Happy Birthday Jules and my Mom!!

My best friend Julie (the mountain girl) decided to come off her mountain and give the big city a shot for a few days. Her birthday was on Saturday- so we thought we would make sure her big city friends celebrated her 24 years of life a few days late! We went to TGIFriday's so that we could feel American. It was a gift to have everyone together- especially as we realize our time together is soon ending! I love birthdays and I love celebrating! I am always looking for excuses to gather people together for community and fellowship!

Julie and Ruthart showing their SMILES and excitement for some American Food!

Yep...I baked a cake from a box (thanks Caroline for sending it)...it was the fun fetti cake...DELICIOUS. Here is K and I (yep she escaped Kiran again...thanks J).

My roomie- Linds, Kelley, and Me.

Kelley got a little jealous of me and Julie taking a picture...so she hopped in. It made for a cute picture...even if Kelley was strangling me.

Here are the "upper class men". Oh how I love these ladies!

Today is actually my Mommie's Birthday! I already wrote sweet nothings about her for Mother's Day...so this will have to work for my shout out to my mother!! She always seems to get slightly jipped because her Anniversay, Mother's Day and her birthday are all 3 weeks of each other!! Sorry mommie. Happy Birthday...you never looked younger!! I love you!

Pretty Picture

I loved this pictures of my oldest sister Shannon and her nieces...so I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy. Shannon- YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

What I did for Mom's Day...

As you know...J, K, and Little K are some of my closest friend here. This was Kelley's first Mother's Day with a child (last year she was prego). Jonathan, her hubby, is a great hubby and felt that the best gift he could give to Kelley was time away from Little K and a girls day out. Smart hubby isn't he? So that is where I come in. So I picked up Kelley and we went to the Samrat hotel to go swimming and then off to her favorite restaurant here...Bennigans.

We pretty much chatted each others ears off and didn't even have time to put the i-pod in. I can't remember the last time that K and I got to spend uninterrupted time together. We had great conversation and I got to work on my tan. We were like 13 year olds in the pool- we raced each other, had a tea party (even though we couldn't stay at the bottom) she dunked me in this horrible game called 'colors' (I got water up my nose), and had a pull-up and hand stand contest! It felt good to act so immature... it was freeing. This day will be one of my favorite memories with K.

K, J, & Little K are leaving India exactly 1 month from today. sad. They will be moving back to South Carolina which is pretty far from Texas. I can't help but be really sentimental about it all. So we are going to take advantage of the time and do as much fun things together as possible this next month.

K and I at the pool.

J, K, & Little K have been my family here. Jonathan is a great brother and sets the mark pretty high in standard for my man one day. Kiran is a niece to me. And sometimes it makes me sad that she won't remember me. I will just be that weird old woman that sees her at a wedding one day and i pinch her cheeks and say something like "i changed your first diaper". Then later she will be like mom who was that. So true. Ha. And K...well she is the most awesome accountability partner and encourager on the freakin' planet. Anyways, I hope that you get the privilege of meeting this precious family one day.

Us in a rickshaw...keepin' it real.

This face of sweet Kiran is CLASSIC...i love it.

Happy Mommie Day!

This post is of course dedicated to my Mommie of almost 24 years.... Cynthia Ann. These are just some of the things that make me love my Mommie.

1. Growing up, my mother gave all three of us symbols to represent the sisterhood. Shannon was a heart, Amber was a smiley face, and I was a flower. So everything that was mine always had a flower on it. To this day, everything I get from my mother is always signed with her famous flower. She is the reason why I love flowers sooo much today.

2. She used to write me sweet notes and surprise me and put them in my lunch box. To this day- random notes speak volumes to me!

3. She took the time to invest in me and teach me practical trades- cooking, laundry, baking- you know...all the domestic things.

4. She is one of the most consistent and solid people you will ever meet. She makes really stressful situations peaceful.

5. My mother has the LARGEST heart for people. She is constantly going, doing, serving, loving, and being to anyone who needs it. She is selfless.

6. She always answers my calls even if she is busy. The world stops for me. Craziness.

7. When I went through one of my hardest and most difficult times in college- she cried with me, was there for me, and always had just the right thing to say. She was so amazingly supportive through it all.

