There's no place like home for the holidays

So I spent my Christmas with some amazing people. On Christmas eve I got up and went to hang out with the kids until 12. It was Belle's birthday (one of the kids at Baan Nam Jai) on Christmas day so we celebrated her birthday on Christmas eve. I ate some really good banana cake with all of the kids and staff and then I headed home to clean and relax some. In the evening I headed over to my friend Onn's house to have a Christmas eve dinner with her family. It was fabulous. We had baked chicken, corn (kind of prepared like mash potatoes- she had some french name for them) and then it was served with a tastey sauce drizzled over it. It was good. And then for desert we had chocolate mousse. MMMMM.....afterwards we gathered around the tree and handed out the gifts for each person. Her two sons made me some really precious gifts. And then Onn gave me some amazing swiss chocolate. So needless to say I did not go home hungry nor famished of blessings. I was overwhelmed that a family that I met nearly 4 weeks ago had taken me in to be a part of their christmas celebration and really made me a part. So Christmas morning I wake up and ride my bike up to the Wilcox house (the directors of Baan Nam Jai-fantastic family from Austrailia) and joined them in a completely wonderful breakfast with pancakes, scrambled tofu, muslix, coffee and austrailian golden brown syrup imported from Australia. I felt very blessed. Also they had presents for me.....a flashlight (or as they called it, a tortch), a really nice book, and a beautiful house plant for my new place. Again I was overwhelmed that this family had allowed me to be part of their christmas celebrations after meeting me nearly 4 weeks ago. I felt really taken care of. Following breakfast I continued on my way to BNJ to go see the kids and see how they were going with all of their christmas morning excitement. I found all of the kids spread out among the house inside and out checking out all of their new toys and enjoying them with eachother. It was so fun watching them be so excited with everything they had gotten. They were really greatful. It made me miss all of my kids back at home.....an aching deep inside of me hit hard, confirming that I am here for christmas and will not be a part of the excitement at home with my neices and nephews. But I remained strong.....enjoying the BNJ kids and allowing them to distract me and my torn emotions. We had a lovely lunch with the kids and I stuck around and visited for a bit. Then I proceeded to be on my way and go spend some time at home. While I was cleaning at home I got a call from my friend Betty asking if I would like to come over later on tonight to watch a movie. I was feeling a bit down and so I said I would love to. Around 5:30 my friend Onn called me and told me to come over and have crepes with her and her family because they were going to be amazing and she didn't want me to be alone on christmas day. I told her that I was going over to Betty and Tlana's house at 7 and she said ok, come over now and you can eat. God really took such good care of me. I feel his love overflowing out of my new friends and it was so sweet the way He takes care of us.

The following day I was able to talk to everyone in my family and although I had such a good day on Christmas and I wasn't really homesick, hearing the voices of my family and all of the commotion going on around made my heart ache so badly that I was so many miles away from that tradition, that part of the year that I so look forward to every year. And I could care less about the presents.....but what really keeps me going is their presence. I forget what you call words that sound the same but have completely different meanings but although those words are the same and they both were at the Moore house on christmas day, I only missed one of them. I would have loved to talk to all of you reading this but I am sure that my computer battery would not have lasted. The voices I heard and the words spoken that day will last me for a long time! Precious times are really cherished when they are far and few between. Since I have been here I have not really been homesick. But I treasure each contact I have with you all while I am here. Communication is so important. And if I don't get back to each one of you right away, it does not mean that I like you less. There is not enough time during the day nor consistent internet.....(haahaa). I"m trying to work on that one. I am posting some pictures from Belle's birthday party. I hope you all had a wonderful christmas and find this new year to come refreshing and a year of new beginnings! I am thinking of you all often and love you all so much..... Blessings on the year 2008!!

Warm Christmas wishes....

