OUR CHURCH

Yesterday at 2:30am we got a call from the police department that we needed to go to the church. When we got there the firemen were still trying to put out the flames. Here is one of the news stories:

Dec 26 2008 7:05PM
KXNewsTeam
It may be a miracle a family got out of a burning church safely this morning. A fire started in the Bismarck Bible Baptist church around 2:30 a.m.

A family moving to town was staying in the prophet's chamber (a small apartment). That's where the fire started. Their little girl woke up sick and that's when the mom noticed flames near the washing machine. The family was able to get out of the church fast enough.

Pastor Jeff Olson says that's the blessing.(Pastor Jeff Olson / Bible Baptist Church) "we don't have a total loss, someone here but no one got hurt, help was able to get here quickly, they said with the old plaster the building would have gone up quickly.

My faith is in that God protected us and took care of us, now it's a matter of following his lead ~ not ours."

The Insurance adjustor says the church is fixable. The sanctuary has smoke damage the fire damage is more extensive in the basement. An inspector described the beams as being beyond charred.

"We have a good solid core of members. I know them and know we will come together and come up with a solution of what to do in the short term."

Olson says he's not sure what the congregation will do this Sunday, however he says the church of about 35 members will move forward...

Now that I have had a full week out of school things are starting to fall into a nice routine around here. I must say that I am really enjoying it. But, before I get into that I do have to share some very special news (at least to me.)

My college advisor emailed me last Thursday to let me know that I was officially done and everything for my degree has been completed. But what was even more exciting was that I graduated with honors........my GPA was 4.0!!!

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me over the last 2 years while I undertook that major task. There were times I wanted to quit, but you would encourage me to continue. I can know look back and see that it was through those prayers and the grace of the Lord that I was able to do all of that!!

Now, about my home life now that school is no longer a factor. For those who don’t know me very well, I have a tendency to get kind of obsessive/compulsive about things. So I try my best not to let that happen. In order to keep from literally working my family to death trying to get everything I want done around the house AI have gone back to one of my favorite websites ~~ FlyLady.

Through following their routine my house is starting to shine again, but I’m not obsessive about getting it there. We do small things at a time and do them in a fun way. And most importantly it is working marvelously – not that I ever doubted it, because I used to follow this method for years.

Even with a busy week ahead, I know that everything will get done in a timely manner and we’ll still have time to enjoy ourselves.

Brett, Elisabeth, Braden and I are baking cookies this week. Jeff and I are going shopping. We are having a special candlelight service at church on Wednesday. My mom is coming Wednesday and staying until Friday. It is close week at work (meaning extra busy). And lastly – through all of this I plan to beat Nick at racquetball at least 2 out of the 3 times we will be playing!!!! (After all I can’t let a 19 year old beat me at the game I taught him ~~~ even if he is younger and in better shape.)

So anyone else have any special plans for the week??

Now that school is over ~ and we have dug out from the blizzard ~ it is time for me to develop a regular routine that does not include 4-6 hours a day with my nose stuck in a textbook.

The weekend was great. It was a time to get caught up on things that had been sadly neglected over the last few months. It was also a time to break out my cross-stitching. Of course, Jeff laughed because I’m still working on a blanket that I started for him when we still lived in Minot (over 10 years ago.) But some day I am going to finish that thing and then he won’t laugh any more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a completely different note ~ at church last night (yes, we were able to make it) a verse was read that really touched my heart and I wanted to share it here:

1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Think about that last line....I die daily.

I had to ask myself, “Do you die to self each day in order to live as Christ would have you to live?” Sadly, many times I would have to say, NO. I get busy doing “stuff.” It isn’t that it is necessarily bad “stuff,” just “stuff” that distracts me from doing what God would have for me to do.

A perfect example for me...God lays it on my heart to call and check on someone. Now, anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a phone person. I strongly dislike talking on the phone. So, I think of a handful of excuses to not make that phone call. If I were to submit to God, die to my flesh, I wouldn’t make those excuses ~ I would make the phone call.

Friends...take time today to put your fleshly wants aside and find out how God would want you to go through your day...and then do it. You will be blessed for your obedience and you will be able to say, “My cup runneth over.”

