Kradan, mike's perspective

Hey everyone, mike here. 

There's not many places in the world that make me wanna just sit and look, but Koh Kradan is just such a place. Even though I brought a months worth of work with me, I feel totally justified in just sitting around. Do you think if I lived here, my personality would change?

Sarah, on the boat ride to Kradan. 

Sam, using one of the gazillion hammocks that swing from the trees by the beach. 

The "big 'uns", eating breako as I write this. 

Jodi+beach+bible+coffee=Kradan

Ko Kradan or in other words...paradise

Wow we took a ferry this morning from Lanta to Kradan.  You know you are in the middle of nowhere when the boat drops you off in the ocean and throws your luggage to you on the beach!  Sarah climbing out of boat into water!

We arrived to a free Thai lunch on the beach and cold waters for all.  Here's the angel who gave us lunch...

This is the view today- wow, feels like out of a magazine.  We have to pinch ourselves to be reminded this is a real paradise and we are blessed to be here! 

How in the world can there be wifi out here?!?

Kids are snorkelling way out by the boat.  

Never been so remote on an island with this guy.  😘.  This island is made up of 10 guest houses and jungle.  No markets or stores or cars or tuk tuks.  Just beach and the 10 restaurants that come with the guest houses.  And surprise...shower is salt water!  

Samuel taking it all in...

Girls hanging out on ropes and swings.  This island has some shade which changes everything!

Thanks for your prayers for Joseph.  His eyes are getting better so we feel he's not in danger of worse infection.  Apart from mysterious bug bites (these mosquitoes are invisible!) , Samuel's rash and my crazy back problems, we are doing well.  Family time is a real gift;  something we are incredibly grateful for in this season of our children's' lives.

Thanks all of you for keeping in touch;  we love hearing from you all!

Rainy day in Ko Lanta

Kids needed a break from the sun and the weather participated.  Here are some pics of our adventures.  

Started off with a breakfast date while kids slept in...

The wonderful women who made our daily smoothies and coffee.

 

Walking to get some Thai lunch...

Cramming the family into a little tuk tuk.

The Monday market.  Here are the fish for sale...

Guess what these are?  Frogs!  They farm them at frog farms.  These ones are 3 months old and sold live to people.  All of them will be barbecued tonite.  Sarah really really wanted to buy one just to bring back to the guest house to play.  

Capped off the evening with some ocean action.  Body surfing and playing in the waves!

Samuel and Mikayla enjoying an evening dip...

Joseph joins in!  

Joseph could still use prayer for his eyes.  The pain cleared up from a few days ago but seems that there's an infection underneath his eyes.    We are trying eye antibiotic cream but if it's not clearing up by tomorrow we will have to pursue oral antibiotic.  Thanks for your continued prayers.

Kids kayak in Ko Lanta (try to say 3 times really fast)

We rented a kayak today and kids went out in pairs (bonus of having 4!). Lots of waves so kids used kayak as a surf board as well.  Everyone used 50 sunscreen and still kids have swollen faces from sun.  Yikes it's crazy hot here.

The evening was spent on the beach playing silly games and eating.  Makes us realize we have to cultivate more times like this in our weekly rhythms at home.  (Even if it's on the frozen red river...extended times of no agenda except being together).   Lots of space to get new vision here...

After a few hours the kayak became a body surf board...

Boys enjoying Thai food after hours in the water...

Enjoying games and food in the evening. Great atmosphere at night on the beach in Ko Lanta!

Place of reflection, dreaming, awe...

It took us a day and we feel like we can take a step back from planning and just "be."  Not easy for us North Americans to do but we are taking this in.  

Here are the day and evening views from our place. 

 

PS for those reading this who relate to feeding teenagers...I found a place to eat for less than $2/person!  This is a 6 person family's dream.  Yahoo Labuns eat budget until kids crave pizza of course.  

Sarah's discoveries... Crabs on the beach 

Kittens at the market...

The boys relaxing in the shade 

Mikayla chillin by the beach 

Hipster dad...

For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever.  Amen.  Romans 11:36

Snorkelling and swimming in breath-taking beauty

Samuel jumps in...

Sarah dives...

Joseph jumps...

Mikayla gracefully plunges...

Soaking in the beauty...

The long boat we rented...

Having a moment 😘

Thanks for your prayers for Joseph.  He says his eye is 90% better.  We are thankful!  

Ko Lanta

Hey friends, I've been trying to post but it seems to be jammed.  We are in Ko Lanta after a beautiful day in Phi Phi.  No words to describe the beauty we encountered yesterday.  When I ask the family they say "I'm searching for words, over the top, unknown to us, really tall, breath-taking, fun."  We took a ferry and rented a long boat where the guide took us snorkeling and swimming.  Kids enjoyed schools of tropical fish, warm beautiful glass water, and sky scraper limestone cliffs.  

Merry Christmas!

It seems we can handle the beach and heat in the mornings and evenings only.  The afternoon we enjoyed some Phat Thai, reading and games in the guest house.  After some indoor reprieve we went to the market to have some Christmas fun.   Mike gave each child 50 Thai baht to buy a gift in our family gift exchange.  They caught on pretty quickly that 50 Thbhat equals less than $2.00!  Lots of laughs but we reminded them that we are on a different continent so that needs to weigh in on the gift giving...

Beautiful night on the beach.  Off to Phi Phi and Ko Lanta tomorrow.  Early morning on the ferry.  

Please join us in praying for Joseph's eye.  Just this evening he feels like something is lodged inside.  Could just be sand but we are a little edgy with his history of retina detachments.  Thx for your prayers.  We will keep you updated.  

Merry Christmas everyone.  With love from Phuket.

Karon Beach in Phuket

Christmas Eve night on the rocks by the Andaman Sea.  Beautiful night.  We sang and prayed as the waves crashed on the rocks.  Never had a Christmas Eve like this one.  Everyone reflected on what they've discovered and new revelation this past year.  And we thanked God for all of you, our family and friends who we do life with.  We are thinking of you all and praying for Christ's hope to meet you all this season.  

Our first few minutes in the ocean today.  Great waves and beautiful sand.  Incredibly warm ocean.  

Night on the rocks...

Let it be Christmas everywhere, let heavenly music fill the air... Let there be peace and joy that lasts through the year.  

Busy place filled with tourists but walked to a private remote spot and had it to ourselves this evening until some night fisherman joined us.