home with my family.....

There's no doubt that coming home to Coulee Dam hasn't been everything that I expected and more. It's been really busy, very refreshing and so much fun to have been able to catch up with some amazing family and friends of mine.

I am blown away by how much all of the kids here have grown! I have loved getting to see everyone's families grow and flourish..... I hope that all of you Coulee kids know what a blessing it is to have eachother! Young with young kids that will grow up together! Embrace it and allow God to use you guys to continue to reach out to the community here! It's a beautiful town....it's got a special feel about it and I know that the Lord has some big plans for you guys!

Mom and dad..... (sigh) I have loved every minute of my time here in this house for one last visit. Next time I will look out the window not to the H.S. kids walking to the store for lunch and out at Lacie's domain but I will look out to Lake Roosevelt and to the beauty out there. I am so excited for you guys! I look forward to that. Although I am a bit bummed out that I won't be able to spy on the Reese house and yell at Laura when I see her car drive up. But I am very excited for you guys and you deserve this!

All of you Coulee folk that will read this:: I felt very loved on! Thank you! I felt very blessed sharing about my life that the Lord is building for me over there. There is not a minute that I don't think about you guys and am not greatful for your love, support and prayers for me as I venture out everyday on my bike and am out in the community and most of all loving on those kids! Precious, precious kids! Thank you!

And so I sign off and am ready to connect with my family and friends over in Spokane....here I come! I can't wait!

I love you all and will miss you painfully when I go......but keep in touch as much as you can. It keeps my head up when I hear from home!

Here we are in Bangkok visiting our good friend Robin Jingjit (formally known as Breeze). This is their new addition to their family, Miles. He's a sweety boy....full of personality! Then we went to the floating market...that was really beautiful and lots of fun!

And here's some more.....of my house, eating fish, shopping at the market and me in my famous position in the office where I remained all week! Glad that madness is over..... that was the storm before the calm....haa haa..I know I got it backwards but really that's what it was.

Out and About in Chiang Rai

Although I had to work while Julie was visiting we still made time for markets and dinner dates and nights out on the town! We had so much fun and it was a whirlwind tour of the big city of Chiang Rai! I'm really glad I had my lovely roomie to help Julie get around while I was crazy busy working! It was a full week but very memorable! Here's proof....

I just couldn't pass some of these photos up....they are at Doi Mae Salong as well.

Doi Maesalong......

Here are some more photos.....

Doi Maesalong......

This is a tea plantation..... it's a beautiful, windy, mountain road covered with tea plants of all kinds. The majority is different kinds of green tea and oolong. There's really little communities all over the mountain. The people are beautiful and very friendly! We enjoyed some good coffee at a place called Sweet Maesalong! Best coffee I have had in Thailand or maybe ever..... I'll have to think about that a little longer....but I'm pretty sure ever. WE also got to do tea tasting. That was fun... we learned the right way to taste tea. They pour it into this tall and skinny ceramic mug and they place it upside down inside a larger mug so when you pull the smaller cup up you can roll the cup that had the tea in it in your hands and smell the tea and then you drink it. The skinny cup is really warm so it acts as a hand warmer as well. So smart! Here's some pictures of us there....enjoy.....

ju-lee comes....

I just want to say that my friend Jewel’s husband, Jamie sent his wife to come and visit me as a gift to both of us. It has been such a gift! After seeing my mom when she came to visit me last september, I had an aching inside to see more of my family.....Jewel and Jamie are my family and I am so blessed to have her here to show her what I have been doing over the past year and a half. What a gift! Now if everyone else could come and see me that would just be the cherry on top!

Railay Beach.....

These are just a few photos (wink) from our time at the beach.....we have hundreds more..but these are some of the besties...... I hope you enjoy looking at them and will use coming to this beach as an incentive to come see me up in Chiang Rai some day....