at the lake. Thursday, March 31, 2011      

  “toy story number two.” Thursday, March 31, 2011      

  a family getaway. Wednesday, March 30, 2011   David and I had hoped to take a mini-vacation before heading back to the States in May to switch visas.  We talked vaguely about somewhere near the beach, but then God dropped the perfect opportunity in our lap.  A friend working in the north put us in touch with a British family who lives in a gorgeous mountain town about eight hours’ drive from our city. We instantly clicked with the family over email, and they helped us get a room in this charming, amazingly affordable hotel just five minutes’ drive from their house.  We spent the last five days sleeping,…

  market day. Wednesday, March 30, 2011   Monday is Market Day.  We walked with the crowds down Cloud Street, one of the main shopping streets, and ended up at the Cloud Street Cafe, a little family owned restaurant where we ate several happy meals this week.  Judah and Amie had the run of the place with the owners’ two-year-old, Aaron.    

  from kodai. Monday, March 28, 2011      

  gratitude # 516 – 537. Friday, March 25, 2011   Judah’s “I’m at school” dance back to the gym no cobras on the “cobra street” Kid A on my iPod music so familiar I ache inside a body sore all over the electricity held out for three loads of laundry and a batch of cookies yesterday care package candy: peanut M&M’s and Starbursts and Snickers shopping on Commercial Street a pair of earrings that cost a dollar filling out NCAA tournament brackets with David — the winner chooses our next date-night restaurant a Skype appointment with my counselor Amie’s new sunglasses Martha got her plane ticket! pictures of our…

  a day in the life. Thursday, March 24, 2011   It’s hard to capture for you what we have and don’t have here.  My (David) trip to Office Depot the other day may shed some light.  We have an Office Depot!  We don’t have electricity during the day or enough hot water to take a full shower, but we do have an Office Depot.  Some of our friends serving in more remote parts of the world are grimacing with jealousy.   In putting together my home office, I decided to research a quality printer to purchase.  I hate to spend money, so I am the type of guy who…

  how i do it. Wednesday, March 23, 2011   About a year ago I read a post on a blog I frequented, called “Taking Care of Me.”  If you click on the link and are not a wife or a mother, don’t be put off.  I think the post relates to everyone.  The author talks about learning to organize her time in order to find things that “revive her spirits,” which for her, as a busy working mom of two, is “essential to survival.” That post made an impression on me, and got me to thinking and talking to David. I hesitate to write about this.  Because in doing…

  what i like. Tuesday, March 22, 2011   This city is always, always alive, from the time I wake up, to the time I fall asleep Burning-hot coffee served in little tin cups Hot in the sun, cool in the shade My children notice the cows and the doggies and the tractors, not the trash and the sewage and the smog Auto drivers who don’t try to charge more than the meter rate What I don’t like Dogs and rats mangled on the side of the road Air so dry my throat is always parched Auto drivers who think I’ll pay three times the meter rate because I’m a…

  he says. Tuesday, March 22, 2011   (Judah and I are meeting a group of women at church) woman: “So where in the U.S. are you from?” me: “I’m from South Carolina, and my husband is from the Washington D.C. area.” Judah: “And I’m from Georgia.” (p.s. if you are a little newer to our blog . . . Judah is not from Georgia, nor have we ever lived there) ————— me: “Judah, if you can’t share I am going to take it away from you.” Judah: “I can’t share.  Take it away from me.” ————– Judah: “To in-fin-ery.  And beyond!”