A-N-X-I-E-T-Y

In case you have not heard, we are moving. Across the world. Again.

But you say, "Brandi, there is no need to worry because you are coming home. America is your home, remember?" Then I say, "Umm, are you sure? I feel pretty 'at home' here... in Cambodia because, you know, I live here. My home is here. My life is here. Right?" Then you retort, "but Brandi your family and friends are waiting for you. Are you not excited to be with and around them again?" Of course I reply, "YES! I am so ready to love on my littles, chat and laugh with my girlfriends, and make more memories with family. But for 2 years I have lived a completely different life in a completely different country. I am not the same person I was when I left America. How do I deal with this?" Your patient response, "You let us welcome you home. You worry about getting here, and we will take care of the rest. Sound good?" Nervously, I smile, not wanting to seem ungrateful, "Well, yes, that does sound good, but it seems more easily said than done. I mean, I have so much to sell and pack; friends I have no desire to leave; people depending on me; and I somehow have to keep my sanity as I say goodbye again. Do you understand?" Kindly you comfort me, "Oh Brandi, you are stronger than you think. Just remember to lean on God and He will get you through. Plus, on the other side of all of your goodbyes will be a bunch of hello agains. Your friends and family love you and are anxiously waiting to have you back."

There's that word: anxious. Yep. Been feeling that recently. In less than 8 weeks my life will drastically change again, and my little self is struggling with so many thoughts, emotions, and tasks. I would imagine that to anyone who has never lived outside of their home country, this may seem silly. Coming home seems like the most natural thing to do, but humor me for a moment. For those who have moved out and away from home, whether married or single, think of how different 'home' is once you have your own home. If you are blessed with a happy and healthy family, then your parent's and/or grandparent's home is still a comfortable, wonderful place to visit, but there is a reason for the phrase, "you can't go home again". You have rituals, habits, routines, styles, and items in your home that are simply you. No one may be able to make cookies like mom, but no one has a better, safer, more comfortable bed than you do, in your own home. Now, for those who have never moved back home to mom and dad, imagine doing so. I am sure any one can think of a few things that might go wrong, even if nothing done is, in itself, wrong. But since every circumstance in life changes us as individuals, although your core personality may always be there, we can become very different people over the passage of time. I am a very different person, but I am still me. I am nervous to come home to a country, a congregation, a family, and a life that is very different from whenever I left two years ago. Anxiety has crept in, and I must find a way to deal with it all. Scripture has been my heart's greatest comfort, and writing is my brain's. So, ahem, I feel the need to let my inner diva pen my thoughts in lyric. Although I do not condone all of the words used in the original song, Glamorous is my inspiration. I found a clean karaoke version... you know... just in case someone would be interested in de-stressing through tunes. And yes, I had a blast singing this.

https://youtu.be/ZNCk-xcKW6Y

Oh, and we may have made an audio recording. To listen to the sounds of B-rad and Bran Muffin click below:

*Tuk tuks are the moto taxis they have in Cambodia. Although enjoyable, they are not the fastest mode of transportation. **Mangosteens are a delicious fruit that look like a cross between an eggplant and a pumpkin, and taste of juicy awesomeness!

Just give in and sing it Fergie style...
............................................
Are you ready?

Since you ain't in control, bring your broke self Home
Since you ain't in control, bring your broke self Home

A-N-X-I-E-T-wah-wah-Y, yeah A-N-X-I-E-T-wah-wah-Y

We're flyin' third class, up in the sky
Drinkin' ginger ale, livin' my life
In the tuk tuk lane, not ready for change*
Oh the anxiety, ooh, the fluster, fluster
The anxiety, anxie-anxiety, the anxiety,
Ooh the fluster, fluster
The anxiety, anxie-anxiety, the anxiety,
Ooh the fluster, fluster

Sort and sift through every thing
I'll be crowned the packin' queen
What if I forget something?
With all this dust how can I clean?
Chat with fam on the Skype scene
Gonna miss my mangosteen**
Sweatin' so much it's obscene
Coatin' on the sunscreen
Chillin' in the Edwards' canteen
Gabe's made a submarine
List-en-ing to Evie sing
Penny I'm not your trampoline
Bible studies, ready to glean
Dinner guests? I need caffeine.

