five on friday.

1.  This happened on Wednesday.  It currently has a protective screen cover on it to prevent shards of glass from sticking in my face or fingertips.  Jason says, "It really isn't that bad."  Liar, liar. Pants on fire.



2.  My boys have been participating in random photo ops (as per their choice) for three years now, but it never ceases to be the weirdest thing to me.  Why would someone want a random picture of my children that they don't even know?  Crazy.  This guy got lucky-  Max doesn't give his photo away easily!




3.  We are having a yard sale tomorrow.  I'd be willing to bet that it will be the first one ever held in Bhopal.  Our plan is to start the packing process after the sale.

4.  Did I mention that we are leaving in 10 days?  Words like excited, elated, and ecstatic come to mind!  Now if those bags would just pack themselves.  I'm already praying that the "packing Nazi," otherwise known as Jason, and I can agree on what is important to take home and what is not... in other words, I need him to agree with everything I say!  That's fair, right?

5.  And some random pictures for your Friday...

Sweet eyelashes...



I need more hands...



A serious discussion with Daddy...



And two more...





The End.  Happy Friday!

if she were still alive.

If she were still alive, I'd ask her how surprised she was when she delivered, not one, but two babies some 67 years ago.

I'd ask her how she managed her six and three-year-old boys while taking care of those two baby boys.

I'd want to know if they always slept together or had separate rooms.

I'd ask her if she had to give up making homemade biscuits for a season until her life settled down a bit.

I'd ask her how she got it all done and still had time to shower each day.

I'd want to know her tips for getting them to sleep at the same time and how to soothe them when they cry simultaneously.

I'd ask her how she raised them together, yet loved them as individuals and encouraged them to be unique.

I'd call her often with stories that only a mother of twins could understand.

I'd want to sit at her table for big slice of her 15-layer chocolate cake, while she told me her stories of raising children.

I'd tell her how I always wanted to be "the one" that had the next set of twins in the family.

I'd have called her on that day when I first saw those two tiny blobs on the screen.

I'd ask her if she could see any "Dasher" in Maggie and Gray.

And I'd tell her how proud I am that one of "her twins" is my daddy.



My grandmother died almost 5 years, ago, but oh, how many questions I'd have if she were still alive.  As a small girl, I still remember her wondering which grandchild might have twins one day.  I NEVER imagined it would me be, but what a special bond I have with her.  I've wished a thousand times she could hold them just once.  So grateful that she was still alive to meet Jack and Max.  She was one in a million!     

changing course.

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France



I've ventured out on a thousand new journeys in my lifetime, and change never comes easy.  The quote above perfectly captures the joy of embarking on new adventures, yet the sorrow in saying goodbye to the old!  Each road we travel molds us, changes us, and leaves lasting impressions on our lives.  They become a part of us, and we mourn the loss of them.



Almost three years ago, we sold most of our possessions, packed 20 bags, and boarded a plane for India.  We had never visited this country.  We'd hardly been outside of America.  But we stepped out on faith with a seven-year-old and three-year-old and tried hard not to look back!



The journey has been amazing.  We've experienced spiritual highs-- worshipping with nationals in a foreign language, yet experiencing the love of the God of the Universe.  We've grown together as a family and had the opportunity to do life together in a way that few people ever experience.  We've taken trips of a lifetime, that usually only make a bucket list, but never get crossed off.  We've worked with some of the most incredible teammates in our organization and soaked up a wealth of knowledge from each of them.  We've learned to live with less, depend on each other more, and be content when things are beyond our control.



But every journey has its struggles.  We've also experienced spiritual lows-- seeing our own sin like never before and finding ourselves longing to worship in our heart language.  We've missed our American relationships with family and friends, mentors and co-workers.  We've all said more tearful goodbyes than our hearts could handle at times.  We've lived in and experienced one of the most poverty-stricken places in the world, and we've found ourselves more than once becoming cold to the sadness that surrounds us each day.  We've longed for the comforts of home, missed funerals, births, and holidays, and felt the strain of one foot in America and one foot in India.



Thankfully, the Lord is gracious.  He carries us when we can't carry ourselves.  He reminds us to be joyful in all things, good and bad.  And He loves us when we are on a mountain, but just as much when we fall in the valleys of life.



