Memorial Day- Big Welcoming Party for Us

My mother in law aka Nonnie and my Aunt Dee Ann planned a huge welcoming party on Memorial Day. This was the first time in 25 years to have both of our families together at one time. Some of you may be asking, "What about when you got married?" Well, our first wedding 25 years ago was very small at Granny's house and only Clinton's family and my mother were present. Our second wedding 15 years ago was a little bigger and we had a few family members from both sides and many of our church friends. 

So this was a very special occasion to have most of our families together to greet us and our children! We brought three new children with us that no one had ever met! What a special occasion!

Aunt Melissa holding Chandler for the very first time.

This day was so full of fun and talking with many people we hadn't seen in so long. Bang single handily took care of Cayden ALL DAY! He's so good with Cayden and Cayden loves him!

Bang feeding Cayden. 

Here's Granny again holding Chandler! This is the day she held him for an hour. She was so content to sit in that rocker and hold him. She has six of her own, 10 grand children, and 11 great grand children. She's held some babies in her day!                                                                     

Clinton's Aunt Cathy on the left and my Aunt Norma Jean, who came all the way from Dallas to see us. 

My cousin Jerry, who is more like my brother than cousin, holding Chandler for the first time. Chandler gifted him with a dirty diaper! hahaha I love this guy so much. When he left the party I cried knowing it would be a really long time before we saw each other again. It's so hard living overseas and only seeing family every two years or more. I find peace in knowing that God sees and cares about the sacrifices we've made to serve Him in Thailand and He's not a debtor to any man. 

I love the promise in Mark where Jesus says, "Assuradly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother..... for MY sake and the Gospel's who shall not receive 100 fold NOW IN THIS LIFE--- and in the life to come, eternal life. 

This is one of the scriptures that brought me comfort when we moved to Thailand and it still brings me comfort today. 

All of my cousins minus one. The first time for a picture like this in 25 years!

 My Aunt Norma Jean on the left and Aunt Dee Ann on the right. My mother had three sisters. One has passed away as well as my mother. My Aunt Dee Ann has been like a mother to me for many many years! I don't know what I'd do without her. I'm so grateful that God gave her to me. Aunt Norma Jean is the oldest of the four girls. She's 75! Can you believe that????? 

My two Aunts

I'm very sad to say that this is the only picture I have of my precious mother in law(back of her head)! Without her this day would not have been possible. She planned everything!! We love you so much Nonnie!! You're so special to us!!

 My brother-in-law Mike who is the hunter AND recently gave his life to Christ!! That's my pretty sister sitting next to him. We got to spend some special time together. So thankful!

The next post will be about Bang's citizenship! It's deserves a post all it's own!

love

Amber

First Few Days in America

I won't even go into how ridiculous it is that it's been almost 3 months since I've written on my blog!!

Maybe one day, my dear friends, I'll be faithful at keeping up with this thing. The truth is, I think about blogging ALL THE TIME, but sitting down and putting words on paper is another thing. So sorry.

So much has happened in the last month and I want to share all of it with you, but it would take me hours and too many pictures to put it all in one post. SO! I'm going to start with one post chronicling our first few days in America.

We received a letter from the American government saying Bang had an interview and needed to be in America on September 4th. We only had three weeks  to get things in order.

Clinton surprised me with the shock of a lifetime telling me that he had secretly raised money for Chandler and I to make the trip with them!!! I almost fell on the floor and rolled around like a crazy woman, but instead I buried my head in his shirt and cried. It had been almost 4 years since I had visited the states. I had put it out of my mind thinking it wouldn't be for another two years when we're finished with Joseph's adoption that this would be possible.

So we began making plans, buying tickets, making appointments with the American Embassy for Bang's  visa, and appointments with the Consular services to get Chandler's passport and birth certificate. It was a crazy three weeks leading up to the departure date!

My first photo is of Bang standing at gate D4 heading out of Thailand. What an exciting day this was for him!! A very long time coming. Bang came to live with us when he was 11 and we arrived in America just 22 days before his 18th birthday. God is faithful even if His timing isn't always ours.

When we walked in Bev's house (my mother in law) she had two dozed red and white long stemmed Gladiolas arranged in vases all over the house. Gladiolas are my all time most favorite flower! Let's just say GORGEOUS!! But I'm SO sad that I didn't get one picture of them!! ;(

Here's our very jet lagged little boy. This is two days after we arrived. It's 11:30am and he still hasn't woken up. We're trying to get him up and dressed to meet his Great Grandmother for the very first time, our lovely Granny!

Sleepy Channy trying to figure all this out!! Twenty four hours of travel with this little guy in my arms was quite the ordeal. Let's just say we were attached. Now he's saying, "I just want to sleep can everyone just leave me alone!

