In Chiangmai We Play Hide and Squeak!

(Thanks for the photo Laura- too funny). 

Poor Tobi is not feeling well today.  I wonder if it could be from all the mice that are lurking around- living in MICE City and all!  No, no, no it really is squeaky clean here.  Maybe we should've had a mouse-warming party when we moved here. 

No seriously, I hope you're have a mice day.  It really was mice to meet you... What mice weather we're having at the moment... hahaha.  I crack myself up.  Okay, I'll stop now!!

Anyway, instead of going to church this morning, the children watched a dvd of the Bible Read and Share stories.  

I had to smile as the older two explained to Spencer that "Potiphar's wife was trying to get Joseph and kiss him."

It's been a quiet few days with a week off school and Dave away since early Friday morning in the village.  

We enjoyed a fun day playing at a new water park on Wednesday as well as 5km walk around a bush track with friends on Friday.  

Yesterday was a lazy day at home for the children as I continued trying to get my planning for next term completed.  We are looking forward to Dave getting home around 7pm tonight.  

Today is Spencer's "official" birthday (although we celebrated with school friends on Monday) so I was woken up to an excited, squishy face pressed against mine informing me that he was really 5 now!  Love that boy. 

Here's a few pics from Monday's Curious George party:

There has been lots of activity at ZOE as usual.  David is away with both the youth group and a small team from Hawaii who are here helping ZOE out with some videography and photography projects.  I am keen to hear about his trip when he returns later today.  

There have been a couple of emergency hospital visits lately within the ZOE family so please keep them in your prayers.  One girl had to have an emergency operation to remove her appendix and one of our key staff members has broken her leg in several places. 

The ZOE kid's camp program is always loads of fun as well as a special time of growth and develop for the children personally.

You can check out more about the recent camp here.   

Below are some photos taken a a month or so ago at ZOE.

And to finish off, a picture of our very own Rapunzel {aka Eliana} after her hair had been in braids for three days (me being slack on the school holidays and not doing it).  She was very excited with how curly it came out and Tobi liked it too. 

Well from our home to yours (mice and all) I hope you're having a blessed day,

Andie :)

How September Came... and Went!

Just like that.

I need to know, what happened to September?
It was here and then... it just disappeared!  
Well there's been lots happening and the days just rolled into weeks and the weeks into a month I suppose.
We have a week and a half left of school before a 1 week break.  That week off school is already filling up with Spencer's 5th birthday, a specialized media team at ZOE, Dave away on the youth camp and lots of planning to do before the new school term begins.
I am looking forward to carving out some time though for staying in my pajamas past 7am, swimming, an outing to either the zoo or the Night safari and a few movie-marathons with the kids.

We totally enjoyed our first AFL Grand Final party here a couple of weekends ago.  My friend Laura (fellow Melbournian and her two Aussie friends) boosted the numbers of attendees who actually knew what Aussie Rules football was and the rest of the party consisted of our wonderfully supportive American friends who randomly picked a side, cheered hard and stared on in amazement, commenting {and I quote} "It makes American football look like kiddy sports. Those guys are tough!"

Half time kick of the footy.

Other September memories included:
Celebrating Tobi's 8th birthday.

Saying goodbye to a very special helper that we'd all come to love and rely on at school.

Having our friends the Slimmon family here for a visit.

 ... and the ZOE staff sports day.

For more updates on all things ZOE related, please check out the official ZOE blog.  You can see photos of the new boys' home, read about the purchase of some more land, meet our new missionary family (The Robbins) as well as finding out how one young man reflects on his time growing up at ZOE (and more). 

Thank you for your continued support, love and prayers for our family and ZOE. 

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."

One of THOSE days!

