Five minute Friday

Grateful

Sunlight and shadows on the wall
2 minutes extra in bed before the insistent toddler get up screech
Happy girls singing while they work
10 word exchange with husband before toddler demands full attention again
Busy husband takes time to do the garbage
Friends who loan us a car when we need it
Kid play dates that are mom dates too
Glowing orange sky as the sun goes down
Deserted cul-de-sac tucked into the mountain's lush green shade perfect for a restful run
Security in knowing underneath are the everlasting arms
Big and small
Fleeting and constant
A full measure, pressed down and running over
Indeed full of thanks!

A difficulty of living far from grandparents

It took us two and a half weeks to secure babysitting so we could go out for our anniversary.

It was sorely tempting to just let it go, but with last year's history of no birthday, anniversary, or special day celebration accomplished because of sickness, we were more tenacious.  Well worth it.  We had a nearly-all-day-date that we spent at the National Park nearby.  We hiked to the farther beach, checked out the turtle conservation center there, took a boat back to the near beach for lunch, and had time for a quiet swing in a hammock together before the boat came to take us back to the start.  Not terribly romantic, but a much needed, well appreciated kid-free day out in the green and blues of this fantastic place.












It was not quiet!  The hike through the jungle was constantly alive with insect, frog, and bird noise - in a way, it was a relief to arrive at the beach for some relative quiet.  We didn't see any wildlife except a few lizards and one really long bright green snake we had to chase off the trail.

The turtle information center was small, but held my interest as we recently just studied a number of the mentioned turtles in science with the girls, and there was mention of open volunteering positions when the turtles come to lay their eggs (the center actually moves the eggs to safer locations, keeps watch over them, and guards the hatchlings' journey to the sea.)  Unfortunately, the staff were on lunch break so we couldn't ask more details right then.








On our way home, we caught this flabbergasting sight:

This is the driver holding the bike.  And there is a kid on the motorbike in front of him.  Not particularly noteworthy really, until you know that this is a snaking narrow road winding around the steep hills of the island - and he passed us! 

Easter

Easter celebrations were not quite what I had hoped 

but for where we are 

and what we deal with daily

it was good.

In the end is it not mostly about

our children learning and living 

the truths of the story?

That happened

differently than I dreamed

but it happened.

Friday night we joined an "Upper room Experience" at a church closer to home than our regular church.  It was good - even if it was only our family and the pastor's family! (Most of the church did this in their small groups.)  It was very simple: songs, scripture portions with explanations for the children, lamb, bread, and juice.  Other than the necessary late night recovery the next day, it was a good start to the weekend.

Sunday we celebrated at church and then in the afternoon, the girls got their egg hunt in the park.  This year we put in Scripture verses of the story in a treasure hunt form.  They were so excited and speedy, it was hard to keep up with them!

Aiden soon gave up trying and had his own fun:

Walking the girls' friend's puppy

 and sliding down the hill...

only it is no longer dry and covered with dead leaves as he remembered

but rather green with new grass

and brown with wet muddy ground

after the newly started rains...

I think I should have changed him out of church clothes...

he ended up coming down on his tummy....

a muddy mess but full of smiles!

Monday morning we attempted breakfast on the beach

to live out the post resurrection stories.

Attempted because we forgot about the new rains

and had no dry wood to cook the fish!

But more than that

an engineering class

poured onto the beach

and set up a sand castle factory

right in front of us.

On an empty beach they set up right in front of us!

Grace didn't take too long in joining a group to learn also.

Aiden and Jasmin soon found it boring 

and went swimming in their clothes.

None of them all that interested in eating.

But we had fun.
And it was different.
Marked Easter. 
Maybe next year my back will allow better planning and execution ;o)

Songkran Visa Run

Because Michael and Grace's passports took so long to renew, we had no choice but to go to Bangkok last weekend to renew our visas.  Not the best choice of weekends: Palm Sunday, a major festival in Bangkok (Songkran, when the whole city essentially becomes a gigantic water fight), and all of us except Daddy sick or just beginning to recover.  But, it happened and it was good despite all of that and more.

Friday we managed to squeeze in some banking that had to be done before everything shut down for Songkran as well as some long awaited shoe shopping for Grace. Aiden enjoyed trying on all the shoes too...

Saturday we met up with a friend so the girls could skate together with Anna. We tried out a new rink, and Jasmin christened it with knocking out a loose front tooth. Aiden snuggled in Mommy's lap...

Sunday morning we took part in palm branch waving at our church in Bangkok. Aiden was mystified with what we were doing...

Sunday afternoon the girls got to join one kid-sized community water-fight in the mall we were in for lunch. Aiden pouted on the floor...

 

We went for ice cream  while we waited for Daddy to find us. Aiden pouted on the floor...

 

Sunday evening we flew home (the train was fully booked until the end of the week!). We arrived at the airport an hour earlier than we needed by accident, and this is what Aiden thought of that extra wait...

This time he actually fell asleep. 
Aiden didn't enjoy the weekend very much.  But the rest of us did!