Crazy

Ice on the water.. brrrrr


Sunrise


Sarah and I

Some say we are crazy, some just laugh, but it keeps us going. Sarah and I run every Tuesday, Thursday Friday and Sunday. We get up EARLY to go (5 am). I decided the other morning to take the camera so you could see what we see so early in the morning. It is breathtaking. Okay I am running so that could have something to do with me being out of breath. I also need to say that it is super cold here. We decided that if it was below 25 F that we would go to the gym and run on the treadmill. Well it the last few weeks it has been WAY below 25 F so the gym it has been. Enjoy what we enjoy.

Happy Birthday Isaac

We made it back from Thailand just in time to celebrate Isaac's 7th birthday. He really wanted to go to Pizza Hut for lunch.. big treat. We took advantage of going into town and did our big shopping too. It was a lot of fun. Everyone was still on vacation so it was quiet around here. Then for dinner Isaac wanted Daddy's hamburgers and a blizzard for his birthday treat.

I can not believe that he is 7. Where did the time go? I remember the snow storm that was happening the day he was born and now to think we are in China. Who would of thought that?

We love you Isaac!!!!



best friends

Happy New Year

Boys each made one :) Beautiful


May 2011 bring you much joy and happiness.




playing on the beach in Thailand


sending a lantern off

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve

Happy tummy

More Pictures of the kids

Yotin

Joe

Phaan

Sarina

Kaleb

Orphanage

Last year at Christmas we decided that next year we wanted to serve others and share the reason of Christmas with others. We looked into going to an orphanage in Thailand. We decided to spend some time on the beach and then a week serving. We were hooked up with an amazing orphanage outside of Phuket, Thailand.



This orphanage has 9 kids ranging from 4-14 and 3 staff member kids as well. These kids are raised the Thai way and are not up for adoption. They live here until they are adults. It is such a loving environment. The kids are great and it has been wonderful.






We brought with us 4 of our teacher friends and it has been a great blessing. The guys have been working on some construction projects and the girls have been with the kids. Megan and Kimberly have been cleaning machines and Matthew, Isaac and I have been playing with the kids.

We can’t wait to come back and serve some more. These kids have truly touched ALL of our hearts.

more pictures to come

Thailand

We started our vacation and went from Dalian to Guangzhou, Guangzhou to Bangkok, and Bangkok to Phuket. We were able to check our luggage to Bangkok. We were a bit worried because we only had an hour between flights. We knew we would have to hustle to make it. We knew there was a later flight if we missed the first one so we were feeling okay about it. Well when we arrived in Bangkok there was an angel waiting for you. She swooshed us away and we blasted through customs and to the check in counter. She was taking care of our luggage so that was nice. We boarded the plane with time to spare.




We landed around 7:15 and went to get our luggage. NO LUGGAGE. It was still in Bangkok. The nice thing was they delivered it to the hotel and it was waiting for us in the morning. It did not turn out to bad. The first night was a little rough due to not having sleeping bags but we made it work.


The next morning we got up and had an amazing breakfast. Remember we live in China so this was a true treat for us. Our eyes were big but our tummies could not handle it. :) We then spent the day at the beach. It was nice and beautiful.



We took a boat tour to Phi Phi island. When on the speed boat Isaac turned to us and said " I love being IN my Christmas present". Both the boys were trilled with the adventure. We stopped at many islands and snorkeled or swan. It was the first time we had snorkeled so that was a true treat. Besides the jellyfish stings, we did okay. The fish were amazing. We fed the fish bananas and they would come and eat right out of our hands.


Our guide told us his story about being here during the 2004 Tsunami. He was out doing a tour and was running a bit late. He saw big swells but thought nothing of it. He then headed to Phi Phi Island but one of his friends in another boat stopped him. He told him not to go in there because nothing was left. Boh thought he was joking but looked at his hands and his friend was shaking. HE knew something big had happened.

Christmas eve we spent the day on the beach and ate at an amazing Thai restaurant on the beach. We were frequent visitors there.


Oh Christmas morning we woke and called home. So nice to chat with family. We wished everyone a Merry Christmas and we were off to ride elephants. It was a fun Christmas day.

We are now at an orphanage here in Phuket (just outside of the city). We are serving and doing what we can do. Doug and I both have had some stomach issues. NO FUN. More to come

Christmas

We are in Phuket, Thailand!!!! We wish you all a Merry Christmas. More pictures to come.

Love to you all