Baby Duty

I took some quality time today to sit down and read a... baby wise book.
haha ( laugher necessary )

See as time goes by, and Hannah gets smarter, I need to be on my game. Since I have come to India, one thing that Judith has talked with me about, is all of us being on the same page, and being okay disciplining Hannah. I for one, have never had a child, but I have watched quite a few of them, and I have picked up on their secrets. They want us to think that they don't know what's going on. Shhhh the truth is kids know way more then you think they know, and its insane.

So I read all the chapters on having good guidelines for toddlers. I seriously read for 2 hours, I don't think I've ever read anything for two hours...maybe. I learned a lot, and some things I thought, " I already knew about that..." See I'm not a parent, but sometimes I just think that maybe my ideas would work, so lately I have been trying to watch Hannah with wisdom, patience, love, and correcting. Is that an okay word to use? I really hope so.

I've been doing so for a week or so, but today after reading, it helped a lot actually. They have this idea to put your kid in another room, to learn to play by themselves, and then you can get work done, or just have your kid learn to be content hanging out. I love that. I love having Laura time, so I bet Hannah could learn to love Hannah time. So I had her sit in a play corner, with more toys then you could imagine, while I finished cleaning the dishes. IT WAS AWESOME. Of course at first, I could hear a little whimper, but I just kept on going, and by the time I was finished I went to say hello, and bring her a snack...and BAM, she wasn't even upset a little. She was more relaxed, and I had a great rest of the day with her.

soooooooo thank you baby wise for being so full of wisdom. I must also admit that I have been praying all the time as I watch her, that God just takes over. That he gives me ideas, and shows me the right things to do. I want to be a blessing to Hannah, Judith, and David. I really want Hannah to be a blessing as well : ) So hooray for early parenthood training.

I started doing this thing as well, when ever I am cooking or baking Hannah sits on the counter and watches me. I explain what I'm doing, and she loves it. I'm like, " This is a pot, this is oil...Hannah don't touch that...okay, now these are eggs..o0o0o"
I use to have her sit and play, but she kept wanting to be in the kitchen, so finally I just put her up on the counter, and it pretty much makes everything work great ( any mothers feel free to let me know if that is actually a good idea...ha).

I hope this blog is interesting, I know how it is when people go on with stories about having their kid get potty trained, etc.
THOUGH I have another great thing that has currently happened with Hannah, that I think I should publish here. We play with legos, and books, and random toys I would rather not touch, considering the amount of nastyness on them. haha. I taught her that she has to put them away when she is done, at first I think she didn't want to, but know she puts them away on her own, even when she is by herself!!!!!! I was like....YES, I am awesome, or more like Hannah is awesome, or more like God is awesome. I really know that my time here could go by very slowly if the whole time Hannah was hard to watch, so thats why I pray that God helps me, cause He has great tricks up His sleeve. oh yes, so I went to get Hannah, and she was holding a book, and I didn't say a thing, and I said, " okay lets go over here.." and she turned away from me, and went back first to put the book away! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

I don't know how I would enjoy full time parenthood, but part time nanny isn't so bad. today. ha

One Week Down

So Today marks of the day of a full week in Chennai.

I have already (almost ) conquered the world. You feel like that after surviving a week in India. Joke.
My first morning in Chennai, I woke up and went to the school with everyone. I arrived, and saw a few familiar students from last year. I was so excited to see them, and notice how much work they are doing. Judith and David have students from last year trained, and working for the school. They are on laptops, and counting money, and organizing things left and right. I watched the students as they were setting up and preparing the school for the week ahead. Its amazing to see how much they have learned in just a year, from the last time I saw them. Many of the students know so much more english, and also know so much more about God, you can see it in there eyes.


So far I have changed quite a few Diapers, and helped around. See what happened this past week is, I would wake up, and then feel like falling back asleep around 10am. When its 10 am here, its 10pm at home, aka my bed time. So I would wake up and get excited to help with Hannah, or go to the school, then all of sudden I'd hit this wall of tired, and literally I could fall asleep standing up anywhere...ha. So I was doing lots of exciting things this week, half awake...ha.

So the next day we all meet again at the school for a little while, and I got to see even more friends!!! It was like a day hadn't gone by, but so much had gone on. One student came into the room, and shouted my name..LAURA!!! It was so funny, cause Indians for the most part are pretty quite. I was really happy to be around all the students again.



This past week while I have been here, a lovely man named Will Graham was sharing the house with all of us. He is Andrew Wommacks CEO for his international ministries. So Will travels all over, and checks up on the ministries abroad, and helps out. More then that he is such an encourager, he came and took all the staff ( 3rd year students ) to lunch, and just loved on them, and told them what a blessing they have been the CBC India. Also he sat with our IT team, and board and helped out so much. When ever he spoke to the students, it was just words of life, and made even me feel like anything is possible with God on our side. I loved getting to know him better while he was here.


