idol, image, sculpture, monument????

I just discovered this creation right over our back wall this week. I'm not sure what it is- most likely an idol! I am so thankful that I worship a living deity, not some idolatrous, man-made image. But before I feel too pious, I am frequently reminded that we as Christians make idols of our own.  They are not something interesting, built, and colorful like this one. Isn't that the whole reason behind giving something up for lent this month?   Isn't it something in our life that we worship more than God? I can easily make an idol of routine. When we cling to old ways, we resist God's work in us. Instead, I need to open my eyes to find all that God has prepared for me each day. I recently heard a speaker say, "God is in the business of crushing idols."

And then from my quiet time today " You yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so that your communication with me can be uninterrupted.  Relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world.  Accept each day just as it comes and find me in the midst of it all.  Talk with me about every aspect of your day.  A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day. Do not let your "to do" list become and idol directing your life  Instead ask my spirit to guide you moment by moment."

what I like about jet lag

For those of you who have not travelled to Asia, I may need to explain jet lag.  Our time here in Thailand is exactly 12 hours ahead of the mid-west.  That means that in a matter of a days travel, the body needs to totally switch it's days and nights around.  It usually takes us about a week to truly sleep at night and stay awake during the day.  It's hard to make the adjustment each time - but there are a few things that I love about the jet lag that I've been experiencing this week:

• my body has woke up between 4:00-5:00  every morning wide awake and alert which is not normal for me
• I love the quiet time alone before the rest of the world is up to have long periods to read, pray, and think
• because I'm up so early, it is easy to get in my early morning walk too (that I immensely enjoy) which is usually more of an effort in my schedule. 

Coming back this time- I have had no pressing demands on my schedule, no place to be and travel to, no house guests, no weddings to plan and just more time to "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.  Our schedule is often way too packed for me and I'm enjoying this time while it lasts.

My heart is also very heavy today. God has a path for each of us to travel, and often times it is not what I would choose, but I desire to trust in him each step of the way.

• A very dear friend is on her death bed and her children (our kids' friends) are at her side telling her good-bye. She is a hero to me and I ache a whole lot for her whole family today and just can't get them off my mind, praying for them continuously.
• I just went to Immigration to get my yearly visa stamped in my passport and found out that I have to leave the country first.  It expired while I was in the US and although Mike renewed his, I cannot join on until I leave again.  A decision needs to be made about what country and when I will go.
• Our two newlywed daughters and husbands are at a time of transition with their lives and having a hard time finding jobs
• We have found out that the true news is not out about the Burma earthquake near us 5 days ago. 30 church members from one community died and there is much suffering going on with survivors just a bit north of us.

Thinking today about how I want to invest my life in that which is incorruptible.  Like they say, "I've never seen a hearse pulling a U-haul" . As I run the race for the prize, I need to be reminded that the crown  is people that he brings into my life, not things-- and simply "knowing God".

The King's Speech

Movies get to Thailand a bit later than the USA release date- (sometimes but not always).  The King's Speech just arrived here this weekend- 4 months later.  We went today and I LOVED LOVED it.  I'm especially liking it knowing that it got so many awards including Best Picture of the Year.  Usually those award winning movies have values in them so different from mine, so this wholesome movie in my opinion is the kind I like to see awarded.

There was so much to learn from this movie. Like... credentials are overrated, teaching is mostly about relationships, a teachers faith in her student gives them so much power to transform.  There is so much that we can learn from Lionel in him being so practical, transparent, and authentic. My family all knows that I am not a big fan of watching movies- but this is "my kind of movie", as I came away so encouraged and inspired. 

Post Script...After writing and posting this, I found out this movie was rated 'R' in the USA.  They edit the movies here and have a different rating system.  The movie we saw here was OK- I'm not sure what it includes in the USA version!

Every nation, tribe, people, language

I'm sure many of you have already watched this vdo as it has been floating around. I have watched it over and over this past month- never once with a dry eye.  A friend sent it to me this morning, and I was moved once again as I celebrated with them.

Do I/we treasure God's word as they do?  Do I take it for granted because I've always had it? Do I experience that much joy when I get it in my hands? Do I love God's word as they do? Have I become complacent? I pray that the light of God's word will pierce the darkness in this tribe and in the hearts of Thai people and in the country of the United States of America.  I know you will be blessed and encouraged as you watch it, too.

