1+1=11 Years of Bliss

On December 18th I celebrated 11 years of marriage with the best man I know. He has given me more than I could have ever dreamed. For our 10th anniversary, we still felt new and slightly unsettled in our foreign home, so we opted for a simple, but romantic dinner at a nice restaurant in town. This year, feeling very settled into Cambodia, we were ready to step out of our Phnom Penh comfort zone. Having had a rough few weeks leading up to our anniversary trip, our get-away celebration was a welcomed one. I had researched quite a few places (the over-analyzer struck again -> http://sipofbrandi.blogspot.com/2015/03/does-it-really-matter.html ), and after much debate - with myself, as for me another person is not required for an argument - we decided on the Veranda Natural Resort in Kep, Cambodia. Buckle up because there are quite a few photos...

We began our trip in a private taxi which dropped us off at the front door of the resort. That may not seem like a big deal, but in a country where they cram up to 28 adults in a minivan (because more heads mean more cash for the driver) it is a wonderful treat to have breathing room during travel.

We were welcomed by the Veranda staff with lemon tea and a cool, wet cloth... and apparently I'm a Mister. ;o)

Just walking to our room was a vacation. It was beautiful!

The Stone Villa room 1 was our home away from home, and it was a peaceful retreat.

This is the back entrance that leads to the garden pool and steam bath - yahoo!

A few steps, and we had a view of both the garden pool and the Happy Hut, which is a crafting and learning area for children of those staying at the Veranda.

Our slithery neighbor - I love anybody who is willing to eat mosquitos for us.

After checking out our room, we looked over some of the other amenities: the reading lounge and the infinity pool.

We kept pinching ourselves, thinking this surely is not the same Cambodia we have lived in for the past year and a half... but it is... and we finally understood why so many of our expat friends (foreigners residing in another country) love traveling outside of Phnom Penh. It really is amazing what a little time with nature, away from the noisy, polluted city can do for your spirit. You cannot put a price on that.

The next morning we chose to hike the mountainside of Kep National Park, but first we enjoyed the "treehouse" feel of our resort and the luxurious breakfast buffet.

With every step we took up the mountainside, the splendor of God's creation engulfed us. 

Part way through our hike our bellies began to rumble, so we decided to shorten the trail by taking a short-cut up and over the mountain. It was more treacherous and stayed more true to its tropical rain forest climate than the breezy mountainside trail, but it was a fun adventure.

There are more photos of me because I was the wimp that kept stopping for air. Hehe!

Apparently I was feeling the muscle man pose... oh the irony.

Not too far from the entrance/exit of the park sits a hillside cafe named Led Zep. We were re-energized with a delicious cheese crêpe followed by the chocolate banana crêpe with coconut shavings. Umm, yeah, it was more than satisfying.

That evening we hung around the pools and room until dinner. Although the first night of our stay we sampled Kep's famous Kampot Pepper Crab at one of the beachside restaurants, the meals at Veranda were so delicious there was no need to leave the premises. So we treated ourselves to mouth-watering prawn bisque, the best goat cheese walnut salad I have ever had, along with an amazing salmon steak. *french accent* Formidable!

This is the infinity pool at night - spectacular!

Our final full day was possibly my favorite, all thanks to my generous hubby and my sweet new friend, Sonny. Bradley gifted me with a spa day. As they were running a special, I received an hour aromatherapy massage, an hour foot massage, and a 15 minute head massage for $45! I was so jazzed since when I'd seen the prices upon our arrival, I knew it was too much for our budget. However, the special promotion made my day fantastic!

The drop-off... excited and a mess of tension.

 Bradley treated himself too. While I "endured" the spa, he poured himself some lime soda water and plucked some passion fruit from a nearby vine.

The pick-up... happy and relaxed.

On our final evening, Bradley arranged for a special table and drinks (which was somewhat of a challenge since non-alcoholic drinks are harder to come by in this country). We dolled ourselves up, and relished stuffed chicken and a gorgeous steak.

The General manager, Aye, was so kind, and they arranged to "surprise" us with an anniversary cake. It tasted like a yummier version of the original ding dongs that came in foil - yummy!

We were so sad to leave the next day, but neither of us could help feeling beyond blessed that we had been able to plan and afford this celebration. I realize there are some people in this world who will never experience the luxury of a vacation, and there was not a moment that passed when I was not thankful for the ability to indulge in such extravagance. We caught a tuk tuk for 15 miles to Kampot, where we boarded a bus for our return home. Vanny and Sopeak were kind enough to pick us up, and we thanked them with dinner before they delivered us to our front door. We were there only long enough to drop our bags and hop on the moto for our date at a local café where they were showing Episode VI. The next day we saw Episode VII, and were so thrilled, that we decided on a final anniversary celebration: Star Wars Episode VII in 4DX. That's right folks! We technically got to ride in a TIE fighter, so yeah, we're a pretty big deal now.

Before Finn had made his decision to not kill for the First Order, he made an attempt on my life...

Thankfully Bradley was there to talk him down, and he is now rethinking his life path.

