A collection of transformation, identity, and the stories that shape who we become.
THE BOOK of BECOMING
a living collection
After 2 days of flying and hangin’ around in airports…
driving deeper into the jungle, getting farther and farther away from city life…
the longtail boat arrived!
Sitting in a boat rental newport beach with our kids by our side, going back to the dream world Brian and I discovered last year, is surreal!
I think I’m in shock that we’re actually here. And not only here for 10 days, but a couple months! We’ve never done any thing like this before. It’s hard to even know what to expect, and yet, we’re here!
It’s hard to tell what the kids think by their faces in this shot–especially Blaze. 🙂
Brian on the other hand…
The right hand has the homeschool books and the left hand is pulling all the camera gear! 🙂
We made our way down the beach and headed into the jungle.
Check out our home away from home!
Want a tour? 🙂
This is the kid’s room/kitchen! We’ll show you the kitchen part later.
Someone felt at home instantly! 🙂
Here is our Master Bedroom!
The front porch that connects the two living spaces.. Picture yourself standing in the big, open doorway to the kitchen and kids’ beds, and you look out at this sitting area.
Off to the left side of the sitting area is the opening to our bedroom!
We’ll show you the back deck eating area and homeschool zone later. And our most favorite spot is the open aired shower! Pictures of that will come later too! But for now, this gives you a little peak!
And that is our first “official” blog post from the Jungle! Upload time is a little slow, but hopefully you all get this!
xoxoxo,
Me Ra
February 25th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Wow! you are creating memories that will last a lifetime. Thailand is soo beautiful…I may retire there if I ever retire!
February 25th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
You guys rock. can’t wait to hang out with you guys and the kids one day! 🙂
February 25th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Wow Me Ra, Brian, Pascaline and Blaze-what an absolute adventure you are all on. So so cool. It looks so serene! God Bless that you have arrived safely! I love love love Blaze’s smile-kind of a nervous smile and Pascaline looks right at home.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
oooooooooooooooooohhhh my goodness!!!!!! how did u guys find that place??? I LOVE it! Its so so so beautiful – i love that you get to document your trip perfectly! Im always wishing I had known how to use a camera when i went to africa – and now ill probably never go back 🙁 So thats totally cool that you have photos like these to remember this amazing trip! I seriously LURVE your house!!!!!
February 25th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Amazing! Beautiful! Breath taking! Just wow! I too would like to know how you found such an amazing location! I cannot wait to see your next entry!!!
February 25th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!! No wonder you all endured the flights! Your destination was paradise!!!!! Hope you have such a wonderful time and I’ll be definitely looking forward to your photos and updates!!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Oh my gosh. My baby’s just a baby and I’m already looking forward to getting to jungle homeschool her :O). I’m so excited to experience this amazing trip with you guys!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
WOW!!!!!!! That looks just awesome – like a slice of paradise. What a wonderful time you will have. Glad you got there safely! Enjoy every minute. How in the world are you going to come back? 🙂
February 25th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Your home is absolutley gorgeous!!! It must be surreal to enjoy the quietness of it all at night.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
WOW I am seriously jealous! how amazing!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
That is a truly beautiful place. Your home away from home reminds me of the places where I stayed way back when I went to Kenya a long time ago. Except your place is much, much nicer! I’m excited for you. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience to do that kind of traveling and adventuring as a family. What kinds of man-eating insects are you going to have to fend off?
February 26th, 2009 at 12:02 am
This looks Divine! I hope you guys have a wonderful time away! I can’t wait to see more photos and hear stories! 🙂
February 26th, 2009 at 3:31 am
I’ve got jungle envy! Kudos to you guys….what a memory maker you are creating for yourselves and little ones. What a fabulous detox….CHEERS! Caron
February 26th, 2009 at 4:40 am
absolutely amazing! how is it possible i can feel a sense of peace on MY insides … when you’re the one living it?
can’t wait to hear more!
February 26th, 2009 at 4:47 am
Unbelievable! All the more motivation to get my photography business growing. 🙂
February 26th, 2009 at 5:01 am
WOW! This is absolutly amazing. Im already rearranging my entire life so i can go live there one day. hah. Im so excited for you guys! Glad that you are there safe. Can’t wait for more pictures!!!!
February 26th, 2009 at 5:19 am
MeRa & Brian!!! Wow!! What an AMAZING opportunity you are able to give your kids (and yourself for that matter!)… I think I love Blaze and his expressions!!!
February 26th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Love these pics! What an amazing journey that your kids will remember for a lifetime!