I had one of those days yesterday.  You know the ones where things just don't seem to be in sync?  I didn't injure myself (or anyone else thankfully) and I wasn't unwell but odd things just keep happening and I began wondering, 'What's wrong with me?' 'What will be next?'
In the afternoon I had a couple of hours free so I thought I'd get some baking done.
Without realising it I began sprinkling Milo on the apples I was preparing for an apple crumble (instead of brown sugar). I then accidentally used salt instead of white sugar and put the butter for the crumble top, still in its silver wrapper, into my microwave (causing all sorts of strange and scary noises plus a lot of sparks).  
THEN, whilst chatting to a friend after school, I felt some furry threads on my top tickling my arm.  As I looked down, I suddenly noticed that I was wearing my outer top (which I'd taken off while I'd been cooking) inside out and the seams were all sticking out and exposed!  I ran to the women's bathroom shouting, "Can you watch my kids?" leaving my friend in fits of laughter.
After dropping our kids home after their swimming lesson, I headed off to a ZOE missionary women's catch-up at a familiar location.  I was already cutting it finely but then it took me twice as long to get there when I made a crucial error and took a wrong turn sending me back on the freeway heading right back to where I had just come from.
Later that night as I was driving home, I was pondering on one of the questions that had been asked around the dinner table about our day's highs and lows.  It was about at this point that I noticed my car doing strange things and losing power.  I quickly pulled to the side of the road.  As I scurried in the dark looking for the hazard lights, it suddenly occurred to me that I had run out of petrol!  Now, in my defense, we recently purchased a second hand car and we are now (after three and a half years) once again a two-car family! {insert loud shouts of joy here}  BUT being a new car to me, I had not yet familiarised myself with all the controls and the dash board signals- meaning I had neglected to notice any warning signs that the car was low on fuel.  I then had to make a sheepish phone call at 9:45pm to my dear husband Dave asking if he'd come and rescue me.  Poor thing!  This meant carrying our three children in their deep night-time sleep one by one down stairs and putting them in the car, going to the ATM and getting out cash, driving to a petrol station and filling up a can with petrol and then coming to find me randomly positioned on the side of the road, putting the petrol in the car and then escorting me to the nearest petrol station and showing me how to fill up! I am thankful he is so kind to me... not a single complaint from him but, boy, did I feel bad!
I must say, it was nice (after we'd finally unloaded all the kids and resettled them back into their beds) to finally lay my head down, knowing that the day had come to an end.
I am so glad during times like this that I can still have God's peace through it all.  That, yes, maybe I'm getting old and a bit senile, or just rushing around too much to notice the small details but despite all this, I can come back to my Heavenly Father and know that He is the source of all my peace and strength.  I love it that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet (Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables)

And so...
"May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." (2 Thes 3:16)

Whispering Thanks

When I mentioned in a previous post that it might be a little quiet on this blog for a while, I had no idea that the very next week I would completely lose my voice.  
And now, a few weeks after that period of uncertainty and silence, each and every word that gets muttered from my lips is done with a strong sense of gratefulness and appreciation.
I mentioned in one of my latest posts that I would be helping with the teaching load at my children's school.  Well, by the end of the first week, I was voiceless!  Feeling completely useless and plagued with the doubts in my head questioning how long I would be out of the classroom for, I began a course of antibiotics and other medications along with an intense course of "prayer".
Praise God, in under a week, I was off "office" duties and back teaching in the classroom.  Another week or so of a particularly sore throat was a good reminder not to over-use it and just this week, I have felt the pain lessen and the strength returning.
School is going well.  I have increased my work load from my initial commitment, meaning a steeper learning curve to get my brain "back in the game" but also with a fresh reminder of why I love teaching.  
Those of you who know me personally know that I never wanted to home-school but this experience has been such a blessing to be classroom teaching and to have two of my own children in with me and Spencer just a few steps away in the next room.
I don't understand why this all came about like this, but I am determined to make the most of it, enjoy it and cherish this {unplanned} opportunity.
But enough about me, Dave's work at ZOE Children's Homes continues to be rewarding and an area that we are both passionate about.  He is very much enjoying teaching karate to the teenage boys as well as a basketball class twice a week.  

He has become part of a working group with the aim of strengthening working relationships between NGOs and the government which he hopes will boost Thailand's efforts as, together, we fight human trafficking.
He also recently enjoyed speaking at the ZOE Sunday fellowship.  He loves the opportunities he is having to teach the teenage boys as a part of the Friday night church service too.

With all the wonderful things happening through ZOE Foundation Australia and his ongoing Child Protection role, he is really loving all the variety in his day.
A highlight from this week was going to hear Nick Vujicic live in Chiangmai.  I heard there was about 12,000

people there and by the car park traffic jam after the event, it certainly felt like there was that many.
He was so inspirational and encouraging.  All our kids did well to focus on what he was saying but particularly Tobi could be seen hanging off every word.
I am currently doing a Christian Life and Witness course at our church on Tuesday nights in preparation for Franklin Graham who will be coming here as part of an Abundant Life festival later in the year.  I am finding it personally challenging and I hope to finish the course a different {and more equipped} person than when I began.
Eliana was pleased to have her plaster taken off a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed being back in her dance class this week.  She read a poem at Chapel this morning and continues to delight us with her love of life.

