Blogging at naptime.

As the calendar officially changes to December and sounds of Amy Grant singing "O Come Let Us Adore Him" come from Emily's computer behind me, I am creating an iPod Christmas music play list (complete with a little classic FigTree21 - myspace.com/figtree21 - check it), and beginning to form a running list in my head of all the many things I look forward to this Christmas. I always love this time of the year, but it seems especially wonderful after being away from home now for 7 months :) These are a few of my favorite things about going home for Christmas: -The song of the same title takes on new significance (even after singing it over 11 times in a row...) -I get to see the people I love!!! :) -Repeated viewings of the movie Elf. "What's a Christmas-gram!? I want one!" -Cookies! Banana Bread. Pumpkin Pie. -Egg Nog Lattes -Christmas Music -Charlie Brown holiday specials on TV -Christmas Day parades -Getting to hold my husband’s hand in public without feelin

It is Thanksgiving Day here in Cambodia, which for the American staff equates to exorbitant amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry, homemade rolls (by Christal) and amazing apple and brownie desserts (created by Emily). For our Cambodian staff the holiday equates to all of the above, overshadowed only by the addition of pizza. Just like the pilgrims first ate at Plymouth Rock. Our day began like a normal day for us in Phnom Penh. We got ready, stepped out of our house, greeted our turkeys (who apparently did not meet their fate on this day of thankfulness), and went into the office for a few hours. The day became decidedly more “festive” promptly at noon when we followed the smell of pizza and turkey (a beautiful combination) and ate some snacks before filling up our plates (the first of multiple times) with ridiculous amounts of good (and I like to think entirely good-for-you) food. I love Thanksgiving. I'm there..if you look for me. As the eating sl

While I tend to equate the word routine with something that people fall into, grow tired of, or attempt to avoid, I have found it to be quite comforting during our time in Phnom Penh as we are now post-teams and pre-Christmas vacation. We wake up at the same time each morning, which for me has been 6:15, though we don’t have to be in the office until 8. I don’t know what Cambodia has done to me. We have lunch at (nearly) the same time every day. I have an hour to read in the afternoons out on our balcony with the sweet sounds of birds chirping and plastic bottles crunching at the recycling factory that resides next door. I have an afternoon snack of either fruit with peanut butter (it balances out…or cancels each other out..either way..) or leftover Fullkorn crackers from the Norway team (cardboard has never tasted so good). We exercise before dinner as Emily swims laps, Josh runs to nearby cultural museums, and I fulfill my dreams of becoming a backup dancer/martial arts expert courte

Some helpful Cambodia Travel Tips courtesy of the bathroom wall at Angkor Wat: No smoking. No standing on the toilet. No chopping your feet off. No showering.

Here are 3 of the approximately 8,762 things I am most looking forward to in going home for Christmas a mere 20 days from now!! :) (Briell will be there in spirit)

I am currently sitting at T & Coffee World, otherwise known as the “Starbucks of Cambodia” (according to the internet). I recommend ordering either the iced coffee or mixed fruit smoothie. I also recommend choosing the more comfortable chairs on the left side of the café. Josh recommends not ordering the $1.50 bottle of water that you could get for $.30 downstairs at Lucky Market. This little world of comfortable furniture and expensive water has become our office away from home as we reflect back on the past three week stretch that marked our last two teams of the year. The first of these was a medical team from Norway (and a nurse from the Philippines) who came to serve the community within the province of Svey Reang. They worked tirelessly and selflessly over 5 days and were able to treat over 1,000 people. These were people who may otherwise have no access to any sort of health care. They were able to be treated physically as well as have a chance to hear the gospel and get a