Thai today...baby food...pics and videos...

Thai was so awesome today. I felt like I was in a bible study rather than Thai. We read, in Thai, the account of when Peter denied Christ 3 times. Peter was present when Jesus was transfigured! He saw Moses and Elijah and heard the voice of God!!! He was the one who declared his love for Jesus at every opportunity and lopped off a guards ear...ready to defend Jesus.

It seems as though Peter was so sure of his love for Jesus and he had yet to receive the revelation that Jesus was the son of God...maybe he knew it in mind but not in spirit. If he had, would he have lopped off that guys ear? Would he have denied Christ had he listened to the many times that Jesus told them that he would die?

On the mountain when Jesus was transfigured...Peter was like...I can build us tents and we can stay here forever! (not thinking about Jesus would be neglecting everyone else if he had stayed upon the mountain...not to mention his mission) Also when they were leaving the mountain Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the son of man had risen from the dead!

He just seemed to be missing the point. I don't know if I would have been the same way or not...but we can learn from Peters early mistakes as well as his life after Jesus died...we can learn so much! He didn't seem to take Jesus for his word though he loved him dearly. Now...Peter was an incredible disciple and after he denied Jesus 3 times he repented severely and became the epitomy of what Jesus spoke over him...You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.

But I feel like we can gleen so much from what we saw of Peter's life before that time. Do you love Jesus dearly...enough to bare his name...and fight for him but not enough to take him at his word...listen to what he teaches and take it in...mind, heart and soul. Because without the word of God hidden in your heart when times get rough...it will be as if a mountain has sat on your shoulders forbidding you to do anything other than deny Christ in different ways.

I want to encourage you to get into God's word...make the time...have the relationship...receive all he has for you and live life fully through Him.

On another note...I've been making baby food! 2 years ago when Jude was beginning to eat food I felt like there was no way I could make my own baby food. It just seemed too hard. So...now, money is tight and as long as a baby food jar costs over a dollar a piece...I will be making my own baby food. On top of the fact that they have a total of 3 flavors. Banana custard, Blueberry Muselini Dessert and Banana Pear.

I can't imagine eating Banana custard and Banana Pear over and over again...with dessert on occasion...can you? So...I went online...watched a few instructional videos and did some research borrowed a blender and I gave it a shot and it's EASY! Ahh...I could have saved us a lot of money back then. I spent about an hour in the kitchen and a total of about $1.24 to feed Jossalyn for almost 2 weeks!

2 ice trays of applesauce, carrots and pumpkin...

There would have been more pumpkin but...uhhh...John and I were
talking in the other room when we smelt this...

Finished applesauce, carrot and pumpkin servings...

A pic of our refrigerator...WHY am I showing you a picture of my refrigerator??? Because I am proud to show the world that I have more vegetables and fruits in my refrigerator RIGHT NOW than I have in the past 2 months! hehehe...change is a comin...

When I put Jude to sleep, I swear he was a completely normal 2 year old and
John found him as goggle man!

A new pic of little Jossie...

A very hot Josiah at the market with Daddy...

I love the way her eyes squint up when she smiles...

These are for you grandmaws and great grandmaws out there:
Jossalyn being totally cute:


Smiley Jossalyn and Jude:

Posts...Raw food...Pics...

I hope you don't mind but I'm going to change the way I blog a bit for a bit. I want to get on here and just talk about whatever I've been thinking about...what God has been showing me and especially the little things...mostly around our home. There are times when I feel like I can't "bore" you with this stuff and then there are other times when I feel like people would stop reading because it's not all about Thailand and ministry.

But at this point in our life...until we moved down south at the end of November...thai class and our home is our life. We are learning how to be a family of 5 and how to be better parents...while Josiah and Jude learn how to love each other as brothers even though it is apparently extremely hard for 6 year olds and 2 year olds to play together...much less coexist in a house 24 hours a day with no ability to go anywhere as a family and get out of the house.

Don't get me wrong...I speak to Thai people everyday and when an opportunity arrises to tell about our God...I do. I have literallly stopped myself from posting about simple stuff...but I'm going to stop holding back and just post. :) Today I put my tennis shoes on because my feet have really been aching because of the lack of support offered by the sandles and pair of flip flops that I wear everyday. In Thailand it is custom to take your shoes off before entering any home...so we don't wear shoes in our house.