All in all, it was an awesome anniversary! I love finishing every year with a bang, and every year with my man is something to celebrate in deed! Love is whenever another person's happiness is more important than your own. I have been blessed with a godly man who truly strives to love me more than himself, and likewise, my love and respect for Bradley grows with each passing year. Whether dining at a beachside resort or McDonald's near home, marking another year in our marriage will always be a celebration, as long as the Lord allows us time. Happy 11 years to us! Cheers!

Please share any thoughts on your favorite anniversary, vacation, or Star Wars moments.

These are a few of my favorite things

Living in a foreign land is like being in a relationship - it has its ups and downs. There are moments when I find myself so thankful to be serving my husband and the Lord in this country, that I want to burst into a corny song like on the movie Enchanted. Then there are other times when I am on the brink of tears, either from anger, frustration, or sorrow, and I cannot wait to go home.

I have learned in those moments, to stop, breathe, pray, and try to focus on the positive. Is it easy to do this? No. Do I often fail at this attempt? Yes.

Well, this has been one of those weeks when it feels like everything has gone wrong. From being sick on Sunday to dealing with credit card issues via international phone calls, and many things in between, it has been one of those times in life when I simply want to clock out indefinitely. So, I poured myself a hot cup of tea, flipped the A/C on, and snuggled up with my Mac baby, and decided to let the "pen" flow.

In this moment, I am searching for the positive, and this is how I choose to find it: I want to share a few of my favorite things.

1. My best friend...

Every one needs a best friend, and when you are blessed to marry your best friend, well, life just does not get any better than that! Yes, there are occasions when we drive each other crazy, but this guy is more than I deserve. God has been so good to me in him. There has never been a time when I have doubted our commitment to our marriage. Even in the moments when we are too angry to talk, I have no fear because I know we both want to make it work. We both want the best for each other, and even when we are stupid enough to take each other for granted, we know our cup 'overfloweth.' His arms are the safest place in this world. I love my man more than words can express, and I thank our Heavenly Father for Bradley. Our marriage is one of my favorite things.

2. My other best friend...

Every one needs someone who will not only listen to all of their problems and complaints, but who is so in tune with you, that they almost always know the right thing to say. My someone is Krista. She is a sister in Christ, a sister-in-law, and my greatest confidant. Although a part of me would love to have her here with me, having her back home has been a solace. Thanks to her (and Skype), I have been able to keep my sanity. Knowing my heart, she never judges what I say, but rather, picks it apart, analyzes it, hears what I mean, and spits out the "perfect" solution. Again, I am in awe, not sure why the Lord has been so good to bless me with such a sweet and kindred soul, and I thankfully add our friendship to my list of favorite things.

3. My bruver...

In my family, I have been extremely blessed with a host of loved ones, whole, half, and step, and I am so enriched by every single one of them. However, the one with whom I have shared most of my life, struggles and blessings, is my little brother. He has always been able to make me laugh...as well as find just the right button to push - "I'm not touching you, what? I'm not touching you." We have always been able to dive into deep discussion on most any topic, and be real about it all. I love this safe zone with him where we can analyze, discuss, agree, disagree, and always grow. Although the big sister in me still worries about his safety and happiness, I enjoy letting go and just having fun with one of the greatest men I have ever known. I am beyond grateful to have my other, other best friend in my brother. ;o) Our kinship is one of my favorite things.

4. My boys...

Zach and Max still have my heart, even though thousands of miles separate us for the time being. Zachary's tendency to take things too literally combined with Max's exuberant love for life brings a smile to my face and a happy tear to my heart every day. I get to Skype with them weekly, and although I would selfishly love more time, I cannot overlook the blessing of our modern technology and their gracious parents. These boys have been a beautiful gift to a heart that has always loved and desired children. I could not have asked for better children to help raise. My relationship with Zach and Max is most certainly one of my favorite things.

5. Evie Mae...

The Edwards family as a whole has been a blessing, but Evie Mae and I have a special connection. From stroking the skin off my arm to lovingly calling for me when she is done in the bathroom - I feel so lucky and loved ;o) - I have been blessed to have this little bundle of joy to cheer me up whenever the weight of the work seems too heavy. Her imagination inspires me; her love encourages me; and her laughter brightens my soul. Her love is one of my favorite things.

6. My Mac buddy...

From writing to designing to connecting us to our moms, family, and friends, my laptop has been a true source of comfort. It has dings and chips from its clumsy owner, but the imperfections are proof of the endless hours I have spent composing, researching, sharing, and creating on this contraption. Honestly, I have NO IDEA how I would have kept my sanity without this technological beauty. My Mac is one of my favorite things.

The list could go on, but I will stop here. There are so many people who and things that have helped me in the instances when I am ready to give up or scream, and the blessings continue to come. At the start of this week, poor health had its hold; the middle of the week had me talking to myself, ranting about the endless heat that had my clothing stuck to my skin; and the close of the week found me frustrated with credit card hassles. Now, as the week comes to an end, I have reached the point of looking to my favorite things, and I am immensely grateful for all of them and more.

Uh-oh... I feel a song coming on...

