Co-op 1st and 2nd graders :)

A few members of co-op at breaktime.

Josiah is in the 2nd grade, Gabriel and Ariana are in 1st grade. We just finished a section on the Amazon and are trying to create jungle snakes!

Reading happens ALOT in our classroom. We just finished reading about the Yanomamo Indians in our morning time together.

Its neat that we are from all over the world, living in S.E. Asia, and prying for Indians in Venezuela! :)

These are great kids. We are a very culturally diverse homeschool co-op, living and learning alongside each other in Asia. Its a delight to be together every day.

Of course, I love that Im with Gabriel for his first and second grade years! He is a great helper for me in our room and quite a good memorizer Ive found. We have done LONG passages, about 10 verses or more at a time and he can spit them out fast! Good stuff! :)

I realized the other day that these kiddos have been in SE Asia longer than they have in the USA. I said 'bologna' after a tall tale they told me and none of the three knew what I meant. Thats so weird to me.... to have to say 'lets go google bologna!' Weird.

An Ivy I.V.

Unfortunately, I am not allowed to take pics of government buildings. The hospital happens to be one such place. I understand... while not completely in the sticks, its no Bumrungrad (5 star hosp. in Bangkok). I drove a friend and his son to the hosp. today to pick up a new baby. We sat in what I assumed to be the maternity ward until a gurney came screeching around the corner with a man on it and several nurses yelling at me to get out of the way. We found some seats and of course, as always happens, everyone in the -(apparently open commons area of maybe several wards ...) shifted in their plastic seats to stare at us. I started to engage the 5 year old by telling him stories of me going mud slidding in Peru when I was a little girl and playing mud soccer because I figured it would keep his attention (and it did!) while his daddy was talking with nurses.... The problem was that all my hand motions and drama (meant for the 5 year old) drew everyone elses attention as well and within minutes several gmas and the babies they were watching were parked right next to us. They didnt care about my story or that I wasnt finished, and they started poking at the poor little boy and jabbering away about us being foreigners.... he did great and said 'hello' in Lao 800 times very patiently. Good on him!

Then, the tike and I realized that the gmas were at hospital watching their little grandbabies who were sick. While I thought they were visiting and sitting in strollers, I realized and pointed out that they all had IV's and bandages etc... The little girl closest to us was 2, and gma said she had the 'runs' big time and was dehydrated. Her IV was actually attached to a huge, knotted stick, leaves and all, with a groove carved out of the top for the bag to hang from. It was stuck in the back of her stroller. I mentioned to her gma that she might want to change the 'runs' since, as she had no diaper on, it was oozing out the side of her leg. Poor baby! Another little girl had an IV and was walking around with a proper pole, and the IV in her hand was held in place by a huge piece of folded up cardboard and tape. I was shocked by the Ivy IV, but I guess as long as the stuff inside doesnt get out or contaminated its no big deal right? Just hold it really... Last week we were heading to a friends house late at night and it was in the dustiest, poorest part of town (well, if there is a poorest part).. and some guy was riding his motor bike across the street in front of me with an IV above his head... whatever!

:) Im pretty sure it wouldnt even matter how long I lived here.. Id head to Bumrungrad..

Around Lao

One of Davids classes Soupy & kids!

Olivia and Nampung Samchai

friend at a party at Namphou fountain

Joma at night Scandinavian bakery

selling tamarind

Hopefully you remember Soupy from the first years we were here. She has had two gorgeous children. Nampung means 'Honey' in Lao and she is definately that! Olivia is about 6 months older than Nampung and passes all her clothes down to her.

The tamarind truck is just one example of fruit for sale on the side of the road. Everything you can think of is sold and the price is a tiny fraction of the fruit sold in an import store. While tamarind is hard to eat (takes forever to get the fruit...) its so amazingly sweet and wonderful! :)

We head to Scandinavian and Joma bakeries for yummy breads, coffee and a quick escape from rice.

We are blessed to live in such a beautiful country surrounded by the beauty of not only the country and its luscious fruits and vegetation, but its people as well. I continue to be grateful that Father sent our family here and please know we would love you to visit anytime you can!

Beautiful, Beautiful Baptism!!