But I have been breaking the rules simply because my feet hurt so badly! So anyway, I was putting on my shoes and Jude automatically was like "Where we goin mom?" and I told him that we weren't going anywhere and he was like "Ohhh MAN!" with his cute pouty face.
We haven't been using the air conditioners during the day to save money and let me just say...it is hot! Especially today! So all three of my children are running around in underwear and diapers as usual...it's so normal(not wearing clothes ) that I laughed so hard when this happened this afternoon:

I decided to put some clothes on the boys and when I gave Josiah his clothes Jude got really excited and said "Where we goin? Where we goin mom?" I said "We're not going anywhere...we're just putting clothes on." He continued on..."(mumble...mumble...)and the clothes...(mumble...mumble...)and we go. Where we goin mom? and the clothes and we go..."
hahaha...my son has officially attached clothes to going somewhere...of course they can't just wear clothes in the house! hehehe...

So I've been thinking about a lot of things...one of which is wanting to prepare better meals for my family. I've been reading and hearing a lot about "going raw" for many years and I've always wanted to attempt to make our diet at least 50% raw...but I've never taken any steps because it seems so hard.

But...just recently I decided that I'm going to do a 10 or 30 day raw diet. Not for dieting purposes (although I'm sure to loose some weight) but for health purposes and it will force me to find foods and experiement. With that little bit of experience under my belt I will be able to think about creative ideas to start changing our eating habits.

Here are some of the things I'm working towards:

1. All raw food breakfast. There are sooo many choices for raw food
breakfast...apples, bananas, watermelon, pineapple, mangos, pomelo, oranges and
for the kids some real yogurt too...not the sugar packed kind.

2. Preparing a green smoothie every morning for my whole family. I can't really do this one until I can afford to buy a blender but you guys have got to look into this. Wouldn't it be great if you could make sure your family is getting 15 servings of fruits and vegetables a day? Not just the 5-10 the FDA recommends? Well, you can with this smoothie! (Sounding like an infomerial now)

This would be so easy for you guys to do...(people in America) because you have easy access to frozen fruits and veggies...and I don't think spinach costs too much? Anyway...check out this video and see how simple it really is: http://happyfoody.com/2008/03/15/how-to-make-a-green-smoothie/

3. Cut back on things like potatos, rice (ha! I live in Thailand - the country known for the worlds best tasting rice and every Thai dish is served with it!) and bread. Or at least switch to real whole wheat bread.

4. Use seasalt instead of regular salt. Ordinary table salt has been stripped of it's companion elements and contains additive. In studies table salts have been link to hypertension and other heart or blood illness. Table salt also gives many people the feeling of being bloating.

Natural sea salt is a healthy replacement for ordinary table salt on the market; it contains about 80 mineral elements that the body needs. Sea salt has nutrients and minerals that help your body preserve the blood cells. Overall, sea salts are better for you. If you haven't tried it, switch salts for a week and you will see a difference.

5. Exercise 3 times a week. Whether it be walking or popping in my beloved Kathy Smith Fat Burner DVD.

Are there any of you out there that would be interested in going raw with me for 10 or 30 days (haven't decided which)? Leave a comment and let me know...it'll be tough...especially for us Texan girls...but if you'd like to join me I'd love it!

Here are some awesome pictures from the last 3 days....

Ok...I LOVE this picture of my baby girl! AHH! Shiloh Pruett took this picture. Joss was strapped to my back and they were just laughing about something...so they asked for the camera and this is what they were laughing about...ha!

My handsome boys!

Jossie...oh how I love her...

Josiah had a death grip on my leg when it was time for me to head out to Thai class...I leaned down and snapped a shot...

This is Judah...he is staying with the Pruetts while his adoptive parents (the Garsees) are on furlough. He's such a ham! And soo cute!

This is little Joseph...the picture says it all...he's sooo cute! He is also staying with the Pruetts while the Garsees are in America for furlough.

Jude...looking a bit unsure about this ride...

LOOK! They're not FIGHTING!! WAHOO!!

Daddy and Jude being silly with our neck pillows...

Use #103 for using Bobby Pillows.
I love this picture of Jude...he thought this was sooo funny! hehehe...

Happy Birthday to me....

We beat the missionary birthday blues! Wahoo! I had a wonderful birthday and thank you so much for all of your birthday wishes. John woke me up by entering the room with guitar in hand with Josiah and Jude following behind singing "Happy Birthday". John is just learning how to play the guitar and he had looked online to find out how to play the happy birthday song that morning...*grin*

Josiah had made a card on behalf of the family and Jude followed behind with a beautiful pink flower. What a way to wake up...then John made breakfast.

