established! This is a big deal!

What is also a big deal is that there has been some clearing of the air with our landlady Ae. The day we had our last meeting, that ended up terribly, she brought two ladies from the front office of our neighborhood to translate English/Thai. Through them, Ae either misunderstood or was misinformed about what John was saying. So all this time, our landlady has been confused and angry at something we did not even say. I think having the business agenda of her interpreters could have been the cause. The home office could have benefited twice from our dispute, once to find new renters here and second to find us a new place to stay. Although we still can not agree on the spirit house issue, it does feel good to have a workable relationship restored with Ae. I just couldn't make sense of it all if God led us here to this home, and getting robbed and having an unresolved falling out were the only outcomes.

So thank you all for praying. God worked it all out. We have peace and we will not be homeless. :) The emotional roller coaster is over.

Changing

Being in another culture for an extended amount of time is so eye opening. Not only have I learned a lot about how and why the Thai people live the way they do, but it has also shed light on someone of things about my own culture that I never noticed before. Many of the things I could say are "the right thing" to do are not necessarily biblical or even moral, but are beliefs I have adapted from being in the American culture so long.

I am getting to learn a lot about myself, questioning if that is my own personal belief or is that a cultural adaptation to America. And could this way about me change once I am soaked in a different way of life for a time? What is changeable? What is not? So some of things I believed in (and perhaps even prided myself for having that belief), may all change. At 33 years old, I am still getting to know myself and what makes me tick. I think traveling even a little is a great way to broaden someone's life perspective. Getting to live and function in another culture has been one of the more maturing processes I have ever endured as an adult. Mainly, because you have to become like a child all over again. It's wonderful to feel yourself grow and change especially once you thought you knew it all and had it all together.

Understanding more how big God must be if we are all made in His image yet are so different. Yet any country I have ever been to, you can still see how much the same.

Think someone ought to require a long term cross cultural experience for everyone, it's a pretty humbling experience...which is good.

Move Where He Moves

Our landlady is breaking our lease agreement and wants us out of the house September 2nd...like in a week. After debating on wether or not to resist or fight her on it, we are choosing to follow peace and peace would lead us out of a binding agreement with her. This house is beautiful and wonderful and a huge blessing as it saved us a lot lot lot of money in start up costs by being completely furnished. However, since arriving here, it has been one thing after another - no water up stairs, only half of the electricity (even still), bill collectors visiting our home several times a week looking for our landlady, the robbery ordeal, the accusation that we caused the break in because we moved the spirit house. It has been more distracting than peaceful, unfortunately.

I am struggling to walk away from the situation because it has seemed quite fruitless (so far anyway). You know, you pray about something, feel peace, make a decision, rejoice in God's provision, ...then you get robbed, get misunderstood, and asked to leave and it makes me wonder...."Did we miss God on this one?" I know in my heart we didn't, I am just trying to find the good that will come of it that I don't quite see just yet. I may never know and I need to become ok with that.

This a picture of the spirit house that used to sit at the corner of our property. When our landlady lived here, she would appease the spirit that live on her land with offerings like incense, flowers, drinks, and food. She felt that by doing that her spirits protect her and give her good luck. Well, we didn't need the protection of her spirits, we brought the Holy Spirit with us and He delights only in seeing Jesus glorified. So we removed the thing that didn't bring glory to God. Now our landlady is displeased and blaming our moving of the spirit house on the "bad luck" she feels she is having all the way in Bangkok six hours away.

So we will leave this home that we saw as God's provision and answer to prayer and trust that we are blessed coming in and going out. That God will provide here or somewhere else. We just need it to be speedy since a week is a very short amount of time to find a home and buy essential furnishings. I thought this was our last move for a while. I think what I dread the most is all the cleaning that has to be done when you first move in to a place.I just got done doing all that.

Trying to keep our eyes on Jesus and move where He moves...even if it is to the 28th place in 13 months.

When Flexibilty Comes in Handy

Thursday afternoon's, our church meets at the ladies prison to hold a weekly service. The prison is a huge warehouse with a hundred and fifty or so woman working at various stations -cooking, sewing, ironing, making nets, styling hair, etc. In the center there is a small room with a two fans where we usually meet. Well, this last week that room was unavailable for us. We asked if we could go to the back by the tub, there would be room enough for us plus the twenty or so prisoners.

It was one of those times where flexibility was coming in real handy. We sat on flattened cardboard boxes and a few rice mats because the floor was wet. On one side of us was the cistern or tub that the ladies use for taking bucket baths and washing dishes and clothes...and all that activity was going on at the time. To the side of us about ten feet were about 6 toilets without doors...which were also being used at the time. Inmates have to complete their chores before attending the church service or they will not get their meal ticket. Because this one lady took about a half hour on the toilet, we were wondering if going to the bathroom was her excuse just so she could attend. :) They sent a guard to oversee our meeting but she took a seat in a broken barber shop chair and fell asleep. We were in the full on sun with no fans and it was incredibly hot.

Belle, our Thai interpreter and worship leader, had lost her voice and asked some of the older disciples to help her lead the songs. They did a great job. Unashamedly, they sang very loud and curious others peaked around to see what was going on. Not being in the room allowed many more to see and hear what goes on at the meetings.

Even with all the distraction and motion of people walking all around us, making noise and being busy, Jenny, a missionary from Sweden, did an amazing job at holding the inmates attention. I could tell that it was challenging to remain focused as she taught, but she kept herself together and because she did many women were ministered to and learned that with The Holy Spirit, your Christian walk is an adventure. Woman who had already been saved and baptized prayed to be able to hear the Holy Spirit more and more each day. And new believers prayed to receive the Holy Spirit for the first time. It was an unusual but blessed meeting.

