Dear Daddy!

Dear Daddy,
I miss you a whole lot but I know you are making us proud in India, at least that is what Mommy tells me. She says that you are living out some adventures that you will tell us about when you get back. She says that the kind of stories you are going to tell us, you cannot find in storybooks, I'm really excited about it. I've been playing with Uncle Ez and Drew and they remind me of you. I'm going to dress up for you and make a sign so that you won't miss us at the airport when we pick you up. Here are some videos of some things I've been doing while you are gone.

Here is me playing the piano at Aunt Tammy's


And here is me on the farm with Happy the dog! She is so cool!

And here is me with about a million kitties, I think they like me a lot!


And I spent a lot of time looking out the window on the farm, I didn't want to be inside ever!

Your one and only Asher, I love you! :)

Snow!

We got snow for the first time today! It's been snowing up in the mountains for a week or more and it was 80 yesterday here. So none of it's sticking to the ground, today the temp is between 40 and 50, brrrrrr. Which is good for us as we do some traveling soon. The pics aren't very great but I wanted to show our first snow.
Also below are some video of Asher dancing and playing. Again, no sound it's on my tiny digital camera and the quality isn't the greatest. But Ash was watching Daddy's video today and Josh, you'll know which part I'm talking about, but Ash is responding to some stuff in the video and halfway through the short video he's dancing to the music. I can't edit these videos otherwise I would cut parts of them and show only the exciting stuff.

Then, after Dad introduces the animals in the video and we are finished watching the video, I distracted Asher in his bedroom and then sat out the gifts for Asher in the living room. He saw them from the top of the stairs and got really excited, this video is a little longer. I think he really likes the giraffe as his favorite. I wish I had sound, because Ash is making all these weird animals sounds, it's so cute!

Asher at the Fire Station

This is mostly for Daddy, but I know the granparents enjoy it too. I took Asher to the open house at the Fire Station the other day. He kept saying "whoa, whoa, whoa." I think it was a little overwhelming, all the big vehicles. He loved the old antique fire truck more than the big ones (and we took a ride in it), and he was almost more impressed by the man in the motorized wheel chair. They had demonstrations with the big fire hose, and of rescuing someone at the scen of the accident, it was really professional. He wouldn't crack a smile for me though, he was taking it all in and he made his mom wear his fire man hat. Enjoy the pics and videos. There is no sound, and he gets knocked at the end by a girl running by, but don't worry he survived.

Here are some clips for Dad too, of Asher running really fast at Dinosaur land and showing off his jumping skills, enjoy!

Thanks Daddy!

Josh made the cutest videos for Asher to watch of him while he's gone. So we watched the first one today. This one had him and Asher in it, reading a couple of his favorite books, teaching him about his face (eyes, nose, mouth), and showing him his new car, and then I gave the car to Ash in person. So after naptime, Ash sat down in his green chair with a little snack and watched it. The video doesn't have sound, it's on my small digitial camera, but it's so cute, Asher gives his dad a high-five when Josh asks for it and towards the end raises his arms up when hid Daddy prompts it!

we are proud!

Well, we all love pictures. And I happen to have some of Josh's adventure! This is for everyone, but mostly for family. He's doing so well. I spoke to him over the phone (I was very sleepy) this morning around 6am my time. I am so proud of him. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail that he sent the other day...

"It was neat. I have generally been teaching at least 3 and a half hours so the class is pretty long. I have been starting each day with a quiz, then asking them to share what they have learned the day before, then I cover the material and try to end with some type of challenge for them. I have been learning a lot through all of this."

I don't want to give away too much information because I still don't know a ton about the country and what their status fully is on teaching or ministry. After all, there were 41 native Campus Crusade people that were thrown in prison before Josh went to the country. But they tell me that Americans are perfectly safe there.

another excerpt... "I went for a jog after class it felt good. I got a lot of weird looks. I think people thought I was running from something because one guy stopped me and asked “why are you walking so soon?” I think he meant to say why are you running so quickly but it is all the same. I told him it was for exercise. I don’t think people do a lot of jogging around here."

And for more you can visit Josh's Blog.