Then it was time for me to head off to Thai class. After I returned home it was time to do homeschool with Josiah and right in the middle of a HORRIBLE math lesson I saw the Pruetts pull up. All the kids were whispering...trying to be quiet even though I could, unfortunatly, see them pull up and get out of the car.

It was so sweet - they all came in singing happy birthday...baring a wonderful pan of brownies for all of us to eat. They gave me a hammock from our future home of Naratiwat!! I am very glad to have a hammock...they are one of the most relaxing things in life...if you don't have one...get one...and most important of all...USE IT!

But the best gift they gave me was a night out!! They watched our children from 4 in the afternoon until anytime we chose. So...I got dressed up and we were off. I was able to go to the infamous Night Bazaar for the first time and then we ate at a wonderful restaurant called Dukes. It was SOOOO good...I don't know a restaurant in America that is better.

Afterward we went walking at the market and saw a movie at the theater. I tell you what...I was so giddy it was ridiculous. It wasn't until we had dropped the kids off and we were driving out of the neighborhood that I felt it hit me and I just squeezed John and squeeled a little sqeel.

I really needed to get out of that house!!! Not having a car hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be simply because God has given the grace for it but man it was awesome to be able to get out...alone with John.

We didn't get back home until really really late! I'm zonked today...thai class was crazy...I was about to fall asleep in class. I wanted to share with you my most recent testimony of God's awesomeness.

While I was at the co-op on Monday a missionary couple came up to me and said that the lord told them to give them this money...I put it in my bag and said thank you. I got home and I was shocked to see almost $80 in my hands. We have money in the ministry account but were waiting for it to be put into our personal account. So we weren't going to have any money for my birthday. John was very bummed because he had made plans and he could do them without gas and money.

God is awesome...I've got some pictures from yesterday to share with you. I hope you enjoy.

Yes...this is all 5 of us on the bike...BUT...we were only in our neighborhood and going really slow. Look at Joss's crazy hair and Jude's crazy face! I love my family!!!

Side shot! Josiah is such a good smiler...

Me n my baby before heading out...

28 years old...but I still feel 19...

The awesome...almost unbitable burger John ordered. What a blessing!

We didn't get the baby...

Just wanted to let you guys know that I went today and ended up having to wait at the church for the missionary and my teacher to return with the baby but when they returned they were empty handed.

The mother of the 15 year old girl had decided that the baby would go to the mothers sister. Please join with me in praying for this family and for this little baby girl. I pray that this lady would care for this baby as it's own and that this whole family would come to know our God.

My new friend: Annateet is a German missionary who is working on doing horse therapy for tramatized and disabled Thai children and knows where the baby lives and will be visiting to see if we can be of any assistance. They are a poor family.

Welp...I have to say that I'm turning 28 in two days and I'm fighting off the typical mission field birthday blues. Ok...so maybe not every missionary has the birthday blues but it seems like every year it's soooo stinkin hard on me! I just involuntarily sit there (ok maybe not so involuntary...)and woe over missing my family and friends...and being able to sit around a table with them all and play a good game of Cranium...Or have a party after church with everyone...games and good fellowship.

Why does it have to be so rough for me? I mean, it's not like I don't have a wonderful family and I have Todd and Renee and their wonderful children...I have my wonderful new Thai friends...I am blessed and have no reason to feel glum. Well, it is partially contributed to the fact that we're not going to have any birthday money because at a seriously flustered moment while at the hospital with Joss and Jude I used our debit card instead of the cash that I had pulled out to last us....which put us in the red. The things flustered moms do...ugg...anyway, that is not a shameless plug to make you feel sorry for me and give money k? hehehe...just sharing...and yes, I did have to make that clear because while it might be clear to you it's not to some. :)

All the same I felt the heaviness of it just sit on me. Today was great because I was so excited to be able to at least help with this baby but then the baby didn't show up! ha! And now it's bed time and I signed onto my google reader...(wait...really good bunny trail...)

If you don't know what Google reader is then you seriously need to check into it...especially if you have many blogs that you love to read. It's a website that you go into and you add your favorite blogs and anytime a blog you have added has a new post it instantly appears for you to read! You don't have to keep checking everyday to see if someone has updated their post...It just pops up along with any other new posts. You can also use this for news too. It's AWESOME! LOVE TECHNOLOGY!

