Ashcraft "Thai"dings

NEW WEBSITE IS DONE!!!

2011-09-05T02:49:00.000-06:00

I have finally gotten the last "kink" worked out of the new website - I think! It is nice to finally have a webpage with my blog and the children's blog all in one place. From now on, I will be putting my updates there. So, if you would like to continue keeping up with the Ashcraft family, please send me an e-mail (desertmommy5@aol.com) and I will send you more information on how to do so. Thank you for your prayers for us during our changes. Thank you for letting me share our lives with you. God bless you all!

New Website Coming Soon!

2011-08-13T12:35:00.000-06:00

I realize it has been a while since I have posted anything. Please be patient! God is blessing. God is directing. And we are following. These are very exciting times for the Ashcraft family. Soon I will be sharing a new website in which you can keep up with several aspects of our family from one place.

We are doing well. The children have started another school year and Caleb has started Kindergarten. So now there are four being homeschooled! Randy continues to teach English classes and I continue to do my job as wife, mother, teacher, secretary, etc. The last few months have been very hard for me as homesickness crept in and God has been teaching me many things about Himself and about being faithful in the little things. Please continue to pray for us. Satan would like nothing more than to see us fail in our attempt to serve God.

I am so excited about the new website and can't wait to soon share it with you!!!

Give My All

2011-06-26T07:54:00.009-06:00

This is the poster I made and placed on my wall today to remind me every morning to give my all in everything I do every day, in every way, no matter what may come my way. The Lord HAS to build our house or in the end we will have regrets. We aren't perfect, that's true, but we should always strive to do our best and be as much like Him as we can be. With His help, we can all do better.

I always wanted to have five children while I was growing up. God gave me my wish and loaned Randy and I five children that we could nurture, admonish, love, and rear for Him and His glory. Whatever they decide to do with their lives, as long as it is what He wants for them, they will be truly happy, no matter what their job. There were also two special children that never lived with us. In the past, I would ask and wonder why God would allow us to go through the heart-breaking experience of losing those two babies. As I have grown through my sorrow and loss, I have been able to help others who have experienced the same thing. Although the hurt hasn't totally gone away, I now look at it from this perspective: God taught me many things about Himself and me. I learned to trust more fully in Him and my faith grew. It wasn't necessarily that there was something wrong with them. They were just so "perfect" that only God could have them! They were specifically placed into my life at a specific time that was perfect in God's eyes for me to learn the lessons He needed to teach me. As Psalm 127:3b says, "...and the fruit of the womb is his reward." The desire of my heart is that He will have all of my children - that they will give all of themselves fully to Him to be used by Him for His glory. I also pray that I will allow God to help me point my "arrows" in the right direction. Our quiver is full and we are so very thankful for the opportunity to have them in our lives. May they go straight and far in His service - wherever that may take them.

Vacation Fun With Family

2011-06-15T23:51:00.005-06:00

The highlight of our last few weeks was having Randy's Mom come to visit again. And this time, Randy's sister, Rebecca, and her little girl, Madison, came along! We were all very excited to see them, especially Rebecca and Madison since we hadn't seen them in over a year. We went to the beach in Hua Hin, visited an Elephant Village, visited a few temples, and of course, shopped and shopped and shopped and shopped! We all had the chance to ride elephants at the Elephant Village for 30 minutes. Everyone was somewhat nervous at first but after getting used to it, it wasn't too bad. A few of us had ridden an elephant before so we knew what to expect but the ones that hadn't are at least glad they did because now they can say that they did!

Somehow I missed getting a picture with Andrew the day we went to the temples. :(

We thank the Lord for allowing most of our family to come and visit us. We have had visits from family almost every three months! We understand that it is unusual for most missionaries to receive visits as frequently as we have. It has really helped us with homesickness, especially the children. The hardest part, of course, is the few hours after visitors leave. This time was harder for Caleb for some reason. He wanted me to take him to the airport and catch up with them. Several days later, we had some of the childrens' friends over for most of the day. When they left, Caleb again wanted me to take him to the airport. I guess now he thinks that all Americans who come to visit (even if the live in Bangkok) go to the airport when they leave! Poor baby. He will figure it out soon when his friends come to play again. Now, we are almost ready to have another countdown for when my parents come for another visit. YAY!!!

Special Days of May

2011-05-25T16:48:00.003-06:00

As I write this post, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece are about ten minutes away from their plane landing in Bangkok! We are so excited. This will be the third trip for my mother-in-law and the first time we have seen my sister-in-law and niece in over a year. It goes without saying that everyone is very excited! It is almost 6 a.m. Thursday morning. Some of the children have asked for me to wake them up while others have asked to be woken up by Mama. It is going to be a fun-filled few weeks!

We have been so busy with "stuff" going on. May is always full of fun. Getting ready for the summer to start, or here, getting into rainy season, always makes for fun and exciting times. Several weeks ago was Mother's Day in the States. They celebrate Mother's Day in Thailand but not until August 12th, the Queen's birthday. After Sunday morning services on Mother's Day for the States, Randy took us to a Mexican restaurant for lunch! We really enjoyed our meal. For the first time, I was able to get a picture with all of my precious children. It was amazing that everyone was actually looking at the camera. Lee got everything set up and told us how he thought we should do it. We all got into place and he set the self-timer and Voila! This is the moment he captured!!!

I am truly blessed with five beautiful and healthy children. I thank the Lord for letting me have the opportunity to have them in my life. My desire and prayer is that they all accept Christ when they reach the age of accountability and that they serve Him in whatever capacity He desires whether they are missionaries or not. If they do become missionaries, I want it to be because He has called them.

Last week, my only daughter, Cynthia, turned nine! It is hard to believe that our little princess has been with us for nine years. They grow up way too fast! We gave her a little party on the 21st with a cupcake cake and gifts from us. Since she knew some of our family would be here a week later, she asked in the beginning of the month is we could WAIT to have her birthday. That is unheard of! But I understood her reasoning and we are having a birthday party for her this Saturday.

Our first family picture with two children.

Cynthia will all her brothers on her birthday. Ice cream cone cupcakes in the shape of the letter "C" and nine of them since she turned 9.

What fun we are getting ready to have!!!

