An Interesting Fact...

Before I get to the interesting fact, these first two pictures are of Calvin, me and Adele the night we watched the shuttle launch (see Home School Days post below). Notice how tired Calvin looks...and how awake Adele looks!!!

So, the interesting fact is...there are wild chickens and roosters that walk around our new home town of Oviedo, FL. Yep, here you can see a couple strutting around. They don't belong to anyone and they can be seen anywhere down in the "city center" (for lack of a better word!). Pretty funny...I feel right at home, although, in our neighborhood in Thailand we didn't have chickens running around, we did see them often enough, especially near Maahaadthai Park and at Maahaadthai 3!

My Little Footballer

Another football season has started for PJ. God has worked it out for PJ to play in a church soccer league this fall! He is really doing well this year and enjoys his practice times. This morning was his first game and he did great! (Of course, I am partial!) This jersey has not been off PJ's body since Tuesday when he received it from his coach. The shirt is reversible (white on one side, blue on the other). PJ practices on Tuesday evenings and has his games on Saturday mornings. It's been great for him. They also are learning a verse and their coach sits down with them at every practice and shares with them something from the Bible. It is so different from the league PJ played in in Bangkok, that's for sure, but we are so thankful for all the opportunities he has been given to grow and mature but mostly to have fun! He told me today that he had a lot of fun this morning...that made me so happy.

Calvin is not yet old enough to play league football, but he sure did cheer his heart out for his brother on the sidelines this morning. It was SO precious! He was really getting into it...yelling , "go PJ go!" and "Go Falcons!"

The Falcons coach (the guy on the left hand side) made sure each kid got to goalie for a few minutes. PJ blocked one goal and one got by him. He liked being goalie...we'll see what happens with that!

This last picture was taken on Thursday morning. The boys enjoyed playing a bit of football before home school. (I told you, that jersey didn't come off all week!) Calvin inherited PJ's old shin guards (too small for this year). They had fun together...Calvin can't wait to join his brother on the football field!

Thank you Lord, for these healthy, happy boys.

Home School Days

We've had some fun home school days and nights (as you will see!). We are learing all about ancient history and last week we tried our hand at writing hieroglyphics in clay. PJ did a great job but he, being a perfectionist when it comes to art, thought it was very hard to write pictures in clay...which I agreed! But, I kept reminding him how difficult it must have been for the ancient Eyptians and Sumerans. He finally came up with his own code...and stuck with it instead. I did manage to get these two "leopard heads" that partly represent the word glory in hieroglyphics, before he "erased" them. He thoroughly enjoyed the book, Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs.

PJ is also enjoying the Math U See curriculum as shown below. He has learned that every value has a place. The blocks have proved to be much fun, not just for him but for Calvin and Adele, too.

And, last Friday night (August 29) we decided to head down to the Space Coast (Cape Canaveral for those of you who aren't Floridians) and see the space shuttle Discovery launch into space. It was launced at 11:59pm. I think our kids thought we had lost our minds, but we really had fun, even if we were bleary eyed. It takes about an hour to get there from our house so we woke them at 10:45 (they were fast asleep, of course!) and drove down there. We walked out onto the beach and about 10 minutes later the shuttle took off. It eventually became just a tiny little blip...much like a star. We didn't stay to see it totally disappear. It was a pretty neat night. The rockets lit up the night sky and the rumble was terrific.

In an effort to get the younger two more involved in our home school mornings, I've introduced water paints and play dough this past week! I must say it was a hit, now the problem is keeping PJ's eyes on his lessons! Calvin and Adele enjoy it immensely. I am also trying to make a more concerted effort to teach Calvin his letters and sounds and to work on his drawing skills (they are lacking or maybe PJ is just really good?!). It's been fun and good for all of us. I continue to enjoy the library and have gotten out so many good books, I don't even know if we will have time to read them all. Two, especially are good, if you're interested. One is Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff based on The Illiad and the other is The Odyssey adapted by Geraldine McCaughrean. Both have beautiful illustrations. If you are not into teaching your children Greek mythology, then do not read these books...but they are classic works. We've only gotten to page 10 on the first book...we'll see how far we get!

PJ started Math U See yesterday. We received it in the mail last Friday. He exclaimed, "I LOVE this, I could do this all day!" I thought, "YES! This is how it should be!" Praise God. And Calvin also enjoyed playing with the blocks...and Adele desperately wanted to be playing too, but I just don't trust her with those unit pieces yet!

One major reason that we home school is so that we have a major influence over the spiritual upbringing of our children.

