A few other special notes that were particularly surreal, but particularly nice.
This was our first autumn to be back in America in a very, very long time. Eight years, in fact.
Honestly, I’d forgotten what it was like. There would be times driving down tree-lined roads in Thailand, with dead leaves falling from trees, I’d note that it felt like fall. But it isn’t really about the falling, it’s the colors. It’s beyond description!
I found myself practicing conversations in Burmese with our neighbors, trying to explain to them the incredible vibrancy of the colors: the reds and yellows and oranges, so bright, so bold, and then they just fall! I found myself picking up leaves and gluing them into my notebook, just trying to capture it.
I am so glad we were there for a fall this year.
We were married in the fall, and thus celebrated our anniversary among the fall colors this year!
While we limited our travel as much as possible, we had some really sweet friends make drives to see us. In most cases, it was a significant sacrifice of money and time to do that, and we are really, really thankful.
I–and really, we–were able to work with these guys with The Spero Project for just a year in OKC. It was a short year, but it has sparked a great friendship. We are thankful for the moments we get with them.
And for the time we get with their incredible, spunky kids!
This friend also came through town (and her amazing family, but didn’t snap that group photo, so…) for a job interview for her husband, and I am so thankful for the time we had!
These guys drove their family of six a long twelve hours for a weekend together! We loved it.
After meeting and doing life together in Mae Sot, it was fun to catch up and chat stateside. People who know you on both continents are few and far between.
This mentor and hero of ours met with us faithfully twice a week, starting some early mornings over coffee and bagels. The hours of wise words, advice, counsel, and truth he pours over us are hard to capture. We’re just honored to know him and thankful he has walked this road with us since before we were married. Paul, you’re a faithful friend and we thank the Lord for you and the moments we get together.
The two most popular questions about living overseas:
What are the toilets like?
What foods do you miss most?
I miss Zaza’s House Salad: spinach and greens, pecans, blueberries, strawberries, goat cheese, and a vinaigrette. The BEST. And lots of things we don’t often get here.
But we did get to enjoy a date out for salads 😍
And last, one of the things Stephen loves to do in big cities is visit the Apple store. Some of them are “flagship stores” that offer different classes or trainings, have unique designs…I’m not sure. But we go. And since we don’t buy anything, it’s a cheap activity! We’re both winning 😂
This was in Chicago, in the huge store of glass they have there. And–spoiler!–we also visited the newest flagship store in Paris and there’s another photo of that coming! 😁😂
#thethingsyoudoforpeopleyoulove