New Look for '09 and Grandparent Glory

We've had a hard time keeping up with all the happenings around here lately, so before I get into the most current, most exciting news, I'm going to make you wait and start with some older news to catch you up. : ) (I guess you could always read bottom up, but that'd be cheating!)

On New Year's Day, Kai finally received his very first haircut!

This is how long his curly locks were before the cut...

This was right before the shearing.

Here we have the freshly-shorn boy (who cooperated for the most part, held by Daddy and distracted by Juliana's Cinderella movie) and the stylist. He looks very different!

Okay, so the big news around here is that we have visitors of the personal, familial variety! Mom and Dad Freed arrived at the airport around 11:30 pm Friday (our time) after traveling over 28 hours to get here. They reported uneventful flights, and so far, jet lag has not seemed to bother them too much. We're so grateful to be able to spend lots of time together, and are planning to travel on Friday to Siem Reap, home of the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat, for a week of vacation.

"Maw-maw" and "Paw-paw" and grandchildren at an outdoor restaurant (Kai seems to be wondering where he can get a cool hat like Maw-maw's/Juliana's)

Paw-paw and Kai getting (re)aquainted. So far Kai is really enjoying his grandparents, which is a blessing and noteworthy, since he surely doesn't remember them from 9 months ago.

We were also very blessed, overwhelmed and thankful for the two, full suitcases of gifts, etc. that came along with them. We feel extremely loved and cared for! Thanks a million to all who contributed to the stash of goodies - we love you, too!

Checking out the gifts after Christmas came again

A special treat for all of us are/were Nana Umble's banana muffins, per Juliana's request. They made it fine all the way to Cambodia - mmmmmmm! (So did the sweet potato bread, Auntie Joanne!)

- Bethany

Christmas, etc.

Well, as I’m sure is the case for many families in the U.S., much has happened in the life of our family over the past several weeks.

One thing we did this year to make Christmas special here in Cambodia was singing some Christmas carols by candlelight after our suppers during the last two weeks before Christmas. Juliana now recognizes more carols than her two favorites: “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger.”

Following are some snapshots of Christmas day and the days following...

We enjoyed receiving many Christmas cards from Church family and friends. We also had fun opening thoughtful gifts from our MST on Christmas day...


Juliana quickly leafs through one of her gifts: a Cinderella Storybook.

Here Kai poses with a puzzle he has thoroughly enjoyed chewing on.

Sandwiched in-between Christmas and the New Year, we enjoyed a few days at the beach. While many in the U.S. were experiencing cold weather, we traveled four hours to enjoy the water and the sun.

Juliana eats a snack on our rice-mat.

Bethany and Kai enjoy the warm waters. Kai loved his first ocean experience!

Our Christmas vacation time was very relaxing and refreshing. It felt like it did for us what a vacation is supposed to do. Life is busy and challenging, but we enter this new year excited to learn, grow, and be a blessing... -Ryan