Creatures...

Okay, so I try not to complain too much here (okay here it comes), BUT the creatures here are hard to handle.

First when we got here there were huge ants in the bathroom where we were staying

Then in our house there are the ants in my kitchen...

All of my food has to be either in an air tight container, and most of my food items are stored in the fridge.  One of the things I really don't like is being in my kitchen after dark, because that's when all the bugs are really there swarming around the lights.

Second, there are the gecko's...here is my friend who keeps me company while doing dishes (at night)

 

These little guys (and girls I'm sure) run all over the house, and I'm trying to get used them because they do eat the littler bugs...if that's some kind of consolation.  They move really fast, and that always gives me a little startle when they crawl across the walls.  (And lets not even mention the 2 that "live" in my bathroom window & watch me).

Lastly, the largest creature that I've seen is this "large" lizard who lives in our yard.  There are these very strange noises at night, and my friend said these noises are a lizard.  The same day she told me that, I SAW IT!

The middle tree, on the right side (where the branch splits into 2)...do you see it?

Then there are the mosquito's & dogs...everywhere...no leash law here people.  Mostly they leave you alone if you leave them alone.

Okay, so after all that complaining...here is the bright spot.  The butterfly's in Thailand are amazing!  Every one I see is a different color & they are so beautiful.

Thanks for listening, and if you have lived in a foreign country and dealt with these creatures please feel free to comment with advice on how to deal with them.
 

Where are you planted?

The other day I posted pictures of our new rental house, which has become our new home.  One of the things we have discovered about living here is why God planted us in this specific location.

#1.The first day we moved in, we were able to meet our next door neighbor.  His English name is Dick, he speaks English very well, and he's Muslim.

#2.Behind our house there is a field, and just beyond that field is a Buddhist temple.  We can hear the prayers and chanting on a daily basis.

During our first week or so, while in my kitchen doing the dishes I heard the chanting.  The Lord spoke to my heart & said I should be singing worship music whenever I hear them.  So immediately I started whatever song came into my mind (thankfully I was the only person in the room!).

Every word we speak or sing in the name of Jesus does work in the spiritual realm.  We may not physically see with our eyes what our presence in this location does, but I KNOW that there is work to be done in the spiritual realm.

Also, I challenge you to see what your presence means where you are currently planted.  Who is God trying to use you to reach?  I remember from a sermon some time back from our pastor at CGS.  He spoke about a  young man who had come to his door to do ask if he could do some work (take out the garbage maybe?).  His first reaction was to say no, because it was a task he was capable of doing.  But his wife, heard what was going on & stepped in to say that it was a great idea for this boy to help their family.  Later, our pastor was able to share with the boy about a camp experience & how the boy had experienced God's hand.  I think this story stayed with me because it is a great example of being a part of where you are planted for the glory of God.

Where are you planted? Why?
If you have a story to share about where you are planted, please leave a comment!

The view from our back wall.

Our House

Finally getting pictures up of our house, and yes we do have both floors & it is very nice to have room to move.  This is quite a change for us compared to our last house...now if we just had saved all our "stuff" & shipped it here LOL!

When you first walk in the front door.

Door on right is the kitchen / Door on the left is the 3rd bedroom (a.k.a. our play/movie room)

Our Kitchen.

Hope making a PB & J wearing her apron!

stairs (this is the view from upstairs looking down)

 

At the top of the stairs, looking at our bedrooms.

Upstairs room, looking at the stairs

Mommy & Daddy's room on right / Girls bedroom on left / Bathroom on far right.

View of our neighbors, they have been demo'ing since we moved in.  Looking forward to what they will build.

View from the back of the house, beautiful field!

View from back again.

Hope you enjoyed your tour!  We look forward to hosting you if you can come...
It is definitely a different life here in Chiang Mai, but it is always nice to know you have somewhere to go at the end of each day called "home".

Old Friends & New Friends

Our old friend, Ronald McDonald.  Hope was so happy to see the golden arches again!  Okay, maybe mommy too...

Hope's new friend at church on our 1st Sunday.  Yes, they are both 4 years old...Thai children are generally a bit smaller.  

Okay, this one is just for fun!  

Finally back online!  YEAAA!! 

We moved into our Thailand rental house on Monday around 2:00pm and the reality of my "Traveling Motherhood" set in, BIG TIME.  Traveling Motherhood = making breakfast / lunch / dinner without utensils / plates / stove / oven / etc.; going to the Big C (Walmart type store) with a baby attached to your front, purse & diaper bag on one shoulder, then changing a poopy diaper without any baby wipes; and finally...having a bad "mother" day & having no one or no place to flee to. 

And this is place where I meet with my friend, Jesus.  He brings me through all of the above & so much more.  "But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.  To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.  I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me...  From the Lord comes deliverance.  May your blessing be on your people." Psalm 3 v.1-5,8.

So, here is a little glimse into our day here. 

Our morning begins with a family Bible study (L to R: Sheraz bible, Jennifer bible, Hope bible)

Dinner on night #2, yes we bought utensils & 3 plates, so not too bad for bare minimum!

Sheraz's chicken getting spicy.

Hope enjoying her meal.

Dinner night #4 - Those are scrambled eggs & potatoe pancakes.

That's about it for now.  I will post more pictures of our new home soon.
Thank you all for your messages & prayers, they are much appreciated & so needed. 



Our new mode of transportation is this motorbike, which we rented for 2 weeks.  It is great for Sheraz to get out and check out homes, shopping, schools, and just get familiar with the local roads / area.



Hope LOVES to go for rides too, now if we could just fit our whole family on there to go places that would be great.  But if we did that it might be a little bit "Thai Beverly Hillbillies"!



Keziah

Zarah

And while they go for their rides,
mommy & the twins stay back to
visit and do laundry...

The Bad & The Good....

The bad news is that I saw my first humongous spider today...yes totally freaked me out, but "tried" to be cool about it. 

The good news is that God is good!  After looking at countless homes & condos all over town, we have found what He has for our family.  It is a small home in a Thai community close to Payap University and in our price range.  Our 2 main requirements were that it have a kitchen & air conditioning, when we saw this home it had these 2 deal makers & much, much more!  Thank you for all your prayers, we will move into the home on Monday afternoon.  Until then here are a couple of pictures, and yes there is even a small pond in the front which Sheraz & Hope have plans to put in BIG Thai fish.

(And No, this was not the house where the spider was...hooray!)