As of Late

Life has been busy here with lots of transition. All the kids are back at the Akha Youth Development Center (AYDC) after returning from summer break (March-May). We just moved Baan Sun Fun (the project with our older students) to a new location in town so things have been busy getting everything fixed up and in place. Next week we are planning on opening a store as a way to earn extra income to support this project.  I've been in charge of getting this venture rolling and though it has taken more time and energy than I was originally anticipating, it's been a lot of fun. 

Rusty is in the States for a few weeks to get Hank and Bubby's (a small ice cream truck business) up and running for the summer which has meant that I've been a single mom for a the last few weeks with Henry. Thankfully where we live there is a strong sense of community and I have had plenty of help when I've needed it. Henry is changing and growing fast and making me laugh all the time...with the exception of this morning when he chucked my last bar of secret deodorant into the toilet as it was flushing. Sigh. This has given me the delightful ongoing task of getting to use a plunger with each following flush. Little turkey.

Finally getting the last of the sponsorship letters into the mail for the spring, and finishing translating the last few. Tonight I made chocolate chip cookies for the 56 kids at the Akha Youth Development Center.  It's not every day that you get to bake in the sweltering heat and while breaking out in a body rash because of a skin reaction to black little hairy caterpillars. The kids were excited enough about the cookies that it made the rash worth it in the end. 

Speaking of critters, they sure seem to come out in rainy season. I've killed two big spiders on my bed last week and woke up with a cockroach crawling on me in bed four times this last week. Barf. 

Overall life is busy, overwhelming, and for the most part enjoyable.  Trying to savor each day here.

Henry hanging out with Ahmee Tuttu, one of his favorite buddies here.

Baby Aevi

Henry with sweet Meeju

Rusty and Pat selling Abonzo Doi Chang Coffee at a Business as Missions Conference in Chiang Mai.

hmmm.

Photo update.

Photo by Michael Elzinga.

 Sheesh. Things have been really busy around here and I'm realizing how poorly I've been keeping up with the blog. Here is a hodge podge of photos over the last few months.

teeth.

At our friends wedding.

Lots of our students graduated last month. This is Rusty with sweet Boonta at her high school graduation.

Decha and Rusty at Decha's college graduation.

Aevi in the hospital with her grandma!

Rusty's cousins and our good friends Jon and Sarah came to visit us all the way from Lombard, IL. Here Rusty and Jon are eating fried scorpions.

Visiting some of Olive's nurses at the government hosptial.

Boat ride.

Foxy Sarah.

Remember the little girl a few years ago who was in the motorbike accident? Here she is with her family.

Church with the kids at AYDC.

Aevi

Henry is REALLY into kicking balls these days.

At our Ghan's brother's wedding, Lin.

He feels his emotions very strongly.

In the village with Ahmee Tuttu's mom.

Ajo. Best laugh ever.

photo by Michael Elzinga

Henry LOVES Blah.

First horse ride for Wot and Aunglee.

Troy, Heather, Chloe, and Cam Mulijat came to volunteer for a week and we had a great time with them!

Home again

Look who is home and doing much better after being in the ICU over a week!