Christmas Eve Traditions (add photo)

 We have a wonderful tradition for Christmas Eve.

I made costumes long ago - and have added to my collection over the years, so every Christmas Eve we dress up as shepherds to enjoy a meal that would have been served back at the time of Christ's birth.

It used to be completely traditional - only Mediterranean food, but we have added some extra items so that there is food that the kids will enjoy as well. 

Dinner consists of:

Fish, Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs, Mediterranean seasoned vegetables (and corn for Devon), flat bread, and various dips for flat bread.  

We turn off all the lights in the house and eat dinner by candlelight on the floor in the family room (or outside now that we are in Texas) to be like the shepherds.

After dinner we clean up and change out of the costumes into warm clothing.  We go outside and sing Christmas Carols around a camp fire.  Usually one of the kids plays the guitar while the rest of us sing along.  I'm so glad we can do this.  We try to roast marshmallows while we do this too!  Right - you gotta add some fun tasty treats. 

To finish the evening off, everyone gathers around the Christmas tree to open their Christmas pajamas (usually) - but this year we opened our pajamas earlier so that we could wear them for the Polar Express Train ride.  Tonight we changed into our pajamas and settled down in the family room to watch the Polar Express!  It's the best!  

Then everyone lays their stockings out for Santa (or checks to make sure they are hung) and off to bed we go!

Back to Bangkok, Thailand and Ayutthaya, Thailand - Time with Sathit

And now for the moment we have all been waiting for.  Mark will be reunited with Sathit, his investigator from 33 years ago.  We we took the morning flight from Chaing Mai to Bangkok.  Took or stuff to the hotel and then took a taxi to the church building.  We found it after the taxi driver passed it.  

We walked into church a few minutes late.  I got a translator, but Mark didn't need one.  I had felt all along that Sathit might ask Mark to speak since it was Stake Conference, and Sathit was the Stake President.  Sure enough, after Sathit had spoken, she started to wrap up by saying he has been so blessed by having the gospel of Jesus Christ in his life and that he owes all of that to the two missionaries that taught him, and one is here today.  Then he invited Mark to come up to the podium and speak.  Mark spoke in Thai for several minutes.  It was so touching.

After church, the Larsen's - they were sitting behind me - said that Mark was his MTC teacher in Thai.  What a small world.

Mark with Brother and Sister Larsen

 Mark wasn't sure if sister Jiap would come - he invited her via Facebook.  SHE CAME!!!!  With her husband!

Sister Jiap and her husband with Mark and I

THE REUNION!!!
Sister Jiap (and her husband), Mark (and me), Sathit and his wife and her sister

NOW!  Reunited

Mark, me, Sathit, Sister Jiap, and President Johnson who also served his mission in Thailand when Mark was a missionary

Mark with Ken's convert

He and his family - missing a few.  He married Sissy and they had eight children.

The stud missionaries on P-day

 After church we went back to the hotel, changed and went for a walk to try to find Mark's first apartment.  While on the walk it started to rain.  Within minutes the streets were flooded because there is no where for the water to go.

We aren't sure but we think this is where his first apartment was in Thailand

The next day we went on an adventure with Sathit and his wife.  He took the day off work to do this with us.

Mark and I rode the train to meet Sathit and his wife

Rice fields

Too funny - we ran into the missionaries while they were on P-day

The king's summer palace.  Which used to be the palace

That night we had dinner with Sister Jiap, her husband, Sathit and his wife.  IT was such a great time to see Mark together, talking the language and reliving the glory of his missionary days in the country he fell in love with.

fish in the bathroom

The next day we flew back to America - Thailand we miss you.

Day Two - Spring Break

Bright and early we were ready for the beach.  Betsy LOVES the beach.  Let's say that again.  Betsy LOVES the beach.  She gets so excited and has it all planned out.  She reserved two beach lounges the night before for the rest of the week - done!  We don't have to worry about having a place to keep our stuff or relax.

It was cloudy this morning but it was still wonderful to be outside on the shore.  Marissa and Betsy read their books while Mark and Robert played football and frisbee.

The sun came out quickly and we enjoyed the rest of the day!!!

My beautiful Marissa

enjoying the coast

Robert and Marissa - look how much they've grown

Robert - 16 and a sophomore in high school

Mark loves to play football into the ocean - so does Robert

Now it's time for sand sliding.  We brought the board we bought in Hawaii.  Mark loves to do this but it has to have the right type of beach - there can't be too much of an angle - you need a nice flat beach.

That night we went to a nice family owned Italian restaurant right on the bay.

Mark at sunset

Robert exploring on the rock

Sweet Marissa

After dinner we walked around the peninsula to see what was there.  We found a nice harbor and a few other places to eat that we will try later in the week.  This is a very nice beach area.