The third day here we had an Alumni day for all the past students to get together! I loved that day, cause I saw so many people I hadn't seen since last year. They each shared a bit of there story, and what they had been doing since school. Will Graham had us by a map of the world and of India. We had all the students share where their home was, and put a pin in. Then we could see how far people have come to hear the word. Its amazing to hear the stories of the students. Last year one student named Sanjit came 3 days by train to come to Chennai, with 18 dollars in his pocket. He didn't know where the school was, or where to live. Once he got here, by God he found the school, and that day was the opening rally. At the rally there were a group of guys that befriend him, and they all shared a house, and invited him to stay with them! That is just part of his awesome story!

The forth day in Chennai, we had the Opening Rally, and all the new faces popped in. The school was packed full of fun, and noise. I loved it. Judith and David had the Alumni return back for the opening rally, to encourage the new students that are coming. We also had all the new students share a bit, and put a pin the place where their home town is too. Then me and some other students, went up and shared a bit as well. It ended up being a really nice day. Afterwards we went out to this AWESOME restaurant called " THE ROCK", we all packed in around a table, and were enjoying our dinner, when... BAM all the power went out. It was pitch black, and the restaurant was full, and the music cut out. I started laughing out loud, I couldn't see a thing, and found it HILARIOUS. I was just like, well what can you do. I was just picturing everyone sitting there, and the servers just like...ahhhh. Then all of a sudden, BAM... they had back up, a little light came on, and we all continued our eating. oh India.


After a busy week at the school, we spent the weekend relaxing at home, and hanging out. On Sunday we all took a trip to the beach, it was Judith's birthday, so she requested a trip to the ocean. It was raining on the way there, but once we arrived, the rest of the day was beautiful...really sunny and warm. We sat under this little hut, and had hammocks to lay in. Wonderful.


Final update: Yesterday was the first day of school so I came to the school in the morning, and did worship with Judith, and loved seeing the new students in front of us. I could remember the feeling of doing worship last year, the students were a bit shy, but after a few weeks, they were dancing and singing loud. I can't wait to see them all grow and starting really enjoying God! I ended up leaving the school early and went home and spent the day with Hannah, so Judith and David could spend the day at the school. Hannah napped while I cleaned and organized...hooray! Found out I'll be teaching some classes, so I've been spending some time reading a bit more...ha.

Since then,...I am at the school right now, with all the 3rd years typing around me, doing important things. They keep telling me that my typing is like " a butterfly" which means fast...haha. They are so fun to be around, wish you all could be here to get an idea of how wonderful everyone is.


Once again I wrote a short novel...hope you had a cup of tea while you read.
love you all!
Laura

Old Shoes

I sit here in a fabulous AC filled room, thinking that now would be the best time to get a quick blog in.
Currently my tired flying eyes are wanting some nap time, but trying to stay up today, so I can get a good sleep in tomorrow!

So for starters:

My family packed into the car at 9:02 am ( putting us only two minutes behind schedule...ha which is good for our normal 30 minute average behind time) and we began the first part of my journey back to the land of Indians and strange smells. My flight was to leave from Denver, Colorado at 12:05pm and onto Chicago. It left on time. I sat next to a German gentlemen who was on his way back to France. I told him I wished I was on my way to France. Sadly, I didn't detour, and kept on going towards India.
I arrived in Chicago, walked to my next gate, bought an airport salad...that is what they should call them, cause they don't taste like restaurant salads. The airport taste you can only acquire from...the airports.I also purchased a 3 dollar cup of fruit to hold me over on my 8 hour flight to Brussels, Belgium. So glad I bought the 3 dollar cup O fruit, cause the air plane food can sometimes not be my favorite choice. I always find me in airports to be entertaining, and wonder what I look like to by standers. I get overwhelmed, and always end up bringing more then I can carry, and try to balance it all while walking to my gate. I get a good laugh out of my effort to look " put together" when really I just need someone to travel with me and carry all my belongings.
I got on my next flight and sat next to a women from South Africa, who was raised in europe, and now lives in Brussels with her husband and kids. Come to find out she listens to Andrew Wommack on TV, and was just in Texas at the Kenneth Copeland Meeting. She was so nice, I mean really really nice, I would have been friends with her if I lived in Brussels. bummer.
When we were landing in Brussels, it was just at sunrise, and couldn't have looked more perfect. Everything was lush and green, and the morning mist was just settled on the ground. The house's looked so cozy, with red roofs, and big yards. I thought in my mind I could stay a few days, and just enjoy how beautiful it is here. Let me tell ya... that airport...is NOTHING like what Brussels looks like outside. FAIL. I got off the plane, and wanted to use the restroom, and it was packed with women, I could barley get my HUGE carry on ( which could have qualified for " under the plane) to fit in the bathroom stall. Then once I got out all these Indian women were washing they face, and brushing their teeth so I couldn't wash my hands. I decided to get something to eat instead, and bought two sandwiches from two different places that costs me about 300 dollars...ha. ok more like 10, but still. See I get this nervous feeling like I don't know what to do, or what to buy, and I end up just getting loads of stuff, and its all ridiculous and not very tasty, but at least I made a decision.

