Unplanned Moments

I was helping cut open the rumbutans at recess yesterday when I slipped with the knife and cut into the top of my finger.  As blood spurted, I wrapped my other hand around it and headed off to the staff kitchen area to wash it off and survey the damage.  Next, I headed in search of the rather-large bandaid supply (always a must in any school) and located it in the cupboard of the preschool teacher's room.  Whilst my first-aid action began, a conversation also started with one of my fellow staff members who was in the office working... one that would not have occurred had it not been for that slip of that knife.  
I love these moments in time when a precious conversation is needed and can occur right there amongst the busyness of the day, amongst the blood and bandaid wrappers and lesson preparations.
I'm feel so thankful for the opportunity I have to be apart of the ups and downs of people's lives, to stand with them in prayer and faith and for these unplanned 'moments' (however painful they may be) that lead us to stop. and talk. and share.  

I often reflect back to that painful month in 2011 when Eliana was being bullied at her preschool.  At how we shared in her pain but had no idea how our little girl would bounce back or just when or how she would come through it.  It was through a random conversation with an unlikely friend who suggested checking out a new, little preschool, 30 minutes drive from our home, that had just opened the month before... seriously?  What? Would I really drive 30 minutes each way twice a day for preschool?  And yet, when I checked it out {with all my skepticism, hurt, unforgiveness and arguments for its "inconvenience"} it blew me away.  
Don't get me wrong, this preschool (and now school) is not built amongst beautiful surroundings, it hasn't got all the latest equipment, the playground is small and the classrooms are tiny, BUT the culture and 'feel' of this school was what won me over... and my husband... and our kids.  
And now, here I am teaching at the school.  Not surrounded by all the resources and technology that would make life just that little bit easier, but by some of the most wonderful teachers that make me laugh and that have built a beautiful culture where each child is accepted and loved.  Another unplanned 'moment' but one which lead us to discover something new. not previously on our radar. an answer to a prayer. more than what we expected.

And the award for the biggest unplanned moment, so far, would have to go to that time nearly 4 years ago when we uprooted our family from our comfortable life and moved across the seas to Thailand.  We never would've chosen this journey, but God has been right there alongside us with every step of the way. 
I like what Alan Ward writes,
"Isn’t all of life an unplanned journey? Each day comes to us; we don’t get to preview it and skip the days that we don’t like. We can only choose to receive what each day brings and struggle to find God in the midst of it all—for God is with us always if we can but train our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to be open to receive Christ into our lives anew each day.
I hope and pray that in time we will all learn to see God with us in every present moment and especially on the unplanned journeys that are so much a part of this life."

Aria Studios

Do you know how the crew from Aria Studios in Hawaii would describe themselves?  
filmmakers. photographers. writers. artists. dreamers. dancers. risk-takers. ridiculous. curious. cool. sappy. happy. stylish. hungry. addicted to dessert {huh?}


Actually, that last part doesn't surprise me seeing as though Christine, the team's chief photographer, just couldn't get enough mango and sticky rice on her final day here in Chiangmai and says of herself that her perfect meal is dessert!


But that's not the only sweet thing about these guys, oh no, they are simply some of the sweetest people you could ever meet too.

Christine and Kash

Focused on wedding cinematography and still photography, as their main income stream, the owners of Aria Studios (Kolby and Jay) really have a passion to use the gifts and talents they have to help children who are at risk or in abject poverty.  They understand that the use of digital media can be a powerful storytelling medium and so it is their aim to give a voice to those who don't have one.
You can check out their blog for more information and examples of their recent projects.


You can imagine we were all pretty excited at the prospect of their visit out here to the ZOE Children's Home, especially Dave who would be hanging out with them the whole time and coordinating the filming in and around the children's home.  It was a big task to ensure that approximately 100 people were positioned and prepped ready for shooting and making sure that everyone knew just exactly what to do.
I've had a sneak peak at the footage and it is just beautiful!  I can't wait for it to be finished.

Setting up some shots. 

Trying to set up a BIG family photo.

While they were here, we also managed to get some beautiful stills taken of the ZOE children, some of which will be used for the Guardian Alliance sponsorship program updates amongst other things and a big ZOE family photo too of all the houseparents and children together.

Christine even fitted in a little photo shoot just for our missionaries too- which was just ace. Our family found a cute, little, old Thai man who usually rides tourists around on his rickshaw through the city but was happy to have his rickshaw featured in our family photo! Hahaha.


And so on behalf of everyone here at ZOE, we want to say a huge THANK YOU Aria Studios.  We can't wait to see the finished product(s) of all your hard work.

You guys are sweet!

A Precious Gift

I nodded and smiled at the young mother as I walked to our car after the drop-off on Wednesday morning.

