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!”    

  At our six thousand foot destination, these ridges are pulled together at their disciplined peak like a tightly drawn sari.  From our parking place at the Snake Temple below, our band traced a well-worn seam three hours into wilderness to a cave tucked a few thousand feet below the peak near a stream.  We dropped our packs, collected firewood, filled water jugs, and set about making chai. Phil diced a ginger root into boiling stream water over the fire.  As it gave up its flavor, he added tealeaves to brew.  Then milk, then sugar.  Each ingredient had time to boil into the tea.  We miss in America what much…

  gratitude #515. Saturday, March 19, 2011   our nephew, Ilan Alejandro Vargas.  Welcome to the family, little man.  We can’t wait to meet you!    

  holi. Saturday, March 19, 2011      

  the pool. Friday, March 18, 2011     (You can see glimpses of our balcony in the two above photos . . . it is at the bottom right.  The window to the right of the balcony is David’s office; to the left, the kids’ bedroom.) Can you guess what is one of our favorite features of our apartment?? I feel so blessed to live here this year.  The more I see of our crowded city, the more I realize how much space Judah and Amelie actually have, with a playground, patches of green grass, and this pool.  Funny how your perspective changes.  These last few months I felt…

  gratitude, #480 – 514. my first attempt at homemade bagels Maggie’s bagel recipe Judah helped me roll the dough the electricity only went out for a couple minutes mid-batch summertime in our city cloudless skies the wind that makes our mornings cool the pool Judah’s preschool Judah is learning to write “B’s” and “3’s” settling back into a routine quiet mornings with Amelie after-school donuts at the Donut Baker today the Donut Baker employees, who invite Judah and Amie behind the counter to explore my two big kids, sitting on the auto seat next to me waiting for the “I’m in labor” phone call from Becky talking baby names…