Soccer Outing

Last summer, I began playing soccer with some other expatriates (most from Europe or the US) on a weekly basis. For several months, we played weekly against locals in “friendly” competition. Unfortunately, the competition was often less than friendly. Moreover, I felt that I might be missing out on an opportunity to make local friends by joining a local team.

For almost two months I inquired of my friends if there might be opportunities to play on a local team. Finally through the co-worker of a friend of a friend, I was invited to show up one Saturday to play. Luckily, they were short on players that day.

They allowed me to play from day one, but becoming a part of the team has been a long process (six months so far). Leaving a team (expat team) where you could banter freely during breaks to join a team who are old friends that didn’t come to spend time with you has been quite a growing experience for me, yet such a necessary one. Having followed His leading to this country may have blinded me a bit to the fact that most locals view our presence as insignificant at best.

I’ve mentioned before how feeling small has reminded me of how big He is. It also reminds me that I am called to play a small part of something big, much like you in your life situation. Let’s lift each other up as we make our contributions, realizing that He has the power to multiply the impact of our offerings.

Recently we took the whole family to one of my soccer matches. Upon learning my family would attend, one of my teammates invited the whole team to eat dinner at his restaurant that night. What an interesting and meaningful day it turned out to be.

Gracy and the kids made some new friends from the sidelines, where the dirt proved to be the kids' most interesting form of entertainment... Susanna "chatting" with her new friend, Ruan JiaHao Bing was my initial contact to the team.Me and the guys ...After the game, we headed to Hao Bing's house to hang out until dinner time. There, he and his friends served us tea--which we learned can be quite an extravagant ordeal, depending on the type of tea that is served. Susanna found the process quite intriguing... as did we!After tea and snacks, we rode with Hao Bing and his wife Xiao Xia to the restaurant for dinner. The guys played checkers while the ladies chatted and the kids enjoyed watching the fish in the pond outside. We also enjoyed a couple of games of ping pong before eating a HUGE meal consisting of a variety of local flavors.

It was fun to be included in such a relaxed and enjoyable evening. By the end of the night, we almost felt like "old friends" ourselves.

Camping Trip

When it comes to making contacts, businessmen prefer to leave their families out of the process altogether, thereby keeping work and home separate. But what do you do when your work is building friendships? Should this be a solo venture or a family affair?

Nine months ago, I reached a crossroads. Our company requires that I invest at least forty hours weekly into my work. Should I continue to venture out alone to study language and culture and to make friends? Knowing that values are caught and not taught, how would my children ever catch my (His) values if these values kept us constantly separate?

It was at this point that I determined as much as possible to integrate my family into this process. At least for now, I have shifted away from spending a good deal of time with college students and spend more time with career professionals and families. I am more aware of people in environments that my children already participate in, such as preschool. These relationships are drawing our whole family into a deeper understanding of and communion with our friends here.

This camping trip was one of those opportunities. Caleb and I were invited to join some of his classmates for an overnight excursion a couple of weekends ago, so we borrowed camping gear from a friend and headed out for an adventure.

We rode with one of the three other families that went, and arrived after an hour drive into the mountains. Before heading to the camp-site, Caleb and his friends had fun throwing rocks into the river--a favorite activity of his since he was old enough to throw.

Then we hiked in and set up camp, and the kids took turns playing on the swing nearby.

Exploring the woods and river, and of course, catching tadpoles and other water creatures kept the kids happily entertained for the evening. It's always fun to get away from the city for a while and enjoy the great outdoors.

After dinner, a campfire, and a short night's sleep, we were ready for a hearty and now-familiar breakfast of rice noodles and soup.

Later, Caleb and Dorothy enjoyed each other's company on our hike to the waterfall.

Throughout the weekend, it was a great joy to grow closer to my son and to see him connecting with and valuing people. I'm looking forward to more opportunities such as this.