For the Entre:

Normally when I get into a country I can call my family...BUT Brussels airport doesn't believe in easy international phone contact. I seriously tried to use their phones, and then asked a guy for help who said, while walking away from me, " I don't know anything about the phones..." To that guy, THANKS for being so kind to me in the middle of my distress. ha. Jokes. He was probably not even a Belgiumite ( my next name for people who live in Belgium). I forgive him. Then I tried to use skype, and found out you have to pay for the "free" WI-Fi. That was a bit lame sauce. ha. So I gave up, got on my next flight to Chennai, which was about another 9 hours.
I was really hoping I would sit next to some really friendly. GOD is GREAT. An America lady who use to live in chennai, in my old neighborhood ( in India) for 3 years, sat right next to me. She was so laid back, and gave me all these awesome organic places to shop, and places to go swimming. She was so lovely. BONUS: she told me she gets up alot during the flight to walk around, and I told her so do I. Which if you have ever flown before, and you sit next to some person who sleeps the whole time, or gives you an angry face when you have to stand up again...you would understand what a blessing it was. So every time she got up, so did I, we became best flying friends. By the end we walked through immigration together, yata yata. It was a great flight.
So I got into Chennai, they let me in. Praise God. Then I got some nice Indian man I didn't know help me with my bags...three big heavy ( labeled by AA) bags. I was pushing my cart out to meet David and Prahbu( our driver and friend) and my bags fell off the cart, and I kindly asked a group of indian guys to once again assist me in the bag gathering.

For Dessert:

I was so happy to see familiar faces. I got into the car, and felt right at home. I thought I would be in shock again, but everything felt the same, like I hadn't left. Such a blessing, I got home, got in bed, and slept so well. It felt like I was in the right place again, and that everything was going to be just fine. Trusting God ends up to be the best choice in the end for anything. Being here is like putting on a pair of old shoes you found in the basement, that you forgot you loved wearing, and when you put them on they fit just like they use to. You know they might not last long, but you wear them again and enjoy them until they retire. Then you have to find a new pair, that you learn to brake in.
Its like I forgot how I felt here, and what it was like, I had to put the shoes on to remember, and I can tell I won't be here forever, but while I'm here I'm going to enjoy it. Until God directs me to the next place, and then I'll learn to wear a new pair of shoes, which is also an exciting thing.

Wow, I just blogged up a storm. Hope you were able to make it to the end. Love you all, and miss you so much. I'll be writting again soon, already have so much to share. xoxo

All my love from the tip of Chennai to you,
Laura

and the count down beings..

6 days...tell my plane from Denver flies into the air, and takes me safely to India. Now I do have a few stop overs, but compared to last years 6 stop overs, I think this year is going to be a breeze. I've come up with some fun ideas for while I'm down in India, and some other ideas for when I come home. I might keep them hidden, and surprise you all later on, and blog about it. I want to give you a heads up on the amount of photos I'll be posting, and stories I'll be telling. When I go to India, my bible, and camera are my closest friends. I try to take too many photos, so then you all feel like your with me while I'm away : )

I should first share an awesome testimony! As you know from the earlier post, my ticket got purchased, and it was such blessing. Lately as the date got closer, I looked at my bank account and realized that I did't actually have much "cash flow". So yesterday I just sorta told God in my heart, and asked my close friend Janel to be in agreement with me that God would provide for all the things I would need for India. I was wondering how that was going to work out, but decided not to get worried or say anything. Then this past Sunday Lawson, my pastor had me play a song I wrote in India last year, for our church. So I played and shared about how I'm going back, and sang. Afterwards I met some fantastic people, that really encouraged me, and blessed me not only with their words, but they sowed into my trip to India.

This morning I woke up to find one of our roommates had written me a surprise check, about 50 dollars! I got in the car and almost cried, and as I drove I just was thanking God, for once again, providing for my needs! I just really love Him, and how well He really knows me. I drove to a dentist appointment ( which for those of you wondering...I've been flossing..and I have no cavities!!!!!! ) and on the way back home, my mom rang and said for me to call the church. I rang and lawson asked me to come by and pick up the money that was raised for India. It happened to be WAY MORE then I was even thinking possible. God gave me over and above anything I could have asked or imagine. I don't ever know how to express how thankful I am for God, and the people that sow into what He has planned for me.

So if you have been praying, or sowing, or even thinking of me as the time gets closer to India...Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means more then you know, knowing that someone believes in God's calling for my life.

I'll keep you updated on any other happenings! OH YES you should know I had to do a walmart run today...I would strongly suggest avoiding walmart at 2pm in the afternoon. Lots of mothers, lots of kids, and lots of crazy. I made it out alive, and will try to never let that happen again. haha

I'll write again soon,
Laura