Fellowship and KFC

We're enjoying a few days with a dear friend here. She's staying with us in our cold, cold apartment. Since we're so isolated in our current lives, we forget how fun and refreshing it is to have like-minded guests--people who 'get' us and can laugh at the same jokes and love the same movies. It's a blessing.

We'll all go together to her city on Thursday night (via the night train) and visit more friends there. It should be great fun. Not to mention the fact that KFC and Subway have opened up restaurants there. That, folks, is unheard-of awesomeness. I love the fact that Colonel Sanders has made an appearance in our neck of the woods.

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We hope you did too. We have much for which to thank Him.

The Kids and Other News

The kids, looking...special. They are our joy and our undoing.

On Monday we'll be traveling to a nearby wildlife preserve to spend Thanksgiving with people who work in our company--people who have become dear friends, who have our backs when we need it, and who understand this ex-pat life. I need this time with like-minded friends...I won't be blogging for a few days, but we will take pictures. We'll post them soon. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and hold your loved ones close.

Let it Snow

There is nothing like Daddy coming home after a week of intense work. Tonight is the night and we are ready. Oh, and it snowed a little today. What could be better? You'd think Santa himself had shown up for how excited my kids were (well, and the monkeys for that matter). D said, "Oh now I can finally say I've seen snow." It was merely a dusting and I, for one, am hoping for more than that when J's parents come and visit for Christmas. Although that does mean very cold weather and all we have is space heaters...Ok, on second thought, maybe a dusting is fine...

Ivneet

This woman lives in my building. She's my age, has two young sons, and seems to enjoy our conversations. We have a budding friendship, and it works better for peers to have open, frank discussions here than when one person is much older than the other. Although I love this girl's mother-in-law and aunt (I've written about my landladies previously), she is who I believe He has placed in my path for a deeper relationship. Would you lift her up? She's intelligent, sweet and a wonderful mom. But she's also timid, fearful, and insecure. Most of all, she doesn't know the One who loves her. I want to do right by this relationship. It's a day-in, day-out proposition. I'm inconsistent and frail. But greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. That's what I'm hanging my hat on today.

In the Moment

I've said it before: a busy life equals a boring blog. I'm hunkered down here, teaching the kids, trying to keep my temper and to press on. It takes everything I've got, and lots more that I don't. It means that I can't even think about two hours from now.

I read a study recently that strongly suggests that humans are the happiest when they focus on the task in front of them--that, strangely, the more they allow their minds to wander (even if their thoughts are pleasant ones) the further their happiness quotient plummets.

It's part of the human condition to daydream, to take what I call mental 'screen saver' breaks. But it would seem that to be satisfied one should practice being present in his or her daily tasks. And so I suppose I'm trying to be 'here' this week and not on a beach with my sisters. Which is to say, not on auto-pilot. It's surprisingly hard for me which means I probably should have been practicing it ages ago.

So there you have it. I'm present in the moment, and that means I can't remember my kids' funnies ten minutes ago, or recall the deep thoughts I had as I was trying to fall asleep last night. But that's gonna have to be ok for now. Because the kids are calling me...

Because a Picture...

You can't know how much I mean it...

Coming Soon

I just wanted to let you all know that our 2011 calendars of this region will be going to print next week. They've turned out really well and we're very pleased. If you're interested in getting one (or more) and you live in the Bowling Green or Danville areas (or I've spoken to you personally) be sure to pick one up. My mom will be handling the Bowling Green shipment and J's mom the Danville one. Other people are receiving them in different areas around the country. If you live near them and are interested, they'll let you know more...

Oh! One more thing. I have a shipment of the sweetest little baby sweaters that are soon to arrive in Bowling Green. My landlady knits them and they are precious! Perfect Christmas gifts for new moms. Again, they'll be in Bowling Green. Talk to my mom or message her on Facebook.

Smiling in Hindi

J is back. Here are some village kids he met this time.

Weirdo

We've been listening to i-Tunes radio these days. It's Christmas music or bust, baby. We need the extra cheer around here. I'll admit that I've even been working out to it. (Strange-but-true fact: working out to the Hallelujah Chorus almost made me cry today, in a good way).

But I digress.

G came into my bedroom this afternoon and that old, weird version of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus came on the radio. The one where the woman is trying to sound like a little kid, but instead sounds like she's been at the helium pump again. Anyway, G's head snapped to attention and she was clearly disturbed.

G: Mom, what...is that? Is that a castrato?

(Another strange-but-true fact: G is deathly afraid of medieval men who have been castrated so that they sing soprano...)

Me (suppressing laughter unsuccessfully): No, sweetie. That's a woman trying to sound like a little kid.

G: Well, you know something? That doesn't sound like a little kid, Mom. That lady sounds like a weirdo.

And there you have it. That girl calls it as she sees it, folks.

Goodness

Maybe you know this already. Or maybe you don't. But I've just got to tell you from personal experience: God is faithful. All the time. I can't go into everything right now, but I just wanted to testify to his undeserved, lavish, sweet, unfailing goodness.

Selah.

Request

This is G. He's the young man J shared with in the car last week. Would you lift him up?

Traffic

J drove behind this "vehicle" today. You just never know...

Happy Diwali From Us To You

Remember

Please don't forget to lift up the little ones of our country.

Next Door Neighbor

We see these guys all the time.

Absurd

My son is smart. All my kids are smart, but that middle kid is strangely smart. He's seven and has read Huck Finn in its entirety. I quizzed him about the main point of the story, and he got it. Anyway, he's always coming out with wry sentiments. He'll utter deep thoughts, replete with seven-dollar words (inflation, you know) and sigh like a sage. He'll knit his brows together, shaking his head, vaguely displeased with the world.

I'm used to all this by now. So why do I still laugh when I hear things like this?

Me: Kids, I'm sorry the power is out again. Family game night is going to have to be a game of cards by flashlight.

Middle Son: Ah, India. Absurd. Absurd and sublime.

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.