Thanksgiving play

The house smells like pumpkin spice (thanks to our moms!) and the first batch of pumpkin is cooked and ready for baking pumpkin pies (for Moms group on Monday). The boys have been getting their Thanksgiving education from the Peanuts "The Mayflower Voyagers" cartoon...I know, I am such a bad mom...but it's SO cute and well done! We have read one book on the subject (one I found at a used English bookshop that JUST opened in our area!). And, so with all the festivities I decided that this would be the year we would have some "dress up" fun. So, PJ and I set to work to make a pilgrim hat and an Indian headdress (or something like it, anyway!).

The idea for the pilgrim hat came from none other than Family Fun, of course! You are supposed to use black construction paper but of course getting stuff like that here is not easy, so I used white and had PJ color it. =)

I'm also gearing up for Christmas, trying to get gifts made early this year and also trying to think of things to make instead of buying gifts. I have some great ideas bobbing around in my head for the kiddos...but for adults I am having some trouble. Any ideas? Remember, I live in a country where craft supplies are not the easiest to find (they're here you just have to know which shop to find each supply in!).

For some time I've wanted to simplify Christmas gift giving...especially within our little family of five but each year I don't plan well and then at last it's the last minute and I'm scrambling to Lotus (a store similar to Walmart but not at all the same!) to try to find something to give the kids. This year, my desire has been compounded by our nightly readings of "The Little House on the Prairie" series in which the girls Laura and Mary are so thankful for just a piece of candy and a tin cup for Christmas! So, I have some fun ideas for the kiddos and looking forward to getting started...after Thanksgiving on the big projects and maybe today on the smaller ones!

another update on Calvin's eye

Calvin had his second follow up appointment today regarding his eye. The tearing is getting less but it's still happening. The doc informed us today that it could take up to 3 months to completely stop! So, please keep praying for healing and for patience for us and for Calvin. He deals with the massaging of his eye pretty well, but I am sure it gets old! (We have to massage it 1-2 times every two hours.) Today the doc did a little test today to see if things are working normally. He put some orange dye in Calvin's eye and then the dye ran down into his mouth and nose. He then saw the ENT and the ENT saw the dye in his nose...so this is great news and encouraging, thank you to all of you who are praying for Calvin and his eye.

Opening Stanza from Choruses from "The Rock"

The Eagle soars in the summit of Heaven,The Hunter with his dogs pursues his circuit.

O perpetual revolution of configured stars,

O perpetual recurrence of determined seasons,

O world of spring and autumn, birth and dying

The endless cycle of idea and action, Endless invention, endless experiment,

Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;

Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;

Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word.

All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,

All our ignorance brings us nearer to death, But nearness to death no nearer to GOD.

Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?

The cycles of Heaven in twenty centuries

Bring us farther from GOD and nearer to the Dust.

T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), "The Rock" (1934)

"That Little Girl of Mine"

The title of my post today stirs up many memories from my own youth. My dad used to sing this song, first to my older sister and then to me...and later, once I got older, I sang it with him. I won't say how many times I would tear up while singing the words to this song, but as of late, I've realized that now I have my own little girl and though I love her just as much as I love the boys, there is something different about having a girl...and I am sure this will be realized in greater depths as she grows older!

So, my baby girl turned one last week! I made some carrot/apple muffins to celebrate her big day. The boys thoroughly enjoyed helping her blow out her lone candle...and I have to laugh at her ever-cautious brother, PJ, in the picture below holding her hand so she doesn't get burned on the candle!

Adele was really funny. I don't think she knew what to do with all the attention she was receiving along with the gifts. She just seemed so confused by it all!

She enjoyed her carrot cake muffin immensely, as witness.

And, she enjoyed her new toys too. Thanks to Grammie and Grampy for the toy phone and car keys...she LOVES them! About two weeks ago she started pretending to talk on the phone so it made her day to see her very own phone to chat on!

A tiny turned up nose,

Two cheeks just like a rose,

So sweet from head to toe,

That little girl of mine.

Two eyes that shine so bright,

Two arms to hold me tight,

Two lips that kiss goodnight,

that little girl of mine.

No one will ever know,

Just what her coming has meant.

Although I love her so,

She's something heaven has sent.

She climbs upon my knee,

Whispers sweet things to me,

To me, she'll always be,

That little girl of mine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MISS!

to Erin with love

A Nature Walk

A couple weeks ago the kids and I packed our water colors and paper, bird book, and water and headed over to the King's Park. I have mentioned this Park a lot in my posts because we go there pretty regularly, it's cheap, and beautiful! Before heading out the door, I called our teammate and friend "Aunt" Melanie (as the boys call her) and asked if she wanted to join us on our adventure. She heartily agreed to come along and so we were off to explore the beauty of the Park.

