... home.

Dearest Sister.
I'm not quite sure how to fully convey the awe and wonder (no wait...) blissful, magic? (nope..) There are really no words... but I will try.

On Wednesday you talked about the place you love... Home

It felt quite humbling that both you, and the song that was stuck in my head, was reminding me that while "home" is a very beautiful and peaceful place, there are often parts of

home

that I carry with me, in my soul. You know what I mean, right? It's like... how you get that feeling - in a moment maybe, or sometimes in the company of a good friend - that feels just like you belong. I say it often "the place you are from is in your bones" and maybe that's why you don't have to be in any particular place to get that peaceful feeling....

(with that peaceful feeling in mind) this past week I was honoured to sit in the audience while the Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied the talented and beautiful Chantal Kreviazuk



The venue was spectacular and her mighty voice filled every inch of the space. Listening to her live was like eating popcorn smothered in butter... light & thick and extremely satisfying.

She sang about home, and the song has stuck with me since....



I really wish you could have been there... but I know that right now, you are where you belong.

(I'm gonna go fix me a bowl of popcorn)

beautiful photo of Chantal from here

This Road Leads...

At the top of the farthest hill there lies a place,

a turn-off actually...

That turn-off leads to the actual place.

A place that I deeply love

... with all my heart.

... home.

I love you.

All that you are,

and all that you mean.

You are with me always.

Almost Criminal

I wasn't quite sure what to think when our friend led me and his little sisters down an alley, and it almost felt like we were about to engage in criminal activity when he rang the doorbell on a shady-looking back door of a building...

The man who answered the door looked at the four of us suspiciously. Our friend held up four fingers to the guy and a few words were exchanged in quiet tones. He let the door slam shut between us and then we stood in the alley.... waiting.

Mere moments later, the man came back with four of the most delicious, gourmet lamburgers of all time!

So yummy, and such a funny adventure.





p.s. These sisters are another very cool pair. Thanks for the fun adventure, Julianne & Mandi! Don't forget to be kind to your brother....

Flood

But if I can't swim after 40 days

And my mind is crushed by the crashing waves

Lift me up so high that I cannot fall

Lift me oh-whoa-oh
Lift me up!

So these are pictures from the blog of the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission. Which is where I am staying now....

No it doesn't not look like this anymore, and I never saw it like this personally :(

But I thought it would be a good way to introduce you to my new surroundings!

I love the people here, and being able to simple live with these people. Here is a quick quote from their latest Facebook update:

We need your help this Christmas to give our kids the celebration and joy they deserve! If you want to help out and can't do it financially remember that you can be a huge help to us by telling your friends about us.

You can find them on their website at www.indianorphanage.com. These pictures can be viewed in their original form on the blog. And you can also find them on Facebook. Jut search for IndianOrphanage.com and look for the smiling faces!

Responsible Steward

In the Gospel of Matthew (25:14-30)...
Jesus talks about the three servants that were each given treasure to look after while their boss was away.
One servant burried the treasure that was given to him in the ground until the boss came back. In the story, Jesus called this servant foolish (along with a bunch of other bad words), for not being more productive with the money.

Similar to the three servants in the story Kelsey has entrusted treasure to me while she is away. And in stark contrast to the third servant I have no intention of burrying this treasure in the ground.

In fact, I have put many of Kel's treasures to good use - and often many treasures at the same time :)




I'm not the only one putting the treasures to good use, either.



Kelsey, sister, when you return you will find that your treasure looked after by a responsible steward.

Up or Down?

So we are going to rewind a little bit here.

For the first few weeks of my stay in India I was in the city of Hyderabad. This city is home to approximate 10 MILLION people. So it's kind of big. And for the first time in my life I felt claustrophobic!

No one here really uses North, South, East or West, and for the longest time no one was able to tell me WHERE I WAS! I had no relation to the rest of the city or what lies beyond and all I can see is BUILDINGS!!!!

So I'm writing this on September 25th and I am still in the middle of this claustrophobic state. But I do no know where I am in the city and I am looking forward to the train ride to New Delhi when I will be able to look around me.

But Yesterday something happened to me that shifted some foundations in the core of my person. I met a girl who has never seen a foreigner before. The way she looked at me was the strangest thing! She didn't furrow her brow in confusion or make any sounds of exclamation. Her face was simply open. Wide to the idea of another world existing outside of her own where people with differently shaped faces, and light coloured hair walked around freely. Being the object of such innocent and unbridled fascination was intimidating. I didn't quite know what to do. The beauty of it is that she didn't want me to DO anything, she just wanted to look at me.

This girl has only ever lived in this community, and I realise now that she probably doesn't know her relation to the rest of the city either.

My Thing for Ferries

It's not quite so fun to ride without a sister, but I still think that ferries are the most peaceful mode of transportation...




I think Derek Shepherd is on to something (start at 3:50).



ferry photo from here
McDreamy photo from here

Welcome To The World!

*This post is solely dedicated to my new baby niece*

KAIAH!

Welcome. Right now I am miles and miles away from you. But this globe is pretty small, and the internet is a wonderful tool. I promise I will see you very soon.

As it is a great tradition I am about to pass on some advice to you. You will probably not read this for many years, and by the time you do, I'm sure I will have told you this in person (or the internet will no longer exisit). Regardless, I will now pass my wisdom of 20 years on to you.

Live life because it is truly beautiful.
Learn to love well.
Take pleasure in the small.
Marvel at the great.
Never fear. It isn't worth it.
Don't underestimate the possible.
Trust in goodness.
Be inspired.
Make your own choices.
& ask for help.

That's all I've got! Know that you are loved. You have fantastic parents who will ALWAYS be there for you. Your older siblings will take very good care of you, and make sure you have the war wounds to prove it ;) Hey! It's their job to make you tough (trust me I would know). And the rest of your family? We are around if you ever need us.

I love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love you.
Don't ever forget it.

Auntie Kelsey.

There's Someone You Should Meet

Hi, Auntie Kelsey!

Your new niece is very beautiful and comes from a long line of people who love her.




I passed on your message to her while she was dozing in my lap.



for the time being... we have matching wrinkles.

My Favorite

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday...
I will be missing Canada a lot this weekend. Here is a shout out to Kaiah Brielle, Joel Longard, and Cliff White.

I love all of you at home, and wish me well as I head off to a new place.

Does it Show Again?

My, my... just how much I've missed you!

We miss you so much, Kel.
We did not have any fun whatsoever at Mamma Mia
and we certainly did not go to your favorite restaurant for dinner...



see... no fun at all.
:)

Commonwealth Games

Tomorrow morning... so tonight for all of you Canadians reading this Monday morning... I will be arriving in the middle of the chaos which is the CWG in New Delhi. I hope to attend a few events while I am here, I mean how could I not???

The last time I attended the games was when they were in Edmonton. Our Swedish family was visiting so we made an event of it There are many fantastic photos of that time and I unfortunately am unable to show you any because well, I'm not at home. Hopefully I will be able to show you pictures of this week in the near future!

Thanks to going to Vancouver with my sister during the Olympics last year I am well versed in the best ways to navigate a big city during such times! Now... what events should I go to? SUGGESTIONS???

Reviving Summer - Part 5

All the leaves have fallen off the trees this week, so I can't pretend it's summer any longer.
Bye, Summer... see you next year.

But everybody should put this little ditty from Sleigh Bells in their pocket for the winter, and pull it out when you need a little extra vitamin D.




Boy! Do I ever need a vacation, I just need to get away for a while
EEEK! Wait did I forget my sunglasses???
Nope - got'em :)