Derailing in Kanchanburi

Saturday mornings Ron love to get up and bike...I am a little bored with our normal routes so I had him plan a ride in Kanchanaburi, about 2 hours north of our home in Thailand.  We left the house at about 6 AM with the bikes strapped on to our van.  I promptly laid back my seat, grabbed a pillow and a plush blanket that I brought and went back to sleep as our driver, Khun Nat made his way up the highway and to our starting spot.  

We started at the Chinese Thai cemetery.  Which of course I had to take photos of and walk around - I just love love cemeteries.  That will be for another blog...

Then we were off on our short...80K bike ride!

Ron had the map of the route on his phone and gave our driver his iPad with the route marked ad off we went.  It was overcast and a beautiful temperature to bike.  I love biking in out in the country side as you see so many wonderful scenes of Thai life.  Ron and I tried to capture a few..

Sadly our ride had to come to an end only 20K into our ride as I managed to derail my derailer!  I had been having troubles with shifting ever since one of biking accidents but this time I messed it up good.  I was just starting to climb a long hill and shifted down and the derailed broke right off.  No fixing that - not even McIver could pull that one off.  So we loaded the bikes back on the van and drove home, showered, got a sandwich and then went and did what everyone does here in Thailand when they have a few hours to spare...got a foot massage!

A Giving Christmas

This is our first Christmas since 1983 that we have no children in our home.  It is so very different and being so far from family just adds to the altered spirit of this Holiday season. 

Our family’s typical Christmas Eve tradition calls for a delicious meal with family and friends. Which is then followed by a talent show and the reenactment of the nativity. This year was quite different; Ron and I slept in then went for a bike ride, went shopping for our service project gifts, got a foot massages and had apples, cheese and crackers for dinner! We watched a movie while we put together our gifts to each other, 200 toothbrushes and boxes of toothpaste for a group of Thais that support our neighborhood.

On Christmas morning there was no pitter-patter of little feet to see if Santa had come during the night so we were able to sleep in yet again! I made Ron some banana pancakes for breakfast while I had Thai chicken basil leftovers!  Since I was missing my family my brother, Gene, Face timed me into the extended family Christmas Eve program back in Washington.  I was able to see the talent show and the nativity pageant with the nieces and nephews.  The sad part was that I had to watch them eat the yummy cream puff desert!  After I dried my “I am missing my family” tears we boxed up our 200 gifts to deliver to our Thai families.

 Our friends the Nelson's collected toys and clothes for the same group. We met with the Nelson family Rich, Diana, Lauren, Maddy and Jenna to help sort through the toys and clothes on Christmas afternoon.

Then we loaded up their car with the goods and went to play Santa’s helpers for Christmas day.  It was a most wonderful way to spend Christmas.  If you can’t be with family then go out and serve others and all will feel the Christmas spirit.

Christmas night we stayed up until midnight waiting for our call from our missionary son, Elder John Gailey, in New York.  That call just made Christmas day complete!  I was able to talk to each of my children and grandchildren at the same time.  I finally went to bed rejoicing...

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Mt. Kinabalu - Borneo

When I get a bee in my bonnet the only thing to do is get it out...I had decided long ago that I wanted to climb/hike a mountain in Asia - Everst was out of the question so I choose the highest one in Boreno, Malaysia - Mt. Kinabalu. 13,435 feet above sea level.

I had hiked trails all over Hong Kong so I thought no problem we got this covered. Little did I know what was in store for Ron and I on our climbing adventure. 

We stayed the first night in a lodge to help us adjust to the higher altitude,at about 5000 ft. In the morning we started our climb at about 6000 ft - hiked for 6 hours and reached our dorm room for the night at about 11,000 ft - the trail was only 6K long - but it was straight UP the mountain and for more then 1/2 of the time the rain was pouring down and it was like climbing up a waterfall- of course the rain water takes the least resistant path which was the TRAIL! My knee, the surgery one, would not allow me to reach the peak - you scale the granite side of the mountain - which is another 2,500 ft. 

During the last kilometer of the climb I had to mentally go inside myself and kept repeating one of my mantras... 

"I can do HARD things...I can do HARD things."  At one point on the trail..AKA the "waterfall" I just wanted to sit down and cry.  I had to keep going and pushing forward even though every fiber of my being wanted to QUIT!   

I learned some valuable lessons on my climb, some that are sacred to me.  I have done some pretty amazing things and some very hard things - but climbing this mountain was both physically and mentally one of the most challenging thing I have done in a long time.

I didn't QUIT - I kept climbing and I am okay with what we accomplished, albeit sore muscles and weary bones! 

I ROCK being a 54 year old NANA!

B is for BIKING

Almost every Saturday Ron and I go for an early morning bike ride.  We leave our housing development Nichada, which is  40 minutes north of Bangkok, and ride about 4.5 Kilometers to the river. 

We then board a "ferry" and I use that term loosely for that is what the Thai's call it.  I call it a very small boat. 

We jump on as it comes to the small dock on the Chao Phraya river and haul our bikes on to the front of the "ferry".  When we get to the other side of the river we jump off with our bikes in our hands and peddle away for our biking adventure.  

Ron and I love to take pictures of local Thais and then we give them a copy of the photo - it is to say think you for letting us be part of their lives. 


The Thai people are gracious and help us when ever we a lost or are in need of help. 

We may speak a different language but kindness is spoken in all languages and that is what makes this world a place worth exploring.

Missionary Blog - Elder Gailey

Since I am living overseas and so many people want to follow John Gailey on his missionary experiences I have started a blog for any who want info on my Elder!

Here is the Blog if you want to check it out!

elderjbgailey.blogspot.com

Relationships Matter

As a nana who lives far far away when I do get the opportunity to roll into town - I promptly roll right back out.  Except this time I am rolling with grandson, Austin to go visit my other grandson, Kellan in Madison, Wisconsin!

In doing trips like these I hope to foster and build lasting family relationships  Over the last few years I have learned that it is relationships that matter most in this life.

Your relationship with God and Christ
Your relationship with your spouse
Your relationship with your children, their spouses and your grandchildren
Your relationship with your parents and siblings
your relationship with those in your life that bring you love, support, understanding and who have your back when times are tough!

So I embark on this adventure to help foster love between two grandsons - may you too work hard at developing those relationships that are meaningful in your life!

Tough Mudder or Tough Mother

My goal to celebrate 14 years of being cancer free was to participate in a Tough Mudder Challenge!

  What is a Tough Mudder....

IT IS HARD!!

Before the challenge we all take the Mudder Pledge...

• I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
• I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
• I do not whine - kids whine.
• I help my fellow Mudders complete the course.
• I overcome all fears.

My son-in-law, Scott, asked if I wanted to join his team...the three young guys wore pink t-shirts to honor me as a breast cancer survivor of 14 years.  The made an awesome team.  

Thanks Scott, Alex and Mike!

Here we are before and after...

I am one

 TOUGH MUDDER or am I one 

TOUGH MOTHER!!

BOTH!!