Good times and good friends...

These past few days have been a whirlwind of activities. Our fifth house-mate, Jessica, arrived from South Carolina, and will this be a great year?? YE-YES!! (think Lil' Jon when you read that). She is 24, lovely, hilarious, and a perfect fit with the rest of us. Since she just came over on the plane, we have been showing her about town...the market, the Big C, downtown, etc.

Yesterday was Danielle's 24th birthday, so a group of us after leaving school (which starts MONDAY) went bowling (I won with a score of 99 - i know, it's unbelievable), ate Mexican food at Kay's Casa Burritto (spelled like that, and she lived in Nevada for 20 years or so, married a Ferong - white person, and came back to Thailand to bless all of us with delicious food), and then went for Thai massages (more like being poked and prodded, while having your bubble violated by quick closeness...but relaxing). There was a point in the massage when she tried to bend me in half and I told her my body doesn't go like that, but we weren't really communicating effectively. She kept trying and I kept saying no, then tried it in Thai, while vigorously insisting I cannot do that, not flexible enough, and burst into a fit of laughter as two of my housemates caught the entire escapade. There was much snorting and enjoyment as the Thais finally understood what I was saying, and my masseuse stopped trying to kill me. All in all, a grand adventure!!

I can honestly say that as school nears, I am feeling more at home here. The girls and I are bonding more quickly that even I had hoped for, and each is a blessing in their own way. I know this will be a challenging year teaching seven different classes and being so far from home; however, this whole thing was God's idea and He has a purpose in each part. I remind Him of that often as money gets tight, as the language gets frustrating, when annoyingly chirpy birds, weirdly noise-making lizards (probably hoping to mate), and wild-attack-live-on-the-street dogs fight and wake me up way before my alarm goes off, and at moments of complete peace and almost blissful happiness that He chose me to come here to this most beautiful place to teach His kids and be with a new part of His family. It's amazing to me...the entire thing!

No pics this time, but the top ten list of Thailand will be next!!! Love and chocolate pocky!! (The first person to send me a picture of it will win a special prize from Thailand!!)

A night on the town...

Saturday night, all four of us (Damaris, Danielle, Phet and I) living in the Volunteer House dressed and prepared for a night on the town. We walked down to the Baan Duu market, crossed the Super highway, and hitched a ride on the Tsong Dao (sp?) into the bus station and then walked around downtown for the evening.

Our first stop was for water and iced coffee. Then on to more shopping, we visited the Puma and Adidas store, Boots (a British pharmacy/beauty store - where you can get any pharmaceuticals and self-medicate), and many other shops having a perfect girly evening.

For dinner, we ate at DaVinci's Italian Eatery, which was delicious. While eating, we happened to run into a group of girls going to a free concert at a local hotel. The Chiang Rai Youth Orchestra was playing, and they invited us to go with them. Since all four of us didn't want to go, we split and Phet and I went to the concert while Damaris and Danielle went to the night bazaar. The concert was beautiful, bringing tears to my eyes several times. One of the last songs they played was from the movie, Mulan, called Reflections, which is one of those heart songs for me and was a sweet kiss to hear in a country where I've found little in common.

After the concert, Phet and I caught up with the others at the night bazaar. If you haven't been to a night bazaar, there are loads of streets lined with lighted paper Chinese lanterns...it's like the Farmers Market times a thousand. There are millions of little shops all full of handicrafts or food or both. You can bargain with them (if you speak thai or have a friend with you that speaks thai - thanks to Phet) and get a lower price. So if any of you want anything like Thai pants, lamps, wooden animals, bedding, purses, clothes, jewelry...really anything, let me know!! It is so ridiculously cheap here. Before I came here, I bought Thai fisherman pants in Manitou for $30. Last night, I bought four pairs for 700 baht, which is $14...for comparison.

I can honestly say, the friends I am making here with my housemates has made this transition so much easier. They are the most wonderful group of girls, and it's amazing how quickly you bond when you don't speak the language here, you are thrown into a very intimate setting and are forced to unite in order to make sure you get home or to the place you want to be at. We have shared heart stuff pretty quick and are much the closer for it. So for those of you praying about friends, I thank you. God has been faithful and will continue to be.

Since today is Sunday, I'll tell you about church. I go to Baan Athitaan Church, which is both Thai and English. It is a sweet place where the Lord's presence is felt, especially during worship. The first Sunday I had a hard time getting into the worship songs I used to sing growing up, but was quickly wooed by the Spirit of the Lord and the love of these people for Him. I cannot resist Him nor seeing His love in others. We all eat together after, which is AWESOME!! I love it...the communal nature of the Thais is how I always want to live my life. I am learning so much.

Night and blessings on you!! Kaa poon kaa! Sa wat dee kaa! Thank you and good night!

