If you plant it, they will come and other happenings as of late

We had the pleasure of visiting our dear friends, the Cunninghams, last week. They were on a family holiday to Disney World (of all the wonderful places!) and so we drove out to see them for a couple hours before they left town. The kids LOVED seeing each other again. It's amazing to me the bonds that Gracyn (their oldest) and PJ have from living in Thailand together. They still look at each other as best friends...and of course they are quick to mention Emmy Mills...who is also one of those best friends! We served with Jack and Kim our first three years in Thailand and then they felt the Lord calling them back to the States. We have managed to keep up with them...and Kim has been a tremendous source of encouragement to me over the years...as it seems she's always just a step ahead of me in terms of life lessons....so it's been wonderful to have her to talk to. I thank God for the bonds he strengthened between us while in Thailand...and how they continue to grow! Thanks Cunninghams for seeing us! (Our husbands were each busy...Paul in classes and Jack started a weekend conference also here in Orlando).


And, in other news, I have mentioned (I think) that PJ is our butterfly boy. I remember when my brother Matt was fascinated with butterflies. He would save his money to buy plants for them to perch on. One time, as my mom tells the story, she had a friend over and the friend remarked how alive a butterfly looked on her house plant...my mom had to inform her that it was alive! So, I guess between Paul for a dad and my brother for an uncle, he's bound to love nature! Anyway, we took him to the store the other day and bought him some plants for his very own butterfly garden. I was SO very proud of him. You can see him in the picture...working hard...and even at times by himself, to get his plants in the ground. He has been keeping vigil for any butterflies in the yard/neighborhood and he can hardly wait until they start coming around. His obsession with butterflies started last summer in Pennsylvania when he decided he wanted to catch them. And, while we were living with Paul's folks, his obsession increased even more as Grammy has plenty of beautiful plants that attract butterflies. When we moved back to Orlando all PJ could think about was getting some of our own plants...but of course that was October, butterfly season was dying down a bit and so we asked him to wait...and wait he did, so patiently! Now, we have to wait some more for the butterflies to come!

Friendship

Today, Jan and I went with my kids and visited my friend, Aree. She had a baby two weeks after I had Adele. Mario is a big boy but oh, so cute! He was a whopper, especially for Thai babies (4.2 kilos; the same as Calvin). PJ remarked time and time again how cute he is and he and Adele enjoyed checking each other out.

Aree and her mother were so hospitable, as all Thais are. She ordered Jan and I somtam (a yummy papaya salad) and fried chicken.



I met Aree nearly two years ago on the family English retreat to Cha'am Beach. She lives a ways from us so I don't get to see her often. Please pray that that would change. =)







In this picture of Adele and Mario in his crib, Adele was fascinated with the ceiling fan. They held hands at one point in the crib...it was so cute!












Here's Jan with Mario, PJ and Calvin. I asked Jan to go along to help me with my kids...it was nice to have her there.





And here's Khun Yaay (Grandmother in Thai) with our Adele. This woman has six living children and two have already died. She was so grandmotherly to all of us.