You Put Gifts...IN SOCKS??

I wasn't really planning on decorating for Christmas much but the other day we went to this market and I saw they were selling little fake Christmas trees. Its a bit tackiesque but its fun to have a little Christmas cheer. Last night a string of neighbor kids came by to look at the splendor. My househelper comes and turns it on every day so she can look at the lights while she is working. She is a bit confused though by the stocking I put up on my door. "You put gifts...IN SOCKS"?? she asked. (Well...yeah..) She just looked at me like I was a big weirdo. She has a way of NEVER hiding her facial expressions. But today, I told her the Christmas story and that it was the real meaning of Christmas. Thankfully, she took to that better than the socks.

When The Darkness Does Not Lift

Ever since returning from Nepal, I seem to be walking in a dark cloud. I can't quite explain it or shake it. I physically have been holding my head down and would prefer to stay underneath my covers all day. Of course I don't. I get up and go about as usual. But the melancholy follows me around like a shadow, robbing me of joy. I believe enough in His faithfulness to know that He is here. Even when my faith sinks out of my own sight, I know it doesn't sink out of His. So, for these days, I depend on His severe mercy. And I wait in this time of darkness for the morning to come. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 40:1

I'm Back

This morning we arrived home from our whirlwind journey. We got on a bus, to get on a train, to get in a taxi to get on a rickshaw to finally cross the border. (over the river and through the woods....) And then we had to reverse the process to get back home. But all in all, it wasn't a bad trip. I enjoyed seeing a different side of South Asia. The people were gentle and peaceful. The women were beautiful and there was a quietness there that just doesn't seem to exist here. I was glad for the time depend on Him and go through another adventure with Heather. Our trip even had a few surprises. It turns out we found an excellent restaurant that served western food. I had a cheeseburger one day and fried chicken the next!! It was a dream come true...and yet another evidence of His grace. ;-)

The Air Was Filled With Spices

We had the chance to visit the spice market in the capital city. This was a wholesale market that supplies many parts of the country with essential cooking ingredients. I coughed my way through the cobbled lanes because the smell of spices was so thick in the air. I feel like I had the chance to see a different part of life here.

Here we are, sitting on top of the rickshaw that took us around the old part of town. Just being together was most of the fun! That lady was just really short, we were not that far off of the ground. ;-)

So...if they specialize in EVERYTHING...doesn't that make it less special?

The Land Of Palaces

We also had the chance to visit a city that is well known for its beautiful history of royalty . I felt like I had stepped back in time as we saw spectacular palaces and hilltop forts from the days of yore. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be a princess. Apparently it would have involved monkeys.

Part of the city was known as the "pink city" because all of the battle scarred buildings are painted the same Terra Cotta pink color

This was called the Wind Palace. It was built for the women of the royal household to watch the royal and religious processions without being seen.

Monument Built For Love

The Taj Mahal has been described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his second wife, Mumtaz, who died giving birth to their 14th child. I had the chance to see it this past week while traveling with a friend who came to see me from the distant land of Texas. The Taj really is as breathtaking as they say it is. The sun gleamed off the white marble. making it almost painful to look at. My friend was smart and wore sunglasses. ;-) We had a wonderful time together as we explored and experienced one of the seven wonders of the world. The only thing better than seeing the Taj Mahal is seeing it with a dear sister.