Spencer has been lapping up his "work" coming home very excited to be learning more about the alphabet and the "at" words as well as entertaining us with his repertoire of new songs.

Tobi is looking forward to his upcoming 8th birthday and hanging out at Pizza Hut with a few friends.  He is becoming quite quick with his times tables and loves getting stuck into a good book.

All three of them are very "into" Lego at the moment. They have a game that is being continued before school each morning and has been going for the past one and a half hours {giving me the chance to write this blog}.  It's so lovely seeing them all play together so happily.  I love hearing all the interesting twists and turns their "story" takes, all the while as they build new creations to go along with it.

So it is with a grateful heart, a strong voice and the satisfaction that it has been a great week, that I leave you.  
Unfortunately dinner will not cook itself!  
Much love from our house to yours. 

P.S. I love muu

Some of you would've received a copy of my book, P.S. I love muu by now. But I thought I should explain the title as a few people have been asking. Some people thought that 'muu' was the Thai word for 'you' and other people have read it as P.S. I love mum. And whilst I do love my mother dearly, that's not the title! 

In Thai, muu is the word for pork. The book is based on the cultural transition of our family who switched our morning serve of Vegemite-on-toast for a bag of sticky rice and muu ping (pork skewers) when we moved from Melbourne, Australia to northern Thailand in 2010.  

Muu ping is one of our family's favourite take away meals or weekend breakfasts.  

It's cheap.  It's can be bought off the side of the road.  And it's amazingly delicious!

The book is compilation of 52 messages of encouragement, many which have been reworked from this very blog. 

In the book, I share about both the adventures and the challenges of adjusting to an unfamiliar culture.  From the difficulties of learning a new language to the loneliness of leaving family and friends.  Throughout it all though, God’s faithfulness, provision and love have continued to remain strong.  
Thanks so much for all your feedback (those of you who have been reading it).  I love getting your emails!
Andie :)

Recalculating

For any one who has a GPS you'll be familiar with that voice that announces, "RECALCULATING" when you go off route and start heading in a new direction for a while.

The GPS is such a wonderful device though, isn't it? Like how it knows where you're headed and sets a new way of getting there.

For me, the past few weeks have felt a little bit like that.

At the end of the school year, there was a teaching position available at the school where our 3 children attend.

Although I knew how great the need was, I did not apply for it or feel at peace about it because I felt that full time work (for me) would probably not be a wise choice for our family.

In our last week in Australia though, I received a couple of emails from the staff explaining that they had still not found a teacher for the Grade 2/3 class. This is the class that Tobi and Eliana are in!!!

They put forward a proposal to me to consider taking on a "shared" teaching role with some others. And after praying about it and discussing it with Dave, I have agreed to volunteer at the school for this season of need.

As 2 out of students in the class are my children, it will certainly be an interesting season of life!! Dave likes the idea as he knows it is about as close as I'll ever get to home-schooling!!

But what about ZOE? Well my heart is still 100% for ZOE and I plan to continue to support Dave and ZFA in any way I can behind the scenes. I would also love to commit a certain amount of time each week to making English resources for the ZOE teachers to use in their classes.

I totally believe that God doesn't waste any experience and so I am trusting that He will use this time back teaching to His glory and to equip me further with our work at ZOE. I am still praying for a teacher to "arrive" as I would be totally happy to pass this position on to someone else, but I do feel that I have the skills to step in for this time when there is no-one else. 
(BTW if you feel called to come to Thailand for a year to teach at the school, let me know and I'll pass on your details - it is an unpaid position though.)

It is such a wonderful little school that I truly believe God is using to reach our local community and beyond.

And so it begins...

I have been laminating like there's no tomorrow and the planning is well under way too. School starts on Tuesday so if I am a little quiet on this blog for the next few weeks, you'll know why!!

Thanks so much for your interest and support of our family. Despite this slight diversion "off track", I know that voice saying, "recalculating" will lead me back to the battle I came here to fight.

If you're a first time visitor to this site, did you know there are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world right now?  Of those trafficked across international borders, it is believed that half are under the age of 18 years old.

We believe that is just NOT right.

There is a battle going on and I encourage you to get involved  too and join us in this fight... to end human trafficking in our generation.  

If you want to know more about what ZOE does in America, Australia or Thailand, browse this site and click on the links to the various ZOE pages.

But for now, I'm off to finish the planning for some seriously fun classes!!