Random Pics

Jhuma and Monica. They were about to go out for the night!! Notice the Western Style Jhuma is modeling.


My Teammates minus me (i am taking the pic). We all went on a picnic to celebrate Lindsey's 23rd birthday!


Proof that I play softball in India. Don't you think the Khurta is a nice added touch? I can't take my camera into our "real" games. This is me at a park. Shortly after this a indian man approached Lindsey and I with his cell phone and asked to take our picture. Gotta love it.


Deepa and Me. She is one of my ESL students.


A painter on the apartment opposite mine.

The market where I teach ESL.

I love these girls.

Yes, the rumor is true. Cows really are every where. This is in a market where you buy all your computer supplies and gadgets.

Lindsey, Karen, Me, and Lindsey. We bought aprons together at a local market in hopes that we would all become better cooks!!

Silly Faces

This is kind of a random post. Lindsey celebrated her 23rd birthday on Friday and we had a LOT of fun. She posted pics on her blog that share her full birthday experience...so check it out!!
http://outtakesfromindia.blogspot.com

These pics are from her birthday and I thought you might enjoy them.... its just a bunch of silly faces...all day long!!

Fun New Website

My friends recently shared with me a fun new website that I thought I would share with you!!!

www.dontbethatguy.com

If you have i-tunes you can download their podcast which are short films that are HILLARIOUS!!!

Please let me know what you think.

Aunt Alicia, Kiran, and Market Buy

Grandma, Grandpa, and Dad left Kelley and Kiran at home while they traveled several hours to see the Taj Mahal. Lindsey and I came over to visit Kelley after our ESL class. Because Grandma and Grandpa were gone...I actually got a chance to hold my niece!! Yay.

Have I mentioned that I really really really want one of these???

Today is my roomie Lindsey's Birthday...so look forward to a birthday post!!!

Lindsey and I finally bought some pillows for our couch!! Do you like them? We paid about $12 for all the pillows you see!! Gotta love India.

Fellowship

There is nothing more refreshing than to be around white people when you live in a foreign land! This week, I had the great opportunity to have some fun with some white folk!! We ate potluck style... my favorite! I enjoyed fried chicken, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, salad and ranch dressing, and sweet tea!! It was delicious. But even better than the food was the fellowship!! It was fun to be with people of all ages. These people are my family here. We all have to stick together. In fact, our time yesterday felt kind of like getting together for Thanksgiving or some type of other major family get together.

I also got to see Kiran again!! She is 3 weeks old tomorrow! I know you have been dying to see updates. So enjoy the pics of sweet Kiran!!

Daddy feeding baby...she wanted to help hold the bottle.

The whole Fam!!

Softball Update #2

The Vijay Jewelers did it again....VICTORY!!!!!!!!!

Final score: 6 to 1

We played the American Embassy School (AES). We were determined not to let a bunch of high schoolers beat us!! I think we might have the best team in the league!! Our pitcher's named is Raika (indian) and she is dabomb.com (do people still say that??). Our team has a great infield...but we could all use some better batting SKILLZ. You just never know what will happen with us...definitely hit and miss.

Way to go Vijay Jewelers!!!

Lindsey the "Decision Maker"

Most of you don't know my roommate well enough to appreciate this post. Lindsey HATES to make minor decisions such as what to eat for dinner. Sometimes she just refuses or very sneakily passes the responsibility to someone else. Yesterday, we had a unique turn of events... she decided where to eat and the specifics of what to order!! It was amazing. It was so amazing in fact, I decided to take a picture and make a post so that it would be written and recorded!!! Sug, I am sooo proud of you...keep up the great decision making. I think we might have made history yesterday!!!

Hitler = Delhi Government ????

"Hitler vs. Delhi Government who is a bigger criminal?"

My heart is grieved today for my city. The government has decided to close all of illegal shops. Unfortunately about 60% of the shops are illegal. Some entire markets are completely being leveled!!! Today all the locals closed their shops all over the city, in effort to protest against the government. There was a huge riot that happened in several parts of the city- one seven year old boy was killed and several more was injured.