In the past few weeks and months I have noticed a hard heart in Calvin toward things of the Lord. So, we've been praying for him and with him, pleading with God to make the lights go on in his dear little head. The exciting part of all this is that we see God at work. For two nights in a row now, Calvin has prayed during our family devotion time (where as before the last two nights, he rarely would pray). And, these prayers he offers aren't just, "Thank you Lord for this day, amen." They are really heartfelt and precious. He thanks God for his toys, his family and He asks God to protect our cat, Simba, as he climbs the trees in the back yard. I am just amazed at the work of the Spirit in Calvin's heart. It's beautiful to behold...I pray that God would make all our children strong in Him, His Word and that He would use them to bring His salvation to many. I've also seen growth in PJ in the last few weeks. Now, I know I am a mom speaking here, but I really see a spiritual sensibility in PJ that, again, I know is of God. I thank Him for this. PJ has a very tender heart (like his daddy) and is easy to talk to about what God's Word says. Just yesterday he was having some problems obeying and being respectful towards me. I pulled him aside and opened the Word. It always amazes me that when I open God's Word and show PJ what it says how it takes effect immediately. I remind him that the words I am about to read, are not mine but they are God's words...He gave them to us to know how to live rightly before Him. I don't know why I don't do this more...and I am hoping to get more disciplined myself so that when I correct a child, it's done based on God's Word and what it says...not just my whims. All that to say, I thank God for His work in the lives of my children and in my life.

On another note, last Saturday we spent the day with Paul's first cousins and our kids 1st cousins at the beach! It was great. We had such a wonderful time together...and I was so impressed by Paul's cousins, Laura and Billy (pictured in the back left and right). They are two of the sweetest young adults I have ever met. I was most impressed by how they played with all their cousins and seemed to really, genuinely enjoy it. This is another prayer of mine, that when my children are older, they will invest in the lives of younger children and take the time to play and be silly with them. It's important and these children will probably never forget the hours they spent with Laura and Billy! So, a big THANK YOU to them.

So, this is the news from our corner of the world. Until next time...

Sunday Lunch

Here's an easy Sunday lunch in the crockpot recipe. I miss our weekly fellowship dinners with our church in Thailand. Now I have to plan ahead on Sunday mornings and have something ready to go once we return from church.
This week I made Old Settlers Baked Beans with Corn Bread. This recipe was passed down from my great-grandmother Carrier-Mayes and I don't think she'd mind me sharing it here! It's so yummy (if you like beans!).

Mix together in large casserole dish; serve with cornbread. (Or mix in the crockpot and keep heated on low heat for a couple hours).
2 lbs. browned, drained hamburger
1 can red kidney beans
1 can butter beans
1 can pork and beans
1/3 cup brown sugar or 1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tsp. prepared mustard
Mix well. Bake covered 1 hour @ 350

I hope you'll enjoy it!

missing Thailand

my "fuan faa" or bugambilia against the beautiful April blue sky.

just a reminder...

to keep praying for the Thai people. Pictured here are some photos from one of the most revered shrines in Thailand...the Erawan Shrine located in downtown Bangkok. Many, many people come to this shrine daily for blessings and offer all kinds of offerings from incense and flowers to pigs heads.

Darkness permeates this people, please pray for the Light to shine.

The Light is going forth from people like us, missionaries, but also from our Thai brothers and sisters. Pictured below with Adele are two dear sisters in Christ. Phii Khiaw works as a staff member with our team, leading the handicrafts ministry as well as many other jobs! I will interject that my dear sweet girl, Adele, looks so sick in that picture with Phii Khiaw! I am so glad that she is no longer sick and is healthy and well (that picture was taken about 4 days before we left Thailand and Adele just came home from the hosptial with pneumonia). Praise be to God! The other woman pictured with Adele (in pink) is Fon. Fon and I became quite close in the six months or so before we left Thailand. Fon is a new believer (she came to Christ about 1 1/2 years ago) but has been growing in her walk with God. I am so excited to know that she is continuing to be discipled by my dear friend and teammate, Rhianna. Fon is not employed with the church, but she is the perfect example of what lay men and women should be doing. She is quite the evangelist...always telling others of her faith and love of Christ and what He has done for her. She, too, needs our prayers as she grows up in the Word and as she ministers among college students with our other teammates. Please pray for her to have clarity and direction from God on what His call is on her life.

never would've thought...

