A House Full...

...of boys!!! For the past week we have had three extra little boys running around the Henry home. It was great fun to host the Arekema family from the Chicago area and their friend, Maggie. They came to see Thailand and are currently praying about coming to join our team here. They have three boys ages 7, 4 1/2 and 2 1/2. As you can imagine, PJ and Calvin were thrilled to have other little boys with whom to play knights, legos and trains. Adele, of course, didn't seem to bother all the activity and carried on with her normal routine.

Adele has turned three months old. Where does the time go? I never realized how quickly time flies until I had kids. Anyway, Adele is doing well. She's been sleeping really well again the past few nights, so I hope it sticks! She's slept 11 hours the other night! I was VERY happy about that!
At our doctor's visit the other week she weighed just under 10 lbs and is nearly 22 inches long. She's 90th percentile for both. She loves to "talk" and coo and absolutely adores PJ.

Here are the five boys eating lunch at our house. From left to right, there is Dexter (4 1/2), PJ (4 1/2), Calvin (2), Max (7) and Jadon (2 1/2). Lots of FUN! And believe it or not, very minimal fighting...if any? I was so amazed at how well the boys played together. PJ is missing them and wondering when he will see them again!











And, let me just brag on this lovely woman. She is good friends with the Arkemas and came along to serve them by helping take care of their three boys. She was a tremendous blessing to me as I got to spend a lot time with her. And, she also served me as well as she entertained Calvin many times as I was preparing meals or whatever. She is a Sunday School teacher at their church and let me tell you she came prepared to Thailand to keep little ones busy. Calvin adored her and had much fun with Miss Maggie.
Thanks SO much for your service.

So, if you think of it, please be in prayer for the Arkemas. I am sorry I don't have a picture of Ryan and Heidi but hopefully they will send one to me soon! (hint, hint!!!) Maybe we will be seeing them here in Thailand on a more permanent basis. And, let me just add what a delight it is to see God answering our prayers for more laborers. Remember our Lord's words that the harvest is white but the workers are few. Continue praying for more laborers and that God would confirm that calling in many lives.

Adele

Adele enjoying her toys...thanks Grammie! Notice how she likes to play with her tongue...so cute, if I must say so myself! =)

Thanks to all of your words of encouragement. God is good and I know that, if I didn't know that I would be in some serious spiritual trouble!

A Day in the LIfe...

If you want to hear a glamourized missionary story, stop reading. If you want to hear the truth of my life...continue on....... but it might not be pretty!





This afternoon, I decided to take my boys out for some outside activity. This sort of thing has been very sparse in our house as of late due to a new baby and an almost two year old. Anyway, I decided to do it (if you need an explanation read the post below...then you will understand!). Lately, Adele has been sleeping about three hours in the afternoon which allows me to get out of doors with the boys for a few minutes before all the supper time stuff needs to get underway. But, of course, today Adele decided to wake up just as we were about to go outside. So, I thought, "well, I will put her in the sling rather than disappoint my two precious boys." So that is what I did.
Now, normally, I contain PJ and Calvin behind the gate so that they can run wild and not get hit by motorcyles, cars, trucks, elephants and bicycles that go up and down our soi...and though our soi is a dead end and not usually very busy there seems to always be some sorta traffic and whoever is driving is usually speeding (unless of course they are on an elephant). They both really wanted to go outside the gate today so I agreed. That was my first mistake! So, one of our neighbors has a fish tank of sorts outside. It's really this concrete thing that has fish in it and the boys LOVE it and they love trying to catch the fish, etc, etc. (they are really small fish and very colorful). So, we make our way to that house and the past few times we've been out and visiting the fish the older woman from that house comes out with her tamarind stained teeth and yells at the boys not to touch...and when we first moved here they welcomed the boys to play with the fish. So, it's one of those, I am not really sure the neighbors like this or not or if they don't care and it's just an old woman who is a bit senile...yah know? Anyway, the younger woman of the house was outside the house sweeping the street as the boys played and of course, I was constantly reminding them NOT to touch, only to look. PJ obeyed for a while, Calvin hardly obeyed unless I was holding one of his hands and keeping him at arms length (while also carrying Adele in the sling). Then Adele starts fussing, so what to do now? I had to somehow get the boys back to our house (not that far but you know how it goes trying to get a 2 year old to do anything!). We finally make it, only because Bow, our househelper comes outside (to leave) and sees that I could use some assistance! So, she takes Adele and I proceed to get Calvin. We're about to go thru the gate when another neighbor comes out of her house (across the street) and beckons PJ into her home (for some cookies, I later found out). And of course, she wanted Calvin and Adele and I all to join in on the fun cooking eating too. So, I pay Bow and then we head over to our neighbors house. (I forgot to mention all this is at about 5:45PM and my supper is in the oven being overcooked, but no worries about that, really,) So, we're there and the boys are mesmerized by the Thai TV program that is on and PJ is bouncing around in one of those cool blow up chairs. The next thing I know he's got it across the room, and our host is in the kitchen finishing up her supper. So, I tell PJ to bring the chair back and after about the third (ok, maybe 7th) time of telling him, he finally decides to obey. And what does he do? He hits the little floor fan on the way, it crashes to the floor and the shield pops off, breaking one of hte blades (which went flying across the room) and it starts shimmying really badly. Great. We'll never be invited back is what I was thinking and how terribly embarrassing this all is. I tell our neighbor that PJ broke her fan and I tell her we will replace it and then I tell her I have to go...after apologizing profusely. She says "Oh, don't worry, you don't have to go" but I assure her that I, too, have to get my food outta the oven...so she permits us leave. Now, I say all of that and it was embarrassing and I honestly don't know if she'll ever invite us back but God really used PJ, too. When he was over there before I got there, he told our neighbor that he worships Jesus. Granted, it was in English and she didn't understand a word of it, but she asked me what he said and I asked PJ and then I was able to tell her what he said. Talk about a witness for the Lord. He just walks in and says, "I believe in Jesus, do you?" Pretty amazing. Sometimes, you wonder what on earth you did wrong and then something like this happens and you wonder what on earth you did right? When I asked him what he said to her, he also told me that she should put her idols away (meaning she should get rid of them) but I didn't go there...yet! Please continue to pray for the relationships we are building and pray that our neighbors (though they, too, think I am a crazy woman having three kids and all) would see that, yes, our children are disobedient but that they see us love them and correct them in God's LOVE. Pray that we would be invited back again and again and again and that each time we would be able to share more of the Gospel. God is good.

