What Goes Around

Last night a friend of ours was returning from the airport late, after dropping his parents off. The taxi was stopped by some bad guys and my friend was beat up and robbed. Please pray for Daniel to heal from his injuries and to find peace about the incident. I am assuming the taxi driver was also hurt and robbed, so pray for him too. Thanks.

Last night I had a Christmas party for the ladies that come to aerobics. I am one of the worst party planners, but it turned out great. Everyone came late, which added to my anxiety. I always am ready way early and Indians usually come way late. I had a friend with me to help me pass the moments. We had lots of cookies, chocolate cake, momos and chai. I was given a very high complement by ladies when they drank my chai. Several said, "Very nice chai. You are turning Indian." So that was nice. I also think I make pretty good chai. I like cardomon chai. I squish a green pardomon pod and boil it with the tea leaves. I also give a shake of cinnomon sugur in the leaves. It makes it taste so nice. We played charades with different movies or actors. That went over well also. And then we had an arm wrestling competition. That was my idea. So we had the Americans vs. Indians. I thought that the Indian ladies would be weak, but was surprised that all of us Americans LO...

Today I ventured out to go Christmas shopping. I didn't think it would be so crowded if I went in the morning. Morning turned into afternoon when my househelp didn't show up on time. So I went to Khan Market, which is an expensive, but easy market. I had only a few things on my list which I thought would be easy to find in Khan Market. I drove around trying to find parking and ended up on the side of the street close to a "no-parking" sign. There were other cars so I figured I was okay. A little old lady who sits on the side of the road started talking to me as I got out of my car. I thought she was saying, "Give me food" and she was waving a cup of chai at me. I shook my head and walked away. All the while thinking, "What was she saying?" Later it occurred to me that maybe she was warning me not to park there. Anyway, off I went for my shopping. First stop was the Levi store. Steve mentioned yesterday that he would like a jean jacket, ...

I just have to tell you how stupid people make me so upset. I just want to hit them. Today my househelp told me she quit her second job. She had only been working for them for a couple of weeks. They paid her well. The problems started when Bimla (my househelp) arrived a little late on a holiday. It was hard to find a bus so that is why she was late. But the woman she was working for yelled at her and scolded her for being late. Now I know how it is to have to wait for Bimla to show up sometimes and it can be frustrating if you have other things to do. But to scold someone like they are a child is rediculous. Last week Bimla's brother was in an accident and she got the phone call at my house. She was very worried. His leg was got a very deep cut and he was on his way to the hospital. When a person has to stay in the hospital the family has to bring food, and sometimes sheets. It is good if someone stays with the patient to take after them. So Bimla called her second jo...

Yesterday I watched the movie Teera Zameen Per and loved it. This is a Hindi movie, but I heard it is dubbed in English now. I highly recommend it. SO I have added my two favorite songs from the movie to my playlist here. But to help you out I am also copying the English translation to the first song, Maa (Mom). I loved it. I cried, smiled, cheered. Check it out.

Thanks Linda for tagging me. I don't even have seven people to tag though. Sad me. 1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog. 2. Share seven random and/or weird book facts about yourself. 3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. 4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. 1. I read a book this year that made me so mad that I made comments in it about how stupid I thought the author's ideas were. "Created To Be His Help Mate" is the title. DON'T READ IT!!! 2. I also would like to write my own book one day. I started a daily devotional book many years ago and I think I wrote two days worth of devotionals. Then my mind went blank. 3. A book is coming out this next year that I am in. An American lady, Miranda Kennedy, is writing a book on Indian ladies and she has a bit about my gym in it. She let me pick out my own alias and I chose Betty. ...

I have decided the next thing I want to give. I want to make hats and give them to the beggar kids. So now I have to find a store that sells yarn. I thought it would be easy to find a store because a lot of people knit. My first trip out to buy yarn resulted in no yarn. I have one of those Nifty Knitter circle looms that helps you make a hat or scarf or leg warmers. I could make a hat a day if I don't have a lot of other things to do. But first I need yarn. Oh where is the yarn in this city?