Thoughts From My Heart

2011-05-04T03:51:00.007-06:00

Several days have passed now since the news broke of Osama Bin Laden's death. I stared at my computer screen in unbelief. Could the man who had caused so much pain and death and had put a terror grip on so many been found? As a follower of Christ, I was happy to know that his reign of terror was over but saddened by the thought of knowing his eternal destiny. In his eyes, he was only acting on what he believed. We all have to make our own decision about Christ, and by bin Laden's actions, he never knew the one true God that I worship and serve. As an American, my thoughts drifted back to the morning of September 11th, when Randy and I were awakened by his Mom knocking on our door telling us that an airplane had hit the World Trade Center. As we watched the news in their trailer in Mexico, I tried calling my family back in Virginia. It took hours to finally get a call through. At that time, my brother lived fairly close to the Pentagon which was also hit. I will never forget the fear that I had when there were still planes unaccounted for. I will also never forget the helpless feeling that I had or, for once in my life, feeling that I may be safer outside of the United States. The horrible acts that were committed that day were acts of war against our country. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:." Verse 3 says, "A time to kill, and a time to heal,." The end of verse 8 says, "a time of war, and a time of peace." Everything happens according to God's plan. He has never been surprised. He knew what was going to happen on September 11 and he knew everything that would happen thereafter. Bin Laden took credit for "entrusting" 19 people with the mission. After such an atrocious act was committed on American soil and after receiving more threats of violence, I feel like the leaders of my country did what they believed was necessary to protect her citizens. Thoughts have gone through my mind of heroes of the Bible who carried out unthinkable plans to protect the Israelites. America has won a victory and it is time for her people to heal. Just because bin Laden is no longer a threat to us does not mean that all terrorist violence is over. As an American who has lived in several countries, I feel like I have a unique perspective on something else that happened after 9/11. I never realized until two years ago when we came to Thailand to visit that I had a fear of any person who appeared to be Muslim. I remember standing in line to board a plane and seeing many people around me who were different. I remember being afraid. After living on the Eastern side of the world now and being around so many people who are different, I have a new perspective. After it was announced who was responsbile for 9/11, I believe many Americans immediately had a fear (and some, hate) for ALL Muslims. People assume that just because part of a group of people act a certain way, that means they all do. Nothing could be farther from the truth! I believe that Satan used this (and is still using it) to his advantage (for many religions/people groups) to keep people away from them and keep them from sharing their faith. The majority of Muslims are just everyday, fun-loving people just like us. They need God as much as any other person does. Just because there are some radical groups does not mean that all Muslims are radical. Many Muslim people were just as upset as we were about what happened on 9/11. I have heard and seen it written that many Muslims knew that Americans would start to hate all Muslims. How sad that they could foresee our country's reaction to them! Sadder still is the fact that they were right. God wants us to love the sinner and hate the sin. I don't hate/dislike Mexicans just because some of them break the law and illegally go to the U.S. Neither do I think that all Mexicans are involved in drugs just because there is a major drug war in the country. I don't hate/dislike Germans just because of Adolf Hitler. I don't hate/dislike (or have a fear like before) for Muslims just because of Osama bin Laden. Anything or anyone that we don't understand makes us nervous. I have spent the last year learning more about Muslims and I can honestly say I believe they are some of the most misunderstood people. I can also honestly say now that I love Muslims. I wish that all people who truly want to be Christ-like would learn more about people they don't understand so that God can open their eyes and give them an understanding for those people and a love for them like He has. The Bible says in Matthew 22:39, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Do you love your neighbor?

My Saviour Lives!!!

2011-04-24T04:11:00.002-06:00

After a year of living in a country that does not celebrate Christmas or Easter, this Easter holds a stronger meaning to me as a Christian. We didn't do the traditional things for the day or see the familiar bunny, lamb, and chick decorations. But the greatest part of this day, as all others, is that I know without the shadow of a doubt that MY SAVIOUR LIVES! He proves it to me every day in many ways. The children and I talked about it this week during school. They helped decorate the classroom and we talked about why had we decorated eggs and used bunnies, lambs, and little chicks in other decorations throughout our house in the past. All the "symbols" that we have for Easter, that are so common for this time of the year, were not seen in our home this year. For us, this was a blessing because we all really got back to the true meaning of Easter. We still managed to hang a few paper eggs with lambs on our wall to remind us of "new birth." Another blessing I have had is seeing the children gain a greater understanding of why God has brought us to the place we are. They understand even more that these people need to know of Jesus and His love. As I woke up this morning, my mind wandered back to many years of attending Sunrise Services. How I miss that! But another truth entered my mind, the sunrise every morning is our reminder that the Son rose! What a tremendous thought we should have everyday, knowing that the God of Creation reminds us everyday of the love He had for us - that He sent His ONLY Son to die for us. And not just die, but HE AROSE!!! It is Easter and since God has placed us where He has, to do His will, we are constantly reminded that so many people around us don't have an understanding of what this day means to us. I am going to leave the words of a song that I heard. The words have echoed through my head all week. I don't particularly like the music that was with it but I am always looking for songs that have a message and then I make them more to our liking!

"For God loved the world so much He gave His only Son
That we might have life through Jesus Christ, the only One.
To the ends of the earth this good news must go,
'Til ev'ryone knows.

Are we there yet? Have we walked ev'ry road,
Climbed ev'ry hill, and told ev'ry soul?
Are we there yet? Do the lost know His name,
Has the world been set free from darkness and pain?
Are we there yet?

The gift of our King, how great the price; we could never repay.
In one act of love He conquered all sin and still lives today!
To the ends of the earth this good news must go,
'Til ev'ryone knows.

When will the day come when ev'ryone will know
The name above all names.
Until that day comes I'll be the one to confess His name!

As we help spread the Good News, please keep us in your prayers. We are honored to serve the Christ of the Cross, the Son of the Morning, and the God of Glory! Happy Easter to all!!!

One Year!!!

2011-04-16T06:32:00.002-06:00

One year ago, this week, on a very cool morning in Dallas, TX, our family boarded a plane leaving behind family, friends, and a few earthly possessions. 28 hours later, we stepped off a plane in Bangkok, Thailand, and were welcomed by hot, humid weather and friends. Two tired parents and five exhausted children waited for all of our suitcases/trunks to finally show up at baggage claim. We reached the meeting point in the airport and were greeted by the smiling faces of the Salmon family. They have been a blessing in our lives. They opened their home up to us the first few days and nights we were here. They fed us, took us shopping, and even found a house for us before we arrived. I don't ever remember being as tired as I was that night - or the next, or the next! Tired was an understatement!