SNOWED IN

It is very strange to be sitting at home on a Sunday morning, still in my PJ’s. But that is what we are all doing this morning.

Currently there is a blizzard going on outside. The temperature is -11 (with a wind chill near -50). All I can say is BBBRRRRRR!!!!

We got up this morning to get ready for church when we heard that the highway patrol has banned all travel in the entire state of North Dakota. I guess this blizzard is a pretty big one.

So I guess we will, bundle up ~ keep warm ~ stay inside, where it is safe ~ and see how the progresses.

Praise is Pleasant

"Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely." (Psalms 147:1)

Praising the Lord is good, pleasant and comely or beautiful.

Do you ever have days that nothing seems to go right?

Instead of griping and complaining about our circumstances, we need to choose to praise the Lord.

Can you sing praise to God in the midst of trials?

Try it; you'll like it and so will God.

SHORT, SWEET, AND TO THE POINT

I'm DONE - FINISHED - GRADUATED......

I have officially completed my Master's Degree!!!!!!!!!

I'm Tired & Frustrated

I’m getting very frustrated. I am literally days away from completing my Master’s, but my thesis is a group project (don’t know who came up with that bright idea) and for the last 4 days the only changes that have taken place on our rough draft are changes I have made. I have resorted to begging for their help on this....I mean really, my grade is hanging in the balances based on the work (or lack thereof) of others!!!!!

If you read this today, please take a moment to say a little prayer. This rough draft has to be turned in by 11:55pm tonight. I work until 5om and have church at 7pm. I checked to see if either of my partners responded from my emails last night and I found NOTHING!!! I could just cry.

Thinking on Forgiveness...

I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately. Why is it easier for some people to forgive than it is for others? I honestly don’t understand.

I am the type of person who love’s fully, is fairly open with my emotions, trust’s with all my heart, and tries to find to good in everything and everyone. It’s just who I am. But that also means that many times I get hurt by someone. When I get hurt, it hurts all the way through to my heart. But I am also a person that forgives.

I have had things happen in my life and people have asked my, “how could you possibly forgive them for what they did to you?” My response is, “How could I NOT forgive them.”

Christ gave me the perfect example of forgiveness when he died on the cross for my sins. He was willing to forgive me long before I ever asked for forgiveness. The pain he suffered was more pain than I will ever experience in my lifetime – and He forgave....so how could I not be willing to do the same?

I’ve thought long and hard about this. If I am not willing to forgive how can I ask God to forgive me?

Psalms 25:18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

Psalms 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

My Week

Well, it’s Monday ~ the start one another week. But this week is special. Here are the three reasons this week is so special:

1. At the end of this week I will no longer be a college student ~ I will have completed my master’s degree.

2. At the end of this week ~ Friday to be exact ~ my precious grandson, Braden Lee, will turn ONE. He is growing up WAY TOO FAST!!!!

3. At the end of this week I will NOT be getting on an airplane headed to India. Due to the terrorist acts and the country in unrest my trip has been indefinitely postponed.

Those are three really big things to happen in a week!! For the first time in a long time I have actually started to make plans for what I am going to do with myself. Here is my list so far:

The kids and I will be going to the YMCA one hour a day, 5 days a week

I am going to begin redoing one room in the house each month. The first room will be the dining room ~ new paint, a new lamp, border and anew curtain.

So ~~~ what does your week look like???

Finally......

It’s hard to believe that in less than 2 weeks I will no longer be a college student! There were times when I thought that day would never come, times when I wanted to quit, and times when I thought I wouldn’t survive the pressure...but here it is ~ the light at the end of the tunnel.

I have almost all major assignments done – or at least in the final stages of “done.” Now it is just a matter of putting the finishing touches on them, doing one last presentation and sending out 2 peer evaluations.

Once that is done and I return from India I get to figure out what a “normal” routine will be for me. I’m looking forward to it.

And The Verdict Is......

I am the winner of bronchial pneumonia AND an ear infection!!!

What is my prize???

$50 worth of medicine and a trip to bed!!!!

Maybe I’ll feel better when I wake up.

