So, the honeymoon period of being in Bangkok is over and real life begins. Chris, Hailley and Elijah have started school and I am trying to find where I fit and what groups I'll join. While I wait to decide, there are decisions I face that I never thought I'd deal with. Do I get a maid, will she cook or do laundry, how do I get to my child's basketball games, the flooding that happens when it rains and how to communicate with the neighborhood handyman. Do I teach Sunday school and how much do I commit to one ministry in case I might find more than one I feel led to? All of the normal settling in things that are so much fun (said in jest).
All of you who know Hailley and Elijah know that school has never been easy for them. They never even went to school before we got them so this is their 4th full year of school. We are having the usual defiance and homework until 8:30 bedtime, lying about homework, not bring home or turning things or the organization of two little pigs hiding from the big bad wolf in a pile of all the good grades and the bad grades hidden in the depths of who knows where. The social issues are harder here because the school is smaller, and my children have been exposed to a hideous previous life that the children here, even in their worst nightmares, couldn't imagine. The thing about expat children is that they have brought up from birth in a Christian home, learned all the social skills and are emotionally safe and sound in their little boxes. Trying to fit my crazy, unsure, socially unkempt, emotionally unruly round peg children in to those square little safe boxes is all the things you think it would be----embarrassing, confusing, frustrating, and just downright strange. The thing Chris and I are learning is that it is great to have some really true friends to pray with, encourage us, cry with, laugh with and just love us. We had some fabulous friends who did the same with us at home and we miss them dearly. We are so thankful we have it here and count our blessings as more than we deserve. We are learning a new parenting style. Most of you know Chris and I are military authoritarian style parents. We are strict, have had to retrain and now are retraining again. Everything we are teaching is always turned back to what God says about their behavior, what God says He wants and expects of us. Wow, how we have changed in just the last week even. I can't tell you I've seen this miraculous turn around. I can't tell you my children even understand what we are trying to teach them. What I can tell you is that I have faith that God can and will do anything.
In my struggles this week of parenting my two lovelies, I began to look through the bible to find what is said about adoption. I realized the ultimate story of adoption is of Jesus. God sent His son to earth to be adopted , brought up, loved and be a part of Joseph and Mary's family. It was hard. He was persecuted, ridiculed, called a liar, beat, tortured and still went on to do miraculous things. Esther, another who was adopted went through trials and tribulations but went on to do great things. Moses, and on and on. I just finally realized that God really does have a plan, and He chose Chris and me to raise them. The key is--He chose us to raise them as they should go. Not as I would have them, or even want them to go. AS THEY SHOULD GO. He gives very explicit instructions on that, and I'm sorry it took three years for me to figure it out. I love my kids. As crazy as they are, they are my crazy. I will always, and even as embarrassing as it is and painful to see and hear and do, I will always choose them. Thank you to my friend Lisa, for letting me borrow a fabulous book called Creative Correction that has so many fabulous ideas and I am so appreciative of. Thank you to my friend Kim, who has been there for me to vent to, cry to, and who has the wisdom of the ages and the patience of a saint, all packaged in a beautiful lady who can cook better than Julia, Martha, Paula, and Emeril all put together-and make it seem like she did it in 5 minutes. And for all the other wonderful teachers here at ICS who have included me, prayed for me, and just loved my crazy cartoon life. And for those of you back home, I still am thankful everyday God brought you into our lives.
So, on to the crazy fun things we've seen since last time. Hailley and I saw a woman walking down the street in panties and a pair of shorts, nothing else. No shirt, bra, or shoes. Can you say weird? We were just speechless, and for that, most people know if almost impossible! I saw my first baby elephant on the side of the road, got off my bike and petted it and took pictures of it all the while it's owners were yelling at me. We road our first Tuk Tuk, and had a blast. I went to my first tea with the women of Bangkok Christian Fellowship, our new church. It was so special, and I even got up the nerve to tell my story of how we came to Bangkok, Thailand. We went on a shopping trip and my husband has literally spoiled me rotten. He bought me a desk, my koi painting, a rug for my bedroom, a table to put all my toiletries on, a shoe rack (no shoes in house in Thailand), a pedicure, and a plethera of other things I can't even remember. Things he knows will make me feel at home and not so stressed out. That he loves me enough to care makes my heart squish beyond measure. Again, something I am blessed more than I deserve. Even though the honeymoon is over, I am still left with blessings beyond measure. I just want to say I love you God, and thank YOU! Until the next adventure.......
