Just a little note to say, "SAWAT DII PII MAE!!!" Happy New Year!! It is 2 hours into 2008, and it looks to be a fabulous year.
My wish for you is "to be able to look backward and say, 'This has been the finest year of my life' -- that is glorious! But anticipation! To be able to look ahead and say, 'The present year can and shall be better!' -- that is more glorious!" (Brother Lawrence's Practicing His Presence)
2007 sure was a good year. Through heart failure recovery and losing one's job and moving halfway across the world and truly learning complete dependence on God, it has been so far the finest year of my life...looking forward to this year which can and shall be better!!
Pics of New Year party with a soccer ball wrapped in Christmas lights dropped slowly from our shower curtain rod in the living room as we counted down and then hugged and ran outside to see fireworks as I yelled at the top of my lungs, "Sawat dii pii mae Thailand. Kop khun kha Chiang Rai." Happy New Year Thailand. Thank you Chiang Rai!! And it was 2008...
Monday, December 31, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas in Thailand
It is December 26th, the day after Christmas. I am sitting in my living room in my pajamas with my very Thai Christmas tree lit up and blinking while watching movies that I received for Christmas: Bridget Jones 1 & 2, Pride and Prejudice, and maybe even a little Meet Me in St. Louis (which I already watched on Christmas Eve, but LOVE SO MUCH!!). You might be asking what makes a Thai Christmas tree...well, with the limited selection of decorations here, we have six totally varied colored and width and designed tinsels on the tree, brightly and randomly blinking red, yellow, green and blue lights, little presents wrapped in red, blue, green and gold shiny paper, and a dull gold star on the top. When there is little to choose from, you make do.
I have had a pretty good two days starting Christmas Eve day with having a friend, Cece, over for the day. We watched movies and ate popcorn, then got dressed for a fantastic dinner at the Ducit, a resort in town. It was a special buffet for the ferongs in Chiang Rai, and everyone was dressed up in their very best. We had a huge table of friends from the school I teach at, almost 25 people and many more from the community but we didn't get to sit with them all. As everyone got up to start getting food, many headed to the salad bar and to the fruit table. Cece, Jo (another girlfriend from school), and I headed smartly to the dessert table. I say if you are going to eat amazing food, start with what is best...dessert!! AND IT WAS AMAZING!!! There were 10 different cakes and dessert pies...an incredible and most wonderful chocolate fondue fountain with strawberries to dip in it...individual chocolate mousse servings in mini martini glasses...then I had some carrots and peas and pork braised in a strawberry chutney sauce which was like a beach party in your mouth!! While eating, a Thai Santa Claus walked through the crowd handing out presents to the kids. You've never seen Santa till you've seen the Thai version...shorter, not so fat, and no white beard...it was crazy!! For Christmas Eve, the food was divine and the fellowship was good too.
Woke up the morning of Christmas, called my sister and Mom, skyped friends spread all throughout the world from Colorado to Australia...then got dressed in my one Christmas t-shirt, jeans, and a green sweatshirt to take along in case it got cold. Quickly I prepared my stuff to take along to the Penningtons and Tubbs, who had invited me to come along to their family celebration. These were my friends from Texas, whom I love very much and am so glad to have here as family. I rode my bike over to their house and dinner began at like 2pm. We had more roasted pork in a barbecue sauce, sour cream and cream cheese mashed potatoes, a salad made with strawberries, mozzarella cheese, peanuts and a sweet homemade dressing, and so much more. IT WAS A SPLENDID DAY, considering I wasn't with my family or friends.
Overall, the holidays were alright...I think being away has changed me and changed the ways that I celebrate the holidays. It was a simple and peaceful time with not having so much to do in so little time. I want to be intentional about life in general as I don't want to ever fill up my schedule just out of obligation, but I want to choose carefully all that I do with time, money, etc. I've realized some very important parts of Christmas that are pertinent to any celebration - being with loved ones, spending quality time with those closest to you, being in the moment which allowed me to celebrate Jesus' birth and gift of life that has never been more a part of Christmas than this year when I've been seeking Him as the sole support of my daily moments. Though many tears (and I mean many) were shed throughout the past week, I wouldn't trade missing out the family and friends for meeting Jesus more intimately, in addition to the memories I have made here which are priceless and forever a part of me: the me right here, right now.
May this holiday season continue to reveal the peace of Christ to you and yours...
** The peace sign is an Asian thing, when taking pictures, the fingers go up...I'm working on it, because it doesn't look totally natural yet, but very soon...
Monday, December 17, 2007
Trust...in my words and a few others
If I could sum up my experiences in Thailand so far, it would be in that one word: TRUST. I am learning to trust Jesus with everything, especially the areas that I've held onto for probably a bit too long like weight and finances. Being a missionary, I assumed would not require as much trust as I had raised the right amount of money before I left the states, but God had other ideas. I have had a few sponsors unable to send funding, and all for absolutely justified reasons, but it's not them not sending the money, it's that God is asking me to trust Him. My plan has failed, and He's lovingly wooing me to trust Him and His plan.
