The best Valentine's I ever had...

I am a firm believer that marriage gets better and better over time.  You get to know your partner better, you grow and learn from shared experiences, and you continue to “leave and cleave” and become your own family.  Today I was reminded once again how much I love my husband, how caring he is, and how thankful I am to have him in my life.

We’ve never been a couple that does a lot for Valentine’s Day.  Sometimes we’ll go to McDonald’s and get an ice cream cone or something and we usually get cards, but nothing too fancy.  Even so, I was a little sad that we’d be spending it apart this year, since I am in India.  I had a big meeting and presentation downstairs at my hotel today, so I went down around noon to prepare.  The presentation was over by 3pm, and I headed back upstairs to my room to work a little longer.  As soon as I walked in, my jaw dropped to the floor.

I had two dozen red roses waiting for me in the room.  My very first thought was that I wished they were from Brent, but I didn’t know how in the world that would have been possible.  So I assumed they were from the hotel.  It’s a pretty nice place, and this wouldn’t have been out of the question.  In fact, I actually did find a rose and handwritten note from them on my bed a little later.  But anyway, as I looked closer at the flowers, I noticed a card with my name on it, and it was in Brent’s handwriting.  I began to get more excited.  When I opened the card, it was all over.  I was immediately in tears.  He’d written me a precious note on a card that we’d bought together while we were here (it was a set that we bought to give out to our friends as thank you notes, and he must have saved one for me).  Then I noticed the vase that the flowers were in.  When I first moved to India last September, Brent bought me a vase and some flowers to welcome me to our apartment.  My Valentine’s roses were in that very vase.  I was speechless and just couldn’t fathom how he’d pulled this off.

I finally got to talk to him a few hours later (this time zone thing is driving me crazy!) and found out that he’d planned the whole thing before he ever left India!  Before he left, we found out that I’d have to come back and would be here for Valentine’s Day.  So he’d  given the vase and card to our friend, Taha, and asked him to give it to the hotel today.  Taha was in my meeting and came a little early to drop off the flowers and have them delivered to my room while I was downstairs.  This was a surprise that was weeks in the making, and the execution was flawless!

I am still overwhelmed.  I think this is the best surprise I’ve ever gotten.  I told Brent that it might even be better than when he proposed, because I truly wasn’t expecting this one, and it showed me once again how much he loves me.  God calls husbands to love their wives, and Brent does that so well.  He’s truly a caring and gently spirit, and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. 

I’ll cherish this Valentine’s Day forever, and that vase is definitely coming home with me.  It’ll be in our home for a long time to come!

My beautiful roses

 The card

(And the single rose left by the hotel)

Take two...

Well I didn’t expect to return to India quite this soon, but here I am, almost 4 weeks to the day from when I left Bangalore, sitting right smack in the middle of the city again!  I’m working on an acquisition integration project at work, and I’m responsible for readiness at our Bangalore site.  It’s a really fun (and BUSY) project, and I love that it’s kept me in touch with India. 

Brent returned home about two weeks ago, and it was so good to see him.  We were back to being a full family (not living on different continents), we had our little kitty back with us, and it felt so wonderful to be in our home together.  And then I found out that I needed to make a return trip.  Ha!  So after only 11 days of being back together, I headed back to the airport to make the 30 hour trip across the ocean.  I was definitely sad to be leaving Brent again so soon, but this trip is only for 10 days and I’m thrilled to get to come back.  He encouraged me to take the opportunity since we probably won’t get to come back on our own.  I will get to make at least one more trip in April, and then who knows after that.  So I’m thankful for this opportunity. 

It was amazing how much it felt like home when I stepped off the plane in Bangalore.  And once again, the very first thing that caught my attention were the kind, brown eyes of the Indian people.  I don’t know what it is, but they just have the sweetest faces and are so eager to help in any way that they can.  I just love that.  I love that I really know this place, that I know the customs, that I like the food, that I understand the quirky little things that are so foreign to others the first time they visit.  I feel like I belong here, and that makes me happy.

In addition to being a lot shorter than my first trip, this experience is also a little different, because I’m getting to stay in a super fancy hotel instead of our cozy (read: slightly run down but very endearing) little apartment.  As much as I’m LOVING the upgrade, I do miss our little place.  Brent and I really made that apartment our home, and I’m so glad we got to experience that together.  One of the things I really loved about our first trip is that we lived like so many of our Indian friends.  It wasn’t a luxurious living arrangement, and we were really able to relate to them a lot better as a result.  So again, I’m enjoying the heck out of this hotel, but it definitely makes for a different perspective.    

My trip agenda is packed with work events (I’m working both Saturday and Sunday – blah!), but I’m hoping to be able to catch up with some friends while I’m here.  It’s so fun to see everyone at the office again.  It really has been like a homecoming. 

I love this country, and I’m happy to be here and to be able to stay connected with it from my project at work.  What a blessing! 

A welcome return...

(Note: I wrote this post right after returning to India and completely forgot to post it to the blog.  So here it is a few days late!)