As I read back through some of the first blog entries I wrote after we arrived, I couldn't help but cry and thank God for all He has done. He has been with us every step of the way, leading and guiding us, and NOTHING has been a coincidence! He has known since the dawning of time who we were, what we would do, and how He would help us arrive at the place we are today. Mexico was most definitely a training ground, for me, at least. Adjusting to life here would have been much harder had it not been for some of the experiences I had in Mexico. It has actually been a step up in some ways. I can flip a light switch and always the light comes on! I don't have to start a generator to use the appliances. Many more American grocery items are available here than in Mexico, which has been a huge surprise. Of course, some of them you pay dearly for. However, some things like peanut butter are a staple food in our house. :)

Things are much quieter here than they were in Mexico. People don't drive their cars down the street with the music blaring. In public transportation vehicles, people don't usually talk to each other. It's very rare to hear music coming out of a person's home. Needless to say, in our neighborhood, about the only noise you can hear are the birds and our children! Every once in a while, you can hear other children but it is very rare. We don't hear the sounds of gunfire at night like we could in Mexico. The drug war is far from us now, but it still has it's affect on us through the people we dearly love.

God has sheltered us, fed us, provided for us, loved us, and given us so much more than we could have ever imagined. We have a peace knowing that we are exactly where He wants us. Psalm 91:2 says, "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." Moving to Thailand was definitely one of those times in my life that was a huge step of faith. I had to trust in God more than ever before. It hasn't been an easy year, but it has been a year of growth in many ways. We came to a place we knew very little about. It was a strange place to us. Now, a year later, it has become home. We are beginning to forget some of those things we missed before because God has filled those voids with other things. We have made many new friends, even this week!

We look forward to our second year in Thailand. There will still be some learning and adjusting and we know there will be more changes but we can look back over the last year and KNOW that God will continue to be with us. Tonight as we had our family devotions, we sang an old song, "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus." This song that I have sung since I was a child means more to me with each passing year. I am so glad that I decided to follow Jesus! Anywhere He leads us, we will follow. We may not understand His reasoning at first, but all we have to do is "trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus." No turning back for us, we're looking ahead and watching for the direction that He points us in as He reveals to us what His will is for our lives. Please continue to pray for us as we continue our journey of following Jesus.

Singapore

2011-04-01T05:16:00.004-07:00

Well, we have visited yet another "foreign" place! Because of paperwork for visas, it was necessary for our whole family to go to Singapore. Our flight left Bangkok a little after 9 p.m. last Tuesday night. We arrived in Singapore after midnight. We were so glad that we could book a motel room before arriving because it was around 2 a.m. before we were able to get in bed. Then, we had to get up at 6 a.m. so that we could be at the Thai Embassy in time to stand in line so that we would be assured of getting in on Wednesday. After waiting, with 5 kids, for what seemed like an eternity since we were exhausted, they first told us we had gone to Singapore for no reason. Since we still had a few weeks left on our visa, they said we would have to go back to Thailand and wait for our visas to expire and then exit the country again. Needless to say, we were NOT happy to hear that! We decided to go back to our motel to sleep and think! Randy tried making phone calls back to Thailand but was unable to make a connection. Then we walked down the street to a mall to eat lunch and found a Long John Silver's! It was funny how excited we were to see it but we haven't seen a Long John Silver's since we left the States. Later that afternoon, he said he was going to go back to the Thai Embassy to talk to them again because they had kept our passports to do an "investigation." Fortunately, he was able to talk with someone a little more helpful and re-explained the situation to her. She said we had done the right thing and did the paperwork and told him when to come back and pick up our passports. What a blessing! So, then we were able to enjoy Singapore. On Thursday, we took the children to a water park where we all had a lot of fun. They had a long canal that you could float down in tubes. By the time we did that, the little ones were exhausted and William fell asleep while he was floating! We also got to ride an indoor ferris wheel. On Friday, we did some sightseeing. We went to see the famous Merlion staute. The Merlion has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It is the symbol of Singapore. The fish body represents the origin of Singapore as a fishing village and the lion head represents the originial name of Singapore which meant "lion city." It measures 28 feet tall and weighs 7o tons! Normally, the Merlion overlooks the Marina Bay and has water shooting out of its mouth. Currently, they have built a motel room around part of the body and the head. During the day, tourists can go in for a quick look and at night 2 people can check-in. This amazing room will only be there through May and every night was booked within an hour of them opening the reservation desk. What an awesome thing to be so up close to this symbolic statue!

After our sightseeing and a quick trip to a history museum, we ate lunch and took a much needed nap! We surprised the kids by taking them to the Night Safari. It is the ONLY night zoo in the world! It was incredible to see animals that we had never seen before. Most of the animals at this zoo (which OPENS at 7:30 p.m.!) are nocturnal animals. Instead of walking the trails, we rode the 45 minute tram with a guide.

This is the fun part of missionary life - being able to visit places and see things that otherwise we would never know about or only see in pictures. What stories our children will have to tell when we go back to the States. God has given us so many opportunities and we thank Him for every one.

"Lord, I Have You"

2011-03-15T06:50:00.003-07:00

"There's a roof up above me, I've a good place to sleep, There's food on my table, And shoes on my feet, You gave me Your love, Lord, And a fine family, Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me." These words have echoed through my head over the last few days. So many things are going on in our world. The signs of the times are everywhere - from the drug wars in Mexico, to the uprisings in the Middle East, to the newest catastrophe of an earthquake, tsunami, and radiation fears in Japan.

Last week, we received heart-wrenching news that two brothers who lived in our children's home were the latest victims of the drug wars in Mexico. We have mourned their deaths and wished we could be back there for the other brother who had to identify them. We loved these boys like all the others, just as if they were ours. We did everything we knew to do to help them live godly lives after they professed Christ as Saviour. Or did we? As with all "children", whether blood or adopted or just growing up in your home, you always look back and wonder what else you could have done. In the end, the decisions they make are up to them as they get older, good or bad. All you can do is pray they will do what is right. So many of them have done well. They have gone to college, gotten married, had children, and have jobs to support their families. We thank God for the opportunity we had to be in each boy's life and we are proud of them. We are thankful also that we are still able to keep to in touch with many of them.