Today's newspaper reports that we are on the highest alert level for terrorist attacks in the city. The airports in India are preparing for attacks or hijackings. At least three air marshals are reported to be on each flight leaving the city. http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/top-story/airports-turn-into-fortresses.aspx Last Sunday while I sat in church, instead of listening to the sermon, I was thinking about terrorist attacks at our church and what I would do. Outside our church we have two or three armed guards. I thought about a church in Pakistan that was attacked a few years ago and several people were killed. I don't mind being killed, but I don't want Micah to have to witness anything like that. So the kids go off to Sunday school. What if someone just attacked the Sunday school area? Oh boy. I am reminded again to "take every thought captive". And I tried to concentrate on the sermon and not on my terrorist thoughts. So t...

OK, so God must be really trying to teach me about giving. Yesterday I listened to a sermon and it was also about giving. Random? I don't think so. I asked God to show me how to have joy and this seems to be what He wants to show me. So I share my giving with you not as a way to brag, but as a way to spur you on to greater giving and joy. Last week I listed online all my gym equipment to sell. I would love to get some of our investment back out of it. On Sunday I met with a friend who lives in another part of India and she was asking about the equipment. She wanted to know how much because she is thinking about opening a gym for women. I told her that I wouldn't sell it to her, but I would love to give it to her. I am all for the benefit of the women and the chance for my friend to get to know the ladies better. She told me she would still need to think about it. The minute I walked in the door after meeting with my friend, the phone rang. It was a guy respondin...

After doing the "5 Things Meme" I have been thinking about the million dollars that I have to do something with. I am also reading the little book, "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn. It is about giving. Apparently I will find more joy in giving than in keeping. So, if I ever get a million dollars at one time, I hope I give it away. I would rather have a million dollars worth of joy. That is what I am really after. I have been thinking about joy and wondering how to get it and then I found out that it is in giving. I am going to try it out. Let's see if it is really true. I want to be a giver. If someone needs a blanket, I want to give them one. If someone needs money then I want to give it. There is plenty of opportunity here in India to be a giver and I want to start taking those opportunities. Even if the person I give to is not grateful (which they seldom are here), I want to be grateful that I can give. And in this way I will store up...

Give this a try. 1. Put your iTunes on shuffle. 2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer. 3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS! 4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the meme as well as the person you got the meme from. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? Victory In Jesus - The Door WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Lazy Days - Enya WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Lies - Keith Green HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? Holiness - Sonic Flood WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? Wings of the Morning - Caedmon's Call WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? Children of Light - Vinyard WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Storms in Africa - Enya WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? Under the Floor - Switchfoot WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? You - Jaci Valesquez WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR SPOUSE? One Love / People Get Ready - Bob Marley WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? I Fought the Law - The Clash WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Galatians 5 -...

Here is my list of 5 things about me 5 Things on my to-do list Make banana bread with the rotten bananas Make the bed Buy presents online for family members Pop the zit on my nose Get my prescriptions refilled 5 Things I like to snack on cookies toast with butter and peanut butter coke and whatever popcorn, although I don't have any anything someone else makes 5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire Save money for retirement support missions more College for Micah Buy a fur coat (just kidding) Open the gym 5 Places I have lived Oregon Washington Kenya India California 5 Jobs I have had Payless Drug store Airport in Kenya Delta Airlines Gym in India Cleaning airplanes for Alaska Airlines

This is the time of year that many start worrying about their weight. Lots of goodies to eat and less sunlight to be outside in. I am thankful that I am not in America during this season so that I don't have to constantly be consumed by my weight. We just don't seem to have the temptations here that are there. Part of me misses all the parties and the food that goes with it, but the other part of me is happy to not have them. So today I weighed myself. It has been two months since I have had the wonderful opportunity to step on the scale. I've been walking more and doing aerobics so I thought I would see a difference in the numbers. After two months the scale says I am .4 kg. less than I was two months ago. Notice the small point before the 4. If it was 4, without the point, I would be thrilled. You see, in America I gained 8 kg, so 4 would still only be half. But no, there is that small little dot before the 4. This past year I have learned something about mysel...

Why would I read your blog? I don't find you interesting in person.

A few days ago I was asked by a lady who use to come to the gym, to be a judge at her school's dance competition. So I agreed to do so. Today was the day. There were only three schools present and it wasn't dance, it was aerobics. There were other competitions as well. Indians like to honor the special guests with lots of flowery talk. So each judge was introduced. All the other judges were men who were heads of departments at different universities. About me it was said that I had my BE (Bachelor of Education) and an aerobic certificate from America. Both of those are not true. And it was said that I am an aerobic instructor now. That is true. So I sat for an hour as different teachers spoke their appreciation for all who had come. Then finally the competition began. On the stage was first the group singing competition. Three school groups sang loudly to Hindi songs accompanied by accordion and tabla (Indian drum). Very long songs. And finally it was the aerob...