8. She is my biggest cheerleader and support in all areas. She even stood up to a family member when they very rudely said they didn't like my nose ring! She even put Henna on her hand just for me!! (she doesn't like henna or nose rings)

9. She prays for me. What a blessing it is to have a mom who intercedes for her children. I don't take this for granite.

10. As an adult the one thing I most appreciate about my mom is our friendship. In high school, I was a jerk and didn't always love my mom the way I could have. But as an adult, I LOVE my friendship with my mom. I feel like I can talk to my mother about anything!! This is truly the thing that I appreciate most about my mother this year.... YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

I love you Mommie!!! Just 107 days till our sweet reunion!!!

Spidey, Students, and Pizza Hut

Today, Lindsey and I took our English students to the mall to see Spiderman 3! Lindsey and I thought it would be a creative and fun way to have them hear some English. And me being the spidey fan that I am...couldn't help but want to treat my students to a movie. Most of them had never been to a amphitheatre style movie- so they were a little awestruck. After the movie, we took them to Pizza Hut. Poonam and Preity had never had pizza before and weren't huge fans. However, Deepa and Ajay LOVED the pizza and had like 4 pieces each. It was a little funny taking them because they have never been to such a nice restaurant. They weren't exactly sure how to use the knife and fork. It made me chuckle.

Deepa, Poonam, Ajay

Here is Preity, Lindsey, and I waiting patiently for our food.

After we finished eating we just kind of walked around the mall...and we ran into our good friend Ronald McDonald. He just loves his pictures with me. On a side note, our students were in their best dress...Deepa had on her new white sequence sparkle outfit and Poonam was wearing a new suit...and yes...they had on lipstick, eyeliner, and shades.

Modes of Transportation & Traffic!

I wanted to give you just a small taste of what the traffic is like here. It's crazy here. So... if you can count and list the different type of transport in these pictures. Yep...its a game. Have fun.

A ME update

It has been over a week since I have posted. I have thought about blogging several times, but honestly there is nothing exciting happening around here worth blogging. In fact, I haven't even taken a picture in the whole month of May! Sorry. So this is what I have been up to.

Prison Break. One simple joy I have discovered in my time in India is TV series! I never had time to watch TV in college- so I guess I am making up for lost time. I don't just like watching TV- let me clarify. I like watching TV in WHOLE seasons. The first experience I had with this was Alias my first few weeks in India. The last season had come out right before we moved to India so one of my first memories with my now best friends here is watching Alias together! The second addiction came with Grey's Anatomy. We watched season one all the way through to where it is currently. (just for a side note- I am very disappointed in Grey's season 3...what are they doing?). And the past two weeks, I have found my new obsession... Prison Break! I watched all 44 episodes of Season 1 and 2 in about 1.5 weeks, and man it is good stuff!! I can't seem to get it out of my mind!! I can NOT wait for season 3..it has me hooked. Ask Lindsey and Laura...I can't stop talking about Michael Scofield and Sara Tencredi!! You should get addicted too!! Oh and me and the roomies watched all of the current season of 24 in one weekend!! Tomorrow is our 24 night!! I can't wait.

Working out and Sandals Podcast. The past two weeks, I have returned to my Nemesis- the treadmill. BUT I have been deploying my hatred for the treadmill by listening to the Sandals Podcast. Sandals is the church that our California team was from and their pastor is doing an awesome series called Inked. The series is on Holiness and it's kicking my butt!! I would HIGHLY recommend it!! You can go to their website and find the link for the podcast. GO there now and listen! It's sooooo good and convicting (just a warning).

Swimming and Spidey. Last weekend, we babysat for a family so that the parents could go on an anniversary get away to the beach. So Lindsey and I rewarded ourselves yesterday by RELAXING. We went to a luxury hotel and paid 350 rps to swim at their pool! It was amazing to lay out by the pool, in the sun, with my i-pod and my fun magazines! I felt like I wasn't even in India. Then we met some friends for dinner at KFC and saw Spiderman 3!! It was a great movie. In case you didn't know this- I am a huge Spiderman fan...so yeah I was pretty happy!

Existing. Things here are SLOW. It is actually really nice (hence the time for Prison break and swimming). I really only teaching English and am doing a few trainings here and there. So really things will just be this slow till I leave for Thailand and Bali late June. It has been really nice, but at the same time, I kind of feel like I am just existing. I am in-between seasons. The in between stage is honestly a weird place to be and I have a love/hate relationship with it. My time in India is ENDING but my future is so unknown and there is NOTHING i can do to figure out what's next... so yeah...right now... I am just existing.