Sippin', reminiscing on days when I had a routine, and now I'm

third class, up in the sky
Drinkin' ginger ale, livin' my life
In the tuk tuk lane, not ready for change
Oh the anxiety, ooh, the fluster, fluster
The anxiety, anxie-anxiety, the anxiety,
Ooh the fluster, fluster
The anxiety, anxie-anxiety, the anxiety,
Ooh the fluster, fluster

[skip bridge]

A-N-X-I-E-T-wah-wah-Y, yeah A-N-X-I-E-T-wah-wah-Y

We're flyin' third class, up in the sky
Drinkin' ginger ale, livin' my life
In the tuk tuk lane, not ready for change
Oh the anxiety, ooh, the fluster, fluster
The anxiety, anxie-anxiety, the anxiety,
Ooh the fluster, fluster
The anxiety, anxie-anxiety, the anxiety,
Ooh the fluster, fluster

I got plannin' up to here
Khmer music in my ear
Singin' all these crazy things that I don't understand
Blessed with money in the bank
And I'd really like to thank
There's so many I could thank
Thank you really though
Cause I've never had a day
When I'd worry about pay
Since the church takes care of us, all the Christian folk
Man, it's been a long road and now it's time to go
My Heavenly Father's in control,
He let this daughter know

Since you ain't in control, bring your broke self Home
My Father told me so
Since you ain't in control, bring your broke self Home
He let this daughter know
Since you ain't in control, bring your broke self Home
My Father told me so
Since you ain't in control, bring your broke self Home
He let this daughter know
............................................

If you have not yet figured out that I am quirky, you have now. I pray, sing, and vent to loved ones whenever I am faced with anxiety. How about you? Oh, and if you read my previous post on preferring writing to cooking, these lyrics took me less than an hour... dinner took over two. Oh the fluster, fluster! Okay, I'm out yo. Peace!

Betty Crockett Rides Again

Almost two years ago Bradley and I set out on the wild frontier, ready, we thought, for anything. Now, I have never fancied myself an amazing cook, and I willingly admit to being a poor baker. However, in the states I had practically mastered crockpot meals and boxed baked goods, when the need arose. Working full-time away from home, it had taken me several years to get into a groove that was both budget friendly and manageable for my schedule. Following our move here, I realized how well-oiled my cooking, grocery shopping machine had been. After moving out of the comfort of the hotel, not only did I struggle with meal planning, since the street markets do not always have the same produce available, but there were plenty of new and strange foods in place of the edible fare to which I had become accustomed to in the states. Although I had anticipated different cuisine in Cambodia, I was not prepared for the inconsistency of food availability, nor was I ready to take on eating Khmer food for every meal. Frustrated, I tried to figure out how to hit this curve ball that I had been thrown.

During our preparation for this mission work, Jonathan had kindly given us material to read that discussed the "do's" and "don'ts" of mission work. One section explained the problem of Going Native versus Cultural Isolation. It explored the tendency for missionaries to either try to infuse themselves into the culture to the point of denying their own identity, hence "going native." The other side is that of those who lock themselves away in their culture bubble in a way that never allows them to experience the culture and the people to whom they serve. Both of these tendencies have proven unsuccessful. With the first, one is ignoring the fact they are not, and never will be "one of them," and in trying to become one of them, one makes it that much more obvious that they are indeed different. The isolation factor is more visibly evident, as the person falling into this way of life is blatantly different, and will therefore never be accepted by the people from whom they have removed themselves. The author recommends finding a healthy balance of infusion between your culture and theirs. Remembering that you are the foreigner who needs to yield, while still allowing yourself certain comforts and familiarities of your homeland. I have striven to find this balance for Bradley and I, and although I cannot admit to 100% success, I feel that overall success has been achieved.

