We are home on native Canadian soil.  Our flight was uneventful, always a blessing.  Our flight from Phuket left at 12:20PM on April 13, after spending some valuable time with Rob and Judy.  We spent the 8 hours in Hong Kong airport walking around, buying the kids a book each, playing Settler`s of Catan on the floor, eating supper and trying to get some sleep.  While it eluded us in the airport, we did get some on the airplane, although not much for Jason and I.  The kids got a couple hours, which was just right for getting straight to bed by midnight when we arrived in Chilliwack, BC. 

We left Hong Kong on April 14 at 12:05AM and landed in Vancouver on Sunday, April 13, an hour early at 8:30PM.  We then proceeded through customs with no hassle and then waited and waited and waited some more at the baggage carousel.  All our bags were coming around near each other and then one was missing.  I think it was the last bag they must have found in some corner that was nearly missed.  Thankfully, it all came. 

Tim and Tracy picked us up at the airport and even stopped for a bite to eat on the way home.  While we were fed well on the plane, our stomachs just hadn`t made the time change and we were hungry again.  Krina woke at 3:00AM for the next few nights, hungry and wanting a snack.  It took her a while to begin to adapt to the time change, and consequently took me a bit longer, too.

After a couple nights at Tim and Tracy`s, we headed out to Calgary on Tues. morning.  There was a shimmy that we figured must be dirt in the tires so we stopped at Merrit, B.C. and finally found a tire shop that had time to get it all out.  Interestingly enough, Merritt had been in the news with a father who had a record and was let go but then killed his children and ran into the bush to hide.  He was still missing nearly 2 weeks later when we were there.  The next day he was found by a hunter who was given a tip and went into the bush with his gun, found the guy and called the RCMP.  The media asked him what kind of gun it was and he said (oh, this is my favorite), "The kind that goes bang," and got in his truck and drove away.

It was good to get to Calgary and visit with Jason`s sister and family.  The one night it all caught up to me and I was in bed by 7:00, got up to put the kids to bed at 8:00 and went to bed again and slept through the night.  Also got a great visit in with Uncle Stan and Aunt Joyce before heading home on Friday morning.

It was a good time to leave because Calgary got snow and Medicine Hat was forecasted to get 20 inches of snow.  However, we had a great sunny day to travel.  The nearer we got to home, the more excited Krina was.  Riley fell asleep the last hour or two but Krina was chattering and excited, looking for our fields and sites of home. 

We drove into Grandma and Grandpa`s (Mom and Dad J.) yard at 9:00PM and they must  have been watching for us because Dad was at the door and Mom was running to get there.  Happy tears and hugs all around.  Had to see the new look of the yard what with the old granary/shed and old house burned down.  (They were too worn and falling apart.)  Had a brief visit and then we went home.

What a welcome home!  There was a banner that read "Welcome home to "warm" Manitoba!!"  There was food on the table and in the fridge and freezer from our Bible study group and families.  How thoughtful for them to anticipate our needs and get some staples and even freeze a couple meals for us.  If that wasn`t enough, our families also had cleaned our house, washed our sheets and remade the beds and had aired out the house.  What a delight to come home to a clean house!

It was great to see Tracy and her family on Sat. for a birthday party/welcome home family and then the Dutson`s on Sunday for the same.  As we drove up the driveway, we hadn`t even stopped when my sister`s came tearing out with Mom just behind calling that she wanted to hug me first.  More happy tears and hugs!  (I had called Mom on Friday to tell her we were home and she answered on the second ring.  She must have flown out of her seat to get it that quickly.  However, now it was good to see each other and hug.)

It was great to be in church this Sunday and hear the testimonies of the youth who had been on a missions trip to Belize.  We could identify with so much they shared and were so excited to feel the buzz in the church.  The week before the group that went to Congo had reported as well and we get a turn on May 4.  So exciting to be in a church who focuses on missions.  I pray the church will be so full of praise and be a real light to the community and world.

It has been wonderful to be received so well and have friends and prayer warriors call us.  It is good to visit with friends, although busy as we try to do that, catch up at home, do a couple repairs, and start work on the farm.  We find it quite chilly, even cold, at 8 degrees Celsius.  At least the snow is gone and the lane is dry and the kids can ride their bikes.  Krina looks all grown up on her new bigger bike.

Overall, we have learned the importance of praise and worshiping God, trusting God with all things and seeking him for what we are to do, and that God`s kingdom is advanced by suffering for Christ`s name.  We have learned to obedient to what God calls us and to be more disciplined and less selfish as we intentionally love our children, spouses and those around us and daily spend time with God.  Krina became a Christian, Jason was baptized.  The children and Jason and I, alike, all expanded our world-view and concern for those around the world. 

So, Thailand will forever remain in our hearts and as my friend`s pastor says, we, like all missionaries who come back home are "ruined for the ordinary."  I have been asked if I would do it again and I promptly reply, "In a heartbeat."