The Weaving of Friendship

[Pictured to the left, Adele with her adopted Nana and Mimi along with babies Abby and Bekah]

[Pictured below are the Eichelberger children and the Henry children]

I am going to try to do some posts on our time in PA. We had a great visit, though, as always, it went by way to fast. And, this time I was exhausted a lot of the time trying to keep up with my three kiddos sans Paul! I was never so glad to have him back home again!!!

[Pictured to the left, Dawn with baby Abi, I think!]

One of the highlights from our trip was a mini-trip the kids and I took to Pittsburgh area to visit a family we have grown to love and know over the past four years. The Eichelberger family is a member of Calvin PCA which is one of our supporting churches. Four years ago Paul (the dad of whom I have no pictures!!!) flew out to Bangkok with some others from his church for a short term trip to work with our team. I remember the strength of character in this man and his wife, Dawn, as they waited on God because right before the team left the States, their four month old had emergency surgery!!! God led Paul to come to Thailand and baby Eliab (now 4 years old) recovered and did great while his Dad was on the other side of the world. So, over the course of the past four years, we have spent time here and there with the Eichelbergers and mostly have conversed via emails and through partership meetings and things of that sort. I met Dawn for the first time when we came home from Thailand two years ago. I immediately felt comfortable around her and enjoyed hearing her godly wisdom...as she had 5 children at the time..and now has eight!!! (I'll get to that soon!) So, I didn't see Dawn again until this past November when she and Paul came down to Chattanooga for Mission to the World's Global Missions Conference. She was pregnant...and I was too, but didn't know it yet! We had a few hours together with our husbands and once again enjoyed chatting but it just wasn't enough time. So, when I knew I was heading to PA I thought how nice it would be to go and spend some time with the Eichelberger family. I had only met two or three of their children and I wanted my kids to get to know their kids. Also, PJ and their 8 year old, Nate, have been pen pals for the past six months or so. Dawn must have been thinking the same thing because just as I was about to email them about coming to visit, I received an email asking if we would be able to come and visit!

And visit we did! The kids and I drove down on a Wednesday morning and stayed until Thursday afternoon. We had a wonderful time...and again I was so encouraged by Dawn's love for her Savior and for her family. Dawn gave birth in March to twin girls!!! It was so fun to hold these baby girls, Bekah and Abi and to meet the other six children, five of whom are boys! Yes, my boys had a blast playing!

Dawn's mom and Paul's parents all live together there on the property as well. So, we got to spend time with them as well. Adele took right to Mimi and Nana and became instant friends. She was also quite taken by the babies...and I think it helped to get her ready for our baby!

As I reflect on our friendship with this special family I marvel at God's weaving of lives together. He is so good to give us family in His church. It astounds me that God could bring two families together on the opposite side of the world and keep that friendship going over the course of years! Paul and I have truly been blessed by the friendship of this family and we thank God often for them.

butterflies

We're pretty crazy around with catching butterflies. PJ became obsessed with butterflies last summer while we were visiting PA...and his obsession has only increased over the past year. The first several pictures were from one of our first butterfly catching excursions early in the Spring of this year. PJ couldn't wait to go and catch a Zebra Swallowtail (as seen in his net). Calvin and Adele also enjoy the thrill of the hunt...but haven't quite figured out how to actually capture one.

For PJ's birthday, my parents got PJ this buttefly habitat. He loved it, of course and has filled it time and time again with different butterflies. Pictured here are two different types of Swallowtails he caught in PA.

And, PJ also enjoyed an afternoon of freedom with our camera! So, what did he photograph? Yep, butterflies. Here are two monarchs that hatched out and are feeding on milkweed. He didn't do too badly of a job capturing them!

37 weeks +4

Well, the countdown, though it's been on for a while, has officially begun. I could safely go into labor any day and the baby would be fine...according to medical science. I won't be too sad if our baby decides to be an early bird...I'm ready to meet him or her!

This is our fourth child. With that said, you would think I would know a little bit more about what it means to have a baby and all that jazz. But, just like with Adele, I think this baby is going to have me thinking I'm going into labor only to psyche me out. Just Friday night I thought we might be having a baby...but nope, no baby. Contractions were fairly intense and went on for a prolonged period. To be honest, I didn't time them (this won't come as a surprise to some of my friends!) but they dissipated and I'm still here, with child!!!

