The distance factor...

I'm writing this morning feeling grateful for the visitors we have had lately. The hardest part of living here in Thailand is missing close friends and family.  I am so thankful for the friendships we have here with Libby, Luka and Ghan, Ae and Joe, Gi and Blah, and my Thai teacher Jan and her husband Barry. We really have so much to be thankful for. 

Recently we had two visitors Molly and Eric who were here for one week sharing their gift of photography with the foundation here and insight on working with non-profits. It was really refreshing to have them here, to learn more about them and their personal dreams for the future and we were sad to see them leave. Then last week we had Chad and Becky Dale (from Seattle) here for the week and had so much fun connecting with them. Two people who are incredibly gifted in the world or business and marketing who are also searching for a way to use their gifts in ways that feel more meaningful on a day to day basis. 

One thing that we have to get used to living here is connecting with people as they come through and then realizing that if those relationships are going to be maintained, they will need to be done so through long-distance communication. And something about that sucks. And something else about it helps me to realize that it was a gift to have them here at all-- to be able to meet and interact with people that inspire me and cause my perspective of the world shift. 

All this to say, I have much to be grateful for and many relationships that I still hold very dear--even from afar.