My return to the States has been filled with more joy than I ever thought would be possible.  I expected to feel strange, to be sad, and to feel listless.  I am indeed sad about leaving India, but I found out yesterday that I’ll get to return for a visit later this year as part of my assignment at work.  My heart is full over this, and I will eagerly anticipate that visit.

But I’m here now, and God has, at least for now, ended my season in Bangalore.  But there are remnants that will keep me connected to that beautiful country and group of people.  I’ve made friends that I can stay in touch with over email and Facebook.  And one of the friends that I made there actually moved to the US a few weeks back, so I’ll meet her for lunch next week.  I think it’ll feel comforting to see her, and I hope that I can show her the love and hospitality that was poured out on me the last four months.  I want to take her around, show her some of my favorite things, and cook her a meal in my home.  I’m feeling so excited about getting to do that.

My first day back was a little different than I’d expected, but I saw God’s hand at work.  After about 36 hours of travel, I arrived in Richmond and had my friends, Jen and Jody, pick me up.  My friend Jen is pregnant, and I found out while I was away, so it was so fun to see her and her cute little tummy.  They drove me home, and I got to my house around 9pm on Wednesday night.  I came in and realized that my heater was out, and it was FREEZING in the house.  My neighbors across the street who have been getting my mail and caring for the house came over and told me that they’d noticed that it had gone out a few days ago but didn’t know what was wrong.  They tinkered with it and even researched my model online to see if they could identify the problem.  I was immediately reminded of the lessons that God taught me as He prepared to bring me to India about love and support from friends.  I live in such an amazing community of friends and family.  They told me that I could shower and sleep at their house that night and we’d figure it out the next day.  While I wanted nothing more than to be alone in my own home and sleep in my own bed, I sensed that somehow God was using this.  One of my greatest fears before I returned home was that I’d have a desire to “hole up” in my house.  I was a bit overwhelmed by the thought of interacting with so many people so soon (like I said, I expected to feel very sad and listless upon my return).  I wanted to enjoy my house and my things, and I feared that I’d quickly lose some of the ways God has grown me over the past 4 months.  So the fact that from the very first night I was in the company of others was no coincidence.  My neighbors have a daughter that’s my age and is on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ in Australia.  She was home for a visit, so we got to stay up and talk about our experiences like college roommates until it was time for bed.  And the bed they offered me was one of the most comfortable I’ve ever been in (or maybe I was just exhausted – I’m not sure!).  I slept so well that first night.

The next day I played with the heater a bit more and realized it was just dead batteries in the thermostat, so the house is toasty warm again.  And my home was a sight for sore eyes.  I’ve always loved my home, but since I’ve come back I honestly think it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.  I feel like a kid playing dress-up and still can’t believe that this house, my clothes, my things are mine.  While I don’t want to find my joy in material things, I’m so very thankful for the ways that God has blessed us and I’ve seen my things with new eyes and a deeper appreciation since coming back.  I had breakfast the first morning and immediately got ready to wash my bowl out, since I’ve been used to having only a couple bowls and plates over in India and needing to wash them after each meal.  I stopped myself and remembered that I had 7 more clean bowls in the cabinet and a dishwasher that I could just throw it into.  Again, I don’t want to ever become spoiled by these things, but I was just in awe of how much we have.

I’ve made a few trips out and feel good being back home.  I stocked up on so many fruits and vegetables that I think my fridge might explode.  I’ve loved cooking again over the past couple days – such a joy for me.  I’ve talked to my family several times, taken a walk through my neighborhood, enjoyed wearing a coat and gloves (!!), and will be going to have coffee with my friend in a few hours.  Tonight I’ll head to Williamsburg to have dinner with Mom and Dad Louie and pick up little Ella.

I’ve laughed several times since returning, mostly when I bump into people by trying to pass on the left side.  While I still get tired very easily right now, I’m back to a normal sleep pattern.  I haven’t had any trouble at all sleeping since I’ve come home, and I’ve been going to bed around 9pm and waking up on my own around 6am.  And while that schedule is shifted a little earlier than I kept before I left, I once again see God’s hand at work.  Brent and I talked before I left to come home about the fact that we’d need to be very intentional about carving out time in the morning to do our Bible studies.  We could do them at night, but it’s easier to get distracted by other things, and we’ve enjoyed starting our day in the Word.  We figured we’d need to wake up around 6am to do it before getting ready for work.  So the fact that God’s naturally gotten me on this schedule is amazing to me.  I’ve been enjoying my Bible study time in the quiet of the house each morning with a cup of coffee, and it’s been such a blessing.

Brent returns home in about three weeks, and I can’t wait to see him.  Before I left, I cried and told Brent that I was sad to be leaving.  And while I would certainly miss him, it wasn’t really about being apart for three weeks.  I was grieving for the end of that season of our lives together.  We’ve grown so much together, and I’ll miss those experiences with him.  But as I sit here back in my own home, I’m honestly filled with such a sense of hope and anticipation.  I know that God still has big plans for us, and we’ll just start a new season together back home.  A season lived by two people who are more in love with each other, who know their God better than before, and who see the world with different eyes.  That makes me excited and joyful.

