This month is full of extraordinary memories and people that I never want to forget, but these are just a few (or just eleven) of my absolute favorites!! Enjoy!!
1. Bud’s Cinnamon Rolls (and every other amazing breakfast he has fixed us!) For more on this incredible man of God, check out Amanda Tuten’s blog, but as a precursor, know that he is spending his RETIREMENT serving the Lord in Thailand and he has fostered over 350 kids! Yeah, he’s cool.
Bud made us homemade, AMERICAN STYLE breakfasts all month long! And chatting with him while he cooks was always a blessing. (Sometimes, he even let us help.)
2. Singing “Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me,” with Amber before Thanksgiving Dinner. No one else knew the song so we wound up singing alone, but it so perfectly fit the occasion and I couldn’t ask for a better expression of my emotions!
Becky, Liz and myself enjoying some delicious Apple Cider before a wonderful Thanksgiving Meal!
3. Observing a Thai “Hog Killin!” This has been a great month for honoring my love of Agriculture, and it was a blast teaching Morgan, Karen and Jess about this primitive practice.
Morgan, Karen and Jess watching their first ever "Hog Killin." I got to explain A LOT! (Best part is, I could make up everything I didn't know, and they still had no clue.)
4. Anything involving the bushwhacker or weed-whacker. In Thailand, it’s evident that WHATEVER-YOU-HAVE Runs Like a Deere.
I had more mud, dirt, and termites thrown on me than I ever care to remember; my body is permantently sore and will likely continue shaking randomly for years to come, but I had so much fun operating this bad-boy! I'm BLUE COLLAR TO THE CORE!
5. Petting, feeding and RIDING elephants! In Thailand, these animals are seen as “god-like” creatures. Clearly that’s not the case (at least not in my opinion) but I’m still glad Noah let them on the Ark.
Feeding a "baby" elephant – the particularly enjoy bananas and sugarcane.
6. Spending a day off with Liz and Becky in multiple coffee shops, writing blogs, talking to family, listening to iTunes and generally feeling like a NORMAL day out with friends! While sitting with my eyes closed, just soaking in the moment, God gave me a fantastic image of the exact setting I was in, only with my five Dunamisses best friends flanking my right and my five “life-time” best friends (Charlee, Celeste, Megan, Heather and Paige) on my left. He confirmed that they are all strategically in my life, per His direction and purpose, and that I am meant to find comfort with Him through their presences.
Thailand certainly knows how to do coffee… and Black Canyon Coffee has become a Dunamisses favorite!
7. Planning a post World Race “Community House” with Jess, Morgan and Becky. While hauling sand for cement one day, the four of us talked about what it would be like to live together in this culture that we are each so in love with once we return to the States. From house plans, to meal plans, to weekly schedules, to ideas of worship nights, movie nights, fame nights, etc., the overall plan definitely works in my mind! For now, it’s just a thought, but living in community is definitely something God is speaking to me about, so I’m praying into the scenarios, for sure!
Our personalities, quite fittingly. If "Community House" comes to be, this will totally be on our fridge!
8. Soccer Clinic Saturday with the boys from the children’s home. They LOVED every minute of running around, learning fundamentals and perfecting their games; I loved every minute of watching Liz flourish in preparation for her eventual full-time ministry. Yay for soccer schools around the world where Jesus suits and up and plays, too!
9. Big Time confirmation that I DO hear from God. Since month one, He has been telling me repeatedly about a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT for J Squad. It totally came-to-be this month, but you’ll have to catch an upcoming blog to find out the news!
10. Call me crazy, but ANTS! Because of those little bugs, I was forced to rely on my fellow World Racers for comfort, calming, housing my stuff, letting me crash with them, etc. Likewise, because my tent is not-so-useful anymore, (or at least, it won’t hold up in a heavy rain) I donated it to the kiddos as a new toy and I am officially “HOMELESS!” YAY for a lighter pack, and snuggles with team mates for the next eight months!
Part of the damage done by ants/termites to the bottom liner of my tent…
11. Team Dunamisses Album Cover Photo! Throughout this month, each of us went on multiple walks down nearby Thai back-roads, but usually only two or three would go at any given time. On Thanksgiving morning, all six Dunamisses took the ONLY all-together walk of the month, and after minimal prodding, I talked them in to this “Album Cover Photo.” Since the Race started, we’ve joked about telling people that we are a band, traveling the world on tour! We’re sure Liz is our drummer, but beyond that, we have no insight. In any case, this month has been a full blown reminder of how incredibly evident God’s hand was in compiling this team! These women totally know the songs of my heart, and it’s been such a privilege to journey the world with them!
LtoR: Elizabeth Cloutier, Laura Economides, Karen Thyer, Monica Pennington,
Ashlee Castle and Becky Coleman – The Dunamisses. Touring NOW!!!
Be Blessed,
Ashlee