Ok...back to what I was saying...So...it's time for bed and I'm about to hop in bed and I checked my google reader site and My FAVORITE BLOG "The Accidental Traveler" had just posted her thoughts on a Tozer book and I was sooooo blessed! SOO BLESSED! God is so good and her post just brought me back to my Savior and helped me to grab those thoughts that were reaking havoc in my mind and declare the word of God over my life...My spirit just needs a good shock with God's shock paddles...the word of God sometimes...ya know? I'm shocked at how in need I was...within a day or so I found myself where the Kingdom of God was not my primary concern...more like the Kingdom of Stephy...Thank you God for your word and your love!

So I would like to invite you to mozzie on over to Kate's Blog and enjoy her posts...they are always wonderful, funny and insiteful.

OH and her husband is one of my favorite christian artists...Shawn McDonald. He's the guy that sings the song that is playing right now. So here's her blog...check out her newest post and be blessed: http://katemcdonald.wordpress.com/

And to all of my friends and family back home...just know you are missed!

This is Pii Khaam and her beautiful daughter...

Pii Khaam and I...I just love this woman...she is living at "The House of Cana" for battered women...Pii Khaam and I have become really close over the past few weeks and I just love her! Please keep her in your prayers she is a single mom serving the Lord.

The yummy food they served after church today...

A silly video that I made on the way home today...the clouds were breath taking but I don't think the video does any justice to it...

And a quick video I caught during service today...just for you guys...

New BABY!

but not ours...Did the title freak you out a little? hehhehe...sorry...that was fun...

I have to write very quickly to tell you a quick story. I have to leave for church in a minute...but last week I was in Thai class and my Thai teacher received a phone call from another missionary who was at the hospital. She was sitting by the bed of a 15 year old girl who had just given birth to a baby a few days ago adn was about to be released from the hospital.

Her parents wouldn't let her come home with the baby and she was torn up as to what to do. In the span of an hour it went from the girl wanting to find another place to stay so she could be with her baby to...can someone just take the baby for a little while so I can make up my mind....to her parents saying that she had to give the baby to her aunt.

But before it came to that the missionary lady was going to bring the baby to me to take care of until we found a permanent home for it. So as far as I knew the baby went to live with her aunt.

Then that next week the missionary lady calls me again and says that the aunt doesn't want the baby "because it cries too much"...so they were supposed to bring the baby to the missionary and she was going to brining the baby to us. But then at the last minute the girl decides to keep the baby again! Talk about confused! But we decided that it's good for the baby to stay with it's mother if possible as long as they want it.

So we thanked God and I went on with my day. Two days later - today is Sunday...the missionary calls me again and says that the girl no longer wants the baby. So...guys, please pray. The missionary, myself and my teacher are supposed to go to the hospital together to day at 12 to pick up the baby and all the necessary paperwork.

There is a lot more to this story but I don't have time to write it...but I believe that is enough for you to be able to pray. I believe I already know a couple who will take this baby right at this very moment...with tears in their eyes....praising God.

John and I do not want to adopt but we are more than willing to help any unwanted child find a new home and he has used us in the past to do so>>>>SAM who lived with us for 6 months before God placed him with his new family.

See: Pictures of Sam

Who is now with a wonderful missionary family who has taken in 2 more children just like Sam:
Sam's New Family

So please pray with us today that God's will be done and that this baby is put into a wonderful new families hands...oh by the way it's a baby GIRL!! hehehee....

k..love you guys....

Steph

God's faithfulness...TESTIMONY!

I have the pleasure of sharing with you yet ANOTHER testimony of God's faithfulness. Yesterday was a rough day...and I can now share with you how things had gotten. Yesterday John and I scrounged around the house for any money we could find because we didn't have enough to make it through the end of the month and as of 2 days ago we were flat broke. We went through jean pockets and checked all of John's drop spots (does anyone else's husband compulsivly drop any and everything in his pocket in various spots of the house...no matter how many "drop" bowls you give them?)...and we came up with 135 baht. Which is $3.90.

John was going to run to 7 and get some essentials. So I told him to get bread, eggs and milk. He then told me that we wouldn't have enough for milk. So he went and when he got back I was sooo thankful when I saw him carrying milk, eggs and bread. He went on to tell me what happened at the store.