The devastation of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has been absolutely unfathomable. To see the pictures and videos, it is almost like watching something out of a movie. Unfortunately, it is all for real. Now, more than ever, am I thankful for all I have. I am not waiting in long lines for the necesities of life. I know where my family is and I know they are safe. I haven't lost all. Yet, more saddening than all this, is the hard truth that many of these people also have no hope as they do not know Christ as their Saviour. A missionary friend of mine living there gave these statistics:

"The areas affected by the earthquake and tsunamis of Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki are some of the most spiritually needy places in Japan. With over 4.9 million people, yet only about 9,000 active Christians (0.15%). Fukushima has the lowest average worship attendance with only 19 per church. There are one city and 44 towns with no church. There are 86 missionaries assigned to these prefectures. One town in Ibaraki has over 46,000 people with no church and several others have over 24,000 people with no churches. Average attendance for all the churches in Japan is the lowest in the Fukushima prefecture. Ibaraki prefecture has the least number of people claiming to have any religious beliefs."

These people clearly need the Gospel, as do many others in the world, but these people have been thrown into our attention because of what they are suffering. Please pray for these people in Japan. It isn't over! There is still a lot of suffering and pain and with the situation of the nuclear reactors, it could get worse. When something isn't exactly going easy or "my way," I remind myself of all that I have to be thankful for and remind myself to say "Thank you, Lord ... I have You" and "thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me."

Love, Love, Love

2011-02-17T06:31:00.003-07:00

What a wonderful Valentine's Day we had! We spent the day at the beach!!! Randy's Dad and Mom flew in last week and after a few days of "rest", we went to the beach for some time together. Needless to say, after the snow and ice that went through Oklahoma and Texas not so long ago, Randy's parents were happy to be in some warmer weather!

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband. This year, we will celebrate 14 years of marriage! It doesn't seem like it has been that long. I am so thankful to have a husband who follows the Lord. It is amazing to think back on all the different things God has brought us through. And, even more amazing to see where He has brought us! There are very few dull moments when you are married to a missionary! It is such a blessing to serve the Lord with my best friend. We have experienced some unbelievable things during our marriage. I am so thankful that the Lord put us together. I have enjoyed being Randy's "help meet" and I look forward to spending many more years with him, serving the Lord together.

A Little Miracle

2011-01-24T05:35:00.004-07:00

Psalm 139:14 says, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." This verse always comes into my mind every time I see a newborn baby. Last week, this verse held an even deeper meaning as I "met" a new little baby named Alissa. A sweet couple in our church, Wat and Amanda, have been blessed with a little miracle, born three months ahead of schedule. She was born a week ago today (January 19) and she weighed 1 pound and 13 ounces and measured 13 and 1/2 inches long. I stood in awe of God's creation as she lay in her little bed. 10 fingers, 10 toes, everything so perfect and yet so tiny. This innocent little miracle has been placed into our world early for a reason that, for now, only God knows. Wat and Amanda have been given a strength and grace that only God can give. The doctors say that Alissa is growing stronger every day. She is only using her respirator at 30% and they estimate that in 2 weeks, she will no longer need it. Her parents are thrilled because they know that at that point, they will be able to hold their precious little daughter. Please pray for all of them. They need a renewed strength every day. Amanda is now home from the hospital so they are making trips back and forth every day to spend time with Alissa. Please pray for their safety as they travel. Also, Wat is finishing his last semester of college so pray that he can remain focused on his studies. God's power is being witnessed by all who attend to Alissa. Maybe her little life will have an eternal effect on someone else who is watching.

To find out how Alissa is doing, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babyalissa. Her parents created this website page through Caring Bridge in order to keep people informed of her progress. Please keep them in your prayers!!!

Busy as Bees!

2011-01-17T23:25:00.004-07:00

Our year got off to a quick start! We are all trying to adjust to new schedules with school. The children start their classes at 8 a.m. so that they can get most, if not all, of their school work done by the time Randy and I leave for school. We have a very tight schedule but thankfully we know this is only a temporary situation! Randy and I leave for class on Monday and Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. when the Nanny arrives. If the traffic isn't too bad, we are able to get a quick lunch on the way. When our class is out at 3 p.m., he goes on to another school for several hours while I go home. It is usually about 5:30 p.m. when I arrive home to make sure the children get supper before their Thai class and then have them bathed and in bed by 8:30 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Randy leaves in the morning around 8:30 and is in school until the evenings. Depending on his classes, he is usually home around 9:30 p.m. On Fridays, Randy and I have class like on Monday and Wednesday. We both come home from school together on Friday because Randy teaches an English and Bible class that evening at the church where we attend. Saturday we have a free day to spend with the children. We try to get all the school work caught up and do something fun together before Randy has to teach another English and Bible class. On Sunday morning, Randy teaches English and Bible during Sunday School and then we go to the regular morning service together. Sunday afternoon we rest and get ready for the week ahead. I know, this is a very scheduled week but it is for a greater purpose. As our Thai gets better, we will be able to "let up" some on this schedule and have more time at home. We praise the Lord for what He is doing in our lives. Although it may be difficult, it doesn't compare to the "difficult" He went through for us. We are thankful to be able to serve Him in whatever capacity we can. Please pray for us as we go through this time of learning. May the Lord find us faithful. As Paul asked the saints in Ephesus, we also ask that you pray for us, "that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel," Ephesians 6:19

Reflecting

2011-01-02T07:47:00.007-07:00

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! The last few weeks have been full of fun, new traditions, and very warm temperatures. As we prepared for the "big day", we took turns taking the children out shopping with us. Surprisingly, in several stores there was English Christmas music playing! Outside the big malls, there were decorations and lights. The children (along with a few of their American friends) had the opportunity at church to do a short narrative of what the decorations on a Christmas tree mean. A few days before Christmas, they were able to "perform" the same narrative inside one of the largest malls in Southeast Asia as well as one of the department stores inside of it. They were so thrilled to have the chance to do this! They did a very good job.

On Christmas Eve, a group of people from the church went out caroling and came by our house to sing Christmas songs. I think the highlight of making it "feel" like Christmas was being able to take the children (Thanks to the help of some very sweet friends!) on the skytrain to one of the malls that was decorated for the holidays. There were many lights and decorations, and an oversized "snow globe" that we were able to get inside of to take a picture!