The problem with the sealing of shops is that they are not providing any type of alternate location for people to relocate and re-open their shops. Many of the people now have no way of making a living. They recently also made a law that there can be no more cycle rickshaws...sad. I don't know how you just get rid of a whole caste of people?

Please pray for my city as many people have lost their jobs and don't know where to turn. Please pray for peace as there are possible future riots and many more sealing of shops.

Softball Update #1

Softball season is in full swing! Lindsey and I have joined the American Embassy woman's softball league. The league is comprised of woman of all different ethnicity's- French, Australian, British, Indian, and American The league exists for the single purpose of FUN! Practices are on Fridays and games are on Sundays.

I unfortunately won't have any fun pics to post because the embassy won't allow cameras. sad.

It's a different world. Most of the ladies that play are expats and don't really "live" in India. They are living American lives in India. They don't live very deeply within the culture. They all have their drivers pick them up as lindsey and I flag down a rickshaw. It's a little humbling.

HIGHLIGHTS- wearing shorts, dr. pepper at the concessions stand, being outside and sweating, meeting new woman, and the extreme cultural break!!

Vijay Jewelers ( my team) - Win today 12 to 6 !!!

Afternoon Outing

Today, I had to make a quick trip to the dentist to make sure everything was ok. My neighbor Mona volunteered to take me. I used to go with Mona often to pick up Ericka from school, but hadn't in a long time. So it was fun to go it again (dentist and school are very close).

Ericka really wanted some coconut water. So we stopped on the side of the rode and paid a visit to the coconut wallah. Without even getting out of the car, he brought two coconut's cut up with a straw in it. After the coconut water was consumed, he cut it open so that you could eat the fresh coconut. This cost about 45 cents.

Ericka and I bonding in the back seat!! I love this girl.

I have had several requests (Kim) for a picture of my chubby cheeks because of getting my wisdom teeth yanked. This is my face the day after. I know its no fun at all. It would be fun to be a chipmunk for a few days. Ah well. After day two- still no pain or swelling. WHOOP!!

Dentist Update -PRAISE!! :)

Today I lost half of my wisdom. I went to the dentist this morning and had my top two wisdom teeth pulled. I was a little paranoid because they didn't knock me out, they just gave me a shot so I wouldn't feel anything. But I think it ended up being a good thing. I wasn't loopy all day because of it. I actually feel really normal and my mouth at this point doesn't really even hurt. Its kind of weird.

I contribute this completely to your prayers! Thank you to those who prayed. Keep it up. I am wondering if I will be more sore tomorrow. But so far, I haven't taken any pain killer and I can barely feel the absence of my teeth. Praise the Lord.

Amanda, as of right now my cheeks aren't chubby- so maybe no pics. :( I know they would've been fun.

Nurse Lindsey has been great. She made me mash potatoes and sweet tea. Its weird to be waited on hand and foot. I am not used to that, it was kind of hard. She is sweet.

THANKS AGAIN FOR PRAYING!!!

Pics from the Party

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Here is Amber and I at my Dad's birthday party!! It ended up being the perfect gift having life-sized amber and alicia's. We were quite the hit at the party. My mom said everyone was always asking where we were in the crowd.
There will be more pictures posted at our family blog:
http://divershappenings.blogspot.com

The Wise Words of Anjuli

Yesterday, on my way home from visiting Jonathan, Kelley, and Kiran I was riding in the car with Anjuli. Anjuli is five. I told Anjuli that I wanted to have a baby one day. She immediately told me that I needed a husband. Then she asked me who I wanted to marry. I said I didn't know yet. Then she asked me if I liked any boys. It was so cute. Then... about 2 minutes later she said...

I have an idea. Why don't you start praying for your husband so that you can have one. That God would take care of it for me. Then she continued to say that I should pray for how many kids I wanted to have. Then they told me I should have 50 million kids. lol.

It was such a cute moment...she is quite the wise 5 year old.

Shout out to Daddy on his 50th Birthday!