One way we chose to find balance was with our meals. Like every other Khmer home, we always have rice available for ourselves and others; we are ready to eat on the floor, if our guests are more comfortable with that practice; and at least 90% of our produce comes from the street markets. However, being American, we always have oats available for oatmeal for breakfast; we dine regularly on our table or couch, as is the practice of our homeland; and all of our meat comes packaged and refrigerated from the super markets. Throughout the month I sprinkle in Khmer dishes, whenever they work and sound yummy, but like back home, the majority of our diet consists of Tex-Mex type meals. Marissa discovered an awesome tortilla recipe that she was kind enough to share, and it has become one of my favorite things to prepare, as I know the pleasure awaiting my palette once that dough comes together. Never in my life has so much of my time been consumed by food preparation, and then the inconvenience of not having a sink in my prep area does not help. The first several months were rocky in my kitchen, as I worked to find new ways to make familiar meals with sometimes unfamiliar ingredients and/or methods, but for over a year now I have felt confident "stepping into my apron."

Unfortunately, I still struggle finding fulfillment in food preparation. Naturally, I am not a food person. I so enjoy food, but I am one of those weirdos who does not understand how food and conversation go together. If you have spent much time around me, you may have noticed that at get togethers, I tend to be eating by myself, or one of the last ones who sits down to eat. This has nothing to do with not wanting to be with people, but quite the opposite. I do not know anyone who would argue the fact that I enjoy talking and am eager to share a good story, but when it comes to food, I just want to eat. My mother used to get on to me for scarfing my meals down, but I never understood why. I was hungry, and in sitting down to eat, my goal was to end that hunger. Talking only slows that process, and as long as I am chewing properly, there is no reason to slow down... at least in my mind that makes sense. So, for me, food is a necessity, rather than an event. Well, if you know my husband, he is "normal" when it comes to his food habits. Not only is it an event, the more people to converse with during a meal, the better. I have had to learn that although I would be fine with a bowl of cereal or a baked potato for a meal, my husband feels loved when I put in the effort to care for his culinary needs. I am ashamed to admit that the thought of stopping whatever I am doing to spend 2-4 hours preparing and cleaning up after mealtime is frustrating. It makes me feel derailed... even though it is my job. Part of this frustration comes from not having children. I never dreamed I would be a housewife without children. When I watched the boys, food preparation was just a part of my day. Since children center me, I was able to accomplish so much when I had Zach and Max as a part of my day, life, and job. Even though I want to serve Bradley in this capacity, I have to fight the thought "but he can feed himself," and then I feel like a jerk. A while back Bradley shared with me that he feels the most loved and cared for when I take care of our meals. Aside from the pang of guilt I felt, this knowledge was a boost to my frame of mind: to know that I can say "I love you" without saying a word is encouraging. It has inspired me to step outside of my comfort zone. Even though baking in Cambodia is not ideal, I have taken up my rubber spatulas in the name of love!

In an attempt to make food more of an event, and more enjoyable for myself, I turn on music fitting for the cuisine. We play a lot of Latino Jazz during meal preparations, but both old-fashioned Italian and classic country (for southern-style cooking) make regular appearances in our home. Here are a few of my creations over the past year-and-a-half...

Fajitas with homemade tortillas and Mexican rice

Homemade spring rolls and sweet chili sauce

Offical Khmer dish: Lok Lak with beef

Homemade tomato sauce with fettuccine; home-
made focaccia {one of my favs!!!}; and
sparkling strawberry juice - delizioso!

Jalapéno cheese pizza with bread machine pizza
crust and garlic cheese bread (ever since Jonathan
found affordable cheese we have gone crazy
with the dairy delight)

 Jalapéno chicken cheese enchiladas with sour
cream sauce featuring those awesome homemade
tortillas - muy bien!

Homemade creamed corn; mashed potatoes; bread
machine rolls; steak fingers made with pork since
it is less expensive and more available; we topped
it off with oolong sweet tea - finger lickin' good!

Homemade garlic naan with curry rice and butter
chicken (not from scratch, but altered the sauce
to be less tomato-y) - बहुत अच्छा (bahut achchha)!

