Trip to Cambodia

We are planning a trip to Cambodia over the holidays. This is something we have longed to do for a while, but we were not thinking we would attempt it until our children were a bit older. But, after prayer and discussion with our friends the Hales, we searched for frequent flier tickets for the six of us. Much to our surprise and excitement, we found them. It was a shock, really, since Kris and some other friends have used frequent flier tickets before but have been unable to get them all the way to Phnom Penh; they have gone to Bangkok and then purchased the last leg into Phnom Penh. But we found 6 tickets all the way there, including a stop on the way in a country to the north. The planned departure date is December 1st, and return date is January 12th. We are more than excited.

We hope to help Bill and Jenn by subbing for them (ESL and computer) until they are ready to resume their classes after having baby Isaac. He is due in late November. We will arrive a little late to help while he is being born, but Chheng's son, Soda, and his wife Allyson are planning to be there over Thanksgiving and leaving the same day we arrive, December 10th, so they can certainly help fill in.

We also so want to be an encouragement to the church there. What a profound joy it is to see and know people who are worshipers of the One true God who live across the world and speak different tongues. He is not the God of just the westerners, or Americans, or English speakers, or industrialized nations. His rule spans cultures and ethic groups and languages and times. He is the same God yesterday, today and forever. And how glad I am that He is everywhere, and that we are no more "safe" within the four walls of our suburban home that we will be walking the dusty roads in a rural Cambodian village. If God is for us, who can be against us?

However, I admit that anxieties do creep in, and we would love to have your prayers! If you want to pray for us, please let us know if you have the opportunity. It encourages us more than you know. Thank you!

The Illiad and the....what?

Tonight I was quizzing Anna on her Veritas Press History Cards for 2nd grade. She is studying Ancient Greece, and we were discussing Homer when I asked her to name his most popular works.

"The Illiad and the Honda," she said confidently. The what? Then I realized that we owned a Honda Odyssey. She just got a little confused and I got not a little amused!

Toddler Moments

As we were driving home yesterday and I listened to Daniel singing a song, it reminded me of all those precious YouTube videos of tiny tots belting out tunes. But the precious thing about these months with Daniel is that almost every waking minute is full of those moments, that if captured adequately, we would surely win thousands of YouTube hits. Even in the stressful moments, he says the cutest things in the sweetest ways. I'm so thankful that God packs so much sweetness into such little bodies. Even in the frustrating moments, there is usually something to smile about!