A Year Ago Today

This week marks one year since we returned to Thailand after our COVID exile. And today is one year since we were let out of our quarantine room for 45 minutes to go out on the rooftop garden. So here are some of our quarantine photos from a year ago.

Breakfast that day was the American Breakfast. This thing they call an American Breakfast is something I've only ever had in Thailand. Before that, I never thought to eat hot dogs in the morning.

American Breakfast

After breakfast, we were escorted to the roof for 45 minutes in the fresh air.

Doing Laps in the Rooftop Garden

Rooftop Garden

Bangkok Views

For lunch that day we had Pad Thai. Something we have not had much since then since we have not found a place in our town that sells it. Along with that was a tapioca dessert shaped like flowers.

Pad Thai with Shrimp

Tapioca Gelatin Desserts

Then in the evening we had massaman curry.

Massaman Curry

After being cooped up for a couple of weeks, I am much more appreciative of how nice it is to be able to get out and around. And we are glad to be living in a rural area where it is pleasant to bicycle through the fields and forests. Often when I'm out pedaling among the paddies I praise God that I get to live in such a beautiful locale. So, by contrast, here are some scenes from this past week.

Pink Water Lilies

Canoe in the Pao River in Kamalasai

Newly Planted Rice Paddies

Pedaling the Field Roads

Palak Paneer at an Indian Restaurant in Kalasin

While the environment we find ourselves in now is much different than it was a year ago, the two are similar in that God is present in both situations. Whether we're stuck in a building in the big city or surrounded by the hope represented in the greening rice paddies, God is close by and ready to visit with us.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Psalm 73:28 (NLT)