Lots of Pictures

Here of are a whole bunch of pictures. The first bunch are from the first two weeks after we got home. So Jube still has his long hair. Below, a milk break—at about 4 a.m. when we were still working on jet lag issues.

My man climbed this tree to cut down some of the offending burls. The birds who come to this tree, leave behind droppings, which plant suckers right into the tree limb. So another kind of limb starts to grow, making a big burl and zapping the rest of the branch from its nutrients. We’re hoping to save the tree, but it really took a downhill plunge while we were in the states.

Water play. I had to take this picture to celebrate the warmth of Thailand after being cold for so long.

Cell group. Pii Kay, and Melissa, who is now back in the States. We miss her.

Halla and Emma.

Dru, Arlin, Champ, Orlando, and Scott.

Putting his bike away before it starts to rain hard. We’d just driven home on the motorbike, so he’s in his rain coat and helmet.

Licking beaters.

A break from mowing lawn. ‘Twas a warm day.

He’s cooking. The box is his stove.

     

Dragon fruit. Havilah loves it.

Another milk break.

My friend Lia. She’s from Indonesia, married to an American—a Beachy man from PA, no less. Right now Michael is finishing up at Payap and then they’re planning to move to Southern Thailand. I was at her house because we swapped cooking lessons. She taught me to make lemon chicken and I taught her cinnamon rolls. It was a nice day. And by the way, this woman amazes me. She falls into the category of super-woman if you ask me.

Children in the pool and Timmy stitching raisins from the rolls.

People ask me how it’s going with Dru in school. I love it. He’s in his element. And, at least for this semester, his homework load is not unreasonable. He’s less busy now than he was before, planning English lessons. We both feel like this period of our lives is a huge gift from God. We didn’t realize how much pressure we were under until now, when we’re not under it anymore.

If you look closely, you can see one of our “pet” lizards. We even have one who sports a blue head. (This is not him.)

Before.

After: Havilah’s Happy Birthday Cake.

When I was in school my sister and I took cake decorating classes. The final day we were supposed to do a cake. For Jenny and I, it turned out awful. Just not our thing. When we walked into the yard with downcast faces, Mom was in the garden. She was so sympathetic and understanding! She quit her work and came inside and we talked about it. It was a bad day, but it was a good day in that Mom “got it.”  So now, over a decade later, this is my victory cake. The frosting tasted awful because I didn’t follow a recipe—but it turned out cute.  Jube wants a snowman cake for his birthday. I’ll follow a recipe for the frosting and I think we’ll be just fine.

Yes, you can see that my hand is unsteady and it’s not perfect, but I’m unashamed of this lady bug and his (Jube insists that it’s a daddy lady bug) children. 

Havilah’s Birthday Picnic on the mountain.

Of course I forget the candle! 

Once the frosting was gone, she was done with the cupcake.

My good man.

Watermelon beats cupcakes any day.

Happy Birthday my special little girl. How did you get to be one year old so fast?