Sleepy boys on Nonnie's bed. "Cayden please wake up! It's sun shining outside. It's time for lunch for heaven's sake. 

Here's our beautiful Granny. She's 90! Can you believe that??? There's my feet and legs in the background. Not sure what I'm doing with my fingers??

I just love the way the older generation always want to hold babies! Every time we saw Granny she wanted to hold him. One day she held him for over an hour!! I wish we could bring her back to Thailand with us. She's one of my favorite!! She has on a shirt we sent her from Thailand. ;)

The second day we went to my sisters house. You could just say it's a mini version of Toys R Us. Cayden had never seen so many toys in all of his life!!! He was in awe! He's still talking about Auntie's house to this day! Just today, he said, "Mommy, remember when were at Aunties house I played with the stroller!" Everyday there's talk about America and Auntie's house is always mentioned. All those toys put a mark on his memory for LIFE. 

 Oh! And did I mention that my sister's house is also an exhibit for wild animals?!? Her husband game hunts and she's gracious enough to put the animals he catches ALL OVER HER HOUSE! Let's just say she's a better woman than I. 

Day 4 and the boys still have very bad jet lag!! This is 12pm and they still haven't woken up from the night before!! Cayden actually has drool all over his cheek but you can't see it in this picture.

Here's our precious friend Connie who planned an amazing romantic "getaway" for Clinton and I. The day of the getaway, she had us meet her at a clothes shop where she bought me new clothes and three beautiful lounge sets. She also made appointments for me to get my toes and nails done, and have a massage. She had our room decorated with roses, chocolate, strawberries, sparkling grape juice, and ALL KINDS lotions and potions!! We were in awe of the love and generosity she showed us!

Our lovely room.

Baby Chandler was in tow for the getaway, but he was no trouble. I mean come on, look at that face!! How could you leave him behind??

Chocolate cover strawberries. Yum!

Did I mention she got us the nicest suite in Beaumont! I called it the Oprah suite! 

Look at the jacuzzi room!

These pictures cover the first week we were there.  More pictures to come!

Love you,
Amber

A Baby is Born

I didn't think I should post about the birth until I posted the last pregnancy picture I took. I thought you should see just how LARGE I was!!! I only gained 37lbs BUT MY WORD my syomach is large!
I'm blaming it on the fact that this was my SEVENTH, yes your read that correctly, pregnancy. Surely that counts for something, right?!?

Oh to have that baby OUT OF ME and IN MY ARMS!!!!

These are my dearest friends and prayer buddies. Mary Beth flew down from East Thailand to be with me for the birth! What an amazing friend. Pii Thak came for the day to pray while I was in surgery. I love these ladies.
What would a missionary do in a foreign land with no family around if not for fellow missionaries and nationals who have become like family. I praise God for these two women!

My prayer warriors while I'm in surgery

This was the first thing Clinton saw as she pulled him out...he was breech. Is that not the MOST precious foot you've ever seen!?!?

The most precious foot I've ever seen

Just a few hours after surgery, I'm drugged beyond belief!!!! This didn't happen to me last time. For some reason, the doctor gave me Morphine right after my surgery and I was in and OUT for almost 24 hours! It was horrible. Every time I woke up I asked the nurse or Mary or anyone in the room, "What did they give me?!?" I could barley lift my head off the pillow much less nurse a baby!!

Just a few hours after surgery

Our precious Chandler

We feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to raise another son. We pray that God will teach and instruct us how to raise him to be the man God has called him to be.

More to come!

Love
Amber

Ramblings

The post below was while we were still in Bangkok. I have no idea why I didn't publish it....I have to say I think I'm the worlds worst blogger.

My lack of consistency could be why I still only have 18 followers after 7 years!! However, this fact alone is kind of discouraging. Sometimes i think, "Why write? No ones really reading it anyway." Then I think well, it really a journal for yourself. Keep going!

I started this blog years ago when I wanted to let Nonnie (Clinton's mother) and my Aunt Dee Ann to see and know what we were doing here. I had NO idea there was a whole world of bloggers out there.

In fact, you'll never believe this but I JUST figured out last year how big blogs were and that there are people who actually make money from blogs and are famous because of blogs!!! I was pretty clueless.

Shifting gears a little, this pregnancy has been so difficult for me and is one reason I haven't blogged too much. I haven't been on the computer too much, period. Once we left Bangkok I was 29 weeks pregnant and all the aches, pains, and fatigue began to set it.