I am still in a bit of shock being here in Thailand. I love it most days and some days I am overwhelmed that this is where I am living and it freaks me out. Christmas time is right around the corner and I have very mixed emotions. I am excited that the Lord has me here this time and this season of my life and am doing what I love best......playing with kids!! But I am sad that I will not be watching my neices and nephews unwrapping gifts. I am sad that I will not get woken up on the couch by my sweet little family members coming to snuggle with me. I am sad thinking about all of the yummy food and laughing and just watching everyone interacting with eachother. It's one of the most special times of the year that I cherish as we cram all of our family and friends into mom and dad's little cozy house and spend this time of celebrating Christ's birth together. I am missing the smells, the sounds of my loud family and all of the laughter that is had during this season of love. I am greatful that I have a family to spend holidays such as this together. I think of you guys....meaning my friends and family often as I sit in my house all alone. I miss you often but yet there is a real joy and sense of purpose in this time and place I am in. And that carries me. Knowing that you are all well and healthy and doing ok carries me. Knowing that all of you have given me the love and support that I need to be here carries me.

I have never been to so many christmas parties as I have being here. We had one for the kindy school at the orphanage which is called Baan Nam Jai. So if you see that written that's the orphanage's name. Then we had one at the church that I go to and another one at the International church that runs every other week that I also go to. And then we had one at another YWAM ministry called Baan Paak Ping (which houses at risk teen girls- a refuge for young girls at risk of being sold into prostitution) which was a YWAM christmas party, and then another one at Baan Nam Jai and then I went to one in a village of one of the nannys that I work with and then we will have actual christmas at Baan Nam Jai on christmas day. So I am christmased out. Not sure if that's a word or phrase but I am going to use it. Even though my attitude has not always been really great at going to these get togethers I always have left very blessed. I am blessed that I am meeting so many great people. I am blessed that there are so many people giving up of themselves to love on the people of Thailand. It inspires me to be better....to continue to be obedient at what I am called to do here. And to do it well.....not half assed. In everything I do, to do it well. Not because of wanting people to "ooh, and aaaahhh" about me but to please the Lord and because I am His hands and feet. If I have not done unto the least of these then I have not done to HIm. Now that's convicting! I am going to make the most of this Christmas. I am going to miss the things I know as tradition with my family and friends back at home. But I pray that this christmas is memorable and a blessing to those around me.

I am praying for all of you as you spend this time with your families. Really treasure this time. And not to sound cheesy but take advantage of the time you have with your family. Don't let petty things get in the way. Really think about what is important. Is the gift you got so-and-so really all that important as the time you get to spend with them while they are only at home for a small amount of time? You know the answer to that.......I love all of you and hope that you are blessed this year and that 2008 is an amazing year to come!! I don't know for all of you but I am glad to put 2007 behind me. I pray that this finds you all well, healthy, full of joy, thanksgiving and a fresh sense of what life is all about! Take care and God bless you. Don't forget to send me fun christmas pictures of you and your families......I love pictures and updates as well. It helps me feel connected to you as well. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hey here is the way to my house.....soy 10 is my street.....and the sunset pictures are the rice fields early in the morning. That's where all of the snakes like to hang out and then early in the morning they like to go along the road right where I ride my bike! YIKES!!

Here are some pictures from the orphanage and on an early morning bike ride on my route to work. Hope you enjoy them. It's so difficult to capture everything.....you should just come and see for yourself!

my mailing address.....

So for all of those who would love to send me mail or packages or just to know my address you can send anything for me to this address. I have a home address but I would rather you send it to this address as I cannot read my addres as it is in thai and also it's more likely to get to this address since it's an actual organization. Thank you to the Faith Community ladies for sending me the package of goodies! I shared all of the chocolate with my fellow thai ladies. They love real chocolate. I am getting ready to write a big update so make sure you check this regularly. I will send an e.mail when I do. Love you all and miss all of your sweet faces!!

Home of the Open Heart
Baan Nam Jai
P.O. Box 121
Baan Du Post Office
A.Muang
Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand

Ride to the falls....