The long awaited blog and PICTURES!!!

Okay folks, I'm not real savvy at this posting pictures yet, but I am sure my sweet computer guru, Oh wonderful Jon Dale, will read this and see the error of my ways and email me how to do this better. Here is my new house, and it is beautiful (but without air conditioning, awful at first, but now not so bad). My bedroom before I hung posters of Georgia O'Keefe's "cross" and a Picasso poster with people dancing. Thes is the living space, which is shared by 3 housemates plus myself. All girls: one Thai, one German, and two americans...and they are lovely. This is our kitchen: a fridge, a microwave, a stove/oven and no dishwasher (that's us!).

So in the past few days, I've been here at my school, busy working on my classroom, and getting curriculum ready and grocery shopping and all. I'm getting acclimatized finally and am not sweating all the time, as I was the last week. I don't think I will get an air conditioner in my bedroom, as I am now getting used to sleeping right in front of the fan. And who needs sheets when you have a tank top on?? right?? I am buying a bike this next week, so I can ride to school. You can be praying for me, because I will have to ride on the super highway and it is scary...six lanes of traffic and no real traffic laws or a least not many follow them. I will be wearing a helmet and the clothes of God each day as I leave, trust me!!
This picture is from the Baan Duu Market where I get fresh food - fruits, vegetables, fried chicken and sticky rice (a new favorite of mine). You can also get live fish, slushees (shaved ice, coke, in a plastic sack with a straw), and more...hair ribbons, clothes, shoes, anything you could ever need, all within walking distance from my new house. I took the picture last night when my housemates and I went out for Pad Thai (a noodle dish with bean sprouts, eggs, veggies, dried shrimp (eww...), and other stuff. Without the shrimp, mine was really good. If you noticed in the picture, it was storming since this is in the middle of monsoon season. We were all soaked when we got back, but the clouds were fantastic. You can barely see the mountains in the background (but I will get more pictures of the beauty around me soon). Needless to say it was a fabulous time!!

Something I'm working through right now is...praying for wisdom!! This is a crazy new adventure that I am on and my enemy is real and pretty perturbed. The school is always under attack as are the missionaries involved. I am learning to walk in wisdom and protection, not rushing the field, but approaching each day with a game plan, as is necessary!! Keep me in your prayers...it is intense and I am in the middle of a BIG ADVENTURE!!!

and going to eat Mexican tonight with Dean Tubbs and his girls...THANK YOU GOD!!! I'll post pictures next time!! my love...

Just my luck...

I am currently staying with the Tubbs, another family from the grand state of Texas. It is awesome to me how God is knitting me together with people I knew, but never really KNEW. The Tubbs and I now have a standing engagement for Mexican food on Friday nights. We went yesterday to Kay's Burritto Casa (spelled like that), run by Kay who lived in Nevada for years and now makes the most wonderful food I've ever eaten. I daresay it's better than Mexican in Colorado (sorry folks)...you should come try it out!! Lexi and I watched "Just my Luck" last night, which is a romantic comedy with Lyndsey Lohan in it. It is a cute movie.

Today, we all packed up and went to Big C, which is like Walmart but OH SO MUCH BIGGER!!! It is amazing how much they fit in one space. There were like 20 different vendors with little shops, a full fledge Walmart type area, a KFC, a donut shop, an Auntie Anne's and so much more. I had my first freak out "I'm the only white person in a sea of Thais" experience today and thankfully the Thai people are sweet. One asked me, "Need help!" It shook me out of my stupid fear and I said, "Yes. I need help." I asked him my question in broken English and he lead me to the answer. I thanked him in Thai (which I now know how to say) and walked away, immediately hearing my friends calling me.

I am thankful for the experience, because I need to walk through as much fear to get it off of me as I can. Fear keeps us all to often away from experiences that are good for us. A dear friend emailed me today a quote from Brennon Manning, "To avoid risk in life is to risk not living." I'm so in the middle of that here and want to encourage you all as I do myself every morning...if we want the abundant life that God has for us it will require risk and sacrifice, but it will be SO worth it! GO for it!!! Go for the abundant life of Christ!!!

Pictures will be up soon, as I am working to download them now!! I did see the beauty of the Lord today in the Thai people, in their land, and in the body of Christ!! I ate yellow watermelon that actually tastes the same. I had thai iced coffee - ROCKS my world!! I also saw cows all along the main roads...it is interesting. I am looking for elephants, which are about town...I'll send pictures soon! Love you all!

Home sweet home...

So I am in Chiang Rai, living for the week with the Penningtons, and loving every bit of it...my new life here. In the past two days since arriving, I have slept a lot trying to avoid jet lag. I have eaten green curry chicken, braised pork ribs, sticky rice (love it), and much thai food. Honestly, the fellowship and food make this a wonderful experience.