Yesterday was another aerobics day. One of the ladies who normally does aerobics had offered her basement for us to use for aerobics. So we all walked over to her house and the guard rang the bell for us. Her servant answered and said "Maam is sick today and is sleeping, so you can't use the basement." So we headed to my house again (where there is no guard and the servant had left). We pushed the furniture aside and squished together. I had to adjust some steps so we wouldn't kick the walls or each other, but other than that it worked quite well. We had six ladies and 4 helpers that I told to just sit and watch. I am amazed at how many times I need to make adjustments. I think I have something all figured out and then something happens last minute. I have learned to be flexible most of the time and not get my panties in a wad over it all. Sometimes I freak out and want to throw in the towel (last week), but if I see it as God having other plans than mine I ...

Another week has started here in India (even though my blog time says it is still Sunday). Looking back at last week I can say I am glad that it is done. I had a rough week. I felt down all week. I would like to blame Satan for it, but maybe it was God trying to teach me to rely on him. Maybe we give Satan too much credit. Anyway, I am glad it is over. So looking back here is what I have learned: I have to continue to self-talk myself into the right way of living. Sounds all new age, but it is biblical too. "Take every thought captive..." Thoughts run through my mind with things like, "I am done with India" and "This is too hard." But when I turn to God to check those thoughts I don't hear him agreeing with me. So I must quiet those thoughts. When it is time for us to move on to a new job I am sure God will make it semi clear. And the Word tells me that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bare. So it is not too hard. ...

Every time I look at my blog I get depressed. I only have two followers and no one has commented. When I look at my friends' blog she always has like 15 comments to each of her blog blurbs. I either have quiet followers or only 2, and one I added myself. So if you happen to read my blog, could you please add yourself as a follower.

We have been having aerobics twice a week in our community center. There is a "ladies only" time each day from 2:30 - 4:30. So we meet at 3:30 for an hour. My first complaint is that this is the worst time of the day for ladies. Kids are coming home from school, they need to fix food, it is rest time. But in India it seems women are second class citizens so we get the dregs. Well now the community center wants to charge an arm and a leg for each lady that comes. The men who come each day to play badminton pay 200/- ($4.00) for the whole month. They can come mornings and evenings each day. So why do they want to charge us ladies 500/- ($10.) to come at the worst times and only given two hours available? So now I have to find a new place to have the aerobics. I get so frustrated with feeling taken advantage of. I think part of the reason they want more money from us is that I am a rich American. We get charged more for so many things. The vegetable guy sells us veg...

Yesterday I was visiting Khushboo who is spending a few days at her family's house. Since none of her sisters are married yet, I get to answer her "personal" questions about marriage. So we sat and talked about what is normal. I encouraged her to keep taking the vitamins I gave her so that when she gets pregnant the baby will be healthy. She asked if that meant the baby would be big and she would need a c-section. I told her what the different vitamins would help with, especially folic acid. Before she got married she said she would prefer to wait a few years before having a baby, but now she is anxious to be pregnant. I asked her if her husband wanted a baby soon. She said it wasn't him, but his family. She lives with the extended family so she daily interacts with the mom, sister in-law, and granny. Khushboo said that almost daily the mother in-law asks if she has any "good news" to tell them. Meaning, "Are you pregnant?" And the grann...

It has been almost a month now since Khushboo got married. I have seen her a couple times. Last week she was at her old house and I came over for chai and to visit. She was staying for a few days. She said her husband called everyday, several times, and was missing her. He calls her "My Baby". I am told that he buys her bananas every morning and chips in the afternoon. The family's routine is different from her old one. The sleep late and stay up late. Dinner is often after 10. So she is hungry in the afternoon. Hence the chips. So I just wanted to update the blog to let you know that she is doing good. And my initial reaction towards her husband was just my shock. He seems to be a good guy. Here is a picture of the reception. That is him sitting in the fancy chair next to her.

