the air-conditioning. Thursday, May 5, 2011

  in feast or fallow. Monday, May 2, 2011   When the fields are dry, and the winter is longBlessed are the meek, the hungry, the poorWhen my soul is downcast, and my voice has no songFor mercy, for comfort, I wait on the Lord In the harvest feast or the fallow ground,My certain hope is in Jesus foundMy lot, my cup, my portion sureWhatever comes, we shall endureWhatever comes, we shall endure On a cross of wood, His blood was outpouredHe rose from the ground, like a bird to the skyBringing peace to our violence, and crushing death’s doorOur Maker incarnate, our God who provides When the earth beneath…

  in search of holy water. Sunday, May 1, 2011   Arvind and I took our final hike together before we make our visa run to the States in a couple weeks.  Driving east of our city, and past two small towns where two pastors were recently threatened, we arrived at a temple tucked away in a wooded climb. The town is neatly divided between Muslims and Hindus.  Squat, domed mosques with sea-green minarets face towering, colorful temples.  One is image-less.  The other teeters with roughly designed figures of armed gods.  One is color-sparing.  The other explodes with every conceivable hue.  One is attended by black burkas.  The other, brightly…

  gratitude #587 – 605. Saturday, April 30, 2011   a sudden afternoon downpour rain-scented air heavy-laden, side-of-the-road fruit stands juicy sweet mangoes mango smoothies and mango milkshakes the pool is clear today Colleen and I navigating Commercial Street with both kids McDonald’s chicken nuggets and french fries and soft-serve ice-cream The God of Small Things – intoxicating, heart-breaking learning to love salty snacks with my afternoon coffee, South Asian-style sleeping in and breakfast in bed, thanks to my husband Keli came over to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 with me a fastidiously clean auto driver the smell of honey and camomile in my tea empty…

  cars. Friday, April 29, 2011      

  bedhead. Friday, April 29, 2011      

  accessorized. Friday, April 29, 2011      

  reunited. Thursday, April 28, 2011   These kids love each other so much and are happy to be together again after over two months apart.  We’re very excited that Hadi and Josiah will have a new baby sister in August!    

  blossom book shop. Wednesday, April 27, 2011   David is out of town again this week, so we had a family day on Monday.  We went downtown to Church Street, and found our way to Blossom, a big, famous used book shop in our city.  It is three stories of winding, crammed, dusty aisles of books.  Perfect.  We came away with treats for the whole family.    

  stop the madness. Wednesday, April 27, 2011   We are, I believe, on Day 5 of a 12-day Hindu festival in our city.  There are no words to describe the amount of noise that this is producing (but if you call on our Vonage phone, we’ll make sure you get a chance to hear it). Imagine a drum line.  Then imagine whistles.  Then shockingly bad Hindu music on loudspeakers placed strategically around our neighborhood.  Then add a foghorn.  And to top it all off, last night there were fireworks.  Lots of fireworks. A couple of our (South Asian) neighbors went to the police to complain about the noise this…