BAGELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We can probably count on one hand the number of times we've eaten a delicious bagel with cream cheese on it since we've been here. It's not that you can't get them here, you can, but they are a bit more expensive and they are only at specialty shops.
So, with that said, I recently was inspired by my teammate (Rhianna) to try my own two hands at making homemade bagels. I was quite pleased with the way they turned out. I made mostly onion and salt and a few cinnamon and sugar. The kids really enjoyed them but Paul enjoyed them most of all!
Last night for supper we had a delicious meal of bagels with egg and cheese...yum-yum...can't beat it!!!

More Celebrating

All PJ talked about wanting for his birthday were stuffed leopards, tigers, lions, pumas, bobcats, etc, etc. So, we simply HAD to get him a couple of these lovable stuffed creatures. They haven't left his side. He plays with them and pretends he is one of them. It's been great. In case you didn't know, PJ loves anything to do with animals but especially Big Cats. We read about them almost daily and we do pretend play that we are Big Cats daily (and if I am not one of them you can be sure he and Calvin are being cats of some persuasion or another!).
I think PJ was truly surprised to have received TWO cats and then to his utter delight little brother also received one. Last night when we were heading to bed we poked our heads in to make sure all was well with our precious boys and there was PJ nestled in his bed with his arm stretched across both cats...holding them very close to him.










He has named the cats Pawsy (the siberian tiger) and Buster (the leopard).

Calvin named his cat ...."kitty cat"

The Birthday Celebration

I made this cat cake for PJ's birthday. He's very much into any type of cat but especially those of the "Big Cat" family. I tried to make this a tiger, but it ended up being just an ordinary 'ol cat...PJ later said,"it's ok mommy, I can pretend it's a tiger." So, I guess that is what it ended up being in the end. By the way I got the idea from Family Fun (don't want to mislead anyone).






Here's PJ blowing out his candles.

And opening his gifts from Grampy and Grammie. Thanks Grammie and Grampy for the great books! We LOVE them!

hungry hippos

This big girl was ready for her picture to be taken too.















Calvin wasn't too sure about the hippos...but we got to see a baby hippo in the pond with the momma which got his attention.

All tired out from our big day at the Farm.

more than just crocs

Here's Calvin pictured on the bridge looking at the crocodilian.

And to think that just seeing these massive beasts isn't enough, they have a very entertaining show...yep, he has his head inside the crocs mouth. PJ has a healthy respect for wild animals and so he wasn't too keen on seeing this act but he endured it for his mommy and daddy's sake!







The farm also houses "white" lions and tigers. Here are the white lions. Paul and I believe these are the same as a lyger (a cross between a lion and a tiger). It's kinda sad but they are beautiful.

And, here are the boys at the White Lion cage.

croc craziness

This guy opened his mouth wide for a picture! Smile for the camera!























And, here's our birthday boy. I can't believe he's five. I know that's what all moms everywhere say, but really, where has the time gone? And just a bit of trivia for yah...PJ has yet to celebrate a birthday in the United States of America! His 6th, Lord willing, will be there. =)
















The crocodile farm boasts it houses 100,00 crocodiles!






And, not to be forgotten, our little backpacker, Miss Adele. She is quite the character these days. Here she is peeking out of her Jerry Carrier. I think I lost about 15 lbs yesterday totting her around in the heat!!! =) She seemed to really enjoy all the animals too and was tuckered out on the way home.

A Five year old's wish

Paul gave PJ a choice for how he wanted to celebrate his 5th birthday. He could choose between going to Khao Yai National Forest or the Crocodile Farm. PJ chose the latter. We celebrated PJ's birthday a day early due to Tuesday being our day off and all. We headed out to "the Farm" late morning and spent sevearal hours walking around looking at Crocodiles and other animals that they have there. PJ thoroughly enjoyed himself and so did the rest of us! Adele hung out in the Jerry Carrier most of the day and did great! The sequence of pictures below are when we fed the crocs some pieces of raw chicken. Neither PJ nor Calvin wanted to help daddy throw the pieces in the water but they sure enjoyed watching the crocs open wide and then devour the meat. The first pic is of a croc stealing away his "fresh catch" that another tourist threw in the water. We were on a bridge type structure that walked over the crocs.
 
 
 
 

so long Preston

Preston, who I introduced back in February '08 left yesterday. He served here as an intern for about five months and taught a lot of English and built very good relationships with a few guys while here. Pictured below are some of those he hung out with most. The night before he left we had him and all his buddies over for a meal and then we played Sequence (thanks Dad and Mom Henry...this game is always in demand here among our Thai friends!).
Preston is off to graduate school but we were glad he came and served here. Thanks for those of you who have been praying for Preston and those who supported him while here.

 
 
 

Inching along

This one is ALL boy...

