2008 in a (somewhat large) nutshell...

As always I'm comin' in a little late with the recap of the past year, but here goes anyway.

It seems like just yesterday J and I were kicking off 2008 by spending New Years in Bangkok. We were halfway through our year in Thailand and were able to get out of town for a few days. We were really blessed to get a great deal on a really nice hotel, so after eating at Hard Rock Bangkok we headed back through busy BKK to spend the evening just the two of us and watch the Thais countdown on TV. It was lovely and wonderful and definitely my most memorable New Years Eve ever.

In January we started training for our first run ever - a half marathon. Our training was tough because we doubled the training schedule, but it was well worth it!

March was a very eventful month. First, we encountered lots of dirt and lots of fun! We went with our students on a Thai summer project. In 6 days we visited 5 different villages to share Christ with the people who lived there. It took us about 9 hours riding on a dirt road in a song tau (a truck with benches in the bed and a cover over the top) to arrive at our first village. This is what 9 hours in a song tau on a dirt road looks like:

J and I trying to maintain breathing status

This was our luggage which rode in the floor of the truck between the two benches


This is my sister and I on said roadtrip when we ran out of gas and had to wait on the side of the dirt road for and hour and a half while a guy on a motorbike went to go get us some.

Next, the McCoy family came to visit us in Thailand! It was SO good to finally see family after so many months of being away from home.

The McCoy men in the back of our truck (J's dad, J, J's brother)

And to round out March '08, J and I were able to visit Malaysia and Singapore.

J in front of his favorite Malaysian landmark - the Petronas Towers


Getting ready to climb the steps to the Batu Caves in Malaysia

Our favorite spot in Singapore - the Merlion (half mermaid/half lion), a statue that sprays water into the bay.

April began with Thai staff conference. All the Campus Crusade for Christ staff gather together for a national conference.

P'Dew (one of my very best Thai friends) and I at Thai Staff Conference

Next up - May. During May we went on a tsunami relief trip to an island off the coast of South Thailand. It was a great experience that I will never forget.

Me with two of our students (Mint and Lah) after a long day of work.

We spent June wrapping up our time in Thailand - saying goodbye to friends, finishing up on campus, running our half marathon and packing! packing! packing! We moved three times in three weeks!

Last dinner out with P'Dew.

Finishing the race at 2:09:20. Hope to beat that next time, but at least we finished!

Dogsat Mocha and Lilee and solidified our decision to get Olive asap!

July began with a debriefing in Vietnam and then our 2nd anniversary celebration in Tokyo! We were finally headed home!

Kayaking in Halong Bay, Vietnam


Celebrating the 2 most amazing years of my life!



This was the craziest shopping mall I've ever seen!

Last day in Tokyo before heading back to the States!

July 5th - at the airport, our first moments back on American soil. Happy to be home!

In the three weeks after we got home we moved into our apartment, my mom got married to her high school sweetheart whom she hadn't seen in over 30 years, Jon started back to his job, I started keeping little Henry and we brought home sweet baby Olive! Whew! What a busy month!

Cute little baby Henry

Olive's first week as a McCoy - She didn't know quite what to think of us yet:)

With the start of August life became much less crazy. We spent more of our time just trying to adjust back to life in the States. We did celebrate my birthday by going to Dallas to visit my sister.

Happy 25th!! Cristen, me and J at my favorite restaurant - Cheesecake Factory

In September and October life was pretty uneventful except for two more races - a 5K in Tulsa for Race for the Cure, and a 15K in Tulsa.

J and I at Race for the Cure

After our 15K

Most of November and December was filled with family time. It was extra special this year because of how much we missed our family through the holidays last year. So, we spent every second that we could enjoying those times.

J and I with Grandma McCoy

Now on to 2009. While 2009 might not be quite as crazy for us as 2008 was, I'm still expecting some exciting changes and adventures for J and I. I love starting a new year. Even though I'm not big on making "resolutions" per se, I still have some goals for the coming year, but those will have to wait until a later post. Congratulations if you made it through this one!!