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!

Meet the Extended Fam (mom's side)

meet the fam cont....

I had a unique opportunity of seeing all of my family on my Mom's side! We all met at the lake and had a great time! All of the aunts and uncles and cousins were reunited. I can tell that I am getting older because I was content to sit in the water and tan. I had a lot of fun chillin' with the ladies in the water rather than skiing on the boat with all the boys!

You forget how much you love and appreciate family until you get the lucky privilege of being together again!

For J & K

Happy 23 to ME!!!

I have had the privelege of sharing my birthday with my sister Shannon for the past 23 years!! HAPPY 26 SHANNY!!

It was fun to be in the country to celebrate with my parents and my sisters!!


- We went to my favorite hamburger place in Bulverde- BEEFY's Backyard.

- Then we went to a new mall in San Antonio! It is this beautiful outside mall. It reminded me of the one in Short Pump in Virginia (FPO).

- Then my fam, my grandparents, my friends and Shannon's friends all met at Texas Road House birthday dinner.

After dinner...you guessed it... we went to STARBUCKS!!!



Amber and Daddy



my sisters...i love them!



Starbucks with the Parents and Lisa (mom's best friend)



Me, Amy(college roomie) and Carli (best friends from HS)



Me and my daddy!