Once we parked and started walking along, Aunt Melanie mentioned that she hoped we would see a monitor lizard since she had never seen one before. She shared how "Miss Aunt Becky" (another teammate and friend who has since left Thailand) used to see them all the time while running in the Park. We were amazed that Aunt Melanie had never seen one, so we prayed for God to give us opportunity to see one of these fascinating creatures. No sooner were we done praying than we looked up and saw a white egret and then a few minutes later a monitor lizard came sneaking out of the water up onto the sidewalk across from us. It was an amazing answer to prayer! I tried to get a picture of it, but the one I got the lizard is really hard to see.

So, then we kept walking along and as we were going up over a little footbridge, two little Thai boys emerged from a hedge holding a very interesting creature. We asked if we could see it. They agreed. This beetle is ready to do battle, I do believe. My boys thought it was really cool.

(barefoot and all...isn't he sweet, the boy, that is, not the beetle!)

After we walked a little more, we stopped and took out our water colors under the shade of a "sala" (Thai word for pavillion). The boys painted some beautiful artwork of all we saw that day as we enjoyed the shade and breeze that the big pond there gives off.

The boys are trying to sneak up on an egret near the big pond...they weren't successful!

Khao Yai National Park

*update on Calvin: We took Calvin to the eye doc on Monday for his one week post-op and the doc still believes there is a good chance we won't have to flush it out again. We have to keep massaging it and go back in two weeks. His eye has been watering a little since the surgery but the doc didn't seem too shaken by that, so I guess that is good! Please continue to pray for complete healing and if God so chooses to answer differently pray for patience for Paul and I as we trust in God for His will to be done. Thanks so much for your prayers.

We went to Khao Yai yesterday to escape the noise of Bangkok. It's always good for the soul to get out of the city, even if it is only for a few hours! When we first arrived and finished eating our picnic lunch, the boys and I were walking through some grass and the boys spotted a "caterpillar" and PJ proceeded to pick it up (actually there were two). These "caterpillars" were crawling in a really bizarre way but I didn't think anything of it because I had seen something like it on Planet Earth or something and so I thought it was fine. PJ shows Paul, and he quickly tell us that no, these aren't caterpillars but leeches!!! Ha, ha! That just goes to show who knows what in our family! It was really funny though, unfortunately, we got them off PJ's fingers before we thought to take a picture. As always, we prayed that we might see a "chang" or elephant...and once again, God heard and answered our prayers. We also saw some deer and monkeys.

The elephant coming up the road toward us. There were three or four cars in front of us when we arrived on the scene but they quickly backed up behind us. We aren't sure how we ended up in front, but it made for some good shots! I made a video but it was too big to post on here. Sorry! You'll have to wait to see it. She was a big packaderm, though. It was a beautiful sight to see her coming up the road with the rain falling down on her, a picture of meekness and gentleness.

Yesterday was also Adele Grace's 1st birthday! I can't believe my baby is one already. The past year has really gone by so fast...it makes me sad how fast it's gone by. We didn't really celebrate yesterday (we will be celebrating tomorrow) and I think it worked out well because Adele was sick! On the way to Khao Yai she didn't seem like she was herself but once we got into the Park, I quickly realized that she was sick..she had a fever and a few other symptoms. Thankfully, I have a small bottle of children's tylenol in my diaper bag that goes everywhere and I was able to relieve some of her discomfort. She was a bit better today but still not back 100 per cent. So, due to her being sick, we had to split up to see the waterfall. Paul and the boys went to see it and then when they got back I walked down to see it. There are several waterfalls at Khao Yai and this is the time of year to see them in their full glory and splendor (the end of the rainy season). We were hoping to walk to another waterfall but decided not to once we realized Adele wasn't up to par. So, it was my first time to go all the way down a zillion steps to this one particular waterfall (Haew Suwat, for those who are familiar). It was gorgeous. I just wish I could've sat there for a couple hours to drink in the beauty and spend some time with God. But, I couldn't. I climbed back up the zillion steps (which felt like 3 zillion climbinb UP!) and found Paul, Adele and the boys completely fascinated with a monkey who was climbing in some trees beyond where our truck was parked. A few minutes later, this same monkey tried to jump in our truck eager to find something to snack on. I was puttting Adele in her carseat and the next thing I know Paul is swatting an umbrella at a monkey by the front car door! I thought it was PJ! =) Too funny!

Can you spot the monkey? He's in the tree near the corner of the roof of the building...sorry it's not the best picture! He did come a whole lot closer by the time we were done.