I learned the values of being flexible and not giving up when God has opened a door, even it is a small window of opportunity. They weren't the best of conditions but we made it work and woman were blessed. When you hear an inmate say..."If you didn't come here and teach me about Jesus, I would have died. Now I have something to live for.", preaching next to the toilets and seeing people bathe in the background is no excuse to cancel.

Cure for the Funk: Fun with Friends

I have been suffering from a severe case of writer's block. Guess I didn't realize just how much the wind was taken from our sails with the robbery and all the drama that followed. We have been managing some fear and taking some extreme measures...we even lock the boys inside their rooms at night. Then we also had to deal with accusations that the reason we were robbed was because we moved the spirit house from the corner of the property. So, it's been a bit of a whirlwind around here and I haven't been too interested in writing all about it.

But this past weekend, we had some missionary friends visit from another city. It was the first time we hosted guests since we moved in to our new house. We had a blast. With their 4 kids and our 2, plus 4 adults, we had a full house. It was great -full of life and activity. Just didn't realize how much we were needing some encouraging fellowship until we got it. Nothing like fun with friends to get you out of a funk. We have known the Lovorn's for years, went to bible school with them, Sandy and I were pregnant together, we have two sets of boys the same age, and now we also share the experience of being a missionary in Thailand. It was so good to talk with someone who understands this season in life. We were so sad when we took them to the bus station today...especially Brayden. :( But even though they left, they left us feeling refreshed. God has provided everything we needed to thrive here, even friends for the whole family. Feeling extremely blessed as we end this day.

All I Can Do is Pray

After writing this post, we received so many emails of people encouraging us and letting us know that they are praying for us. It really is a comforting thought knowing that while we are sleeping here in Thailand, people are praying over there in the states. (11 hour time difference) We definitely feel the intensity of spiritual warfare increasing, so it's time to step it up in prayer too. Karb khun ma na kah. Thank you so much.

Since the robbery, we take locking up so much more seriously. John walked around the house and did a mock "break in". Unfortunately, we discovered just how easy it was and it was concerning. With little effort or noise, John was able to jiggle and tug on the window and it came unlocked! The window is loose in the track of the frame and it gives enough room to unlatch. The windows are fixed now and we are feeling much better.

Now we are beginning to miss our belongings. We are realizing just how much we used those things. Technology is a funny thing. Ultimately, we don't need it but it has become so useful in communication and expression that without it, we feel lost. I can't tell you how many times I have made mention of how I wanted to take a picture of this or that, but....oh yeah, we can't.

Some have mentioned how they wish they could do more to help us, but financially they are unable to and that all they can do is pray. Well, we don't take your prayers lightly and neither should you. We need them and feel them. It has been our desire to come here but to also take other people with us. So, when you sow into us by praying, you are coming along for the ride too. We love that. "All I can do is pray" shouldn't be said like it's a small thing.

We've Been Robbed

Well, Monday started out very interesting. We noticed when we woke up this morning that there was a lot of commotion our at our neighbor Noon's house. John was trying to get out the door to go pick up the car we had just purchased (95 Nissan Sunny). He was doing his classic, "Babe, where's my...". This time he was looking for his flip flops. I answered with my typical "Well, where did you leave them?" Pretty normal Monday morning so far.

As he was about to leave, Noon was outside our gate telling us that last night someone stole her motorcycle while she was sleeping. They managed to get inside her home, took the key, locked back up (?) and took her bike. She also said that John our other neighbor had his Mac Notebook taken. Noon's husband is often away on business and she stays home alone with her 2 children. I felt so bad for her, thinking how scary that would be knowing that someone was in your home as you slept and your husband was gone.

John was just about to leave but wanted to grab his Ipod first. He went in and looked everywhere but couldn't find it. But John not finding something at first attempt is nothing to be concerned about. :) He looked over by his desk and noticed that his video camera was also gone. We also had been robbed and where just finding out. I went to get my phone out of my purse, but it was not there. Also, my Ipod was gone as well a some cash and our two bank cards. The bank cards were our immediate concern. They are our lifeline here. By the time we cancelled them, the forensic police were here to dust for prints. They hung out on our street for most of the morning.

This is my first experience being robbed. It's a yucky feeling. Yeah, it sucks that we lost things and cash but to me the worst feeling was knowing that someone was in my home while me and my family were sleeping. We have the air conditioning units running in the bedrooms at night so with the hum, we don't hear much. The cash that was taken from my purse was still in an envelope. It was given to us as an offering from the Hawaii missions team. I hate that. But really anything or any money stolen is offerings from others. The video camera can be replaced but the video tape inside the camera had precious footage of new believers being baptized. I hate that so much.

So now the dust has settled (literally) and I have a lot of cleaning up to do from the forensic team. I am calming down a very upset 6 year old who also feels unsettled that our house was broken into. I had to laugh today when Brayden looked at his ceramic spiderman piggy bank and said, "Whew, I am so glad they didn't take that!" I am so grateful that they didn't take our computers. We have got wireless internet but it doesn't work. It only works when we are plugged in upstairs in the bedroom. So both laptops where sleeping on our nightstands safe and sound. If we had a wireless connection that worked, both would have been at the desk next to the video camera and stolen as well. So Praise God our internet connection hasn't worked well.

It's hard not to let the events and the emotions of the day overshadow the happiness and excitement that we have a car now. But we are excited, a little subdued in our expression but still excited. As of today, we have a home and a car of our own! That's a big deal.

P.S. Forgot to mention that those flip plops John was going crazy looking for...they were also stolen. Brown leather Gap flip flops are either impossible to find here or outrageously expensive in Bangkok. Sorry John, I thought you just misplaced something again...turns out they were taken too!