Working Together

I love to see different Christian groups join together in ministry here in Thailand.  Yesterday we gathered together our TCCC staff team from Chiang Mai University to meet another worker that goes to our church, Chiang Mai Christian Fellowship who works with Pioneer missions- but we met at the WonGen Kafe that is run by Youth With a Mission Thailand. The purpose of the meeting was to share with each other what  activities we are doing to connect with college students and use each of our strengths to work together. In the course of the meeting together our staff told me that there are 7 different organizations working at CMU and they all try to help each other and keep connected.  A great example of Ephesians 4:16 to me.

Our own Earthquake

I've been home now for a day and definitely experiencing the "HomeSweetHome"- "There's NO place like home" feelings.  Mike has a flu bug- so sad for him and yet so glad to just be together again.

Last night there was a 6.8 magnitude earthquake just north of us, up by the Thai/Burma border.  Then about an hour later we felt another one.  Mike and I really felt it when the doors starting creaking and then the windows rattling and then the shades swaying and all the time swaying a bit ourselves.  It is such a weird sensation-- my mind immediately racing ahead to "how long will this last and how bad is it going to get and is it our turn now?" This morning I got up to check the news and read how bad it really was at the center.  This article gave me the report.  I am so thankful that although it was a quite big one- little damage was done.  It certainly made me think about how scary it must be when you are in an area where the buildings really do fall down around you. Experiencing something yourself is surely the best way to identify with others and it was just a slight fraction for me of what earthquake victims really have to go through.

Thousand Pines

This week I was able to visit Lori at her job at Thousand Pines Camp for almost 24 hours. This time I was able to see her in her element doing what she does best. I followed her around on her golf cart with her walkie-talkie checking in on the staff as they taught the students at several different activities for the Outdoor Science School Program. They needed some new updated pictures for their website- so Lori asked me to try and get a variety of pictures from different centers. It gave me something to do as I followed her around. Here’s a few shots of what she does at her job during the school year.

I could see that Lori is definitely in a job that she enjoys so much and where she is using her gifts.  She is having an impact on a lot of kids that pass through the program every week.  This week is their spring break, so she is doing a California thing called "Beach Camping".  Thanks Lori for letting me a part of your world for my short visit!

What is this????

Well I realize this is pretty hard to make out what it is, so I better give you a clue!  After spending a few days with Bethany, Michael and Lori- we decided to do something fun last night on our way to the airport.  Hello... when you live as near to  Hollywood as they do- it's not hard to find some entertainment.  Lori was our chauffeur to drive around Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, etc. before we ate dinner since I had a midnight flight.  This picture was my attempt to take photos out her windshield of the Beverly Hills Hotel and a few celebrity homes. 

I am sitting in the Seoul, Korea airport right now with a long layover for my next flight to Bangkok. Got a pounding headache on my last flight which turned out to be one of my worst flights ever. Shouldn't I be use to this trip by now?   I am dreaming of my own home, my own bed and wonderful husband to meet me at the airport in Chiang Mai.  In the meantime, I see evidence around me that I am back in Asia.  A little curious about this monk who sat down right beside me in the lounge here, drinking his coffee, talking on two different cell phones, checking the Internet on his laptop, and reading the newspaper.  Solitude?  Don't think so!

About eleven more hours and I'll be home--- YIPEE!  

Happy Birthday Summer!

Today our sweet Summer turned 5! 

Even though her Princess Party was last weekend- today was her real birthday.

This year she had the fun of being a beautiful flower girl in two auntys' weddings.

She adores her aunties and as I look back over photos from the weddings, she was a little shadow to both Aunt Bethany and Aunt Jennifer the entire day of their weddings.

She took her job very serious and did a great job at both weddings.

One of her new job title's is being a big sister to baby Nathan, which she thinks is a pretty special job.  I loved watching her proud, responsible  face each time she got to hold him.

Summer is only five, but we can already see her personality developing. Her teacher at preschool has reported that she is a natural leader.  She is friendly, outgoing, can sport a "tude", is spunky, is "all girly" in her interests, charming, and we all believe she'll be a world changer.  Jon and Marisa recognize it too and realize they have a big job in helping lead her in the right direction of influencing others.   We love you so much, Summer and pray that you learn to love Jesus with all your heart each year as you grow older.  

Guys and Dolls

Michael (Bethany's husband) has always loved theatre and has spent the last two months rehearsing to be in the Guys and Dolls production at HIU.  

The timing of my  California stop worked out great for me to get to see him perform.  Two of my four nights here, Bethany and I went to see the show.

He played the part of Big Jule, and kept the audience laughing as his character was one of the funniest.