Our other children are also excited and Calvin asked me when the baby is coming. Adele thinks the baby is coming on PJ's birthday which is Saturday (the 16th). PJ is hoping the baby does NOT come on his birthday and Calvin has prayed that it does! Kids...it's funny what they come up with!

I am having this baby, Lord willing, at a Birth Center here in Central Florida. I am really excited about this new endeavor...I've had all the others in hospitals. Granted, the hospital in Bangkok was GREAT and was set up with a natural birth suite...complete with a birthing tub! (Virtually unheard of here in the safety conscious USofA). So, this experience will hopefully be a good one. If I am honest, though, there is some fear, not about having the baby at a birth center but just about actually having another baby. I don't think that fear will ever go away. Even though I've had three healthy, fairly easy births, you never know what might happen and one can't assume all will be well just because all has always been well. I certainly appreciate your prayers.

Above is a picture of a LEGO PJ made for me...a preggo LEGO, that is!!!

compelling

I just got off the phone with Paul. He sounds encouraged and excited by all he's seen in southern Thailand thus far. Prayers are greatly needed and appreciated for the remainder of his time there. Very soon he will be attending a prayer meeting at one of the churches in the city he is in. Our team leader and soon to be country director for Thailand, Dave, has been with Paul the past two days but flew back to Bangkok today. So, Paul is flying solo for the next several days. Paul asked specifically to pray for someone he can communicate well with who will be a good informant. Pray for insights and direction from our Lord. For though Paul is alone, he really is not!
He mentioned to me how vastly different the religious climate becomes just by driving a few kilometers south of where he is staying. He and Dave drove a bit into the deep south and met a couple of fishermen. Paul said more and more mosques were popping up, but on this particular road there was a mosque on one side and a "wat" (Buddhist temple) on the other. The fishermen told Paul and Dave that Christians are too scared to come and live in the south. I teared up hearing this. We, of all people, have nothing to fear for our Lord is a consuming fire, an ever present help in the time of trouble, a victorious warrior and is sovereign over His creation (and this is just a very brief list of Who our God is). Why do we fear? I know there are a myriad of answers to that question too, but really it comes down to really trusting and believing our Lord and walking obediently in faith...though not always easy and oft times a difficult road. So, I am left this morning praying for those of the south. The millions who have not heard the Good News that Jesus Christ came to save sinners! And, I am left praying for Paul while he is on this survey trip. And, I am left praying for our family and for those future team members we have been praying for, that we would be resolved in our obedience to Christ and simply trust and obey.
Last night I was reading in Matthew 5:43-48. This is in the context of the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus says to his disciples, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
I was reminded (and again today) that as Christians we need to show that radical love that loves those who HATE us, that loves those who want to destroy us, that loves those that are so very hard to love. Christ basically says if we love those who love us, big deal! Even those of this world do that...but we need to show the world a different way. I have just one recent example that I would like to share. We were at a park the other day and adjacent to this playground is a beautiful garden. If you've been following this blog for any length of time then you know PJ LOVES butterflies and bugs and so we had to check out this garden. While we were there he was climbing on top of this stone tunnel thing and I didn't see any signs saying not to...so I allowed him to do so. About 30 seconds later a woman from across the way (who apparently worked for the park) started yelling at PJ to get down off the tunnel and to stay on the pathway. Now, I know I am his mom and so that protective streak rose up in me but she was just down right rude. She never said "please" she never said "thank you" when he quickly obeyed and she had no gentleness in her voice. I was standing right there and responding to her in a gentle and loving way said, "Okay, we're sorry, we didn't know." And, she didn't even acknowledge I was talking to her. Was I offended? Oh yes, you bet I was. Did I want to rip into her? Oh yes, you bet I did. But, I am glad that I was able by the power of the Holy Spirit to respond in love. When PJ reached me I could tell he was feeling quite badly. He was holding those tears back. He didn't want to cry because he got in trouble...no, he later told me he had NEVER had anyone talk to him like that...that mean. But, my sweet little 7 year old also said to me, "but I showed her respect." And, I added that he also showed her God's love and used it as an opportunity to teach him that when we're Christians we are to show that kind of radical love. That lady deserved to be yelled back at...but what good would it have done and what kind of witness to the power of our Lord would that have provided? Then, I read Jesus's words last night...and thanked Him for the grace to respond in love.
All of this to say, I don't know what our future holds. I don't know the difficulties that lie ahead for our family. I don't know what God has for us, but I do know I want to obey Him, love Him, trust Him, and love like Him. None of that happens by my own power or strength, it is all a result of Christ's work and preserving power in my life.
Please pray for us. Pray for the work in Thailand that God would be pleased to build His church there.