Traditionally this Indian bread is prepared over the
grill, but we opted to do it in our non-stick skillet...
umm, no complaints whatsoever. They were
fluffier, which is a plus in my cook book.

Although I am no where near mastering the mighty spatula, I feel much more at home in the kitchen, and am willing to step outside of my comfort zone to try new things... even from scratch. To some this seems so silly, but to me composing an outline and writing an essay is a piece of cake... for me that is easier and more enjoyable than making a piece of cake. ;o) Never did I dream that I would be spending so much time and effort on food when we committed to this work, but I have. However, I have a feeling Elijah never dreamed of lying beside a brook for more than the length of a nap, but I have learned that we are not always called to do what fulfills us... I guess that is because it is not about us. So, I have striven to keep my hands busy, my kitchen filled, and my husband happy. In turn, I have found joy in touring the world through my stomach, and I feel blessed that our Heavenly Father has provided the means for us to relish such a variety of flavors. My hat goes off to those around the world who can pick up a spoon and whip up any culinary delight at a moment's notice. Know that you have a gift, and that I, for one, admire your talent. I may not win every cooking battle, but whenever it is appropriate, I will always remember the á la mode! Cheers!

Are you thrilled every time you step into your apron?
What are some of your favorite culinary adventures?

Before & After: The Bedroom (boentup khang)

As we prepare to enter our last month of normality in our home here, I thought I should share another set of before and after photos. This post focuses on our bedroom, which in Khmer is pronounced "bahn-tohpe kaing(h)," literally sleeping room. In my previous before & after (http://sipofbrandi.blogspot.com/2015/08/before-after-bathroom-boentup-duk.html), I discussed how much Bradley and I enjoy up-cycling things to create a peaceful and beautiful space for ourselves, as well as friends and family. After our bathroom, the bedroom was the next room we tackled.

My goal was for this room to be our retreat away from the stress, schedules, and discomforts of life in Cambodia. At first we bought a foam mattress, thinking cheaper was better since it was only for 2 years. However, after 3 months of feeling physically and mentally drained due to the lack of rest, we began to reconsider our decision. There were nights where I would wake up because every single limb, yes, both of my entire arms and legs were asleep, and, no, I do not mean they were resting. I would attempt to get the blood flowing to my extremities, but it was quite a task since sitting up was about the only support I could give myself with spaghetti noodles for legs. Yes, I realize how comical this is to imagine... and probably to see. However, when it becomes a normal part of your sleeping routine to wake up different parts of your body so you can then try to go back to sleep, it begins to lose its humor, especially when you are one that already struggles with turning off your brain for bedtime. For some relief, we placed our sleeping pads (for camping) underneath our mattress to add some much needed support. This did help a little, but not enough...

After discussing how we both felt like we had aged roughly 40 years in the several months we had been "sleeping" on our cheap foam mattress, we made the decision to go mattress hunting. Bradley and I have slept on a full-size mattress since we were first married, and this size is apparently a rare request in the mattress shops here. Since the shops had plenty of king-size beds ready and available, my guess is that here, most people who can afford a "fancy" mattress want to go big. So, our full-size bed had to be special ordered, thankfully at no extra cost. Unfortunately, it meant another 1-2 months of sleeping on our foam nightmare, but the simple fact of knowing that a good night's rest was on it's way, was quite a comfort. Within the first week of our real mattress arriving, we both felt the difference. I was sleeping through the night, and Bradley was feeling much less pain in the mornings. Most importantly, we were both feeling rested, and could therefore be of better use to the Lord and the work in Cambodia.

Before we had made this glorious choice, I continued to busy myself with setting up our sleeping quarters. We purchased a wooden bed frame at a height that would allow us to store our luggage underneath. This would allow us to keep these unused, but necessary items out of the way, as well as use them for extra storage. In planning for our move here, I had brought certain toiletries, oils, and then was blessed by friends and family sending us some items we could not locate here. The suitcase under my side houses all of these unused items until they are needed, and Bradley's suitcase on his side holds all of our travel and camping gear for trips to the province. The 2 other suitcases hold our carry-on luggage and some other random items. It has been such a mental blessing to have all of our luggage out of sight, allowing us to feel more settled and at home, and less like we are just waiting to move again.

