it's the heat........

Sometimes, we are asked what is the hardest adjustment here in Thailand for us.  Well, I can't say that it's the hardest--- but I can say the heat has been feeling so difficult lately.  I'll describe the heat here as constant, sultry, humid, stagnant, and intense. Sometimes, we ask ourselves, "So how have we survived this long?".  You'd think that I'd be use to it after living here for 35 years, but maybe I'm getting less tolerant in my old age.  It wears me out and after doing errands, having appointments, or being out in the morning- I just don't have much energy left in the afternoon.

I know I need to stop whining!  At least I have an  air conditioner in our bedroom that I can turn on to sleep at night, and a window one in our small office for when I work during the day.  What about the majority of Thai's and villagers- who do not have that option?  Are they just use to it and don't know any better? Am I just a spoiled and wimpy American?

Our Thai staff tell us that the extreme heat that we've been feeling lately means that winter is coming.  (they call it winter, we call it cool season) They said that the heavy rains and high temperature come just before the change of season.  We hope that's true!  The daily rains should stop soon and temperatures start dropping out of the constant 90's!

Oh, to be a kid again and use this method to keep cool.  It worked for our girls, and now it's my solution for my grand-kids.  There's nothing like water play to keep cool! I was tempted today to jump in there with Nathan.

Oh how I love this little guy and his zeal for life.  He's still dealing with an allergic rash all over his body and his dad and mom are trying hard to figure out what it is.  No other symptoms of fever or pain--- just a rash. He's so cute and funny with the things he says.  Wish there was a way to bottle up each cute phase of their lives.

Brave Bird

Every morning when I feed our dog Sam, this persistent and smart pigeon is waiting in the exact same spot for the feeding too.  As soon as I give Sam his food, the bird comes right on over as if on cue and waits for Sam to spill out a pellet or two for him to eat.  We've been having a problem with pigeons around our home and  neighborhood, building their nests all around the eaves drops, balconies, etc. and we are not real happy with the droppings they leave either.  We've tried lots of tactics to scare them off- but now they are really getting brave to think they can share poor Sam's food.  The sad part is that Sam used to love chasing them down like a good hunting Labrador and take care of them--- but he's just getting too old for that anymore and gives in to  let them eat his food. I'm still waiting for Sam to change his mind one of these days and show them his stuff when they get so close-- or since Mike misses hunting so much, maybe he'll help out Sam a bit, too.

PAPA & PAPI

We have had a special guest with us the past 10 days or so. Since our home is so close to Jon and Marisa's and we have more room, he stayed with us.  It isn't every grandchild who gets to have both of their grandpa's staying within a block of them and hanging out with both of them together.

Mike (Papa) and Jon's dad, Gene (Papi) have been friends ever since we moved to Chiang Mai over 20 years ago.  Somehow the grandkids gave them the names Papa and Papi and can refer to them back and forth and keep them straight.

Gene had the original vision to start Grace International School back in 1998, and has been back here for GIS board meetings this past week.  Our girls graduated from GIS and now our grandchildren are going there.  The school has changed so much since that first year.  God has used it in so many families lives.

This is the first meal at Jon and Marisa's rental house, in their side yard little picnic area with Papa and Papi. Delicious Gai yang (grilled chicken), sticky rice, and somtom (spicy papaya salad).  Don't mind the neighbors lovely backdrop!!!!!!

Papa and Papi playing UNO at our house with the girls. 

Saturday night dinner at our house (not sure Nathan likes the food here) followed by four-square in the driveway. 

Since Gene had board meetings at Grace everyday, he was able to drive Collin and Summer to school each morning.  Special time for all of them.

This week is "Spirit Week" at school and we started out Monday with "Crazy Hair" day.  Sorry about the bright morning sun at 7am Hayley, and the lovely garbage barrel in the background. (Welcome to Thailand) 

Nathan loves to say "CHEESE" for pictures so Papi joined him for this one., (sticker tattoo and all). Little Nathan has an un-diagnosed rash today which you may see a little of.  It's either heat rash or allergies-- hoping and praying that  they can find the cause.  We all love these grand-kids!!!!!

Hayley and Nathan

I can't even begin to tell you how fun it is to have 4 grand-kids living here in Chiang Mai with us.  Not just for a visit or a summer- but here to stay!  Collin and Summer are in school everyday, but Hayley and Nathan are home and come by often for visits.  Decided to grab my camera today to get some photos to treasure these days.

Nathan is at such a fun age and talks non-stop lately. He is SO funny! 

His favorite thing right now is a key or two on a key chain that he carries with him every place he goes and tries to open and close things. He uses it for and on everything and searches for it when he misplaces it until he has it again. Adorable!

His favorite toy is a tool set (thanks Miss Maggie) at my house that he works very seriously on, especially the skwoo dwiver!

He tries his best to keep up with his 3 older siblings but also lives in a world of his own, staying outside as much as possible.

Hayley is a pretty focused girl now, too. She enjoys cooking with my pretend kitchen set!

She is happy to stay home everyday and we love having her with us. (Well, she doesn't stay with me, but we like getting to see her during the day)

Hayley and Nathan both fill our days with joy and love and lots of activity, and we are so glad they have moved back to Thailand.

