Kindergarten Graduation

Marisa use to have a blog, but when baby #4 came along and life became a bit overwhelming- she decided the blog time was not a priority anymore. Sometimes, I feel like I have taken over her blog for her- because I have so many posts about her kids (my grand kids).

When we are in Asia and miss a lot of the kids special events- it's hard! Once we are back, we will make an effort to go to every event that is happening while we are around.  I had never been to a kindergarten graduation- but this seemed to be a big deal for Summer.

She kept her eye on us, grinning that proud grin the whole time. (4th from left) 

I know it's blurry, but we had to show her shaking hands with the principal!

After the program, we got to go to her classroom.  Seriously could she be any cuter and prouder?

They all got to take their self-portrait art work home with them.  Lori and I were bidding on who got to keep this adorable portrait, but I think her mama won on that!

CONGRATULATIONS SUMMER, 

on completing kindergarten! 

 We are so proud of you!  

Golfing, Fishing, and Working Together!

It has been great to be back "home" again- but is taking a few days to get caught up on life.  Reconnecting with fellow workers, groceries, haircuts, laundry, you know.... just life! Communication was a bit difficult while we were in the US, because we did not always have Internet, nor did we reconnect our phone plan.  It is great to have consistent Internet again and be able to share more photos of our time.  After work days and  on the weekends, we tried to squeeze in as much time with the kids as possible.  With all four of them in one place, we found it easier to just take turns with who was free.

One night after work, the Seilers, Allens, Mike and I went golfing with Collin and Summer - on a short par 3 course.  The guys were pretty patient with us girls who moved at a different pace from them- but we all stayed together!

F-I-S-H-I-N-G!!!

 

The next day, Saturday, we went to Roaring River State Park for some fishing. We went with the Seilers and Lori and Col and Sum.  Summer told us repeatedly that she had never been fishing and was so excited to see what it was like.  First thing they woke up that morning they asked if it was the day to go fishing. 

We didn't know until we got there that it was their annual Kid's Fishing Day, so the place was packed with kids for free fishing on that day. Although they re-stocked the stream 4 times that day, we only got to watch other people pull in THEIR fish! :(

Hayley was on a road trip with her parents on that weekend and we got to keep C and S, but when she got back we had more fun with the fake Thai nails.

It's a bit disappointing to them that they only stay on for a few minutes (it seems), but hey what do you expect for cheap-cheap! 

Seriously, most of our time was spent out at Lori's new place cleaning, fixing it up, painting, and working together.  Meals were simple and picnic style! Thankful again for our memories together! 

We're home again!

Two days ago, Mike and I both left Arkansas and flew in opposite directions around the world to meet up in Bangkok. If you look at a globe, Thailand is almost exactly straight through the center of the earth from the mid-west,  so it took us about the same amount of time.  We would have loved to travel together, but when you get free mileage tickets, you take what you can get!  I went through London and he went through Tokyo.  We were very happy to see each other again in the Bangkok airport and fly up together to our home in Chiang Mai!

God’s timing is always amazing- and he proved himself to be faithful once again to us this past month.   Just a few days before we planned to come back, we still felt uncomfortable with leaving Lori.  She still was not too settled!  She had a job with a horticulture company with good pay and benefits- but the day before we left, she admitted that she too,  did not have a peace about the job.  She called to go back for another job interview (that same day) for a job that she had previously  turned down.  The next day ( which is the day Mike left) she started work for them.  We all feel that job is God’s provision for this time in her life.  Her housing situation became a bit complicated, too- but she decided on a home out in the country that has been vacant and she is pouring a lot into fixing it up.  Buzz ( her dog) will be happy to be in the country.

It was such a busy time of looking for housing and jobs- which God provided right at the end.  Lori was very resourceful and we are proud of her for working so hard.  She still has a lot of work to do on the house and adjustments to a new community, but we know that God is providing for her. 

Talk about “highs and low”- this time for us in the USA has been very difficult and yet we’re thankful for the time we got with our kids and grandkids.  I counted that I packed my bags- moving houses and locations 13 different times.  God continued to encourage my heart and give me His peace throughout these past two months as I spent time with Him and through several friends encouraging words. Throughout this time, God used friends through e-mails, phone calls, or words of encouragement to give me some confirmation that I needed.  I’ve learned a lot this month about waiting, trusting, and confidence in God's sovereignty!  God has once again proven himself to be so faithful to all of us.  

