five on friday

1. Guess who's trying to blog AGAIN? Yours truly. I think I'm on a roll though- this makes three in one week!

2. Speaking of second chances- I officially gave driving a second chance this week. You might remember the day I nearly killed a man trying to learn to drive in India. I'm still saying that it was half his fault, half mine. Nonetheless, I suffered some post traumatic syndrome. I all but broke into hives when I would drive after the fact, but I think I'm over the slump! I not only drove across the city the other day, I drove without Jason! Look out, Motorcycle men-- I'm back!

3. So are you playing the new app Draw Something? I downloaded it after I saw it mentioned on Facebook a few times. I forced Jason to sign up as well. But after a few rounds with the most unartistic person in the world, I had second thoughts. 20 points for the person who can guess this picture:

Anyways, if you dare, Jason's username is obviously Jmindia, but I give you fair warning... you're likely to see a whole lot more of the above! You can find me under: marlinsarah.

4. I'm ashamed to admit that I never really read a book that I wasn't forced to read until the last year or so. I can't believe I missed out on such a great thing for so long! I'm up-to-date on all my previous Kindle purchases, so I guess I'm going to give in and read The Hunger Games. Warn me now if it's not worth it! Three books is a lot of commitment! :) Click on the book to find out more...

5. One of our goals in India is to keep up with our partner churches back in America. We do that several ways, but we also like to make videoes every now and again to give people a glimpse of India. Not to worry- I know my talent lies in Elementary Education, not Videography, but we thought you might enjoy seeing it! All the shots were taken within a few miles of our house so you could say this is what we see everyday in India! Take a look:

adventures

(This should have been posted on or around Feb. 4th, but I was on a blog vacation evidently.)

Jason turned 35 this year. I don't know about you, but that sounds OLD to me. In fact, that number rounds to 40. YIKES!

Anyhow, our life had been a whirlwind prior to his birthday- trips, major holidays, other birthdays, out-of-country guests. It almost slipped by me, but just in the nick of time, Jack and I pulled it all together to help bring in the big 3-5 (which rounds up to 40.)

The night before his birthday, I heard Jason ask Jack if he had bought his present yet. Jack avoided the question and responded with, "Hold on just a second." I heard him scurrying up the stairs, and I knew he was on a mission. "Momma," he said, "did we buy Daddy's present yet?" The truth was I hadn't bought anything. I laid the news out there, but he just laughed as if I were kidding. I wasn't. When he finally realized I was serious, this look of horror landed on his face as he said, "But his birthday is tomorrow!"

I knew his birthday was coming and I attempted to think of a good present. But all I came up with were dead-ends. The clothes in the country are made for men that are built like teenage boys. I'm not sure if you've met Jason, but that doesn't adequately describe his body type. The electronics are expensive, and Jason has already helped himself to most of the latest gadgets. But the clock was ticking.

At midnight, I finally came up with an idea. Since life isn't just about things, I figured we'd make memories together instead. Jason had obligations until noon, so I woke the boys up early on Saturday to help me get started. Some individuals were more willing to help out than others!

Jack, on the other hand, is all about a project and was up and busy in no time.

We planned out our day and Jack's job was to draw "clues' for each event. He did an awesome job!

When Jason got home, he opened "Clue #1" which was a picnic at the lake. Jason and Max finished packing up the basket and we were off.

We enjoyed a picnic near a lake.

After we ate our lunch, it was time for "Clue #2."

Our city is known as "The City of Lakes," so we thought it'd be fun to rent a boat and cruise around one of the lakes. It was one of those ideas that seemed so fun until my feet hit the pedals. Jack was dying to give pedalling a try, but his enthusiasm didn't last long.

It's much more fun just to sit back and ride.

Our boat trip lasted approximately 6 minutes. I guess asking someone to pedal their own boat on their birthday wasn't my greatest idea! A train ride was much more appealing and a lot less work!

(Never underestimate the spectacle that we create when we go out in our city. Many of these people have never seen "white people" in person, so we stop lots of people in their tracks. For us, the train ride was entertainment, but for all the people lining the tracks, the "white people" had their full attention. Check out the different faces these people are displaying!)

After that, we moved on to "Clue #3" which allowed Jason to choose his dinner. My cooking skills are starting to improve so he chose a home-cooked meal. We finished it off with carrot cake cupckaes (thanks to our sweet friends at East Heights Baptist Church for packages). Max has a phobia of pink so he thought it was hilarious that we gave Jason a pink candle. Mind you, if this were his birthday, he would have been in TEARS!

Clue #4 included a massage at a great little place in town, and Clue #5 closed out the night with a movie!

Jason might not have a tangible gift to hold on to, but Jack was awfully proud of his daddy's "Day of Adventure!"

Happy 35th (which rounds up to 40) Birthday, Jason! Our first ever birthday celebration together was 17 years ago when you turned 18. I think they just keep getting better!

one-size fits all

Guilt. Those five letters can certainly reek havoc on a mama. I suppose I dealt with it in America, but it multiplied exponentially when we arrived in India. Moving to India didn’t just change my life--- it forever changed the lives of two little boys!

I knew coming here that my children would unknowingly give up so much. They gave up the right to go to a school with peers that were “like” them. They gave up the right to eat at Chick-Fil-A and make weekly stops at Toys ‘R Us. They even gave up the right to see their grandparents on a weekly or monthly and possibly a yearly basis. They didn’t choose these things. Jason and I, ultimately, made that choice. And some days I bathe myself in guilt for the “experiences” they will miss out on.

When I was in America, my vision was often clouded by the “one-size fits all” mentality. I was afraid of not keeping up with the Jones’ and getting too far from “the norm.” But then I read Isaiah 55:8: "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” (NLT) I’m realizing that there is no such thing as “one-size fits all!” God has specific, individualized, "handmade for you" plans that He's waiting to see us live out!

Certainly, my boys will still miss out on things. But in my mind, the Lord has just replaced them with things that “are far beyond anything [I] can imagine.” When I stress over the fact that they don’t get to attend class parties, I rejoice that I’m the teacher that gets to watch them grow, learn, and succeed each day. When I worry that they won’t have childhood friends, I sit back and notice that at the ages of 4 and 8, their friendship is deeper than almost any friendship I had in my school years! When I fret over the Sunday School class they miss each week, I open my Bible to find that Jesus never intended for a Sunday School teacher to guide my children—it has always been my responsibility. And tee-ball games and birthday parties have been replaced with riding camels and traveling the world. Isaiah 55:8 frees me of the world's standards and allows me to find joy in His plans!

I’m certain that I haven’t seen the last of guilt. I know it will rear its head when I least expect it, but today I rest in knowing that “my thoughts are NOTHING like His.” And though my boys aren't living the American Dream, they are living the dream that their Heavenly Father had in mind before they were even conceived!

If you could step away from the world's expectations, what would you do differently? God has a life planned for you that is just "your size!" Step out!