Rachel turns 8!!

Rachel had three birthday parties this year. The first one, which I don't have pictures from...bad mama, was with her class at school. The second was at Aunt Lynn's house celebrating along with Rebekah, Bryan, Drew, and me since our birthdays all fall close together. Lynn had a great idea for us each to bake and decorate our own cake. It was a huge hit!!

The third party for Rachel's eighth was held in Virginia, down in the valley, at the same little church where her daddy and I were married. It was a perfect evening with family, a playground for the kids to play on, and burgers on the grill. Happy, Happy Birthday to our beautiful eight year old princess.

Five Minute Friday....When Seasons Change

I never seem to get this done on a Friday but still love the idea of writing for five minutes, no editing, and using a prompt from Gypsy Mama as the topic.

This weeks prompt: When Seasons Change.....

5,4,3,2,1 Go....

When Season Change there is an excitement in the air. Something new is coming. Weather is changing, sports are changing, schedules are changing. New plants are growing or dying in preparation for the new season. Our moods often change along with the season.

Fall is my favorite season with the smell of burning leaves, the beautiful colors, and bring on the college football. My favorite sport to watch live or on TV. It has actually made the top ten list of things I miss while living outside of the US. The cool air invigorates me.

Then there is spring....winter is long, cold, and sometimes seems as if it is a punishment. Then there is that one day when I would walk outside and smell it. People have laughed at me for saying this. I really feel as if you can smell spring in the air when "it's coming round the mountain." That smell of a new season with freshness, warmer weather, and birth.

This isn't fair....my time is up and I haven't even had the chance to wax poetic about summer and winter. I love them too. Maybe that is the best part about when seasons change. I love something specific and wonderful about each and every season.

STOP

Rebekah turns 4!!!!!

transformation of a ballerina

The spring ballet show has just been completed. Our little princess loves doing ballet but may love the transformation from everyday Rachel to ballerina even more.

Start off with a shower, slick back the hair, add the pinks, and put on the crown.

Head off to the show, add a little lipstick, and she becomes a prima ballerina. OK, maybe not prima but the best in our eyes.

Little one was very jealous that her big sister had a crown to wear. Rachel was having a sweet big sister day and made Rebekah her very own crown to wear so they could match.

I love looking at the lines she can create with her body.

On stage and ready to go.

So proud of our beautiful ballerina.

Beat the Heat

Summer has arrived in India.

We are all tired and run down from the heat.

The daily highs have been over 100 F for over three weeks and getting warmer.

Staying inside gets monotonous very quickly.

We all are getting cabin fever.

In many ways it reminds me of winters in Minnesota.

Every so often we come up with a way to beat the heat.

Last week, one of my friends mentioned that there is a sprinkler park in their complex.

The little ones were off school for a two day break.

It was the perfect time to try it out and find a new way to cool off.

These little fountains were just enough to keep us all cool and entertain the children.

They were extremely curious and interested in how it all works.

Rebekah and her buddies examined the water from all angles, ran, and ran, and ran, and then were ready to relax and have a snack.

A great way to beat the heat, and another day to be thankful for the life and wonderful friends we have here in India.

shopping + friends = fun

Since we arrived in Delhi, everyone has been telling me how I need to visit Sarojini Nagar Market. Each time I comment on how much I like a friend's outfit, 9 times out of 10 the answer is "Sarojini." This is usually accompanied by a smile and the shoulder shrug which translates to "where else?"

From Wikipedia:

"Essentially located in the South West Delhi locality of the city, Sarojini Nagar is one of the most favoured places in the city to buy clothes and fabrics at unbeatable prices. Apart from a large number of large sized showrooms for various international and local brands, the crux of the market is formed by street side shops which sell garments of all sizes, designs, and colors."

After three failed attempts to visit Sarojini, we finally made it. On a day with beautiful blue skies and a high temp of 110 F/43 C. We were armed with extra bags for carrying the loot, bottles of water, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent.

As with so many other times when we have set out on a new adventure in India, the song "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" kept going through my head. Especially the part that goes...."To see what he could see. To see what he could see." And...Oh, the things we saw.

When you are the first customer of the day, the shopkeepers bless the money by kissing it and touching it to their foreheads. I'm sure there is some sort of little prayer that they say. Above, Kelly and I stand with our first purchases of the day. Blessed and all....

Streets open to alleyways filled with stands, doorways, stalls, and shops full of clothing of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Corners with bangles, bindis, and all things sparkling. Vendors shout from every direction. It is an abundance of over-stimulation to all the senses.

And the bargaining begins. One of my friends decided to trade places with a vendor and do the selling instead. He was very taken with her.

This young man followed us for blocks trying to sell his beads. And, yes, his persistence paid off. Most of us bought some to take home as gifts. He was so sweet and kept saying, "Please Ma'am. It's getting hot. I sell to you and then can go home. It's too hot to stay, but I know you NEED beads. I stay just for you." I got twenty strands for just over $4 USD.

Everywhere I turned there was something for sale. Most of these men probably would have sold the shirts off their backs if I had offered the right price. I came home with 7 pieces of clothing, 20 strands of beads, and a couple extra odds and ends for under $30 USD. Great bargains indeed, but the best part was being out with my friends, laughing, and experiencing a new part of India that I hadn't seen so far on our adventure.

Happy Mother's Day

Made by Rebekah who just turned four last week.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my mother-in-law, my sister, and both my sisters in-law. They are all incredible, amazing mothers. I am happy to have them as mentors, examples, friends, and family.

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends who have children and to all my friends who are waiting to be moms.

My husband and I are so very blessed to have two beautiful and amazing girls. God has blessed us with this family. HE has trusted us with two incredible children to care for, love, teach to love, and be loved in return.

There is no biological bond between the girls and I, but we are so much alike.

We love to laugh, pretend, and most important eat ice cream. We cuddle, read books together, and share everything.

I hope they will be fearless, self-confident, happy, and secure. I pray they will live their lives to honor God. I will love them with every breath I take. I hope they will never live a day without knowing how much they are truly loved.

Rachel knows me oh-so-well....and is brutally honest about it. Just one more reason why I adore her.