And, here the boys are hanging out the windows keeping a close eye on the monkey in the tree.

On the way home, Paul hit a dog on the highway. It was sad but thankfully PJ didn't have any clue we hit it because he was asleep! It's amazing but this was the first time we've hit a dog here...and if you've been here, you know that is something because there are dogs all over the streets and roads and they are quite lazy. This one, however was running down the middle of our lane, he swerved out of the way and Paul swerved the other way but then at the last minute the dog went back the other way and bam, he was gone. A few minutes later we almost hit a motorcyclist who ran a red light. We immediately thanked God for His care. I told Paul that I think I still haven't adjusted to the craziness of traffic here. The things people do sometimes, is just, well, crazy! And, I believe it all comes back to their worldview believing that fate will have its way, but goodness...I still think I would be a bit more careful! I am sure driving in America will feel like a breeze now that I've been here!

Paul found some "birds" to fly around (pictured with PJ below). They had a lot of fun flying them about and watching the wind take them.

All in all the day was a fun time, had by all!

Update on Calvin

Dear Friends,
Yesterday went so well. Thank you for praying. It was quite evident that God was with us and listening to your prayers for our little guy. Calvin was quite fascinated with the whole experience much like Curious George when he goes to the hospital! The anesthesiologist was great (we take our kids to a children's hospital here so they are really kid friendly). The eye procedure took about 20 minutes but Calvin coming out of being anesthetized took about two hours! We give God praise for His protection over Calvin and a good report from the eye doctor. He is hopeful that Calvin's eye will drain naturally now though we do have to continue to massage it for a couple weeks. Please continue to pray that this procedure was a success and we won't have to do it again. Thanks to all of you who are praying. Please continue to do so. =)

On a side note, I would request one more item of prayer. Our friend Ying's mother was hit by a motorcylce yesterday morning around 5am. She had some bleeding in her head and so they were operating and then she will be placed in ICU. Please pray for this woman (I don't know her first name) and their family. They are all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray that they would trust our great God who is able to heal their wife and mother. Please pray that they would know His presence, comfort and peace during this time and pray for our team as we seek to encourage and minister to them during this time (though she is in a hospital about three hours away). Mostly, pray for God to be glorified in this situation and for His grace to shine forth. Thank you, once again, for your faithful prayers.

A Prayer Request

Hi all,
For those of you who may not be on our e-prayer letter mailing list, this is for you!

Please be in prayer for our son Calvin (2 1/2 years old) as he will be having a minor procedure done to his right tear duct Monday morning (BKK time; Sunday night USA time). The doctor will be flushing it out due to his tears not draining properly. He has had this problem for over a year now. In order to do the procedure they must put Calvin under general anesthesia. Please pray for the Lord to protect his body and prevent any complications. Pray for Paul and I to trust the Lord. Please also pray for this procedure to work! It has an 80 per cent success rate. If it doesn't work this time they will do it once again and then if the second time fails they will put a stint in. Thank you so much for praying for us.

Quiet Times...

I recently found a GREAT resource for kids...and maybe most of you know of this already. I had the thought a month or more ago about finding out if Focus on the Family has the "Adventures in Odyssey" stories online. Well, a week or so ago, I finally remembered to do a "google" search on it and it turns out they do have them online. Your child(ren) can listen to it free, daily, if you choose! PJ has listened to it twice since I've found it and he really enjoys it. Today, while Calvin and Adele napped, PJ listened to an episode on the floor in our "computer room" cuddled up with a blanket and some pillows and a snack. =) I didn't grow up listening to these stories but I remember my Sunday School teacher listened to them on her way from work as an adult and really enjoyed them (yes, Kay, I still remember!). Anyway, I thought I'd pass it along if anyone out there is looking for something to keep little ones occupied at some point during your day!

Kicking around at the King's Park

Yesterday was a beautiful day...as is today. 88 degrees and windy...you can't ask for more beautiful weather. The day started off a bit on a down note due to all of us being sick with head colds and my hope of getting to the the park quickly got thrown out the window when I "died" on the couch after doing school with PJ (due to an antihistamine I took after breakfast!).
After Calvin and Adele's afternoon naps I had renewed energy and determination to go to the Park...so we did make it afterall and the weather was still just as lovely.
The boys and I enjoyed kicking the ball around and PJ really enjoyed getting all muddy and mucky. It's not something he gets to do a lot because there generally is very little grass to get muddy and mucky in around these parts. We found a larger grassy area at the Park and played. Since it's been raining A LOT these past couple weeks the ground was a bit wet in places but that just encouraged PJ to "fall" all the more over the ball. He ran around the whole time "tripping" over the ball and laughing like a hyena after he'd fall. Hey, whatever makes you happy, kid!
I, too, was overjoyed to see my two boys playing together, rather playing a "sport" together. It was even more of a blessing to be outside in nature and hearing birds chirping and the wind blowing (and, yes, Rhianna, the music was blaring but we were far enough away from it that I could hardly hear it and I didn't let it get me down!).

