Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Merry Christmas

Phuket Thailand
Phi Phi Islands, Thailand


Merry Christmas 2011,
Another year has come and gone, another year away from our dear friends and family,  and another year of developing new friendships.  The trade-offs somehow balance out, but we do miss our daily interactions with you all (and life in the States).   We have been tremendously blessed with perspective on so many fronts:  1) Family and friends are precious gifts, better than any wrapped presents under the tree.  Enjoy every moment with them, as often as you can.  2) No matter how difficult our circumstances are in the US, they don't even begin to compare to the living conditions we have witnessed in Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Bangladesh.  Appreciate a roof over your head, a car to drive, dinner on the table, clean water, medical attention, dental care, access to education, and available jobs for those willing to break a sweat.
3) Living abroad sounds glamorous to others,  but our days have also been filled with the trials of trying to find familiar products, driving on "the other side" of the road, paying a premium for rent, cars and groceries, paying income tax in Singapore "and" the United States, having rich established relationships for when you just need a shoulder to cry on, longing for just one day when you can bundle up in that favorite cozy sweater without having the air conditioning cranked, communicating with the local Singaporeans in “Singlish”, moving again (these close local moves are almost as much work as moving across the world and at least we now have hot water in our kitchen), paying for parking everywhere you go, sweating profusely by just walking to the local grocery store at 8:00 am.  On the flip side, our opportunities to experience South East Asia have enriched our lives immensely.  4) Growing in our Christian faith isn't impossible, even in Asia.  We have found a very vibrant community.  We attend church weekly and the girls are actively involved in a thriving Young Life Youth Group with their fellow high school buddies.  We have gained a better understanding (although minimal) of other world religions and we embrace our freedom to practice Christianity without persecution.
5) High School Education and the multitude of programs in an American international school are phenomenal, although like every household, our girls always seem to be complaining about homework.
So here's the part where you can say "Oh, I get it!” We all feel so fortunate to have experienced this year.  The people, places, cultural heritage, and incredible Nat Geo moments:

Places                                     Brian               Rachelle          Jacqueline      Alison                                        

United States
                          

Home                                       1/11 & 7/11      1/11 & 8/11    Jan 2011         Jan 2011
Chelan                                     Jan 2011         Jan 2011         Jan 2011         Jan 2011
Doha, Qatar                                                                                                    
Middle School Choir                                                                                      
Jimbaran, Bali                              X                      X
 Happy 50th b-day Rachelle
Seminyak, Bali                                                     X                      X                 X                                                                                                                                                                                      Siem Reap, Cambodia                 X                      X                      X                 X
 Caring for Cambodia                                     
 Volunteer Work Trip
  Angkor Wat
Chiang Mai, Thailand with            X                      X                      X                 X
  Laura Brossard
  elephant Nature Reserve
  Interacting with Live Tigers
China with Larry, Susan, Katie        X                      X                      X                 X
 And Libby Boss
Beijing, China                              X                      X                      X                  X
 Great Wall
Xian, China                                  X                      X                      X                  X
  Terra Cotta Warriors"
Chengdu, China                           X                      X                      X                  X
  Giant Pandas
Jakarta, Indonesia                       X
Dahka, Bangladesh                     X
Bombay, India                             X
Shanghai, China                         X                       X
Seoul, Korea                               X
Hong Kong                                  X
 Shopping trip with Anne Dunn                                 X
 Disneyland with Libby,& Susan                        X                     X                  X
Langkawi, Malaysia                    X                                              X                  X
Johor, Malaysia                          X
Taipei, Taiwan                            X
Telunas, Indonesia                                                                      X                  X
 Young Life Camp
Local Singapore Sites                X                       X                      X                 X
Phuket, Thailand
2x                   X                       X                      X                  X
   Scuba Diving Lessons
Krabi, Thailand                          X                       X                      X                  X
  Family bonding and
  The Andaman Sea

Although we miss you all dearly and our bank accounts are depleted, we are so much richer for all of these blessings.
So, when will we move back "home"?  Next week, next month, next year?! Our answer? Only time will tell.
Until then, we are embracing every day and every experience life has to offer.
Wishing you all the Blessings of Christmas and a Wonderful 2012
With Love~ Brian, Rachelle, Jacqueline and Alison

Surfing in Kuta, Bali
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Caring for Cambodia
Chiang Mai Thailand

Elephant Nature Reserve- Chaing Mai Thailand

Tiger Kingdom, Chaing Mai Thailand

Terra Cotta Warriors - Xian China

Xian, Chian  Terra Cotta Warriors

Great Wall of China, Beijing

Panda Reserve, Chengdu China

Andaman Sea, Krabi Thailand

Krabi, Thailand



Monday, August 15, 2011

1st Day of School "High School"

August 15, 2011
I know they won't be happy with me, but.....
10th


9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th
Currently Missing 3rd Grade Photo

2nd

1st
Kindergarten 

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Chiang Mai, Thailand


 July 2011

I would say more, but I really struggled with formatting the photos on post.  There has got to be a better way, or a better blog tool.

This lovely lady of a Karen Hill Tribe weaves scarves for a  living
while her husband works in the fields.  Her baby is asleep in the hammock behind her.



Another Karen Hill Tribe Elder

We went on a tricky and slippery hike this day.  Beautiful waterfall, but treacherous  climbing.
Beautiful roof adornments

The Elephant Nature Park

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Krabi, Thailand



This is how they transported us out to our boats at low tide.

We loved our stay here.









Love these lanterns.  I'm looking for my own.
Has anyone seen where to buy them in Thailand?



Good to know!

Brian and I paid our fee, was given a flashlight,  but I only managed to get into the cave about 50 feet.  There were bat droppings all over the plank footpath.  I could hear them above us and just couldn't bring myself to delve in any further.




Looking back at where we stayed from the beach at low tide.

Our morning breakfast friend.


Chicken Rock behind us.

At low tide we walked from one island to the next across a sand bar in the Andaman Sea.
So cool!


These are the most interesting little crabs.  They are all over the beach .
They scurry out and do whatever they are doing with the little balls of sand. (Feeding?)
and make this perfect little starburst around their entrance.




Wishing Grandpa Harold a very Happy 91st Birthday!

This is how we arrived to our resort.







June 2011