 
 
 

"Remember Surrender"

Hi all, I'm back. Not sure what was up with the PC but glad it's working like normal. Anyway, I thought I'd share these lyrics with you. This is where I am at as of late...I hope you are encouraged to surrender all of you to the Lord Jesus with wreckless abandon. I, by no means, am there but this song helps me remember that God IS in control and has a wonderful, beautiful plan for our lives if we just would surrender to Him and allow Him to have His way and trust Him with every facet of our lives. By the way, that wonderful, beautiful plan is often wrought with much grief and pain as God deals with us and our sin so although God works all things out for His good and glory (Romans 8) it doesn't mean we will have a life free of stress and hardships...let's allow God to do that sanctifying work in our hearts...to strip us of our unrighteousness and make us more like His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. These lessons are not easy to learn or take but God IS faithful.
The ladies on our team are studying a Beth Moore Bible study entitled "To Live is Christ." It's been incredible and encouraging and challenging. Last week she shared from 2 Corinthians 1:8-11. Paul said "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. BUT this happened so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On HIM we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us..."
The apostle and his companions were under GREAT pressure...so much that it was beyond their ability to endure. It's at that point God shows us His strength and His reliability. Praise God He is faithful to us. You might find yourself going thru a "hardship that is far beyond your ability to endure" if you are, find comfort in God and find strength in God, knowing that He who has raised the dead is able to deliver you. Surrender yourself to His perfect, good and pleasing will.

"Remember surrender, remember the rest
Remember the weight lifting off of your chest
And realizing that it's not up to you and it never was.
Remember surrender, remember relief, remember how tears rolled down both of your cheeks as the warmth of a heavenly Father came closing in. I want to do that again. Why can't I live there and make my home? In sweet surrender, I want to do so much more than remember...

Remember surrender, remember the peace. Remember how softly you fell fast asleep. In the face of your troubles your future still shone as the morning sun. Remember surrender, remember that sound of all of those voices inside dying down but ONE who speaks clearly of helping and healing you deep within. I want to do that again. Why can't I live there and make my home? In sweet surrender I want to do so much more than remember."

by Sara Groves from her album "ALL RIGHT HERE"

trying to set things straight here with the PC. Not sure what is going on but I can't view my blog or anyone else's for that matter! bear with me until I can figure out what is wrong!
thanks...

"coo huu"

I learned a new Thai phrase today. "coo huu" is an idiom that means "a couple" as in "aren't they a cute couple." HOwever, when you translate it directly from Thai to English it means (and this is hilarious if you ask me!) "a pair of ears." So the next time you see a "cute couple" think of them as a pair of ears!!! LOL

per my previous post "a random happening"

I read my friend Tim's blog, at Mission Safari (http://www.missionsafari.typepad.com/) , and thought this would be fitting to recommend since I mentioned some of what he talks about in my earlier post. Sounds like a really neat book...check it out if you have opportunity, this is one on my list once I get back Stateside!

something new...

Getting all gussied up here on Grace for the Moment...I've taken some time to learn about new things Blogger is doing and thought I'd "update" by blog. The world of technology never ceases to amaze me and baffle me! I hope you enjoy these photos of Adele...it was just a trial run. Let me know what you think...should I try this again or "ting" it? *"ting" is the Thai word that means to "throw it away"*

English 101

Thank you to all who were praying. Our time today was GREAT! We met Kratae, her boyfriend and her little sister at the park. We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather (a nice breeze under the sala [a structure that has only a roof and no walls whose sole purpose is for people to rest and relax]) and the conversation was fun and easy going. I was asked what I believed and said I am a Christian. The boyfriend is Catholic, Kratae is Buddhist. They loved the kids...all three of them and the boys behaved wonderfully well and had lots of fun running around the sala and watching birds and we even spotted a HUGE monitor lizard...yikes! PJ loved it though, as you can imagine. =) Sorry, no pics of the lizard from today but I did get pics of Kratae with PJ, Keng with Calvin and Wun Sen with Adele. The picture of the monitor lizard is from over a year ago while we were on vacation with Paul's folks in southern Thailand. This guy came every morning for breakfast and the guy making omelets would toss him a few bites! Anyway, I think the one we saw at the park today was a wee bit bigger than this one!

Update on "the random act"

So, here we go again folks! My new friend, Nuu (the one I mentioned two posts ago but didn't know her name), called me again and has invited me to meet her and her little sister at the King's Park for an afternoon of fun and talking. Please pray for me and the kids as we will meet her tomorrow (Saturday at 3:30, our time). I am SO excited and looking forward to how God might use us...pray that she would even come to worship with us on Sunday..wouldn't that be wonderful?!
Thanks for praying...

ACE!