Trying to Make it Through the Day

I am trying everything I can to make today very productive. My goal is to have the rough draft for my thesis complete before going to bed tonight. Is it a realistic goal ~~~~ I don't know.

Honestly, I feel like a truck ran over me. I have a really bad chest cold and just breathing makes me tired. I know the stress of finishing my classes isn't helping. I literally fall asleep and dream of the assignments, so no real rest even then.

You may ask why waste time here, then?? I guess you could call it a "brain break."

Oh, and for those still wondering......yes, I will be going to Germany when we go to India in two weeks.

And the Winner is.......

Well, I ended up with 2 votes for Paris, 2 votes for Hong Kong, and 0 votes for London or Germany. Ultimately, Unisys won out in the choosing since we were getting so close to the deadline. So here are some pictures of where we will be going this time......see if you can guess my destination:

Choices, Choices

If you were booking an airline flight and got to choose where your layover was, which one of these would you choose:

London (went there last time)
Paris
Germany
Hong Kong

This is kind of fun:

This was on my friend, Starr's, blog and I thought it was kind of neat!!

The Omnivore’s Hundred:

The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all.

The instructions are quite explicit...

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.

2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.

3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

*I did remove all the references to liquor and alcohol as I don’t drink and don’t promote drinking.

1. Venison

2. Nettle tea

3. Huevos rancheros

4. Steak tartare

5. Crocodile

6. Black pudding

7. Cheese fondue

8. Carp

9. Borscht

10. Baba ghanoush

11. Calamari

12. Pho

13. PB&J sandwich

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle

19. Steamed pork buns

20. Pistachio ice cream

21. Heirloom tomatoes

22. Fresh wild berries

23. Foie gras

24. Rice and beans

25. Brawn, or head cheese - not happening!!

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper

27. Dulce de leche

28. Oysters

29. Baklava

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl

33. Salted lassi

34. Sauerkraut

35. Root beer float

37. Clotted cream tea

39. Gumbo

40. Oxtail

41. Curried goat

42. Whole insects

43. Phaal

44. Goat’s milk

46. Fugu

47. Chicken tikka masala

48. Eel

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut

50. Sea urchin

51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal

56. Spaetzle

59. Poutine

60. Carob chips

61. S’mores

62. Sweetbreads

63. Kaolin

64. Currywurst

65. Durian

66. Frogs’ legs

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette

71. Gazpacho

72. Caviar and blini

73. Louche absinthe

74. Gjetost, or brunost

75. Roadkill

76. Baijiu

77. Hostess Fruit Pie

78. Snail

79. Lapsang souchong

80. Bellini

81. Tom yum

82. Eggs Benedict

83. Pocky

84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.

85. Kobe beef

86. Hare

87. Goulash

88. Flowers

89. Horse - probably wouldn't

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam

92. Soft shell crab

93. Rose harissa

94. Catfish

95. Mole poblano

96. Bagel and lox

97. Lobster Thermidor

98. Polenta

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

100. Snake

How about you? How'd you do with this list?

A New Week

Yep, it’s the start of another week.
I must admit that I don’t really hate
Mondays. I’m probably strange, but
I actually enjoy them....they are the
Start of a new week!!!

For me this week will be a very busy one.

As of my last post my assignment list was at 8. This morning I am down to 6. Here is what is left ( with dates that I am attempting ot have them done by):

1. Submit Executive Summary section of Business Plan (Tonight – the 17th)
2. Submit completed draft of Business Plan (Thursday – the 20th)
3. Complete detailed Strategic Plan (Saturday – the 22nd)
4. Conduct peer evaluation for draft Business plan (Monday – the 24th)
5. Submit final business plan, hard copy of plan, Powerpoint, and video presentation (In other words ~~ the completed thesis) Our group is taping on the 29th.
6. Complete peer evaluation for final Business Plan (Sunday – the 30th)

If I can stay on track I will have completed everything by December 1st!!!! Pray for me – this is a very tight timeline and a lot of major work that needs to be done to accomplish it.

I started my 2009 Bible Reading Schedule this morning ~ and yes, I do know that I’m a little ahead of the game here. I must admit that I didn’t do very well in the daily reading department this year and I want to do better. So....instead of waiting for January – and continuing to put it off – I have started today!!

