My Schedule; God's Plan

Last week was our first week of school. After a season of birthdays, I was ready to settled down into a routine and get some formal learning done. I had planned that the first week would be uninterrupted - no play dates, no extra shopping trips, five "full" days of school. Then on Sunday, I met a single mother of two from Ukraine who has been traveling around Asia for the last year and a half. Everyone at church thought that her little boy was a second Simeon, and her daughter fit in right between Hollis and Meriel.

As our kids played together, she asked about things to do in Bangkok. She had another week before her flight to Kiev. I mentioned the Children's Museum and Jatujak Park. Thinking ahead of my full week of school, at first I wasn't going to offer to meet her. Then I thought, What is more important: getting in as much schooling as I can and getting on a good schedule or loving people? Besides, I don't often get a chance to spend time with other mothers, and all of us would enjoy some time together. So we agreed to meet at the park on Wednesday, and indeed it was a blessed, enjoyable time. Our kids played, we encouraged one another, we prayed together. I had a chance to get to know a sweet sister in the Lord.

Another friend had been planning on meeting us at the Children's Museum for Simeon's birthday the week before, but he had been sick. Since he was so disappointed and we hadn't gotten together in a few weeks, I invited his family over on Friday. Once again, I realized that the opportunity for growing friendships was a higher priority. We are in Thailand to show Christ's love, and we can't do that very well if we don't take opportunities do spend time with people. We did some science projects, including erupting soda geysers and chocolate quicksand with baking soda with vinegar reactions (also know as erupting chocolate oobleck), so we kind of "did school."


This same friend turned seven years old on Wednesday this week and invited us to celebrate with him. We had a great time exploring a garden, trying some Thai coconut milk cake, and rollerblading. It was also a chance to practice our Thai. Suksan Wan Geun! (Happy Birthday!)

Today, we went to a City Gardening Fair with some other Thai homeschooling families. Next week, we have to do our 90-day report at immigration. Then another friend we met a couple month ago and haven't seen since will meet us for a play-date. I remember how much I prayed for friends and for people to help us learn Thai. This may not be exactly what I had in mind, but God is providing and allowing us to be His light here. What better lesson to teach my children than to be ready to follow God's plan and take opportunities to show His love, even when to do so interrupts "our" schedule.