1826 days ago...

… Dave and I bundled three, small, crying children onto an Air Asia, $49 dollar, one-way flight bound for Chiangmai.

… we said goodbye to a home that we loved and a safety net of friends and family whom we adored.

… we swapped "normal" for different.

… we gave up trying to plan and predict and have control.

… we stopped earning an income and really started relying on Our Provider to supply all our needs.

… we started caring more and crying more and praying more.

… we began waiing, removing our shoes at the front door and trying foods that we'd never heard of.

… we learnt sounds and tones that English words just don't have.

… and we got a glimpse of the plan God had for our family.

1826 days ago…

… life as we knew it changed and so did we.

It's hard to describe, sum up or put into words just how thankful we are for this journey we're on.  Just by flipping through some of our blog posts I hope you can see how faithful God has been and how much we just love serving Him.  People, circumstances and life can be unkind but God is good - all the time - and nothing has been more true for us this past 5 years.

This week I have had enjoyed reminiscing our journey so far by looking through some old photos and videos.

Join me for a trip down memory lane!  Here's a small overview of the past 5 years here in Thailand.

January 2010- January 2015

The children's first visit to the new ZOE home.

Before we had a car...

Flag bearer, International Day at kindergarten.

Lunch at the ZOE kid's school.

Tobi's first field trip.

Eliana's first field trip.

 Border run to Burma.

 Shoe distribution to a local village.

 Moo ping for breakfast.

 Riding elephants!

Thai wedding in the village.

 Kid's camp at ZOE.

Celebrating Christmas with our ZOE family.

 Hmmm… odd one out!

 Village visit.

A visit to the zoo.

Run for Relief 5km fun run. 

 Friends from Bangkok, 13 people in the car!

 At the elephant camp.

 Our first Christmas (and fake tree).

 Lantern festival

Visiting a village.

Our ZOE missionary family- back then!

 Kindergarten friends.

 This lady's son lived in Australia!

 Rainy season!

 New experiences!

Soda-in-a-bag

 Breakfast on-the-go

 Lime stone water falls

 Eli Thai dancing.

 Stopping on the side of the road for dinner.

 Our very first Thanksgiving.

 Hospital visit.

 Graduation!

 Barbecue dinner at ZOE.

 Chapel.

 Off to preschool!

 Fun at the waterfalls.

 ANZAC Day- Thai style.

Games at ZOE.

And now...

We're excited to see what God's got planned for the next 5 years.  

Thanks so much for supporting us on this journey.  

Have or Have Not?

We don't get stacks of mail here so when I saw that there was something in our letterbox, I opened it immediately and found a Christmas card that instantly warmed my heart.

I think it's because we're in this day and age of "instant" everything that I found this card so delightful.

Written in a small farm house in an Australian country town named Yackandandah, a very special lady had sat and scribed the words in beautiful old-style cursive handwriting.

In a year when I've found it hard to remember to call, email or even text my friends and family for important occasions, here is this lovely nana, on another side of the world, still thinking and penning out a Christmas message to her grandson and his family despite the fact that they live all the way over in south east Asia!
How precious is that?

Well not only have my emails and calls been few and far between, this year's annual Cross Family Christmas letter…{ummm} never happened!  {sigh} Which brings me to the name of this post, 'Have or Have Not?'

I realise as 2014 draws to a end that I could easily sit here and list all the things the weren't… that haven't happened, that never succeeded, that didn't get finished (or started!!) and have not turned out as I would've liked.

Or, I could finish the year focusing on the 'haves' in my life.
I'm not going to lie, 2014 has been challenging, but through the tears and the questions and the frustrations and the anger, there has also been so much blessing and laughter.
There have been friends that have encouraged me right when I needed it.  There has been answers and healing and joy.  There has been dancing and singing and giggles.
There has been double bouncing on trampolines and pretend wrestles and rollerblading.  There have been birthday celebrations, a surprise party, a ZOE wedding and numerous baptisms.
Swimming and feasting and snuggling with books on the couch.

2014 saw bugs caught, teeth lost, growth spurts, timetables learnt, ears pierced and laces tied.

When I look at our year and I see all God has done I am in awe.  His faithfulness never ceases.
With every sorrow and loss and disappointment and challenge, He has doubled my joy and blessing and thankfulness and mission.

I don't know what 2015 holds, whether it will be "easy" or "hard" but I do know this, that I can be glad for what I have and for what God is doing.

And just like I can trust that God will provide again for me, so too with this bite sized piece of faith do I  trust for my husband and children that He will also be "enough" for them.

From our home to yours, Happy New Year!  {deep breath}
Yep…. I am ready!