Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, with the start of a new year and starting back to class I have been quite busy. I continue to press on towards learning how to read in Thai…not an easy feat. There are SO many special rules, etc that my brain is so challenged by it. I feel badly for those who have to learn English…our language is not much easier! It’s interesting in Thai because the written language is different than the spoken language. For instance, instead of writing a “t” character at the end of a word you would write a “d” character but when speaking you would still say a “t” sound. Confused? Yeah, me too! So you may be asking, how do you know which sound to make? (I ask this question from time to time in class) and my teacher always answers…you just have to remember and memorize. Not very comforting to me who does NOT like rote memorization!
As far as other aspects of life go here…we are continually adjusting. Just when you think you’re doing great something will happen and knock you back down on your knees; a good place to be as a Christian (though not easy!). Just last Tuesday I decided to take PJ to Big C to get out of the house before going back to school on Wednesday. I was really happy to be taking him and felt comfortable…then we got there and the place was packed. I didn’t realize that everyone else and his brother also decided to go to Big C on this last day before classes and work resumed (I thought most folks had returned to work that day already). So, not only were there tons of people…but they all were staring at ME! Yes, because I am a farang and because I am a pregnant farang I made for quite a site…and to be honest I wasn’t in the mood to be a spectacle, but none the less I was. So, I realize I still have a lot of adjusting to do to life here and getting used to being different. I am sure it will come some day when I won’t feel so strange here.
So, another aspect of adjusting is getting ready for our new addition. We leave for Bangkok on January 14th to await the arrival of our second child. (Due between January 24th and 27th). That is exactly one week from today that we will be temporarily moving to Bangkok. We are excited to be with our team there for probably about three weeks and we are REALLY excited to meet our new baby…but as always, much transition and adjustment will be taking place during this time in our lives. To be perfectly honest, I am a little scared at what this addition is going to do especially with my relationship with PJ. Please pray for him as this is a huge adjustment for him. He is already being a typical two year old and spankings are a daily occurrence for him but I fear he will hate me once this baby comes home from the hospital. I am asking all you prayer warriors to pray for grace and wisdom for me as I desire to love and serve PJ but will obviously have another child to take care of. The good news is that Paul’s mom will be here for an entire month! So, hopefully, that will help him feel VERY special to have his Grammie here. There is also all the legalities that need to be done as far as passports, shots, birth certificates for the new baby that we would like to have done within the week of the baby’s birth…so that could potentially be a stressor for us. Please pray for us to trust God and to be patient when things don’t go the way we hope or expect.
So, just to give you a quick time table of what we will be doing (Lord willing) during the next month…
v January 14th- leave for Bangkok
v January 16-27th- study Thai with private tutor in Bangkok
v January 24-27th- have a baby
v January 28th- Paul’s mom arrives in Bangkok!
v February 4th- return to Lopburi
There is much to look forward…we can’t wait to meet our new little one!