This year, Christmas Dinner was very different as there were just the 7 of us! We had grilled chicken instead of turkey! After lunch, we took the children to the park so they could ride the bicycles they got for Christmas! What a difference to have 85 degree weather on Christmas Day! And, what a blessing it was to be together as a family. God allowed many new things to happen in our lives this year but I think one of the biggest blessings for me is that none of us are sick with illnesses. For the first time in 9 months, we all have runny noses, coughs, and something similar to the flu, but we are mostly over that now. But, as far as serious problems, we are free of those. To have five children and to be able to say that is truly a blessing! God has watched over us over the last year. As I have been reflecting over all that has happened in the last year, a verse came to mind: Psalm 23:6a - "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Even during the times when I haven't had the right attitude or haven't been as faithful to God in things as I should have been, God has allowed good things to happen and His mercy has surely been poured out on me! How wonderful to know that He is always there with us, guiding and leading, even if the path is unknown to us. All praise to Him Who knows where the path will lead and what lies ahead. With all the changes the past year brought, and all the blessings God showered on our family, I anxiously await what is in store for us this year. I know there will be "bumps in the road," but I also know that He will continue to show Himself good and faithful.

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

2010-12-15T05:58:00.005-07:00

Today, Randy and I went to the party store to find stuff to make a piñata for the Children's Christmas party at church this weekend. While we were there, I was able to find Christmas plates and napkins! My favorite find of the day was snow fluff. I was so excited to get home with it and decorate the tree. I have been trying to think of something to add just the right finishing touch to the tree and that was it! While the children were in Thai class and the "babies" were playing in their room, I made it look like it had snowed on our Christmas tree. The children were absolutely thrilled and so was I to see the reaction on their faces. They have been "down-in-the-dumps" about not having snow for Christmas. This was what they needed to uplift their spirits. Needless to say, so was I! I also bought spray snow and sprayed the cabinet door windows. You can almost "feel" the cold when you walk into the room. NOW, I think our living room is ready for Christmas. Thank you, Lord, for the little blessings You send our way JUST when we need them!

Of course, there is no snow on the bottom of the tree as I was afraid William would try to eat it!

"All I Want For Christmas Is ..."

2010-12-12T00:12:00.004-07:00

"... a Christmas tree with ornaments!" That is what I told Randy several weeks ago. And, I got it!!! Early, of course, and it obviously has made it "feel" more like Christmas really is this month. This year, I already have in mind what I would like to get the children for Christmas. Since the Christmas holiday is not officially celebrated in Thailand, the children don't see all kinds of advertisements on the television about "Christmas toy gift ideas." That's been kind of nice because they haven't been selfishly saying, "I want that" or "I HAVE to have one of those!". Although this Christmas will be very different for us, we rejoice in the fact that we have the CHRIST of Christmas living in our hearts. The sad truth this Christmas is all around us - people who don't have the joy of knowing Christ as their personal Saviour. So, the real question shouldn't be "What do I want for Christmas?". Rather, it should be, "What does HE want from me for Christmas?" The only person who can answer that question is you. Only you know what Christ wants from you. Maybe it is to change something in your life or some bad habit. Maybe it is greater service for Him. Maybe it is a greater love for the unsaved. Or for someone, maybe it is your heart. Whatever the case may be, He wants something from us. Not just because it is Christmas, but because He IS the King of Kings and we should celebrate His birth every day.

"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!"

2010-12-04T05:40:00.008-07:00

The Ashcraft house has the look of Christmas in one room with the heat of summer! It's looking like Christmas and feeling like the 4th of July! I have never cared much for the cold unless there was snow on the ground. However, this year, I have a new appreciation for the cold winter air. I would love to feel it! It's hard to get into the Christmas spirit when the temperatures are around 90 degrees outside.

Tomorrow is the King's birthday in Thailand which means it is Father's Day here. Everything is so decorated in honor of him and there will be a huge celebration tomorrow. Most everything that is decorated does look like Christmas. They have lights strung everywhere! There will be a river parade and fireworks tomorrow night.

As I was shopping for our Christmas tree, it was amazing to see all the holiday decorations everywhere! Christmas trees that decorate the outside and inside of the malls, taller than I have ever seen. And, wouldn't you know it, it was the one time I didn't have my camera with me! I will definitely have to go back.

I found a quote today from Nate Saint who was the missionary pilot for Jim Elliot. Two weeks before he was martyred by the Auca Indians, he said, "As we have a high old time this Christmas may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurdle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance. May we be moved with compassion as our Lord was. May we shed tears of repentance for these we have failed to bring out of darkness. Beyond the smiling scenes of Bethlehem may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha." I think many times we get so caught up in the festivities of the season that we honestly don't think about the Easter to come. Yes, Christmas is a time to be enjoyed but it is also the perfect time to be able to share the "Reason for the Season." God did love us and continues to do so, but our job, be it single lady, wife, Mother, business woman, housewife, or missionary, is to share that love with everyone we come in contact with. We need others to see there is something different about us. That person getting in line in front of us or pushing us out of the way to get to something we would like to purchase, or the one that is just obviously in a hurry, is like us - one breath away from eternity. Does their eternity hold the same blessings as mine? IF I show them one act of true Christian love and smile, will they remember that and wonder why I was so kind? You never know what may turn a person's attention to the true meaning of Christmas - to the babe in the manger who lies in the shadow of a cross.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2010-11-25T05:30:00.004-07:00

As our Thanksgiving Day comes to an end on this side of the world, many of you are just starting your special day. This day has brought back memories of many different Thanksgivings and many colder ones, as well! I missed having the boys around from our Children's Home and all the extra people that came over to our house just because they had been exposed to our "Special Day." Oh how we enjoyed the extra company! As I made deviled eggs this morning, I remembered all the times I had made many more dozens only to watch the boys devour them in a short amount of time! This Thanksgiving, we spent our day with other missionary families and had a wonderful time! The children had so much fun being able to play with other children their ages.

