Back in the USA!

We're still "jet-lagging" here but I wanted to post some pics from our trip to India while they were still fresh. We had the most amazing trip; I'll try to post some snippets when I can make more sense :).


The Taj Mahal--breathtakingly beautiful, massively crowded!


Obviously, a camel. We saw a wide variety of animals--some of them occupying the same road as a million cars, motorcycles, and rickshaws!


Street scene--this one looks pretty empty, but you can see the green and yellow motorcycle rickshaw--they were everywhere!


Hubby and me! I'm wearing a salwar kameez that does nothing to flatter :). A salwar kameez involves pants, a very long top, and a scarf called a dupatta (sp?). Do you think wearing indigenous clothing helped me blend in? LOL

Back Briefly From Blog Hiatus

Last night our church held its Annual Fall Family Fun Festival. We enjoyed dressing up in fun costumes, eating pizza with our friends, playing games, and eating candy. While preparing my camera for my trip tomorrow, I remembered that I had a few pics I could post. K. was a pumpkin, N. was a mad scientist, M. was a doctor, and E. and I were nurses. Enjoy!






Later Days!
Kelly

Blog Hiatus

I know it's been while since I've posted anyway, but this is a post to tell you that it's going to be another while 'til I post again :).

Tomorrow, Hubby and I plus another couple from church are leaving for India! We're excited, nervous, nauseated...well, you get the picture. This is going to be a big adventure for all of us (and I believe, the longest flight any of us have ever taken).

Please pray for us as we travel, pray for our children and parents as they "hold down the fort" for us, and pray for the people we meet in India!

I'll take lots of photos & post them when I am able.

Later Days!
Kelly

Field Trip

Yesterday was such a gorgeous Fall day that we took a field trip to Congaree National Park! What a wonderful piece of God's creation and a perfect day to enjoy it! For those not familiar with the park, it is actually a swamp--remember Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox, from American History? Fortunately, these days you get to walk on an elevated boardwalk for much of the hike, rather than slogging blindly through the muck. It's easy to see that a soldier who knew the swamp had a clear advantage over the British soldiers in pursuit!

I only took three photos and they aren't even good ones, but they DO include my children so I'm posting them for the grandparents :). For those who aren't related to my children, just enjoy the scenery and ignore my lack of photography skills, please. Incidentally, the pic of K. and M. inside a hollow tree--that's a fake hollow tree in the visitor's center. Real hollow trees often contain wild animals, birds, bats, and bugs.

Later Days!
Kelly

10/17/09

Let me begin by stating that I'm posting another old photo because I haven't yet taken any new ones :). Due to a dissatisfied customer who remain nameless (Mimi), I'll try to post pics that only include my children...except when I don't. Kidding, Mimi. :)

Friday night and this morning, I participated in a special workshop at church, discussing our church's goals. Our goal, and that of every church and every Christian, should be to glorify God. Our sessions included discussion on doing this through prayer, worship, evangelism, fellowship, ministry, and discipleship. The focus was on being intentional in these things...fully present when we worship, praying unceasingly, etc. It was an incredibly uplifting AND convicting conference!

I need to have personal goals in these areas of spiritual growth. Maybe you do, too? Enjoy the Lord's Day!

Later Days!
Kelly

Missing In Action....

Things are getting crazy around here! Our trip to India is coming up soon and we've been doing all the prep work that goes along with an international trip: inoculations, passports, visas, reservations, etc. along with having to pay for it! Praise the Lord, He is providing for us!

One reason I haven't been blogging lately is because the batteries for my camera were pirated for the Wii controllers!! Grandparents are going to stage a coup if I don't get some grandkid pictures up soon! Perhaps I'll be back to snapping photos soon--hmmm...maybe I should remove the batteries from all the video game controllers....In the meantime, I'll just pull out a picture from days gone by, okay? In fact, this pic is from Nov. 14, 2008!

Must run feed my crew!
Later Days,
Kelly

Fall is in the air!

The weather is changing, folks, and it feels great! Those steamy, humid days of summer are changing into brisk mornings and darkness by 8 p.m.! This is my favorite time of the year and I've been celebrating by taking more walks with the dog, digging out the cool-weather clothes, doing K.'s math flash-cards outside on the swing, and burning yummy scented candles in the evening.

Homeschool is slowly developing its rhythm; devotions and a couple of chapters from a read-aloud together in the morning, independent assignments in science, history, composition and literature, and math with oversight by mom (least favorite subject for everyone). My high-schooler knows what is expected of her and is fairly self-propelled these days, including her own record-keeping. Throw in some chores, some walks with the dog, snacks, and occasional breaks and you have our school day. I love that the kids have plenty of time with each other, with mom and dad, and to pursue solitary pursuits.

I'm in for an interesting experience tonight :). To prepare for an upcoming trip to India, we're meeting with some friends at an Indian restaurant. Two of the friends we're dining with just got back from India and we are going to pick their brains for information and travel tips (as well as what to eat)! I expect to have a great time with this group--I always love spending time with these fun Christian friends!

Later Days!
Kelly