BEFORE

Not bad, but not what I would consider a warm,

peaceful and cozy space...yet.

AFTER

Faded peach is now a calming aqua mint; the wall

fan has been moved, replaced with a gorgeous hunk

of wood that Vanny rescued for us from a cobra

mound - crazy boys!; and Bradley has made

us a headboard with built-in side tables.

This banner is one of my favorite additions. I think

the sentiment is fitting for our relationship and life.

I hand-painted the words, and then burned the outer

edges of each card to create a worn effect. I cut the

flowers from card stock and strung them on jute rope.

At night our built-in headboard lamps are so warm and cozy!

{thank you hubby!}

BEFORE

Nothing wrong, but nothing inspiring either.

AFTER

We purchased a banana leaf shelf to hold our folded

clothes, oils, and some other little tidbits. The iron

grates Cambodia places on every window has come

in handy for us with "S" hooks. The wall fan has

replaced what was once a sconce, and the clothing

rod is angled in the corner, to allow a sense of space.

As a huge fan of The Mary Tyler Moore show, like

Mary's "M," this "B" symbolizes that I am home. 

My homemade jewelry rack - I raided Bradley's

"junk I have already collected in a new country" stash.

Then I stamped "jewelry" on it... you know, in

case I happen to forget what this is for... ;o)

BEFORE

This is the hallway light, but it is how all of our lights

looked... before we had our way with them.

AFTER

A large bird cage, several wires, a little more aqua mint

paint, and quite a few cheese cloths yielded our new

 bedroom chandelier. I love the starburst affect! 

Funny story on this bird cage. The Khmer Rouge discouraged art and creativity on any level, since it was seen as a form of self, and therefore rebellion to the cause. Because of this, we have come to realize that a lot of our Khmer neighbors and friends have not been taught or encouraged to think outside of the box. When Thida popped over to visit with us while we painted, she noticed the bird cage on the ground, and inquired about our purchase. I explained that I was going to turn it into a light, but she did not understand. She continued explaining to me that "in Cambodia, when you buy this, people will think you are going to buy a bird," and "but in Cambodia this is for a bird." I finally gave up, and agreed that yes, a bird cage is indeed for a bird. It was fun to see her face light up once she saw it in its place. I am not sure if she fully approved, but she admitted to being slightly impressed. Oh, Thida! ;o)

BEFORE

Again, not bad, but not for us...

AFTER

Bradley built this GORGEOUS vanity!!! I love

everything about this little space, from the mirror

to the hamper. It's organized, functional, and pretty.

Another great story... When we first moved into our flat, in our "alleyway" leading to our staircase, Bradley spotted a discarded pallet. He asked our landlord if they had any plans to use the wood. She said they had no plans and giggled. Bradley then asked if he could use it himself. Both Srey Muht and her former husband, Mac seemed confused by this request, but were happy to oblige their new tenant with their trash. After Bradley finished his build, we invited them up to see what we had done with their space, and they were very impressed. Although originally, Srey Muht had asked that we not make any holes in the walls, after seeing this, she declared that we could do whatever we wanted with the flat. This was a proud-happy moment for us. Never again has our landlord laughed at our dragging "trash" up the stairs, but instead, she asks with excitement, "what are you making now?"

My 2 favorite items:

1) The little metal tray next to the sink that holds three

 glasses filled with cotton pads, q-tips, and cotton balls. I snuck

it in my luggage during the moving process, before Bradley

could see. I knew it would make us happy once we arrived.

2) My Volcano candle from Anthropologie. *sigh*

At the end of every day, our bedroom gently eases us into our nighttime routine. It provides a comfortable place to rest after a fulfilling day, and has been a refuge - a place where we can shut the world out- on those days when it seems too much to bear. Although I am looking forward to resting our heads in a new home soon, this room will always hold a special place in my memory. It is such a blessing to be able to create a place that enables us greater joy and rest. Here's to joyful resting, wherever you rest your weary head. Cheers!