Four years in Thailand...tropical, muggy, and loaded with all kinds of pit vipers, cobras, and the like. We move to Florida, tropical, muggy and loaded with alligators, snakes and the like. Yesterday, one of those snakes somehow made its way into MY home! NEVER in four years did we EVER have a snake in our home in Thailand...outside, yes, but not INside! And after one month in our new home here, we have a snake. Is God trying to prepare me for what's ahead in our missionary career? O boy...here we go!

PS: It was only a baby snake and non-poisonous but he was very feisty...so feisty Paul didn't want to keep him around! Can you believe that?! With this, the learning continues!

Our first week of Home School is completed! Thank you to those who are praying for us. My two days away at the beach came at just the right time. I was well rested and recharged ready to tackle the tasks that laid ahead of me!

I am learning to find things to keep the younger two busy/learning while I am schooling PJ. To the left, you see two pictures of Adele. One is her playing with a bucket of bubbles on our back "porch" (one activity I have introduced to her, whether in our kitchen sink or outside!) and the other is her reading the book Hush! A Thai Lullaby. Excellent book if you ever happen upon it.

We also planted some phlox thanks to my mom and dad's neighbor, Betsy. We planted the seeds a few weeks ago and they are slowly but surely growing! It's so fun to see the little stalks sprouting up through the soil.

Four weeks ago, we were traveling in South Carolina and as we were leaving our friend's house we spotted this HUGE, green caterpillar. Our friend encouraged us to take it along with us, so we did. That very night, the caterpillar built his cocoon...as seen in the picture. We thought it might be a luna moth caterpillar. We waited for four weeks and yesterday while Paul was checking on the cocoon he noticed something sitting in the top of the container we had it in. It was the polyphemus moth. She is absolutely beautiful when her wings are opened. She will only live about a week and then die...and within this week she will not eat anything. You can see her pictured below on PJ's hand.

Pennsylvania Pics

PJ with cousins Matt and Kylee.
Calvin with 2nd cousin, Chandler (they're only one month apart in age!).

Adele helping daddy set up the tent. We went camping a couple days at Po Paddy State Park (Tanner and Hannah, if you're reading, this is where we went with you all so many years ago!)

Elk "hunting" in Benezet, PA...up close and personal.

Is it winter yet? Calvin, PJ and cousin Paige pulled out this old sled...they're ready for some snow!

Cousins, PJ, Calvin and Paige swimming and playing.

His first roller coaster...and he loved it! The Crazy Mouse at DelGrosso's Park.

Another favorite was the corvette ride! (PJ likes the red one!)

Vacation Bible School at Bald Eagle CMA. PJ, Calvin and Adele loved it and we're still singing the songs from Bible School.

On our way out of the campground, we found this guy crossing the road. As you guessed, Paul stopped the car, jumped out and picked him up. He said it is a pine snake.

"Look mommy, my first trout!" Fishing in the creeks of PA made Paul and PJ very happy campers!