In one month, we will say goodbye to this place.  But it could never be forgotten.  You CANNOT come to India and not leave changed.  You CANNOT worship with these people and not love our God more.  You CANNOT experience the heart of the pastors we've worked with and not long to draw closer to the Lord.  And you CANNOT see the darkness that inhabits the hearts of millions of Indians and not cry out for their hearts to be changed from the inside out!



So as we prepare to pack up and head back to America for a new chapter in life, we will spend the next few weeks reflecting on this place that has changed us for the better, loving the teammates that have been our family for the last three years, and praying for the hearts that so desperately need Jesus.  In 29 days, we leave this country with 24 bags, a ten-year-old, a six-year-old, two three-month-old babies, and a thousand memories that will never be forgotten.  We covet your prayers as we close this chapter of our lives!




Our plans after India--- We fly out of Delhi on June 10th and arrive in America on June 11th.  We will spend the month of June in Dublin, Georgia.  On July 3rd, we will make our way to Tupelo, MS, where we will spend July. After we reunite with  family and friends, Jason will assume the role of Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church, Kirskville, Missouri.  We are beyond excited about the coming months and all that is in store!

what's it like?- the train

In the mid 1800's, India, along with pressure and help from Britain, began building what is now one of the world's largest railway systems.  The railway system covers over 71,000 miles, carries nearly 20 million passengers each day, and runs 11,000 trains daily.  It's safe to say that it is a vital part of life here in India.



India can best be described as sensory overload-- too many things to see, hear, taste, smell, and touch, leaving you unable to adequately explain it to another person.  And for me, the train station is all those senses multiplied by a thousand.  If you ever come to India, it's something you should experience.  It's much cheaper than traveling by plane, and it offers you a completely different glimpse of India.





There are many different options when it comes to railway travel, and as in all travel situation, the more you pay, the more comfortable your ride will be!  When we travel by train, we always purchase the pricier tickets, meaning we pay about $20 per seat.  But these tickets guarantee us an assigned seat in an air-conditioned car that is reasonably clean and well-kept.



However, there are two sides to every coin!  There are also those tickets which do not guarantee you a seat.  These are the carts where you will find an insane amount of people vying for space in an area far too small for it's load, and mother nature will provide the only breeze you feel.  The seats are taken on a first come-first serve basis!  So what do you do when you find yourself with one of these tickets?  You have two options.



The first option involves being first at the door.  While this may seem easy, remember you'll be competing with a million other people.  And it can be very dangerous in that line.  Structured, organized boarding is unheard of!





So option number 2 involves thinking outside the box.  If you're lucky enough to find an open window, stick your head in and look for empty seats.  If you see one, it's your lucky day!  It's important to act quickly, so pass your bag to the nearest passenger, and proceed to enter the train in "an nonconventional way!"









It's best to go ahead and sit, because the next seatless passenger will be along shortly looking for a seat!



I've said it before, but there truly is no place on earth like India!  And the train experience is no exception!  So, next time you are in India, check it out!  It may not be the most glamorous experience, but it offers a cultural experience that is second to none!  And if you play your cards right, you might just find yourself riding shotgun on the likes of this.... all aboard!

five on friday.

1.  I'm afraid to mention this for fear I'll jinx it, but Maggie and Gray have been sleeping for 5, 6 and sometimes 7 hour stretches for the last week!  Uninterrupted sleep is a beautiful thing, and I hope it continues!

2.  I have a new niece, Riley Elizabeth Dasher!  The whole crew is doing great, minus the fact that sleep isn't her favorite activity right now (I can relate.)  Can't wait to meet her in person!



(And that's my big brother, for those who've never seen a picture!  We came from the same gene pool, but we each collected very different genes!  Brown hair, brown eyes, and olive skin VS. blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin!)

3.  Have you changed the settings on your iPhone so that it "flashes" when you receive a text?  A friend showed us this last week.  It's great for the times when your phone is on mute, but in a dark room, that flash is certain to cause seizures.  Follow this link for instructions.

4.  We are just about to wrap up our year of homeschooling, and our boys have made great strides.  Max is reading anything and everything with words, but he has a lazy gene in his body that leaves him always looking for a shortcut.  This week's shortcut... how to keep from writing any words!  That boy always makes me laugh.  Ten points for creativity...



5.  And last but not least... Mother's Day is just around the corner.  I know we all think highly of our moms, but I must say, this woman is my superhero!  Love you, Mama, and Happy Mother's Day to you!