We're baaaaaack!!!

Yeah, after 20+ hours of travel time we are finally back on US soil. We got home on Wednesday afternoon and since then have been catching up with family, unpacking and trying to overcome jet lag and an almost 12 hour time difference from what we were used to. The kids did OK on the planes except Lydia not wanting to sleep on the flight from London to Chicago, but all that does not matter now because we are home. I'm going to keep this one short and sweet b/c I am posting it from the local library as our internet has not become reactivated yet. Feel free to drop us a line on e-mail or give us a call, we would love to hear from you. Maybe by next week we will be up for visiting all our friends who we greatly missed.

16 (almost 15) days and counting

The countdown begins again. As you can tell by the title, both Jeneson and I are very anxious to finally get back home. It has been great being here and a wonderful experience for all of us on so many different levels, but now we are in the home stretch (pun intended). I am so glad that Jeneson has gotten to spend some good quality time with his parents and that they have really gotten to know the kids. I am sooo grateful for the time that I have been able to spend with my family here and with Minie and Mom in the kitchen and learning how to cook some good Indian food. Josiah will certainly miss his Appachin and Ammachi along with Minie Aunty, Jenny & Jonnathan. Our goal this last couple of weeks is to get some video of the kids, especially Lydia, with all the family. In these last two weeks we just have some last minute shopping to do and to get some family photos taken. we look forward to seeing you all when we return. HOpe you all enjoyed all the pics of Goa.

Goa pictures

Beach bums

Well, we have been beach bums for the past week and a half during our vacation to Goa. The resort has been beautiful and they did not even give us any hassle for changing our room after 3 days. Our first room was beautiful, but it was pool side and they have entertainment every night from 7:30pm - 10:30 pm. Not the most ideal when you have 2 kiddos that go to bed between 7 & 8. Our new room is away from the pool, nice and quite and on the second floor, so we can open our curtains to a beautiful field area with coconut trees and birds.

We have developed a good routine here. After waking up at about 6:30 we go to breakfast at 7:30; the omelet station is delicious. Then we head back to the room for the sun screen application and one of us heads to either the pool or beach with Josiah while the other one hangs out in the room while Lydia takes her nap. Josiah loves swimming in the pool and at the beach will spend a couple of hours playing in the sand and jumping in the waves. After playtime comes a lunch of PB sandwiches and bananas; some would call us cheap, but I just say that we like peanut butter. I try to coordinate so that we can all get an afternoon nap together, it is absolute bliss when it all works out. Then we head out to the beach for dinner at one of the many delicious (and cheap) beach shacks and a nice walk before heading home for bed. Ah, the life of the unemployed on vacation in Goa. We head back to Mumbai on Wednesday and then just 3 short weeks until we are back on US soil. We have had a great time in India, but are looking forward to getting back home. I think we will be in for a shock when we have to get back into the routine of work and stuff. More later, including pics.

Newest pictures

Happy Easter

Happy Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, He is Risen indeed!! We had a nice Easter here. First on Thursday evening we had a communion service celebrating the Last Supper, then came Good Friday service and Easter service today. I will up load the album that has some pics from church. It was great to be able to celebrate this year with Jeneson's family and all the church members. Not too much new here, which is good. We are getting ready to leave for Goa on Tuesday for what we pray will be a nice relaxing vacation at the beach.

The newest thing here in Ghatkopar is the mall. Yes, I typed correctly. It is actually only a 5 minute rickshaw ride away. This is apparently the biggest mall in Mumbai, although most of the stores have not opened yet. They have a few of their main stores open, including one called Big Bazaar which is kind of like a Super Walmart on a smaller scale. Another store is like a Kohl's type store with clothes, jewelry, furniture, household stuff and more. It is like walking around a mall in the States. It certainly is quite a shock to go there. It is not shocking that you can get this stuff in Mumbai, but the location is a bit odd. For those familiar with Chicago think of a Yorktown mall in the middle of the Austin or Lawndale neighborhoods, but more extreme. I think I have mentioned previously what living here is like and some of the conditions that people here live with. You literally walk out of the mall and are visually assaulted with the reality of poverty of people living in 10' x 10' shacks, kids running around naked, and garbage bins overflowing with refuse. It certainly makes one think about the items in the bag that you are carrying, the ease of affordability and their necessity. I thank God many times a day for all the blessing that He has given us.

Ho Hum

Not much new here which I guess means that we have settled into a routine and are doing fine. Josiah is still loving school, it is sad that he only has two more weeks left. He is doing great on the potty training and we have even ventured out on short outings in just underwear. Lydia is now officially crawling, but is still slow and methodical about it, she loves to go after paper and crawls to the kitchen to visit the ladies. I'm getting more comfortable and independent in the kitchen and have now started to write down some recipes. I'll be happy to share them with others when I get home as long as you are comfortable with approximate measurements and adding spices according to your tastes. Jeneson and I are currently planning for a vacation to Goa (relaxation and beaches) for just the 4 of us for the end of April. Then just a few more weeks and we will be home (according to Jeneson's FB page, there are only 53 more days). While we are settling in here, we both miss home and the comforts of our own place and routine. I personally miss watching Josiah play at the playground and am thankful that it will be warm enough when we get back to start hitting the playgrounds. That's all for now. We would love to get e-mails from you guys who read this to keep us connected to you all.