He walked in and decided to get what we needed...he said "I didn't think about it alot...the only thing I priced was the bread and that was only because I saw a different brand available and looked at the price...it was 2 baht cheaper so I got that one instead of the normal one. But other than that I didn't even think to look how much the eggs would be or the milk.

But I decided that I was just going to get what we need and some how it would be cheaper...I knew something would happen so we could get what we need...After she rang everything up it was exactly 135 baht...to the baht...no more...no less and if I hadn't noticed that loaf of bread that was 2 baht cheaper I would have been 2 baht over."

We had the exact amount of money in our home...for exactly what we needed...when we needed it! I can't tell you how awesome this is because I even found one baht on the floor and if I hadn't we would have been one baht less. This is not the first time God has done things like this while we've been serving him on the mission field.

Because of the numbers many organizations/people would tell us that we need to return to the states to do more fundraising...(funderaising just doesn't happen for us...we tried...for some reason we're not marketable)..and that we won't make it...but we've been making it for almost 4 years now by the grace and faithfulness of God that meets our needs and never leaves us wanting food, shelter or water.

Another funny thing was...after John returned home I had to make dinner. But we had no meat...I had used tuna the night before with some noodles and the last can of cream of chicken and made a homemade tuna helper kind of dish. So anyway, I'm staring at my cabinets and thinking "OH God...what am I going to feed my family?" Then it just came together...we had 3 potatos some rice...one can of chicken broth and everything I would need to make dumplings. Can we say CARBS!?

So I went at it and we ate the most carbohydrate filled dinner ever! We had chicken and dumplings without the chicken and plus potatos served over rice to help fill tummies. And the awesome thing was that it tasted great!! As I finished up cleaning the kitchen, turned the light out and shut the door...I quietly asked God...what about tomorrow and I remembered the scripture:

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So I left it at that and that night we found out that John's parents had decided to put some money into our ministry account...and a dear friend (THANKS MIKE!)put some money in our account too and our paypal tranfer from another faithful supporter (THANKS JOAN and BILLIE) finally came through...(which we still can't legally get to) and then I got an email from Kenny (who writes our checks each month) and he said he was able to write us a check that very night (his day) instead of us having to wait 2 more days until the first. So this morning when we woke up we were able to get a taxi and go to the grocery store...so no more creative cooking for me for a while... ;)

God is so good! Does anyone else have problems with their kids fighting over who gets to pray before eating??!??!?!?! Gosh, it's driving me nuts! We just recently instated a rule that they take turns every other day...I mean, I suppose that's a good thing but oh how frustrating it is when they fuss over something so simple...and actually it's about the honor of getting to do it...because after Josiah is finished praying Jude will close his eyes and try to get his prayer in too...we tried letting them both pray but they just kept praying after the other one was finished...

Jude's prayers go something like this: "Thank you Dod...dandan here...and tank you Dod for the dandaan here...thank you Dod...AMEN!" Just the other day we heard and ambulance and Josiah said..."OH! And ambulance mommy...can we pray...can I pray?" I was like YES OF COURSE! So off he went praying for who ever was in that ambulance!

Then my hubby said the sweetest thing - I just love how he thinks and can relate things to our kids. He said "You know Josiah...you were kind of like a super hero just now...you know that? You don't have a cape but you could have just saved someone life by praying for them!" Josiah's face lit up so big...I wish I had had a camera...that helped him realize the power of prayer and that you can really impact lives through prayer. I'm posting an old pic of Josiah from when he was about 3....my little Super Josiah...

Anyway, not that I don't love having awesome testimonies like how God has provided during this time but...I was sooo glad to buy meat today!! I literally said, out loud, "YES!" when I saw the meat section! hehehe...Even when the numbers don't add up...as long as you entrust your life to Him...you have no reason to worry...Here is the full section of the scripture I quoted earlier...read it...remember and be blessed in Jesus name!

Matthew 6

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will
eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field
grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in
all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Northern Tribe

John is a fan of the National Geographic on myspace so he ran across this video of a tribe from up north on the border of Burma - a displaced people group. It was very interesting...and it was funny because we could understand everything she was saying...

Rich woman!