One scripture I've been meditating on is: Acts 20:24 - "But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love." So I press onward...deeper into trusting...loving and being loved...hoping to do the work He has assigned me too, and knowing confidently that He who has called me will fully equip and provide for the calling.
My sweet friend, Jodi, painted a picture on Trust, which has spoken great depths to me, so I'm including that and her website (http://www.JodiStyle.com) - go to it, buy stuff...SHE'S INCREDIBLE!!! What a picture of trust...a beautiful girl, hanging on and having a sweet guide keeping her company...I LOVE IT!!! I so felt this way today!
And for your inspiration...I went looking online for quotes on trust, but found few that were inspiring. Seems trust isn't a common thing these days, but I pray differently for all of us...
Frank Crane - You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough.
Henry David Thoreau - I think we may safely trust a good deal more than we do.
Indira Gandhi - You can't shake hands with a clenched fist. (so true...try it sometime, doesn't work!)
Walter Anderson - We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy.
And my favorite and most inspiring woman: Mother Theresa of Calcutta - I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.
If you've ever felt that way, be encouraged...I am right there with you...knowing if God didn't trust me, I wouldn't be here and knowing that He placed me here to fully experience Him right now for whatever comes next!!
One scripture I've been meditating on is: Acts 20:24 - "But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love." So I press onward...deeper into trusting...loving and being loved...hoping to do the work He has assigned me too, and knowing confidently that He who has called me will fully equip and provide for the calling.
My sweet friend, Jodi, painted a picture on Trust, which has spoken great depths to me, so I'm including that and her website (http://www.JodiStyle.com) - go to it, buy stuff...SHE'S INCREDIBLE!!! What a picture of trust...a beautiful girl, hanging on and having a sweet guide keeping her company...I LOVE IT!!! I so felt this way today!
And for your inspiration...I went looking online for quotes on trust, but found few that were inspiring. Seems trust isn't a common thing these days, but I pray differently for all of us...
Frank Crane - You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough.
Henry David Thoreau - I think we may safely trust a good deal more than we do.
Indira Gandhi - You can't shake hands with a clenched fist. (so true...try it sometime, doesn't work!)
Walter Anderson - We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy.
And my favorite and most inspiring woman: Mother Theresa of Calcutta - I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.
If you've ever felt that way, be encouraged...I am right there with you...knowing if God didn't trust me, I wouldn't be here and knowing that He placed me here to fully experience Him right now for whatever comes next!!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
weekend in chiang mai...
With the King's coronation celebration weekend and getting two days off of school, Cece (another volunteer teacher and friend) and I headed to Chiang Mai to do whatever...no plans, no expectations...except that I would get as MUCH STARBUCKS as I could possibly fit into my system. That is really all I wanted to do.
It started with a short ride to the bus station from our neighborhood, where we bought our tickets ($3) on a non-air-conditioned bus (with fans but seats made crampt for Thais to fi
t in as many as possible). On the way we talked about everything. I tried to read as I have about three books to read each week (this week was Rime of the Ancient Mariner and other poems, Till We Have Faces, and The Great Gatsby). I was pretty focused as you can see in the picture.
As we were riding up and down the mountain passes as quickly as our bus would carry us, it got a bit too hard to read and I got a bit carsick or bus-sick. A boy in the row next to us started throwing up and kept throwing up for awhile. If you know me, I had to plug my ears and look out the other window so I didn't do the same. It was awful for him and for us having to listen (or trying not to), but these buses don't stop for anything, sometimes not even for wrecks.
Once we arrived, we got a ride into town and got out right in front of my paradise...Yes, Starbucks. I was so SO excited. We went in immediately instead of eating lunch and got a yummy holiday drink: Cece a Peppermint Mocha and me a Soy Toffee Nut latte...OH WOW!!! I sure missed good coffee.
As we settled down to chat for a bit, a male employee walked up to me and asked me in English, "Do you live in Chiang Mai?" I said, "No, I live in Chiang Rai." He said, "How many times you come to Chiang Mai?" I said, "This is my second time." He said, "I've seen you at the two other Starbucks. I like you. I remembered you." I said, "Yeah I think that weekend I went to both, because I used to work at Starbucks and I love it." He smiled big and walked off. Weird...I know!!
After chilling there for a bit, we went to check into a hotel, which ended up being in kind of a seedy part of town as we found later that night. We got changed to go to the huge market, which is about a mile long and five streets are involved crammed full of vendors, people begging for money, and so much more...it is an ADHD person's nightmare...you cannot think or concentrate...it is overwhelming. I will add a picture later of how crammed it was. It was like a solid river of people moving one way on one side of the street and the other on the opposite side. I bought a sweet lamp for my house upon returning to the states and enjoyed looking at the street art and hearing the musicians. It was incredible.
