Sunday, March 30, 2008

India!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a rather blurry photo of our great friend Jeremiah and I at a party on the rooftop. We got to spend loads of time with him and his girlfriend Devon which was such a blessing as they are a beautiful couple and totally inspiring! Their travels are taking them all over the world in the next year or so until they get home to Seattle. This was our second (or third?) meeting in Calcutta--heres to many more!
Another blurry photo with the host of the party, Mickey...probably thats why the photo is blurry, Im sure there was beer involved. :o) Susie and Charlie have become very close with Mickey who is full of life and passion and love. We had such an amazing time getting to know him and hearing his MANY stories. Also, he immediately fell in love with Ali so it was quite fun to watch her squirm due to his numerous and VERY obvious advances. :o) We also got some video of Mickey (a professional Irish boxer) going a few rounds in the ring with Josh...priceless. :o)
Here is most of the crew (minus a really sick Charlie) with Sister Karina, SUCH a love!
Susie with her boyfriend, Charlie. It was so great to spend time with them in Calcutta. Susie has REALLY made it a home and although the city can be really frustrating at times, I know that she will always be really connected to it, as we are. Now to get the rest of the family there! It is also really wonderful to watch their relationship grow there...reminds us of how it was when we met and fell in love. Who would have thought that Calcutta was the place to be for singles. :o) Charlie is a great man and they are PERFECT for eachother...and having tons of fun. AND he likes her without makeup...who could ask for more?!
Protima and me at Kalsah, our favorite "restaurant." Always fun to share a meal with friends.... ...even when your attention (and shoulders!) is being pulled in numerous directions..by the way, look at how HUGE Sahil is!!!! I couldnt believe it!

I took this photo a bit on the sly but I figure it might be something like Mother Teresa looked like when she walked through Calcutta. I am not sure who the sister is in the photo but she was so sweet and teeny-tiny walking through the dirty streets in old sandals and with a smile. Puts things into really fast perspective. What we wouldnt give to have been there and seen Momma T walking the Calcutta streets!
A dear friend Chompa and me....last time I spent the day with her, I got a full Bollywood makeover. :o) It was perfect to get to see her again and hear about her life over the last few years.
This photo probably needs no introduction....its TUNA! (looking fly, might we add). Actually, he looked a bunch better than the last time we had seen him and seemed healthy. He was just as fun to interact with as ever and Josh and he picked right up where they left off, as if Josh had never left--in CLASSIC Tuna style. I think his first words to Josh were "Hi tuck, Kalsah?" PERFECT!


Here is a photo of a little girl living in the orphanage run by the Missionaries of Charity called Shishu Bhavan. She was absolutely precious and tiny. She suffers from a disorder which has made her leg bones very brittle and underdeveloped but she certainly gets around AND holds her own with the other kids. I loved her cheeks! The sister that helps to run the home allowed us in and introduced us to many of the children who are up for adoption in hopes that it would spark interest in someone here in the States. We have documentation for each child so if interested, let us know!



This is Robbie, another boy from Shishu Bhavan. He is blind and reminded a lot of the sisters of Sudeep. He is a bit less verbal than Sudeep was when I met him, but definitely has a BIG personality and LOTS of curiosity.
Another precious one from Shishu Bhavan. She is very smart and only mildly physically handicapped...people called her Harry Potter with her cute little glasses. :o)
I actually recognized this little one from previous visits to Calcutta. She is very affectionate and well known by all the volunteers. A little actress in the making, I think!

OK so this one is for you, Manus! I have been meaning to send it to you since I took it! Mags (along with lots of other volunteer women) shaved her head! She looked great and knew you would get a kick out of seeing her like this! haha! (couldnt talk me into it, not this trip, at least!)
Not quite sure why my face is blurred in this, but here we are with Sarah, a friend from Sudder Street.

Another try!




Crazy Maine Winter

I wish I had some better photos of the snow this year, but it has been CRAZZZZY! I think the other day, we finally broke the 100 inch mark..something that Maine (or at least this, the southern part!) hasnt done for MANY years (over 100, I think?). Josh is totally ready to move to a warmer climate when all the things that come along with cold, snowy weather are taken into consideration--shoveling, roof-raking, heating oil, freezing temperatures--but it is finally starting to warm up and hit the 50's--melt snow, melt!
Here is another Christmas time pic--in a few days, we will be leaving for India so, OUT OF THE COLD!

Congrats to Lew and Irene Emery!

Lew and Irene were married this fall/winter and it was such a beautiful ceremony...hard to believe that the "confirmed bachelor" is married but NOT after meeting and getting to know Irene. Congrats! We love you guys!

Ali and me at the wedding reception in York, Maine (celebrating the fact that we found the place!)

Fall Fun!




Apple/pumpkin picking was super fun this year..Ray was really into it and literally took at least one bite from about 50 apples that he picked off the low tree branches or the ground, in this case!
Here are some photos of Josh and Ray at a Portland Pirates Hockey Game...Ray's lion suit (which was all he would wear for a while) won him "cute kid of the game" and a free haircut. :o)


Merry Christmas (and in some related news...)

Merry Christmas! Ray got a fish for Christmas from Auntie Juice--Calia and Ray were really impressed. :o)
All the girls minus Susie. :o(
Ray loves his (and Bop's) cowboy hat!

Adding a little extra excitement to the Christmas season is news that we are expecting again in late June/early July! A rather unexpected, beautiful surprise! This photo is at about 3 months I think? Funny how you lose track of the time when its #2! We decided not to find out the sex again, but Josh HAD to know this time so he is the only person who knows as of now. Originally, we had all given him about 2 weeks before he spoiled the surprise, but to everyones astonishment, he has been just about perfect in not giving anything away! We shall see!
Merry Christmas...we miss you, Saz!

Bip and Bop's 25th Wedding Anniversary

As of August 28th, 2007, Mom and Dad have been married 25 years! In celebration, we all went out for a nice dinner together and when we got home, bunches of people were waiting to surprise them with a party! It took a LOT to pull off (especially since mom is a sneak and finds out about all surprises!) but ended up being a really beautiful celebration of a marriage that has blessed so many. We love you both!


Not quite 25 years for us...
All of us (for now!)
<3

Tuna Cup Run 2007!

Here are some long overdue photos of the Tuna Cup Run 2007. It ended up that Josh scheduled himself to run on the hottest day of the summer--it was really close to 100 degrees and very humid. Because of that, he started really early (before it got to the heat of the day!) AND he wore a Speedo. :o) He actually had to wear the Speedo to make a bit of extra money from a few friends who said they would pledge more than double if he would run with a blue Speedo on with "I bleed Dodger Blue" written on his back. I think the chaffing effect made it so that only 5 miles or so was possible in the Speedo, but he did it! Ray Ray, Sudeep and I went to lend our support about halfway through. Also, a good friend of Josh's (an ACTUAL marathon runner!) ran with Josh the whole way for moral support! It was really beautiful of him and definitely pushed Josh through. All in all, he ran/walked 30 miles over the course of a bunch of hours and raised enough money to help support Tuna's eating habits and a few other projects in India. Thanks to everyone who pledged and offered support otherwise. Training for Tuna Cup 2008 is well underway. :o)



Ray was a little bored right from the start :o)
The "I Bleed Dodger Blue" speedo shot :o) Boy was I proud!
Ray joined in for a bit of the walk...he didnt get any pledges
Sudeep and I REALLY excited NOT to be running
Exhausted and refueling after 20 miles
Run Run Run Run
Speedo Time!