February 26th, 2009 at 5:45 am
I really WAS picturing myself standing in that doorway looking onto the lounge area…I can feel the sunshine and smell the fresh air! Did I mention I can’t believe you have internet access out there? Unreal! Thank you for sharing a bit of heaven on a cold winter day.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:00 am
After you’ve decompressed and disconnected for a while I want to hear how it impacts your thoughts on the normal frenetic pace of US life and some of our always-connected technologies such as Twitter and cell phones.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:20 am
like the ole TV show….that’s incredible!!! enjoy the journey.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:31 am
This is so amazing!! I would love to do something like this! How does one go about leaving “the real world” to do this!? Have an amazing time and thank you for all the great pictures. It’s fun to live vicariously through you as I sit in the rainy again Pacific Northwest. 😉
February 26th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Amazing! There are just no words!
February 26th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Looks like you’ve found heaven on earth! Get some rest now and tell us more later. I’m dying to see more pictures!
February 26th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Breathtakingly beautiful!! If it’s not a secret, you’ll have to tell us the info on how to stay at this place ourselves! ;o)
February 26th, 2009 at 7:50 am
MeRa and Brian, this place looks incredible! Thank you for your inspiration as usual. I hope you guys have an incredible time and I can’t wait to hear more. Are you guys visiting a missionary there or you just went on your own?
February 26th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Are you really going to come home? Your jungle home is perfect! I feel calmer just looking at the pictures!
Can’t wait to hear more!
February 26th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Wow..what an amazing adventure and wonderful memories for your children. What really strikes me though, is that you actually did it. So many of us are dreamers, but not actually doers. We all dream about what we could be doing if only… or five years from now..or if we win the lottery, but to actually just do it. You guys really are such an inspiration. You built your photography dream into a very successful business that has then given you the freedom to do something like live in Thailand for two months. I vaguely remember the blog post a year about talking about how you would bring the family back..and you did. How great is that.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:21 am
That is sooo cool!!! Someday I wish to do that with my kids! What an amazing adventure!
February 26th, 2009 at 10:08 am
ahhhh……
February 26th, 2009 at 10:20 am
so…this is a little different than what i had pictured in my mind. 🙂 so happy for you guys. what a magical, lifetime opportunity. the memories you make with your family on this trip will be there forever. isn’t that amazing! thanks for the post! oh…i had a slightly less serene morning…i wrote about it in my blog this morning….brian, you might want to check it out. i gave you a shout out to all my blog readers!
February 26th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Ahhh! Looks like a dream. I can just feel it looking at the pictures. Oh, how happy I am for all of you. Soak it up!
February 26th, 2009 at 11:38 am
That is absolutely amazing! It’s like luxury living in the jungle! So different than what I envisioned. 🙂 What an amazing experience for your kids! FUN!
February 26th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Wow! I am speechless! What an amazing adventure and life experience you have at your fingertips! What a wonderful gift to give and live through with your children!
February 26th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Holy COW! That’s like the most beautiful place on EARTH!
February 26th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Oh my Gosh! How in the world did you guys find this place? I want to me there! Did you hear it snowed here today!!! I am so jealous! Have an amazing couple of months. I can’t wait to see more!
February 26th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
i’m picking my jaw up off the floor… and planting seeds to take my own trip like this with my family in 5 years. you guys ROCK!
February 26th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I’m so excited for you all! I was just there and it brings back so many memories…LOVE IT! Where are you exactly…I know you landed in Krabi? You will certainly have an adventure of a lifetime! Enjoy! We missed you last night at the PUG ;).
Big hugs!
Jen
February 26th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
This is so awesome! I can’t wait to follow your story in the jungle.
February 26th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Have you mentioned and I missed it? but what part of Thailand are you in? I spend 5 weeks there in 2000 and would love to know where you are.
Have an amazing adventure. I’m sure you will!
Laura
February 26th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
What an awesome blessing to be able to experience this and show your children a whole new world. Have a blast and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
February 26th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
WOW!!!
Absolutely fabulous! I thought you guys were staying in a straw hut deep in the jungle LOL!
Oh and BRIAN… careful with the open-air shower shots… don’t let Me Ra do a sequel of the underwear shots! LOL
Love you guys! Enjoy!
February 26th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Amazing! Too cool for words! Soak up every moment as this is one of those life changing events! Very excited for you all…keep us updated!
February 26th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Looks like ‘The Swiss Family Robinson’ or is it ‘Tarzan’? Have fun! It looks like you found the best spot on earth!
February 27th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Beautiful!!!!! How fun…I’m so jealous. ;o) All the best adventures to you guys!! :o)
February 27th, 2009 at 10:55 am
AMAZING… what more is there to say?
February 28th, 2009 at 11:12 am
This totally makes me want to jump on the first plane and travel!
March 1st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Oh I want to go there!