Things I Will be doing Today:

Conference meeting from 10am – noon
School with kids
Racquetball with Nick at 5pm
Making beef stroganoff for dinner tonight
Get assignment turned in before midnight
Watch some football with my hubby (while doing assignment)
ALL THE NORMAL DAILY STUFF INBETWEEN

8 TO GO....

Here is the list of what I have left before I can officially say I have completed my Master's Degree:

1. Lead Discussion Group #8

2. Submit Financial Plan section of Business Plan

3. Submit Executive Summary section of Business Plan

4. Submit completed draft of Business Plan

5. Complete detailed Strategic Plan

6. Conduct peer evaluation for draft Business plan

7. Submit final business plan, hard copy of plan, Powerpoint, and video presentation (In other words ~~ the completed thesis)

8. Complete peer evaluation for final Business Plan

All this must be done no later than December 5th. On December 6th I then fly back to India for 2 weeks. I will get home on December 21st - just in time for Christmas and New Year.

All I can say is ~~~ WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thus Saith the Lord.....(not just me)

Have you ever wondered why some people are just never happy? This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. It seems we live in a society that is full of miserable people – and they LIKE being miserable.

That is what is so odd. It seems they enjoying complaining, gossiping, saying hurtful things about others, grumbling about little things, and the list goes on and on. The Bible defines such people as “speaking evil.”

How sad!! What is even sadder is that they want those around them to be just as miserable. Well, I for one, am NOT going to surround myself with that unnecessarily anymore. Life is too short.

When I see someone growling in a store I am going to smile and them and point out what a beautiful day it is, when someone tries to complain to me I am going to share a blessing from the Lord with them. Here are some verses I found today to go along with my train of thought regarding evil behavior and speech and that which is good:



Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; (See ~ everyone has a choice every day as to which way they will choose to go!!)

Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalms 38:20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

Proverbs 17:13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Amos 5:14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

Amos 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

A Look Ahead

The countdown is really on now. If I go by the official last day of classes, I have only 30 days of school left ~ BUT.......it doesn’t look like I can go by that date. It looks like I will need to finish sooner than that.

I of my classmates that I am doing a group project with is moving to Japan on December 8th, so we wanted to get done early for him. Now it looks like I may be headed back to India on December 7th ~ yet another reason to finish early. We are trying for the 5th, which means I have 25 days of school left. For so long it seems like this time would never come, now I can’t believe it is almost here!!

Regarding the India thing...it would only be for 2 weeks this time. It would be me and another co-worker, Kristin. We have put some stipulations on it, so we are waiting to hear back as to whether they are willing to meet those. I should have a definite answer sometime this week.

Thought for the Day:

PRAISE GOD ANYHOW!!!!

This statement was made to us during out revival last week – and what a wonderful saying is it. Take some time to REALLY think about it. No matter what is going on in your life, Praise God Anyhow. This is the Biblical thing to do!!

The phrase “rejoice in the Lord” is used 9 times in our Bible. And in those 9 times, not once does it say to only rejoice when things are good. As a matter of fact, just the opposite is true:

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Did you need that ONE word that is so important in this verse ~~ we are to rejoice ALWAYS!!

Praise and Rejoicing are wonderful things.

"Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely." (Psalms 147:1)

Do you ever have days that nothing seems to go right. I think we all do – and some of those days are worse than others. Instead of griping and complaining about our circumstances, we need to praise the Lord.

Here are some examples:

Your car breaks down - praise Him that no one had an accident.
Your furnace broke – thank God for the blankets you have.
All the kids are sick with the flu – thank God for medicine to help them feel better
We could look at much worse things, but I think you get the idea. No matter the circumstances we should praise the Lord. Think of Job.

I will give one more personal example. Anyone who knows me knows that just over 9 years ago our 12 year old son died in an accident and went Home to be with Jesus. Did it break our heart...YES....Did we praise God anyhow....YES, for many reasons – the biggest one being the God allowed us to have Steven with us for 12 years. He could have taken him away earlier, or never given him to us at all. And we know that one day we will all be together again.