Another little tidbit about our day was that I was out buying fruit from the "Fruit truck" and met a new woman who was also buying fruit. As all really nice Thai people do, she asked why I speak Thai so well. (I say really nice because my Thai isn't THAT great...and they only hear one or two sentences and say it...so I always take it with a grain of salt). Anyway, I tell her that I am a missionary and have come to share about Jesus. She starts telling me that she, too, is a Christian and studied in Texas with Word of Life..how awesome is that? She lives one soi over from ours but is rarely around due to taking care of her 92 year old mother. So, that was really encouraging to hear and to meet this woman. God is building His Kingdom and it always blesses me to meet Thai christians.

I am sorry the last couple posts have been so long. I realized that the last six months or so I've rarely shared my heart and what God is doing here IN me. Maybe, I think you all are thinking, "She's a missionary and has been there 2+ years now, she shouldn't be struggling with x, y or z." So, it's out of pride that I haven't been as open as in the past. And I ask you to forgive me for "clamming up". I am still an ordinary girl trying to obey God as He gives me the grace to do so. I am NOT perfect and never will be until I am raised with Christ in glory! And as I started off this post...if you want glamour...don't come to "Grace for the Moment." I won't be able to deliver...but if you want to hear how God works thru broken pieces of pottery for His glory and His glory alone then by all means stop by anytime!
Thanks for listening to my ramblings and may God richly bless us all this week with His presence and the assurance that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us! (ephesians 1:15-23)

It's a Circus, and it's mine!

Today, the boys, Adele and I ventured to the hospital for some shots (one for each kid...yeah that was fun!). Now, for those of you who have been here know how crazy driving is here (or can be) and we found ourselves on the wrong road going North (as PJ correctly pronounced). We wanted to go north but not quite as far as we were heading. About this time (the time that I missed the road I wanted and realized I was going the wrong way and about to go thru a toll to who knows where... ) I noticed we were on EMPTY!!! HOW does this happen? So, we pass thru the toll booth, pay the toll and we're on our way...to where we do not know, on an empty tank of diesel. =) So, PJ (who is my co-pilot on these mis-adventures we have and does sit in the front seat with me with his knight's helmet and sword) asks me if we're on the right road yet. "Uh, no, but you know what you can do, PJ?" I say to him. "You can pray." And so goes his precious 4 1/2 year old prayer..."Dear Jesus, thank you for helping us get the right road. In Jesus' Name. Amen." (Note to reader, PJ ALWAYS says thank-you when he starts any prayer...) So, we see a sign for Ramkhamhaeng Road and I decide that before we get any more lost we need to refill our tank and besides that we were just on this road a couple weeks ago (lost that time too, I might add!) so I thought we'd give it a go and it helps that I thought this road intersected the road that I needed anyway. SO, we get some diesel, I call Paul, we re-group (PJ and I) and I talk to the gas attendant just to make sure and we're off. And it turns out, Ramkhamhaeng Rd. does intersect with the one I need on...voila! So, quickly PJ and I were thanking God and made it to the hospital.