Just so happens that our last night together was our 35th wedding anniversary!  No one we'd rather spend it celebrating with. We had a fun evening together with the kids as they quizzed us with a Q and A time about our 35 years. So thankful for our adventuresome marriage together as we walk with God together through all that He brings our way! The journey continues on! 

Awana

Collin, Summer and Hayley have been involved in the Awana program every Wednesday evening this year. I got to be a spectator at their final Grand Prix race.  They had been working on their cars and making them each week leading up to this race night.

The whole evening was kind of a big deal to them and all the children there.

You'll notice here that it was a pretty big deal to some of the parents, also. 

They were so proud when it was their turn to race.

Collin posing for Nina before he races. 

Love the excitement on Collin's face as he watches his car here.  

Summer, too!  It was an double elimination and her car made it into the finals. 

The Awana's program is such a great program for kids teaching them Bible truths and to be spiritually strong. I love hearing them say their memory verses to us-- even little Hayley! So glad we could be spectators at this special evening for all of them 

Walmart

This is Walmart land down here, so last weekend we decided to visit the original Walmart!  When Sam Walton opened his 5&10 on the Bentonville town square in 1950 he had no idea that he had  planted what would be the global leader in retail. It is just a short drive from Fayetteville.

   

At that original sight there is now a visitor center. 

You can see his original office and watch a movie about his life.  Walmart is often considered a low-end place to shop but after learning about their history and role they have played in helping people, we appreciated the company more.

Mike and I especially enjoyed reminiscing as the original 5&10 is chocked full of retro toys and candies.  Wax lips, root beer barrels, Lincoln logs, whirly pops, etc brought back a lot of memories and we enjoyed our old fashioned treats with the kids. 

Employing more than 2 million associates worldwide, their headquarters  in Bentonville has a presence everywhere in the small town. The demo Walmart is so very beautiful compared to many of them that we've been in around the world. Although they are throughout Asia, we do not have one in Thailand. 

No connection here, but while we were in the area we decided to grab a burger at another out of town favorite. We'll soon be returning to the land of rice- so we gotta fill up on all those hamburger and pizza American food staples.  I've pretty much confirmed that if you are having an American social event (especially with high school or college students) and don't know what to feed the people... just order pizza-- it'll work every time.  Save the rice and fish for the island kids on the other side of the world!

Lessons Learned

Maybe it is better to say lessons I am learning.  The following topics have been themes in my life these past several weeks.  Some of them are attributes of God that I am focusing on. Along with each of them, I have  a string of verses that help me to gain God's perspective!  I really cannot imagine life with out God and his scripture to keep me on track!

trust

rest

belief in God

be still

patience

faith in God

depend on God

hope

accept

peace

humility

confidence in God's sovereignty

expectation

promises of God

Mother's Day

I'm thinking that yesterday was one of the best Mother's Day ever.  Possibly because I got to see all four of the girls who made me a mother. We can't remember when that happened last-- most likely it was back when they were all still home in high school.

The day was so fun, exhausting, and random! Started out with everyone at their own churches and then lunch together (except Jen).  She was in Branson at her brother-in-laws college graduation and honoring her wonderful mother-in-law.

Mike had the grandkids held captive before lunch as he told them a story! 

Nathan thought the candy necklace that Mike gave Summer was pretty cool! 

Summer enjoying her ice cream after lunch!

We are taking in as much as we can with these sweet ones while here!

The girls decided for my Mother's Day gift that they wanted to take me shopping and let me pick out a new clothing item from each of them.  Little did they know what they were getting in to.  We shopped and shopped and shopped and got little.  Just couldn't find anything due to several things (pickiness, prices, weird styles, you know.....) Finally after 7 stores- bingo.... Happy Mother's Day to me! It started out so fun and by the end we were just dragging and ready to buy ANYTHING (just to go home) !

This weekend was also graduation at UofA- and a lot of parents were in town.  We were able to meet some of the parents of students involved in the ministry here. Last night, after the Seilers rolled back in town - we met at the Foltz's for some family time!  Roxie's family was here from Taiwan/Bolivia/California and came over to Foltz's. Roxie has been a key student in the ministry.  Her family is a very international family like ours and we had so much fun together eating, Zumba dancing, and sharing Chinese/Thai massage technics.  It was crazy and fun!