Can you sing praise to God in the midst of trials?

Try it, you'll like it and so will God.

Our Week

Have you ever had a week that you couldn’t keep the days of the weeks straight? That was me this last week. We had a revival start on Sunday and go through Wednesday, so every morning I woke up and had to try to figure out what day it was.

Thursday finally felt like Thursday. Then, just as soon as I was feeling normal we had a blizzard!!
That meant no one worked on Friday, the neighborhood kids didn’t go to school, and all of a sudden Friday felt like Saturday. Hopefully I can go to bed tonight and wake up tomorrow knowing and FEELING like it is Sunday. I’m ready for everything to feel normal!!

JUST A LITTLE FUNNY

Ladies and cats tend do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
By the way, if your dog is too fat, YOU are not

getting enough exercise.

Here’s a couple of verses to think about:
Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

If those were the only verses you could find, it would be enough for you to live a victorious Christian life. Now, go back and read it again.

People need to realize just saying they are a Christian or going to church once a week and sleeping through a sermon isn't going to do it. Following Christ is a daily walk ~ not a once in a week ( or every now and then) exercise.

If we are going to make a different in this world, or even in just our own little neighborhood, we will have to demonstrate a "better way" to the world. What has God done for you lately? How about sharing with me – or someone around you what God has done for you today?

"And He walks with me, and He talks with me" is not just a sentimental song. It's a way of life. Enjoy it.

Take time today to put a song in your heart and sing for joy to the Lord. You’ll have a better day.....God promises.

This weekend I got a chance to have a long conversation with my sister. Don't get me wrong, we talk all the time, but this conversation was special. You see, I haven't sen my sister in several years, the reason being...she is in prison over 1500 miles away from me. So for these last 3 years our conversations are through letters and phone calls once or twice a month.

But, back to our weekend call. I got the opportunity to tell my sister just how proud I really am of her. She has used this time to work on a lot of issues in her own heart. It hasn't been easy. There have been lots of tears, guilt, anger, shame...you name the emotion she has gone through it.

She gets out of prison in February - and she is scared. But I know with the changes she has made, the issues she has faced, and the love and support of her family she is going to do just fine.

My sister Margaret isn't just my sister....she is my best friend, my confidante, and as my husband says my identical twin that just happened to be born 12 years after me. (No, we don't look alike...but our brains think alike, we complete each others sentences, and we just know what the other one is feeling.)

Someday soon I hope she will see this blog and know just how wonderful I know she is!!!!

A few words & then THE BOYS

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SKIP MY RAMBLING AND GO RIGHT TO THE PICTURES OF BRADEN AND TRISTAN!!

I just realized that I haven’t shared anything since just after I got home. Sorry about that. It has really taken me quite a bit of time to get back to normal (not that I ever was normal before....hahaha.) Actually, India gave me a lot of time to think and many of those thoughts have really effected me in more ways than I can put into words. I think spending 5 weeks halfway around the world, away from everything and everyone familiar to me – with at least half of that time alone in my hotel room – gave me a chance to reflect in a way I have never done before.

I think I have learned to love more deeply, laugh more often, and forgive more completely just because I have spent so much time alone with God and learning more about those things than I ever did when I was surrounded by all that God had given me. Now, I love the silence and the cherish that time more than ever before because that is when I know God can speak to me and I can hear Him more clearly. I don’t ever want to lose that and I know I’m not explaining in any way that does any justice.

I won’t get all mushy here. I just wanted to share a little of what has changed on the inside. And now to lighten the mood, here are a couple of recent pictures from when my sister and her husband Josh came last weekend. They brought my gorgeous nephew Tristan and he and Braden got to play together. They are absolutely adorable together – I pray they grow up as close as I did with my cousins!!

We tried to get pictures of their faces, but that is not possible....they are MOBILE! So instead I'll just add some captions.

For the most part the boys got along great, even when Braden saw the need to tackle Tristan. Tristan - being the most laid back baby in the whole world - just kept playing...as if having your cousin kissing your behind is an every day ocurrence.

HEY ~~~ what are these white things that hang in front of the windows????? They must be very special because all the BIG PEOPLE keep telling us NO!!!

