April Showers brings... May Heat?!?

It's hot but it's only going to get hotter. We haven't even hit the peak heat season yet.
We haven't started using the AC yet but I think it is almost time.  I feel like once we start the AC I won't ever go outside again.  


I took this pic of Thomas while he was asleep.  It kind of tells you how we feel... all day long!!!

It's great to serve the God who makes streams in the desert.  Who is our shade at our right hand.  Who will keep the sun from harming us by day!!! 
At least we know we are "hot" for Jesus!!! 
Enjoying a cold glass of water, 


m

April Showers Brings ?!?

Well, it rained!
The sky got dark and the rumbling began.
We thought it was only going to pretend.
But to our delight and surprise it really did rain.  We were so pleased.

Here is how Thomas responded to the rain.

I'm going to try to load a video but I'm not sure if it will work...

We aren't sure what the April shower will bring in May but we are anticipating average highs of 104!!!

So thankful for the rain in the desert! God always gives what we need, causing the rain to fall of the evil and the good.  God be merciful to this nation and these people!

Easter Celebrations

We had a great Easter this year.
Here are a few pics from our early morning sunrise service.
How wonderful to celebrate together the victory Christ has brought for us over Satan, sin and death.
What a costly salvation he has for us who will receive!


I had to include this one because it just "shows" how tired we were at 4:30 in the morning... what were we thinking?!? Flattering isn't it!!!

We lined up with candles and sang a song together.

Maranatha!
Come, Lord Jesus,

m

Ajeeb Part 2

She came back.

Why?

I have no idea.  Her explanation this time was actually that she doesn't work in this neighborhood but her "sister" does.  She would really like for her sister to see me.
Okay... well, bring the whole family!

Who knows when they will show up.  I guess when they do I'll just have them come in, drink chai and see how much about the good news I can communicate.

Thanks God for bringing this woman into my life.

m

Traffic Police

One of the ways I am continually reminded that I am raising children in another culture and they inadvertently are creating a new culture of their own (hence: "Third Culture Kids" TCK's) is when I watch my little guy play.  When he plays with other TCK's they visit places that kiddo's would never go, "My car is going to the Taj Mahal."  or instead of "school" like most first graders play it's, "let's ride in the airplane" and hours of an airplane journey.
The latest reminder was when Thomas lined his toys up on my kitchen counter as I prepared lunch.  They looked like this:

Then he said, "Look mom!  It's the traffic police!"  
What?  Has your kid ever called the local roaming animals in your neighborhood traffic police?  O... you don't have roaming cows, buffalo, donkeys, goats, chickens, dogs, etc?  Well, we do!!! And the traffic graciously gives way every time.  


Life is just different here.
My son sees things differently.  
Not better, not worse... just different.
I love different.
Praise God for creating different.
May Christ in me make me "different." 
Because of Christ may other's want to be different too.


Always been a little different, 
m

"Ajeeb"

This is one of my favorite Urdu words to say. "Ajeeb"  
Why?  Well it sounds like what it means: strange.

It always fits as a perfect word to describe those absolutely crazy, weird, strange, and unexplainable funny experiences that happen to us simply because we are living in a foreign land.


Before I tell you may latest you will also need to know the word "ungrez" or "foreigner/whites/those of English speaking language."

So, my latest totally "ajeeb" experience was when the house bell rang.

A woman I had never seen before stood there smiling.  The conversation went something like this (don't forget we have only been in language study for 2 months so... all things considered I think it went something like this!)

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Do you need something?" (I didn't know if she was a beggar or wanting to know whether my children had been vaccinated for polio or something else).

"No, I just use to work here and now I work across the street and they told me that "ungrez" live here."
long pause... not sure what to say...
I smile, "Yes, I am an ungrez."
"But you speak our language perfectly"
(yeah right... since I can say what you can already see by just looking at me!)
"Thank you."
long pause... not sure what to say...
I smile again, "I'm so glad I met you!"
"Me too.  I just wanted to see if you really were a  "ungrez"!
"I am an "ungrez"
"Bye"
"Bye, God bless"


Ajeeb.
Very Ajeeb.
I love living here.


Don't be surprise if I knock on your door just to see what you look like, what color you are, or what language you speak, or if you wear the same thing I do, eat the same, talk the same, think the same...
Don't be offended.  Just consider it something to laugh over and label it: "ajeeb."


m

Growing Up

Well, it finally happened.
Thomas lost his first tooth.  We have been waiting for some time and were so glad to see it happen.
Here are the before and after.


Before the tooth fell out:

After:

And another close us just so you can see the tooth that came in BEHIND the first set of teeth.

Craziness.  Who knew that growing up was such a messing venture!


m