Today is my Daddy's 50th Birthday!! My family is throwing him a big party and I obviously will not get to be there. But... my sister made and mailed life- sized "Amber and Alicia's" handcrafted with paper from Korea!! My sister is always so creative. He said all he wanted for his birthday was for us to be there...so there we are in Texas now!!

So this is my Daddy. (He is a handsome Daddy) Just so you know, I am a Daddy's girl through and through. Last week, I got an email from my mother saying that I should call my dad because he was missing me and that he cried about it. My oldest sister, Shannon, is putting together a slide show of his life(for the party) and he has seen the baby photos of his girls and I guess its been making him emotional. So while making his bed, he pushed the recording I left him in my build a bear I made for my parents before I moved to India. I guess that did him in and he cried. He cried cause he misses his girls! Now to all you Daddy's girls, you know how much this killed me. He said he misses our hugs and didn't get enough while we were home.

There is one thing I have never doubted, that is that my Daddy loves me. He displayed it through all the millions of hugs and kisses, through all the tickles, the early morning songs you used to wake me up, the shark attack in the pool, sitting in your lap (even when I am 23), sitting in your study talking, our daddy daughter dates, watching chick flicks, trying to karate chop you and you always telling me I’m gonna get hurt, being your clone, calling me half pint, tucking me into bed at night, and last but not least all verbal affirmation of ‘I love you.’

We must give my dad some credit. He is the only male of four woman in his house! He has put up with a lot of female emotions for a lifetime!! He says he loves his girls!! I have fond memories of my dad watching millions of chick-flicks. I think he can still quote little mermaid from beginning to end. Thanks for always taking pride in your girls!!

I love you and Happy 50th Birthday!! I know its hard to be apart, but it's for its all for our King!!! Love you always... your Half Pint.

picture 1- life sized models of amber and I

picture 2- my daddy andI dancing at Hannah's wedding- next time there is a picture of us dancing i hope my dress is white ;)

Picture 3- a daddy-daughter date at Chick-fil-a when I was at home in July

Picture 4- My dad and his girls at hanah's wedding

Picture 5- My dad and I on my birthday

Comments Button

For all you techies out there who care...

The comments button on my blog has been frustrating several of you and ME lately and I found out why! I recently switched this blog to the upgrade form called beta blogger. So supposedly, the only way that you can log in (if you have a blogger account) and put a comment on my blog now is if also have upgraded to beta blogger. It no longer excepts the login id of people who have the earlier version. Somehow they aren't compatible.

Dumb...i know.

They said the solution for now is to just sign in as anonymous and your comment will go through. I think they are trying to fix it, but who knows.

Keep commenting. I have missed everyone comments. :) Thanks for your patience with blogger.

I'm an Aunt!!!!!!!

I received a phone call at 2 AM on September 7th from my sweet friend Kelley saying that she in labor. Kelley designated Lindsey and I the "waiting room crew!" We felt honored and took our positions in the waiting room with pride!! At 11:55 AM, Jonathan came into the waiting room and said... "she's here and its a girl!" I squealed and went against cultural norms and gave J a great big hug!!

Baby Kiran weighed in at 7lbs and is absolutetly beautiful. Kelley is doing absolutely amazing and looks incredible for all that she went through (all natural birth)!! She's the woman.

We spent all day at the hospital today with the Caskey fam. Kelley and Jonathan are my family here. I know its hard that none of their family is here, yet, so Lindsey and I felt so honored to be there today!! I am an aunt and I couldn't be any MORE EXCITED!!! I am sure there are many more pics to follow of the sweet baby girl!!

dentist

So I had my first dental experience in India today!! I finally got dental insurance.

It was great. Everyone I saw there was either American or a yuppy Indian. So it was very professional and my dentist spoke very clear and easy to understand English.

It looks like I need to get my wisdom teeth yanked. fun fun fun

Pray for me this Tuesday at noon.

