A Thai Christmas

After our big fall training, we usually need a little adjustment time getting back to our lives in Chiang Mai. Luckily Christmas was near and we had some fun plans ahead.

First Adam ran in his first half marathon and did great! We were in Chiang Mai for about a week before we then went down south to meet my parents at the beach for a vacation. We had an awesome time relaxing together and exploring a bit.

Back in Chiang Mai, we celebrated an early Christmas together (with Greg, mom, and Aunt Lori) and my mom and aunt helped me put on a Christmas program for our medical patients from Burma who are receiving extended care in Thailand. We decorated sugar cookies, cut out snowflakes (crowd pleaser), and my mom shared the story behind the candy cane before passing out the treats. Some of the Thai staff from the hospital even joined us and enjoyed learning about some Western Christmas traditions.

This was our first Christmas at our home in Chiang Mai EVER! We were excited about making new traditions and incorporating special ones from our respective families. Many of our neighbors who are often away for the holidays were also in town, making it a really fun time.

Our office was closed for a few weeks for the holidays so we were able to get some great down time and do some things we really love like hiking, mountain biking, and baking! I remarked to more than one person that I have never been in Chiang Mai and not working (office closed) so it was almost a weird experience to be on "vacation" at home!

When New Years Eve came around, I suddenly had the idea that we should throw a Murder Mystery party. The neighbors all got in the spirit and Adam and another neighbor, Christy, jumped into action to decorate and plan the materials. We got into costume and into character (accents included) and had an awesome night. We even had live musical performances from the jazz singer character (our friend's mother who was visiting and who used to be a professional singer). It was definitely a fun night we'll never forget.

After NYE it was back to work! Adam and I have been busy at the office planning materials for the coming year, coordinating volunteers, visiting patients, and facilitating staff morning workouts.

We have a relief mission trip coming up in mid February, but otherwise we will be working at HQ in Chiang Mai. Now that we have Eden, its nice to have stints at home where we can have some sort of a routine.

Eden is walking, running, climbing, and talking (still under about 10 words). We continue to enjoy parenting her, though challenging at times. She is strong, determined, serious, friendly, and happy. She loves her neighbor friends Finan and Jack and is often leading them into trouble (towards the most dirty or dangerous thing in the room). She has opened up new relationships with all of our Thai neighbors who come over multiple times a day to see her.

We continue to enjoy life here and look forward to all the twists and turns that inevitably come with living in a foreign land. Here's to the New Year!