Good moments, meeting Audrey and Ez for lunch.

Greetings from Thailand! 

As I get older, I notice that time has a way of accelerating.  How is my son two years old already?  How has it been almost 4 years since we moved to Chiang Mai?

And if I am not careful, I miss the moments.

Life tends to move into habit and familiar ruts.

How many times have you washed the dishes?  

Done the laundry?  

Driven that same route to work everyday? 

This is not a bad thing.  I like routine in my life.  There is a comfort there, and an efficiency.  We learn through repetition.  If you have ever watched workers in a skilled trade, you can tell who has been at it for a long time, because they don't waste any time or resources.

But there is also a risk with routine.  The risk is that our days begin to merge and blur together.

But there are moments in every day that will never be repeated.

Ezra thought he would help with the whiteboard at Thai church.

Child Protection Training with our house parents. Big "thank you" to the Think Small Foundation for coming!

Ez helping at a car wash to raise money for camp!

Days, like people and snowflakes, are unique.  No two are the same.

I am, by nature, a hurrier.  Things need to be done and I want to get them done.  The checklist looms over me like a cloud.

One of the best things that has happened to me in the past 2 years is learning from our Director at Faithful Heart, Dave Callahan, about the 'Unhurried Life.'

Because a lot of moments get lost in our hurry.  And a lot of people.

When we hurry through life, everything and everyone becomes a little blurry.

We don't have time to see faces, and look into eyes, and wonder about beauty and pain, and hopes and dreams.

It's like taking in beautiful scenery at 80 miles an hour.  You might see the large things, but the little things will blow right by you.

But it is hard to slow down.  It is hard to be still.

Paula has not seen her birth mother for some time, it was a happy reunion!

Dad's birthday gift turned out well this year!  Amazing Thai artist!

The rules of this game are unclear, but enthusiasm was not lacking.

Life for us in Thailand right now is full, and getting fuller.  With one child of our own, another due next month, and 35 'adopted' children from Faithful Heart, there is plenty to think and worry about.

"What did Ezra just put in his mouth?  Was that a bug?  How did he get a knife in the microwave?"

"Khun Matt, the college students have stopped doing their chores.  Can you talk to them?"

"Khun Matt the school called, and one of the girls stole some money today."

"Khun Matt we need to go back to the land office for a 4th time, they need more paperwork."

And on and on it goes.  We all have our own list.

My Mom calls it the 'tyranny of the urgent': That nagging pressure that we need to get more done.

Here is a revolutionary thought:  Maybe we need to get less done.

Ginger Farm!  Audrey is due in October!!

Thinking of the small ones in our care...

I just finished a book by a man called John Woolman.  The writing is difficult to read, but the man was something special.

He was one of the first in America to publicly travel and speak against the buying and selling of human beings.

Something he said surprised me.

He said the root of the slave trade was not racism, or some great evil in a few men, but something far more common in virtually all men---the desire to have more.

He said we make two mistakes:

1.  Either we do not work hard enough, and try to find ways to manipulate others to do our share of the work so we can rest at ease.

Or

2.  We work too hard in an effort to get more, have more, and give more for ourselves and our children that neither we, or they need. 

And both are wrong---both are missing the kind of life God wants people to enjoy. 

And both eventually lead to the oppression and manipulation of human beings---whether consciously or not.

Strange, isn't it?  Follow the train of reasoning for a minute:

Baby selfies are adorable

Saturday morning fun...I could get used to this!

The other Tiger Woods improving his golf game (that's my dad).

That baby is getting ready to make her appearance!

Let me give you a suggestion that has been a huge help to me:
(thank you Dave Callahan & Dallas Willard)


(Maybe bring some paper and a pen).

Sit down and look at your life---your family, your work, your schedule, your activities and hobbies, your kids' activities, your marriage, your future goals, etc.

Be honest and ask yourself:  "Is this the best life I envision for myself and my family?"

If you cannot honestly answer Yes, then be brave and keep going.

"Why not?" 

Here you need to be careful.  The most common answer to this question goes something like this:

"Well, if only I had more..."

More time, more energy, more money, etc.

But here is the point Jesus can really help free us.

He says a good life is possible, no matter who you are, or where you are, right now.

There is an abundantly good life available to each of us right now.

(There are exceptions where human beings are afflicting great evil on others, but I am assuming most of you are not in that boat.)

Child Protection Training with our kids.

Swimming with the girls!

Learning together!

So go back to our question:

Why isn't life as good as it might be for you right now?

If we are honest, I think most of us will trace it back to one of those two mistakes John Woolman pointed out.

Either we are not working enough, and oppressing others...

or

We are working too hard and oppressing ourselves and our families.

And both of these come from a feeling that we need more.

But Jesus says we don't need more in order to have a good life.

More isn't the answer.

God is happy to give you all you need for a good life already.

This hurried life, this frantic schedule, this pressure and stress of debt, and bills, and responsibilities, isn't necessary.

Not only is it not necessary, it's robbing our lives of happiness.

We are missing the moments in the hurry.

We need an unhurried life to enjoy the moments.

This is not easy, and it takes a lot of trust.

We love these sweet girls!

Little Mien baby!

Learning about our bodies

You get the idea.

This reaches deep into us, and how we think (we can't help it).

And quietly, Jesus' long forgotten words whisper:

"Life does not consist in abundance of possessions (having more)." 

Life is more than food and clothes and tvs and big houses and big vacations.

We know this in theory, but we still get caught up in the current of our culture.

So as you think about your life, for you and your family, stop to enjoy the moments.

Maybe a better life means having less, but enjoying more.

The Bible has a famous saying, that "God's mercies are new every morning."

What that means is that God gives wonderful new gifts to us each day.

And God's best gifts are people and moments.

So slow down, take a good look at your life, don't be afraid to make changes.

Enjoy the moments, and experience the life God wants to give you.

Thank you for the moments we enjoy with so many of you.
We like you just the way you are.

Matt, Audrey, Ezra, & Baby #2 (Due October 28!!!)

Always enjoy telling our kids how valuable and loved they each are!

Big thank you to Ben & Sarah Klopp for our new wood planer!  Excited to help our kids learn more about making furniture!

Ezra losses his crib when the new baby comes, so we started a new bed with our new wood planer!

Impromptu dinner with our German neighbors---Yes, Calvin and Hobbes is cross cultural!