(Imagine Julie Andrews singing)

"When the bugs bite, when the heat stings, when I'm feeling sad...

I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feeeeeeeel sooooo bad."

I hope and pray that in times of trouble, I will always be able to look to my list; that when I am feeling sad, I will be able to give thanks, and remember my favorite things.

"So long. Farewell. Auf wiedersehen. Goodbye."

What are a few of your favorite things?

Am I truly thankful?

As another holiday season gets under way, I am amazed how easy it is to not care about the break from work or school, especially since living abroad truly puts holidays into perspective. Man-made traditions do make me miss some of the festivities, but for me, beings a quality-time person in my love language, it is the time apart form family that makes me sad. Since I have lost track of time in a land where summer never ends, it honestly does not feel like the time of year when we usually gather with our loved ones. Still, friends and family have reminded me, directly and indirectly, that this is the time of year in my homeland when we make an extra effort to be thankful, and so I have to ask myself if I know what it means to be truly thankful.

It does not take long to realize how very blessed you are, when you are surrounded by so many who suffer from poverty, and little to no education. It is difficult to know that I cannot fix everything. I see children begging because their parents do not want to work, and I want to take them home, away from their parents' laziness. I see children kick their dogs for fun because they have not been taught to value life in every form, and I want to rescue the animals. I see trash linking the roads and literally covering the streams, and I want to take trash bags by the hundreds to fill, in the hopes that I can teach them to care for what we have been given. I hear mothers call their babies ugly, sad that their child does not the light skin and hair which "magically" fixes so many problem in the world they understand, and it pains me to know that I cannot, in my short time here, change the embedded views of a culture who sees themselves as "less than." I see people digging through garbage, with the desire to find recyclables to turn in for money, and my heart aches, longing to give them the opportunities I have had. All of these events have made me realize that I still do not fully appreciate how blessed I have been in my life. I am disheartened to know that I take wonderful, beautiful blessings for granted every day.

Most of my Khmer friends and acquaintances here have never been more than a few hours from their home; they have never crossed the border into a foreign land. Cambodia is all they know. In some ways I have lived a sheltered life, but it is strange to think that i have a broader world view than some people where who are 3 times my age. I have never before recognized the value of my world view.

How on earth can I make a difference to people who have less than me, when I have yet to grasp what it means to be thankful? In my heart of hearts I know that I can make a difference in this world, because everyone makes a difference to someone, whether good or bad. A single drop of rain may not sure a drought, but it still lessens the struggle of that single locations where it lands. Still, I find myself continually struggling, overwhelmed with my current station in life; struggling to comprehend gratitude.

In the past two classes with our Khmer tutor, he has shared some cultural differences that only made my heart sink more. One thing he has told us is that people here do not connect over food, talking, and games. It is weird to them, as a whole (there are always exceptions), as they connect over alcohol and karaoke, and games are only played during holidays or if there is a hope for financial gain. Being born and bred Americans, this social norm was shocking to Bradley and me...although it suddenly made many of our frustrations make sense. In so many ways we have tried to reach out with our American understanding, but, as we have learned tiam dnagain, it takes more than our understanding. Our understanding is simply not enough. This social connections is another thing I have taken for granted. Coming from a culture that has its issues, yet, in general, has a respect and appreciation for life, our society is encouraged to reach out to our fellow man. I am sure it is why so many organizations here are fun, funded, and staffed by Americans; we still cary on the idea that we are a "big brother" to the world. However, I have learned that in a country where geonicde ruled for several years, trust is something that is not easily given or earned. Again, I am confronted with the awareness that both my safety and protection throughout my American life, are things I have never fully appreciated.

So, how do I deal with the guilt of knowing that I have learned so much more than I have taught?

And how do I express  my love and thankfulness to people who cannot fathom why I would care about them?

The only thing I have come up with is time. Time for them to see my smile over and over again; time for them to watch me stumble over a foreign language, as I do my best to communicate with them; time for them to hear me repeat my concern for their health; time for them to grow accustomed to our efforts to reach out to them; time for them to know that although we are leaving, we will be forever changed by this land of theirs...forever changed by them.

And so I find myself growing thankful for time.

Desperately desiring to reach out and touch every single person, I have discovered how very small and insignificant I am in the whole spectrum of life. To some this may seem a depressing thought, but it helps me tremendously whenever discouragement takes hold. On the timeline of eternity, I am a tiny blip, practically unnoticeable, and yet, I matter to a Creator, of whom I stand in awe. All of the souls I encounter matter to Him, and that is why they matter to me. I do not have all of the answers that will solve all of lief's problems, but i do have the ability to grow in my understanding of gratitude. Although I wish I was more, and I wish I had more to give, I will do my best to bless others in whatever way possible.

I know I will never be able to fully comprehend my blessings in being born into a free country; having a caring family; and receiving the opportunities that have afforded me my faith, education, and life. However, I have learned that in looking as every encounter, trial, and moment, I can find something for whcihc to eb thankful. In this revelation, this small, insignificant being cad say that "I know that I am truly thankful." Happy Thanksgiving!

What about you? For what are you truly thankful?
Can you think of something you have taken for granted?