Leaf: Rae, I have loved seeing the world through your eyes which find all the beauty and quirk in every place. And now we stand on the same bridge in a place we can finally call "Our Town". I love you Rae. (Pai, Thailand)

Rae: What a year, beloved friend! Your heart shines through your pictures and this has been such an amazing way to see more of you. Now, what next? (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: With these two boys adoring her she's got a good life ahead. This is our first morning back at home. (Pai, Thailand)

Rae: Walking over a flower-lined bridge. (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Leaf: Monks and merit making in the morning. (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Rae: A pair of happy macaws. (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Leaf: This was where I had breakfast this morning. It's so good to be back in Asia...the whole place and everyone is smiling at my baby and I. (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Rae: What a treat to have Ian and Christy and their two girls with us for a month! They are so dear to our hearts and brimming with health, as you have seen. (Chiang Mai, Thailand) 

Leaf: I wanted to tell you…that I noticed that we had quite a wild selection of shoes at the latest family gathering. (Corrimal, Australia)

Rae: One day we'll drink Nepali tea together in this lovely café in Chiang Mai, where this wall is a feature. (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Leaf: Hand painted Christmas present tags under the tree. (Corrimal, Australia)

Rae: When you sent me this photo, I couldn't resist the urge to show you our tree as well. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: Christmas- Christ was planted into humanity reflecting GLORY to us. A glory that before Christ came was too bright to look at with our natural eyes. Jai Yeshu Deva. Pranam. (Yarramundi, Australia)

Rae: It has been the sweetest Christmas Day but Isaac is keeping it real. (It's cream that he ate, threw, finger-painted with, and skated in.) (Pai, Thailand) 

Leaf: Christmas with Brendan's family always involves cricket; indoors and outdoors. (Barrington, Australia)

Rae: Our Christmas Eve gathering was sweet and beautiful, with lights and flowers and lots of food. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: Noticing the changes in the natural world as I walk with 'Loved One' (Taran's new name for her) in the mornings. (Yarramundi, Australia)

Rae: Just a little wedding photography in the intersection. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: Our beautiful neighbours! Brian was adding to his mosaic while Jules explained all the different parts of it. They adore each other, you can tell. (Yarramundi, Australia)

Rae: Lovely Lisu lady and her beautiful wares. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: This is the path I walk down in the mornings talking to God. This morning the 3 of us walked and prayed (we prayed for you guys as well). (Yarramundi, Australia)

Rae: Well, this was surprising. I can't say that I've ever seen anyone peddling paintings of the Virgin and Child in Pai before. I bought one for the meditation center. (Ha! Kidding!) But anyway, the man selling them was delightful. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: Wildflowers and a clear sky after the rain. (Yarramundi, Australia)

Rae: These three dogs! Just look at them! They're so ridiculous and silly and cute. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: Around this time each year Aussies start preparing for the possibility of bush fires. (Bulli, Australia)

Rae: I think what this shop is trying to tell us is if you are looking for a something special for a loved one for Christmas, a fan might be just the thing. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: Two gentlemen in beige, chatting in the market behind the stall. They were a bit grumpy, but I found a way to make them smile. (Glebe, Australia)

Rae: How I love making chai. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: This is the sight on the way to my parents house from the road…so expansive, makes me wish I was a bird. (Bulli, Australia)

Rae: This morning the sky outside my house was glorious. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: We always need to be ourselves…unless we are ever given the opportunity to transform into a magical unicorn. (Glebe, Australia)

Rae: Sometimes, around my house, stretching happens. I love it. Heather, Derek, Chinua and Ian (not in the picture) were stretching before they went out for a run. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: O.k, this was meant to be a photo of the sign 'Weakness is staying inside your comfort zone', but then this guy leapt into the picture. (Glebe, Australia)

Rae: After all my succulent posts this summer it may not surprise you that I made a little succulent corner. And I LOVE it. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: A serenade at the markets. (Glebe, Australia)

Rae: Dreaming, dreaming! Garden beds galore. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: She is the newest love of my life. I'm so in love and I'm so so tired. (Yarramundi, Australia) 

Rae: I got Khao Soi for lunch and had to take a photo of this shop because there is something so beautifully, quintessentially Thai about it. Maybe it is the shop owner, who is gracious and traditional, or her photo of the King's family or the photos of the time the princess came to Pai and she met her. (Pai, Thailand)

Leaf: Taran brought his little sister in to school for 'news' today. She was a hit! (Kurrajong, Australia)

Rae: Kenya waited breathlessly for her little tomato plant(s) to sprout, and I don't think there is a more-loved plant anywhere. Her name is Tina and today was her one week birthday. Kenya (and Asha) celebrated with a card, some flowers, and a gift of a spoonful of compost-- Tina's "cake." (Pai, Thailand)