Christmas time is here!---Just a whole lot of pics

I'll be 'here' for Christmas

My family for Christmas: Jen, Ya, Max, Me, (uncooperative) Gracie, Aon and Sammy

Well, Christmas will be a bit different for me this year. For one thing there will be no snow which is just totally weird. For another, I’ll be away from my family for the first time during this time of year. Pray that I wouldn’t get too homesick. I thank the Lord for technology and the fact I can call home from a computer for about 2 cents a minute. :0) Also I’m truly blessed to have my friend Jen here from California who has generously opened her home to me for the rest of my time here. I moved in on Thanks-giving Day and will be able to celebrate Christmas in a home. Tomorrow we celebrate with two Thai Friends, Aon and Ya who are over all the time and really complete the family feeling. So I’ll be ‘here’ for Christmas. Pray for us as this is the first Christmas in Thailand for both of us. We'll have a nice breakfast out, open presents after, (I have a Christmas lunch with SIM friends) and then back with the girls for the evening to celebrate Ya's birthday. Pray for us as Jen and I would really like to make this Christmas special for Aon and Ya. They both know the Lord and so we're thankful that the greatest gift they've already received, but Christmas is not a traditional celebration for Thai's so we really want part of our home come to Thailand. Merry Christmas to all of you. I hope you have a wonderful holiday celebrating our Saviours birth. From Thailand, We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Everybody's reading the St. John Valley Times

That's right, St. John Valley Times made it to Thailand! These are my students from left to right: Fern, Aum, Ying, Dye, Tern and Fai (beside me) I had just finished telling them about moose in my class. Whenever I ask students how big they think a moose is they always say a cow or maybe a buffalo...which are not like our buffalo by the way. Anywho, I was glad to receive a fall paper from home and show them the hunters and their great catches of the season; especially those who were standing by their moose hanging beside them. Greetings to all of you at the Paper. I miss you guys on Tuesday nights and think of you often. Keep up the good work. I LOVE reading about home. Have a great Christmas season and a happy new year. (...but I'm not going to lie...I'm glad I don't have to be there this week in the Christmas rush :)...) Oh, and by the way....if anyone asks..."it's Chucky's fault." :0) much hugs, -Michelle

Every year the Thai's celebrate the Buddhist holiday called Loy-grah-tone. One night there is a huge display of lanterns throughout the sky. Some are lit and sent with a prayer of for-giveness of sins. However, today this festival is not much more than Christmas is to some people in the states. So many people celebrate it with no religious connection. Nevertheless, it sure was something to see, when all the lanterns were sent up at the same time and just decorated the sky. Pictures can't give you the thousand words that is due really, it was kinda one of those bitter-sweet moments. So here's my attempt to do this night justice.

This was after the official launch.

But they continued to let them go all night...(haha, that sounded funny)

We chose to picnice under this tree nearby with tons of lit lanterns in it; and have homemade icecream. I caught this shot from under the tree.

Wednesday night of the celebration, loads of people come to the Ping river to shoot fireworks, firecrackers, sparklers and anything of the sort. If you're one for safety, then you wouldn’t like thisnight. There are no rules and regulations for shooting fireworks here in Thailand. Everything goes...

My students, Dye, Ying, and Fern. I absolutely love teaching these girls. I've taught them for a month so far and they plan to come back after the new year.

fire cracker box..

Buddhist ritual. They light these and send them down the river with a prayer and often-times money. One of my missionary friend's and I watched a man wade into the river checking all the bouquets for money. It was kinda funny to see.

All the little lights on the water are the bouquets boats

sparkler time :0)

It was a great night

Narrawat Brigde. Behind me is the church I attend.

Neat shot