Napada Hand Bag Sale

For those of you living in central Pennsylvania I want to let you know of an up coming Hand Bag Sale. On Friday, June 3, I will be selling Napada Hand Bags from 7-8:30pm at Bald Eagle CMA fellowship hall located on Route 350, Tyrone, PA. I will be sharing a bit about the ministry and how it relates to church planting. If you would like to see the styles that I will have on hand, please go to the Napada website at www.napadathailand.com. Come out and support this ministry and have a beautiful bag to tote around! Many women who have bags tell me of the opportunities they have had to share about the work in Thailand because of the hand bag! I hope to see you there!

pressing on

I have a few moments to jot down some thoughts. My children are outside in this beautiful Florida weather jumping through the sprinkler...and so, some peace and quiet! Paul is finishing up his semester this week and next and then he's off to the marriage of his nephew in Tucson and then onto to Krung Thep (or Bangkok as most of you know it!) and then down South. He will be on a survey trip for our return. I was originally supposed to join him on this endeavor...and part of me wishes I was still going...but my body is hard at work nourishing a baby that I can hardly wait to meet! I am nearing 29 weeks...and so Paul and I thought that I should sit this trip out since it is the hot/rainy season and his two week trip will entail a lot of travel and walking. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I haven't had thoughts of worry about his trip alone to the Land of Smiles...yet I know Whom I have believed and know that He is good...so why worry!?
Many have asked why he is going and what he will be doing while there. These are good questions. Basically, he's going to map out and scope out and survey the area where we have been praying about returning. It's further south than Bangkok, probably a good 10-12 hour car ride from the capital. The South has a higher number of Muslims but also many Buddhists live there too. What compels us to go there is that there are so few Christian churches/witness...and we feel drawn to start a new church planting work there among these people who desperately need the Good News...the Good News that is salvation through Christ alone. In fact, this is the only area of SE Asia where there is freedom to proclaim the Gospel among a fairly large Muslim population. So, your prayers are needed...as always! Sometimes when I look at what we are praying about and what God is calling us to do I get really overwhelmed wondering how it's all going to work out...but then I remember what another missionary once told me..."if it's big enough for me to do in my own strength, then it's not big enough!" So, Paul and I recognize our complete reliance on the Lord. We know from our time working with church plants in both the US and in Thailand that only God grows His church...it's only through the work of His Spirit. There are no fancy formulas or eloquence of speech that make people turn to Christ..it is His Spirit alone and on our Savior we are depending and resting. We are recruiting teammates, so if you or someone you know is interested, please contact us! It would be nice to have at least one couple/family/single to join us in this new work. Please pray to that end with us.
While Paul is off in Asia, the children and I will be visiting Pennsylvania. It's been nearly one year since I've been "home" and I am so thankful for this opportunity to see my family and friends before our baby comes in late July. Would you pray for our travels as well? I have a cousin that also lives here in Florida and his wife has graciously agreed to travel with us. Without her, I doubt I would be making this trip!!!
Well, the kids are back inside and in need of some attention. I best be going. Thank you to all who faithfully pray for us. We'll keep you posted on all our news!

family visit!

Once again, all is quiet on the blog front for me as of late. I guess I feel like I have little to offer anyone that is of encouragement or excitement. Life keeps clicking away and yes there is a LOT to be thankful for and to give our Lord praise for I just have been lax in writing it down here. One great tidbit though is that I recently had visitors from the north. My mom, aunt and cousin all traveled down here to the Sunshine State for a visit. It went by so quickly but a good time was had by all. They helped me with some decorating of our house (hanging curtains, etc) and we spent a day out together (my mom, aunt and me) while a dear friend watched my kids...all DAY long! It was a tremendous blessing.

Love the World Tour March 4-6

This past weekend we were at Pinewood PCA's missions conference, Love the World Tour. It was an immense encouragement to once again see so many familiar faces and meet new ones. We enjoyed a packed weekend with these fine folks...and hearing good teaching from God's Word by Pastor Nic Batzig who is a church planting pastor in Richmond Hill, GA. (He is pictured at left with his wife Anna and Mrs. Tommy Parks (RUF at UNF).