The other day I was thinking about greeting people with kisses. I am very much a non-kissy person. However, the world seems to be full of kissy people and I am learning how to break out of my comfort zone a bit. I have a tainted history of kissiness. I remember my first awkward moment was when I was in France when I was 19. I met a guy named Ole Fagerli from Norway. After a few months of working with him in France, it was time to say good-bye. So I thought I would do the french greeting and kiss on both cheeks. I didn't know what the Norwegian way was so this was my default. Well Ole was going for the American way of not kissing, but just hugging. So we ended up just touching cheeks together and I made an awkward kissing noise. This was quite humiliating. It seemed like such a weird sounds. I still cringe at the memory. Then there is my husband's family. They are a very kissy bunch. In fact, they kiss on the lips. Now for someone who had never kissed anyone on th...

We got a dog for Micah's birthday. His name is Spot. Micah named him. I find it humorous that he chose the name Spot. You see, I had a "spot" incident in my past that was quite humiliating and the incident was always known as "the spot". It even took some counseling to work through it this past year (after 14 years of pain from it). SO to have a little Spot now that is so cute is refreshing and a reminder of the God's goodness in helping me through my pain.

This is my newest nephew, Daniel. He was born on the 14th and weighs 7lbs. 12 oz. What a sweet little boy.

Saturday was the wedding of our friend, Khushboo. She is the youngest sister in a family of 9 siblings whose parents died several years ago. I would guess her to be 20 years old. This was an arranged marriage. Her oldest brother had met the guy once or twice before the wedding. Khushboo didn't even get to see a picture of the guy. Before the guy even arrived she had signed the paper saying she would marry him and was officially married. Then the guy arrived...... Azhar is the groom. He was said to be around 31 years old. He comes from a good family in old Delhi. When I saw him my stomach dropped. I would guess his age to be closer to 40. I filmed his arrival and then brought the camera to Khushboo to show her what her husband looked like. I couldn't see her face because she was all covered, but she said, "Aachaa luckta hai." That means, "He looks nice." I was introduced to the grooms family and thought they all seemed pleasant enough. Then I w...

Next week I will start two classes of aerobics for the ladies in the community. I haven't taught aerobics in over a year and a half and have about 10 extra pounds on my body to prove it. So I have been working on my routines (I feel silly just saying that). I'm using some great songs. Oh Mickey! Remember that one? And I Think We're Alone Now, by Tiffany. Too bad no one here will know how cool these songs really are. So this morning I was going through the routine and got to the floor work were I do the doggie and donkey moves. You know those? Where you are on hands and knees and doing leg lifts to the side and back. Well I can hardly do 8 and my rump is killing me. And I am suppose to be the leader here. Yikes! I already knew that most of the 10 pounds were down there, but this made it a sore subject. So I am starting to worry about next week when I am in front of ladies. What if I get a cramp in my gluteus maximus and can't move? The positive side of al...

I know this song doesn't have the best words, but I love it anyway. And I think it comes from the Bible so it is Christian. 2 Cor. 4:9 "We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going." This was my theme last year (and last week when I fell).

I fell! No one knocked me down, I just fell. One second I was walking along and the next I was down. I had a few images flash before my eyes, which was a new experience. But nothing about life. They were just images of falling. I either stepped on poop or slid on mud. Either way, I went down. One leg went straight out in front, the other stayed bent, which helped in the quick get-up. I put one hand down to catch myself and now that hand is all bruised. From the wrist to the palm is black, blue and red. But the worst part of falling is all the people around. Thankfully it was getting dark out, which may be why I didn't see the "mud". It was right where the cycle rickshaw drivers wait for customers. I heard a few "tsks" which is like saying "oh, too bad." Then I shot back up and dusted off my behind. Usually I laugh when people fall, but this time I didn't laugh.

Several of my Indian friends have asked me lately, "What is wrong with your face?" This is never a question you want to hear or answer. When I look in the mirror I ask the same question though. Yesterday my good friend was over and of course the subject of my face came up again. There is a wedding in a few weeks and she hopes my face will be alright by then, because everyone will be looking at me. The problem is that my body has betrayed me. Here I am, 37 years old and I have more pimples then I ever have had before. And it really doesn't help to pick at them. So I have red spots on my forehead, chin and cheeks. I am a big freak! Indians are so honest with their comments too. Like when you gain weight they say, "You are fat (healthy)." Or when you lose too much weight they say, "You look thin and sickly." And now with zits on my face, "What's wrong with your face?"