I honestly can’t even begin to put into words what these past four months have meant to me, but they’ve been some of the most special and meaningful of my life.  I’m so thankful for that time, and I can’t wait to see what God has next for us.  This may be my last post for now, but I’ll start again on my next adventure in India later in the year. 

God is good.     

A bittersweet goodbye...

I can’t believe I’m heading to the airport in about 3 ½ hours to go home.  Wow.  There are so many things going through my head.  I’ll probably have to do a separate “debrief” post when I have a little more time.  But I thought it was only fitting to do one last post from my little apartment in Bangalore.

I’m beyond excited to come home.  I miss my house, my family, my cat, my neighbors, my food, my stores, my friends, my church, my “things”, something familiar. 

But at the same time, India is familiar now.  It feels like home just a little bit.  And so I’m very sad about leaving.  I’ll miss the unique culture, the friends I’ve made, our apartment, this simple lifestyle, our routine, the food.  I’ll miss this season of life that I’ve shared with Brent, where we’ve learned more about one another, challenged each other, gone through trials together, taken care of each other, laughed together, cried together, experienced God in new ways together, and loved one another deeply.

But something I wasn’t expecting to feel was a sense of anxiety about returning to “normal” life.  I’m not sure what it’ll feel like.  The normal things might actually feel a bit foreign at first.  And I think that people will expect me to pick up right where I left off, but I’m a different person than I was when I left.  I’ll need some time to assimilate, and it makes me feel overwhelmed to be honest.  

I feel a little scared that I’ll have to do all this without Brent, as he’ll be staying here in India for another three weeks before returning home.  One of the things that I’ve enjoyed the most about India is how much more independent I’ve become, but I’m once again going to have to put my big girl pants on and step out.  I’ve got a lot of travel in front of me, getting reacquainted with friends and family, getting readjusted physically to a new time zone, going back to work at our Richmond campus, and figuring out our new routine.  It’s daunting to think of doing it alone, but I know that God will be with me.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned through these last 6 months, it’s that God is ever-present with me, He goes before me, He understands what I need, He’s already prepared the way, and He loves me.

So with that, I’m going to close down my computer, spend the last couple hours I have with Brent, and then load up my bags and head to Bangalore International Airport one last time (at least for now...I truly hope to make it back here at some point).  And the cool part?  Brent called Vishwanth, the cab driver who we shared the gospel with a few weeks ago, and he's going to drive me to the airport tonight.  Seems only fitting to end my trip this way!

When all you can do is laugh...

Today is my last full day in Bangalore, so Brent and I went next door to the salon to get massages.  They’re mediocre but exceedingly inexpensive, so we decided it would be fun before I leave.  I’ve only had a few massages in my time, but this was without a doubt the most hilarious.  Here’s what ensued…

The girl, speaking only a word or two of English, shows me to a dark room with only a table that looks something like what you’d see in a chiropractor’s office (or a prison, I’m not sure which).  She starts to shut the door and leave, but I quickly catch her before she leaves and ask her what I was supposed to do.  I was pretty sure what the drill was, but I definitely didn’t want to embarrass myself.  With more gestures than words, I understand that I am to take my top off and lay on the table with the towel covering me.  Ok, easy enough.

She comes back in the room and gets ready to start the massage.  After pouring what had to be a liter of hot oil on me, she commences.  At this time, she proceeds to climb up on the table with me, straddle me, and perch herself on my behind.  Now this wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for a family massage.  We do this all the time when it’s Brent, my sister, my mom, etc.  But I’ve never had a “professional” masseuse sit on me before.  Ok, not a problem.  I guess she gets better leverage.

Then a little further into the massage, she starts to get the sniffles.  I felt so bad for her, because I’ve been in that situation before (well maybe not that exact situation, but one very similar where my nose is running and there’s nothing I can do about it).  Lest there be any drippage on me, she decided to use the towel that was covering me to wipe her nose!  She must have done it 10 times during the massage.  Inside my head I was giggling uncontrollably and cringing all at the same time. 

I had just started to relax again when it happened.  Now maybe there just happened to be a leak in the ceiling that had held off until then.  But I suspect otherwise.  Her poor little nose dripped right on my bare back!!!!  GROSS!!!!!  I was hoping she’d notice and politely wipe it off, and we’d go on.  Unfortunately this wasn’t the case.  She just kept right on massaging it into my back, along with the 4 liters of hot oil that she’d put on me by this point.    

I couldn’t wait to get out and tell Brent and it.  It was such a funny experience.  There are times in life when truly all you can do is laugh and go on.  This was most assuredly one of those times!  I gave her a tip, and we parted ways, but this is one massage I won’t soon forget!

I’m heading back to the States late tomorrow night, and I sure will miss this place.  There’s just nothing quite like it.