Die Like a Gentleman

We were blessed to have my dad visit for a few days just last week. It was such a time of encouragement and strengthening for our hearts.  The kids were thrilled to see their Grandpa and to get all the goodies Grandma sent.  My mom certainly knows how to pack a suitcase!!!


Thomas and I got to make the 2 hour trip to the city where my dad was flying in. Thomas had dressed with care, wanting to wear his Topi (hat) like Grandpa would have on too.  


Our taxi driver several times on our trip down made the ride more interesting (at least for himself) by racing with other cars.  He seemed to get a thrill of pulling up close behind them, riding their tail, honking, passing, and then as he passed, staring them down with a cunning grin.


As Thomas and I held hands during one of these episodes he turn to me and said, "Well, at least I am dressed in my best clothes and will die like a gentleman!"


Be careful with these homeschool kids.  They learn what they read and then repeat it when you least expect it!!! Thanks to one rendition of the "Titanic" my son at least knows what it would look like to die dressed as a gentleman!

Urdu or Sindhi?

After having studied our second language (Sindhi) now for about 2 weeks, I was feeling a little more confident to try out some of my memorized, rote phrases. 
So, yesterday I went to a store, just to "look" and to get in some good practice.  I thought it was all going well until the shop worker asked politely in Urdu (our first, second language), "Do you want me to explain this in Urdu or Sindhi?"  I guess he could easily decipher my inability to ask anything more than, "How much is that?" in pure Sindhi.  Everything else is coming out with mix and match.  Praise God that the people here are loving and patient, willing to let me not just slaughter one language but two and simultaneiously!!!


Thomas is confusing himself too.  Today he was riding around in circles in our our very small car port repeating over and over again in Sindhi, "What is MY name? What is My name?"  I'm not sure if I have been wandering around the house saying it wrong or if he is just combining the phrases he is hearing being said over and over and over again!


Who knew language learning could be so entertaining!!! Praise God he understands them all!


"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Bible: Rev. 7:9-10

He is Our Healer

Life has been tough the last two weeks.
My son has chaff on his backside because of the many many times he has cleaned up after diarrhea. There were times this past week where just the smell in the bathroom brought me close to throw up.
Appetites were so down that even when presented with ice-cream it was refused, rejected, "I'm too cold."  I  recall him having blizzards with his grandpa in winter weather several years ago.  The kid was just really sick.
Today, for the first time in a long time I welcomed the sound of my children bickering... someone felt better enough to push the others buttons.  He sat happily eating two bananas like normal as I read the Word early this morning and "I'm hungry" was the cheery call from the shower tonight.

All I can say is it has been a long few weeks and I am so thankful that with the typhoid diagnoses and meds in our bodies, we all seem to be getting better.  We have so many years of great health to thank the Lord for.  In all the places we have lived and all the water and food we have eaten, God has been so gracious to keep us healthy. Being so ill over the last few weeks has just caused us to rely on our Healer even more as we look to him to watch over and care for our family here.  God alone is the One who will keep us, through the rough and the calm.  

Back to Blogging

Well, back in '09 I thought I would blog.  It didn't happen.


Here we are now in '12 and I am ready to try again ... just every once in a while to share some of what we are experiencing in our home away from home.  


The word "life" gets hard to explain from a distance but the reality is that we face a lot of the same struggles and joys, just with a different flavor. 


So, as I get back into this world of blogging, don't expect too much.  Just hopefully some occasional highlights of life here to help you picture it a little better and to enjoy some of our victories, experience some of our challenges, and be Good News Junkies along with us for His name sake.

Happy New Year!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

For us this year has held many joyful experiences along with much "waiting."

We look back on much waiting and we look forward to more in the coming year.  The LORD reminded me this morning of the following.

Psalm 33:18-22  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,  ¹⁹ that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.  

²⁰ Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  ²¹ For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.  ²² Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

We look to the LORD as our help and our shield as our soul waits before him.  He is the ONE who has made glad our hearts.

Below are some pictures from our New Year's Eve Celebration in Thailand:

Visit to the Dolphinarium!

OUR GOD IS A GREAT BIG GOD!!!!
Yes there is much sand here.
But recently we were able to enjoy watching a little water.
We were astounded and amazed at our God once again as we enjoyed a show at the local Dolphinarium.
It was almost impossible to catch what they can do on camera but we thought we would share some of the joy with you.
Just imagine and be reminded...
What a GREAT BIG GOD we serve and know and love.

Dolphins and Seals "Singing"

 Blurry picture of dolphins jumping.

jjj

 Dolphins mid-air.
WOW OUR CREATOR GOD IS BIG!!!!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas 2009

John 3:17   For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

We had a wonderful time celebrating the life we have in Christ and the fulfillment of all His promises to us in Christ.

We had several parties, caroling, giving out candy canes and times together as family, sharing the story of Christmas as often as we could.

We decorated our "Jesus Tree." Each ornament declaring something about Who God is or who we are because of Christ.

We opened our stockings Christmas day after sharing what our gifts to Jesus were this year.

I think Bliss found something she liked!!!

We enjoyed an all American meal of turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes and more!!

"HAPPY" Christmas from us all!!!