I have been reading a book over the last few weeks entitled Thanksgiving: The Pilgrims' First Year in America. I have learned many things about the Pilgrims that came to America that I never knew. It has made me even more thankful for how God provided for our move to Thailand. First of all, it was a fairly easy journey for us, even with 5 children, compared to what the Pilgrims had to endure. When we arrived, we had friends to greet us and a place to stay our first night. We had food to eat, clothes and shoes to wear, school books for the children, and toys for them to play with. We were able to buy dishes and only a few pieces of furniture because most of the furniture we needed was provided in our rental house. We were able to buy pillows and sheets. We had a computer and a phone to communicate with our loved ones on the other side of the world to let them know we had made it safely. All of these things sometimes seem so commonplace to have and I think we take them for granted many times. All of these important things to us were not readily available to the Pilgrims. They suffered through many things during their first year in a land which would one day be known as America. Yet, they endured their suffering and pushed on. Not one Pilgrim returned to England when given the chance. Through hard work, cold weather, and many other hardships, they continued to trust in God, knowing that He had led them to do what they were doing. Many of the Pilgrims died along th way. Their desire for freedom of religion and worshipping God the way they felt was best drove them to do what was needed for survival. My difficult times over the last few months haven't come close to the difficult times the Pilgrims suffered through. My desire, to see people here gain their "freedom of religion" and worship the One True God is what pushes me forward. When I experience these times, I have to refocus my attention on what is truly important, pick myself up, and move forward. God is teaching me to trust more deeply in Him. "I'm just clay in the Potter's hands." I must be willing to allow Him to mold me into what He would have me be.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for many things - my salvation, my family, my freedom. I am thankful for what God has done for me and what He has given to me. Most of all, I am thankful that He has chosen me to serve Him in the place He has put me. I am thankful that He knows what the future holds and I don't have to worry about it. I am thankful that He hasn't given up on me and that He continues to teach me. I am thankful to know that whatever He has for me is something I can handle as long as I keep my eyes on Him. I am thankful for the difficult times because that is when my faith grows. I am thankful for the mountain tops where I can look down into the valleys He has brought me through. I am thankful that my God supplies ALL my needs!

Hebrews 13:15 - "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Difficult Days

2010-11-09T21:45:00.004-07:00

Ever had a difficult day? Ever had a day where it seemed no matter how hard you tried, nothing turned out right? Ever had a day where it seemed that everything you touched turned into straw instead of gold? Me, too! So, I thought I would share my devotion from yesterday that helped me today.

"Learn to appreciate difficult days. Be stimulated by the challenges you encounter along your way. As you journey through rough terrain with Me, gain confidence from your knowledge that together we can handle anything. This knowledge is comprised of three parts: your relationship with Me, promises in the Bible, and past experiences of coping successfully during hard times.

Look back on your life, and see how I have helped you through difficult days. If you are tempted to think, "Yes, but that was then, and this is now," remember who I AM! Although you and your circumstances may change dramatically, I remain the same throughout time and eternity. This is the basis of your confidence. In My Presence you live and move and have your being."
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young - November 8th entry

Through difficult days, we should repeat the words of Psalm 50:15 - "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

Another Visit From Family

2010-11-08T07:37:00.013-07:00

What a blessing to have had my parents come for a two-week visit! For those of you who know my parents, you know how difficult this is. My Daddy owns a funeral home and is the director so it is very hard for him to get away. While they were here, we celebrated his birthday. What a fun time we had!

During that time, many parts of Bangkok were experiencing flooding and we thought we were not going to be able to visit the temples we wanted to take them to see. By the end of the time, however, the flooding had gone down and we were able to go!

We were also able to take them several hours out of the city down south to a place called Cha'am. They enjoyed being able to see more of the country than just the big city. Cha'am is on the east coast of Thailand next to the Gulf of Siam. Of course, since we were at the beach, we had to have a meal of crabs and shrimp!

The children had an especially fun time, starting with the fact that they didn't even know their grandparents were coming! It was so much fun to watch their faces while they were playing when they looked up and saw their grandparents walk out of the bedroom the morning after they arrived. The highlight for them was getting to have Christmas early.

After having made several trips to Mexico, Thailand was very different for my parents. Seeing the temples and the monks walking around amid lost people who aren't aware there is a Saviour, my Daddy commented, "This makes you want to go to Israel and visit the Holy Land!" Yes, it makes one very sad to be in a culture where they don't believe in the One True God. How exciting it would be to visit the place where Jesus was born, lived, died, and resurrected!

If it wasn't for my parents' love for missionaries, I don't believe I would be where I am today. My parents have always been involved with missions in every church they have been in. They housed missionaries in their home many times. They allowed my brother and I to stay up late at night even though there would be school the next day so that we could hear their stories. We learned many things about many countries, and from a little girl, I wanted to be a pastor's wife or a missionary's wife. My mother, many times, allowed missionary wives to do their laundry at her house. I believe that my mother's willingness to help in an area that was never known about was rewarded through me while we were traveling in the States on deputation and furloughs. I have always been offered a place to wash clothes or at the last minute, found a roll of quarters in a missionary basket I was given, in order to wash clothes at a motel when needed. God watches out for us in every area, no matter how insignificant it may seem to others. Thank you, Daddy and Mom, for allowing me to have the influence of other missionaries in my life. God has used you both in a tremendous way through my life. Who knows how He will also use my children?!

My Medley of Praise to God

2010-10-16T06:21:00.003-06:00

My heart is overflowing with emotion as I have just finished cleaning my house! Surprised? This week, I found a CD of Spanish music and while I cleaned, I played it. I had to stop and start as my eyes would fill with tears. I reflected back on things in my life as well as looked forward to what may lie ahead. Besides the Spanish music, songs in English went through my mind as well as one song in Thai!!! Let me back up a little. This week, our family took a trip to Hat Yai in southern Thailand. We saw many new things like monkeys jumping in trees for example. Of course, the children loved that!!! For me, seeing the city from the top of a hill was breathtaking! And yet, behind us, was a giant standing Buddha overlooking it. God has placed a huge burden in our lives for the people of Thailand.