Food and the Fall Season

Since Lindsey and I have been back in country, we have found eating to be a really annoying. It is much more expensive to cook American food for two and I am the primary cook of the house. So out of laziness and saving in our pocket book, we decided to just order out Indian food or eat grilled cheese and egg sandwiches constantly. That got old fast or we were just hungry all the time. Food just became annoying. So we decided to hire Anita to cook for us!! Here are the benefits: We can support her with an extra 500 rps a month ($10) and to make Indian food to make is cheap. So we are saving money all together!! So now we don't have to cook or clean... man we're lazy! Oh wait, I mean saving money and supporting Anita ;)


The weather here is finally cool (at 90 F)!! This past weekend, it rained for three days straight and cooled everything off. For the past 5 or so days, I haven't even had to use my air conditioner!! It's amazing how the cool weather just changes your mood! It's also been wonderful to be able to use our living room because it's cool enough to sit in there and not glisten . I am hoping that the fall cool weather is here to stay. I love fall!!!

Oh and today was the first day that I took a warm shower in 3 months! I actually turned on the geiser (hot water heater) Say goodbye to cold showers!!

Happy Birthday Kelley

Happy 25 K!! You are so fun and I am glad that I get to share this experience here with you and J and soon to be baby Alicia!! It really wouldn't be the same here without you. Thanks for all the food, the conversation, and all the spades games!! I love you.

Softball

Lindsey and I decided to join a woman's softball league with the American Embassy! Don't be fooled...we are NOT professionals. We are playing to have FUN.

I have never actually played on a 'league' before, neither has Lindsey. But supposedly, you don't have to possess any type of amazing athletic ability to be on this team!! So we made the team :) I have always loved outside sports, but usually kept it to PE and family get togethers with the cousins and uncles in our back yard. So this will be a first. Why not make your first softball league participation be in India?

Practices are on Fridays and games on Sundays. Season starts this weekend and will go till the first of December.

The highlight is that I actually get to play a sport in INDIA! Green grass and fall weather...here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Babysitting and Television

So being the single girls that lindsey and I are...we get asked to babysit. So the couples go out for romantic dates and lindsey and i look forward to the day when we get to go on Romantic dates. :) Tonight the couples went out and we stayed in.

Meet the kids... their personalities are expressed VERY clearly in the photos.


Micah & Sean (this is a popular position of his) These boys are INSEPARABLE. They are the bestest of best friends!


This is Jeremy. He is 12. He is too cool for cameras and too cool for us.

This is sweet Anjuli and Joanna. They are silly silly silly. They love to do what most girls do...play with stuffed animals, play dress up, and say funny jokes.

Today, Lindsey and I got a TV and DVD player!! It was kind of a hard decision, but finally broke down and got one! When Lindsey and I have free time, the only thing we have to do in our apartment is be on our computers... and it was DRIVING US NUTS!!!

So I am celebrating by BLOGGING and WATCHING A MOVIE!!! We are in heaven!!

Price Comparison

Today I got my haircut and my eye brows threaded for 115 rupees!!! Let's do a quick comparison....

IN AMERICA-
Hair Cut -$50
Eye Brows - $10
TOTAL $60.00

IN INDIA -
Hair Cut -$2.20
Eye Brows - 35 cents
TOTAL $2.55

It's kind of like walmart's falling prices...you think?

I am also thinking about joining a woman's softball team through the American Embassy!! Should I?

The THREE Amigo's

I had three surprise visitors tonight..... EWWWW


They are DEAD now. There was much delight and screaming involved in the process.

BWHA HA.HA HA ...in my evil & nefarious laugh

My Love Languages

In response to my previous post, I had you guess my love languages. Now you know how I give love and recieve love naturally. Here is the long awaited answer...

Words of Affirmation & Quality Time (in india translates into emails and phone calls)

This love languages thing really works! It's crazy.

