Monday, December 15, 2008

Christmas Thai Style!

My roommates and I decorated for Christmas last Tuesday evening (almost a week ago!), but I wanted to wait until today to join up with BooMama's Christmas tour of homes 2008. I'm completely amazed that I practiced that much restraint. Actually I'm practicing restraint in another area right now. I received a big ole Priority Mail box this afternoon from my parents (THANK YOU Mom & Dad!) and I haven't opened it yet... impressive, I know:). But that's because I wanted to get this post up.... :).

We were very blessed to have all sorts of decorations already here at the house - left over from previous girls who came to work with the missionaries. So, using what we had, we managed to decorate our house in two hours! I've never been able to do that before:).

Anyway, welcome to my humble home in Thailand. Come in, make yourself at home, and kick your flip flops off at the door....:)





Our very cute (and artificial!) Christmas tree:)





Oh hello there... just a friendly little lizard paying us a visit!

The wreath on our screen door... even if the weather outside is in the 80s, we're enjoying the snowflakes on our wreath.



Our dish cupboard with garland and one lone Christmas card... we're hoping to fill up the entire top with cards:).



An overview of our downstairs.... we even found an appropriate tablecloth:).

While not the best picture, this certainly lights up our evenings. I guess it's nostalgia, but I love to sit in the living room and just look at the lights:).

The birth of Christ isn't celebrated by many in Thailand...of course the commercial aspect of it all is. Just one more reminder to me as to why I am on the mission field!

Well, I'm off to go help decorate the missionaries' house:).

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your place - reminds me of my adventurous traveling days in my 20s. Enjoy every minute! Love your little lizard visitor, too. Merry, merry Christmas!

kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor said...

This totally takes me back to my younger years (minus the lizard). What a great place. Love your adorable Christmas tree! Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

The lizzard just needs a little santa hat and it would be complete! Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I like your Christmas tree :)

phillips phamily said...

Good luck to you in Thailand! It sounds like you've got a common visitor (the lizard). He would freak me out! Merry Christmas to you and your roommates!

Anonymous said...

I found your blog through someone else and it really made my day!

My family and I lived in Thailand for 4 years and your stories have reminded me of some of the best times of our life. Burboin Street restrauant was one of our favorite. We started out living in Pattaya for 1 year and then transfered to Bangkok for 3. We lived in the compound by the American school.

Did you know that the American Embassy has a cafe that also sells american products(Dr.Pepper was our favorite, cereal, snacks etc) at a fair price and you can go anytime they are open? We didn't find this out until our last year there.

Enjoy your time and take in all the culture because it will be over before you realize. My children who are adults now, all say they cannot wait to return to visit.

Saw- Wa- Dee- Ka.....

Tina

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for coming over to tour my home! With so many homes, my it's gonna take us till Jan to tour them all!!

Have a wonderful Thai Christmas- Know Jesus is using your life to spread the real Reason for the Season!!

blessings
mary

Anonymous said...

Beautiful decorations. Made even more beautiful by the heart of the decorators. Merry Christmas!

Carrie said...

praying for you! LOVE your precious decor!!!

Pat said...

Merry Christmas Anne! I pray that you have a time that is filled with the sweetness of Jesus fresh and new!
Thank you for joining the tour!!
Pat

Amber said...

Found your blog through BooMama's and got so excited! I'm a former MK from Thailand, so this makes me all kinds of giddy! The lizard almost brought a tear to my eye!

Thanks for all your hard work in missions....

AMBER

Lora said...

Anne,

How delightful to know You are serving The One we are celebrating! Sweet, sweet, sweet!

The snowflake ribbon on your wreath is so festive! And I love the pink walls! Thank you kindly for stopping by my home today and for your kind words.

Peace and joy,
Lora

Unknown said...

Thanks for the tour.

Lovely to "meet" you.

Prayers for you and yours this Christmas.

Becky said...

God bless you in the mission field!! May you show many the real reason and light of the season!!
Blessings!

Amy said...

God bless you and your friends for all that you are doing on the mission field! Love the decorations and the special feeling you gave your place. Merry Christmas!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Anne! First, thank you for stopping by my "house" yesterday and leaving a comment; it was wonderful to hear from you! I loved coming to your blog and am so thankful I did! I have a heart for missions too, and it was encouraging to read about yours. And I loved seeing your place decorated for Christmas Thai style. I have a dear friend who lives in a remote part of Thailand as well. You all did a great job decorating! Is it your first away from home or do you have family coming? I pray it is a very special Christmas for you!

Kim said...

I can totally relate to how fun it is to just sit and enjoy the Christmas lights! It's one of the reasons I like to put the tree up at the beginning of December and not take it down until January!

Y'all did a great job of decorating! I like the idea of bringing in fake snowflakes when we can't have any real ones. Not that I'm missing them all that much, but they would be pretty decorations :-)

The Charm House said...

Dear sweet Anne, Thank you so much for joining the Tour of Homes! You remind us of why we are truly celebrating Christmas! Thank God for you and the passion you have for HIM! I pray that you and the others will have a wonderful Christmas and that His mission will be accomplished through each of you!
God Bless you!
Yvette

Anonymous said...

Beautiful decorations! You would never know it was 80 degrees from the decorations.

Anonymous said...

You found that lovely tablecloth in Thailand? I have been looking for appropriate colored cloth and come up with nothing! I am sure you can guess at some of what I have been shown when I asked for Christmasey material, specifically red and white. Wrapping paper too that is not cartoony or has odd english on it is hard to find as well.
Your house looks great!
Merry Christmas!
PS I noticed another comment from someone in Thailand whose name is Tina as well. Interested in peeking at her blog! :)

Kim @ Forever Wherever said...

Hi Anne! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! You did a wonderful job of bring the CHRISTmas spirit with you! I'll check back to see what your up to! I would love to visit Thailand one day! Thanks for sharing your home with all of us!
Merry Christmas!
-Kim

Musings of a Housewife said...

Blessings to you and have a very merry Christmas in Thailand!

Anonymous said...

Hi Anne,
Good to meet you and thanks for visiting my Tour. You've done a good job of decorating in a foreign country :0) and what restraint in not opening that package. It must be nice for your friends and family that you have a blog and can communicate and post photos for them to see. Blessings on your work there! Have a very Merry Christmas...

My Bright Corner said...

So pretty!

Merry, merry Christmas!

Lora @ my blessed life said...

It's about the Spirt of Christmas, not the temps outside, right?:) Your place looks very festive--great job!

Melodie Norman Haas said...

Great decor! Thanks for sharing and may God keeps his hand on you and shine his light through you to a people in need!

Keetha Broyles said...

Wow - - - the last home I toured was in Africa, and now I find myself in Thailand - - - and all without ever leaving my own kitchen!!!!

Thanks for sharing.

Merry Christmas

Anne said...

Thanks for all the sweet comments:).

Anonymous - I had to laugh over your favorite restaurant... it's ours too! Thanks for the tip on the American Embassy; we'll have to check it out!

Tina - I asked my roommate (who is Thai) if she got the tablecloth here, and she said it was very popular years ago - and she's kept it ever since! I've learned to snatch something up at markets if I like it:).

Kelli said...

What a cozy Christmas home you have! Thank you for having us over!
~Kelli

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your home with us.

Best wishes to you during this Christmas season!

Anonymous said...

I like your decorations Anne! There's just something about turning off all the lights and just enjoying the Christmas lights!! We did that in the office last week ;).
~ Katie

Anonymous said...

Hi Anne- your blog caught my eye because we live in Thailand too! Where exactly are you at? We live in Samut Prakan outside of BKK. Come visit me at my blog sometime!