"tryer outer's" vs. "Stick with what you know is good"

There's a type of people who find a hotel they like and return to it for every vacation....or when it comes to going out to eat, they like to go back to their favorite restaurant real often.... or the epitome is to not only go to the same place- but order the same thing off the menu every time. They say "if you know it's good- why risk trying something else?" I guess that sort of makes sense but on the other hand, there are people like me....continuously on a hunt to try out new places in life.

I do not like to return to the same place for a vacation -but really enjoy discovering and exploring a new city or country or hotel.  I enjoy checking out new restaurants and trying new things on the menu.

A few weeks ago, both Mike and Jon were gone- so Marisa and I used the time to check out new places in town. It was SO FUN!  I have also gone to a few others with different friends recently and even got Mike to try out a few new places with me. It has been nice to actually have some time in Chiang Mai this past month.

Here's a few of my favorites...

"Rustic and Blue" on Nimmanhaemin was such a fun place  for a girls night out.  Especially the little Tee pee tents  sent up around the garden to sit in.

It might not look like much, but the food at "Bay's Cafe" off of Canal Road is very delicious and all I can say is, "I can't wait to go back and try more."  Blueberry was my companion at this one, and it was good to get caught up on her life.

I always enjoy The Coffee Club at Tapae Gate, even if I have to borrow a photo off "the line" to show it's relaxing atmosphere.  Being attached to Burger King, helps for the kids to get a hamburger if they prefer and still sit with us.

Another favorite of mine, especially when asked to take a visitor out on the town is "The House" just inside the old city moat.  Marsha came from the USA to attend her son's wedding last weekend, and it was a pleasure for me to spend time with her and get to know her during her short visit.

Mint and I have spent some time together this week, as I've been trying to help her process some changes in her life.  She suggested that we try an Indian restaurant for dinner one night in the Nimmanhaemin area.  It was very good and another positive recommendation.

Last Sunday afternoon, while Jon was still out of town- Marisa led us to this restaurant that she had heard about. 

It has a great atmosphere for children so they can play while the parents eat and relax. 

The grand-kids really did enjoy all the fun things in their garden area. 

Each table had a unique setting. 

There were several places to really relax. 

It had a very Thai atmosphere, too.

It also has resort  hotel rooms.

My overall opinion of this one was that the kids had fun, their atmosphere was unique- but the food was "so-so".  I'm glad we went there once, but I'd rather keep exploring new places and probably won't return.  Chiang Mai has so many new restaurants, just one more reason we love our life here. 

nine years old!

Summer turned 9 on March 20th and I was happy to get to be with her this year.  Miss Reatha had left a bag of "cake batter" chap-sticks with us, so there were enough for her to pass out to everyone in her class along with the delicious sugar cookies that her mommy made for everyone.  It is so fun to visit her classroom.

The big surprise this year was for Summer to wear this dress of her mama's.  Marisa got this dress on her 9th birthday, and so Summer wore it out for dinner on her 9th birthday and surprised her Mama. 

I have not been able to save a lot of the girls childhood stuff so this is pretty rare.  Summer and I had been plotting this surprise for quite awhile. 

The big shoulder pads from the 80's was the funniest part.  The Italian restaurant that she chose gave her a scoop of birthday ice cream.

It was only for her so  notice what H and N thought about that. 

Her cake request this year was an ice cream cake from DQ! This girl has a lot of spunk and zeal for life and I hope she keeps it till she's 90!

Nathan turned 4 this month too!  Happy Birthday to Summer and Nathan!

Meet Daniel

I finally got to visit baby Daniel!  Can't believe that he will already be a month old this week.  I was with his parents the day of his birth in the waiting room and shared about it here.

I went with Jon and Marisa and we stopped at a small stall near our house on the way to pick up flowers.  It is literally a drive up and hand them through the window type road stand.  All these for 60 cents.

We also took some diaper burp cloths that I had made. 

Well actually, it was a little team effort with Marisa for two of our staff.  It is so fun to have things personalized here. 

Oh my.... this little guy could not be more adorable.  Look at all that hair...

.... and those tiny fingers......

...and those itsy bitsy feet and toes......

... and little lips!

He was making the cutest faces in his sleep!  What is he thinking with that little scowl here?

Rew and Dew just bought a little new house a few months before Daniel was born.  Their back windows over look these rice paddies. Very peaceful!

Sweet new family with a new baby in a new house!  They are very blessed! Congrats Rew and Dew!

Oh.... and GO HAWKS!!!

Saint Patrick's Day Dinner

It wasn't all that delicious, but I just felt like having fun with the grand-kids tonight.  Both Mike and Jon are out of town, so it gave Marisa and I a fun evening together with the kids.  They are always up for a celebration!  I was actually inspired by my friend Colleen who does this for her family every year.

