It's been an action packed time recently. It really started off with our friends arriving from NZ, one of which was to be a groom. It was such a great time and I loved seeing them fall in love with all our precious girls here. I think we may have stolen a little bit of their hearts to keep here and maybe draw them back again at some time in the future. We loved showing them around and being able to talk the same language and laugh at the same things. We loved eating masala dosa and drinking small cups of chai followed by bigger cups of tea at home. We shopped for pants for Son 3 to wear as page boy. It's not easy finding a plain pair of pants and a white shirt, clothes for boys tend to be striped and multi coloured and pants tend to be covered in zips and other add on bits and pieces. It was also nice to say goodbye to them as we knew we would soon be seeing them in Goa for the wedding in a weeks time.
Then came Christmas. First we had a concert where the girls families and friends were invited. It was lots of work for those involved and there were high stress levels at times from Dorm mothers but it all came together in the end and probably the best it has ever been according to some board members. Son 4 even got to be baby Jesus. I was so proud of all the girls. At one point I was watching some of the more senior girls dancing and I had to bite my lip to stop it quivering and I tried hard to hide my watery eyes, I just felt so proud of them. I watched them with great warmth in my heart as if they were my own girls.
Christmas Eve we had a bonfire with songs and stories followed by presents for all the girls. They received a dress each and some other bits and pieces. It was so great to see the girls all enjoying themselves and smiling from ear to ear. My girls had bought two DVDs for the all the girls. You should have heard the screams of delight when they saw what they had been given. One was a movie they had wanted to see but we had said we would not down load it or get a pirated copy so they would need to buy it. My girls decided all on their own and with their own money to buy it. It was a moment that any parent would love to see.
We are so grateful to our church and others that gave so generously to make such a wonderful Christmas for all the girls at the Home. They had a lovely lunch on Christmas day and everything was set up nicely on the table and the girls were served their lunch.
As a family we opened our presents on Christmas eve because we were catching a bus to Bangalore followed by the train to Goa on Christmas day. Some of the 'Home' girls bough us gifts and even though some of the things we are not quite sure what to so with, the thought was precious. We now have a plastic purple flashing thingy and a fake flower in a glass cup with colored polystyrene around it :) We may need to make a shelf specially for gifts like this.
So our Christmas day ended as we dozed off to sleep on the train after 4 hours on a bus and settled in for a 14 hr train ride. Everyone traveled well including the baby. He's just amazing. The only challenge we had was a sudden awakening to Son 3 vomiting all over himself. He must have eaten something bad. Fortunately he was only sick the once and went back to sleep after. You never sleep soundly on the train but at least you can lie down. I still smile every time I hear the Chai wallahs calling.... "chai chai chai" You need to say it with a high pitched nasal sound. This is usually followed or proceeded by the equally enchanting call for coffee... "kapi kapi kapi kapi" said fast and increasing in pitch. Ahhh gotta love india.
Then came Christmas. First we had a concert where the girls families and friends were invited. It was lots of work for those involved and there were high stress levels at times from Dorm mothers but it all came together in the end and probably the best it has ever been according to some board members. Son 4 even got to be baby Jesus. I was so proud of all the girls. At one point I was watching some of the more senior girls dancing and I had to bite my lip to stop it quivering and I tried hard to hide my watery eyes, I just felt so proud of them. I watched them with great warmth in my heart as if they were my own girls.
Christmas Eve we had a bonfire with songs and stories followed by presents for all the girls. They received a dress each and some other bits and pieces. It was so great to see the girls all enjoying themselves and smiling from ear to ear. My girls had bought two DVDs for the all the girls. You should have heard the screams of delight when they saw what they had been given. One was a movie they had wanted to see but we had said we would not down load it or get a pirated copy so they would need to buy it. My girls decided all on their own and with their own money to buy it. It was a moment that any parent would love to see.
We are so grateful to our church and others that gave so generously to make such a wonderful Christmas for all the girls at the Home. They had a lovely lunch on Christmas day and everything was set up nicely on the table and the girls were served their lunch.
As a family we opened our presents on Christmas eve because we were catching a bus to Bangalore followed by the train to Goa on Christmas day. Some of the 'Home' girls bough us gifts and even though some of the things we are not quite sure what to so with, the thought was precious. We now have a plastic purple flashing thingy and a fake flower in a glass cup with colored polystyrene around it :) We may need to make a shelf specially for gifts like this.
So our Christmas day ended as we dozed off to sleep on the train after 4 hours on a bus and settled in for a 14 hr train ride. Everyone traveled well including the baby. He's just amazing. The only challenge we had was a sudden awakening to Son 3 vomiting all over himself. He must have eaten something bad. Fortunately he was only sick the once and went back to sleep after. You never sleep soundly on the train but at least you can lie down. I still smile every time I hear the Chai wallahs calling.... "chai chai chai" You need to say it with a high pitched nasal sound. This is usually followed or proceeded by the equally enchanting call for coffee... "kapi kapi kapi kapi" said fast and increasing in pitch. Ahhh gotta love india.
Straight to the pool room I reckon Jodi.
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