In honor of all who've served...

To my father and all the men and women who serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces.

I am so grateful for your service to our country and for all that you have sacrificed for our freedom!

Counting down the days...

It's almost time to get all glammed up in the saree that Meesha gave me to wear at the wedding! 

Saree Style...

As we've been out and about here in the city I am noticing all of the women wearing sarees.  I've seen many different colors, patterns, and types and am totally captivated by the unique style of each woman who chooses to wear one. 

This polka dot one immediately captured my attention as we whizzed by in the rickshaw on Thursday.

The bright colors are so vibrant...

No matter what the style, each saree has it's own appeal to the wearer...

I went with Meesha and Spencer to a small saree shop and was overwhelmed with choices.  It may take me a while to determine my own personal style...but I'm sure I'll end up with more than one of these treasures to take back to Belize with me!

Impressions of Pune...

Yesterday was our first full day in India.  We are so very thrilled to be here.  And so grateful for the gifts and prayers that made this trip possible.  If you follow me on Facebook check out my album, First Impressions of India (just click on the title to go directly there) to see all of the photos of our first day!

I should be asleep but for some reason, probably jet lag, I am struggling to turn off my brain.  So I decided maybe it would be better to just jot down a few words about our day.


Spencer and Meesha took us out to eat and run a few errands.  Here's a bit of a recap with photos...

We ate paper dosas for the first time:

Lucky for me they are naturally gluten free!

 there were several different fillings that we tried...

You just tear off a piece of the dosa, put in your filling, and eat!!

We went for our first rickshaw ride:

 Rickshaws are a fast and easy way to get around the city...

Meesha told the driver we wanted to pay by the meter so that we would get a fair price...

We got up close and personal with a few cows as we rode along checking out the sites:

We even shopped a bit at the mall.  Tom and I picked up a few books, a puzzle for him to work on, and a few Indian outfits for me.

And we ended our first day relaxing and laughing with the Soares family.  What a blessing it has been to meet them in real life and get to know them in person!

I wonder what other treasured experiences our time here will hold!?!

Sunset...

 

This is our last Belizean sunset for a while!

We leave for our mini vacation in London and Paris tomorrow.  And then on to India for a few months to spend time with Spencer and Meesha before the wedding.  We are very excited to be able to be a part of this phase of their lives!

Two are better than one...

We've used Skype or Facetime, or Google+ as the tools to keep in touch with Nathan and Spencer no matter where they are in the world.  Yesterday morning when my cellphone rang and I saw Spencer's name in the display... an actual international long distance phone call from India to Belize...I knew exactly what he was calling to tell me!!  It meant so much that they took the time to tell us personally and I am so grateful for that.  

It was not easy to wait until they made their public announcement.  I was ready to tell the world after hanging up the phone. This morning it was a thrill to wake up and see it officially on Facebook!  I took some screen shots so that I could always remember the joy of this day.

Meesha is the woman I have prayed for since the day Spencer was born.  They are such a great couple, we see so clearly how God brought them together, and how they were made for each other.  Three years ago Spencer arrived in Kona, Hawaii from Krasnodar, Russia.  Several months later Meesha came to Kona from Pune, India.  Both of them are biracial, and bi-cultural, and both of them are children of missionaries.  Their story is such a sweet one and their friendship is real and beautiful.

We are so blessed to be adding a daughter to our family...blessed indeed by her grace, her smile, her love of life, and her passion for God.  Her love for our son warms our hearts and we see how she completes him and fills him with peace.

We can say of him that he has found a good woman.

We can say of her that her worth is far above rubies.

And we can say of them that:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor;

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

And though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

Their relationship truly is a cord of three strands that will not quickly be broken!

Easter weekend joys!

Good Friday started off with welcoming a new little sister in Christ!

Resurrection Day was a great celebration for our Bethel Disciples family...

This was our first meeting under the new roof.  One year ago a ground breaking service was held on the property.  It is exciting to watch the progress as God provides the funds and workers for it to move forward.

Around 300 people came together to celebrate the Risen King!

Watching children get caught up in Toni's Easter lesson was a joy...

And we finished off our fellowship time with a potluck at Max and Patty's house.

 

This was our third Easter here in Belize.  Our first year we celebrated with friends from Canada who came down for a week.  Our second year we had Spencer at home with us.  And this year it was just the two of us at home but we were graced with plenty of 'family' to rejoice with.  God has blessed our time in Belize and we are excited to grow in Him along with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Bethel!

the sting of Spring...

The first day of spring should be a day of joy.  But, for me, it's a mixed bag.  You see March 20th was my younger brother's birthday.  If he had lived Bruce would be 46 years old today.  Even though it's been many years since his sudden death in a car accident I still think of him on this day.  He was a playmate, a co-conspirator in the childhood escapades of the Wright 5, and he often got in trouble with me when our mother thought one of us was bothering the baby. 

I don't have a sister or a daughter.  I grew up with four brothers.  So quite often when I think about my brothers I also think about my sons.  I spent last night tracking our son Spencer's flights.  His first plane took off from Dallas and went to London.  Then the second flight was from London to Mumbai.  Hopefully, he is safe in Mumbai now and is on his way to Pune with Meesha to meet her family.  I started thinking of Bruce as I was watching the progress of Spencer's flight on the computer screen.  

Bruce has missed out on so much.  So many life experiences, new inventions, and time with family.  When I think of the adventure that Spencer is on I cannot help but be happy for him.  I am thrilled that he has found a best friend that he cares deeply about.  Thrilled for all that is to come in the future for the two of them.  It just feels strange to celebrate on this day.  

I keep reminding myself that my little brother is now part of that cloud of witnesses that Paul talks about.  And perhaps he is aware of all that is going on for us.  Perhaps he knows about all of the nephews he was never able to meet.  And that he is part of that crowd waiting for the rest of us to get to the finish line.  At least I choose to think about it that way...because it gives me comfort to know that he is still a part of my life...no matter how long he's been gone.  

For my Valentine...

Special thanks to Meesha for painting this portrait for our 31st anniversary.

It's just the two of us again.  We don't own much anymore after all of our losses from our last move.  But, one thing has been clear over the past 31 years...all we need is us. Happy Valentines Day, Sweetheart!

three see yah laters and one farewell...

So far this year has held several goodbyes.

  

Nathan left after a four day mini-vacation with us in Mexico, Meesha left after eight months here in Belize, Spencer left after living here for 16 months, and Tom's friend Marcus passed away after only 43 years on this earth.  Saying 'see yah later' is easier than saying farewell. and yet each parting leaves a sting of loss.

I know that there will be some sweet and joyful times ahead in this year...but for now...we are feeling weary of all the letting go.    

Two men and a lady at work...

 

 

Spencer and Tom digging a trench and Harley supervising!

a walk after the rain...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer asked me to go for a walk with him yesterday.  This is our final week having him here in Belize with us.  So I grabbed my camera and off we went.  Not sure how long it will be until he and I get a chance to spend time alone together again.  Gotta cherish the moments as they come up!

Family Moments...