The Arrival

What’s arrived you ask?  Well for sure my wife’s birthday arrived this week.  I think of the life I’ve had since she came into my life and realize that I can’t imagine life without her at all.  I now realize I’ve known Lovely for about half my life and the children …now two of them are teen agers…are also such amazing people.  My life has never been dull especially since leaving high school and entering the mission field at eighteen.  Still, as blessed as such things has made me I can say that experiencing these things with my family is for sure the richest blessing ever.  Now today something arrived…spring, spring feels as though it’s here at long last.  I see several days ahead in the high sixties…even some seventies!  I’m thrilled to see it!  Our walks now present us with sights such as Daffodils showing their amazing yellow petals and antelope battling to rule their harems.  Robins aren’t as plentiful as they some times are but they are here along with Western Meadow Larks who have the sweetest songs ever.  This is a very welcome arrival indeed! 

 

I’m nearly finished with my old picture display.  I have really enjoyed revisiting the days gone by.  Today we start with a picture overlooking the city of Mysore from the hill on which the Temple of the Bull rests.  I always like going to higher elevations in tropical countries…the breeze absent from below is a welcome relief in these places!  Below the stifling sauna-like heat from the rains evaporation is about more then a mountain raised Western raised American can handle .  I love seeing sights like the last Maharajah’s palace because its history is older then I can even begin to imagine.  The view from the palace is really a sight to behold as well.  Looking back I remember what It’s like to go to individual shops for everything whether that be fruitor various vessels to be used for about everything under the hot Indian sun.  It was a long way from hopping on over to Walmart to get it all done in one shot!  There wasn’t often much leisure time but when there was seeing some ancient place from the cart behind a horse was amazing.  India abounds with temples both old and new.  You can never tell what hidden spot might beckon your curious eyes from a grand archway.  What palace, temple or Mosque will greet your glance around the next bend?  Being with those that are not careful to respect local traditions can get one into trouble fast.  We had a very Hindu helper watching the children of the family I was with at the time.  They allowed the children to urinate on the Mosque grounds.  The locals of course grew very angry.  It made me glad this was pre-9/11 because I was about as obviously American as you could ever be.  This trip brought us to a cooler climate and new view which I really appreciated.  One such view was of what they told me was the second largest dome in the world…the first may have been on top of Pastor Samuel’s head…but I digress.  This shot of the Temple of the Bull shows the spectacular stone work that you can find in India.  Rhajan was our driver and he could drive about anything he was allowed get inside.  I have tried motor cycle in India traffic…it’s a harrowing thing!  I think I’ll let him drive me instead thank you very much!  Fresh fish is something that I learned to appreciate in India.  Visiting the zoo and petting…yes, really petting the Rhinos was a thing I’ll never forget…what do they feel like?  Concrete!  We also went on a tiger safari…what a magnificent animal!  After that we would often cook up the catch of the day over a campfire…I loved that!  Other times we would visit a family and have a far more formal dinner.  I think I prefer the simpler dinners…I’m a Montanan after all.  Next we’ll see some more of my elephant trek pictures and some of the Golden Triangle.  Bless you all, may the rest of your week be mightily blessed!