So it's been 5 months since my last post! I normally prefer to write meaningful stories on here but since I appear to have succumbed to the writer's disease of starting off strong and then dropping off, I think I will unashamedly make this post a Christmas newsletter for 2019.
There have been quite a lot of changes since I last wrote. The biggest was probably taking Sam out of school in August to homeschool him this year and also getting a rescue dog, Theo. Both have been really positive changes for our family.
Below is one of my favourite pictures from the beginning of this fall semester. We do lots of work honestly, but the slower schedule allows time for window gazing too. Organizing Sam's work has been a bit of an adjustment for me with my Thai Village work schedule but we are figuring out a rhythm that works for us. Sam also gets to participate in a homeschool co-op one week a month which has been a great fit for him. We are so grateful for the flexibility to be able to adjust to what works best for our kids.
Tyler, Rhiana and Liam continue at school and benefit from the diverse community there, the new renovated campus this year and all the many wonderful activities, friends and colleagues.
In the summer, we got to make our first trip to the US in four years. The hardest thing about a life overseas is time away from family and dear friends but it makes it all the more precious when you get to be together. The kids had a blast with cousins and grandparents in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Cape May, New Jersey and I also got to reconnect with dear friends during short trips to Chico, California and Nashville, Tennessee. We ate as many fresh berries as we could, overdosed on burgers and crammed in classic American experiences including amusement parks, 4th July fireworks, a day at the ball game, fishing and camping, Maryland crabs and even a quick trip to New York.
If you're interested in a crazy travel story, ask me some time about how our flight from Chiangmai to Baltimore took us 72 hours via Guangzhou, China. It was our most epic travel delay yet and we hope not to repeat it any time soon.
It has been a good year for family connections as we've also had visits from almost all my family in the UK. My Mum was here in February and then my sister Debbie and family in October, followed by my sister, Janet here in December. So amazing . . . . and we never take these visits for granted.
After all these visits, there was only one sister Ele who I hadn't seen, and thankfully I got to remedy that during my annual Thai Village trip to the UK in November. Well, I say annual as I hope it will be, but this has only been my second year so far. Many stories to tell from this trip and a post will be coming about that soon. Thank you to all those who hosted me and helped us provide a growing market for Thai Village products, building longterm sustainability for struggling families here. Job creation is such a powerful tool in the fight against poverty and I continue to feel passionate about serving in this field.
On the family and kids front, we are grateful for health and life and opportunities to pursue our passions which I will refrain from listing here! We have seen God's hand of provision in big ways this year and in many daily answers to prayer. We are trusting Him for the pieces yet to be fulfilled and grateful for all the ways that we see Him in the daily grind and in the world and people around us.
In lieu of Christmas cards this year, we want to wish all our family and friends a very Happy Christmas and exciting adventures in the new decade! We would love to hear from you too and welcome any Christmas news or emails at cherylstinchcomb@gmail.com or quick messages in response to this post.
Thank you for reading and Happy Christmas from the Stinchcombs!
There have been quite a lot of changes since I last wrote. The biggest was probably taking Sam out of school in August to homeschool him this year and also getting a rescue dog, Theo. Both have been really positive changes for our family.
Below is one of my favourite pictures from the beginning of this fall semester. We do lots of work honestly, but the slower schedule allows time for window gazing too. Organizing Sam's work has been a bit of an adjustment for me with my Thai Village work schedule but we are figuring out a rhythm that works for us. Sam also gets to participate in a homeschool co-op one week a month which has been a great fit for him. We are so grateful for the flexibility to be able to adjust to what works best for our kids.
Tyler, Rhiana and Liam continue at school and benefit from the diverse community there, the new renovated campus this year and all the many wonderful activities, friends and colleagues.
In the summer, we got to make our first trip to the US in four years. The hardest thing about a life overseas is time away from family and dear friends but it makes it all the more precious when you get to be together. The kids had a blast with cousins and grandparents in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Cape May, New Jersey and I also got to reconnect with dear friends during short trips to Chico, California and Nashville, Tennessee. We ate as many fresh berries as we could, overdosed on burgers and crammed in classic American experiences including amusement parks, 4th July fireworks, a day at the ball game, fishing and camping, Maryland crabs and even a quick trip to New York.
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| Boys' first baseball game at Camden Yards |
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| Fishing with cousins in the creek just outside Sykesville, MD |
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| All the goofy cousins with Grandad |
If you're interested in a crazy travel story, ask me some time about how our flight from Chiangmai to Baltimore took us 72 hours via Guangzhou, China. It was our most epic travel delay yet and we hope not to repeat it any time soon.
It has been a good year for family connections as we've also had visits from almost all my family in the UK. My Mum was here in February and then my sister Debbie and family in October, followed by my sister, Janet here in December. So amazing . . . . and we never take these visits for granted.
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| With Janet at Wat Umong |
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| With Debbie's family in our driveway |
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| Grandma celebrating with Rhiana in Singapore after she was invited to the regional competitions there for National History Day |
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| Some of our Thai Village artisans on a home visit with one of our woodworkers |
In lieu of Christmas cards this year, we want to wish all our family and friends a very Happy Christmas and exciting adventures in the new decade! We would love to hear from you too and welcome any Christmas news or emails at cherylstinchcomb@gmail.com or quick messages in response to this post.
Thank you for reading and Happy Christmas from the Stinchcombs!
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| Happy New Year 2020! |