I repent

i repent, i repent of my pursuit of america's dream i repent, i repent of living like i deserve anything of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife in our suburb where we're safe and white i am wrong and of these things i repent i repent, i repent of parading my liberty i repent. i repent of paying for what i get for free and for the way i believe that i am living right by trading sins for others that are easier to hide i am wrong and of these things i repent i repent judging by a law that even i can't keep of wearing righteousness like a disguise to see through the planks in my own eyes i repent, i repent of trading truth for false unity i repent, i repent of confusing peace and idolatry by caring more of what they think than what i know of what we need by domesticating you until you look just like me i am wrong and of these things i repent.

words by Derek Webb

FREE DEREK WEBB MUSIC

I am a huge Derek Webb fan. I love his music and his heart. He has decided to give away his new CD for free to anyone who wants to hear it....

Why...?

"so this is why, on september 1st, we're launching freederekwebb.com, a place
where anyone can go online and not just hear but actually download, keep, and
share 'mockingbird' completely for free. In addition, freederekwebb.com will
give you an opportunity to invite your friends to download 'mockingbird' in
order to get them in on the conversation as well.
we hope this bold campaign
will provide a jumping off point for conversations about all of these issues,
and communicate my commitment to playing my part in starting them. so please
help us spread the word: on september 1st, 'mockingbird' will be set free!"

derek webb

One Year Down....One to Go

First of all...this is my 100th post!! How appropriate. :)

Secondly, today marks one year since I started on this amazing adventure to head to India! I decided to celebrate with some friends who started this journey with me. One year is a big deal...and from here on out is down hill. To celebrate, we went to a neighboring city because we heard they had a Papa Johns! So we made it a day. We went to see Click (not that great of a movie) at the mall and then went to eat at the oh so delicious Papa Johns....

I have lots of mixed emotions on this day. Part of me can't believe a year has flown by already. How did I get here so fast? I am scared this next year will fly by too quickly. I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Not that I feel successful most days, but an accomplishment of knowing that God chooses the weak and foolish things of the world. I have never felt so weak or foolish since I moved here!!!

So today I celebrate the faithfulnees of God in my life! To one more year of uncertainties, finding myself, failing and trying again, true joy in obedience, and learning more and more about the mystery and beauty of Jesus!

Time to Celebrate!

The Lyrics of "The Church" Derek Webb

i have come with one purpose
to capture for myself a bride
by my life she is lovely
by my death she’s justified

i have always been her husband
though many lovers she has known
so with water i will wash her
and by my word alone

so when you hear the sound of the water
you will know you’re not alone

(chorus)

‘cause i haven’t come for only you
but for my people to pursue
you cannot care for me with no regard for her
if you love me you will love the church

i have long pursued her

as a harlot and a whore
but she will feast upon me
she will drink and thirst no more


so when you taste my flesh and my blood
you will know you’re not alone

(chorus)

there is none that can replace her
though there are many who will try
and though some may be her bridesmaids
they can never be my bride

(chorus)

No More Alias & random thoughts

Tonight I finished watching the last of the 17 episodes of Alias! Man....season five was great!! Now my life can resume to normalcy.

It's 3 AM right now. I should be asleep. But instead I stayed up to try to make some phonecalls. Its nice to call people on the weekends because they aren't at work and they have time to talk. I FINALLY got to talk to one of my best friends tonight. I hate that growing up makes everyone so busy. I miss the good ol' college days of having time for community and sharing my heart with people whenever I want. So now, I treasure the times I do have because they seem to get less and less the more grown up and scattered we all become. Times like tonight when I can connect with a sister and speak words of encouragement and receive words of encouragement. I am blessed with amazingly godly women in my life that sharpen me and love me. Nothing better in life than sharing your heart and being real with people. This is what the body of Christ is about...community and love.

Phone calls and emails from the Body is one of my SIMPLE JOYS at this point in my life!

Giardia & Alias

So they past three days I have been down for the count with Giardia. It's this nasty bug that lives inside your intestine. I once heard quoted here in India.... "Doesn't everybody get Giardia?" Well the normal answer to that should be NO, but here in India...I guess everyone gets it. :) So it was my turn. I think I got it from drinking the water at Anita's house a week ago!

And.....

My roomate purchased season 5 of Alias last night! So what do you do when you are sick and can't do you anything...? You watch 7 episodes of Alias in one sitting! I mean who just doesn't love Alias?! I think it brings the spy-wanna-be out of all of us!!

