Sitting down to write about this past week in India is like trying to wipe finger smudges from our sliding glass door. The more I clean, the more smudges I see and I realize that after I am done, the smudges will return before the day is done. I could never give this India experience justice and no matter how hard I try, I will miss details that would give the story clarity...but I will try as it helps me to process as well. It has been two years since I have left India and returning to the familiar places, familiar sights and smells and sounds was definitely surreal...
We left for Chicago at 10:30 am on the 27th of August, flew out at 5:30 pm, landed at 5:30-ish p.m. on the 28th, grabbed a quick meal and some Ambien at the local chemist (phamacy) and headed to the train station. We left the train station at 11:30 p.m. arrived in Dehradun at 5:30 a.m. the 29th and drove about an hour to our house. We arrived at our house at approx. 8:30 a.m. and started unpacking our stored items. By 6:00 p.m. we had to have 9 boxes packed for home...
I found myself lingering on items; fingering them carefully as I played back memories of their importance in our family...thinking of the times they represented. How was I to just leave it or give it away? But we had a and a house-full stuff and I could not take it all home...
Some of the items were crawling with termites or filled with cockroaches, some had been destroyed by mildew or other such nasty things. All of it smelled of absence.So for three days, we opened our doors and the masses came in to pay a few rupees for all that they could carry out. Some were even wanting to rip mirrors, and curtain rods off the walls as well as water heaters. It truly felt like the plague of locusts who strip the land clean. I am not complaining really as we need to get rid of everything...it was just such a strange feeling...perhaps a feeling of loss.
We ate meals in various homes, had chai in others, participated in a farewell assembly and functions at the hospital. The humid air was pregnant with water and found ourselves dripping with sweat. A quick bucket bath only relieved us of the sweating for those few moments. The minute our clothes were back on, they were once again wet...I found it difficult to concentrate, to eat and to sleep. I believe we averaged about four hours of sleep a night. I had forgotten about the power cuts, the barking dogs and the night watchman's whistle.
But I had also had forgotten how gracious our dear Indian friends could be and how much they loved Jeff and our family. I forgot how difficult some of their lives are and how they deal with their hardships with great dignity. I forgot how much I respected so many of them.
I am thankful that both Jeff and I felt great confirmation of our decision that our time in that little home was finished for now. But even so, it was difficult to say goodbye in more of a final way to those we had grown to appreciate and love.I will write more about our trip, but will close for now. I have so much to be thankful for and so much to praise my Lord for. Indeed my heart is full.
Fifteen years ago today I was getting ready to walk down the aisle to be forever joined with my life partner. And I do have to admit that there was some trepidation about entering into this commitment. I knew that the Lord had brought us together and had led us to marry, but Jeff was just so different than me in almost every way...I mean really different...
He is brilliant, driven, an extrovert, loves licorice and golf, and knows more statistics than 12% of the general population. I struggled in school, am laid back, HATED miniature golf as a kid and can't hardly even remember my kid's names.
But more than anticipating our differences, I could not imagine that he really wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I remember giggling with my girlfriends in high school about this very moment and what it would all be like....
And now fifteen years later (which seems like a blink of an eye) I find myself completely sure that I could never be with anyone else. Jeff is still extremely different than me, but I am amazed at how we become more alike in so many areas. We actually do finish each other sentences or think about the same thing at the same time. I understand his passions, I know what he loves and what he hates, what excites him and what drives him crazy...and hopefully we are learning to balance each other out.
And I realize that this is still only the beginning! I look at couples who have been married 25 years or 50 years...we are still just novices.
So today I publicly thank and give praise to God for giving me Jeff. I acknowledge that it is only by His Grace that we are together and it is He who sustains our marriage.
And Jeff, I want to publicly say that I love you more today than I did last year...more than yesterday....and will gladly walk by your side as we embark on the next fifteen years together and beyond as the Lord gives us.
We are venturing out into the world of home schooling once again. Cameron is returning to "traditional" school, but the others will take this journey with me.
And so I am trying to come up with some fun "Reasons to be Home Schooled"
1. You can learn your math while wearing a life jacket
2. You never ever get away from your siblings...(oh wait we are talking about positive reasons!)
3. You can learn about "fungi" AND try and find some on your breakfast toast all at the same time!
And there will be more reasons to come....hopefully....
Last week, we went on vacation. We had debated on going to the ocean, to the Grand Canyon, to Niagara Falls or to Mackinac Island. We had BIG plans to spend a week traveling in a grand, glorious vacation.
But due to a purchase of a house and a trip to India, we settled on a three-day getaway to a small lake just north of Chicago. We rented a small cabin, and spent one day on a boat fishing and swimming....
I admit that I was a little disappointed that we were not able to do something "grander" for our kids....something that they would really remember...
AND again, I was humbled by the reminder that it really doesn't matter what we do - our kids love being with us and having our undivided attention! We had a ball hanging out together on the boat. We laughed at the "giant" fish that Conner was catching. We took naps in the sun and chased each other around the boat on our noodles. I have no doubt that they will remember this vacation...
We enjoyed each other's company away from the busyness of life. There was no pressure to be anything but ourselves (especially Calvin) and we had a blast!
Life will now hit full speed ahead as we start school next week, pack to move to our new house and prepare for our trip to India to close up a house there. I find myself easily overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of me.
I have been learning about the different names of the Lord in a Bible study that I am doing with some ladies and I realize that I need to trust in my Jehovah-Jireh - "the Lord will provide" for these next weeks ahead.
He is able to provide the strength, endurance, grace, and mercy that I need. And I pray that He will provide these things to the end that others may see HIM instead of my bumblings in all these endeavors - that He will be glorified and worshiped for who he IS.
Jeff and and I were having a conversation the other night about a problem I was having with a company trying to get what I needed from them. I had resolved that it was just not going to work and had sent them a kind "thanks anyway" reply. Jeff was irritated with me and said, "You have to push them harder to get what you need. "I responded with, "But I don't want to upset them. I think it is better not to rough up the waters."And then his very gentle response..."The only thing you get with calm waters is a bunch of fungus growing on it!"Now there are some wise words to live by.
Taking a ride into the Himalayan foothills is always a good idea when trying to escape the heat and humidity of India. Once our boxes were packed, we took a half day to revisit some of our favorite spots in the hill station of Musoorie.