The last night his family came down for it and Lori also.  We all enjoyed our time together watching Michael in one of his strength areas.  Once again, I observed that he is gifted in most every aspect of the world of  film/movie/radio productions! Great performance Michael- you were the best!  Now that his last job at the TV show just ended, he is diligently looking for  a new job ( which is not easy in this part of Calif.)  We appreciate your prayers for God to lead him to the right job in His timing.

Shifting Gears

Well, my heart did not do so well listening to my mind yesterday as I mentioned in my last post. The good-byes with my grand babies were harder than I had anticipated and I sniffled on the planes all the way from Arkansas to California.

I am trying to shift gears now from my grandma role for two weeks with four little ones toward my mom role to my two adult daughters living in California. There was not much time in between for transitioning. As I leave that chapter of welcoming Nathan into the world, I want to share a few last very favorites of one adorable newborn.

This is one of my very favorites. The trunk was a college graduation gift for Marisa that we brought from Burma/Thailand for her to save things in for her future.

Taken one of the days that Marisa and I were having fun with the little guy who was so photogenic for us.

One week old

Possibly my very favorite

Profile of his sweet button nose

He finally lost his belly button the day before I left, so that I could be there for his first bath which he loved!

Wrapped up after bath time in his personal bathrobe from Thailand

Two weeks old

My last afternoon, I got to be a "soccer mom (grandma)".  They needed someone to take Collin to his game  and I enjoyed just sitting on the sidelines taking pictures of our big boy and cheering for him as he scored.

Summer was my stylish companion.

Thank-you Foltz family  for allowing me to be a part of your family these past two weeks. Maybe it was not a good idea on my part cuz all those little darlings are embedded in my heart and life all the more and I already miss them terribly. Knowing each of them so much better, will help me to  be a better "praying Grandma" for each of them each day! I love you all so very much!

Missing my dad today, as two years ago on St. Pats day I got that shocking phonecall of his heart attack.  It is probably good that I am busy here with Lori at her camp, which has taken my mind off those memories. Lori is keeping me active on the trails and camp life today and I'm loving entering into her world!

This picture illustrates my sentiments about what I have to face today.  If I could only put this little "bundle of joy" in my suitcase and take him home with me for Papa to meet, it would be much easier.

 I decided I have a choice to make.....

Choice #1 is to be very gloomy and sad that I have to live so far away from my kids and grand kids and cry buckets of tears because it is so hard to say good-bye again........ or

Choice #2 is to be thankful that I even was able to come back from Asia to be here for the birth  and spend these two weeks with the Foltz family helping out.

I will choose choice #2 and decide to be so very grateful for such a fun and special time here. My mind knows what choice is best- but the heart doesn't cooperate as quickly.  It has been a wonderful two weeks here with my four grand babies and their parents.  Please pray for me that my heart will cooperate with my mind today as I say my good-byes. We are not sure when we will meet again- maybe this summer but maybe not and if not, then we don't know when it would be.

I love his little smiles in his sleep as he has a good dream.  Who would not have a hard time telling this little guy who is lovable beyond description good-bye? Sniff, sniff!  C'mon heart-- listen to my mind!

Siblings

No relationship on this earth is as unique as that of siblings. Sometimes we love them to death and other times, we might not feel like we  love them at all.

I have wonderful memories of living life on the farm with my siblings.  We grew up together and learned life with each other.

I have loved watching  the relationships my daughters have with each other.  Sometimes I was so proud of their loyalty to each other and companionship with each other as they played together day in and day out.  Sometimes as they would fight as siblings do and the rivalry would seem too much, I would ask myself what I was doing wrong as a parent.  Sibling relationships also change throughout different phases of life.  The older and more mature we grow, the more we learn to appreciate each other and our own parents.  Jennifer just posted about this on her blog this week.

Siblings learn life best from each other.  You cannot change who is your brother or sister when you get tired of them.  They are there for life.  It is the best relationship to really  learn unconditional love and  forgiveness. I believe that how you act with your family in your home is who you truly are.  It is easy to be polite and kind to others, but how you treat those family members that you talk to everyday- is the real you.

It has been fun to watch the Foltz siblings this week.  Collin and Summer are the best of friends and play together so well.  They also have their times where dad and mom have to train them how to respond when they get upset with each other.  Hayley follows them in whatever they are doing and tries to be included, learning from their every move.  Nathan adds a tenderness as a newborn being so helpless and needing everyone to take a turn holding him.  They all feel  helpful  as they contribute to  meet his needs.

Soccer buddies

Hayley is a typical middle child- and keeps us all laughing.  She is the most laid back, comical, and cute beyond description.  I'm trying to figure out how to sneak her in my suitcase tomorrow.