Grown-up. So I have come to realize that in about 2 months I actually have to decide what I want to do when I grow up. My 24th birthday is approaching- so I guess it's time! So this is where you come in.... What should Alicia be when she grows up? Where should she live and what should she do?! I really have NO attachments...so all things are possible. Have fun with it. I EXPECT your comments. Seriously. This would be a great time for those of you who look at my blog and NEVER comment...yes...I know who you are! :)

Road Trip with the Molhotra's

We finally ventured outside my city to the desert!! Lindsey and I made a very short trip with Mona's family to Jaipur (about 6 hours from Delhi).

In the car on the way there....Erica can be quite the wiggle worm!!

Evening Tea Time... I LOVE the way Mona is looking at Sanjay...so sweet.

Lindsey and I at evening tea time.

The city ...notice the elephant?

The city...and now the camel....

We went to this place called "Choki Dhani" Here we are at the entrance.

We got to do lots and lots of dancing!!

We also ate some yummy Rajastani food. Yummy.

Here is a cute picture of the three of us after eating at Haldirams- a famous fast food chain in India.

Erica and I on the way back! She now likes to listen to my i-pod with me!

gas for the car to Jaipur - 1,000 rps
A night at the Arya Niwas - 930 rps
Entrance to the Choki Dhani- 250 rps
Riding an Ox Cart - 5 rps
Riding a camel - 5 rps
Riding an elephant- 5 rps
Shopping in Jaipur - too many rupees

Time spent with Sanjay, Mona, and Erica....Priceless!!!

Outing with the Fu's

My supervisor Bobby and his family (the Fu's) invited us to go with them to see a play that was written after the book called "City of Djinns". It is an outside play on the history of Delhi and it's deep history. Desiring a change in pace from our somewhat slow week and wanting to spend some non-work related quality time with the Fu's, Lindsey and I decided to go!! Before the play, we decided to stop by my favorite market in Delhi, Kahn Market. We got a Kebab (chicken tika in a tortilla) to go at this city famous kebab stand.

The group waiting for our Kebab's to be finished. This kebab stand has made the newspaper for the best Kebabs in the city! I agree...they are delicious!

Here is Elaine and I inside a cookie shop! I discovered this small shop about 2 months again and can't resist Mrs. Kaurs cookies!! They real me in every time. We also introduced this to the Fu's. I think they are fans of Mrs. Kaur now too!

There is no seating at the Kebab place so we ate them in the car. Here is Shawn and Elaine.

Here is Lindsey and I enjoying our oh so delicious Kebabs!!

Shawn, Bobby, Elaine, Anjuli, and Me waiting for the play to start!

BALI-licious Beach Babe Escape!!

Don't be jealous...but in just 72 short days, I will be lounging on the beaches of Indonesia with my five closest friends on this side of the world!!! This week, we have moved forward and have book our 7 day 6 night stay at the "Villa Baliana"!! The Villa Baliana is great because it is two-story with our own private pool, garden, and terrace!! We will be only about a 3-5 minute walk from the "Legian Beach". But if we want to go for a midnight swim we can just swim in our own PRIVATE pool!!

Our villa is also a great location because it is in walking distance to all the restaurants and shops as well...which to me translates as Starbucks!! sigh...I can't wait to go!!!

Let me introduce you to my 5 other traveling buddies....
Lindsey (my roomie), Julie (she lives in the mountains) Me, and Stephanie (she lives in the South).

April and Emily (both live in the mountains)

This is the biggest vacation I have ever planned- needless to say- I am really really really jazzed about it!! It will be such a special time with these ladies who I met just almost 2 years ago and got to start this journey with. We will definitely be celebrating the completion and success of our journey together!!

Transitioning...

Just for the record this POST is my 200th post!! I have really enjoyed having this blog and using it as kind of an online scrapbook for my time here. Thanks for your faithfulness to read my blog and to comment!! It's always fun to post something and to hear back from you..it's kind of like my reward for posting!! So happy commenting friends.

As the month of May approaches and I have less than two months of actual "work" left my mind has started to transition into America. The California team was the last big thing on my schedule- so once they left and the dust settled my brain started the transition. It's crazy how quick it happens. It's strange how your mind forgets out of necessity. Well this week, I have been remembering so many things about American that I am looking forward to. Here they are....

1. getting to say "I would like a number one combo with no pickles and a large sweet tea"
2. voicemail on your cell phone
3. walking outside and getting into my own vehicle (no bargaining or finding a ride) and DRIVING
4. my mom's home cooking- especially her vegetables- I have been craving her squash...yummy
5. sitting in my dad's office and having our deep religious or philosophical discussions
6. drinking milk from a jug (yummy)
7. wearing shorts and t-shirts and flip flops in PUBLIC
8. strawberry-limeades from Sonic
9. switching radio stations while driving in my car
10. central a/c
11. sitting around the table with my family eating dinner
12. calling my friends on my cell phone with no time difference
13. getting to pet my own cat JOEY again
14. Hugs and kisses from my family!! I get to be touched again!!!