Today I write to you...the richest woman I know. I can't believe how much God has been speaking to me and moving on me and I am ever so thankful that he sees fit to give me so much attention despite my inadequacies. We haven't had the internet for a few days and boy it was rough not being connected with the your world. I really had to realize what a comfort the internet is to me...knowing that if I need to I can email anyone or call anyone using Skype. Without the internet I felt a little bit cut off from the world!

I couldn't look up a recipe...I couldn't check the news...I couldn't talk to any of you...couldn't update my blog and worst of all - I couldn't check my emails! It's one of the highlights of my day to have a few minutes to check my emails and hopefully get a real email from people back home. Recognizing this made me so thankful that God has called us to a place where we can have internet...although, I feel as though I need the internet I would never let that stop us from going where God leads us.

Anyway, I want to share one of the many things God this week that just blessed my socks off! I still just sit and grin about it. It seems small but it's so big to me. Jossalyn has been sick for the past week and on Tuesday night she was running a fever and I wanted to give her some Tylenol. I had one more dose in my daiper bag and I gave it to her. The next day I had planned on going to a "pharmacy" to buy some more infant tylenol to ease her discomfort.

Let me bunny trail a sec to tell you soemthing that might shock you...or not. Here in Thailand you can buy almost any medicine you need...including antibiotics. You don't have to go to the dr. you just go to a store that sells medicine and buy what you need. The "pharmacist" will help you know what you need to purchase.

I use quotes because well, they are not a pharmacy like what we're used to and the pharmacist is sometimes only trained by someone who was trained by someone else who just figured it all out themselves so they could have a business. So needless to say you have to double check everything and make sure that they know what they are talking about - another thing I use the internet for.

Picture of a typical Thai pharmacy...

So back to the story...we had prayed for Joss but her fever was not breaking that next day so I was going to buy some tylenol and we have...well, lets just say...we're running on fumes and so I was really not wanting to go use the last bit of money we had...but I figured...God has never failed us before so he will provide for us if I purchase this for Joss. So I went to language and I had asked my teacher for an extra 10 minutes to study because I wasn't able to find anytime to study at home because Joss was sick. So I went into the room by myself and turned on the fan...I was drenched in sweat from riding on the motorcycle here. It seems like I caught ever red light on the way to school and baked in the sun...waiting for the green light.

So...I stood infront of the fan and then turned around to cool off my back and as I was standing there...in front of the fan with my head down I looked over to the right in this little cubby hole...and low and behold there was "equate" brand triple antibiotic ointment. I thought..."how strange is that! That's walmart brand! What is THAT doing in Thailand?" I picked it up and behind it was a box of equate brand infants tylenol...sealed. I picked it up and was going to ask my teacher where she got that...because if you really buy that here for some crazy reason...I'd like to get equate brand.

It's so much nicer going with a brand you know here in Thailand. So when she came into the room I asked her and she said that one of her other students brought that medicine to her and she had been looking for someone to give it to for a while but didn't know who to give it to because she didn't have any need for it. She then asked me if I wanted it...
I just sat there in awe. No trip to the pharmacy for me and Joss gets American brand tylenol. I have so many more stories I could tell you but I don't want to carry on and on but needless to say...Our God is an awesome God. And he cares for us so tenderly. From tylenol to a pair of hair clippers given to John (that he's been wanting for a long time so he could shave his head himself)...to money to cover us through to the 1st coming from a dear Thai friend because God told her to give it to me (her knowing nothing). Oh and also math manipulatives that I needed for Josiah's homeschool just given to us among other wonderful things from our dearly missed friends Trent and Amy.

But beyond all of the material gifts and things he provides for us...above all those things...how he tends for our hearts and contantly is calling us on and forward. In one of my recent Thai lessons we were reading the story of the rich man who came to ask Jesus how he could get to heaven and Jesus told him to sell all that he has and follow him. This was more than the man wanted to do and he walked away from the chance of a life time...to know and walk with Jesus.


In that lesson Khruu Ruchada asked me if I was a rich or a poor person. I told her that sometimes I feel like I am poor...and I feel sorry for myself and wish that we could be like some of the other missionaries that we know and have extra money for things that arise or I'm frustrated that we don't have a car...but my goal is to be like Paul...finding happiness no matter what his circumstances were. And the truth is that there are TONS...no millions of people that are worse off that we are...We must be like Paul...finding happiness no matter what our circumstances are...

Said to be Paul's prison....

