A Mantra to DREAM By

Each New Years Day I formulate a my own personal mantra for the year. It needs to be something that will help me to stretch, grow and become a better daughter,wife,mother and friend.  This year is special, it is a Leap Year and it an even year, so I need to make my mantra very personal and uniquely exceptional!  The pressure is on...

One of the things that I have noticed the last few years is that I have stopped dreaming of the future.  I am not sure when this actually started, if I had to guess it would have probably been in 2000 when I was diagnosed with cancer. I started living each day to its fullest potential.

Learning new things like:

• Learning to Scuba diving,
• Learning to use my Kayaks
• Learning to shoot my compound bow.

New self discoveries have been made like;

• Learning that I am stronger then I realized when I was asked to leave my home, family and friends to live in Asia;  
• Learning that I have the physical endurance to complete my first 1/2 marathon at the age of 50; 
• Learning that friendships come and go, relationships need work and connections, past, present and future are vital to ones happiness.

Bad habits have been lost, good habits have been realized like:

• Learning to stop comparing myself to others - I am lady of quality in my own right.
• Learning to stop fighting age - it is going to happen and I am as young as I feel.
• Learning to stop being afraid of change - embracing each new event in my life as an opportunity for growth.

THe last years have beens ones filled with adventure, opportunity, challenges and progression.  I just haven't let myself dream.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."  I want to dream with the future in mind. 

Henry David Thoreau said, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life that you have imagined".

"All of our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."  Walt Disney

I NEED TO DREAM

My 2012 Mantra is...

The key to my personal happiness is found in dreaming, the key to my personal success is in working and making my dreams come true.

Dreaming of a Brighter Day

That's a LITTLE Fishy

One of the things that John really enjoys doing is fishing.  The last few summers I have been the one to take John to the lakes, streams and rivers to "catch the BIG one".  As a mom I am not the best fisherman, fisherwoman or fisherperson..but I get marks for trying to help John get chances to get his pole wet.

Here in Thailand John has wanted to go fishing and Ron was finally able to find sometime to go - it just so happened that David was still here so all of my BOYS had a day of fishing.

I will just let the pictures tell the story

because it is a Little Fishy to me!

What is in a Good Bye

In the past couple of years I have come to realize that there is nothing "GOOD" about "GOOD-BYES".  It seems that I have been saying good-bye to many things, places and people the last few years.  In fact I force myself to not let the word "goodbye" slip from my lips, see around or see you later is more my style.

Why do I detest the word "GOOD-BYE" so much, JM Barrie in Peter Pan explains it beautifully..."Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting"... 

Living here in Asia has been and is a amazing opportunity for adventure, for travel and for personal growth.  Yet, it has its difficult side for me...family, friends and loved ones seem so far away.  Not just the physical distance, but also there is a distance emotionally and mentally as well.  I don't want to forget and no one wants to be forgotten...but life happens and if you are not connecting on a daily basis or even weekly that distance widens and the "forgetting" finds its way into the relationship.  So, this December, as my children left one by one I never told them "goodbye" - I hugged and kissed them and said "I would see them later" .  The hardest was to tell that to Austin, so I didn't just hugged and kissed him.  I was reminded of an old proverb that says, A kiss without a hug is like a flower without the fragrance"! 

Austin was "smelling" pretty good as he boarded his plane to back home to Seattle.  He is like my personal bouquet! 

The Babies

John loves animals and once when I was out of town, I came home and John had talked Ron into buying a pair of sugar gliders. We have now had Jackson and Amelia for about 18 months now.  I have to admit they are kind of cute - with their big eyes and their individual personalities!

THE BABIES

John is my Baby

Austin my grand-baby

 and Jackson the sugar glider baby!

A Very Thailand Christmas

Christmas Morning in Thailand...

Johnny and Mommy

Austin and Nana

The Best GIFT ever...MY FAMILY

For christmas this year I asked for a short note about the Thailand experience... here is what they wrote

AUDREY...

I usually feel eager to go home and get back into my regular routine at the end of a long vacation.  After a month in Thailand, though, I wasn’t ready to go home and could have easily spent a few more weeks there.  I loved being able to spend time as a family in a relaxed and unobligated environment.  It was so wonderful for everyone to be together without any other responsibilities.  I loved waking up each day knowing that my only focus for the day was having fun with my family.  That, to me, is a perfect vacation no matter where you are.  I loved watching Austin interact with his Nana, Papa, Aunts and Uncles.  It made me so happy to see how loved he is by his family.  I know he’ll go through life continually supported and uplifted.  I’m so grateful that he has so many good examples around him.  I look forward to more family vacations in the future, and I hope each one has the same feeling that this one had.

Love, Audrey

TOREN...

I really enjoyed our time together in Thailand.  It brought back fond memories of my time in Southeast Asia having served my mission in the Philippines.  As with any trip my enduring memories all have to do with family.  My greatest take away from our vacation was the opportunity to spend time with everyone and get to know each other even better than before.  This is fun in its own right but getting to share these experiences in one of the World’s most beautiful countries was a real bonus.  I also relished the opportunity to spread a little Marco Polo cheer.  Too bad we didn’t get to play a couple of more times.  Thanks Mom and Dad for making this trip possible.  I love you both and thank you for your examples of love and faith.

