Thailand Two: Return of the Thai

I am now sitting in a lovely hotel room in the city of Chiang Rai, Thailand.

How awesome is that?!

I'm in Thailand for a Global Ministries retreat, both as a participant and as the on-site journalist. Nearly all of our full-time GM missionaries are here to worship together and get some rest and relaxation.

Of course, it took nearly two full days to get here, so I'm in desperate need for that rest.

I don't think I've slept since Thursday.

You'll forgive me if this is brief. I'll try to be more detailed in the future, but I wanted to keep you up-to-date.

I think I'll go try that sleeping thing now.

Beka

Last Thursday, another dear friend of mine moved away, this time to continue her ministry in the Philippines. Beka and I went through CROSS-training together, and I was so incredibly blessed to have her as we started in Communications together. Beka went on to join Mobilization and moved upstairs, but I continued to be blessed with her friendship.

Please pray for Beka and her ministry partner Lauren as they minister to women and children in the Philippines.

 

Guess what?!

One week from today, I will be winging my way toward Thailand.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?!!?!

Global Ministries is taking all of their missionaries to a resort in Chang Rai. We're also visiting our ministries in Thailand.

I'm so excited!

(more soon)

In Europe, a vacation is a holiday.

You know all those things you leave undone before a major holiday like Christmas because it doesn't need to be done until the next year and you have plenty of time and there's not much left to be done anyway so you can let it sit until you get back but you're secretly hoping they are no longer a priority when you get back and will no longer need to be done?

They didn't go away.

I can't begin to tell you how many things were tabled before the holiday that have returned with a vengeance needing to be dealt with RIGHT. NOW.

This is not a good time to be preparing to leave again.

Note to self: don't stack vacations, holidays and trips out of the country.

In other news, I'm leaving the country soon.

Welcome to 2013

"Hi Jessica, how are you?"

"I'm doing well. And you?"

"Good. How was your holiday?"

"It was nice. Yours?"

"Same."

--Every conversation the first time I see someone after getting back to the office.

End of the Line (361-366)

At the beginning of the year, I set out to take 366 awesome photos in 2012.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I started this because a) I needed a hobby; b) I wanted to improve my photography skills; and c) I really, really needed a hobby.

And it's been a good ride.

I'd like to thank my coworkers; my parents; my sisters; the states of Idaho, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, Colorado and Michigan; and my abnormal brain for contributing to this endeavor.

We'll get to the last few photos soon. But first, some of my favorites from the past year.

#1

Here it is. The picture that started it all. I took it very shortly after midnight, January 1, 2012. It was the first time I staged something and was happy with how it turned out.

#26

We have Foster to thank for the fantastic wall decor around the office. These bells are my favorites. You always know I'm around when you hear the bells.

#40

I like it when the sun just does what I need it to. These flags can be found in one of OMS' conference rooms.

#45

Another of my favorite wall decs. I decided early on to manipulate hues when needed.

#65

This moon was a little like staring into the abyss. I read Dante by this moon.

#83

This photo is all the more impressive when you understand how difficult it is to take photos in the Cyclorama at Gettysburg. Despite that, it is one of my favorite places in the world.

#98

You can't plan shots like this. They just kinda ... happen.

#112

You can find this roof in a hotel in Florida. It appealed to me.

#131

I spent a ridiculous amount of time in the back field getting this and other photos.

#152

I walked down a street in Idaho for this photo.

#171

I only thought about the possible ramifications of this action after the sparklers went out. Fortunately, my hand is still attached.

#204

Favorite book, awesome day. Special thanks to Emily J for this idea.

#214

Getting this photo very nearly killed me. St. George better be grateful.

#227

If you're ever in St. Ignace, take the Vesper Cruise on Friday night. It's your best view of the bridge at sunset. Oh, and there's a church service, too.

#235

I usually find sunset photos cliche. Unless I take them. Then they're pretty.

#255

If I cared about composition, this would be pretty fantastic.

#283

I took this one from a car in Shipshewana. It sparked a desire to do a study in silhouettes.

#295

A semi-evil cat who let me hang out with her for a bit. This photo was the first time she was still long enough for a good photo.

#313

My first practice with my new mini photo studio. My thanks to Elida for buying me the hand.

#334

If I could install this lighting in my house, I would.

#337

My dad was standing off to the left. I was complaining about the walk. I looked up, knelt down and snapped the photo.

#354

This is a fantastic building. I love this photo because it looks like a mirror image or something supernatural.

#358

I love snow when I don't have to drive in it. I also love lights. Put them together? Match made in heaven.




So those are my top pic(k)s. Are you ready for the last six photos? Here we go.

361

This is my favorite family Christmas decoration. There's going to be a huge fight over it when my parents are gone.

362

Also a favorite family artifact. Heirloom. Whatever.

363

One finds all kinds of things in the woods.

364

I bought a cannon in Colorado. I'm buying them in stages. Next is one that reaches my knee.

365

Took this tonight while the snow was falling. It's a lot easier to reach the creek without leaves on the trees.

366

My adorable nephews. Why is this my last awesome photo? Because I bought those cameras for the kiddos so they could carry on my photographic legacy. Stay tuned for a blog of their photos.


And that's it. Three hundred sixty-six awesome photos in 2012. Granted, I may have cheated somewhat. But it was totally within my rights.

Now ask me how many photos I actually took this year. If your answer is less than a thousand, you're way off.

Happy New Year, friends. I'll let you know what my goal is for 2013. 

Well... The World Did Not End (351-360)

We're getting closer! Are you nervous? (I'm not. I know how it ends.)


351

Don't look now, but there's a bear staring at us.

352

353

In photography, movement is usually a bad thing. Not always.

354

I've said before that this is one of my favorite buildings. They made it even prettier for the holiday. (No filters. Just a moving car.)

355

My parent's awesome Christmas decorations. That's how I know I'm home.

356

Funny story. So we're driving around town, looking at decorations, and I keep saying, "Wow, that one wise man is really cool. Why don't we have a cool wise man, Dad?"

For the record, we do in fact have the cool wise man.

357

I do this thing sometimes when I'm taking pictures where I start clicking and I just don't stop. It drives my Dad nuts. On the trip from Madrid to Siguenza (in Spain), I just kept clicking. I can clock how long it took by the time stamps on my photos.

Most of the time, this is unnecessary and somewhat wasteful. But hey, I shoot digital, so that's not really a problem.

I was practicing this particular method at my parent's house on the birds in the backyard. And I took this:

Only I didn't stop there. I just kept snapping. When I reviewed the photos later, I found this:

Which is just way cool.

358

As it turns out, we got actual snow this year! It's amazing and looks awesome with Christmas lights.

359

360

I wrap presents really, really well thanks to Hallmark.