Thailand!

It took us 24 hours to get from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.  Our plan was to get to Thailand in time for Thanksgiving and Lou Krathong, the lunar new year.  We thought the bus would arrive around 3, but we should have expected longer and around 6pm we started to get very anxious because off in the distance we could see lots of small lights rising into the sky.  So when we finally arrived at the bus station we jumped off the bus and ran towards a taxi, we had no idea where the family's house was, so we just said "Koolpuntville 8" and thankfully, they responded with a nod.  We hopped in and headed "home".  We drove through the streets of the neighborhood looking for the house number 99/88.  We passed a playground and then all the sudden I hear Tad yell, "There's Mom!" Before the taxi had even come to a stop we jumped out of the car, ran towards Kathy and gave her a big hug.

She was shocked, we told them we would arrive on December 1st, and just one hour before we arrived she was sitting on her deck looking at the lanterns and fireworks wishing we would be there to enjoy it with her. So after hugs and stories we went downtown to enjoy the festival.

We have been so thankful to be with family again and relax into a more stable lifestyle.  We have been cooking a lot, and even got to make a big Thanksgiving dinner! And we have been going to markets, working out, reading books, put our backpacks away and decorated our room.

Our two good friends, Tim and Mandie, visit in less than a week and we will be sure to have lots of adventure stories with them.  But for now we have been really soaking up the time at home.