She was one of the other kindergarten mums who was preparing to pull out into the traffic on her motorcycle.

About a minute later, I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye, in the farthest lane, come off their motorbike and land lifelessly in the middle of the road.  

I gasped and my heart skipped a beat as I automatically thought about that mum and her little three year old daughter that she had just dropped off.  

My thoughts raced. Was it her?  

From the right-hand lane, I slowed down and craned to look back and I realized that... it wasn't.

It wasn't her.

But it was somebody.

Somebody's son... and maybe father... brother... uncle... cousin... friend.

With my hands shakily gripping tightly to the steering wheel, I completed the short drive home; my thoughts quickly racing with feelings about just how short life can be and how each day is a day worth celebrating.

LIFE is worth celebrating!

I'm 34 today!  Some days I feel it... and other days I'm left wondering where all those years actually went.

But I am glad!  And so happy to have lived for 34 years.  I am grateful that I've had the privilege of being a mum for almost 6 years, a wife for 12 and half years and that I grew up in a wonderful family, surrounded by love and care for as far back as I can remember.  

Thank you for my birthday messages!  I felt very special as I read through each and every one of them ... and they all made me smile.

I'm smiling also at the thought of my wonderful husband who set his alarm clock early this morning just to bring me a coffee before I went walking at 6.

I'm smiling because Tobi wrote in his birthday card to me that I was his "bestest buddy".

I'm smiling because Spencer tells me each night when it's time to go to bed that, he'll miss me.

And I'm smiling because Eliana wrapped up one of her favourite things and gave it me this morning as a present.

So, you know, gifts don't have to be expensive or even "things".  

Special gifts reflect thoughtfulness, time, encouraging words and sacrifice.

And the most important reminder, for me this week, was just how each and every day (hour... and minute) spent here on earth can not be taken for granted.

None of us are promised another year, another month or another day. I believe that each day is a gift from God.  The shortness of our lives is compared in the Bible to vapor, grass and flowers that wither but thankfully God provides eternal life (in heaven) to all those who by faith accept what Jesus did for them on the cross.

And so I am determined to make this year one that counts, to make a difference here in Thailand and to be the best that I can be.

What's impacted you this week?  Please share!

Playing Hairdressers

Source: goodbyefuturehellopast, via bowsxblueeyes

I remember as a little girl getting out all the hair accessories, brushes and combs and playing hairdressers with my mum. How funny it was one night when the pastor of our church called around to our house unexpectedly and my mum had to answer the door with a very strange looking hair-do!

Our daughter Eli also loves to play hairdressers and very much enjoys trying to do plaits and piggy-tails in my hair.

The girls at ZOE are no different and it was with great excitement that they planned their hair-styles for last week’s headshot- hairstyle photo shoot. We were attempting to get some good photographs to frame and hang on the walls of the newly established hairdressing salon.

The salon was provided by ‘Life Outreach International’ and will be used to encourage and develop vocational skills in girls who have an interest and gift in this area.

Even in the short space of time since the studio has been set up, numerous new hairstyles have emerged on the ZOE parents, staff and children!

Checkout some of the photos from this fun photo-shoot!
Andie :)

Want to see more photos from the hair shoot?  Click here!

Snapshots

I had so much fun at ZOE this week teaching conversational English.  Read about our family's news at 'April Update'.
Andie :)

School Holidays

It's holidays here... check out what we've been up to this month!

Snapshots

School's nearly out for Thai kids.  To find out what the ZOE children have been doing on their school break go to www.zoechildren.org/blog.

Snapshots

To read about Jip and Jack's village wedding on the Cross Family Blog, check out 'No Need To Rush'.

Snapshots

Merry Christmas from the ZOE Children's Home. To read about what's happening at ZOE in December as well as in the Cross Family, check out 'Enough Already'. 

SNAP, SNAP, SNAP

We had such a fun day yesterday.  Our family left home at 7am and headed out to ZOE Children’s Home for a photo shoot.  Photographer? .... Me! Ha ha. I know, pretty funny, and I mainly only agreed because Carol said I could use the cool SLR camera.

The aim was to get head shots of all 50 ZOE children.  And we had just one hour to do it!

Everybody in our family had a job: Dave was to help getting the kids to stand in the right spot and making sure their hair was neat etc.  He knows them all a lot better than I do so he was great at being able to elicit lots of smiles, which made my job easier.

Spencer took it upon himself to help out in a ‘pastoral care’ type role, running in front of the camera and wanting to hug the kids.  Very funny.

Tobi and Eliana went around handing out lollipops to the children and playing with them while they waited until it was their turn.

Me... I had to try to control my laughter and keep the camera still at the antics going on around me.  It was a funny morning and one I’ll remember for a long time.

Here’s a few of the shots that won’t be being used!!!