Phumpuang

Mike just called me from the south with more sad news from the kids home.  This sweet girl Phumpuang just died this afternoon around 3 pm. She was the daughter of the  village head, Deyo from Chang Island.  She has been in the home  since the first year it was started five years ago in 2008.  She was 13 years old and in 7th grade. Her death is somewhat a mystery making it difficult.  She has not felt well for the last few months and had strange symptoms.  They took her to different doctors who could not find any problem, even sending her blood to Bangkok to have it checked.  The Moken islanders called it the "Sad sickness". Mike was in the village yesterday and saw her and she did not seem that bad, as she was just sitting in her village hut.

Right now they are buying a casket to take out on a boat and to visit the family tonight.  She had grown so much in the home, was blossoming into a beautiful young lady, and had just returned to the village since she was sick. This is particularly difficult for Somsak and Uan (the dorm parents) and the other dorm kids to lose two of the older girls in one week. Her older brother, Billy has his finals tomorrow for high school which is a serious test in the school system here. Thanks for your prayers for all the villagers and the dorm kids and Mike.

I never got this sent out last night, so will add an update.  Mike visited the family last night and her dad told Mike this story!  They knew she wasn't doing well, so Mike had asked them to bring her into town and they wanted to take her to another city to a better hospital, yesterday.  As her father was carrying her to the boat to bring her into town she told him, "I am going to meet my Father".  He though that she was referring to her dorm dad, Somsak, as she was living in the dorm so that she could finish her high school that is not offered on the island.  She corrected him and said "No, my Father!"   Just minutes later as they placed her into the boat, she stopped breathing.  It was such a comfort to her parents, to know her last words were that she knew she was going to meet her "Savior and Heavenly Father."  Last night,Mike and the team spent time with her family and the villagers.  They took out a wood box for a casket and Mike helped to place her into the box.  The family just sat together in the hut with a lot of tears being shed.  The Moken tribe has it's own customs when someone dies.  They play very loud music with speakers, drink a lot of alcohol, get drunk, put mud on their faces,  and dance and yell loudly all throughout the night.  This custom has been passed down for many generations.  Even the Christians have continued to do this, which has disappointed us- but it is so ingrained into  death for them.   Phumpuang's family are Christians and seem to have one of the best understandings of life after death and chose not to follow that custom last night.  We pray her life and death and family will be a testimony to the whole village, especially with her dad being the village head.  It's exciting for us to see transformed lives in the Moken Sea gypsies. Instead of drinking away their sorrows to cover the grief feelings, last night they prayed and shared together about Phumpuang's precious life. We are so thankful for the changed lives we are seeing.

mothers and daughters

Watching my daughters become mothers has been one of the most gratifying experiences in life for me.  It instantly creates a teach-ability in new moms more than any other time.  There are so many things to learn when given the entire responsibility of a new life that needs you constantly for food, love and life. It's such a bonding time for a mother and daughter, to pass down family techniques and ways of caring for the new baby.  I enjoyed my time with both Jennifer and Bethany this past month, as I was able to live life with them and help them adjust to this new phase of life.

I do think that most of the maternal instincts come naturally, but every new mom appreciates the encouragement that she is doing everything right for her new little one, especially from her mama.

Can't say it enough, how thankful I am that last month,  I got to be with my two youngest daughters before, during, and after the births of their first babies.  Have I mentioned enough  how much fun it is to have these two cousins  so close in age and starting out already in matching outfits?

And speaking of mothers and daughters, I need to share the exciting news of the home that Jon and Marisa decided on here in Chiang Mai! It is sooooooo close!  Gotta get those pictures ready to post soon!

Donut

We've been dealing with some sad news this week concerning Donut at our Ranong kids home.  She has gotten involved with a girl friend that is not a good influence at all in her life and has decided to move out of the home and live with her friend.   She's only 15 and was in a technological school when she met her friend. The other children in the home and the dorm parents have talked with her a lot about reconsidering her decision,  but without having a father and mother of her own- they have decided to let her go and make her own decision.

It has been especially hard for all of us because Donut has always been like a "star" child and moved in the second year of opening the home.  She has a very rough background (never knew her dad and her mom is mentally disabled)  and yet she has grown so much in every area of her life and knows Jesus personally.

Please pray for the dorm parents who are pretty discouraged and the affect it has had on all the kids.  Mike will be down with them in a few days and is trying to help Somsak and Uan  realize it is "her" decision and not to feel responsible for her choices. Thanks for your prayers for all of them.

look alikes

We have heard from several people that two of our grand-babies from different families look so much alike. Have you noticed that too?  The verdict from many people is that baby Ellanora Allen looks a lot like Hayley Foltz when she was a baby.  We put Ellanora in one of Hayley's hand-me-downs to increase the resemblance.  This is what we got:

Ellanora is one week old on the left side here, but baby Hayley is just two days old on the right the day she came home from the hospital. Yea, in a way all babies look so much the same and yet you can already see a resemblance. 