Since we were walking so much, we sat down to get a foot massage including oil and pressure points for only 60 baht, which is $2. It was for 30 minutes and was incredible until this man sat down with us and started talking. There was also an Israeli family getting massages for their three kids: a son about 12, a daughter about 7, and the youngest about 3 (which made quite a stir with her getting her feet massaged). Several Thais stopped to take pictures because she was so cute and smiled the entire time. It was less enjoyable as this man, who said he was from Papua New Guinea, but was a man of the world and had lived everywhere kept talking. He would have won an award for most stereotypes spewed out in a few minutes. But humorously, I kind of enjoyed it as I was reading The Great Gatsby, and he kind of reminded me of Jay Gatsby, the man that tells lots of great stories, but who knows for real what he is or who he is...a man of the world, a man about town...and a wee bit crazy!!
We took lots of pictures with the millions of yellow Thai lanterns put up to celebrate the King's birthday last week and the Coronation celebration this weekend. (As you can see, I am making the peace sign, which is totally a Thai thing for when they take pictures...haha!!) There was also a Thai's Christmas tree made of only lanterns as you can see. Absolutely beautiful...a fantastic weekend...not much rest, but lots of Starbucks (two more the next day...yahoo!!)
On our way back to our hotel that night, this is what we saw in the streets...not too uncommon I guess as we were the only ones taking pictures.
Blessings on you all as the Christmas holidays come around and you prepare for them and may the realization of who Jesus is to you be so real in this season!! He is the reason for everything!!
It started with a short ride to the bus station from our neighborhood, where we bought our tickets ($3) on a non-air-conditioned bus (with fans but seats made crampt for Thais to fi
t in as many as possible). On the way we talked about everything. I tried to read as I have about three books to read each week (this week was Rime of the Ancient Mariner and other poems, Till We Have Faces, and The Great Gatsby). I was pretty focused as you can see in the picture.As we were riding up and down the mountain passes as quickly as our bus would carry us, it got a bit too hard to read and I got a bit carsick or bus-sick. A boy in the row next to us started throwing up and kept throwing up for awhile. If you know me, I had to plug my ears and look out the other window so I didn't do the same. It was awful for him and for us having to listen (or trying not to), but these buses don't stop for anything, sometimes not even for wrecks.
Once we arrived, we got a ride into town and got out right in front of my paradise...Yes, Starbucks. I was so SO excited. We went in immediately instead of eating lunch and got a yummy holiday drink: Cece a Peppermint Mocha and me a Soy Toffee Nut latte...OH WOW!!! I sure missed good coffee. As we settled down to chat for a bit, a male employee walked up to me and asked me in English, "Do you live in Chiang Mai?" I said, "No, I live in Chiang Rai." He said, "How many times you come to Chiang Mai?" I said, "This is my second time." He said, "I've seen you at the two other Starbucks. I like you. I remembered you." I said, "Yeah I think that weekend I went to both, because I used to work at Starbucks and I love it." He smiled big and walked off. Weird...I know!!
After chilling there for a bit, we went to check into a hotel, which ended up being in kind of a seedy part of town as we found later that night. We got changed to go to the huge market, which is about a mile long and five streets are involved crammed full of vendors, people begging for money, and so much more...it is an ADHD person's nightmare...you cannot think or concentrate...it is overwhelming. I will add a picture later of how crammed it was. It was like a solid river of people moving one way on one side of the street and the other on the opposite side. I bought a sweet lamp for my house upon returning to the states and enjoyed looking at the street art and hearing the musicians. It was incredible.
Since we were walking so much, we sat down to get a foot massage including oil and pressure points for only 60 baht, which is $2. It was for 30 minutes and was incredible until this man sat down with us and started talking. There was also an Israeli family getting massages for their three kids: a son about 12, a daughter about 7, and the youngest about 3 (which made quite a stir with her getting her feet massaged). Several Thais stopped to take pictures because she was so cute and smiled the entire time. It was less enjoyable as this man, who said he was from Papua New Guinea, but was a man of the world and had lived everywhere kept talking. He would have won an award for most stereotypes spewed out in a few minutes. But humorously, I kind of enjoyed it as I was reading The Great Gatsby, and he kind of reminded me of Jay Gatsby, the man that tells lots of great stories, but who knows for real what he is or who he is...a man of the world, a man about town...and a wee bit crazy!!
We took lots of pictures with the millions of yellow Thai lanterns put up to celebrate the King's birthday last week and the Coronation celebration this weekend. (As you can see, I am making the peace sign, which is totally a Thai thing for when they take pictures...haha!!) There was also a Thai's Christmas tree made of only lanterns as you can see. Absolutely beautiful...a fantastic weekend...not much rest, but lots of Starbucks (two more the next day...yahoo!!)
On our way back to our hotel that night, this is what we saw in the streets...not too uncommon I guess as we were the only ones taking pictures.
Blessings on you all as the Christmas holidays come around and you prepare for them and may the realization of who Jesus is to you be so real in this season!! He is the reason for everything!!
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