4th of July Party

American food?

Strange foreign American culture?

Wanna come party?  

Of course!!

We celebrated July 4th here with many new friends.  A few American families got together and worked hard to put on a 4th themed party.  We made sure there were plenty of red, white and blue foods and decorations.  Pinterest boards were formed and attempted to become reality. Even made a fruit tray that looked like our flag.

And our friends here told us how beautiful it all was, and noticed each detail.
NOT!!
Our friends later told us they didn't see ANY of this.  Not the decorations, not the red, white and blue (what do those colors mean anyway?). haha  One friend asked why we cut the watermelon in such small pieces?  When I told her it was shaped like our flag she didn't believe me.  I showed her the picture and she laughed and laughed.  So, I thought I'd ask others.  None that I asked realized its shape or the colors of the jello, the tablecloth, why the craft was colored the way it was.  Many told us the plates were too pretty to eat on and the napkins too nice to use.

I was reminded how our pinterest crazed lives in America totally misses the point here.  Just like Mrs. M told us at SWI... it is all about the relationship - not the presentation.

A friend said we should've just put fruit in a bowl and bought some cookies at the store, it would've had the same affect.
Lesson learned...
Will I still decorate?
Probably, just not this much.
Will I worry so much about how it turns out or if everything looks perfect.
NO!!

Things that were a big hit - tattoos!!

 This is the line for the tattoos.

There were so many new and good friends who came out.

Actually, every single person invited except one came and she told us she wouldn't make it. 

(How often does that happen?)

We weren't expecting that crowd.

However, thankful for each of the 72 people in our house.  

Yes, 72.  15 of us foreigners included.

They LOVE singing.

We sang some in our language, some in theirs.

We decided to leave out Lee Greenwood this year. :)

 One of my favorite moments- these precious girls dancing while we sing about His love for us, because our favorite book told us so.

We also helped the kids make necklaces and played picture bingo.  Everyone seemed to really have fun. 

They did enjoy the food even if they didn't realize its significance, shape or color. :) 

I tried to explain that the bread was for the hot dogs, but they just nodded and ate the dog by itself.    

Leftovers?... nada. :)

So thankful for new friends.

Thankful we can learn what is good and what isn't at each party/event we have.  

Thankful for the curiosity in how we do things.

Thankful for the desire to build relationship.  

Thankful for wood floors. ;)  

AND for good friends who help clean up after the crowd is gone. :)  

I wish I'd taken a picture of the shoes... 

Wow!  72 pairs of shoes at our door.

Next time.  

Looking forward to next time.

My favorite day in Lanta

There are days I miss Florida.  I see the pictures of friends at the pool or the beach and I long to be there.  I don't think it is a bad thing unless I linger there too long.

On our last visa run we went to Koh Lanta, Thailand.  It was amazing!  Exactly what our hearts and minds needed.  Now, when I miss home, I can look at this pictures and thank Him for allowing refreshment.  I still look at pictures of "home" too, but these pictures remind me that my joy should come from Him alone.  Not a person or a place.  Reminds me that I can have joy anywhere as long as I am in His will.  It isn't always easy, but He is faithful and provides all our needs. :)

Honestly, reentry to the big red country was pretty tough after this trip.  We hear it is fairly normal for the 6-9 month time period to be the roughest for "culture shock" and I'd say we are feeling it. Even our kids, maybe especially one child. The "honeymoon phase" is over. We are thankful for the refreshment He gave us in our week away, and even more so as we realized where we are on the culture shock spectrum.

I share these photos as many have asked if there was much to do on Koh Lanta during low season.  It is low season due to monsoon season.  Surprisingly (and thankfully),  it only rained one evening.

This was my favorite day, a long day but absolutely fantastic!  Kayaking the lovely sea, kayaking through a cave, feeding monkeys, riding in the longtail boat, so much fun!  Mostly we enjoyed being outside together, exploring this beautiful place. As you flip through though, I hope you take time to praise Him who created all things.  I immediately think of "How can I keep from singing your praise, how can I ever say enough, how amazing is your love!"  