The story continues.... The MCD let us have three days to remove our items from the basement, known as "the gym". We got everything out except an old shelf that probably has a next of cockroaches under it. There was no electricity so we had to work in the dark, damp basement by just the light that came in the door. My friend and I stood outside the gym waiting for the MCD guys to show up to de-seal the door. I'm so thankful for this friend. She is so loyal. Then we looked inside. What a mess. After four months it can get pretty dirty. Most of the equipment is too heavy for us to move so we just started gathering the smaller things. A guy friend showed up and got things rolling. He hired a truck and a few guys to help load everything. A lady from the gym is letting us use her basement as storage so we had everything taken there. What we didn't realize is that her basement is worse than ours. It has about an inch of water on the ground. But what can we do?...

To me, the letters MCD have never brought happy thoughts. But yesterday that changed. Yesterday the MCD came and opened the gym door so we could move our things out. MCD stands for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. What I see them doing is removing store items that have been placed on the sidewalk (displays or signs) and removing cows from the streets of Delhi. The last couple years they have been enforcing the property laws regarding businesses in residential areas. They have closed thousands of businesses in the last few years. Mine was closed by them in May. This wasn't my first run-in with the MCD. About three years ago they came in our neighborhood to remove signs and merchandise from sidewalks. I had a sign out in front of the gym that was a sandwhich board type sign. While I was away at lunch the big truck came and they loaded my sign in the back along with all other items they had confiscated. I was truly naive to the situation and felt it was unfair that my s...

Our gym has been locked up since May 7th. It is the craziest thing really. We have a beauty parlour in the gym also and the mean ole city people came when the gym was closed but the beauty parlour was open. So the lady that runs the beauty parlour talked to the guys and made them angry, which may be why we didn't get a warning about the closure. They asked her to step outside and while they were talking to her they put a lock on the door. That's it! So everything is inside (hopefully no customers). This past week we have gone to the city office to see if we can get the door opened for a day to get the equipment out. This isn't the first visit to the city offices. Back in May there were several visits and then in June too. So it turns out that some of the workers have not been showing up for the past three weeks, kind of a strike. I guess they are striking because of a new rule being inforced regarding the removal of cows off the street. Anyway, the guy in charge ...

Today I used an umbrella to shade me from the sun for the first time. I have always thought that people looked silly using umbrellas for the sun. But today I was visiting a friend and when I left her house we commented on how hot it was. She said I should have an umbrella. I told her I didn't even own an umbrella. So she rushed back inside and brought me out a new umbrella to have. So of course I used it. The thing I like about it is that when I come up to men on the street it hinders the eye contact and conceals my identity a bit. So maybe I will continue to use the umbrella.

September has begun. This month Ramadan is celebrated. I believe it starts tomorrow. That means our friends will be fasting. It also means that at sunset time we get to celebrate the breaking of the fast with them. This is a great time to gather with friends and eat a really quick snack. The minute the alarm sounds you are suppose to put something in your mouth and start eating. They don't want people to wait because then you might become proud that you kept the fast longer than someone else. There is usually fruit, dates, some fried snacks, some sort of boiled beans like garbonzo beans, and water. After you quickly eat, the men go to the mosque to pray. The women hurry and make the evening meal. People go to bed early during Ramadan because they have to get up early. I like the month of Ramadan because of the community feel. Everyone is doing the same thing at the same time. You may send a plate of food to a neighbor right before sunset so that they can enjoy your foo...

Today we celebrate 13 years of being married. Amazing how time flies when you are having fun. That is like kindergarten to graduating from high school. We will go out to dinner tonight and our little guy gets to spend the night at his friend's house.

In May the gym was closed down by the city. For a couple years now the city has been closing thousands of businesses for being in residential areas. They finally got us. They are suppose to give you notice so that you can remove your belongings, but for some unknown reason we were not given any notice. The city guys just showed up and five minutes later a lock was placed on the door. So here it is August and things are still the same. The lock is on the door. Our Indian friend has gone to the city to try to get the place opened for a day to remove items, but this also is a slow process. So for now the equipment sits locked up in a basement to rot. The landlord of the gym is no where to be seen. There is rumors that he is in jail. His wife is hiding at her mom's house. I don't think it has anything to do with the gym, but probably other business deals. I have heard from several ladies that went to the gym. They all tell me how they miss the gym and really want it to ...