Gettting Settled

Two months of travel are over for the time being...ok, not really, we're travelling again tomorrow to Jax to attend a wedding of a friend's son, visit family and visit some supporters. I also plan to visit Chamblin's Bookmine...at some point, not sure when that will happen but it's on my agenda!
I just have to share a new discovery in my life. Most of you will not be impressed, in fact you will be disappointed! But, here it goes. I discovered the Seminole County library in our town! Adele and I went together the other day to check it out, get a card and such. I brought home a few books...and I feel like I'm stealing or something because of all these great quality books at my disposal. I was very much overwhelmed as I didn't go in with a book list...ok, I did but both books were for me not for the kids. I just am so excited at the resources at my fingertips with the library. I think if you are ever looking at ways to creatively support and encourage missionary families, send them books! I know it's expensive but, at least on our field, English books are expensive and good ones are hard to come by.
So, I've been preparing mentally for our year ahead of homeschool. I have basically decided to follow Susan Wise Bauer's and Jessie Wise's book The Well -Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home. About six months ago I was sure I'd be using Sonlight (and who knows I may one day end up using Sonlight) but I wasn't having a peace about it. For those of you who don't know much about homeschool, Sonlight is a wondeful curriculum that has a beautiful multi-cultural flair to it...you read a lot to your kids and you can buy entire Cores for each year. Each Core comes with a teacher's manual and schedule...which really appealed to me. So, you might be wondering what changed? The more I thought having to keep to a schedule, it scared me. I do horribly with schedules (not so much that I can't keep one as much as if I get off schedule I instantly go into bad mood mommy). My kids have had enough of bad mood mommy and quite honestly so have I. In March I had an experience that I never want to relive and I am too embarrassed to tell you about it. Let's just say that I realized that home school for us wasn't fun on most days; in fact both PJ and I dreaded it. Sadly, since March, we've done very little. This brings me back to The Well-Trained Mind. As I've been reading I've realized how little we did this past year in homeschool. Yeah we did the stuff we had to do...we read, I taught reading, math, phonics and even a little science, but it wasn't fun and I didn't encourage PJ to be imaginative by giving him wonderful books to feast on (but I will interject that Paul did this by reading through many great works with PJ before bedtime). Now, I know that some of that is partly due to the lack of literature available but a lot of it is due to me and my attitude and how I looked at homeschool...I just wanted to get my agenda done before 11:30, no matter if it was done well or poorly...we just had to get it done. Now, don't get me wrong, you have to get work done...no doubt! But, there is a way in which to teach that encourages and brings out that creativity and imagination. I see it in my nieces and nephews (who I might add have wonderful parents who encourage this sort of thing) but sadly, I don't see it in myself. So, all of this to say that I am not doing Sonlight, not because I don't think it's great (in fact, I plan to do the read-alouds from Sonlight) but because I need to figure out our own rhythm to the day and let God show us. I deeply need your prayers for this year ahead. I plan to begin August 3, the day Paul begins seminary. There is much that needs reviewed with PJ. Please pray for his heart as well. I am learning just how influential I am in their lives (you'd think I would have figured that one out a long time ago!). I am seeing that the hurt I've caused him in the past makes him shut down when we start to do school and for that we need the healing balm of Jesus...for both of us. I am in such great need of our Savior's grace at this time...not only in homeschool but on so many fronts and I would ask you to pray for His presence to be known among us, that He would be merciful to me, a sinner.
With that said, I am going to the beach for a couple days next week..just me and my Bible and journal at the suggestion of my hubby. Please pray for a time of renewal and refreshing and pray for God to meet me there and assure me of His great love for me. Pray that I would see the sin in my life and repent of it and give it to Jesus and pray for the control of the Spirit over my life, for Him to reign and rule and govern.
I will try to post some pics from our time in PA last month. Thank you to those who continue to read this blog...sorry posts have been so sporadic, I hope you understand!

still kicking

We're okay. Just want to let you all know that hopefully in the next couple weeks blogposts will resume to a more regular schedule! At this moment we are in North Carolina at MTW's re-entry retreat for long term missionarys. Everyone is having a lot of fun (as far as the kids go) and so are we, for that matter! We moved into our home on the 4th of July! It's great and God is so good. All our neighbors seem friendly and we're looking forward to getting to know them more. Our kids were so happy to be "home" and have enjoyed playing in the back yard (yes, we have a yard!!! we are so excited about this!).
So, thank you to those of you who have been praying for us. We are adjusting. Seminary starts in just a few weeks for Paul (3 weeks of Greek and then a full load in the fall).
Please continue to pray for our adjustment and pray for our team in Thailand adn the Thai people.

still traveling...

We've been in Pennsylvania for two weeks now! Crazy how time flies. We've really enjoyed being "home". Paul has spent much time with my pastor at the church I grew up in. He's been a minister of God's grace for over 50 years at the same church! He has been a great source of encouragement and support to Paul. We have been visiting many family and friends in the area and it's been wonderful to recount God's goodness to our team and the work in Thailand.
We took a two day family camping trip the earlier part of this week. It was complete with a thunder storm in the night, fishing and an old railway tunnel from the late 1800s. Our tent never leaked and the kids never woke during the storm and we were protected from the bears and other wildlife. It was a wonderful time and the kids loved it. I will try to get some pictures on here before too long.

Our adjustment seems to be going smoothly. I love being here but I will be happy to be settled in Orlando! Lack of routine and all that has it's affect on me...and on the children, but God is good to give us His grace. I do continue to miss Thailand. There are lots of folks there right now for the summer helping out and it all sounds so fun and exciting. One group is working specifically with the campus ministry and so it hurts that we can't be there to be part of all that is happening. I've missed the close community we had there and I feel almost dead to that world right now. (That sounds really dramatic, doesn't it?!) I just mean that we left and now others have filled those missing places (and that is good and healthy) but there's just a huge hole in my heart. I correspond with our friends there and have received recent news that Fon will not be coming to America as a nanny afterall. That also saddens me though I trust God and His will for her...I was looking forward to seeing her sooner rather than later!
I'm also dreading (a little bit) the transition to yet a new city and place and that fear is manifesting itself as well. I am excited but I also realize we're starting all over again and it is a little overwhelming thinking of long days with small children and no community!!! I know I shouldn't worry, I know God has already shown Himself faithful. I tell you readers out there this so you can pray for me and us as we settle there. I really am not complaining! I realized yesterday as I was talking to Paul about "stuff" that I have a lot of fear right now and I know that this fear is not of the Lord, so please pray that I wouldn't be afraid and that I would fully trust Christ.
So, that is where I am right now concerning our transition to American life. I know so many of you are praying for us, please don't stop! And, please don't stop praying for the Thais. Check out the sidebar for new blogs (the short termers that are in Thailand).

