We celebrated our first Christmas in Thailand! God Blessed our socks off. At the beginning of the month we moved to our ministry location in Chiang Klang. We lived out of our suit cases for 3 weeks while we awaited last minute details on our home. While we waited we shopped and shopped and shopped. . .it seems to never end! Some of it is fun, but when the temps start soaring so does the temper tandrums (and we're not talking about Aleah). On one particulary hot day we ended a long shopping day at a little coffee shop. While we waited on our iced drinks we noticed a themometer and while we were sitting inside this little place it read 93 degrees! So much for the "cold" season!

We moved into our home on Christmas Eve. And I know you have just been dying to see our improved home. . .
Let's start in the kitchen shall we.
starting from the left: washing machine, stove/oven, sink, ant cabinet, microwave, fridge (the largest one we could fine!)


The Christmas tree and cards from family and friends in the hallway

Aleah's bathroom. . .

Aleah's bedroom

Our bedroom. . .

and the living room (notice Aleah's house that she got for Christmas on the right)

and the endless hours of veggie tales are played in this corner. . .


We couldn't be more happier with everything except that you can see through the ceiling and stuff keeps falling through. Christmas was wonderful! Aleah loved her cardboard play house and we all enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies!! Later on Christmas Day we invited some friends over to have dinner with us. I had some help buying all the fixings for Somtom the day before, so the girls all gathered in the kitchen to teach me how to make Somtom (Papaya Salad). The Papaya came from our tree in the front yard! We added some rice and Thai BBQ chicken legs and had a wonderful Christmas Dinner. Later we read the Christmas story in Thai and Aleah gave Cream and Camp and Grace their Christmas presents. It's Thai culture not to open the gifts in front of you so the children just sat them to the side. . .amazing the amount of self control that must have taken! You can view pictures of our party in the "Latest Pictures" link. Before our friends left they told us that we could invited them over to our house anytime! (not sure if that's Thai culture or what : )