Love

This quote struck me today. It sums up what we've been learning for the last two years, painful though it is.

Real love gets into the trenches of grief and suffering. It imagines. It lets it’s mind’s eye linger. Real love will not avert its eyes. It won’t say, “Your disaster is too much for me.” ~Molly Piper

Fun with Friends

The boys play dodge ball with their M'lim friend, Yusef.

They love that kid.

D's 21st Birthday

The 'clubhouse' where we celebrated. This room is part of the fanciest restaurant/hotel in town, but we'd never eaten in this section before. It was fun and the weather was 75 degrees!

Outside in the courtyard. J is taking the picture, obviously.

At the water fountain. This is the kids' favorite area.

Lost In Translation

This sticker came in a package from Mimi. When our landlord and landlady saw it, they both set out to try and read it. When they finally decoded it, our landlord looked up and said, worriedly, "You are not sleeping well? What is wrong?" Sigh. No comprendo.

This painting of our building/apartment thing has been the song that never ends. I mean it. Just when we think they're done, our doorbell rings and they're back for more landlord-induced "touch-ups." Anyway, we took a picture of this poor guy because, well, look at him. He's risking his life to paint the outside of our porch and he's getting paid peanuts.

Summer Is On Its Way

The weather is becoming warmer and sunnier every day. The kids are wearing their UK hats in this pic.

Our weird middle kid was getting hot, I guess, because he said, "The sun is sucking up my succulent juices." Um, what??

And no photo shoot would be complete without an ugly picture. Two naked mole rats and a pig.

Dream Pets

Oldest Boy's list made me laugh. How many of these 'pets' do you think are legal in the US?

C. makes lists by creating "data bubbles" (as Oldest calls them). Funny that he includes each dream pet's food.

G would still prefer making pictures to writing things out--even though her handwriting is quite neat and girly.

Holi (the celebration of Spring)

Neighbor boys load up water guns with colored water.

The water and colored powder battle begins!

Our multi-colored neighbors are more than happy to pose for a picture.

Creative Sports

J cleared furniture and jerry-rigged this 'volleyball net' since the kids have little space to play.

Hey, it ain't the Y but it'll do.

J Attends Graduation

A sweet time of P&R.

Odds and Ends

D's engagement ring.

G plays on the porch with magnets. (She's wearing my sunglasses).

Now I Understand...

G: Mom, can I have some of your drink?
Me: No, you may not.
G: I knew you were going to say that.
Me: Then why did you ask?
G: Because I take risks.

G's Art

G drew this picture of a girl holding a butterfly. She's wearing a kurta as you might or might not be able to tell. There are sequins at the top and it's multicolored at the bottom. Yep. It's a kurta.

It's On

We're just going to straight-up ask for prayer on here. We are seeing things in our room at night and hearing them. We know as we know what's going on. Last night we felt like someone had us by the throat and we were down for the count. Weird as it may sound, it's completely, 100 %, shock-your-momma true. So, there's a battle on and we need you to pray. Love. Skype.