Whether that be jail...having a little or having a lot. When the Kingdom of God is your primary concern and your eyes are set on him (Matt. 6:33) then you will see that you are indeed rich because of the vastness of the love of God and because he will clothe you and prepare a way for you even in the darkest of circumstances. He is our hope and our only true happiness. Nothing else is of consequence. I am truely rich.

Change...thoughts...

Wow...it's been over 10 days since I've shared with you! Where has time gone? I never imagined that we could be so busy but well, 3 children is a lot more work than I ever imagined and then adding Thai into the mix just blows free time out of the water - that is...unless I want to loose some God time or sleep time!

Anyway, things are going good now...we had a fly ball hit us out of left field (did I say that right?)...our dear...cherished friends Trent and Amy Pruett are not going down south with us when we move in December. God has different plans for them whether I like it or not.

After serving here in Thailand for two years they are going to be returning to America to Sioux Falls, SD to help with a church plant there as children's pastors. We were so shocked when we received the news that I literally cried for almost a whole day but we know that man makes his plans but it is God who directs his steps. We trust God and know that he knows what is best for His glory and so we are rejoicing with Amy and Trent as they begin another chapter in their service to our God. They are going back to America with a missionary mindset and I know God will use them greatly. The Pruetts are leaving this Monday and we're cherishing the time we have left with them. They are dear friends of ours and for me it is very hard to see them go. I do want God's will for their lives but as of yet it still hurts just the same.

In other news, Thai is going wonderful, John has the incredible opportunity to begin guitar lessons in Thai (learning so he can play worship music down south) from our teachers son, Josiah is flying through 1st grade and really showing how smart he is...Jude is almost 3 and you can tell it in everything he does...every day seems to be a lesson for him.

Jude is so adorable and it's wonderful to see him growing and learning during this time. Jossalyn is as beautiful as ever...she smiles so much I wonder if her cheeks hurt at times. She's mommy's little princess and a lot of times can be found on my back in a pack "helping" me cook dinner.

Smart Cookie...I love this shirt!

Ok ok...so, I put Joss in blue finally and isn't she beautiful? This is a special dress because our friend Lisa gave it to us for her before we left. So maybe blue is ok...sometimes...

While at the Co-op last Monday someone was giving away 2 free bunnies and guess who took them home...uh huh....that'd be me. This is Jude holding his bunnie: Snowball....
This is Josiah holding his bunnie: Brownie/Thumper...his name kind of changes with the days.

I had a break through today in Thai. My teacher really encouraged me and said that I am almost fluent...and that I have gotten so much better since when I first began. Her encouraging words came in perfect timing since I was feeling quite beaten up by the Thai language. I still have a long way to go but I have definitly crossed over some walls that have been staring me in the face for way too long.

I don't know if you can understand if you haven't learned a second language to this level...but even when you can speak pretty well...it only means you can understand how much you don't know and how much you don't sound like Thai's and so it wears on you sometimes. John is doing wonderful also.

Daddy and Joss

This is a pic from the co-op we attend every Monday. This is a music class taught by this mom named Kim. It is a lot of fun...and just look at all those missionary kids!

This is a bible memorization class taught at the co-op.

A pic of beautiful Jossalyn playing dress up with Mommy in a dress grandmaw gave us.

I would like to share with you some thoughts I had about us and where we are. I was reading over my blog in the past month and something saddened me. The lack of mention of ministry and Thai people...I thought about it and I was like...this seems really bad. I sat there for a bit and felt condemnation come all over me and almost as soon as it tried to sit down on me the Holy Spirit came and reminded me of the truth with this question "Are you here for my will or yours?"

Do I speak to Thai people often? Yes. Do we do any major ministry here besides live our lives before the Thai people we meet? No. I sat there as I asked myself this question and that No seemed to be amplified in my mind as if by an amplifier. NO! No ministry - you are a missionary...what are you doing? You don't deserve to be here...you're not doing anything of any worth...

But as I said before the Holy Spirit reminded me why he has us here in Chiang Mai for 6 months...to be sanctified, prepared and engulfed in Thai because where we are going there will be no church to attend until we start one...there won't be time to build our team and family like there is here...the spiritual climate in Naratiwat and the changes we will experience will require that we are leaning on Him alone and that we are focused on His voice and His will so that we won't be swayn.

So while, during this time, I would love to fill this blog up about all the ministry taking place and the Thai people coming to know God...all I have to report is that we are living our lives for our God, trusting Him and recognizing that our ultimate goal is not to be good missionaries and meet the status quo but that our ultimate goal is to be like Jesus and in doing so have fruit that pleases our Father.