We enjoyed a delicious meal Friday night where church members brought ethnic dishes from Thailand, Mexico, Ukraine, Indonesia as well as America! It was hard to choose what to eat because there was so much good food available! Pictured at left with Paul is Pastor of Pinewood, JD Funyak along with Kelly Loomis who traveled from Richmond Hill with Pastor Batzig (and who is a former member of Pinewood and a long time friend).



Pictured lastly is part of our fabulous Thailand Mission Impact Team. Eva Borko with two of her children pictured with the elephant they made for our display. Isn't it great!? Just want to share this great idea with all of you out there. Pinewood has decided to encourage it's members to sign up for Mission Impact Teams according to where they have missionaries. So, as people came through and learned about the different missionaries and their fields, they choose which area they'd like to pray for and signed up to receive prayer updates, info about the missionaries from that respective field. I think this is a great idea! As you can see next to the elephant we were also selling Napada Bags...and sold quite a few, too!
It was a great weekend. Thank you to Eva and her team of people who helped make the weekend so easy for us. Thank you Pinewood for your continued support and prayers and love for our family and for the Thai people.

canoeing and fishing and playing

A couple Saturdays ago we were watching our pastor's two boys and decided it would be fun to take them plus our three out to the inter-coastal waterway to do some fishing (for Paul) and for the kids to play on the beach and in the water.
I must say we were quite the sight, I am sure! I am nearing 20 weeks pregnant...and definitely showing, plus we had 5 kids loaded in our little canoe...not to mention the cooler of food and other gear we had packed in the canoe. However, it was a lot of fun. The kids all had a good time. Dolphins were first spotted by our pastor's youngest son as we crossed the 400 yards of water to the island we hung out on. We saw many more dolphins. Then, the kids began to spot jellyfish in the water and used a net to swoop them up and a bucket to keep them in for observation purposes!
At first, the kids were pretending to be scientists and then when they started catching wildlife...one of the kids said, "hey, we're not pretending anymore...we're really doing it!" It was classic!











Adele also enjoyed the adventures and had fun making sand pies.
















Here they are all loaded up, ready to cross the waterway to the island. Don't they look cute?!

snapshots of life

A typical homeschooling day around here...Adele keeping herself busy with this harmonica Uncle James and Aunt Hilary sent to the kids a few years ago from San Francisco!












PJ working on his language arts program, Writing with Ease.
















And, Calvin, well he's not doing much, just being silly!

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!

Mideival Faire 2011

We attended the Hoggetowne Midieval Faire the other week and we had such a wonderful time. The kids LOVED all the weaponry and shows. Calvin enjoyed throwing knives and PJ enjoyed fencing with his cousin, Gabe. Adele enjoyed watching the Knife Act (well, they all did) and Daddy even took Adele and PJ on an elephant ride!

Our favorite things were seeing and trying on hand crafted weapons and armor. Several of the kids cousins also attended with their parents and so they enjoyed spending the day with them as well!
One of my favorite acts was the jousting. No one got knocked of their horse but it was really neat to see them riding at each other with jousting sticks in hand.









The line-up of cousins...all dressed in costume for the event. Notice my Adele is barefoot!












The knights jousting.


















The knight, Sir Joseph, that we cheered for.















Sir Gabriel (on the left) and Sir Paul (on the right) fencing.















Sir Paul





















Calvin and Uncle Tim sword fighting.
















Trying on real armor...and checking out weaponry.
Lastly, Paul and kids decked out in their costumes.

Calvin's 5th Birthday

(These pictures are in order from what happened last to first.)
Calvin turned 5 on January 31. Since his 4th birthday he has desired a birthday party with his friends, so this year we broke our usual tradition of just celebrating as a family and invited three boys to Calvin's party. I must say, he went to sleep that night happy and feeling well loved. His day was great...
Since all the rage in our house is Star Wars we did a Star Wars themed party. You will see evidence of this in the following pictures. After eating cake they had fun playing with balloons.


































The best picture of Calvin with his cake...simply a strawberry cake with the Star Wars logo on it (simple enough, huh?!) We served the cake with Yoda Sodas (very yummy and green...and easy to make!)













To get the party started we played some traditional games with a Star Wars slant. Paul made a "Death Star" pinnata and the boys (and Adele) had fun whacking at it. Finally it burst open and all the candy came falling out. We were glad our young Jedis were able to destroy it.








Here's Calvin's turn.

















The line up of friends.














