Hello, I'm Still Here:).

I think I can safely say I've milked the transition/re-entry/reverse culture shock thing long enough since I've been back in the States for three weeks now:). I did take a week of vacation in Florida (btw, I highly recommend taking a trip right after an international trip like what I had - no jet lag problems and plenty of time to relax!). I've been home in Pennsylvania for two weeks and I'm not sure how I did this, but I've been busy since coming home. Between seeing family members and going out to lunch with dear friends, each day has been full.

I've also been going through a lot of my stuff, all the while scratching my head and wondering why I have some things. Goodwill is definitely going to benefit:). Thankfully I am not the only one who has ever done this during the re-entry process. After living with just the basics in Thailand (hello hot water from the kitchen sink - I've missed you for the past year!), it seems a little weird and slightly materialistic to have so much. In fact I just stared at my bedroom when I first walked in to it, overwhelmed by the fact that it was my bedroom. I had a wonderful chat with my Pastor and wife who cautioned me not to go to the extreme of getting rid of everything, so I've taken that advice and sorted through the Goodwill pile again.

Overall my transition has been wonderful and I praise the Lord for that! I've been working through a Bible Study that was written by veteran missionaries who successfully made the transition to the States time and time again and this has been extremely helpful. I've also been writing down some of my thoughts from my time in Thailand and would like to eventually blog about some of it too. No worries ... I completely understand if you want to skip over those posts:).

Now the next step is to undertake some serious job hunting. Thankfully my bills are very minimal right now and I have money to cover them, so I don't have to rush out and get the first job that waves at me:). I know the Lord is going to provide - He is always faithful!!!!

From One Trip To The Next!

Lest some of you think I'm still in the air:), I did make it home safely on Friday afternoon and was promptly jolted back to the reality of the States when I had to pay $5.00 for a baggage cart at JFK. As I forked over the money, I asked another passenger if I would get the money back. He was polite enough not to laugh, although his look told me that I was obviously out of the country too long:).

Welcome back to the good ole' US of A!

After a whirlwind of hellos to my mom, brother, sister, and brother-in-law, I jumped in another car with two friends (and their completely adorable baby!) and drove 21 hours to Florida.

Crazy? Yes. Free ride? Absolutely!!!

I've been greatly enjoying my visit with my other sister who lives in central Florida and her children have been keeping me on my toes with all of their energy and enthusiasm. Since my brother-in-law and sister work during the day, I get to watch my niece which has been a lot of fun. Gotta love family time!

I'm also really, really thankful that jet lag hasn't been bad at all! I suppose I threw my body for a loop by pulling an (almost) all-nighter Friday night by traveling and we've had late nights every night since then, so I'm excited to be waking up every day around 6:45/7:00. When I went to Thailand last year, I thought I would wake up at 4:30/5:00 for the rest of my life! God is so good:).

Well, I'm off to get some things done while my niece is sleeping:). Gotta make those quiet moments count!

Adios!

True to form, I have pictures to share:). Doesn't it seem like I do so many of my posts with pictures? I guess I figure the old adage of a picture is worth a thousand words is going to spare you all from reading 5,000 words on my part! So hence the pictures:).

My absolute favorite restaurant in all of Thailand ~ seriously! It even beats out a good restaurant in Chiang Mai:).

I suspect this restaurant is also Jon and Gracie's favorite - it has a playground;).

Now this is what we call liquid gold! Haven't see this stuff in a very long time!

Left to right: Pastor Jeseda, Arisa, baby Hannah, Carolyn, Lakeid, Lakanna, and me. These sweet people came up on Tuesday to have lunch with us and to tell me good-bye!

I'm extremely grateful the Lord provided an excellent church for me to go to while here in Bangkok. Pastor Jeseda has preached the Word of God so faithfully!

(Look at all that hair on their granddaughter's head!)


~~~~~~~

I suppose this is my last post from Thailand! The Lord has allowed me to be in Thailand for a little over a year and He has accomplished so much!!! However, the time has come for me to make my exit ~ stage right:). I start my journey home Thursday night (Bangkok time) and have so many mixed feelings right now. My co-workers have become family to me and we have shared so much throughout this year. It's also hard to explain how happy and content I am to be on the mission field ~ most people struggle with going to the mission field, but I struggle with leaving the mission field.

Thankfully I know that this is God leading me back to Pennsylvania and so I follow! Once I step on that plane at Suvarnabhumi Airport, I will be so excited to return home - I know it's true, because that's the way it always is for me:).

Before I close out this post though, I would like to issue a very heartfelt thank you to you - my blog readers. You've read my stories, prayed for me, and left very encouraging comments. Most of you I've never met and yet you've played a big role in my being in Thailand!

I can't tell you what is around the corner when I return home.... wait, actually I can! My plane gets in Friday afternoon and I'm leave Friday evening for a visit with my sister in Florida. I would appreciate any and all prayers as two friends and I drive the 18 hours south!

Once I return home from Florida, my life is quite literally an empty slate. I'm a little nervous with the unknown future, but I can't wait to see how the Lord is going to fill it all in!