(Just for the record, I might have watched more BUT the rest aren't dowloaded...it's taking FOREVER.)

Try to guess my love language!! fun fun

While I was in Thailand, I got to hear Gary Chapman (the author of "The Five Love Languages") speak. He spoke to a room of about 50 singles about the five basic love languages...

• words of affirmation
• quality time
• gifts
• acts of service
• physical touch

When we left he gave us the book "Five Love Languages for Singles" finished it today :)

Each of us usually speaks one of these language fluently and naturally. Typically the way you give love is also the way you feel loved. If someone does not show you love in your love language, you usually feel as though your 'love tank' is empty and you do not 'feel' loved. However, if someone is speaking your love langauge then your 'love tank' is filled to overflowing and you experience the emotionally feeling of being loved!

My roomate and I think everyone should read this book! Especially the male species, but in all seriousness I read one for Singles. It's true that everyone desires to love and be loved. This plays out in your relationships with parents, siblings, roommates, co-workers, and spouses!! So go out and purchase that book and discover your love language.

Let's have some fun....

Try to guess what my two primary love languages are?!! I EXPECT YOUR COMMENTS with your guess. Just click the bottom of this blog that says comments. The more people that participate the funner it will be!!! oh and tell ME what YOUR love language is!! this is even more fun!

humbled.

Since I have returned from my summer vacation, Lindsey and I have been invited to my house helper Anita’s house twice. Anita lives in a slum/lower income area that is about a ten minute walk from my house. Her house is becoming one of my favorite places to be in my city and her family is becoming like my family.

Tonight we were invited to come to her house for a Krishna puja (worship). Today is Krishna’s birthday so everyone celebrates through singing, dancing, and giving offering to the idol. So my roommate and I went, but we went saying that we were followers of Christ ONLY and that we would go to be with her family but we would not participate, so that’s what we did. It is always humbling to be the two white girls entering into a slum. They treat us like we are movie stars and that we are the most important people on the planet.

When we first come to Anita’s house everyone else stops what they are doing and caters to Lindsey and I. We never see Anita cause she is busy preparing food. First we are given water, then before we can finish the water, Anita is already pouring us a glass of Coke. While we are still trying to finish off our coke, she is asking us if we want chai (tea). Even if we say no, which is exactly what we did, she tries that much harder to make it for us. The chai is always accompanied by something salty and something sweet! While eating we begin to gather a large crowd of woman of all ages, including young teenagers and little kids. They just stare at us. We have to beg them to come in and talk to us. Its kind of crazy. Eventually we made it down stairs to the Krishna puja. So a few minutes later they bring plastic chairs for Lindsey and I to sit in. We of course have to sit in them which is soo uncomfortable because there are older aunties and mom’s who deserve a chair so much more than we do. About five minutes later, a lady comes up with two bottled sodas for us to drink. As we are the ONLY ones sitting in a chair and drinking something, the ladies begin to fan us so that we are not hot. Sometimes I just can’t take it. I don’t deserve this treatment. It makes me so uncomfortable, yet so humbled. Not long after this, a lady comes with her camera so that we can take a picture with her baby.

Meanwhile, as we are sitting and having a large gathering a woman around us, Anita is upstairs preparing a full dinner for us (the woman doesn't stop). We eventually come back upstairs and her sweet 5 children entertain us with dancing, singing, and using both Hindi and English to try to communicate to us. Of course they are always offering us more food!! The food is finally ready. Anita sits us both down on the floor and serves us. Usually no one eats till we are done to make sure that we get enough food. But today we had a break through and Anita and her kids actually ate with us!! Lindsey and I are making progress. Tonight at 11:30 we finally said we had to go. She offered us chai again of course and tried to convince us to stay the night.

This is what I love about living in India. Anita. I don't deserve her heart of service and love towards me. I am always left humbled. As I was walking home, the Lord gave me a beautiful picture of Himself. His dealings with us are completely undeserved. Who am I? He became flesh in order to identify with me!! And yet, I am humbled again.

