Today is ok :)

So the last few days have been pretty good overall I must admit. Sunday we went to church at the local group and stayed for six hours, two hours of church and 4 hours of talking eating and board games. We have really enjoyed getting to know these two families and will miss them when they leave later this year!

Monday I went to a local village (only 40 min away) that is home to some "long neck" people who put metal coils around their necks, and legs too sometimes, to lengthen them. They also break their teeth and paint the stubs black. There were some cute kids running around and I couldn't help but wonder how God chooses what homes to send his children to. In my limited perspective I would judge there to be great differences in experiences between growing up in the huts there and the slums of Detroit and the mansions of Northville for example. Not sure that any of those are particularly great places to be happily raised, but I guess it matters more who your parents are and if you feel loved, safe and able to have your needs met. Hmmm. Well, it made me thankful for my life and my kids and my extended family and all their kids. Family=happiness for sure!

Kids are still struggling with school, especially Hannah and Analeah. There are only four girls in Hannah's grade who are non-asian (Korean or Thai) and they happen to be very rich and pretty mean-girl in every sense. (Nice to your face, sometimes. Rude and self-centered most often. Totally ignore you the rest of the time.) This has been extremely hard on Hannah who has had the same best friend from second grade, and a pretty decent sized group of girls who were well liked as friends. She is coping by trying to reach out to two other ostracized asian girls, Mok (a thai girl who is new), and Mao (a chinese girl who is actually Analeah's age but is not able to write/read english at HS level yet so is attending 7th grade). Both are coming over Thursday to celebrate Hannah's 13th birthday. A very different scenario that what she had planned for earlier this year before we knew we would move in April. I hope it turns out ok!

Analeah seems resigned to her fate at ISE. She has made some acquaintances, but no one that seems to stand out yet. She misses swim team, stake friends and her small circle of school friends. The ward leaders here have seemed to discourage my girls from attending girls camp, as they will be the only "english speaking" girls, but I think I will have to revisit that one. I am sure there are other thai students who speak english at least a little. I wonder if the leaders just don't want to have to go...sigh.

The maid has set a new record...3 days! :) I am actually enjoying having a maid twice a week! It gives me a break and independence, but also help. So at least twice a week I play with Isaac all day long while the maid cleans the entire house! I really like Khun Jim, she has been a gem so far. She doesn't speak much english, but she is soft spoken and a very hard worker.

David went to school with Ava today to attend her field trip to the "OpenZoo" which is a preserve where you drive through a large open area with zebra, giraffe, monkeys etc and feed them. Apparently you can pet them too which idea Ava was bonkers about. Hopefully David took some good pictures!

I feel much more positive this week than last. I spent some time last weekend trying to remember what it means to submit to all the will of the Lord. He places experiences in my path, and He will go through them with me if I let Him. Trying to run away or demand another route isn't submission. Feeling sorry for myself isn't faith. Depression isn't trust or hope. I am so grateful things are ok this week!