Tribute to My Grandmother

On March 25th, my precious grandmother, Kate Holder, passed away. She was ninety-six years old, and had lived a good, full life. I struggled greatly with not being able to return home to grieve with my family and celebrate her life with them at her funeral. Though I always knew that part of this life would be missing things like this, actually experiencing the loss and having to grieve halfway around the world from her and my family was painful.

I think one of the hardest parts of not being there was grieving alone. So many people loved and admired her, and to be so far from family and friends as they gathered together to talk about her, remember her, grieve her death, and celebrate her life was difficult.

But I called my parents every morning and night for those few days and they filled me in on details as funeral arrangements were made and the visitation and funeral came and went, and it helped so much to be a part of things in that way. They also videoed the funeral service, took pictures, and saved me a program so that I can share in those things as well.

I wrote the following letter to her that was read by a friend of the family at her funeral service. Maybe it will give you a glimpse into the kind of lady she was, and how much she meant to me.

Dear Grandma,
I sure wish I could say this to you face to face, hug your neck one last time and tell you I love you. We all knew this day would come, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
A lifetime of memories and a heart brimming full of love makes it nearly impossible to describe what I feel as I remember you. There’s so much about you that is such a deep part of me. Memories of you are memories of home—feelings of warmth and love and happiness that come from the peace of belonging. Images of the familiar, like apple slices drying on the dashboard of your car, wind chimes singing their peaceful song from the front porch, purple hydrangeas and a field of yellow daffodils, and a well tended garden promising all manner of good things.
I remember bright Easter Sundays and egg hunts in your backyard, the smell of Brunswick stew and biscuits and cornbread drifting on the breeze, and you hard at work in the kitchen with your apron on, cooking and serving and making sure everybody got taken care of.
I remember staying with you the times I was sick and couldn’t go to school—you sitting in your rocking chair piecing a quilt or shelling pecans or butterbeans, and me sitting in the chair beside you eating chicken soup and soda crackers and graham crackers, thinking how much better it all tasted at your house.
I remember you teaching me how to cook, and asking you how much salt or whatnot to put in. You said, “Oh, ‘bout a pinch or two,” and “Well, just til it gets to tastin’ right.” It was at that moment I realized that knowing how much to put in without measuring is what made you such a great cook. Though we all try, none of us can make an apple pie, caramel cake, blackberry cobbler, sweet potato biscuits, or anything else like you did.
I remember you doctoring me with campho-phenique the day I got into some ants when Daddy and the men were cutting up a limb that had fallen from the old oak tree. I learned that day that campho-phenique and a grandmother’s love can help just about anything.
I’ll always remember the sight of you working in your garden—pulling weeds, picking tomatoes, hoeing and such, all the way up til the last few years of your life. And I know if I’d have been there to see it, I’d never forget the sight of you, 90 plus years old, climbing through your window to get into the locked house… You never were one to let much stand in your way when you were determined.
I remember your love for hymns and good southern gospel music, and how you loved to hear us sing and play, no matter how good or bad it might have been. And I remember your love for reading Janette Oke books and watching Little House on the Prairie, both of which I inherited a love for also.
I remember the twinkle in your eye and the way you’d smile and try so hard not to show your teeth, but how Daddy could always say something that would make you lean your head back and laugh out loud.
I remember the hum of the sewing machine and the curve of your back as you skillfully pushed the fabric through. And I remember your hands—hands that were strong and productive—always busy providing for your family or making something to care for others.
I remember your humility and the strength of your faith—you reading the Word and watching Billy Graham speak, and the way your life spoke without you having to say a word.
I remember how you cared for and delighted in your children and grandchildren and great grand children. And how your eyes could speak volumes, shining so with humor or pride or love, eyes that had seen nearly a century of changes in this world and held in them all the wisdom of a lifetime.
I remember your presence—quiet and steady, humble, full of dignity and strength and grace. You were a woman of principle, of temperance and faith, a woman of devotion to your family and loved ones, who loved the Father and hated gossip and strife. You were quick-witted and good-natured, and when you spoke, people listened ‘cause they knew it was worth hearing.
Grandma, all the words in the world can’t capture the person that you were or the life that you lived, or the depth of character that you had. All the letters in the world couldn’t describe how much I’ve learned from you and how much I’ve admired you in so many ways. And even though I know you didn’t love to be the center of attention, you’re the kind of person who deserved to be. And so today I join with all my family as we rise up and call you blessed, for you have left us a legacy of faith and love that we will treasure and carry with us for the rest of our lives.
I love you with all my heart, Grandma, and I’ll miss you dearly, as long as I live on this earth. But I know that one day, when we see each other again, we’ll turn our eyes together toward our Blessed One, the Rock of Ages, and worship Him side by side throughout all eternity.
Until then, Grandma,
With all my love,Gracy

