Just wanted to share

The new normal for the Fikes boys:

Went to seven eleven and told the kids to pick out one drink and snack for the road.  Corban picks out a package of seaweed.

What do you guys what to eat for supper?  answer: noodles

Having races in the field and Teagan calling out Nueng, Song, Sam instead of one, two, three.

Teagan asking me at night, how do you say tiger, giraffe, cage, rabbit… in thai?

Esan loves going to school.  He has a great time and loves for the principal to swing him.

Esan asking, “When do we get to go visit Texas?” (so weird that we visit it now)

No more diapers!!!!  Yeah Teagan!!!!  Yeah Mommy and Dadddy!!!!

A few weeks ago we were blessed to have my sweet mom come and stay and be with us for three weeks.   We were all so blessed by her visit.  One of the biggest blessings for me was just having her so close.  I loved seeing her in our home here, sitting on the floor playing checkers, doing puzzles, reading books, playing baseball, and of course filling cups of juice.  It was great!  Most of the time when we visit at my mom’s house she is a wonderful hostess and cooks lots of wonderful meals and is always serving us.  This visit was great because for once I felt like we got to serve her and allow her the freedom to just sit and be with us and not have to worry with meals and laundry.  Esan was pretty much stuck on Oma the entire time and they have an even stronger bond after the three weeks together.  Having mom here also opened doors for us relationally with our neighbors.  One evening my neighbor came over and asked us to come over.  Usually an invitation like that means standing outside and visiting.  This time though she wanted us to come inside and sit in her living room.  She brought out a photo album of her daughter’s wedding and we went through it together as she told us all about the event.  It was the first time that my neighbor just wanted us to come and visit inside her house.  I believe it was because my mom was there and that made it more natural for her to share about the wedding with me since my mom was there. So just by being here with us gave us another way to connect with our neighbors.  Proof that God uses us even though we can’t speak the same language.  We had so much fun making memories with mom and we are so excited to see her again at her house in Texas soon.I am so thankful to have a mom who will come and sacrifice to be with us.  I love my mom and the boys love their Oma!!!

We will be making a visit to Texas soon and we are all so excited!  We will be there the whole month of October and plan on soaking up lots of family time.  The boys miss their cousins and friends from Boerne!  We are looking forward to that time.

I am learning so much about God’s love right now.  One of the biggest things I have realized is for several years I have been concerned with being obedient to God, God’s faithfulness and provision.  I know of God’s goodness and His love for me, but I have not allowed myself to be loved by Him.  A few weeks ago I was a participant in a women’s renewal retreat here in Thailand.  Over the course of the five days I began to get a glimpse of how different life is when I allow God to love on me and not just know about His love.  I have experienced love as a wife from Chris, as a mother from each of the boys, as a daughter, sister, and as a friend.  Throughout that time at the renewal though, I began to experience God’s love as a child.  I have needed to feel that for a really long time and it felt so good.  Since that renewal I have returned home expecting and feeling God’s love as His child.  I told Chris the other day that I am different on the inside since that time of receiving God’s love.  There is no anxiousness in the morning, and a desire to just get through the day.  I don’t want to prove anything to anyone.  I just want to be, and enjoy what there is for me in that day from Him.  I haven’t had that in a really long time on a consistent basis.  It feels so good.  I have included a photo taken of Corban.  That photo was taken while he was sitting in a waterfall.  When I look at that picture I see myself and God’s love pouring onto every part of me.  I can’t escape it, it engulfs me.  It is my new reality.  God is such a good Father!  There is so much more to this story.  I am so thankful for those of you who are praying for me and my family.  I wanted to share this with you to let you know that your prayers matter and make a difference in our lives and in the lives that we are able to be around and love on.  Bless the Lord O my soul!  -