Fired

Do you think the rice in the red sign is just really hot or no longer employed? (You may need to click on the picture to make it big enough to read)


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Cold

This trip to Delhi has been a bit of a surprise - instead of the heat and humidity I'm used to I find I'm freezing. It really isn't that cold, mostly 60's during the day and 30's at night. The problem is that buildings here are built to keep cool in and heat out. The marble floors never do warm up and we get by with small space heaters to attempt to keep our rooms warm. Genius that I am, I only brought sandals to wear (except for my sneakers, which just won't do it at work.)

Today calls for a little Marc Broussard to warm me up:

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Mama Mia

One of my favorite gifts this Christmas was the Mama Mia DVD.  I saw this movie for the first time on the airplane - and everyone sitting near me must have thought I was crazy, because I know I had a smile on my face the entire time the film was on.  It took me back to those slumber parties I had when I was young where we watched Grease over and over again so we could sing and dance along.

I couldn't wait to get a copy of the movie so I could see it on a better screen- and I found myself watching it multiple times over the holidays, and every time I watched I found myself laughing and singing along.

I first saw Mama Mia on stage with my friend Jen on one of our Seattle theater nights (I miss those so much!)  I loved it then and love it now.  If you ever need a pick me up - this is just the thing.  

On about the 5th viewing I left the DVD playing while the credits were running and discovered a beautiful song, "Thank You for the Music" that I can't stop singing.

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty

What would life be?

Without a song or dance what are we?

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me

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Christmas

Christmas was all about Miss M this year.  

She was old enough to almost understand what was happening and we couldn't get enough of buying her gifts. Santa played a visit to our house for the first time in years and we all sat around the living room waiting for her to come and see what he left. I chose a spot just to the side of her gifts so I could get photos of her reaction. She walked into the room and nervously glanced at all of us sitting around watching her - I think she realized she was on stage. Her mom set her down, but rather than walking to her toys, she walked right into my arms, a pretty special moment for this proud auntie (good thing I spent the Monday before Christmas tending her so she had a chance to warm up to me again after my trip.)  

She soon discovered the joys of her new toys, especially her pink princess chair. 

 

This girl got a lot of great stuff, but I have to say, one of the things I love about her the most is how much she loves books. I know it is really to soon to tell, but I think she is going to grow up to be a reader and I can't wait to start sharing some of my favorite books with her.

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Rio

It is time for me to play catch up in blog land and I've decided to start with my trip to Rio.

After a sad couple of weeks I got back on an airplane and headed to sunny Rio - it was a very busy trip work-wise (which was good for me mentally) even if I had to wear the same set of clothes for 3 days while I waited for my suitcase to catch up with me (thanks for that Delta.)  I didn't have time to see the sites or hit the beach, but I did have time to catch up with some of the friends I made there.  

Several people greeted me with a "Welcome Home" and it really did feel like I had come back home.  The trip helped me realize again what great friendships I made there and how much the experience of living and working in Rio changed my life.  I know there were times while I was there that I was counting down the days until I was back in my familiar world, but on this trip I realized how comfortable Rio felt and I hope that I'll see Delhi in the same light someday.

To my Brazilian friends, it was so good to see you again - and now it is your turn to visit me.  Until then, here's a little old school shout out from me to you to thank you for making me feel so at home in your beautiful country - not to mention all the time you played translator and chauffeur.

A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker

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Happy Holidays

Peace On Earth - U2

And, just for the record - the picture was taken in my snowy front yard this morning.

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Missing

How to explain my recent lack of posts?  I could blame it all on work and and I wouldn't be lying. But the real truth is that I've been feeling a bit blue and haven't been able to come up with anything light-heart and fun to blog about; worse, those songs that usually fill my head have been missing. 

I've been home for 2 days and work has been as busy as it was in Rio - but working from home means I can turn the music up as loud as I want and sing as I type - in the hope that the music will start playing in my head again.  

Today I ran across a song that reminded me that I get to chose whether to stay blue or to fight my way back to a happier place - this is me choosing to fight.

I've been beaten up and bruised

I've been kicked right off my shoes

Been down on my knees more times than you'd believe

When the darkness tries to get me

There's a light that just won't let me

It might take my pride, and tears may fill my eyes

But I'll stand back up

I've weathered all these storms

But I just turn them into wind so I can fly

What don't kill you makes you stronger

When I take my last breath

That's when I'll just give up

So go ahead take your best shot

Let 'er rip, give it all you've got

You might win this round but you can't keep me down

'Cause I'll sand back up

And you'll know just the moment when I've had enough

Sometimes I'm afraid and I don't feel that tough

But I'll stand back up.