What a ceremony Baptism is! I love everything about it. Friends, water, music, and the inevitable overwhelming joy and Smile of the one baptised as they practically spring from the water. Ive been to many dunkings around the world. Ive sat through normal church settings with the tub filled part way and its usually situated atop a platform of sorts.. Ive been to the family cabin and seen our two eldest sons brave the frigid cold crick with their dad in front of just a few friends and family in order to engage in Obedience. Ive seen dunkings in the Ucayali River off the Amazon, thick with wama, and watched MK's take the plunge. There have been many other places, but I was remembering that no matter where I have been, I cannot think of a time when the one going under doesnt come up expressing utter joy in some physical appearance! Not only is the physical change different than when they started (soaking wet from all dry!) but there is definately a 'sense' of 'Ive just done something grand'.

Isaak was baptized this past Sunday. This one took place in a pool. Isaak is 11 and we have been talking about this for months knowing the opportunity was going to come. While nervous for the longest time, he finally acknowledged that when it came down to it 'God said to do it, and I cannot wait.' When he came up from the water, he started giggling and I was able to capture some of it. I asked him about it later and his comment was 'I know mom, I just had to laugh, I FELT different and am SO glad I didnt wait.' ' I feel different somehow'. It was precious and a sweet moment for our family. Just wanted to share with you. :)

Krusin' with the Dierdens!

Mot Mee Guest House, Nong Khai, Thailand

Having duck soup for lunch with Ian and Cecilia

My gorgeous man!

The Mekong River from the boat. This is the friendship bridge that we cross every time we want to cross into Thailand from Laos. Laos is on the right, Thailand on the left.
The homeschool co-op kids are memorizing Ps. 19 right now and this verse makes it come alive to me.. 'The heavens declare the Glory of God! The skies proclaim the work of His hands! Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge.'! How amazing is our Heavenly Father and even the skies know it! :)

Mot Mee courtyard

We took a ride and had dinner on the blue boat.

Looking at Laos from our guest house in Thailand. This so reminds me of the Ucayali river of the Amazon that I lived on as a girl in Peru.

Our bathroom!

The shower part.

David and I just spent a delightful 30 hours in an obscure, neat little hide-away in Nong Khai with some very dear friends of ours. The 4 of us just needed a mini get away- out of Vientiane just for a bit where we could kick our feet up for a few hours and also take some time to chat about the direction of our homeschool co-op. Im posting several pics for you to see of the location, but of course pics only communicate so much. The sights, sounds, smells and such were relaxing and spirit filled. There was time. Time to close my eyes and think. Time to take in those passing by and wonder what their world holds..what their days are like and what their future will be. Time to breathe in the air and rest. Time to thank God for my health and family. Time to giggle and laugh with friends and build a stronger friendship. Then, I wondered as I often have before- Why, why was I chosen to live this life in such a full and beautiful way.. I feel so amazingly blessed. Man God is good!!!

Youth Group Mystery Dinner

Mystery Dinner night with the kids last night... Great fun, food and awesome group of kids.. Around the World was a theme of sorts, so all food, food names, music and activities were based on that. Lots of laughter too!

We had fun you guys! Up next.... Fear Factor Night!

I'm tired. Its only 9:22 and I'm tired. Dave is tired. We get tired a bit earlier than usual these days. SIGH. Its the New Year.. Its 2009 and I can hardly believe it. We are in 2009. Maybe that makes me tired. Actually, maybe its the neighbors fascination and obsession with karaoke (sp?) and high decibel Asian music that has me tired. We all sorta feel like we've had our house transported to the middle of a discotheque the past week with all the wild parties that have gone on around us. Serious parties. House vibrating, feel it in your chest parties. Maybe that's why I'm tired. Except, I'm also pulling gray hair outta my head. Frustratingly enough, its also in one spot... unfortunately its the top of my head. Hard to hide that bit. So, either I keep snipping away at the 7 that stubbornly (and quickly) push their way back up, and consequently allow for beautiful brown hairs to get snipped also.... OR, I end up Cruella Divilish with a wild gray streak down the middle of my head. Yuck to both. I do not want the streak or a bald spot. I'm just way too young for this. Of course the tired, AND the graying should just slap me into reality that I'm getting old and need to get a grip quickly.
Nah, I better demand youth eh? Raising 6 kids, and in the crazy order they are in demand I stay young. Poor Olivia will only know a momma with gray tho. That's seriously depressing. I suppose I should be more concerned with being the spiritually minded momma tho instead of the vain one. :) Guess I should hide this blog.