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On Tuesday, we were suprised to find a whole flock of pigeons in our front yard, scattered about.  It was a little strange to see so many birds flying around and seeming to hang out but we went with it.

 As we were outside with them, we discovered that they didn’t really fly away when you went close to them.  So of course, the kids went closer and closer and realized that they could be picked up!  

After this, we thought that maybe they were around from in town.  There are some birds around there that are around people quite a bit in a public park.  Perhaps they flew out of the park one day for a change up???

On Wednesday, a neighbor came by to catch us up on what really happened.  Some helpful background/spoiler alert: it isn’t unusual for Buddhists to release animals that were previously captive as a good deed; adding to their eternal merit.  Appearently, a monk had released these pigeons, after buying them at a market or petstore, into our village.  This neighbor was trying to gather them up and move them to a better place as they were lazing about on the road and not flying out of the way of moving vehicles.  We will see how these sitting ducks last the week.  The village stray dog has already gotten to three of them.

So we have discovered this year that Hosanna has dyslexia! Education and resources around this topic have drastically changed over the years.  In fact, so much has been written and discovered about it’s positives that I find myself sad that I myself am not dyslexic! We’ve been plowing through a new reading program and Hosanna has proudly finished level 1! We forge ahead knowing she WILL learn how to read and encouraged to see all the new and different ways this little girl will see the world!

While on the beach, Hosanna mirror-wrote this message in the sand. 

I took a picture of it and then, mirrored the picture so it would read correctly.  We had a nice smile over it.

Level 2! Finished in July 2019.

Into the summer!

We have been back in Asia and boy does it feel good! We were first in the midst of preparing the guesthouse for the summer and a lot of repairs and cleaning, organizing and meal planning were underway.

Now we are settled into a nice nest of school and work that seems to be working for our family.

A curious thing: a bird as been at our window, daily, since we’ve been back. Every morning, it tries to fly into the window, into that reflected world beyond. It’s kind of sad how he keeps trying because we know, on the otherside, there is just a house filled with people that would freak out if it were to actually break through. The encouraging thing is that it just keeps trying anyway. Here’s to striving to reach the world that is but a pale reflection of The One’s intention.

A May Day Celebration!

This year, Jubilee had TWO birthday celebrations.  One at home with friends and one on the beach in Thailand.  She got lots of calls, messages, and love.  We can’t believe how crazy fast these kids are growing.  Seemed like it would never come but now that it’s here, seems like it came so fast! Long are the days, short the years. 

Fall!

Every Mid-Autumn, there is a horseracing festival in a small village about 3 hours away.  Fall here never fails in beauty.  

First…it’s the long, mountain drive to get there.  We stop often to break up the twists and car sickness.

At the start of the festival, people dress themselves…..

…and their horses…..

…and basically worship this sacred mountain with inscents, shouts, barley throwing, bongs and cymbals, and chanting. 

Next, there is a “race” around the mountain.  This year, however, it was more of a horseWALK. We were quite disappointed to have missed the danger and excitement of a race around the mountain.

Finally, there is food to share and eat. Yum. 

Every year towards the end of October, we celebrate Nathan’s birthday on the 25th and one family invites the kids to a dress-up harvest party around the 31st.  Thanksgiving follows in November and then we celebrate Ephrem’s birthday on the 12th and Hosanna’s birthday on the 24th of December. This year, however, since we will be returning stateside and packing and finishing up the tourist season,  we decided to do all these things in one day.   No one wanted to miss their birthday celebration, harvest party, and this community with these friends!  The following craziness ensued. 

Last fall and winter, we returned stateside to reconnect with family, take a break, and share what has been going on in our lives. It had been 4 years (so long!) since our last return and we stayed for 4 months (so short and quick!). I took few pictures as I was in a different mindset and wasn’t thinking of journaling this time.  BUT, after a phone accident, most of what I did take were deleted! Here are a few of the pictures I could find/recover; the videos didn’t get deleted so, lots of those.  I’ve also asked family and friends to resend some pictures so, I may add more pictures later. I also realize there are a lot of videos of Jubilee!  I think this is because she was always by me where as the other children often just took off!! I’m posting these for posterity; even though we did have a great time and love and miss our family and friends!