It's a wrap!

The 2015-1-2016 school year recently came to a close, but there is much work to do! 

I bought this puzzle at a yard sale and it wasn't easy!  

Ken works as the Director of a homeschooling service offered through Grace International School.  The school is moving and Ken has the enormous task of moving the school to the temporary campus. His responsibilities include: coordinating volunteers, ordering and arranging the packing supplies to be delivered, (like 2,500 boxes!), checking in with moving companies, coordinating with I.T. and helping to ease the responsibilities of the facilities department.  This summer he will help to see that the school is moved to the new location by mid-July! 

Ken has been working extra hours at school and many nights at home working on the details, trying to make this a smooth transition.  I'm thankful that he is able to take some days off to spend it with our family who flew in to visit!  Next week, he'll be back at it again.

Tents are always fun.  Snack in tents: even better!

Here on the homefront, the kids and I have ended the homeschool year, but started on next year's work to get a jump-start and to keep their minds engaged in learning.  

We had fresh peaches at the market!  They came in this box
which became a fabulous dollhouse for this crafty gal.

Callie is very proud to be a first grader now!  She is growing up faster than the boys it seems.  She is an emotional, creative little artist who twirls and skips through the house.  

Jack earned his pocket-knife earlier this year and recently
used it to make a spaceship for Max out of boxes.

Dry erase markers are fun....NOT!  Thankfully they wiped off the
rattan easily.  He said, "I thought you would think it was
beautiful."  Look at the face:)

Jack just wants school work to be done as quickly as possible.  Right now he's really into reading Calvin and Hobbs and asking to eat the candy my family brought us from America. 

 Max is living up to his name. He does everything to the max!  The Thai people still love him, and he still makes a hundred crazy faces and says things like, "Mommy, Callie is being obnoxious," and yes, he's still only 2!  He keeps me on my feet while he's awake and on my knees before the Lord when he goes to bed.

I really enjoy teaching these kiddos!  They were so shy
at first, but now we laugh and they are speaking in English.

I am still teaching English class twice a week.  I try to use a lot of hands-on object lessons for my students, because they seems to retain the info better this way. I've been writing my own lessons, so if anyone has resources they could pass along, please share!  I'm also slowly progressing in my Thai vocabulary.  When we shop at the market I am able to ask questions, and do a better job negotiating prices.  I am still far off from fluent conversation, but I am celebrating the small victories.  One day I will share the gospel in Thai.  That is my goal.  

Prayer requests:

Language study for all of us

School:  We would like to enroll our 2 youngest in a bilingual school this summer to learn more Thai.  It is an extra expense that we hadn't planned for, so please pray with us for the Lord to provide.

Neighbors:  We are the only believers on our block and beyond.  We have neighbors who are becoming friends who don't know the Lord...please pray for the Lord to open their eyes and for us to share in a way that they can understand.  (Culture is a challenge and affects everything).

Ministry: I am meeting with a house-mom to discuss working with a group of girls.  More details to come later.  

Children:  Callie has been homesick for America.  She misses her cat (at here grandparent's house) and her family and friends.  Praise:  2 little girls moved into our neighborhood and they can speak some English!

House:  We will ask to renew our contract for another year.  This should be fine, but you just never know...

Financial Support: Please pray that we can be fully supported so that we can stay and continue the work here.

Health: Praise!  We are all doing better.  Thank you for praying and please keep praying for me (Summer).