Riepjam or The Engagement

The Khmer word for engagement or preparation is riepjam, pronounced "re-ep-jahm." Every culture has their own spin on the prenuptial experience, and after attending our Landlord's engagement ceremony, I would say the Khmer engagement is a cross between an American engagement party and a traditional Jewish betrothal, with a SouthEast Aisan flare of course.

A couple of months ago, our Landlord arrived home to announce that she had been successful in finding a husband in Austraila (husband hunting is an acceptable career here), and as her luck would have it, he happens to be Khmer too. She was adorable with her excitement in having found a man who would support her and who also has a desire for children. In sharing her good fortune, she requested our presence at their engagement ceremony early the next morning. We happily accepted, and went about the task of trying our best to guess how to dress for such an occasion. Since we have now attended two Khmer weddings, we felt fairly confident in our choice of apparel, even though we felt a little silly dressing up to walk down stairs... then we entered their home feeling a little under dressed...

Their living room had been transformed into a small

parlor/pagoda/something-unique-to-Cambodia with

our landlord and her fiancé's names for all to see.

The middle of the room was covered with gifts of fruit.

Since we had come empty-handed, I began to worry, but my fears were soon squelched as everyone hurried to find us a good seat and sneak pictures of the white people who live upstairs. Every one was wearing their best, and the ceremony began... I think.

The monk/ordinator gentleman read and chanted some stuff, and occasionally the ladies, who we believed to be the mothers and aunts of the couple, would verbally agree with whatever he was saying. The men appeared bored and uncomfortable, and the women were excited and/or outwardly acknowledged the importance of this moment... so pretty much the same as back home, minus the whole Cambodian chant part. ;o)

Every time the gentleman began a new part of the ceremony, we would look around to see if we were supposed to do something, but usually the men looked as lost and confused as we were, while the women were busy taking pictures or whispering... maybe our cultures are not as different as I had once thought...

Just when we were beginning to wonder if the couple would be included in their engagement ceremony, the lovely couple appeared... for a moment. Then they were gone again, and the gentleman resumed his speech.

Her fiancé has grown accustomed to his A/C in Australia,

and he was sweating more than Bradley and I were... poor guy.

Banana leaf folding 101

For this part of the ceremony, the leader guy (sorry I do not know what they are called) took a leaf and began to fold it as he told a story. It was hard not to chuckle as the ladies did their best to act like they knew what they were doing. Then they passed the leaf envelope around for each of us to hold... maybe signifying everyone's approval and acceptance of this union? 

Candle ceremony uniting the families.

Fingerprint ceremony... just in case... you never know...

Finally! The couple are asked to join their ceremony.

Is she not adorable!?

The couple accepting their commitment... I think...

This was fun to watch since he could not figure out

when or how to do anything... she was glad to help though.

After the ceremony concluded, lots of photos were taken, and they wanted us included in their memories. So we stood with the couple for a photo or two before being dismissed to go rest while they prepared lunch. We were unsure if we were supposed to stay dressy or dress down for lunch, so we opted for the first in case their were all garbed up still. When we arrived for lunch they were happy to share their fruit bounty and a lettuce wrap type of dish. We practiced our Khmer with their family and friends who were now all dressed in street clothes... oh well.

We felt blessed to be welcomed into Srey Muht's home, and on such a special occasion too.

This is a persimmon.

Bradley: "Take this picture for Aubrey."

Aubrey, if Carli reads this to you, you can know that you and your persimmon cobbler are thought of every time we see the monster persimmons here. RIP persimmon cobbler. No, seriously, do not ever resurrect that thing. Please.

If you have any funny, interesting or unique engagement stories or experiences, please share. Cheers!

Out with the New, and In with the Old

Yes, you read that correctly. In this first month of this new year, many around the world are working on throwing out bad habits, promoting healthy practices, and creating new goals. It is peculiar how when most people I know are chanting the mantra, "out with the old, in with the new," I am doing the opposite. As this new year gets under way, I am dumbstruck with the fact that we are officially in countdown mode for moving home.