I have been organizing my books and posters in my classroom, which is like a villa setting in five rows of buildings with lots of individual rooms. There were cows walking around in the fields behind the school today. You can be assured of seeing a random cow just walking around or tied to a tree somewhere in town...very interesting! I went to the market today and saw lots of good food...also fried fish, but with the entire fish (eyes and all)...it was a new experience!! I ate a coconut cake, kind of like a crab cake but with coconut and sweet stuff. AWESOME!!

I'm moving into my room at the volunteer house on saturday night, and I will attach pictures as soon as I can get the cord for my camera (as I left it in CO somewhere). The next blog will have pictures of the school, my new house, and the like.

So...all in all, I am loving it here. It is so lush and green and beautiful. It rained all night last night and it was excellent sleeping weather. It's been humid but much cooler today (I'm wearing long sleeves)...not bad for the monsoon season!!

The community of FLC (family learning center) is so incredible. I met several teachers yesterday after just arriving and remember not very many names, but some. Jet lag is awful!! I fit here perfectly...as I hoped I would. I had lunch with the principal today and we shared our hearts and walks with the Lord, and that has NEVER happened in any school I have ever worked in...but it is so important!!! I am so SO looking forward to all that God has me here for...it has to be suh-weet for Him to bring me all the way across the big blue.

I love you guys and ask you to email me, so I can find out what is up with you...what's going on in your part of the world...

In Taipei...

I am sitting in the terminal at Taipei Airport awaiting my next flight to Bangkok, which should leave in an hour or so. Then I wait five hours to get on a plane to Chiang Rai, Thailand where I will meet Brent and Julie Pennington and Ben and Kate and Jak. That is also where my new adventure and life begins...how long it seemed I was anticipating this day's arrival, and here I am in the midst of it...it is overwhelming to intimately know a God that wants the desires of my heart to come true...that prepares the way for me to teach in Thailand with the sweetest of people...I'm humbled by His intimacy and love.

I'm also exhausted after only napping on and off over the past 12 hours on the last flight, so this will be short. I will update tomorrow when I arrive in Thailand and am settled at the Penningtons for four days and then to my own place!!

Thank you for your prayers today...keep praying!! There has been an obvious flavor of the Lord on my day today...I appreciate it!!!

In about 9 hours...

In about 9 hours my adventure begins starting with a quick trip from DFW to Austin to LA, and then the longer legs and losing time from LA to Taipei to Bangkok then six hours then to Chiang Rai to arrive around 9am on Wednesday morning...it will be a long two days!! Please pray that angels are about me and grace abides in all my flights and transactions...

The last few days have been a whirlwind of activities and get-togethers...Thursday I packed and repacked. I had dinner with my sweetest friends (more like family) Jon, Kim, and Madeline, and Nancy. It is a joy to share life with people for so long (about 15 years) and still love each other so much. They are sweet treasures to me.

Friday my mom and I stopped to see my cousin, Jena, who just graduated from high school - (GOOD LUCK in your future adventures)!! Then drove to Austin to be with my Uncle David, Cousin Julia (who was recently in Chiang Rai and swears up and down i'll love it), Cousin Renee and her wonderful and loving husband, Chris, and all the kids: Angel, Christian, Ally, Ryan, Adelia, Regina, James...it was a fun time!! My uncle made homemade barbecue. Chris had his 30th birthday (it's a great year...being 30!!!). I rode on a crotch rocket with Chris and loved it. I also drove his car, which is a Protege wagon, and it was a sweet ride! We all got to hang out and talk and play games...I sure do love my family!

Saturday we came home late in the afternoon and went to my sister's house to hang out with the immediate family for the last time. We had steaks and homemade loaded potatoes (which totally rocked - thanks jenn and jason), and pound cake with ice cream and strawberries. Late into the night we played Imaginiff and Loaded Questions (games that are worth investing in...they were a blast!!).

This morning I woke up to my sweetest Sam staring at me, as I love to do at their house. We went to Jenn and Jason's church, pastored by Ty Leavell. We had a fantastic time, then went home to eat homemade chicken and rice, green beans, and then a nap. Which was lovely until we woke up, realizing it was almost time to go. All of us hemmed and hawed around trying to make the time last longer, but eventually we had to say goodbye. There were many tears, hugs, and more tears and more hugs, kisses, but most of all so much love. I am incredibly blessed to have a mom, whom I love so much, who loves me enough to let me go, having prepared me for such a time as this...a sister who loves me so much and who is loved by me so much...a brother in law that is encouraging and a blessing to our family...and the two sweetest nephews anyone could ever hope to have...Sam, a passionate, caring and intelligent boy, who is my sweet buddy and will always be...Isaac, who secretly really loves to booch me (smooch), and is a ray of sunshine and a breath of fresh air. You might be thinking, how can so many loving and awesome people be in one family...and I wonder that too...it seems too good to be true, but that's it.

