Saturday, February 23, 2013

Life is Good

Life is wonderful. Everything is working out for now. I like to really try to live in the moment during these short seasons of my life where everything seems to finally be going right. As if there was a right or wrong way for life to go.

Yesterday all the staff on our base were invited and encouraged to hop on a big bus and ride two hours to get to a beach. A BEACH! Everytime we go on picnics here to lakes or rivers it always consists of sharp, rocky shores and not so enticing water to swim in. However, this time we actually went to the sea. Salt water, sandy beach, sea shells everywhere, and millions of tiny hermit crabs. It was fun. I went swimming for a little while then spent most of my time in the water holding hands with a 4 or 6 year old girl who kept trying to jump over the "HUGE" waves. It was fun. Just being able to submerge yourself in water is very rare here. No one has bathtubs in their house. No one. It's always showering or using a bucket and cup to bathe. No where can you usually swim around or even just put your whole body underwater, so I like to take advantage of these times.

Here are some pictures from yesterday's time at the beach:












 And here is from our time driving home from the beach.






I really liked this old man in the back of this truck. It happens all the time, but this guy was just chillin'


I really loved the look of this overgrown, abandoned building. I always like to imagine what these places looked like when people were living there, cooking rice and daal, laughing, and feeling safe in this place they called home. Whatever happened to them? How did it become abandoned? I'll never know.


I thought it was impossible, but turns out my husband is able to get sunburned. I also got burned for the second time since arriving in India, but you don't need pictures of that. It's quite common to see white people sunburned.

And lastly, we have a new addition to our family. A little kitten named Arya. I love her so much. I didn't think I could ever love a cat but I love her. My neighbor's cat had three kittens and so I gladly took the one female. Although I better see how much it'll cost to have her spayed or whatever cause cats in India are production factories as my neighbor calls them.



This is literally what she looks like this very moment as I am typing this blog.


So, I hope that you all are enjoying life right now and living in each moment because you won't get it back. So be thankful for this moment, whether it's a good or bad one.

In other quick news. This week we will be submitting my I-130 Petition for Romel to get his Spouse Visa. Please keep that in your prayers as it usually takes months for them to process this and then once they process it he can finally apply for his Spouse Visa here in India. Pray it goes by more quickly so we can come earlier to the U.S. and that it continues to go very smoothly. I just can't believe how fast and smooth it's going since we hired this very wonderful lawyer. 

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Home Sweet Home

And I'm suddenly in 90 degree weather getting sunburnt.

Seeing Romel again was so wonderful and I periodically wake up at night and smile because I know he is next to me in bed. It is pretty much the worst thing in the world to be separated from the one you love.

Leaving my family is never easy, but we always take comfort in the fact that we'll see each other again soon and next time Romel will be with me. We were able to finally pay the immigration lawyer and get Romel's Spouse Visa things on the way. I have been carefully selecting e-mails and photographs to send the lawyer. I have been filling out forms and requesting letters from family, friends, and church who are supporting us. It's easy to prove we're truly in love, but it is not an easy thought knowing we have to. I keep thinking, "if only I had married an American my life would be easier." but then, who wants an easy life? Life should never be easy when we are following God. Besides, I've never been one to take the easy way out of anything. This season is just a further testing of our trust and faith in God. Nothing is ever in our control. Nothing is ever under our influence. We see that over and over again and we're just in our first year of marriage! It's no wonder cross-cultural marriages on average are longer and stronger than marriages within the same culture and country/state.

So, a few days before I left I shaved part of my head: 


France's bathrooms in the airport were super cool.


I hate layovers.


Opening Christmas gifts.


Together again at last.


Chai!!!!


My welcome message on our front door.


A journey through the wilderness. An Exodus.


"Moses" leading his people.


Israelites.


The weather. I know you're jealous my Dear Minnesotans. How's that foot of snow treating you?


It certainly is good to be back in India. But I certainly cannot wait for everyone in Minnesota and throughout the U.S. to meet my husband later this year. Keep our immigration journey in your thoughts and prayers.