Needless to say, when we returned home, the house needed cleaning! We have friends coming to visit for a few days, so I took advantage of Randy having all the children except William at his English class, and cleaned - while singing in three languages! My mother gave me some advice when I first started singing in church. She said, "Don't ever sing something unless you really mean it." I thought about that every time I would sing and I still think about it now. Right before my church took a missions trip to Mexico, I sang the song "Whatever It Takes." I had already surrendered my life to full-time service for God but this song was my way of renewing my promise to God. "For whatever it takes to draw closer to You, Lord, That's what I'll be willing to do ... Take the dearest things to me ... Let the disappointments come ... lonely days ... take my houses and lands, change my dreams and my plans for I'm placing my whole life in Your hands. And if you call me today to a land far away, Lord, I'll go and Your will obey." During that missions trip is when I met Randy! And, as you know, we served God in Mexico and then God changed our land! I know my mother is probably crying her eyes out while reading this, but I want her to know how much her advice meant to me and how much more it made me sing for Christ and not the approval of man.

While singing along with the Spanish CD, God brought things to mind and many emotions flooded my soul. One of the first songs that played said, "What would have come of me if You hadn't touched me? Where would I be today if You hadn't pardoned me? ... If it wasn't for Your grace and love." That hit me like a wall of bricks. That was one of those moments I had to stop and thank God for many things. It is still only by the grace of God that I am where I am, doing what I am doing. I thank the Lord that I grew up in a Christian country with Christian parents and adults to help guide me through life. It if wasn't for the grace of God, I could have been born somewhere else without much of a chance of hearing of His matchless grace. As another song I heard said, "My life depends on You ... like the rain needs clouds, like the river needs the sea ... You're my daily bread, You're the reason for every dream in me." As a teenager, I dreamed of one day visiting the country of Thailand, and not only has God fulfilled my dream but given me more than I ever dreamed of!

A resounding message in many songs was God loves me! Yes, I know this. But I think many times, we need to be reminded of that simple truth. We get so wrapped up in our lives and what we are doing that we forget the simple fact that God truly does love us. "He tells me He loves me when I hear the rain. He tells me He loves me with a sunset. He tells me without words using the waves of the sea. He tells me in the morning with my first breath. He tells me that He loves me and wants to spend time with me ... He tells me He loves me when I see the cross, with His arms outstretched demonstrating how much. He says it with the wounds of his hands and feet. He tells me He loves me over and over again." GOD LOVES ME!!!!!!!!

The second message I kept hearing was that I can see God everywhere if I just open my eyes. Not just in creation and nature, but in the little things. I can see Him in the good and the bad. He is there for me always, faithful and true. I only have to reach out. "I see You in the moments of pain, I see You in the night ... I see You in my dreams. I see Your hand guiding me. You're always there ... I feel Your hand over me. I feel Your love ... I see You in the desert and in affliction, I see You in the valley ... I see You in every step I take, I see You in my plans. I see Your hand guiding me." I can most definitely say that I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for God's leading in my life. How peaceful it is to live in the center of His will! For this reason, I serve Him. He loved me first and I desire to be like Him and serve Him to show my gratefulness for all He has done for me. I don't want to give only part of my life. I want to do His will and not mine although that may seem difficult at times. What I do for Him that is difficult doesn't even come close to the "difficult" He went through for me. One of my daddy's favorite songs is "It's My Desire." As the song says, "It's my desire to live for Jesus. It's my desire to live for Him. Though oft I've failed and brought Him much shame, it's my desire to live for Him." Another song I pondered tonight says, "By His love, I live. Of His love, I sing. With Jesus I will walk. Because He loved me, I will follow Him."

Stay with me! I'm almost done "singing!" An English song that came to mind was "Can The World See Jesus In Me?". This is another desire I have - that the Thai people will see the love of God in our lives and will then be drawn to Christ. God has placed our family here for a reason - to tell them that He loves them! "Are you walking in the footsteps of the One that you call Lord? Are you living each day by His Holy Word? Surrenedered completely, are you His through and through? Can the world see Jesus, see Jesus in you? Can the world see Jesus in you? Can they see His love in the things that you do? Are you living the life, are you faithful, are you true? Can the world see Jesus, see Jesus in you?"

The song I want to leave with you, is the Thai song that I am learning. When I first heard the song, it sounded beautiful. However, I had no idea of the depth of meaning it held. It has been translated into English! Yay!!! I pray that just as I, your desire is to serve God to the best of your ability. No matter what happens, we should continually show the love of Christ. "Let me walk each day in the love of the Lord. Through each night I'll rest in the arms of His love. And each step I take in the path that He leads. Till I know and feel the full depth of His love. Overflowing with warmth in the arms of His love. His joy has no end, you can't hold it in. God loves you! Let my life be a stream of His love. Let the Light of the World shine through me. Tell the story of love throughout all of the world. That's the story of Christ in my life!"

Thank you God for loving me!!!

Perpetually In His Care

2010-10-01T02:44:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, my devotional started off like this:

"I AM PERPETULLY WITH YOU, taking care of you. That is the most important fact of your existence. I am not limited by time or space; My Presence with you is a forever-promise. You need not fear the future, for I am already there ... Your future is in My hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow." What a reminder to wake up to!!! He is "perpetually" with me! What an uplifting and comforting thought. I admit, I have succumbed to the feelings of "aloneness" and "does anyone even remember I exist outside my family?" Yes, I am a missionary's wife but I am also human. Just because I am a "missionary's wife" does not make me more spiritual although it probably should. My daily life consists of taking care of my husband and children, homeschooling the children, and being the secretary for my missionary husband. Many times I have thought, "Shouldn't I be out sowing the seed and reaping the harvest?" It seems when I go through these selfish times that God reminds me that my mission field for now is in my home. I, along with my husband, am training my children to go out into the world. I have five little lives in which I can have a huge impact. I can't do this alone. I can't have selfish times. I must remember my Creator and Saviour and allow Him to have full control of my life every day. This is difficult for me many times. I have to remind myself every day that God is in control of my life and I am doing what He wants me to do, where He wants me to do it. No, I may not have many of the comforts that I had in the U.S. or in Mexico, but He has given me different things to meet my needs - and some new comforts! I just need to reach out to Him more and allow Him to fulfill my life and my joy. I need to rest in the promise I have that He is PERPETUALLY with me and I need to let go and let Him lead me. My future is revealed to me daily as I follow Him. My goal: strive to PERPETUALLY follow as He PERPETUALLY leads. I can't be distracted by what is to come tomorrow, next month, or next year. Every day that God gives me is a gift in which I should use to honor and glorify Him. How can I do that if I am fretting about the future and feeling sorry for myself? I must spend my energy living in the will of God for my life for that day. God wants us to live each day to it's fullest in His will. Only He knows what tomorrow will bring and only He can prepare me for it.