Below is a video of the PJ doing his "trip" act. Enjoy!

I captured this pic of PJ, dirty knees and all. When we got home he told Paul that he felt "spikey" all over. He was so itchy!

I hope they will always be BEST BUDS.

Football season in Thailand

Well, it's official, it's football season. We got all of PJ's gear including an Arsenal jersey and we even got a Liverpool jersey for Calvin. We're two weeks into football practice here but it officially starts on October 11th. The first week was a rough one with my shy 5 year old but last week went much better. It always helps to have Daddy there to encourage. We're playing in a league here in Bangkok that is comprised of children who attend the international schools and those who are homeschooled. We haven't really had much opportunity to get to know others but I am hopeful we will have some friends made before it's all said and done. Football season will last until March! It's great to have an organized program for PJ to play in and it's really close to our house.
PJ enjoys running (can you spot him with his turquoise socks and trying not to smile?!) and warming up. The coaches did a great job playing fun warm up games with the kids.




Here are the boys after practice. I will try to get some better pics next time! Calvin is dying to get out there and play but I keep telling him he's just not old enough yet...it's ok, though, he gets to play while we're at home.

Having fun with Adele

Adele is growing like a bad weed. I can't believe in one month she will be ONE already! Where has the time gone? Adele has recently started pulling up onto things (first photo) and she has added two, maybe three, more teeth to her growing set.














She recently has started playing with this fun set the Cunningham's gave her before they left Thailand. She enjoys opening the door to it. It's a little kitchenette set with blocks and "pans" for her to cook with.













As I said, she likes to pull up onto things these days which means she also has a new interest in the stairs. Thankfully, Paul built a gate so I don't have to worry too much about it. When I tell Adele "no" she shakes her head back and forth (no). It's pretty funny but she will usually continue to get into whatever it is she shouldn't be getting into (usually the game cupboard).
And yesterday the kids and I went to the King's Park to kick the football around a bit but Adele hung out in her stroller and cheered us on.

"Gift of God"

I couldn't wait for Sunday afternoon. I had butterflies in my stomach all day (even longer, really). Anytime I thought of Sunday I would get flutters. Our dear, dear friends that we met during language school, Jan and Jose, returned to Thailand from Holland where they had their first born child, a son, Joas. He is just over three months old and is beautiful. His name is taken from the Bible and means "gift from God." We have prayed with and for this couple for God to bless them with a baby, and he has...three times now, but the first two went to be with Jesus before they got to meet them. Then, God sent Joas. So, this is why I had such butterflies in my stomach. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this beautiful, healthy baby boy and hold him. I was in awe of his little body and it was just so powerful to see the answer to my prayers, our prayers, sitting there right before me. God heard. I cried realizing again the miracle of life.
Even though he didn't understand a word of my English, he still humoured me and laughed and smiled and cooed when I spoke to him. And, our boys LOVED him. PJ said over and over and over again how cute Joas was and he hasn't stopped since Sunday. Out of the blue he'll just say, "Mommy, Joas is so cute, isn't he?" And, I have to agree. The kid is a cutie. I told him that we could arrange a marriage between him and Adele. =)

Thanks so much to all of you who have been praying for our friends. God has heard our cries, praise His name. We love you Jan, Jose and Joas and are so thankful for your friendship and thanks SO much for coming over on Sunday...it was the highlight of my YEAR!!!

Making "Som Tam" (Spicy Papaya Salad)

Well, folks, we met again for Mom's group yesterday and this week the ladies decided we were going to make "SomTam" or Spicy Papaya Salad for you English speakers. They also brought the goods to make Khanom Jiin with Kaeng Khiaw Waan (noodles much like spaghetti with Green Chicken Curry). It was a lot of fun but I was sad they didn't let me help a whole lot. These women just went to town chopping and cutting and frying and cooking and beating. It was SOOOO good (sorry, Kim and Rhianna, I don't want to make you miss this good food too much but it was really good!).
So, how does one go about making Spicy Papaya salad? Well, it takes a lot of ingredients that might seem weird to combine to a American but they all come together in this Thai style "salad" that once you taste it you crave for more and more and more...right Mom Henry?! First, you need an unripened papaya. If you were thinking ripened papaya...you thought wrong! And, then you peel the skin off of the papaya. You then cut it with a knife about a million times and then scrape the part you've cut into a bowl (see the 1st picture with P'Bee...who is expecting her second baby!!).