"although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped, but EMPTIED Himself, taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbles Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Happy Independence Day India!

August 15th, today, commemorates the day in 1947 when India gained independence after nearly 200 years of British rule. It is usually celebrated with flag-hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs in the state capitals. The Prime Minister's Speech at the Red Fort is the major highlight!!

Due to the very high terroist alert, I spent the day inside my apartment!!

Check out more pics of my city.

http://outtakesfromindia.blogspot.com

(this is my roommates Lindsey's blog) CLICK the one that says "My City"

Notice any similarities?

Ok, so the top picture is on the background of my computer. And Anita my helper has seen it several times when she cleans my house.

While my sister was here we got the chance to visit Anita's house again. Last time we went we took lots of pics...so that was expected for us this time. So we pulled out the camera and then all the sudden anita and her husband pulled out their sunglasses. My first thought was that is kind of strange. What?

Then my mind immediately went to this picture on my computer! I guess thats where she got the idea.

Hannah, you are making a fashion statement even here in India (notice how her saree is black too)! Gott a just love it.

Two weeks of silliness and fun with Ambo!

Many of you might ask... "Alicia, What have you been doing since you have been back in India?" (I mean after all I haven't posted anything in like 3 weeks... My apologies). I have been entertaining my sister Amber! I can't tell you how wonderful it was to have my sister here in India WITH ME! There is this indescribable feeling of having someone come and visit you that was a friend/family member pre-India! It was great to have both of my worlds in America and India come together for the first time.

Amber and I have always been close and I am not exactly talking about age...even though we are only 1 year and 17 days apart. Because we were only a year a part we partcipated in all the same activities in high school and even college. We were on the same cheerleading quad for two years, served on Student council, and NHS together along with yearbook. I even followed her to Dallas Baptist where we both eventually lived in the same apartment complex and took it the the extreme and graduated from college in the same ceremony and even got to sit next to each other! We have always had a friendship that was unique. Over the last few years of college I think we grew a little bit apart, but I think we are working towards getting back to where we used to be! I mean we are sisters after all!

Amber is an amazing person. She is often misunderstood but those who know the "real" amber truly have find a rare and precious jewel. She has an amazing heart to serve the Lord and to grow in a closer walk with the Father. She has a wonderful and guenuine heart for people of all ages...she sees the beauty in people that I don't always see. She challenges me to love more deeply and to love unconditionally. She has kind of quirky personality and man can she ramble! It really was a joy to get to be a part of all her ramblings...even though it can get long!! Amber...you are amazing and don't ever forget that! You are a daughter of the King and you are beautiful!!

So what exactly did we do? We did everything! The only thing we didn't get a chance to do was watch a bollywood movie and i didn't get a chance to cook her indian food (ants got in all my spices...boo). However, we did get to tour the city, spend time with the important people in my life (Mona, my roomie, Anita, & my teammates), and see the ins and outs and normality of my life here. She handled India so great! Amber is really adaptable...she was a trooper!

Below are pics of the other things we were up to..




.

Mona had us over for an Indian dinner (yum) and the we had a henna party!



Anita, my house helper, invited us to her house again. She lives in a slum and it was neat for amber to have the experience of sharing a meal in the slums. This was one of amber's favorite memories. She also fell in love with Anita the same way Lindsey and I have.



Ghand Ji's memorial site



Mona & Amber... this picture makes my heart sing. Two of my loves coming together...beautiful.


At my favorite coffe shop...Oxford Bookstore.



Teammates!



This is us in a saree showroom shop. I am so glad amber got this experience. You sit down and they bring all the saree's to you and spread them out until you choose one! It is always most fun shopping with an Indian, so of course Mona filled that role. It was really really fun!



Here is a picture of Amber and I on our way to the airport today. So my hair is a little windy...that is the life of a rickshaw. She definetly got to experience first hand the good ol' rickshaw as we went all over the city. Its always an experience!

BUS! (finished in hindi) That is all for now. Hopefully the next post won't take so long!