Stand Back Up - Sugarland

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Praia, Sol, Amigos

I'm on my way to Rio this morning - only a couple of weeks late.  I'm looking forward to seeing old friends, the beach, the sunshine and figuring out if I remember any of the meager amount of Portuguese I managed to learn.

To get in the mood I've been listening to one of my favorite Brazilian groups, Tribalistas (thanks Monique!)

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Loss

For the past couple of weeks I've wanted to blog, but just couldn't find the words to express what was going on in my world. Two weeks ago my grandma had an accident, and even with the best medical care she wasn't able to recover. On November 20, 2008 at 12:00 she passed away. I was at her side and held her hand as she left. This loss has left a whole in my heart.

I've decided to post a portion of the tribute I gave at her funeral to share more about her:

When you say the word “grandma” most people get a mental picture of what a grandma is to them. I’ve always struggled when talking about my grandma, because that normal stereotype has never been adequate. Don’t get me wrong, Grandma S had all the typical characteristics, she was a great cook, kept an immaculate house, made beautiful quilts and afghans, and loved to do things with her grandchildren. But, when I talk about my grandma I always feel compelled to add a little additional information so they can understand that she was so much more.

Not only were there just three of us, we grew up next door to grandma and grandpa which means I don’t remember ever having a babysitter – we’d always just go to grandma’s house. I don’t remember a school program or activity that grandma and grandpa weren’t in the audience to support us.

I spent every Friday night and Saturday morning at grandma’s house, she’d let me stay up late to watch shows mom and dad probably would have outlawed and she let me get up as early as I wanted to watch Saturday morning cartoons, it was every kid’s paradise.

Grandma was responsible for teaching me how to shop, which still ranks right up at the top of my list of favorite things to do. She taught me the importance of bringing things home to try them on before deciding – so you could test it out with your shoes and accessories. She taught me that when you are shopping at a mall it’s smarter not to buy as you are making your first round of the stores, instead just decide what you like but before you buy it, have the store hold it and make sure you’ve seen what else the mall has to offer before you commit. Following this advice has saved me tons of money and prevented a few disastrous fashion choices. Grandma taught me one other shopping lessons that I haven’t had to use yet, but I’m sure I will someday - when bringing new clothing home, it’s safer to stash them in the back of the closet and not wear it for a week or two, when your spouse asks where you got it, you can honestly say “this old thing? It’s just something I pulled out from the closet.”

Grandma made sure we had photographs of all of the special events in our lives. She was the official family photographer. We’d get all lined up for the photo, have our best smiles pasted on, would say cheese, and then nothing. A big groan would go up – as everyone realized she’d forgotten to wind the camera again. Not only did grandma take the photos, she made sure they were properly labeled and placed in photo albums. When I need to find a photo of any of us when we were younger, the first place I go is the albums that grandma kept – it’s much faster than digging through the shoe boxes I kept.

One day last week as I was sitting in the hospital struggling to come to terms with losing grandma, I noticed a copy of the conference edition of the Ensign (a monthly magazine from the LDS Church) that mom had brought in. I picked it up and started thumbing through it, the title of Elder Wirthlin’s talk jumped out at me “Come What May, and Love It.” My immediate thought was how anyone could love what we were going through in that moment. I didn’t get a chance to read the article then, but it stayed in my mind so when I got home that evening I looked up the talk and started to read. I’ve been back to this article many time in the past week and while there is nothing that could make me love losing grandma the talk has brought me a great deal of comfort and has helped me look at what we’ve been going through in a different light.

Elder Wirthlin said, “Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don’t sing and bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.”

Elder Wirthlin suggests in times of difficulty or sorrow that we seek for the eternal, he says, “the dial on the wheel of sorrow eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt. Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others.”

I’ve been greatly comforted as I’ve tried to take Elder Wirthlin’s advice and put this in the eternal perspective. I know that grandma is in a better place, a place where her body is whole and strong, a place where she is surrounded by loved ones, including her beloved mother. I know without a doubt that she is able to watch over us and will continue to be a part of our lives. And, I know that I will see her again. I’m learning to accept that Heavenly Father called her home, and while I may not understand why she had to go now, I have faith that it was a part of Heavenly Father’s plan.
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Today

Have you?

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