Detta är Dagen

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

-Psalm 118:24


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Friday, May 30, 2008

"yong days"

These have been very very 'yong days' for us. Will's L's sound like Y's and often in the evening he'll sigh and say, "yong days" with a shake of the head and a serious tone. These have been very 'yong days'. Here are some pictures I've been meaning to post. Enjoy.
No, these are not gargoyals, they're just langour monkeys hanging out at our gate.
Pre-monsoon cleaning chez nous. Beneath our living room mat was a thick layer of dust - almost as tempting to play in as a sand-box. YUCK!
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A Woodstock graduation ceremony in Parker Hall. Well done, Class of 2008. We'll miss you. Don't forget that you are KNOWN (Ps 139).
Annie was content to sit in her stroller tugging her bonnet off her fuzzy head.
Tired Burchells eager to spend the summer abroad.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

It's all fun and games...

...till someone gets hurt! It's always a party when Sophia and Hannah are around.

(Don't worry, no one was really hurt in the making of this film.)

Cheese!

Friday, May 16, 2008

huh?!

During our time in India, we have received a number of odd emails that leave us saying: "huh?!" to ourselves, chuckling quietly, and shrugging our shoulders with utter confusion about what we're supposed to do next. This week we were working on ordering train tickets for our upcoming trip and so had emailed to specify which train tickets we would like to purchase. We noted particularly that we would like to purchase a ticket for Will as he is nearly 3 years old and does not sit well on our laps for a 6-hour trip. Neither of us quite knew what to do with the response we received (quoted below).
"You do not need to purchase a ticket for children Age 2. Also the ralway won't give him a seat but if you want him to have a seat then you have to show that he is 5 years old. Please let us know what needs to be done."
HMMMM...
Nate suggested the following:
"Dear --,
Please forge a document stating that our son is 5 years old and purchase a ticket for him."

However, in the end, I dejectedly wrote back to request tickets for only Nate and me. I'm still not really sure what our options were! Nate thinks that for about a dollar we could get Will a fake ID and pass him off as a 5-year old.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The crocuses on my table...

This weekend we worked in our garden a bit to try to repair a little stone wall where the mountain seems to be falling down. The monkeys have eaten nearly everything that was growing in our garden, so all that is left there are crocuses. While we were in the garden this weekend, Will went to pick some of the blossoms and Nate and I told him firmly that he was not to pick the pretty flowers in the garden. He seemed to understand, but then yesterday I came out of the bathroom only to find Will waiting for me holding out a big bouquet of crocuses. He had such a proud grin on his face and said, so sweetly, "Mamma, fwowers", that I discarded any thoughts of scolding him and instead, thanked him for the flowers. He is so thoughtful and loving, and I am so blessed by God with this son. The crocuses now sit in a vase on my table.
Here's the rest of my family:
Proud Pappa and Clean Annie

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day

Here are the kids who call me 'mamma'. Sometimes I still find it strange to hear a little voice calling "mamma..." and realizing that it's addressing me. This is Will's favorite place to sit and watch people walking on the path past our house. He loves to call out to them and tell them that he's doing fine or tell them about Annie - hollering things like, "Annie, sleeping" or "Annie, sad".
Annie had her first bites of rice mush this week. She's proving to be a hearty eater and loves sitting at the table with the family. These kids are not always happy, though, and Will can be particularly grouchy- like when I was trying to get a nice picture of him with his parked bike:And what would my children do without middleschool students to entertain them from time to time? Here they're devouring the attention they're offered.

I am truly a happy mother, and am so thankful for my mother who gives me such an example of love. Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Camping

Finally we had a weekend with nothing scheduled, so we called up Jared and Emily and asked them if they wanted to go camping on Flag Hill for a night. The tattered Tibetan prayer flags are strung all over this hilltop (which gives it its name), and it is nice and flat with space to set up tents in the shade of the pines. We walked all the way there from our house (about an hour walk) and Will quickly forgot his tired legs when we arrived at the top. Will found a walking stick just like Jared's and tried to mimic everything he did.
It was so peaceful with a cool breeze and no people around that we almost forgot we were still in India and only a couple of miles away from home.
Will helped collect firewood for our fire and we soon set up tents in this shade. Annie loves being outside and was content to lay on a tarp and chew on her toys. She even managed to roll over for the first time, so now we'll have to baby-proof our house!