to life.

what is it about birthday cakes and candles.
makes me feel all gooey inside.
celebration. recognition. laughter.
like the last spoonfuls of cake and icecream.
scrape the bowl to savor every last drop. lick the bottom if you must.
i usually want to.
today was one of our servant team member's birthdays.
and it was beautiful to watch one of our staff, Upendra, unfold a party plan for her only after having met her once before. an example of honest genuine celebration. any excuse for a good party. a good excuse to make someone feel really special. and again i took a moment to realize just what beautiful staff we get to work alongside here in india. my team spent the afternoon eating at his home, enjoying savory dishes prepared over a morning's length in time, and listening to Upendra's life stories. beautiful struggle, painful reality. testimony and strength.
gosh our staff are great.

i love rediscovering things. learning new stories about old friends. collecting more memories to paste into my life's patchwork scrapbook. i love dancing around our living room and learning the twists and turns of the great salsa dance. i love drinking water from our plastic wine glasses. i love cake and icecream and any reason to celebrate life. i love friends with good, no great, listening ears. and i love being in india--even when its a struggle. i love that God calls us to wait on Him and then changes us in the process. i hate waiting. but i love being changed.

cheers. to life.