I am keeping this blog "out there" for posterity's sake. It is fun for me and for others to look back and reflect. The kids like looking at the pictures and I hope you do too!

Well, I decided it would be easier to redirect people to my other blog instead of posting on two sites. Life in the Big mango has ended and life in the Peach has begun. The transition has gone well, though not complete. It will take time to feel normal. Right now I sort of feel like an alternate version of myself. I don't quite feel like me. So much of who I am was centered around being in Thailand for so long. I don't want to lose that but know I will have to learn to adapt to this life too. A part of me will always be in Thailand. If you want to continue keeping up with us, please read our blog at www.mommyscircus.blogspot.com .

We made it back to the States safe and sound. Our last few days in Thailand were busy, yet good overall. Being in the hotel room with 3 children prooved to be a little challenging and my middle child (2 years old) was fairly active! However he redeemed himself by being absolutely amazing on the plane. He sat patiently for almost the entire flight and only cried for maybe 5 minutes total. The other children did well too, but I wasn't all that concerned about them. Our team gave us a sweet farewell party and it was difficult to say goodbye to everyone. Even though it is a pleasure to be in the States, we are already feeling nostalgia for Thailand. We have enjoyed our time back and it has been fun to spend time with family and to go to the shops. We have enjoyed going to Target. We haven't indulged in any restaurants yet but we will! I hope to post some pics on here soon, but it may take a few days as we are knee deep in settling in. After all the weeks of packing, we are now unpacking. We are still suffering a little jet lag too. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow is our last full day in our house. The house is just about ready for the movers on Thursday. I have done about as much as I can at this point save a few things. We practically have our plane luggage packed and will just spent tomorrow doing all those last minute things in the house. Thursday the kids and I will head over to the hotel while Jack stays with the moving team. It will take two days to pack our house and then our stuff will go to storage. We are ready to be finished with all these preparatory days and just have a little bit of quiet as a family before we leave. These will be good days to help the kids get their heads round what is happening and help them prepare for the changes ahead. There are so many exciting things ahead for them like hotel stays, airplane rides, birthdays and family that we think they only process those things presently. We aren't sure if they understand the not returning part yet and if they do, what that will be like. I also want to say thanks for all the encouraging emails we are receiving from you out there. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon!

By now many of you are just learning of our future plans...if you are on our mailing list. We have finished our 4 year term here in Thailand and needed to make a decision regarding whether or not we would return for another 4 year term after our year in the States. We have decided as a family that the best thing for us as a family is to return to the States indefinately. We have loved our 6 years here in Thailand as 2 year missionaries and also as career missionaries for this 4 year term. We have had many amazing experiences, good times and bad times. We love our team, and we love Thailand. We just feel that we are being lead to move on to the States and to another form of work for Jack. My job stays the same. :)

We have exactly 6 days left here. We leave on July 29th at 1:30 A.M. We will settle in Peachtree City, Georgia with Jack's parents for about 6 months while Jack figures out the next steps. We are essentially starting over. We have no job leads, no housing of our own and basically nothing but our families to go home to! But this is another opportunity to see God lead and provide for us. If we've learned anything as missionaries, we've learned that God takes care of us always and in every situation. This one will be no different. We are scared and excited. It is hard to say goodbye here. We are leaving many people that we love. We are leaving a culture that we have assilmilated. We will bring some of those changes home with us.

Even though our lives will go from the ' big mango' to the 'big peach', I will continue to update this blog for a few more weeks. After that if you want to stay updated please see my other blog www.mommyscircus.blogspot.com .

Busy, Busy, Busy....

packing, sorting, dusting, throwing, giving, selling...
toys are dwindling, bored kids are unpacking things that must stay packed!

Baby must be nursed, cuddled, bathed and napped...
laundry must be washed and ironed, meals must be made with the remnants of our fridge and pantry...
Mommy is dreaming of a vacation by the sea!

Daddy has a million errands to run and loose ends to tie...
9 more days and we must say our goodbyes
and then...
Collapse!

Last night we had a Korean feast with our neighbors. My friend Bun is Thai and married to a Korean man. Twice a year we all gather together to eat a Korean meal in "Little Korea". There is a section of downtown where there are several Korean restaurants and other establishments all in one little mall area. We had a great time eating and fellowshipping with this family that has become so dear to us and has seen us through some of our more difficult times and have been a great source of support here in Thailand. We will miss them dearly.