paraphrase of Billy Crystal in 'Princess Bride'...

"It was a dweam within a dweam'....

Or as lil Sis says: 'This is like a vacation within a vacation!'

We just returned from our weekend in Pangkor, and I am full content to go home now! (though I know that the girls and I are not finished here...and Eric is *really* not finished at work.)

Pangkor is a small Island about a 2 hr drive, and 1/2 hr ferry from Penang.  We left on Friday, and returned Sunday evening.

I loved all of it---every minute! (except when we all became vapor locked--a word that holds new meaning when coupled with heat and humidity--when arriving in Lamut, the port before Pangkor...and trying to decide what direction to go next!)

I loved having Eric drive, while I had the chance to see a country that I will never see again.  I loved seeing the rice fields, and the palm oil plantations...the farms, the little homes on stilts...and the beautiful Asian cows.

Then I loved getting on a ferry, and letting the wind  blow my hair.  I loved how our family seemed to be the only ones crazy enough to prefer the ferry deck to the air conditioned cabin.  The ocean breeze, and the lack of staring gave me a sorely missed feeling of freedom!

I loved that my husband pushed himself out of his comfort zone...and let us be driven to an unknown place, on an unknown island, by an unknown driver...and paid his own money to have such an experience.  I also love that the aforementioned husband...left his watch in the room.

I loved watching my children play in the sand and ocean.  They searched for little crabs and chased them up and down the beach.  There is something about beach and ocean that causes children and adults alike to revert to simpler ages.

I loved snorkeling, after I got over my tremendous fear of sea cucumbers.  I felt like I watched the entire movie of 'finding Nemo' through my goggles.  Minus the whale, thank goodness!

I loved eating dinner at sunset, with my family, on the beach.  The storm that was slowly drifting over the hills into the bay only enhanced the sun dipping into the sea. (do you hear the little sizzle?)  I didn't recognize my food, once again...but it didn't matter!

I loved watching it rain from our porch...like I've never seen it rain before.  The sound of the waves crashing and the rain pouring made me feel so small! 

I loved watching my American-born children search for chocolate easter eggs on a Malaysian beach on the other side of the world...and I loved how we all sat on the beach and prayed together as a family.  We laughed at the hornbills that swooped down for bread bits, and it was only a slightly holy prayer, because of the humor of it all.

I loved how though we were feeling so alone...longing for just one familiar face...that God's spirit still showed up midst our little family...and reminded us all that He is a great, great God.  The palm trees swayed...and the sun beat down...and in some ways, it was a little easier to imagine Jesus living in such a place...and I really wish that He would some day.  I really do.