I've suffered from horrible pelvic pain and back pain. For the last four weeks I've been unable to go on any outings what so ever. The extent of my walking is to the bathroom or from one chair to another one, or to the truck. When we do shopping, i either stay home OR sit in the truck while Clinton makes a quick grocery run. It's been hard! His tasks have multiplied and he's been a real trooper! He's been mother/father/cook/care giver/teacher/nurse/missionary/pastor/and loving husband! He's gonna need a vacation once this baby's born. ; )

37 weeks

So what have you been doing you might ask??? Well, iTunes TV has been a source of entertainment for me in the evenings. I've discovered many TV shows that I didn't know existed. Living in Thailand keeps us pretty sheltered and we usually have no idea what America's watching, which isn't a bad thing. I've watch Season 1 and part of Season 2 of The Pioneer Woman Cooks on Food Network, both Clinton and I have watch all of Season 1 of Swamp People, which is hilarious!! Being a cajun myself this movie  really brought me and Clinton back to our "roots" Now I wasn't raised this way BUT my grandparents were. When we would have family reunions, it would always be in Louisiana. When i would go with Clinton to visit his family, who live in Homa, Louisiana, that was always a REAL experience.

So watching Swamp People has been a trip down memory lane and just plain old laughing material.

I also watched all of Season 1 and 2 of One Born Every Minute, which is a show recorded live in a hospital in Ohio. Every show has three birth stories on it. Talk about intense!! Being pregnant and seeing all of these women labor was...well.......interesting!!! Some where amazing, some were scary, some were comical! But all in all i feel like I have a better grasp on birth. ;)

I've also made good use of the iBethel.tv which is what's fed my spirit all these weeks. Thank God for Bill Johnson. What an encourager!!! Last night I listened to a message Sustaining a Move of God that was so powerful! He explained from Hebrews 13:15-16 what we need in order to sustain a move of God. 1. sacrifice 2. good works 3. fellowship
I really recommend this message!!

When we got back from Bangkok, we were in the middle of a heat wave!! I mean HOT!!! The temp IN our house was 90 to 95 on a daily basis!

This is a picture of Cayden by 11am from playing IN the house.... red cheeked, wet head

I was MISERABLE coming back to Hat Yai after spending two months in central air. SO my precious husband bought us a 3ft Intex pool for the balcony off our bedroom. Talk about saving grace!!! This pool and little garden area has been our refuge two times a day for two months!!

In the last two months that I've been absent from blogging so much has happened. Joseph turned 6, we got lots of fun boxes from America, ultrasounds of the baby, and much more. I'm going to try and catch up a bit before baby Chandler's arrival.

For those of you who still read my blog, thanks for being such faithful friends!

Love
Amber

What we're doing while Daddy's gone

It's always so hard when daddy's gone! And it's even harder being pregnant and having him gone! 

Thank God, the Stubenrauch's stayed over in Bangkok a few days to keep us company.

The first day, we went to Funarium! A wonderful in door kid place, with bikes, scooters, jungle gyms, art, and yummy food. It's where we spent Cayden's 2nd birthday. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures.

On day two, we hung out in the room and played cars. Clinton bought this set for the boys the day before he left to ensure they wouldn't get too bored in a two bedroom apartment! They've had a blast playing with this set!! 

Well, I should say, Joseph has had a blast. Cayden just walks around, over it and winds up stepping on the pieces and making the bridges fall down....

4 Dozen Roses?!?

Clinton left for Indonesia early Wednesday morning. 

Before he left, he bought me 4 dozen roses!! 

Two dozen red.

Two dozen pink.

He said he wanted me to think of him while he was gone.

Easter Morning

It's been ten years since we've celebrated Resurrection in an English service. We haven't been home during the Spring since we've lived in Thailand! 

Since we're in Bangkok, on our furlough, we decided to try and find a church for ex-pats to visit on Easter morning. We passed this beautiful church that caught my eye every time we drove by it. Very old and ornate looking. I finally looked it up online and found that it was a church for foreigners, us being the foreigners. 

Christ's Church. 

Anglican. 

Traditional. 

The liturgy. 

Never been to one like this. Yes! I want to go! 

When I walked in, I immediately felt the presence of the Lord and tears filled my eyes.

The communion table.

 Silver goblets.

Crystal wine flasks.

Stained glass windows

Candles.

Silver cross.

Ornate wood work.

Linen table cloth.

I could hardly get a hold of myself!

When I knelt at the altar and took communion my heart was swollen with thanks. Tears streamed down my face as I thought on all that God has done for me. For us.

During communion they started singing In Christ Alone. The power of the words in that song!

"There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ. "

If you've never experienced "church" outside your normal setting, I highly encourage you to do so! Moving!!

God is everywhere. His beauty is in everything if our eyes are open.

Majestic.

Love
Amber