And me...so excited about what the next few days will hold and simultaneousely torn up inside at having to say goodbye and leave those I love most with only a backpack, a computer bag, a wicked heavy drum bag (stuffed full), and a "backpack" suitcase that is so ridiculously heavy, I'm not sure how I will carry it...and me...I can see why so few choose this road...it's not an easy one and it involves a lot of sacrifice, but the juice is worth the squeeze!! I'm saying, "Bring on the squeeze!!!"

my love...

It's a small world after all...

Disney wasn't lying when they wrote It's a Small World, because it is such a small world. I am pondering the world's size as I head to Thailand. Even though it is supposedly so ginormous (a great word), it is not ironic that my cousin from Austin who goes to school in Kentucky just spent a week in the exact same city that I am heading too. As if that isn't weird enough, one of my good friends in Fort Worth has had Thailand on her heart for a couple of years. We had coffee today and she shared her heart and how she wants to go, in a year or two, and counsel missionaries through the same organization that my cousin went through just recently. How often does that happen that three single girls, two related by blood and sweet love, and the third related by working at starbucks and a sweet instant friendship, end up in the same plane of life?? I am awed by how small the world is, and how grand an adventure it is to be in it...like a ginormous game of connect the dots...who's willing to play with me??

Today's thorn - general emotions of sadness, today's rose - my family and getting to spend intentional time with my sister, bro-in-law, and nephews (Sam and Isaac) and getting a sbooch (smooch) from Isaac, my 2-year-old nephew, usually he runs away yelling, "I don't wanna sbooch," but today he did...yeah for me!!

Oh how I love musicals...

So I went with my sister tonight to see Hairspray, the movie, for the second time, and it is STILL MY FAVORITE movie of all time. There are so many quotable lines, which if I included them all, would not make any sense taken out of context...go see it!! The one thing I will respond to is the over-arching theme of the movie, which is standing up for what is right and doing what you feel called to do even if it isn't easy or it has immediate personal costs. I think my life resonates with that right now because of what I am on the brink of doing...stepping out and doing something new, which has cost me stuff and money, but will gain for me the whole world...when faced with that choice, what would you do?

Today's roses: eating lunch with Mom and dinner with Jenn (sweet time with family), today's thorn: the awful heat of Texas, over 100 degrees today...I guess I am being prepared for what is to come!!

I tell you what...I am so excited about what is to come I can barely stand it! I know that God has equipped me and prepared me for it. It is like carrying around a bag full of wrapped presents and getting to open them one at a time as they fall out...oh how good He is to those who wait on Him!! I remain humbled by His great love...and thankful that in His great genius, musicals were created...my ABSOLUTE favorite genre of movies and productions!! One day I will star in one, most likely off-off-off-way-down-the-street-and-two-blocks-over-from-Broadway musical, and the part I will play, well that's to be seen!!

first day in HOT Texas - 8 days left!!

So my first full day in Texas and it was a hot one! First, we had breakfast with my cousin, Julia, who just returned from Chiang Rai, where I am headed. In her very encouraging words, she said, "I'm gonna love it!!" (precisely what I needed to hear) The family went to NRH20 (a local water park) and had a good family day...loved every minute of it. Then we took naps, ate dinner and played a new game (I forgot what it is) and went to bed (or am about to go to bed).

Per my sister, Jenn, and brother-in-law, Jason, I will adopt the rose-thorn philosophy for day analysis: today's thorn is that my back still hurts from sleeping on it funny in the car ride down (the day's low) and the rose was getting to be with my family at a water park and making memories (the day's high)! You should try this method of analysis; it is quite fun and brings about interesting discussions!

The Ransomed Heart reading for today included this quote: "Recall a time in your life when you felt really special, a time when you knew you were loved...Hold your memory while you gather another, a time of real adventure...Now, we were meant to live in a world like that—every day. Just as our lungs are made to breathe oxygen, our souls are designed to flourish in an atmosphere rich in love and meaning, security and significance, intimacy and adventure . But we don’t live in that world anymore. Far from it. Though we try to resolve the dilemma by disowning our desire, it doesn’t work. It is the soul’s equivalent of holding our breath. Eventually, we find ourselves gasping for air."

I put this in, because it is exactly where I am at...leaving Woodland Park and leaving my family here, I have never felt so loved or treasured or special, and I am on the brink of my greatest adventure so far in 30 years. I am getting closer to standing on the edge of a cliff, fully prepped with a flying squirrel outfit and capable of flying, knowing I am supposed to fly, but taking my time getting to the edge. My dream in life is to jump off...I am living in that world...gasping for air...about to take the leap...