It was fun for us to look through the girls baby books of when they were born and see the similarities of their babies with them and their daddy's baby pictures.  It's interesting how some grown kids don't look much like their baby pictures at all and others- you can see the splitin image of them from the start. Hayley is a good example.  I don't think she looks much like her baby picture at all.  

Just took this picture of Hayley today... such a doll baby she is these days!  

Anyway, it's going to be fun to watch these little ones grow up via pictures on the internet.  We already see big changes in them and are so thankful for technology enabling us to see them, even though we cant' touch, smell, and squeeze them.  

Love and miss those squishy little newborn faces so much, and realize those days are gone... never to return. Ellanora was one week old here.  I think new mom's get tired of hearing "they grow up so fast- enjoy each phase" - but our girls are already realizing how very true that is. Hug 'em for me too, please! 

there's no place like home

The good-byes with those sweet newborns was pretty rough for all of us, not knowing when I'll see them again including Lori and all the fam in the USA.  The travelling back was a pretty bittersweet time of good-bye and hello. So sad to leave and yet so ready to be back in my own home after living out of suitcases for three months.

After my 40 some hours of travel alone with an overnight in Bangkok, I was so so thrilled to find my family on the other side of the ocean waiting for me.  Lots of good hugs and "Welcome Back Nina" made me one happy Grannie.  The Foltz family is just now moving into the home that they decided to rent and we've been busy helping them with lots of household jobs to get the house ready.  It's definitely a bigger job in a foreign country.

It is so good to be back with my life-mate as we do NOT like being separated for a month like that ever ever ever.   After living in this house for over 15 years, it truly is home to us in so many ways.  Home-Sweet-Home! We've been able to make it "our" home, just as we like it  and the walls echo with memories from our family growing up here.  I can walk around at night in the dark and know where each light switch and step is comfortably.  It makes coming home feel so good and again I'm feeling very blessed and grateful!

Thanks for your prayers all along the way.  It was a good trip (as good as sitting in one seat for 14 hours straight can be) and I sensed your prayers and God's presence throughout the journey. Now just to get over the week of jet lag with early mornings and early evenings. Good Night!

good-bye to my sweet little ones....

I've been a bit slack lately on blog posting, because I've been busy in baby land and wanting to savor every last moment with the little ones.  Yesterday Ellanora turned 2 weeks and Ruby Kay turned 8 weeks. Ellanora's had some rough nights with sleeping and I've loved taking the night time shift of holding and rocking her - knowing it's not much longer that I can even do this.  I leave very early tomorrow morn (as in 4:00am) for my return to Thailand.  It's been a hard day for some of us.   I have photos of the little ones coming out my ears to take back with me.

Today when I got just a few minutes alone I was thinking about all those hard good-byes throughout life.....
-the first time you leave your baby with a sitter
-the first day they go off  to school
-their first week away at camp
-the first day you drop them off in their college dorm room
-etc. etc.

Today I decided that helping a daughter adjust to her first baby and living with them those first few weeks and then having to say good-bye to fly halfway around the world and with the thoughts of "who knows when I'll be back again" and doing it not with one daughter but TWO within 6 weeks...it ranks right up there with all those other first time good-byes.  I know these precious little ones are going to change so much in their first year- that it's something I don't even want to think about right now.

I've composed a handful of blog posts about their cuteness in my mind- but maybe and maybe not they'll come to fruition later on. Right now- I just want to be with them and hold them tight.  Until then... enjoy just a few updated pictures from this week.

Ellanora's first bath this week.

Sweet sleeping ten day old Ellanora.

Squishy pink hug-able  Ellanora Faye!

 Bright eyed, eight week old Ruby Kay

We can't believe how much Ruby Kay has already changed in just 8 weeks.  I can hardly handle how cute she is. Her eyes have captured me time and again.

She is at one of the cutest ages now...listening to our voices, and just by looking at her she gives us big smiles all day long.  RK is a very congenial baby and has such a charming nature. 

As you think of me and the girls, we need prayers for joy and peace and strength.  On the other end of the next 40 hours of travel, I'll have four more grandchildren to greet me in Thailand for which I am very thankful. 

woo pig sooie

These people around Fayetteville are very SERIOUS razorback fans.  I've heard about the tailgating and game day hype- but finally got to experience it myself for the first time on Saturday.

I've done just a little tailgating before (Go Hawkeyes!)- but this school has tailgating  lots for miles and miles. They are slightly insane with their "Hawg" culture.

All four daughters have turned into Razorback fans, especially the two  that have worked with students at the UofA.  It was fun to get to see the enthusiasm first hand, although it was in the upper 90'sF and it felt a bit like Thailand. Even baby Ruby Kay dressed for her team.

My son-in-laws are loyal fans!

I'm sure it won't be long until Ruby Kay will be doing the "woo pig sooie" call! 

Just spending time with all the kids and entering into their worlds is worth the time.  Thanks Ben for hamming up this pix for me. 

Jen, RK, and I went just for the tailgating party and headed home once the stadium started filling up. Tickets are pricey and the heat was a bit much for a baby and a grannie! Ben and Michael got to go though and were thrilled with a first game win!  Yay Hawgs!