This is such a great picture of HOME...I can't wait. I added a countdown to the right of my blog!! Check it out!!

American's Vote for Jez

I was randomly looking around on facebook and came across my old neighbor Jez. The boys and him used to live in the apartment next to us. They were crazy fun neighbors. Supposedly, he is trying to be in the show "The Biggest Loser". Good Morning America is previewing his audition video tomorrow...so vote for Jez!! If he wins he will get to actually be on the show!! Good Luck Jez!! If your in America vote for him!! He has a great personality... you would enjoy watching him on the show!!





www.votejez.com

Kiran!

I haven't posted a picture of Kiran in a long time! I am absolutely in love with this kid!! She is amazing!! Today, I had the joy of seeing her and she was so JOYFUL!! She is now 7 months old and one of the most happiest, giggly, and cackly babies!! I took a picture with her because I bought this cute outfit for her in America last year!! Yay for Old Navy!! Shanny do you remember this one?

California Lovin'

I have been reminded this past week of the effects that living in India has taken on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have been challenged and stretched in these three areas more in the past year and a half than I have in my entire life. Because of this stretching and growing- I was dry. God used the Sandals India team to minister and speak into all three of these areas... specifically just for me. Is it possible God sent them here just for me?!?




This is Dave who was also the team leader. Dave is awesome and the only phrase that comes to mind when I think of him is "bad ass". If anyone knows him, I think you will agree. He is the type of man that typifies what God intended real men to be... a little rough on the edges, a man after God's own heart, and a strong sense of justice and doing what's right. God really used Dave in my life this past week. He took time to know me, to listen to me, and meet me where I was. He asked me the hard questions and invested in me. He was also intentional in specifically affirming me and telling me who I was in Jesus and the gifts and talents that he saw in me this week. I feel encouraged and affirmed ( my love language) so I feel so overwhelmed with God's love. God used Dave as an instrument to bless me and speak to me. I also got to hear about his amazing wife Dawn and their three kids. I can't wait to meet them in four months. Oh and Dave thanks for your explanation on "hips don't lie" I now know all my options.

Some of the other girls that I fell in love with!

The boys saying goodbye...

My roomies....

Kim is the type of friend that we could not talk for a year and pick up right where we left off. I realized after her being here...that I really needed a friend. I am blessed with amazing friendships here, but Kim's friendship just ministers to me in a unique way- and I just needed her. The Lord knew that. I know that the Lord has been incredibly intentional in placing her in my life...I just feel like he is going to allow us to be a part of each other's life for a long time.

If you can't tell...I am revived!! My cup is overflowing. My house seems really empty right now, but I am thankful for the time I had to latch arms with people I had never met before and love them and have them love me. The community that we have among believers is priceless. What a sweet God we have that He knows what we need and generously gives to us!!

On my way back home, I am going to stop and visit Kim and Derek (her soon to be hubs) and Coop in Riverside. I look forward to seeing the Sandals Team India on August 26th!

California Challenge

This week, a group of 15 people are here from California. It has been challenging, encouraging, and refreshing to have them here as they see India for the first time. There hearts have been broken for the people of this country in a way that has been missing in my time here for awhile now. They have been challenging me to open my eyes again and to try to see this country with new eyes. It’s amazing how desensitized I have become to human suffering, poverty, and lostness in this land. It has become common place and normal. My heart right now is overwhelmed with a new heart and love for the people here and for the faces and families of the people I have been allowed to invest in.

If I were to be completely honest and vulnerable I would have to confess that the good parts of me have died in this land and that I have just been barely surviving and holding on to the faith that I have known my whole life. For several months now, my heart has been in rebellion against the Lord. I have questioned the Christian culture in which I have lived my entire life and found myself doubting the Church and the way things have been done my entire life.

But today, the Lord revealed my sin and my rebellion. In order to work out my salvation, I began seeking other worldly desires. My heart began to stray and I wanted to do everything opposite of the church and culture I grew up in because I doubted its effectiveness and ability to change lives. But in my desire to be just a follower of Christ and to look different than the church- I began to look too much like the world. My heart began to stray and I was becoming someone that I didn’t like. I feel like I am learning for the first time the balance of what it really means to “be of the world but not in the world”.