Thank you for loving us, praying for us and supporting us.

I also would like to let you know that John and I want to be able to allow Josiah to study Thai while here with this wonderful teacher but as of yet we can not afford the lessons. We also wish to purchase a keyboard to allow me to continue to teach Josiah the little piano that I know and then hopefully find a piano teacher here and then in Naratiwat.

Josiah loves music and I want him to have this opportunity...if you feel lead in your heart to give toward his Thai lessons/piano please feel free to do so through the donation button on our blog or by clicking on the contact us link on the right and make sure you indicate that you wish your donation to go to this need.

Thank you again....
Steph

Co-op blessing and videos

Today was a full but wonderful day. I had the opportunity to take Josiah to the co-op today and it was so great as usual. I was especially blessed by what was shared today before the day began. The lady was simply speaking about being a friend of God and of others. She began by speaking about what it means to give your life for a friend.

She told a story of a brave soldier who was fighting in the war and he threw himself on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers. She then went on to talk about the natural born willingness in men to give their lives for their family and about how no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for another.

She then began to tell a story of a man who's wife came down with altimers disease and some other complications. This man had a huge ministry and many counseled him to put her in a home so he could continue on with his life.

At his resignation he gave this speech:

"I haven't in my life experienced easy decision making on major decisions. But one of the simplest and clearest decisions I've had to make is this one, because circumstances dictated it. Muriel now in the last couple of months seems to be almost happy when with me, and almost never happy when not with me.

In fact she seems to feel trapped, becomes very fearful, sometimes almost in terror, and when she can't get to me there can be anger, she's in distress. But when I am with her she's happy and contented. And so I must be with her at all times.

And you see, it's not only that I promised in sickness and in health, till death do us part, and I am a man of my word, but as I have said, I don't know with this group, but I have said publicly, it's the only fair thing. She sacrificed for me for forty years, to make my life possible.

So if I cared for her for forty years, I would still be in debt. However, there is much more. It's not that I have to, it's that I GET to. I love her very dearly, and you can tell it's not easy to talk about. She is a delight. It's a great honor to care for such a wonderful person."

After hearing that story she then stated: "Sometimes it's an easier thought to die for someone than it is to truly live for someone..." I started thinking about that and really letting it sink in and I thought of what it means to truly give your life for someone...and I started thinking about my husband and my children. What God had me take away from listening this morning was nothing truly deep but it was really transforming for me.

Each moment of my day is a moment to give my life for my husband and children...in not getting frustrated when it seems I have every right...Now...my life is ultimately given up to my savior...that's a given. But in my every day...do I give my life for those I love with all my heart?

I just wanted to share that with you guys and pray that you ask yourselves if you are loving those around you like Jesus would have you love them? Smile a little bigger...give someone else the big cookie...call someone just to bless them...give a gift that says I care...do the dishes for your wife...just love them like Jesus...

I'm encouraged so much by this opportunity to be reminded to give it my all...for the glory of our God. With that thought...I'll leave you with a few videos from church this last Sunday. Please forgive the bad filming...I was trying to be
inconspicuous as not to distract anyone.

Worship at my teachers church...







This is a video from the other night...John and I were looking up an oldie but a goodie and daddy started lipsynching for Joss and this was her response...

501(c)3 N Pics

I am please to let you know that from now on...if you donate to Dead2Sin Ministries to support what God is doing here in Thailand you can now claim the donation on your taxes! We are officially affiliated with Kingsway Ministries, Inc./Kingsway Fellowship International which allows us to be a subordinate member of their status with the IRS. Kingsway is a wonderful ministry that has been around since 1968 and are a fellowship...NOT a denomination or sending organization.

We are very glad to be affiliated with them and be able to give you a tax break on your donations. If you would like to know more about Kingsway...here is their website:

http://www.kingswayfellowship.org/



Yayee!! So for now I'm going to leave you with a few pictures:

She found her thumb!!! AHH!

The other day I had to take John's motorcycle to school...it was scary but I did it!

The skies here are BEAUTIFUL!

Here is me and the boys a couple weeks ago...we ONLY do this in our neighborhood! And I go very slow so don't worry...the first time I attempted this was when John was gone down south...otherwise I would never have dared it...but we were desperate to get out of the house and we made do with what we had.