Weekend retreat.

Last weekend we went on a little retreat with 20 of the oldest students from Baan Sun Fun or "The House of Weaving Dreams." These students are all studying in technical college or universities in Chiang Rai, as well as taking part in work internships or working.

We spent the weekend at a little retreat center with little cottages by a river outside of Chiang Mai. Here are some photos from our time away, or click here to view all of the photos.

a year ago.

Christmas and New Years has been full, and almost busy enough that I haven't had a chance to sit and reflect on what I'm missing out on back home, or what was happening a year ago at this time.

Tonight I was looking through blog entries from last year, and so many memories came flooding back.  A year ago we had just flown to the States, and Olive had just completed her first shunt surgery.

I have gained the art of mostly being able to compose myself even when strong emotions well up inside me--something I wasn't able to conquer even 6 months ago. I've found enough quiet spaces where I can grieve alone...on walks at night, driving my motorbike, or bicycle.  I have also learned the value in tears over this last year, the depth they can communicate beyond where words can often reach, and how they can comfort and release things inside me unlike anything else.  I think I've learned to be more comfortable in who I am throughout this journey, and the mess that I am as well.

Still though, I sometimes long for that old me to return. The one who had a clear five year plan figured out, and wasn't nearly as confused about life as I feel these days. We've decided to stop talking about any future decisions until the end of January...at least until it's been a year after Olive's death. Sounds responsible enough I suppose.

My parents, cousin Trina, and Aunt Anne will be visiting us here in Thailand at the end of the month too. It will be special to have all of them here, especially around the one year reunion of Olive's death. It will be nice to be with people who loved her, and knew her...who touched and held her...and were even with us while she took her final breaths.

I've made a request to Jesus asking for a bit of a breather year without anything too eventful. Who knows what He has in store, but I'm hoping for the year 2011 to bring with it more clarity and stability.

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver."Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." — C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia)

"Your problem is how you are going to spend this one and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.” — Anne Lamott

"She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short."-Brian Andres 

Bringing in the New Year.

For New Years my cousins came to visit us here in Chiang Rai. They normally live in Tibet, but came to Thailand to deliver their third child, while also working on a Tibetan language project. We had a great time together catching up, riding ostriches, fishing, playing sequence, and eating together.  Last night we received some exciting news that our brother-in-law, Scott has just landed back in the States after being deployed in Iraq for the last 6 months with the military working as an anesthesiologist. 

Here are some photos of the New Year...

Christmas.

I posted pictures from Christmas on facebook, click HERE if you want to see them (you don't need a facebook account to view them).

Here are are few of them...