EVERYTHING WAS GREEN, OF COURSE!

Invitations warned of no admittance without wearing green!

Everything on the table was green, and very kid friendly!

The green eggs and ham (no picture)  were not such a hit, but the green pancakes were the favorite!

Hayley thought the green butter and green syrup was cool! 

Collin loves green seaweed (like his papa), so he was happy to find that on the table.  I pretty much went through my cupboards and pulled out everything green as random as it was. 

Green water, anyone?

Cantaloupe juice!

I liked the green jello salad, but like I said- the kids loved the pancakes.

Now that you are completely disgusted with our menu, enjoy your St Pats day and have some fun with your own green food to make some memories with your family! Thanks Colleen for your inspiration! 

Chiang Mai Pollution

We are having some pollution problems once again during this dry season. Someone posted this picture on a website which illustrates the issue well.  It happens most every year during March and April.  I would describe Chiang Mai seasons like this:

Nov. to  Feb.- Cool season, wonderful, comfortable, and we love the weather.  This year was especially nice right up till the end of February.

March and April- Our two hottest months, very dry and dusty.

May to October- Still very hot and humid- but rainy season clears the air and gives some occasional relief to the heat.

So right now, we are in the hottest months.  It happens every year and we just expect it, and I'm glad we know that the air will clear next month again. Last week, we visited a friend up in the mountains near the city and we could see the fires burning  from the farmers all around us and the smoke as a result  The thick smoky haze is caused by farmers burning off secondary growth.

I find it interesting how different people handle the smog issue.  I actually feel uncomfortable the way many foreigners complain about it a lot and negatively talk about it constantly. Since we are guests in this country, we prefer to observe how the locals handle it and adapt with them. I wonder what they think of the way the guests in their country buy expensive air filtering machines, stay locked up in their AC homes, and wear face masks all day- especially since they can't afford to do that and go on with life as normal.

There are AQI websties, where we can check the hourly levels of the air quality, but it doesn't really change anything that we can do about it. Considering our neighbors up in China have air quality much worse than ours, I feel thankful that ours is only for a month. I just looked at theirs and they range between 200-999 is some areas.

Yesterday Mike left on a flight and the visibility was so low that they cancelled four flights and he was not sure if he would get out.  He said there were not seats in the gate waiting area because of all the extra people.

It will be a very happy day when the first big wind storm blows in next month and clears the air. Until then, we will live with our  burning eyes, some dizziness, and try not to complain  or be dramatic foreigners.  As the Thai's say "may pen rai"... (it doesn't matter... no problem)!

Congratulations Ga and Phil!

Ga and Phil had a beautiful wedding at the Payap University Chapel last Saturday.

I love the way the flower girls take their job so seriously!

Ga has been on staff and worked with us for many years.  In fact she was one of the first students in our ministry when we moved to Chiang Mai. This is a picture of some of the people involved with TCCC who were at the wedding.

Mike and I were honored to share the "Message of Encouragement" with them at the ceremony.

Ga loves white, so requested guests to wear white to the wedding.  Here's just a few of the pretty ladies, that I caught  on camera.

The reception was a fun one and although Thai's don't usually dance at weddings, Mike pulled me up for a short dance.

We are so happy for both of you, Phil and Ga in this new adventure as you walk with God!  We wish you a lifetime of happiness together both in Thailand and at your new home in New Zealand! 

From Buddha to Jesus

This book was so helpful to me in many ways.  I recommend that every Christian (Thai and Foreigner) working with Buddhists  read this book.  I wish that I would have read it a long time ago. Steve, the author was a Buddhist and is able to explain so well as an insider  the way he believed and searched in Buddhism which brought him to the truth. I was surprised to realize how much the search in Buddhism is the same as the search for Christianity.  He believes that if we look hard enough, we will find that God has left some truth pointing towards his Son in every culture.  

After 187 years of Protestant missionary activity in Thailand, Christianity that tries to share God's love while turning a blind eye to Buddhism has not worked. He helped me realize that Christianity needs to engage Buddhism and adapt our methods without compromising our message. 

Most of the Thai people that we talk to here are not strict, "religious" Buddhists.  I've heard their faith described as "high identity-low practice". Many of them are deeply enmeshed in various forms of popular devotion that is tied to astrology, spirit devotion, spirit houses, fortune telling, amulets, and merit- making.  We often have preconceived ideas that Buddhist's are closed to the gospel, but they are not. Once we understand Buddhism better, we can start from a place of commonality, instead of a place of  'I'm right, you're wrong', and this teaching releases people. 

I'm grateful for what I learned from the author about the 'Five Golden Rules of Buddha' and the 'Four Noble Truths'. If you want to understand Thai Buddhists better and how to talk with them, I highly recommend this book.