the alley. Sunday, January 2, 2011      

  bangles. Tuesday, December 28, 2010     A South Asian friend gave all the little girls on our team their very first bangles for Christmas.  In Amelie, lover of jewelry and all things sparkly, she couldn’t have found a more grateful recipient.  Although Amie hasn’t quite gotten the “bangles” idea down yet, and prefers to wear just one and pitched the rest one by one across the room.  

  he says. Monday, December 27, 2010   Judah: “Bye, Nina!  I’ll text you when I need you.” Judah: “Can I keep you company, Mommy?” me: “Judah, you pushed Annie down, so you have to get a spanking.” Judah: (big fake yawn) “I so tired, Mommy.  I will just rest my eyes and put my head on your shoulder.” Judah: “Amie! No no, big girl!” Judah: (walking down a crowded street with David) “Look at all these bozos!”    

  multitude monday, #350 – 368.   Monday, December 27, 2010 first Christmas in South Asia … fun and special in its own way our whole family was healthy on Christmas day two new South Asian-authored books … which I’m already devouring Keli’s homemade cinnamon rolls Maggie’s homemade Christmas Tree bread Christmas in our own place … playing, reading, napping, sipping coffee friends to celebrate with Christmas night potluck dinner that was truly sumptuous scoring the turkey carcass to make my mother-in-law’s after-Christmas soup growing more confident in my new kitchen morning and evening cool breezes bright late-December sunlight Skype our new, wood bedside tables our apartment is taking on…

  christmas morning. Saturday, December 25, 2010      

  naming names. Friday, December 24, 2010   It’s remarkable just how many names Luke drops in his two opening chapters (and 3.1). And they mean everything for his message.  Jesus comes not just to earth but to people.  To peoples.  To names. He comes for Jews, the children of Israel, of Levi (Zechariah and Elizabeth), Judah (Mary and Joseph), Asher (Anna) and all tribes, for high priest (Annas and Caiaphas), Levitical priest, religious teacher, prophet and prophetess, poor couple, marginal shepherds.  For every position, for every vocation, for every pedigree, he comes. He comes for the Gentiles, the wealthy (Theophilus), accomplished physician (Luke), wicked centers of political power from…

  what i like. Wednesday, December 22, 2010   Spicy popcorn chicken at KFC Fast food made without preservatives Bright-colored saris Zero percent humidity most of the time I have yet to see a roach in our apartment What I don’t like Everything here is spicy – even breakfast Big mosquito bites that cover Amie’s legs Straining to decipher thick accents Blaring temple music that starts before 5 a.m. on holidays Checking under the merry-go-round for cobras  

  cardamom chai. Monday, December 20, 2010   One afternoon last week I awoke from a nap and lay in our darkened bedroom, feeling too depressed to move.  We are nearing our one-month mark, and the realities are settling in.  Some days are just so, so hard.  It’s not one particular thing; it is everything added up … the dirt, the poverty, the brokenness around us, the power outages, the pollution, the appliances breaking, the traffic, the noise, the loneliness, the humiliation of feeling like an incompetent foreigner, the homesickness, the physical exhaustion of carrying our children everywhere … everything. So I got out of bed, and went to the…

  multitude monday, #325 – 349. Monday, December 20, 2010   Okay.  I don’t really feel ready to do this today, but I am realizing I need Multitude Monday now more than ever.  So here goes … inexpensive antibiotics for sinus infections a pharmacy within walking distance pharmacists who give you whatever you need without a prescription a husband who lets me lay down and rest 40-minute morning walks with Maggie, three times a week new, almost-physical hunger for Sunday morning worship service reminder of my purpose for living here feeling desperately “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5.3).  Today’s reminder from Matthew that that’s a good thing peaceful Sunday afternoon cooking…