Smog

The atmosphere is oppressive this time of year. Burning in the mountains causes smoke to float down and settle into the valley. Chiang Mai is covered in an horrid layer of smog. I can see it even as I look out across my yard. The sun seems to give off a reddish color of light as it struggles to shine through the dirty air. At sun rise and sun set, this is especially evident.

The dirtiness pervades even the house. The only thing to do is keep a clean house and closed curtains. I like to think that helps. I could still dust everyday and still find more dust. Since the yard is drying out and grass brown, I find dry grass and dirt comes into the house much more quickly on our feet. So the floors get gritty faster.   

Even my nose knows it’s dirty out there. Dru and I both struggle with allergic headaches right now. He gets it worse than I, but he’s learned to cope better than in the first years. It’s gotten to the point that at this time of year, he just grits his teeth and bears it. We’re both thankful for Tylenol and Ibuprofen.  

It’s hot. The laundry dries fast and I’m thankful because l don’t like to leave it out in the smog to dry for long.

Going out into the yard is a little bitter right now. Our land lord came by the other day and then a few days later, we’re missing another big tree. The one behind the spirit house. The one exactly like it on the other side of the mango tree has been chopped down to much shorter, about the size of the mango tree. So we’re short on shade. The grass is brown, as I said before.

Some of my flowers show signs of dying in this weather, but others are thriving. I’m going to keep working at this whole flowers thing until I learn what works best in what weather and which flowers I’m not capable of handling because I’m me, and flowers don’t generally get along with me anyway.

However, I’m surprised at how I have adjusted to this kind of weather. I was dreading hot season, then I realized that my body has acclimated and it’s silly to dread it when it won’t be as bad as I thought it would be. The worst is yet to come. We’ll see how I’m feeling in a month.

Check this out: http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=1565

On Break...

So Dru's on break now and we both need it. Life has been crazy around here. About a week and a half ago Dru took his last exam. The next day he travelled to Southern Thailand and was gone for 5 days. I determined with in myself not to go crazy. I made decisions about not thinking about Dru and not missing him. I suppose that sounds awful, but I managed to survive. I was busy too. Rachel Zupke had returned from the village and Craig's were on their way.


They wore poor Rachel out. She came home sick and she slept a lot those first few days, just trying to catch up with herself. I was glad she could do that before her journey to the states. It was so nice to have her in my home again too, for that last week. She won the hearts of all the children she met--not just mine. You're welcome back any day Rachel!

I picked up Craig and Rachel all by myself at the airport late Monday night. I managed well up until I hit the curb on the way out of the parking lot. But I did get them home after all. We came home and put cookies in the oven. They were hungry (Craig's, not the cookies). I was thankful that Rachel Z. had mixed them up earlier that day. So started our very busy week.


I was very excited about Craig and Rachel Miller coming for a while. But it would be wrong to say that I wasn't even more excited about Dru coming back. I picked him up at the airport on Tuesday afternoon and didn't take him home right away either. We went out and ate a late lunch together and just looked at each other from across the table for a while just for the joy of it. Oh, we talked too--so  it wasn't awkward at all. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder, I think. After a while we made our way home.

That evening we went with Craig's and Rachel Z to Arlin's for supper. And the rest of the week is a sort of blur of business. Lots of fun and fellowship. Shopping with my friends. (Rachel Z. do you have pics of that?)  Lots of not enough sleep. Lots of babies all over the house. A little bit of sickness. Elephants...

Saturday night after Craig's had left for the village and Rachel Z. was safely at the airport, I told Dru I didn't think I'd be going to church the next day. I didn't and am thankful I didn't. I crashed. I'm still crashing. But I think perhaps I'll clean my house tomorrow.

Today Kayla came over and we made hair ribbons for our girls's hair. So I should have cleaned my house but that was a lot more relaxing.

I'm totally resting and enjoying this stage. Very much looking forward to the IGo staff retreat. Rediscovering my identity in Christ. Reconnecting with the man and the children. Reconnecting with God. He is good.