July 2021

We started July off with a retreat among other coworkers in town. It was such as wonderful weekend of refreshment, strategic conversation and the kids having fun with other kids. 

For July 4th we started the day off at the JW Marriot hotel in town for their great breakfast buffet. I endulged in the danishes and Ezra was so happy to see fresh puri. It always delights my heart to see the South Asian influences blossom in them.  

We have really enjoyed the kids golf class with other kids in town. It meets a few times a week and has been such a great outlet for activity and in person socialization since their schools are still closed. 

We were also really happy that the waterpark just outside of town opened up. It is about 25 minutes from our house. All the pools in town are closed so this opening during the hot summer days is such a blessing. We usually get the yearly membership because it pays for itself in 2 visits. We have been going on Thursdays after the kids zoom classes and early Saturday mornings which has been a lot of fun! 

The life guards took a while to get used to the fact that our kids know how to swim well. Most adults in India do no know how to swim so the fact that such young kids are able is quite a surprise to them. 

The kids and I love to go for "sweet treat trips" especially to the Chocolate Room for a fondue. 

The kids have been making lots of new friends in their golf class. I am thankful that they get to play with other kids and it really encourages the idea that it is a kid's sport too, not just an adult game. 

The community center behind our house is such a blessing. 

Space in general to play freely is a rare find in a city with 1.5 million people. 

We love finding animals roaming the roads.. especially horses. 

Playdates with friends are the best! 

The. kids love when I pull out the sewing machine and show them how to sew. We started a Christmas quilt with fabric that my mother in law sent to me years ago but we will see if we end up completing it. 

It takes a lot of persistence to finish a quilt. 

We took the stars off the bottom bunk because they didn't get enough sunshine to shine bright. Instead we painted a beautiful floral mural. Madelyn loves her girly bunk now. 

Madelyn's class had a special day of dressing up like your favorite book character. 

Madelyn chose Marley the dog. She looked so cute! 

We love nimbu pani which is a local version of lemonade. It is sold on the street made fresh. Ezra asked if he could help the young guy make the drink for us and the guy let him. Ezra loved it! 

We really enjoy getting to spend quality time with our partners especially over dinner at good restaurants where no one has to cook or host and we can just fellowship well. 

These elephant statues were such a hit with the kids. 

Madelyn has learned how to play Skip-Bo. It is her favorite game and she asks to play every single day. I'm so thankful to be getting into more strategic games with the kids. 

More stray animals to pet.. this time adorable calves. 

I play ALOT  of card games, but I love it!! 

The kids and I watched a lot of the USA gymnastics team in the Olympics. Its fun to teach the kids about such big events.  Ezra was equally interested in the Indian teams competing in badminton and archery. He has such genuine Indian pride. 

We got to go to a birthday party for the first time in a very long time! Ezra's classmate invited us and we had the best time visiting with new and old friends. 

Ezra is very into magic tricks these days. His teacher even let him perform a magic show for his classmates on their zoom class. 

We love having friends over and teaching them new games. These are some of our very best friends. They go to our church, live in our neighborhood and are such a joy! 

A bird made a nest in the tree outside our living room window. She laid 3 eggs and 2 hatched into baby birds. We got to watch the entire thing stage by stage from very up close. It was amazing. 

Any day the weather is cool enough we love to sit outside in our small back area and enjoy the fresh air. Contentment is key to thriving overseas! 

Another precious dinner out with some partners and their kids. 

It is such a blessing to see how our kids naturally fit in with Indian children. It is something we have prayed for for years and to see God graciously allowing it to happen is wonderful.  

We have a little table for kids to eat at when we have larger families over for dinner. One evening our friends came over and the kids sat to eat and prayed beforehand by their own initiation. Small moments like that are such a praise for any mother! We pray God makes their faith their own year by year. 

When out at a partners we got to play with a new puppy. Madelyn loves all the animals that come with village life. 

The whole family playing Mario Kart with a partner. Introducing American culture and games to friends is such a hoot.