Cool Relief

As I spoke to my sister on an international call this afternoon I could hear a strange noise.

I didn't think much of it as there are a lot of weird and wonderful things that happen here in Thailand but as the afternoon wore on I heard it more.

By the time I was putting my eldest two children to bed, I exclaimed "I think that sounds like thunder but surely not...".

It's the dry- burning off season here and the air quality is currently horrendous. Rain isn't due for another month or so I thought, but sure enough it was thunder!

Standing out on our upstairs balcony, the three of us said a prayer for some rain- despite the odds.

The children have been kept inside at kinder the last three days because the air is so bad so once I explained that the rain would hep clear the air, they started proclaiming rain too ... in faith!

Well, they snuggled down to read some books waiting for my husband to get home, who'd been working late, and as we heard him coming up the driveway we peered out the upstairs windows... low and behold there was spits of rain!!

We were all so excited and the children loved it that God heard their request.

I am so grateful to now be sitting here in my study with the windows all open, a coolish breeze blowing into the house and the sound of rain still hitting the roof and ground.

We have had our curtains closed and windows shut for the past couple of weeks due to the air quality, soaring temperatures and bugs so it's a wonderful, miraculous surprise and I am extremely thankful! Yay!

PS Mel, we cancelled our Thai lesson earlier too so after all that, we can enjoy this beautiful evening! I'm off to dance in the rain...like this picture LOL

Passport grat

I am grateful that today when I went to complete my 'working with children' check at the Post Office that I realised my Passport has actually just run out!!!! I am grateful that I can get onto it now and that I realised before I booked any tickets O.S!!!!! (Yay for being able to fill out the form on line and it was super easy!)

Plus I am grateful that it has made me become more organised with the kids passports and now we are all well underway to having them done:)

Shine!

Since arriving in Thailand, it has been a whirlwind of experiences and emotions.

Discovering where to shop, how to connect mobiles and home phone, get licenses, learn the language... the list goes on.

In particular, deciding on a church is a decision that we are currently making that takes considerable time, planning and energy. It's quite difficult to take 3 small children with us to a different church each week, not knowing what to expect or even if the service will be in English! How I miss those Sundays of familiar surroundings and people.

A time where the children were excited to attend their church program and looked forward to seeing their teachers and friends.

My grat today is for the wonderful, refreshing, challenging women's conference (Shine) I attended last weekend. It was so great to be able to get away by myself and have plenty of time to listen to the messages, sing uninterrupted, "fill up" with lots of encouragement and go back to my family feeling refreshed and ready for the next stint. This was really special for me and a time that I feel particularly grateful to have had.

Kinder Grat

I am so grateful for the beautiful teachers who have made my daughters first experiences of kinder so warm, welcoming and POSITIVE! It's fantastic how much she loves kinder and while I am not saying it will never happen - I have been thoroughly grateful I have not had to battle "I don't want to go Mummy".

I feel thrilled with the way they have integrated the children into a 2 full day per week program. It has been well thought out and very nurturing.

An extra special thing I am grateful for is my Mum who has kindly offered to collect Bella each Thursday afternoon. This routine is just perfect for her and it is with such great anticipation she looks forward to Grandma picking her up... at times I can't tell which one she is more excited about! It is just lovely for me too as I don't have to rush off at 2:45pm either...making it heaps easier for me to do a big stint of work while my little one sleeps!

Definitely lots of gratitude from me when it comes to Thursdays and Fridays!!

I Will

I will smile even when I am discouraged

I will hold my head up while I feel weary

I will remain calm though I feel windswept

I will be peaceful despite the frenzy of problems awaiting

I WILL rest my cares on the shoulder of my heavenly Father

For what else can I possibly do than this?

I WILL wake at the dawn of a new day

And choose be a reflection of the life and love that He is.