Traveling on..

We returned yesterday from Paul's sister's and husband's house out in western Florida. We all get along really well...and this time we had new people to meet as we each had two children that had been born during our time in Thailand. The great thing is these children are boys (3 years old) and then girls (1 1/2 years old). Pictured here we have Adele, Vinnie (8 weeks older than Adele), Lincoln (7 weeks younger than Calvin) and Calvin. They all got along really well, for the most part. It was a joy to meet these two precious children.

We were going to go to the beach on Monday but the weather turned and instead of being upper 80s and sunny, it was upper 60s, overcast with some misting rain. This is really weird for Florida. And, needless to say, Paul and I were freezing. The boys did ok...in fact PJ refused to wear sweatpants which means we have a bit of a fight coming once Florida winter does hit. =) So, we headed to Chuck E Cheese's for some mass fun. The Ream family boys said it was the most fun they've ever had at Chuck E Cheese's and the husbands said the same...thanks to the NBL basketball hoop shoots! Later that day and again on Tuesday we made a fire outside in the backyard. We sang some folk-y songs thanks to Becky and her guitar and we even toasted marshmallows! A first for Calvin and Adele.
[Pictured above: Me with Adele and Lincoln.]

[Pictured below: Paul at the fire dressed for winter (!), Ethan (almost 11) winnowing a spear and Becky playing guitar.]

PJ and Ben (9) were knights most of the weekend and at times Ethan would join them in their play.

Ben also found a Scarlet King Snake on their back patio area. The house became alive with excitement as five little boys and two daddies came to inspect. After making sure the snake wasn't the deadly coral snake the little boys and big boys alike had fun holding our new pet whose name is Boa. Yes, you heard right...we now have a pet snake. There will be rules...o, there will be rules! PJ had no fear holding it though, for which I am truly very grateful. I grew up (ok I still do) fearing snakes but I married Paul, who doesn't fear them unless there is a sensible reason for the snake to be feared and thankfully PJ has picked up on that. Calvin was very interested in the snake too, but he only "petted" it this time. We'll see how he warms up to it. Also, notice the sleeveless shirt PJ is wearing and Calvin in a sweatshirt. PJ ran around like this in 60 and 70 degree weather...no problems adjusting for this kid!

Lincoln and Calvin enjoyed playing cars but they also enjoyed several games of Hi!Ho! Cherry-O...thanks Uncle Matt!






And Uncle Matt spent many moments reading to the smaller children.

After our Monday plans of going to the beach were squashed we decided to go on Tuesday which was only a few degrees warmer but less rain. We packed up after eating lunch and headed to a nearby beach on the Gulf. We were there about 10 minutes, fully garbed (except the older boys) when we decided we couldn't stay very much longer. The older boys (Ethan, Ben and PJ) were sorely disappointed but the rest of us were thrilled to be out of the cold gusts.

While driving back to the East Coast we drove through rain almost the whole way. When we arrived at Grampy and Grammie's we noticed water everywhere...the pond is full and so is the swimming pool and now we're all just waiting to see our friend, Mr. Sun, so we can go outside and play. Never before have my boys asked me over and over again "when is it going to stop raining?" just so they can go outside and play!

Just want to say one more time.. Thank you Matt and Becky, Ethan, Ben, Linc and Vinnie for the GREAT time! We can't wait to see you again!

fishing

This was the fresh catch of the day yesterday. Paul, PJ and Calvin caught five Sailor's Choice and the other day they caught one flounder. Paul grilled them up for supper last night.

Before leaving Thailand we were schemeing and saving for a canoe to buy in America since we would be living in Florida with many waterways at our disposal. Last week we found a used canoe and trailer for sale on Craigslist and are happy with our buy. I tried to download some more pictures than just these two but they wouldn't download.

[My boys with their catch.]