'Tis the Season...

We have been having beautiful days here, temps in the upper 70s during the day, cool enough to sleep under a blanket at night. It's green out (well, at least under the layer of dust) and the flowers are entering their peak season. So it's hard to feel like it's nearly Christmas. The boys have been off of school for nearly a week now. We had a great big cookie baking day when some team members were in town, dipped some chocolates too - thanks to my big-hearted Mom who sent lots of goodies to us. That was a lot of fun and helped us feel a little more like it really is December. We helped throw a cookie/fuchka party for the office. I brought in the tiny little tree we keep on the verandah and the boys helped me string up lights and hang little elephants. I must say I don't miss the hectic schedules that most folks "back home" have at this time of year. On the other hand, I do miss those times of being with friends and family. As I sit in the light of the tree, sipping coffee in the early morning darkness, I find myself wrapped in bittersweet feelings - and I am learning to taste it all, the bitter and the sweet. But that is a whole other subject...

Merry Christmas everybody!

Recent Highlights

The past month has been full and overflowing. It would be impossible to put it all into words so I am just going to share a few highlights.

Steve and Rhoda Zook, friends from Ohio, came and spent 2 weeks with us. We thoroughly enjoyed taking them around both Dhaka and Mymensingh, to all our favorite places.


Last night was the Christmas production at school. Riley took part in the Donkey Dance - he pretty much stood on the stage with a big grin on his face, bumping into a fellow donkey from time to time.



Jensen was an astrologer for King Herod.


Pruitt was an innkeeper. They each thoroughly enjoyed their roles.


Other highlights - Korbani Eid which gave an opportunity t dress up and go visit friends, not to mention feasting!


Thanksgiving was extra special, thanks to friends from the home office who went a turkey and fresh cranberries over.


Lots of shopping trips with our friends.


We visited a number of projects with them. Here a batiked sari has just been dipped in indigo dye.


We went through a paper-making project called Banoful.


Jensen took a trip with his class to Mymensingh, to visit Sacred Mark and other projects.


There have been a couple suitcases full of goodies to unpack.


Pruitt had his hair dyed red.


And I finally got to see this little princess, the same one I went to see in the hospital about 6 months back (and posted a photo of). She is one precious little girl!

There is much more I could write about - exhilarating moments and deep sadness. Suffice it to say that the changes of the past months have been draining. It was a deep blessing to have friends here and now that they are gone, I'm sensing the need to create a quiet space in my life, a space to listen, to heal, to rest. So I am doing things that are uncomfortable for me - asking for help, admitting I can't do it all, taking some time off... waiting to see where the journey will take me.