Sa-wa-tee-ka (Hello)

My first day here Matthew and I had hour long massages for 6 bucks. I have never had a massage before, most of it was pretty good - but she was really hard. It was relaxing though.

Our favorite food is from a little restaurant called "Charlie Browns" They have our favorite fried rice and pad Thai and coconut shakes.

We like the fountain pool better than the turtle pool because it gets the morning sun. Zoe is much to addicted to the Barney I decided to bring her. Matthew Hallie and I can not get the song "Yum Yum Pumpernickel, Yum Yum Pumpernickel..." Out of our heads! Ahhhhh.

My Birk's are giving me a bit of a rash, so I am wearing my Havanas - I suppose that's good cause Bangkok is prone to flash rain storms. And everyone knows you cant get Birk's wet. Speaking of Rain, we have had two major thunder storms. Zoe really likes them, she is not afraid. When we had a big one last night we went up on the roof so we could see lightening all around!

I didn't bring any reading books with me, I thought I would read the books I brought for Bro... but I have been deeply missing my kindred spirits of Avenlea... so I stooped to the level of reading Anne of the Island in the online format. It is the same story, but not the smell or feel of holding it in my hands. Halz says I should go to a used book store and buy the rest of the series here since I would have to buy them when I get home anyway... I just really need to finish the story!

I have ridden on the back of a motorcycle twice and in a Tuk Tuk twice. I prefer the moto. The Tuk Tuk is three wheeled and it reminds me too much of the tragic incident I was in with Amanda and Heather. I like that the taxi drivers here don't smoke like in Armenia, I feel respected.

The malls here are pretty much the same as they are in the rest of the world, perhaps a big bigger though. They make me want to walk around for 8 hours. I know I would go crazy. I think it would be easier to live in a place away from malls... where you didn't know they existed, it would sure help with overcoming temptation if the temptation was not even there to begin with!

I have been to the outdoor market once, I want to go again, and again , and again. There are so many things to see and smell and buy. I bought a sarong, I really want a few more - to stock up for the rest of my life!

Matthew and I went to a movie tonight, they are pretty cheep here. The theaters are modern looking but elaborate. Inside the rooms are golden weaved curtains that give the appearance. Matthew went out for popcorn when the little message popped on the screen that read "please stand in honor of his majesty the King". And there was this little song and sideshow and everyone stood in honor. I was in the front row, so I stood... but I was not sure if I was to do anything else, so I kept trying to look besides me and behind me to see... but I couldn't really tell. I decided that whatever happened I could pull the "dumb American" card, it usually works pretty well.

I sleep on the floor next to sliding glass doors that look out over the pool and further out over the city, I cant help but waking with the day each morning. I like it alot.

Being with my brother and Hallie and Zozee and Esther. Hallie and are enjoying relaxing, watching shows, eating sticky rice with mango's, sun bathing and laughing about many things. Zobo thinks I came all the way here just for her (perhaps that is because that is what I have told her?) And because my "magic bag" as she calls it keeps producing "surprises" every few minutes. Esther is the happiest baby I have ever known, her smile is pure energy. Being with Dude is totally fun, each time we are apart we just get to be a little more cool. I know he wants my heart to stay here, perhaps it will. I especially enjoy watching his relationship with Zo... it reminds me so much of the one that he and I once had. The way she watches him and looks up to him and responds to him, only this time he has say in what she does! It is super fun.

I like Bangkok. But I am excited to leave and travel to another city, one perhaps a little quieter, a little less busy. I want to see nature and elephants...

My Birthday!

So, Yesterday was my birthday. It was one of the greatest days ever.

My cousin Amanda come down and spend the night with me the night before. I was so happy to see her! At 5:30 am, Abbey texted me and I was so excited that I just kept texting her till good after 6. Then I fell back asleep. At 7:11 Heather and Lauren and my Mom came prancing into my room singing "its your birthday, your 20, its your perfect day outside, its raining, its your birthday!" And they were throwing balloons - at Amanda. I had to sit up so they would see which lump in the bed I was. So then we exited the room seeing that Amanda had covered her head with blankets.

Lauren brought me 2 coffees from Starbucks, see bought me 1 but brought me 2. I was happy for coffee seeing I had had less that 5 hours sleep. Then Sharell showed up late and complained that Heather and Lauren did not inform her well enough of the mornings events. HA! So I sat around with them until they had to go to school.

I took work off for the whole day and was pretty excited. My Dad wanted to take me to breakfast but I wasn't feeling much for food seeing I had had Applebees the night before, 2 coffees for breakfast and was in the middle of trying to make a cheesecake. You can still take me out to breakfast Daddy!

Amanda woke up and told me she "hated" my friends for waking her so loudly so early in the morning, ah its all good Amanda.

Her and I got in the car, went to Starbucks (she got me a breakfast sandwich I was not about to have anymore coffee) And we made our way to the beach. I am always amazed at how short a trip it is . So just over an hour later, we arrived and made our way all through the outlet mall, taking stupid videos the whole time. ( I am working on putting all those videos together to put on here. Then I had Mo's for lunch. Yum! Clam chowder and Mashed potatoes (and enchiladas for dinner!) We touched the beach, but it was really cold, then we drove home

At home I started to try and finish my cheesecake, but it ended up a total disaster, it didn't cook all the way and the oven got turned off at some point during the cooking and ya, it was bad... but I will make it again. The the girls came over, Kirsten was my present. :) I put a bow on her. Oh and Amanda made Aaron come too. Always the guy with all the girls, but I miss him. Then Sharells car got Saran wrapped and they started to do the van but someone went outside and they went away. We think they were guys from school who knew where Sharell was... obviously high school guys who still think I drive my moms mini-van. Which I don't. (See blog about car. Which by the way, I did buy... I will pay it off in a few weeks!)

I talked to my sister on the phone. And mommy potter left me a great message on my phone. And Hallie, Esther and Zoe called me through skype and Zoe sang me the happy birthday song and ABC's (mixed which Chinese things) like 3 times! And I talked to my Grammy for 41 seconds and it made me super happy!

Hmmm it was happy. My mom absolutely loved having people over, and giving Aaron food, and listening to us all laugh from the other room. I got a super amazing orange chair, I think I am going to take the cushion back and get a green one though, it is much more practical... but for today I will enjoy the orange.

Thank you Jesus for days where we feel blessed, for days when you shower us with your goodness. I was amazed by your glory yesterday, the rain, the sun, the rainbow, the friends, the food, the happy feeling inside. I know that every day can be like the when I am with you, but thank you for making yesterday especially great.

A Day at the park with Zoe and Sharell!!!

Zoe loves "Shell". I think she thinks we are married. Whatever her view of marriage is.

We were eating Grass. Yuck.

She wouldnt smile... so I had to make her

Grass sure is intriguing....

Zoe lost in the forest!

A BRIDGE!!!!

"Daddy"

Tonight Zoe woke up suddenly and started crying, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy." She was desperate for him. In her time of need absolutly nothing would comfort her like her Daddy. He was and is her saftly. And he wants to be.

It is at our most desperate times that we cry out to our "Daddy." We like to live independent and choose independently, but cling to him as our safty.Absolutly nothing will comfort us like Him. He wants to be our safty.