At the Zoo with Kate

I've lived in DC for nearly four years, but today was the first day I finnally made it to the zoo!! We did see the pandas, but the baby gorilla was probably the cutest!!

A yummy Indian lunch followed - Masalla Dosa!!!

Thanks for a GREAT day Kate!!

Jonathan

(L to R) My older sister Annette, me, holding my newest nephew Jonathan and my younger sis (his mom) Katie!! Isn't his hair amazing?? It's nearly 3 inches long... and he's not even 3 wks old in this picture!! His hands are the same size as my niece who's 7 mo's old... so I think he'll be at least 6'2"... but with his hair he'll be 6'5"!!!!:):):)

Tidbits from my emails... (while in India May'09)

Some people in Kodai have big resevoirs for the rains that they are able to use for much of the rest of the year!

Well, the monsoon rains are just starting, so we've had some heavy rain most afternoons, but when the sun is out the weather is BEAUTIFUL!! Combo of sun, humidity, hiking up and down the mountainsides and the elevation (7000 feet) each time I walk across town I literally drip puddles of sweat!!

I've definitly gotten a kick out of bargaining for fruits in the market and one of the students (Yuki) who speaks Tamil came with me to buy a couple sari's for graduation and such. The shopkeeper who sold me my carpet still remembers me too:).

I had to go to the bank to change some money yesterday and was wishing I had the nerve to take out my camera and record the event!! I went to the bank that I'd done most of my dorm banking at, where they have computer's, but most of the banking is still done on papers and there are books and papers stacked all over the place. All the signs were in Tamil, so I walked up to the man sitting in the middle section of the counter, explained to him that I wanted to buy rupees with my US$, he directed me to the man sitting next to him, who handed me a form to fill out. I did so, grateful I'd brought my passport with me and handed the paper's back to him, he joted down a few other things, counted my money a few times, used his little calculator to do the conversion math and passed the papers back to the guy sitting in the middle. I stood there for some time, waiting for the guy to finish with some other papers he was taking out of the top of the drawer next to him that was stuffed to overflowing with random pieces of paper. He double checked the other man's math and then handed me back my pastport and the copy of the form I'd filled out. He instructed me to go to either of the cashiers, but not to wait in line and get my rupee's from them. The cashiers sit in these wire cages with multiple locks on them and only little slots to fit a hand and some papers through. I don't think I would ever feel comfortable using them to keep my life savings for me!!

It's been fun visiting my favorite restaurants in town, some things have lived up to my memories, other things not so much:). Dosa at hilltop veg and the tandori chicken at the place above Sunshine arts have been my favorites!

The view from the porch where I stayed. I'd watch this view as I drank my tea each morning!

Well, I'm starting to get used to sleeping on the hard beds again:). I don't think I'll ever get used to the honking horns though... it's high tourist season here in Kodai this month and the traffic is CONSIDERABLY worse than I've ever seen it before!!

The plains of Tamil Nadu

Rice fields with the mountains in the background.

This picture was from the trip back to the airport - the girls I traveled with were playing with a "pet" monkey at the rest stop "Sapeeti's". They are still "kinda" cute when little, but as I say "If you've actually lived with monkeys... you don't think they're cute any more!!"

India - Tamil Nadu - Madurai

I was sitting in the back of a taxi en route from Madurai Airport, up to Kodaikanal, and started taking pictures... it was a 5 hr drive across the plains and then along the winding uphill ghat road. It was a Saturday in "high season" and I'd never seen so much traffic on the ghat... but thankfully they'd re-done much of the road since I left four years ago so it was better than it might have been:)!

Back in the Land of honking horns...

Well, I've been back from India for nearly 2 months, so it's high time I post some pics:)... I'll add quotes from emails I wrote while I was there!!

"Monday morning I accompanied my friend Karen and her three kids out to a local orpanage to play with the girls there. One of the 3 yr olds is also named Lisa. She quickly attached herself to my hip and wouldn't let go till lunch time! The kids are so precious, but still lacking so much in life. It breaks my heart and I wish I could take a group of them home with me!!"

Lisa!!

Washing their hands for lunch!!

Yearly Trek to NYC!!

These flowers always remind me of field trips in elementary school.... SPRING TIME!!!


This is the second museum adventure these two have enjoyed with me... this time it was at "The Cloisters" (part of the MET).





Sabah and Yeotoe, beautiful in the sunshine!!

Music Supersedes

About two years ago I had the most surreal cassette tape moment ever. I was doing grad school research in a little village in North Eastern Sierra Leone. We had traveled by land rover more than six hours past the end of the paved road, along dirt tracks, to an area where electricity and running water were still only figments of our imagination. The sun was going down and the only lights remaining were from the cooking fires across the village. When all of a sudden our driver popped his "Shakira" tape into the pickup's stereo and this group of kids started to swing their hips. And did they ever have some moves!! I'm not sure what surprised me more, hearing Shakira after listening to Celine Dione for ALL of the 6+ hours out there:), or watching music so swiftly supersede culture and traditions.

BRAIN FOOD

Right now I'm chewing on a few thoughts running around my brain.

"Are the choices I make - in attitude, thoughts and
actions - enabling or hindering the potential God
desires to bring to fruition in my life?"

It is easy to see when others choose not to allow God's love or grace to preempt their own selfishness or pride. But am I aware of the times in my own life where my own actions kept others from seeing God's goodness, love and grace?

"Am I really doing MY best? or am I satisfied with being mediocre?
Do I have the courage to give my all, regardless of the cost?
Have I let go of the hopes and desires I've buried deep in my heart,
and entrusted them into His keeping?"

I think it is important to keep that perspective of entrusting ourselves into His keeping. It's not right to assume He's going to crush our dreams and hopes. Rather I need to hold on to the knowledge that God is in control, regardless of the circumstances. I can rest in His goodness, His faithfulness and His love, because I have known and experienced them countless times in the past!!

To God be the glory!!!

This plant has just bloomed this week, the second time in the past four months. It also happens to be the second time - EVER - in all the ten years I've taken care of this plant.

God's timing is not our own, but it sure is beautiful when it blooms!!

Dinner with friends

Last week I had a fabulous evening with Reg 'n Scott.
Old friends stepping forward in life, watching God provide.
As usual, there was a lot of laughter. And great food.
It was my first time to play "Rock Star" and though I'll
never compete with Reg's skills... I did enjoy myself!!