How did this happen?
Where did the time go?
Why am I so conflicted about moving home?

So many emotions, thoughts, and questions continue running through my head, and sleep has not come as easily these past few weeks. Bradley and I have already had our family business meeting in preparation for the rest of our stay here, and it is surreal to calendar deadlines to sell our furniture, rent out our flat, and purchase our airline tickets. As I entered the numerous dates into our calendar, I was excited to have deadlines, as I work well under pressure, but I also struggled with this tug of sadness. This inner turmoil is so strange, although not foreign.

Foreign.

What does that even mean anymore? When I first came to Cambodia, foreign meant from a different country, but, for me, its meaning has evolved. Now, the idea of moving to America seems foreign. Even though I am anxious to return to the modern conveniences and comforts to which I am accustomed, this dusty, crowded country has become comfortable, and leaving is, well, strange.

Although we have done our best to be minimalistic in our purchases, we have accrued quite a bit of things during our year and a half. Soon, all of these "new" things will need to go. Some items will be sold, some shared with others, some tossed, as they have seen better days, and a few select possessions will make the trek home with us in 5 months. When we arrive home, I will have the lovely task of sorting through all of our belongings which are stored in 6 different locations - yeah, I am really jazzed about that. *eye roll* So, essentially we will be getting rid of new things so that we can in turn, go home to our old things. Our view on what we need has been drastically altered by our life in Cambodia. There are numerous things that will now be easy to part with, knowing that so many have so much less in this world. We are even considering moving into a tiny home when we return, since it may be the best solution for our new life situation.

Things are not the only new-to-old on our minds. We have made new friends here, both local and foreign. The thought of leaving the Chans breaks our hearts. Our brother and sister in Christ have been such a precious blessing to us in our work here. Leaving the Edwards will be sad, and knowing that, Lord willing, it is only for a short time, lessens the sting. Then I think of Karen, Nika, Sokcheat, Trina, Chris, Navi, Thida, Seyha, Senyn, and the list continues. All of these new friends have shared in my life in this Asian Kingdom, and it saddens me to contemplate leaving.

 So many firsts have occurred, and so many memories have been made...

first plane ride to Cambodia together...

first tuk tuk ride...

first communion...

first playtime before our first service...

first Sunday lunch...

first meeting with the landlord...

first contract signing...

first moto ride to our new home...

first Khmer-like load...

oh, and yes, I rode on the back of that... somehow...

first meal in our new home...

first game in their new home while mommy

and daddy take care of business...

first road trip...

first bible study in a new place...

first best friend in a new country...

As sorrowful as it is to imagine leaving our life and friends here, to think of returning home to my old friends lifts my spirit. All of the familiar faces, smiles, and hugs bring a smile to my own face. Vanny has made me sad several times, asking us to stay longer, but the thought of not being home with my family is too overwhelming. Aside from that, Bradley and I put our lives on hold for this work, and although we are the better for it, we are ready to move forward. We still have a hope for children; we have plans for a business; and we are excited to be a part of a work in our homeland.

We plan to stay situated in our flat until mid-April, as my brother, Byron will be visiting us the first week of that month. I have wondered what he will think about both our place and us. How much change has occurred since his last visit in January of 2015? So much has happened. At that time we were roughly 65% moved into our home, and I was enduring the homesick blues, something about which I had been warned by an experienced sister who had also done foreign work. Now, our home is very much lived in, and the homesick blues are long gone. I am proud of the home we have made together, and even though I often yearn to either turn down the heat or have A/C in the living space, I absolutely love being in my home. God has been so good to us here, as He has always been. I am enjoying each page of this final chapter in Cambodia, and am also thrilled to dive into the new chapter and whatever adventures it may hold. With the Lord's help, we are prepared to do whatever He needs, as we slowly welcome His shift in our focus to "out with the new, and in with the old."

Do you have any new year plans or goals?
Have you ever had the focus of "out with the new and in with the old?"

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.