Guess who turned two!

March 14th was Susanna's 2nd birthday. We were still in Thailand, and all family had gone home, so it was just the five of us to celebrate with her. Though it was strange not having the option of inviting friends and family to her party, we still had a really special and memorable day together enjoying her and the irreplaceable role she plays in each of our lives.

The day began with breakfast and skyping David's parents so they could wish her a happy birthday. Then we were off to the playplace at the shopping mall for an hour of sliding, running, jumping, swinging, squealing, riding and playing games.

Lunch at McDonald's was a welcome treat for the kids after so much exercise!

When we got home, the birthday girl was worn out and ready for her "boppy."

After naps, the kids were ready to go again. First they played in the yard and then inside with the balloons.

Soon it was time for dinner, and Susanna helped me cook her choice meal: blueberry pancakes, bacon, and eggs.

Before we ate, we all donned our party hats and crowned her the birthday princess.

After dinner, it was time for the ice cream cake (we certainly did not have a lack of Western food in Chiang Mai--what a treat!).

Susanna sure enjoyed it!

And Caleb did too!

Once we'd eaten to our hearts' content, we called Mom and Dad on skype so they could join us for the opening of gifts and cards.

Susanna was excited to tell them how old she is now...

Okay, try again! =)

And to read the card from her Bubba--the first card he'd ever written entirely by himself! It said, "Happy Birthday! You're so beautiful pretty. I love you, Susanna. Caleb."

My how they change in just 2 years! Seems like just yesterday she was that tiny 5 lb 15 oz little bundle of joy... ...and now she's a precious, two year old, twenty-two pound big bundle of joy!

What a treasure she is to us all! May we have many more years with her, and may she live a life full of all the joy and meaning that comes from Him. We love you, Susanna!

Good to be "home"!

So now we’re back to the city where we live in Asia. Woohoo!!! Our last three weeks in Thailand were spent doing medical and dental checkups, immunizations, and waiting for Emily’s paperwork to go through. The waiting began to seem really loooong, but things got a bit more interesting when we got word that the people who normally rented the house we were staying in were coming back early and that we needed to find somewhere else to stay for the last 5 days before we left! (We’re learning in times like these to say, “Alright, time for an adventure!”)
So we packed up and moved to a hotel…

One little room was our home for those few days, and we had some really good times together.

One thing about all our adventures...they really bring us closer together!

In the room, there were two beds, so Susanna slept in the pack ‘n play,

Emily slept with me,

and David slept with Caleb, if there was any room left in the bed when Dave was ready to turn in!!!

We got the kids their own backpacks and they enjoyed carrying what they “needed” (toys, of course!) throughout our explorations and travels.

Though we enjoyed our time in Thailand, man, were we ready to get back to our city, our people, and our work, and be done with transition for at least a little while! Toward the end of the week, however, we weren’t sure if we were going to get Emily’s passport and visa back in time. David had to make several trips to the Embassy and the Consulate to “hurry things along” as best he could, but thankfully everything was finished the afternoon of the last business day before our flight was scheduled!!!
So we said our goodbyes to the city of Chiang Mai...

and arrived back here on March 22nd. We are living in our friends’ apartment while they’re in the States having a baby, so it’s nice to be in a place that’s both furnished and familiar. It sure is good to be “home”!!!