Love, Toren

AUSTIN...

I loved being in Thailand!  I wish I could go back right now.  My favorite part was being spoiled by my Nana.  I loved the endless treats, tickles, and smooches.  I love that my Nana has enough energy to keep up with me.  I loved swimming in the pool, riding in the golf cart, and taking long bike rides.  My favorite part, of course, was all the cool animals I got to see: monkeys, giraffes, geckos,  sharks and a whole lot more.  I can’t wait to go back!!  Thanks Nana and Papa!

Love, Austin

Laura:

Spending the Christmas break with the family was the best way I could end my time in Thailand. I had been in Thailand since August and completing my internship and I couldn't think of a better way to end the semester. I loved spending two weeks with family both on Koh Tao and at the house.  Having the house filled with my loud and crazy siblings was the best. But the best part of the trip was Scott asking me to marry him. Second best was him coming off the plane early.  Spending time with him and the family was the best Christmas present   could ask for. This Christmas was the best I have ever had.

Scott:

This Christmas was memorable to me for so many reasons. I was able to visit a country I had never been to before and try some new thingsI've always wanted to. There are to many things I enjoyed to really pick a favorite but I loved the scuba diving, riding the scooters, eating out together everyday, going to the markets, hanging out by the pool, and learning to play the Angklung. Most of all though the highlight of the trip was getting engaged to Laura. She is everything I've ever wanted and imagined when I would dream about my future wife and family. Coupled with our engagement I really enjoyed spending time with the rest of the family and getting to know everyone better. I felt instantly loved and welcomed and that made the decision to marry Laura so much easier. Thank you for a great and unforgettable Christmas. I look forward to many many more!

Mandy and David plus grandson #2

Ever since David and I got married, I found it remarkable how easy it is to call you and the rest of the family, “family.” I cherish all of my memories with the Gailey clan and couldn’t be happier. Being in Thailand for Christmas was perfect. It was stress free and the focus was just having fun with the family. I loved getting to know everyone better and to have opportunities to become closer as a family was great as well. I would have to say while I loved the family time, my favorite part was going to Chiang Mai with David and spending the day with elephants. That has ALWAYS been a dream of mine and it is something that I will never forget. I have loved being able to visit Thailand and explore new places, but it has been even better to be able to do it with a family whom I love so much! Thank you for one of the best Christmas’s ever!!

Love you!  Mandy and Grandson #2

This Christmas was filled with amazing moments from the beginning to the end.  However, one of those stood out more than the rest. My very favorite experience from this trip to Thailand was all the fun we had playing in the pool at Koh Tao. From splashing around with Austin to endless relaxation, Ultimate Marco Polo to The Game of Skill, this wasn’t he absolute best memory from our time together. There is just something about having carefree fun with the whole family in the water that brings a smile to my face. I loved it because it was just simple, honest, good-time-having fun. I think that those kinds of times with the family are my absolute favorite. Yes, there may have been a few raindrops. Yes, there may have been some silly rules to Ultimate Marco Polo. Yes, there may have some minimal sunburns acquired. But I must say that this was still that happiest I was the whole trip. I love our family. And I love being together and playing with our family. Thank you so much for you and Dad making that possible. I love that we all get along and enjoy being with each other. I can’t wait for the chance we have to get together again for some more awesome pool-time festivities.

Love, David

Sun, Sand and Surf

We are a scuba diving family, if you marry into this family not being able to scuba dive might be a deal breaker, it is a good thing that Laura's "special friend" Scott knew how to dive.  Our family dive trip this year found us on the beautiful island, Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand.  We had to take a little "puddle jumper" flight to the island of Samui and then it was a long 2 hour boat ride to Koh Tao. 

We have a family of TEN - and so we took up most of the plane, the transfer train!

My baby John (16) waiting with me as we get ready to board the boat.  The weather was fine at the pier - the boat ride was another matter.  Rain, wind and swells of about 15 feet.  We were all glad when that ride was over.  Koh Tao is a small island that primarily caters to divers and so we were excited to start our adventure.  Our hotel room and view from our deck.

Austin was a local attraction...the Thai could not keep from talking to him, holding him and just laughing at him.  Which is what I do most of the time.

When we are not diving we are eating, hang out or playing games.  That is how the Gailey Gang spends time together!

Little Bits of this and that (L2R) Laura, Austin and Audrey - Austin and David - Beach - Scott and Laura (ENGAGED on Koh Tao!) - Mandy with the Crape Man - Toren and Austin - David and his sweet island ride - Austin (could you loose the flower it doesn't look good with you BYU shirt) - Audrey and Toren.

Going riding with John

Diving the Koh Tao way

After diving a Thai massage is in order... 

The Gailey Gang

Koh Tao

Thailand 

December 24, 2011

Engaged

Laura's Christmas Present came early this year.  Scott asked her to marry him while we were visiting Koh Tao - and by the look on her face you can tell she said YES!

Laura and Scott Sorensen will be married in August 2012