We didn't fall off this side of the earth ... promise!!!

I know! It's been over a week since we've posted anything ... that's totally unlike us!

Well we've been g-o-n-e!

We have to leave the country basically every 6 months to renew our visa. Can you believe that it's been that long already? Some days it seems like it's been 6 years ... other days it seems like we've been here 6 weeks! But it really has already been just about 6 months! whew!

So one of the easiest and simplest places to go to renew our visa is Thailand. So off we went last week.

We ended up going to Hua Hin Thailand, which is on the west coast. We were told that this was a great family place and that we would love it ... well we did!!! It was a great few days of being together as a family with a few less stresses of daily life and just relaxing a bit.

AND ...


eating cheeseburgers!!!! YEP! There was a Burger King and a McDonald's within a block of where we stayed. We ate there a lot! Our oldest loves cheeseburgers and that's one thing that we just can't get here hardly at all. When a restaurant does say it has a hamburger here, it tastes more like meatloaf! ick ... meatloaf is good, but not when you are thinking you are eating a cheeseburger! They don't have 'ground beef' here, they call in 'minced beef'. So it's finer and just mushier (is that a word?). So, I'm saying all that to say that we ate like royalty on many double cheeseburgers and whoppers over the past few days!

It helped us gain some perspective too. We've realized that:
1. We are SO GLAD these first 6 months are over! WOW! To come back through the same airport that just a few months ago we came through and KNEW NOTHING ... but now we came back through and have so much figured out and set in place. There's a ton more to figure out and do, but we are so thankful to be where we are!

2. Where we live is hard. I don't know really how else to say it. I am one that has a tendency to 'kick a dead horse'. So when I would get upset at things here or be SO frustrated or just overwhelmed, I realized I was being really hard on myself. I was internally telling myself, "it's not that bad, you just need to get through it or get over it!" But seeing more of the world has made me realize a little more that this really is just a hard (but not impossible!!!!) place to live. So I've got to give myself (and the rest of my family ...) some slack when we are just having a 'day.' kwim?

3. I love the crazy life that we lead. I looked at our oldest as we were getting our bags, and said, "welcome back to the crazy life!" and all I got was a blank stare back! But it's true, it is crazy here and we just have to laugh at it! Before we left I think I was kinda in the 'throws' of culture shock and just getting so aggravated and irritated at some of the ridiculous stuff that goes on here ... like men going to the bathroom in plain sight on the side of the street (new meaning to 'golden arches' ... no I'm not talking McD's!) ... before we left I thought I was go to scream my head off every time I saw that (which is several times a day) ... as we were driving back home today, the first time I saw it I laughed! I was so glad to laugh at that again. I know (although I hope not) there will be times when it will be totally aggravating again, but I know I can look back on today and remember the difference that I feel and that is so refreshing.

4. Our kids our doing so great. Today they traveled by taxi, plane, car, subway, and 2 autorickshaws ... without any problems. I can't underestimate that! We have to look at all they are taking in and adjusting too and not focus on the small things that they stumble over, they are learning and will continue to learn! I can't express how thankful we are for this. It's because many have lifted us up and it has meant a lot to us!!!

So I thought I would leave you with a few pictures from our trip ...



There were many huge statues (idols) like this all around the area


We never did figure out what she was making, but it looked interesting!


I've always wanted to see a peacock in the wild with it's tail open ... we DID!!!



The view of Hua Hin from a small mountain that we went up. It's a beautiful place!



I just cannot get over seeing this. A baby on a motorcycle, no helmet, nothing! I see moms holding newborns flying down the road on motorcycles here in India. I don't know if I'll ever get used to seeing this!!!