So, when does the circus come to town? Well, when we get to the hospital. I decided to leave Adele in her infant carseat that we are borrowing (as she is asleep) and I carry it into the hospital. Calvin, of course, is the wild card. He is holding my other free hand and PJ's hand. We progress thru the parking garage and to the "lift" (elevator) and we manage to get everybody onboard with no limbs in the doors. The elevator is full of people, of course, and they are all looking at me, the crazy women bringing three kids to the hospital ALL by myself. *Cultural Note: Thais DO NOT generally have more than two or three kids and they are usually between 5 and 10 years apart. They say, "khon la khon" or person to person. The way they raise children is completely different than the way we do so the Thai child ALWAYS needs someone right there to help feed them, hold them , walk them, or whatever the case may be. For instance, many of our Thai friends find it amazing that Calvin who is only 2 can feed himself and sit in a seat and eat his entire meal before getting up to play again. Their children at 2 years old are permitted to run around the house/outside while the mother, grandmother or nanny runs around after them with a bowl of food and a spoon ready to spoon feed the child whenever the child has the urge to eat more food, so let's suffice it to say, we have different ideas when it comes to having and raising kids...*
Ok, so, we then step out of the elevator at our stop and proceed to the doctor's office. The hospital is a great set up for kids. I'll tell you what, if you want to see how to be kid-friendly, come to Thailand. There are these soft play mats with kids playground-type equipment set up. There are a couple of plastic play houses big enough for 2-6 years old but too small for adults and lots of other stuff. So, the boys take off their shoes (in typical Thai fashion) and go to town playing. Thankfully, Adele is still asleep, but the looks from all the other Thais in the room are ones of astonishment and maybe they think I'm completely outta my mind. At this point, I'm feeling quite proud that my two boys are being sweet and obeying and Adele is asleep. All is well. All continues to stay well until we go into the doctor's office. He checked Calvin first...no worries there. He got his shots without any tears! And then was PJ's turn. By this point the boys were getting antsy, especially Calvin. He wanted to explore the entire office and the doctor's nurse would leave the room and leave the door open a little bit, so Calvin escaped a couple times...that was when the circus began. PJ also did well with his shot...no tears! So, then we were onto Adele. By this point, Calvin was all out tired of being couped up in the doctor's office and wanted to get out and play. Unfortunately, Adele did cry and she cried loud enough and long enough for all three of them; and everyone on that floor heard it too. She was angry.

This, my dear readers, is why I don't go out alone with my three precious children. What was I thinking today? I know I was thining, I can do this, we can handle this. And we did. It might have taken us a little longer than some, but we managed. We entered the hospital at 11:45 and left at 2:15 with four doctor visits in the mix. We grabbed hotdogs and drinks at the little 7-11 type store in the basement and ate in the car in front of the hosptial admiring the beautiful water fountains. Would I do this every week? No, but I am glad we did it and we had fun. By the way, the fourth doctor visit was for Calvin's eye. He's had a clear "tear" running from it for about five months (off and on) so we saw a children's eye doctor who told us to massage it 5-6 times a day and come back in a month to see if it's better. He gave me some long name for the condition but I can't recall what it is. Please pray for this to go away.

Now, I know many of you have three or more kids and are surviving or have survived. I thank you for your examples and encouragement. I thank God for His grace that helps me laugh when I take a wrong turn and laugh that everyone in that hospital thinks I'm a crazy women. I am glad for the blessings God has given me but I am also glad to be home!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

We rung in the new year in a pretty low key way. Tim and Rhianna and their two kids came over for a few hours. We ate turkey pot pie and hamburgers and, of course, chocolate chip cookies (if you know Rhianna you can never have a get together without some yummy cookies!). It was a spur of the moment get together but a lot of fun none-the-less. PJ, Calvin and Emmy enjoyed watching "The Jungle Book" while Emmy's little bro went to sleep in the pack and play. We didn't stay up until midnight but I did hear some fireworks being shot off all around us.

The kids have gone thru serious grandparent withdrawl and we've also had to get back into our routines. Adele is getting herself on a pretty decent schedule...now going to bed USUALLY between 10 and 11 for the night and getting up between 7-9AM. She is so precious and just coos and talks and smiles during her awake times. She really enjoys her mobile and loves to be talked to, as we all do! =) PJ and Calvin still shower her with kisses and lots of affection. Calvin still comes over to her and touches her little toes and fingers with a big grin on his face. PJ comments on what "a precious kind of baby" she is and how sweet she is. He is quite proud and protective of both her and Calvin. It's nice to see his brotherly love coming out!


Paul got it in his head to make a rocking horse for the boys and so he got to work the other day and finished it up yesterday. I must say, he did a pretty good job of it! The boys LOVE it and now we've satisfied PJ's burning desire to buy a horse. He really wants us to paint it black (for Black Beauty) but we'll have to see about that.

Hope your new year's was great!