I cannot believe it's been 3 years since I posted. Isn't it funny how life just picks you up and sweeps you along in its grand scheme of living and experiencing? Since I last wrote, we saw God move in huge ways. As I have said in previous blogs, I write mainly for myself....to look back and see where we've been, what we've done, and to see how God's hand has moved in our lives. The last time I wrote, I said that we were waiting for Zane's passport because we were moving to Thailand. We ended up staying in Paraguay longer than WE had hoped, but the passport arrived at the perfect time. We were able to go to South Africa for a week to wait for our visas, and during this time, my brother had a meeting in Johannesburg (he lives in Cape Town), and so we were able to see him too! What a blessing.
We've now been here in Thailand for 3 years, going on for our 4th.
Chiang Rai International School
What a ride it's been. This is such a beautiful country with the sweetest people! I have been reunited with my old college friend, Jenni, who I hadn't seen for almost 30 years! Time doesn't change good relationships. I've been able to meet so many new people and create precious friendships that I know I'll keep forever.
So what HAS happened in the time that we've been here, and where do we see ourselves in the future? Well, we have always seen our future back in North Carolina. More so now that Shelaine had a beautiful baby girl - our precious granddaughter Rae Leslie. We got to spend 6 weeks with them last summer - absolutely the most precious time of our lives.
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I also got to spend 2 weeks in November last year with my parents as my dad had cancer and I needed to spend some time with him before he passed. Jenni and I flew together, which was a fun adventure in itself!
Thailand is definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived. It is also one of the easiest places to live in. The cost of living is affordable, medical is very affordable, the people are super friendly and sweet, and it's a place where you feel safe wherever you go. I've never once felt threatened here. Why would anyone ever want to leave? Well, here we are at a crossroads again, having to make decisions about our future. We have been asked by so many when we're coming back to the U.S. It's not as simple as just picking up and leaving. This is where we are:
Zane is about to go into 10th grade. Shelaine is now able to sponsor us for a green card (only Marlowe and myself) and if we started the process now, we could walk through immigration next summer and immediately receive our green cards. However, we have to get a student visa for Zane, because his sponsorship is different (it can take 10 - 12 years to petition for a sibling....). Once we are in the U.S., we can go ahead and sponsor Zane for a green card - which will still take quite a few years. We should also be able to sponsor Brendon once we are there. So we are looking at different scenarios.
1). We apply for a student visa for Zane and Shelaine will sponsor our green cards this coming year, then Zane will complete his Junior and Senior year in the U.S. What are the pros of this? He will get NC residency which will make college a whole lot cheaper. We will get to be with Shelaine and get to know Rae when she's 2 1/2 (that already breaks my heart!). We will finally be home - something we've wanted and needed for so long - a place where we can get ourselves rooted.
What do we need? We need for Zane to be accepted into a school (hopefully BCA). We need to be able to pay for his visa as well as our green card. Many $$$$$, but not worrying about that aspect as God has ALWAYS provided what we've needed.
2). We let Zane finish school and graduate in Thailand and then move over. Pros? We will have time to save for both his college education and for our move over, including visa and green card costs. Cons? Rae will already be almost 5....Shelaine is sure to want another baby, or 2, and we will miss that whole process.....againš¢
Some challenges that have just come up since I wrote this:
**** Our passports expire in September 2021 so we are planning on going to Bangkok to renew them. However, they only send applications at the beginning of each month, and they still have March's applications due to the lockdowns and shutdown of Home Affairs in South Africa. Normal applications from overseas take around 8 months, but now this could be much longer. One of the things I'm looking into and praying about is - do we HAVE to have 6 months validity on our passports when we enter the USA? If not, we can always get our passports sent from here. The opposite of this is - if we decide to stay and our passports don't arrive before the old ones expire, how will that affect us here? We have to check in with Thai immigration every 90 days. And we need current passports to renew our work permits (not sure how long our passports have to be valid for that either). *****
It seems like a no-brainer, but for those of you who know us, we've always tried to make decisions based on God's will for our lives. His timing is ALWAYS different to what make sense in our heads, but looking back, we can always see the perfection of that timing. And in the process of waiting, we have learned so much. I am not sure whether I'll ever perfect the trait of patience, but I feel like I am definitely better at it after all these years.
So our first step will be giving Zane's paperwork to BCA and praying that if this is God's will, He will open the door wide. If he is not accepted, then we will have to stay until he graduates from here.
So, what if we just decide to move next year, whether we hear from God or not? I mean, it feels right, and we have been given free choice. But... I know, from experience, that stepping out of God's will and failing to wait for Him can delay His blessings, can bring pain and suffering (in the end) to ourselves and others, and can cost us financially (which has happened in the past). We do not want to have to rely on others for everything we need. But we also know that many times, this is how God has provided for us.
So, for now, this is how we should be waiting:
- patiently
- quietly
- trusting
- expectantly
- courageously
- standing on God's word (Charles Stanley)
If you are reading this, (and remember, I mostly write for myself so that I can look back and see where we've been), please cover us in prayer that we can receive wisdom about our decisions. We do not want to decide on a whim, or because we think it sounds right. Do we trust in God? Absolutely, 100%. Do we trust ourselves? Not at all..... We do not want to be out of God's will, His plan or His timing. It's just not worth it to us!
Here are some pictures from the last year or so with people who have become a part of our hearts, our memories and our experiences:
Teachers' Amazing Race at the beginning of the school year.
The dreaded smoky season : 
Our favorite breakfast restaurant.
Chiang Rai Flower Show
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Bamboo and sticky rice treat - warmed on the fire
Always something surprising to eat - not for me though!!
Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai
This was the highlight of the boys' holiday!!!
So many beautiful restaurants.
Boy Adventures!!
Town lights. 
Christmas Fun!! 
. The beautiful Tokay - found in and outside of houses, making loud calls nightly. Don't let it bite you!!
Irresistable, of course! 
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. Adorable Thai candies and desserts.
Vietnam, just like Thailand with tons of scooters everywhere (although I think there are definitely more in Vietman!).