And no party would be complete without Musical Chairs set to the Star Wars theme music. The kids LOVED this and had so much fun seeing who would be left out. Can you see how happy our boy is? Happy Birthday Calvin Lewis! We love you.

like an old friend

I hope, dear reader, that you have picked up on the fact that I LOVE Thai food. I hope you have picked up on the fact that I enjoy learning how to cook Thai food and I especially enjoy EATING Thai food! The spicier, the better, in my book and no, I haven't always felt that way! So, you may wonder why I have been content to shop at local grocery stores for the past 1 1/2 years when there are several Asian grocers in Orlando that have the exact ingredients needed to make the delicious Thai dishes that I love. There are a couple reasons. One, I never took the time to go off and find said Asian grocers...most are a good 30 minutes away and in the downtown sector where I rarely venture. 2) I am usually with the kids...thus shopping at an Asian grocery market just doesn't sound fun to me to take all three of my precious bundles. Three, I thought for sure it would be a waste of my time. But, probably the number one reason is that my friends have kept us well stocked with Thai curry pastes and other goodies that have held us over.

Yesterday, however, I turned the page and embarked on a journey that as I write this today, still brings a huge smile to my face! I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and so was kid free and decided to make the trek downtown to one of the Asian grocers. I found it with no problems and actually have driven right past it several times on my way to various homeschooling events. I had my list in my hand (of items I was specifically looking for and hoping for). The carts where lined up right outside the door and so I grabbed one and went inside. As soon as I walked inside, I was REALLY glad I didn't have ANY of my children with me! I am sure PJ and Calvin (on their own) would have been fine but I was still glad. This store was packed wall to wall with food stuff from countries all over Asia. I walked in and was welcomed by all the Thai/Japanese/Korean snack foods that readily greeted us wherever we went in Thailand. I smiled. And then I didn't stop smiling until...well, I am STILL smiling! =) As I walked the aisles and saw familiar ingredients (fresh!) I would smile some more or chuckle to myself and say, "wow". Yeah, I think others in the store probably thought something was wrong with me. But, it was like being reunited with old friends! Seriously! I saw unripe papaya for 59 cents/lb (which I didn't think was a bad price). Now, most Americans if they are familiar with papaya are used to it being ripe and fruity. In Thailand, we eat it that way too. But, it is probably mostly enjoyed unripe in a Thai Isaan salad known as Som Tam which is eaten with sticky rice and grilled chicken...yeah, it's good stuff (and the more bird peppers you can eat in it, the more the Thais admire you!). I have a friend who eats her Som Tam with 15 bird peppers!!! Let me tell you that is really, really, really hot. I eat mine with 2, maybe 3, and remember, I like spicy!
I finally found galangal or "kha" as it is known as in Thai. Galangal is a main ingredient in the Thai soup Tom Yum Kung (a favorite of Paul's which I haven't been able to make since returning because I could never find galangal).
I also saw pigs feet and ears for sale in the "deli" along with other animal body parts I daresay most Americans wouldn't eat. That, too, made me chuckle!
So, I came home with everything on my list...but now that I am home I wished I had picked up some other things that I decided to leave. I guess that way my way of saying, "I have to come back, so I better leave this here for next time."
You may be wondering what inspired this trip. Well, tonight we are having dear friends over for a Thai feast (of which I am cooking) and I wanted to make some different dishes and so here's the menu...it's a lot but leftovers are always good!
*Tom Yum Kung (spicy shrimp soup) pictured at left.
*Tom Kha Kai (chicken in coconut soup)
*Kai Phat MetMamuanghimaphaa (cashew chicken)
*Kai Phat Kraphrow (holy basil and pork stir fry)
*Kai Satay with Yam Tengkwaa (chicken satay with cucumber salad)
*Khai Ciaw sai Muu (pork and egg omelette)
*Cantaloupe
*brownies (ha, ha, I know, not very Thai of me...but give a girl a break!)

Let's hope that all these dishes turn out yummy. I am not a very good Thai cook, very amateur, in fact, but I do enjoy it. I'll let you know how it goes!

more Christmas pics

We did a Gingerbread house this year. The kids thoroughly enjoyed decorating the little people and the house. You may notice in the first pic Adele STILL inseparable with her bink. Well, I am happy to report that shortly after this was taken we took away all binks from Adele and we are now bink-free..for a few months anyway! =)














Here they are with their finished work. Notice Adele got into the blue candies!














PJ's gingerbread man ready for the cold with his earmuffs.





















Calvin decorating the snowman.