There are some beautiful water falls near my house. There is this girl that teaches at the international school here and she stopped by last night. I had just gotten home from being at the orphanage ALL weekend and not having any rest. I think I'm coming down with something so I have not felt super the past couple days. So when I got home I just wanted to get my pj's on and fall asleep to a movie. But as I was parking my bike and locking up this girl Jessica, who is my new friend, brought me some christmas treats and asked if I wanted to hang out on monday and maybe go to the waterfalls. So I said sure. We went and I had the hardest time breathing...I felt like I was not going to make it. However I did and when we got to the top of the hill I had to rest! I felt like such a sissy! I think I was just not well rested and not feeling up to par to make such a big trek. It was beautiful and I am posting some pictures of the event.....I will never be able to capture the full beauty of the land but it's a start I guess. Jessica and I had a super time and I fully enjoyed sharing my life story with her and hearing hers as well. I think the Lord is bringing people into my life here to share this season with. And for that I am forever greatful for relationships....after all that's what this life is about......with out them we could not fully exist....

one more...

Here is a picture of Mae.....she is awesome....we have one little guy that she has taken on as the big sister of. She totes him around and he loves to play with her!

Just a few kids from Baan Namjai

Here are some of the younger kids from Baan namjai (Home of the open heart). This was after naptime when they were supposed to be taking naps! Typical 4-5 year olds hey? Too much energy to take naps..... So we have Jo, Mai, Garin (the most challening one), Bam and Nui. They are great and I am loving hanging out with them. I am so greatful that I get to be a part of their lives for just a small time.... a year really seems not long enough to invest in their lives. But God is in control over that right? I hope you all enjoy seeing pictures of what I have been doing lately and have more of an idea of what it looks like. I love and miss you all!

A night out......

Here are a couple pictures of what we call Tuk-Tuks. They are a mode of transportation here in Thailand. Some new friends of mine took me downtown Chiang Rai to get some food and go to the night market. It was fun! So much to look at and some of you will reap the time that I spend down at the night market as they have some very beautiful thai good there. In another picuture you will see two beautiful kids....Reuben (the boy) and Mikha (the girl). They are scandanavian and indian (from india). They had fun showing me all of the fun stuff for kids! God has really blessed me with people coming into my life to show me stuff and take me out. It's been such a blessing! I am greatful for their quick friendship!

Where I live.....

Here are some pictures to give you all an idea of where I am living and what it looks like out side of my house.... I am loving the weather here in Chiang Rai! It's cool in the morning and evening and warms up to about 70-75 degrees during the day! It is very similar to spring back in Washington. I am working 4 10 hour shifts a day. And every other week I am working a night shift. And every other week I will get a weekend off. So I have a nice schedule. I have some "farangs", which is another word for foriegner, that live on my block and then some more that live really close in my neighborhood. So it's nice. I haven't met everyone yet but in time I am sure I will. I have made some good friends so far and for my birthday they were so amazing to me! I feel very blessed to be a part of this community. There is a thai lady that lives across the street from me and she has taken on the responsibility of mentoring me in how to take care of my house. She comes and turns my light on and puts my clothes out in the sun and the other day she came over to give me some coffee cookies and told me to go buy some coffee to drink with the cookies. She brought me inside her house today to show me a picture of her in SanFransisco. She was very proud to show me. She doesn't speak a lick of english so our conversations consist of me thanking her in thai over and over and her telling me stuff that I have no clue what she's saying. It's quite funny......Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the pictures. I have a small window of time with the internet. My neighbors sometimes have a strong signal of internet and sometimes none at all. So when I see that I can get online I do as much as I can. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I love and miss each and everyone of you. I recieved a christmas tree in the mail today from my mom and dad. So I am finally feeling like christmas is in my house now. I pray that as you all join the bussel of christmas shopping and decorating and baking you remember why we celebrate christmas and what a blessing it is for us to be able to celebrate our Lord's birth. Blessings.....

more outside my window....

inside my house.....(baan)