Autumn???

2010-09-19T06:28:00.006-06:00

As I was looking for a new template for my blog today, I couldn't believe how many were decorated in fall colors! Autumn is still so far away - or so it seems for me. I looked up online when the first day of autumn is this year and it is September 23rd! Yep, this month! It's hard to believe it is already fall in the United States. It's still hot here!!! The leaves are still as green as green can be. Mangos are still growing on the tree outside my window. It is rainy season for us. This is one of those times that I miss being in the States. No fall decorations here in the malls! For the first time in my married life, I am not decorating my house for fall. I miss the smell of cinnamon and spices. I miss the changing colors of leaves on the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. I miss the feel of winter setting in. I would enjoy that today! As I sit here in the quietness of my room, the windows open and the fan blowing, I can hear the sound of frogs and geckos. Through the stillness of this evening, my mind wanders back to playing in mounds of leaves with my brother, raking leaves with my Daddy, and making pumpkin pies with my Mother. These are the sweet memories that God has given me.

In the United States, we generally refer to this time of year as "fall." The word "autumn" is normally used only in science. However, did you know that many years ago this season was referred to as "harvest?" People stopped using the term "harvest" as they moved from working the land to living in towns. It is now only used when talking about the actual activity of reaping. I can't help but think of the verse Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." I have to admit, I have had my days of weariness but God has always sent something special to me during those times to lift my spirit. But something much greater than this gives me the will-power to press on - the word "harvest" as I see it. I see a great harvest everyday. I am surrounded by this great harvest. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 9:37, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few." The harvest is still plenteous and the laborers are still few. The spiritual harvest is vast. Many have not come to the true knowledge of God and salvation. Harvest time is when critical decisions are made. Only God knows the exact moment when someone is ready for "harvest" and only He can give the increase. Harvest is the most labor-intensive activity of the growing season. We are living in the harvest time. There isn't much time left! The Lord will soon return and the harvest will end. Pray for us as God continues preparing us for the hard work ahead. We are working hard now learning the language, people, and customs of this beautiful country. We are anxiously awaiting the day when without an interpreter we can work one-on-one with the precious souls here as they become "white already to harvest."

A Visit From Family

2010-08-31T17:59:00.004-06:00

It has been a few weeks since I posted, but we have been busy having fun!!! Randy's Mom and Aunt were able to come and visit for two weeks! As I type, Randy has taken them to the airport and they should be boarding their plane sometime within the next hour. We hated to see them go, but as I told Cynthia last night, "If they don't go, they can't come back!" They are already planning another trip.

It was such a surprise for the children. We didn't let them know that Mama and Aunt Mary were coming. Lee overheard Randy telling someone that his Mama was coming but missed the part about Aunt Mary so he was still surprised. What fun we had watching their faces that Wednesday morning as they came downstairs as saw Mama and Aunt Mary sitting in our dining room! I was going to post the video I took, but apparently, my camera didn't record when I pushed the button! I was so sad when I realized this morning that the video didn't work. :(

While they were here, we were able to take them to some of our new favorite restaurants, went sightseeing, visited a temple and the Grand Palace, and, of course, we went shopping!!!

Also, William turned one year old! It is amazing how fast the time flies. Just one year ago, my mother-in-law was with us for his birth - in Mexico! This year, she had to fly half-way around the world to be here for his 1st birthday!

Please pray for them as they have a long flight ahead of them. And then, there will be jet lag as they get adjusted back to their time zone. We are now counting down to the next visit from family in the States. My parents are coming for two weeks in October and my Daddy will be here for his birthday! We are hoping to keep this visit a surprise from the children also but it is going to be hard considering how long it is until their visit.

God bless you all and thank you for your prayers.

Trusting In God Even When You Don't Understand

2010-08-11T00:34:00.003-06:00

This was the theme of the Ladies Retreat that I went to last weekend with the church we are going to here in Bangkok. I was asked to be one of the speakers and was told the theme and immediately I thought, this should be easy! Seems like I have had to do a lot of trusting and not much understanding. My second thought was, maybe I haven't really learned whatever lesson God wants me to learn since I am still doing a lot of this! I got my lesson ready and when we got to the motel, I went to my room to go over what I had prepared. Then I realized that with such a hectic morning, I hadn't done my devotions. So, I pulled out my book and went to the date for that day and this is what jumped off the page at me: "When things seem to be going all wrong, stop and affirm your trust in Me. Calmly bring these matters to Me, and leave them in My capable hands. Then, simply do the next thing. Stay in touch with Me through thankful, trusting prayers, resting in My sovereign control. Rejoice in Me - exult in the God of your salvation!" The lesson I was going to teach went out the window and God gave me a different one. I meditated on Proverbs 3:5&6 and the fact that the verse says "Trust in the Lord" with an understood "all the time". Not just when things are going good or when I can handle things but trust all the time in the Lord. If my trust is in the Lord, "I can do all things" because He will enable me to do what He wants. This is something we all know but I believe there are times in our lives when we have to be reminded of these seemingly "easy" things. The devil knows what can distract us from our walk with the Lord. Just as we always need to be in a mind of prayer, we always need to have an unquestionable trust. He will do the understanding for us. I made a list of all the "bad" things that have happened in my life. There were many on the list and I shared most of them with the ladies. I told them, "I am not telling you this so that you feel sorry for me, but all of us have problems, and what I thank God for is the fact that my circumstances haven't been worse than this. I thank God for teaching me something through each situation that He put into my life." Many times I have asked God, "Why me?" or "Why now?". Isaiah 55:8 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." How true! There are things that have happened in my life that I wouldn't have chosen but the lessons I have learned and the knowledge I have gained have allowed me to help others through some of the same situations or just helped me deal with other problems that came along later in my life. Some of the reasons I may never know. One thing I know for sure, my faith in God has increased. No matter what I may be going through in my life right now, God is there and He will help me IF I trust in Him. I have learned that if I ask "Why NOT me?" and "Why NOT now?" I will have a clearer judgement on issues and even though I may not have the understanding, it reminds me that God knows what I am going through and that there is a purpose to what I am facing. Life is not always easy but having the understanding that HE does the understanding, makes it so much easier!