We are on the countdown now for our return to Thailand and good-byes in a week. So thankful that our director and colleagues advised us to stay.  Still trusting God for the final details of a job, housing, and new community for Lori before we fly the coop again! He is faithful!

Virtual Staff Meeting

We have mentioned often how thankful we are for the new advances of technology and just how much the Internet has changed our lives of living on another continent from friends and family.  Now we are benefiting from it's affects in our ministry also.  The children at the Ranong Kid's home have been getting more and more assignments from their teachers to be researched on the Internet and we have recently purchased 2 computers for them to use.  It has taken a bit of effort to get them all hooked up and trained- but now we are able to have regular Skye calls with the team there also.

A few days ago, Mike met with them for their weekly staff meeting.  He has been able to lead a meeting with the staff there even while in  a time zone that is 12 hours different.

Last week, the dorm parents were able to take the children out to get their new school uniforms for the school year that will start this week.  This year after the addition of 7 new children, there will be 23 in the home studying on the mainland. 

The children that have family members, went home to their villages over the summer break.  Our staff there have been following up with all the ones  who attended the Kids Kamp in Ranong last month. This photo was taken on the last day of camp.  We are so expectant concerning the potential in all these children as they continue to grow both in academics at school and spiritually through their training from our staff. The Skype appointments where we can talk with them and see them make them feel not so far away at all. 

Feast or Famine

After living most our lives either international or separated, it feels like our family has entered into a new chapter.  When the girls finished high school and moved back to the USA our visits with each other were always short, intentional, anticipated and very very valued.  Hence the "Feast or Famine" feeling.  We would be separated by such a distance that when we finally got together, we wanted every minute to count with each other and treasured and valued each moment.  We  finished our times together with such great memories of catching up and cramming as much family time in as possible.

Now since all four girls  are living in the same city and we are here for a visit- we have all learned that  being together 24/7 is not as fun long term.  When we are all together there are 13 of us, and the living spaces are not  quite suitable for that many people- nor the capacity to keep valuing every moment. It's not healthy for each individual family  and yet since it has been a family pattern for so many years, it's a bit hard to let go of. If we knew that we'd all be geographically together the rest of our lives, than it'd be easier to back off and give each other space and time- but then we're not sure how long that will last either. Sometimes it is hard to be in the same town and not together- knowing we may soon be separated again.

A little family council over the weekend discussing these issues and  boundaries was good.  The positive side of it all, is that this family loves each other and would like to be together daily, but knowing that may not be what is best we've decided we need to be more intentional about planning our times together for now. How sad it may be to get annoyed weary of being together too much! We still want to appreciate, love, and enjoy our treasured times together!

Aunt Lori's nieces and nephews are so happy to have another Auntie to love on them and we're still so happy that she has made this move!  These little ones are so lovable and fun in their innocence and love of life. I love how such little things can be so exciting to them! 

We are still waiting for God to show Lori the right job and housing!  Psalm 27:14, "Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord"- is a good one for all of us today! :) In the meantime, I will enjoy this time of "feasting"! 

S'More Love

The end of the college school year is always a busy time.  We've been staying with Michael and Bethany, but don't see a whole lot of them as they've been busy with their last appointments with disciples at University of Arkansas.  Last week, we got to go to the last Cru meeting of the year, which was "Cru under the stars".  I tried to capture a few photos, but since it was pitch black- there was nothing to see! This week was their "Legacy Banquet" too- where they honored the seniors who have been involved with the ministry and are moving out into the workforce.

This week, Bethany had one of her Bible Study groups over for a home cooked meal.  After that group left,   I got to help her with a little project when she made a gift for each of her disciples.  Lori, Bethany and I worked an assembly line to make 14 jars full of a S'more dessert recipe.

Bethany has built into these girls this year and is going to miss them over the summer! Hoping these gifts, handmade with love will be an encouragement to them until they reunite again in the fall.

Devils Den

I finally got to visit the Devils Den State Park here in NW Arkansas.  I've heard about their hiking trails a lot so was glad to finally go with the family.

It was a great activity to do since all 13 of us were together.

It is always refreshing to my soul to hike in God's creation!

There were plenty of adults to take turns helping the little ones. 

Love this little guys cheeks!

Taking a rest on the trail!

The stream was great for a skipping rocks contest.....

....which turned into a bit of a "throwing rocks at the last people to cross the stream" game....

....which turned into an even bigger all out family battle.  Not sure who's side Collin is on here, but it sure was a lot of fun for him to get everyone wet!