Some other ingredients you need are tomotoes and limes (pictured to the left). The small eggplants you see pictured are for the Green Curry.





You also need some peppers. The small bird peppers in the picture were for the salad...and the crabs. =) There are three ways to eat som tam (more really, but basically, three). There is Isaan style (Isaan is the NE part of Thailand where the salad originates from) and they add crabs to their som tam. Then there's Thai style and they add dried baby shrimps (sorry, no pic of those) and there's farang style...sans seafood of any kind! In som tam they also add garlic, fish sauce, sugar, MSG (not always) and another paste of something that I couldn't really get the low down on WHAT it was exactly. The bird peppers are truly what make it spicy. And, in our group yesterday we had from three peppers to 10!!! There was only one woman in our group who likes it that hot...the rest are 3 or even 5. You also throw in a healthy dose of peanuts and beans and then you beat it all together in the crock...as demonstrated below by my friend, Naa. Usually, you eat this dish with sticky rice and fried chicken or fish...and that is just what we did! Mmmmm...so good!


I also learned another Thai superstition yesterday as we sat around and ate. One woman (the one who likes 10 pepper in her salad) is one of nine children! She is the only girl. She is GREAT. I love her...she's so easy to talk to and nothing, and I do mean, nothing, phases her. She is also the second to youngest (I think...but she might even be the youngest). So, she was telling us this story. Her family had all boys (before her, obviously) but their next door neighbor's had all girls. So, the families exchanged crocks and low and behold our friend's family had her and the neighbor's family had a boy! And, they truly believe it's because they exchanged crocks! Pretty funny. They asked if Americans have superstitions like that and I said yes, but I couldn't think of any...can any of you think of things Americans would do in a situation like that? Or any other supersitions?

Calvin's shoes

Nanny and Pappy recently sent a package for us and inside were these cute Lightning McQueen shoes. Sorry I don't have a picture of PJ in his yet. =) Calvin loves to run around the house in his making car noises...and sissy likes to get them too!

Thanks for sending them...they're a big hit!

Adele Crawling

Here she is in action...enjoy!

Recent happenings...

A lot is going on around here, mainly in the way of teaching! I haven't had much time to devote to "blogging" but I hope to catch you up on some recent events. About three weeks ago, PJ started piano lessons with our beloved Aunt Catherine. He REALLY enjoys it when he gets to have a lesson with her. We bought a cheaper keyboard for him just to see if he will stick with it (and since we will be leaving on furlough in a few months we didn't want to spend a bunch of money on a piano or nicer keyboard). Since this picture was taken (his first lesson) we have moved the keyboard from the kitchen table to a stand in another room...so it's much more conducive to practicing now!
I also got the Singapore math books from Singapore and they're GREAT! I really like them and all the different things they use to teach math. PJ seems to enjoy it too. I have found that some teaching points (already!) have been hard to convey (mainly b/c I am such a BAD teacher). But, God gives grace and PJ is getting it. I found the counting by 2s hard to teach but we continue to review and I think he's getting onto it...slowly but surely.


Almost two weeks ago, our friend, Team left for America. He is pictured next to Paul to the left. Team moved to San Francisco where he will be studying Art. For the next six months he will be studying English so that he can study Art! Anyway, this was his last day in Thailand and it was a Sunday so he came to church and we prayed for him. Paul and others have shared the Gospel with him but he is not yet a believer but would you pray for him? Also, the guy standing next to Team in the picture is Wit. Wit is another fun guy our team hangs out with often. And the last guy in the picture is Pat. Pat is from a hilltribe in northern Thailand called the Akha. He recently joined our team (in May) and helps Paul on the campus. Paul has been tremendously encouraged by Pat's friendship and working with us. Pat often preaches on Sunday mornings, so please pray for him as he proclaims the Word of God.






And, as requested by my parents (they want more pics of Paul and me), here is a picture of Adele with her Daddy. I must say she is totally a Daddy's girl and adores him. As soon as he comes thru the door from work she lights up. She continues to be a joy. She is pulling up on anything and inching her way toward walking...agghhh...I am NOT ready for that yet! =)













And, finally, we have Calvin playing outside the other day on our neighbor's cool truck. It has pedals (much like a bike) that makes it go forward and backward. The boys and Adele had a lot of fun riding around in it. Now, if it would stop raining we could go out and enjoy it some more. =) (Our neighbor told us we could borrow it for a few days...wasn't that nice?)