Merry Christmas!!

 Merry Christmas from Thailand!!

We can't believe it's already Christmas - how time flies! It's also hard to believe it's Christmas because we're still sweating in 90 degree weather, everyday! We have seen many Christmas trees, lights, and decorations around town, but it's not the same without snow! Interesting enough, the majority of the country does not celebrate Christmas - but they love to decorate!

<--We met Jake at the BKK airport to spend a some quality time together before he boarded his plane to Perth.










We are a bit sad not to be spending Christmas at home with all our friends and family - does that mean we get to eat extra goodies and get extra gifts next year.. haha - just kidding! But for real - we do miss all of you! We hope you all have a safe and wonderful white Christmas! Because we were unable to send our annual holiday greetings card this will have to do for this year. 

What we did prior to Thailand - 
* We rung in 2012 ice skating under a full moon with Pat and Teddi
* We took a road trip to Montana to enjoy the ski slopes
* Beth took a last minute trip to Philly for a work conference
* We moved into the farmhouse and have been loving it!
* Josh worked on the farm and is learning at a rapid pace.
* We canoed... lots!













* Beth attended her first Twins and Timberwolves games!
* We went on a CHWC Mission Trip to Kansas City with St. Mary's Youth Group
* We ran a 5K and both won 2nd!
* Beth's grew another great garden full of yummy things.
* We spent many nights playing Settlers of Catan.
* We enjoyed quality time with family and friends!!











Then...
*Beth said goodbye and resigned from West Fargo Public Schools and Josh said goodbye to St. Mary's - and we both said HELLO to Thailand!!
*We flew halfway around the world.
*Beth took her first taxi ride, and now she rides in one weekly.
*We've toured countless Wats.
*We rode elephants!











*We eat ice cream in a bread sandwich.
*We've toured ancient cities.
*We trekked through the mountainous jungle.
*We've let scorpions crawl on us!
*We've spend time at the beach, without getting sunburned.

*Josh got his hair cut by a ladyboy!
*Beth eats interesting and delicious fruits!
*We've battled many ants and one gecko - and won!
*We eat rice daily.
*We've mastered public transportation.
*We've learned that a schedule isn't always set in stone.
*We've learned how get by on less.
*We've learned to relax - mai ben rai.

*We get to experience and explore this culture one day at a time.

To summarize 2012 in a word - Adventure. We'd had so many new endeavors this year! We look forward to what 2013 has in store for us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

What are we doing for Christmas?
     We are going to midnight Christmas Eve Mass with a Filipino friend tonight. Christmas Day, we will be at school, working on Christmas. Our office is having a mini Christmas party. It will be an international pot luck with the other foreign teachers. I'm hoping to create my knephla soup here! We're also having a little gift exchange.

 

At Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

How will we ring in the New Year?
     We're headed to Chiang Mai to spend the long weekend. More on that later...