Last week, with our boys on a missions trip in LA, Lyndon and I left behind the delightful spring temperatures of Kelowna and winged our way to chilly Montreal, where spring has not yet sprung. Not even a little bit…

If there’s one thing I loved about India ALMOST as much as the people— it’s the curry! Oh my word. We demolished 14 curry meals in 7 days, absolutely no problem. Curry is everywhere, using every meat, fish, and vegetable imaginable along with their vast array of spices. It’s not for the fainthearted…

I’m back with a bit more from our India trip— this time it’s all about the princesses. We may not have encountered any actual royalty in Hyderabad, but I can assure you, it felt like we were surrounded by Indian princesses everywhere— beautiful girls and women dressed in stunning saris of every color imaginable, all with heads held high. It doesn’t matter if they are sweeping the road or carrying a water jug on their heads, these ladies are gorgeous, and they know it!

I’m back with the next chapter of our whirlwind mini-missions trip to India, and I’m excited to share about our time in the villages. Now when I say “villages”, don’t for one minute picture a rural little farm place with fifty people living in sprawling fields (because that’s exactly what I had envisioned). The villages in India account for around 75 percent of the population, and are very happening places. Incredibly poor, but hustling and bustling like you would not believe. And the people— oh the people…

We (Lyndon, Jacob, and I) are home from India, and finally, after a nightmarish website disaster (huge apologies to my lovely subscribers and readers for the inconvenience and delays!), I’m now ready to start unpacking the whole breathtaking experience! Goodness, I really don’t know where to start. I have a feeling my thoughts will trickle and tumble through the next weeks and months as I remember specific gems from this quirky country with its beautiful people, but I’ll begin at the beginning…

My crazy India adventure begins tomorrow. TOMORROW. And I’m feeling all sorts of unprepared! I’m flitting from extreme excitement to chicken-y apprehension, but mainly… unprepared. The think is, what can truly equip you for sights and sounds (and smells) you have never experienced before? So I’m hereby deciding to go with it, put aside my unpreparedness, and let the journey be what it will be. I’m rolling up my sleeves and girding my loins!

So I realize I’m at least a week behind the rest of the world, but I had the urge to share my word for 2015— you know how we wordies love to have “a word”! And mine is…. (drum roll)… PRESENT. Not the gift kind of present, although I’m also very partial to that, but the “being in the moment” kind of present. Being fully there in mind and spirit, not just physically existing. Enjoying, entering in, participating. PRESENT. I like my word.

With mere days before Christmas, I have a little something for you… a FREE Kindle ebook version of my picture book Fairy Wings! It will be absolutely FREE on Amazon this weekend- Friday Dec. 19, Saturday Dec. 20, and Sunday Dec .21.