September to December

Hello! Yeah, you're probably thinking I'm either dead or I've forgotten about this blog. Neither, may I assure you, are true. I've honestly just been way too busy to even start thinking about posting. Simply because posting takes at least 2 hours...haha. 

But now that I have two hours, let me fill you in on some of the highlights since September!

Last post, I mentioned class president, chapel bands, and soccer tryouts. 

Being President has been really fun. I am currently in the process of planning a New Year's Party for 9th grade, and coming up with crazy fundraiser ideas. It's been fun, and I have a great 9th grade staff, which consists of a vice president, a secretary, and three representatives.

Chapel Bands have been awesome. There are three bands that rotate each week, and my brother is the leader of one of them. WE have played 4 times, all of which have been really fun, and both Evan and I will be playing as a part of many students who are putting on an all-worship Christmas Chapel next week after finals. 

Soccer, now over, was a blast. Yes, I made the team! Basically the way it worked was that we had 5 teams. That sounds very confusing, so let me explain. Everyone on the team was on the varsity team, which, in total, was about 26 people. All girls who were under 16 were also on JV, which was the second team. 

Then, we had the travel team, which were the top 12 players, which I was also a part of. That travel team had the opportunity to play in a 7-side tournament in Phuket right after fall break. We placed 2nd in the tournament. 

The last two teams were basically just for the Varsity tournament. We were required to create two teams out of our one big team, so we had the A team and B team, which were called "Grace Blue" and "Grace Yellow." I was on the A team, "Grace Blue." We won our local CMAC tournament, which is all of the international schools in the Chiang Mai area. The B team placed 3rd. Also, our JV team won our tournament as well. The JV boys placed 3rd, and the Varsity boys won their tourney. Overall, it was a successful season for Grace! 

Majority of the whole Varsity Team

The Travel Team in Phuket

Chilling in the airport

Resting after one of our games in Phuket

The motorcycles at the market by the beach in Phuket

We had to get up pretty early for games, so I was super tired during the mornings. 

Speaking of soccer, here is a picture that we took as a family in 2008. 

Aaannnddd, here is the same shot last week! :) Check out the height differences!

So! Some other things.....we finished decorating our house!

This is our family room

This is our entryway

This is one side of my room

This is my bed ;) With balcony on the right side

 So! Over fall break we got to go to Hume Lake Camp, which is an actually camp in California, but every other year they bring a camp here for the missionary kids. It was really fun!

Riding up to camp with some Korean friends :)

We also went to the houseboats, which is basically a floating resort.

Having fun on the drive

The famous head at the ice cream place, "iBerry"

Hanging out with Dad at iBerry

Oh yeah, and then there was Pride Week! My two favorite days were Disney day and Little Kid day. I even won a "best costume" award for Little Kid day. 

Disney day! (ahhhhh)

Evan and I on Little Kid day

Evan and I with our Thai teacher on superhero day

One of my favorite things about living here is being able to drive a motorcycle. Technically, now that I'm fifteen, I'm legally old enough to get a licence, but my parts are kind of skeptical.....however, I do get the opportunity to drive a lot. My dad and I went with some friends on a mountain trip a few weeks back, and it was REALLY fun!

This is me and my friend, who is half Thai and half Scottish

Then....I turned 15!!! Our friend Megan came from America for two weeks, and was here to celebrate with me. She brought presents from America, which were wonderful. To anyone who contributed to that -- THANK YOU SO MUCH! It was such a blessing to hear from everyone! :)

My dad bought me 15 roses, which were absolutely beautiful!

Yes, and then the day after my birthday was the dance! I got to go with 7 other friends. The dance was a formal masquerade. It was a blast!!!

 * The dance pictures are not my pictures

I love my brother! (And yes, for those of you who sent it, Evan is wearing my Cookie Monster hat, which is my idol)

Oh yeah...one other thing. I was cast as the Wicked Witch of the West in our school's production of  The Wizard of Oz. Here I am practicing my evil look!! :)

This is me, my mom, Megan, and Lindsay, all College Parkers. Lindsay lives here with her husband, and as I said before, Megan was visiting for 2 weeks. My family, Lindsay and her husband, and Megan were all visiting a Lahu village last Sunday.

Since we have a snack bar at school, ice cream is something I like to have pretty much every day after lunch.
We get a 35 minute lunch break, which is VERY nice, since the only other breaks we get during the day is a 10 minute break between 3rd and 4th period. 

So yes, finals are next week, starting on Tuesday. I'm pretty nervous, but I know God has it all in control. And everyone says they aren't as bad as they sound. After finals, we get 2 1/2 weeks of Christmas break. Our family is going with another family to the beach for a week, then will be back in time to have Christmas at home. After that, I will be spending a lot of time preparing for the New Year's Party, which will actually be on the 2nd of January. Haha.

Now.....here are my most recent artistic pictures!

Believe it or not, this is an actual picture I took with the "star" setting. So COOL! B)

This picture is actually the real life replica of a still life I drew in art class. 

Well! That was a breakneck speed recap since September!

Lastly, I would like to encourage you with verse we have been talking about in my World Geography Class, which is 1 Peter 3:15.
It says: "But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

This verse really reminds me that I am an ambassador for Christ, and that wherever I go, I need to be ready and willing to share Christ, but in a Christlike way, not forcing it down people's throats.

All that being said, I hope that we can, as Christians, remember that.

Before I sign out for today, I would just ask that you keep us in your prayers. For me, pray that I would continually be drawn to close to Christ, and that HE would be my One Love. That I would not be afraid to stand up for what's right, even when it's hard, and that even when I feel like everyone in the whole world has deserted me, that I would cling to Christ as my strength.

For my dad, that as he ministers to teens here, that he would be a shining light, and that God would use him to impact many students here.

For my mom, as she is homeschooling Kendall, that she would be a great mom, and that she wouldn't ever get too stressed out by everything she is doing. She is also the director of music for The Wizard of Oz.

For Evan, that he would continue to stand out for Christ, passionately sharing his love for Christ with everyone. That he would be a great brother to Kendall and I, and that as he is nearing the final stretch of highschool, that he would not regret his last few months at home, and that he would stay on fire through the rest of highschool, into college, and for the rest of his life. Evan is playing the Cowardly Lion in the musical.

And for Kendall, that as he is being homeschooled, that he would really cherish his time with my mom. Also that as he is approaching his teenage years, that he would continue to be rooted in the truth of Christ, and that as many around him will walk away from Christ, that he would stand firm. Kendall is a munchkin in the musical.

Overall, our family is doing very, very well here. However, without the help of the Spirit, anything could go wrong. I want to thank all you who are support our family, whether it be financial support or prayer support. WE are very thankful for all of our friends back home, and cannot wait to come back in the summer to tell you of all God has done here.

Stand firm, therefore.

~Kristen