Quick Tristan, look at this one before my Grandma moves us away again!!!

Just think......some day we'll get to play outside, just like the big kids do.

Finally Home!!!

Well, after 36 hours of flights, layovers, and lost baggage I finally made it home EARLY Saturday morning. I cried like a baby when I got through those doors and finally saw my family. God truly blessed me on that last flight. Everyone made sure I was the first one off (since the stewardess announced to everyone where I was flying from and how long I had been gone.) I think there were people from the plane that were crying too. It really was wonderful.

Now I am trying to get over the jet lag. So far there have been some major issues with it. I tend to be awake from 3am on, no matter what I try. That's no big deal though. I now it will all get back to normal soon enough.

I have so much I would love to share, but for today I'll just share this one point. India has definitely changed my heart and my life. 1/5 of the world's population lives there.....and VERY FEW know the Lord as personal Saviour. What a mission field. I won't be taking little things for granted anymore after seeing what I saw over there. If you are reading this and you live in America, you are more blessed than you probably even realize. Take time today to thank God for His goodness.

20 More Days Until I'm Home!!!!

I can definitely say I have learned a lot on this trip. What is one of the biggest things I have learned?????? I AM A HOMEBODY, NOT A WORLD TRAVELLER. A few days of travelling and sightseeing is good, but then I am ready to be in my own home, in my own bed, with my own family, and in my own church.

I am travelling with four other people and I am very thankful for their company. Today they all went to a forest to see monkeys, elephants, and tigers (in the wild) and then after dinner they were going to see a snake charmer. I stayed behind to work on my classes and write a humongous paper (that still isn’t done...maybe tomorrow.)

It has been quite an adjustment, in many ways, here in India. I wish I had time to share them all but that would take days. One thing that is very strange for me is how they wait on me hand and foot. As I was writing this I had to stop because they were bringing me my laundry – washed, folded, ironed the whole nine-yards! And they don’t want tipped for it. I have discovered that they will take American chocolate though. A good friend from work told me to bring a lot of that when I came and now I know why – they love it and think it is the biggest treat in the world.

It is just odd not doing anything....no cleaning, cooking, etc. You may think, “How great!!!” but no, I don’t know what to do with myself. Thankfully, in 20 days I will be home!!! Here are a few pictures. I’ll try to do some better ones tomorrow.

These are two little children I see walk by each morning on their way to school. This is from my balcony window.

Also from my balcony window, the "house" with the blue tarp is where these children live.

This is kind of hard to see. I will try to get better ones later. The buildings you see in the background are the buildings we drive by as we go to and from work each day. About a half mile past this you enter what is known as Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is where I work. It is the high tech industry. Other than the people looking different and the guards surrounding the building you would have no idea that you were outside of America.

This is another view from my balcony. This is our pool, which is actually located on a roof. It's hard to believe that looking one way I see this and looking another way I see a shack with a blue tarp.

This is the last view from my balcony. It overlooks some of the other highrises that are in the area.

Day 6 - Now in India

I can’t believe I’ve already been gone for 6 days!! It has gone by very quickly. I’m writing this at 1am on Sunday morning (India time) and that is because my body is NOT convinced that it is night time. Yesterday I finally went to bed at 4am and slept until noon.

Thursday and Friday were pretty long days with working and trying to adjust to a different culture. It really is a different world here. It make me realized just how blessed people in America really are.

One thing that amazes me here is the people. They would do anything in their power to service you. I asked one gentleman if they had any magazines in the hotel and he told me he would bring some to my room. I found out he ran down the street and bought them for me, just because there wasn’t any here. They service your food, dish it up on your paper and when they see that you a re almost done they are right there ready to dish you up seconds.

I am trying many different things – food wise that is – because I will probably never get another opportunity like this again. Here are a few pictures – but I have some others that I will share later.

This is a typical street that we drive by on the way to work each day.

Driving here is an experience in itself. I am going to actual video our drive to work one day for that you can actually see the whole trip!

Traffic got held up one this day because a cow decided to lay down for a bit to rest. When this happens you just wait for him to get up or try to find another way to go.

These were school children getting a hot lunch served to them.