I have been reminded this week, through the team here that it’s ok to be different. The life I live as a follower of Jesus sets me apart. The journey here is making me become authentic in my faith and is defining what Jesus meant when He said “follow me.”

I know that the Lord sent me to this land so that I would no longer follow a religion but that I would genuinely follow the teaching and life of Jesus who has radically changed my life and has the ability transform people of all cultures and nations.

Some fun pics with the California Sandals Team...

Me at the Taj Mahal for the third time!

Me, David (the team leader) and Kim at the Taj Mahal.
At the Agra Fort. The girls are on the white onyx queen's throne
The Men on the king's black onyx throne

Laura and I at the Agrah Fort with the Taj Mahal behind us

Some of the boys doing their own modeling shoot

Estimated Time of Departure

As of 3:00 PM this afternoon, I have a permanent and official leaving date for India. I will be leaving India on August 5, 2007. This is only 117 short days from today. When I received my final e-ticket and saw that my ticket was purchased I got a knot in my stomach. Part of me is really really excited and part of me is in pure denial. The ticket and the date brings a whole new realm of finality to the fact that my time in India is truly coming to an end.

My days in Delhi recently have been some of my most joyful and peaceful days in Delhi. This place is home now and some days it feels so right just to be here. Naturally however, I am also starting to transition in my mind knowing that this season is soon ending. All good seasons in life are really painful and hard to say goodbye too. The thought of uprooting myself makes me almost sick to my stomach, but I am also excited to see what the next step is. I know that India has prepared me for what comes next which by the way ... no solid plans just ideas and dreams.

Please keep me in mind as I try to live fully in India...and pray for my future as I need a job, car, and a new focus of ministry!!

On my way home, I plan to do a little extra traveling... I will be in South Korea visiting my sister for 15 days and then Southern California visiting friends and family!! So I will leave India- August 5th but won't arrive in Texas until August 29th around midnight!! I am trying to get all my traveling out of my system...cause I won't have so many awesome opportunities in the future!! Can't wait to see some of you on the other side!

Good Friday Celebration

Our house has been bustling with guest after guest. Lindsey's parent's left yesterday for America after a very event filled 10 days! Now we have a team of 15 from Southern California. Every night they have been coming to our home and having dinner. My poor house has been in shambles but it has been encouraging to have so many young people around.

We took the opportunity to celebrate the Easter season with our neighbors and friends one last time. We unfortunately didn't have the best turn out- but we had a lot of fun dressing up in our sarees one last time. Here are some pictures from the event.

Making Rangoli with colored rice. A traditional way of decorating.

Lindsey's dad and my landlords.

Worshipping together.

All us ladies together in our new sarees!

Lindsey's family. They reminded me a lot of my family so it was fun to have them around!

Me and Lindsey! Look at how much volume my hair has! It's crazy. Lori (a very talented hair dresser and Lindsey's sister) fixed it for me!!

Happy Resurection Day friends!!

Isaiah 53 (NLT)

Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? 2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. 3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows[a] that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away.[b] No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream.[c] But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. 9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.
10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. 11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

East Delhi Hotel

My friends in my city like to call our house "The East Delhi Hotel". Lindsey and I LOVE to have people come and stay with us when they pass through the big city - so we are constantly having friends from everywhere (literally) come for several days or even weeks. We have been blessed with lots of space and lots of beds, so our motto has become "the more the merrier".

From volunteer teams, to California interns, to Germans, to family, to other workers in India- our B-603 apartment flat stays occupied in all seasons. In fact, Karen once said, "You be havin' forty million people staying up in dis hizzi (said in her ghetto accent of course)." I think that when our security guards just see white people they just point to our apartment. There are two ladies that actually live in our city that want to just come and stay the night because they have heard so much about the "East Delhi Hotel." I guess we leave some kind of impression on people.

This week, I think the East Delhi Hotel will have maxed out!! After two months of living in an Indian home to help her Hindi- Laura has officially moved in and occupied our third bedroom!! Along with Laura moving in, Lindsey's parents and sister came to visit!! And tonight, I am going to the airport to pick up Kim (the California intern from last year) and she is also going to be staying with us!! So this next week will be like one really big party in B-603!! I love having all the extra people around. Our poor refrigerator is having to work extra hard to keep all the extra water and food cold! It definitely is not used to having so much stuff inside it. On Friday, we are expecting 14 other friends visiting from California to help us out. So in these next two weeks there will be about 20 different white faces passing through!

So will any of you have the privilege of staying in the "East Delhi Hotel"? You just tell me when you are coming and you are guaranteed a bed!