Low Season in Beautiful Koh Lanta

We knew we were going to Bangkok for our visa/medical run and knew we wanted to get away from the city to relax for a few days. One of A's teachers recommended we check out Koh Lanta.  We are so thankful for his advice!

We found tickets super cheap ($41 round trip) and hotels at about the same price!
It was low season there which meant quiet and peace.
Living in a city of 12 million, we were thrilled to be somewhere where there were less than 2000.
We were a little concerned that it may all be too good to be true so our expectations were a little low but wow!

Just Wow!
Beautiful mountains on one side,

Beaches on the other...

With such a beautiful walkway in between the two.

It was like we stepped into a postcard.

This was the ferry ride from Krabi to Koh Lanta.

Our kids' favorite spot was the pool - the water was warm enough to be comfortable but cool enough to feel amazing in this heat.

Beautiful Lanta

Since Brian and my trip to Phuket many years ago, this is the image I always see when people mention Thailand. :) Such amazing beauty.  Such a blessing to be able to enjoy our God's magnificent creation.

We enjoyed the animals too. :)
The funniest thing that happened...
The monkey -
This little guy went from being "Oh Mommy look how cute he is!"

 to "AGHHHHH, where is he? Where is he??"
This little monkey actually tried to open the doors to the car (and would have succeeded had they been unlocked) then he jumped to the roof of the vehicle looking into each window.
B thinks they are probably frequently fed by humans through the windows...
One of those, "I wish I had the camera rolling" moments.  It was HILARIOUS!! The kids were jumping around and screaming, the monkey hoping all over the car...
A memory we won't soon forget. :)

My favorite interaction with animals though was definitely the elephants (these gentle giants are my favorite land animal).  Ours were pretty hot and kept splashing herself (and us).  ;) Aren't they just beautiful creations?

The food here was spectacular as well.

"The Beautiful Restaurant" was perfectly named.  I have absolutely never had a view like this.  Continuing to just sit and marvel at His creation, we sat for a while to try and take it all in.

We found this area with tidal pools so B took the kids to see the "laboratory". :)  Truly, God's creation never ceases to amaze me.  We had much fun finding crabs, water cucumbers, sea stars, snails and many other critters.

Anyone know what these flowers are?  The were so beautiful and smelled fabulous too.

Our last night here the Creator of heavens and earth gave us the most lovely sunset.  I rushed to get a picture of it while the kids and Brian went for one last dip in the pool.  My quick photo shoot turned into an opportunity to share truth with an Iranian lady. She stated she was  "born Muslim" but having seen much violence, experiencing no peace, she decided there was no god.  

She asked me if I had faith. 

I replied, "Yes, I am a Christian." 

Then she asked a great question.  

"Yes, but do you really have faith? Many say they believe but that don't really have faith."

Her statement reminded me of the truth James warns us of in the beginning of his letter. 

 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

"Yes, without faith, without trust I have no peace, no purpose.  He is my rock, my shield, my shelter. He meets all my needs and more.  He reveals Himself to me time and time again."  

"How?" she asked

The first thing the Holy Spirit brought to my mind was Meisi, her story, adoption, her adoption, my adoption as a child of God, the incomprehensible, unconditional love we have for Meisi, giving me a glimpse of His love for me as His adopted child.  

His child who is far from perfect, a sinner prone to wander, to sin; yet, His love is unending, His love so great He sent His only son to die for me and for her and for you.  

Why do I believe the Holy Spirit prompted that?  Well, she immediately told me their story from beginning to end with a desire to adopt but having "doors closed."  They have again began a journey to foster refugee children in Sweden where they now live. She thought our story was interesting and said she too could understand how I could see God through that. She said she and her husband have discussed how it must be wonderful to experience peace through faith in a god.  

No decisions were made that night but seeds were planted, watered.  

I continue to lift her up that He continues to draw her to Him, she and entire household.  

That they may know Him who truly is the way, the truth, and the life and that they can experience His peace that transcends all understanding, the peace they long to have.  Will you join me in lifting up the billions who are like her?  Also asking for boldness and obedience among the body, asking our Father for more workers - the harvest is still plentiful but the workers are still few.