We've been gathering at the park (maahaadthai park for those of you who have been here) to hit a volleyball around for about a month now. The kids from Maahaadthai 3 come and are encouraged to play...and I've seen them getting better with each passing week. It's been so much fun to play this sport again and I've used some muscles that I haven't used since 10th grade when I played v-ball for our HS. Sometimes some of the guys from the takraw (kinda like volleyball only you hit it with your feet and head and the net is a bit closer to the ground)court come and play with us (and they are GOOD) but they still humor us and play and they enjoy encouraging the youngsters to come and play too, even though the balls get hit in wacky directions, they don't mind. Probably the thing I love MOST about Thailand is how they involve everyone, especially when kids are around. It's such a beautiful thing to see. I think about at home when we play a pick up game of volleyball we get quite serious about it and competitive and even grumble under our breath at how we wish the youngsters weren't playing. I don't think that happens here...at least I haven't seen it and no one is twisting anyone's arm to play here. It's so great. I love the family feel Thailand has to its culture... no one is a stranger.

a random happening

Oh, the joys of living in Thailand. Everyone wants to be your friend because you are a "farang" (foreigner) and you can obviously speak the lingua franca of the world...English. So, that makes us in high demand and Thais are not shy at all about being your friend just so they can improve their English. I don't really mind this kind of "use me" thinking because at least it gives me a chance to share Christ and the freedom from sin He offers us. Thais are curious and they like to hang out with and get to know foreigners...there is some sort of appeal to the way we do things and they are curious to hear and learn all about us. (just as we are them!) I think it's fascinating though because I don't think we treat "foreigners" in America with the same respect and eagerness to learn from them. And, I know, there are a lot of reasons for that and I am not going to go into a whole political debate on it, but I do think we are missing out when we (as Christians, anyway) don't take time to learn from those who are not like us and to share the Gospel. What better way to share God's love than in this way?

Ok, I have sufficiently digressed in this post. I wanted to talk about a random act that happened last week and how it is affecting my life. Last Tuesday we went to the local mall. Tuesdays are our days off and we often will spend a couple hours at the mall just walking about and getting things that we might need (rather want?). Last week our wants led us to the Annie Anne's pretzel store. You might be surprised to hear that we have Annie Anne's here in Thailand, but it's true, we have it and we even have the yummy homemade lemonade and it tastes just like it does in America (although I have was challenged recently in thinking that my tastes have probably changed and what I think is good American food might not really be so but it just seems so because all other food is Thai so anything that comes close is GOOD!). SO, we were enjoying a little snack at Annie Anne's last week when one of the girls that works there (and mind you we have only gone to this Annie Anne's on one or two other occassions since being in BKK) who we don't know at all and have never met before walks up to us while we're enjoying our lemonade and pretzels and asks me if she can call me sometime to practice her English. It turns out she is studying to be an English teacher and needs some practicing...which is where I obviously come in! So, for the past week she has called me almost daily to talk and chat in English. The conversations are usually not very long...when she's riding on a bus going to or from someplace but they are mostly in English. When I ask a question or answer and she doesn't understand I say it in Thai. Today when she called, it really encouraged me that God can and I believe will use me in this to proclaim the Gospel and to help her improve her English. I want to really get to know her and encourage her and be a good friend to her. These "chance" meetings are rarely that, for God directs our paths and I believe this is one path He clearly laid out for me. She told me her name the first time she called but I didn't write it down. However, would you pray for me and for her? I will try to post a name soon, but for now you can pray that God would use me and pray for opportunity for us to meet face to face and talk and not just over the phone.
I was telling Rachel about this last week and she told me that they have often have people just stop in at their apartment who want to practice their English with her and Melanie! It blew my mind! We do live in a university setting but it just seems like word travels fast about where the foreigners live...and they definitely know where the girls live! And so many of the students are really bold to get a better handle on their English.

Girls Get-a-way

Last Tuesday morning my best friend arrived in Bangkok for five days of fun and sun! Paul graciously offered to give us a day and night downtown...just the two of us! It was wonderful! We saw some sights, did some shopping, ate incredibly good food and of course, talked our heads off! Penny and I have been friends since we were five years old! We met in kindergarten and even though there were a few years in elementary when we didn't see each other much we still considered the other our best friend. We reunited in junior high school, and the rest they say, is history! Penny is an incredibly good friend. She's supported me in anything I've ever decided to do and she knows all about my quirky ways and loves me anyway! I love it when I am with Penny because I can be myself...my silly self and I never laugh as much as when I am with her. Her humor keeps me in stitches. Together, we make a good set of friends. She keeps me going in the right direction and I give her plenty to laugh about! =) After our night downtown, we headed to the beach town of Hua Hin (about a 3 hour drive south). We loaded up the three kiddos and ourselves and headed south. I must say I was a teeny bit scared of driving there all by myself, but God is gracious and gave me an incredible navigator (Penny) and we got there with no problems. We spent the next three nights there and returned Saturday...she flew out late, late Saturday night). It was a week of memories and also remembering old memories and again, laughing, laughing, laughing at all the stupid stuff we (mostly I?) did. =) I thank God for friendship and for friends like Pen who stick with me no matter what. Thanks SOOOO much for coming out here Penny. It was a blessing to see you and make more memories!

MTW Thailand Team (foreign staff)

James Veldhorst graduated last weekend (our team leader's oldest son). We had a celebration for him and his sister, Katy (who publically professed her faith in Jesus) after our English worship service in the evening. It was with great joy and even sadness to send James off. He's working this summer and then heading to Covenant College in the fall.