Asher's girl

Her name is Maya. She is the cutest little thing. And although he has other playmates around his age both boy and girl, he treats her different than any of the others. He escorts her around with a hand on her back and a hand on her shoulder. He shares ALL his toys with ther. He has this permanent smile on his face when she is here. And she gives him hug after hug after hug. He is not really into the hugs, because they knock him over and freak him out, but he enjoys them when she is gentle. And they communicate together, he talks to her, it looks like he is trying to giver her advice and she loves it when he talks to her.

It's kind of romantic. It's simple love, and a pure love. It's not like the love that we seen portrayed in the movies and on tv. It's simply enjoying that person and cheering them on and being happy for them when they succeed and accomplish things.

I think maybe perhaps this is why I'm not falling apart about my husband being gone. Normally, I would be so sad and lonely and "whoa as me," and I would be maybe worried or nervous or scared at night. But I didn't pick up mace, I don't sleep with a hammer, I know Josh is fine (well, probably cuz I hear from him). But ultimately I am so happy for him. He is on this great adventure and I couldn't be more happier for him, I cheer him on, I pray for him, and I feel like I'm seeing more sides to him over e-mail than I did when he was here. Things couldn't be better. I hope they stay this way! :)

The Luckiest Girl!

Girls, I don't want to make you feel bad (and feel free to argue with me), but I believe I married the most amazing man on the face of the earth, and it's high time the world knew it! My man is working hard over in India right now and he still has time to lavish me with endearing e-mails, ultra sweet notes strategically placed around the house, an ipod shuffle waiting for me in the fire place and these beautiful flowers on my doorstep. The card reads: I tried to find some flowers that were as beautiful as you, but I couldn't. Love you so much! You are such an incredible wife. I miss you and can't wait to see you. Have a great week. Josh. Awww!

Asher and I picked up a stool to put by his window because he is always trying to look out at the cars and other noises he hears. It's so cute.

Josh sent this picture over of a cricket game. His last e-mail was pretty funny because he says that as he was typing it, cows kept coming by his window and mooing, Asher would have loved it. He will be sending out a mass e-mail to family and friends, very soon!

Yay Fall!!!

Who's with me? Isn't Fall great?? I love this time of year. Yesterday was a cooler day but it didn't stop us from going outside to play. Asher takes his new dump truck out and drives it all over the yard and collects things, like pine cones and branches, he brings me rocks, and mommy says "oh, they're beautiful!" I sit in the sun and try to get through a book on Potty Training. I caught Asher picking berries off our tree in the backyard, it was bittersweet because this is something that him and his dad do together as well as smelling the flowers. He was sniffing and picking all the berries off, but he wouldn't eat them, he was collecting them in his truck. I love this age!!!! Can't he stay 18 months forever?



Inda report: Josh has made it to New Delhi and has accomplished a day of teaching. He says it's going well, he has a really cool translator and is making some friendships. The food so far has been easy on his gluten-intolerance, so far chicken and rice or rice and chicken perhaps. He still thinks the teaching could go a little smoother but I think he'll get into his groove. He says that the driving over there is insane because of the animals on the road which are redeemed as gods over there. Here's a fun video I happened to find on you tube. Enjoy!

India

My hubby left tonight to go to India for a whole month. What an adventure huh? For me or for him? he he. He is going over to teach over there. If you wouldn't mind keeping him in your prayers; pray for his health, safe traveling and that he would have the capacity to teach others. Ash and I will survive I suppose. I don't know why I need to worry, when I have friend's whose husbands have had to serve in Iraq and other places. But I was just thinking, that my life doesn't seem to make much sense without him. And Asher is pretty attached to his daddy.
He will spend a couple weeks near Ranchi, it's not seen on the map but is located in the middle east part of the country. His next two weeks will be in New Delhi the capital. I'll be giving more information as I do the research and get reports. If you pray for Josh, i will be grateful, and add some prayers for Ash and I as we hold the fort down here. I already had my first scare tonight, heard some rustling outside my living room window, it's probably that darn cat next door. I think tomorrow we will take a trip to the store to get some mace and don't make fun of me if I sleep with a hammer, :). Just kidding, everything will be fine! :)

playing catch up!

It's been a whirlwind here in the Luse household. And we are finally settling into
Fall. So excuse my laps in blogging, so much has happened. Asher is officially a toddler these days, he is saying new words and trying new things by the day. But first, I have to post the few fleeting moments of summer I didn't manage to get on my blog earlier.

Asher loves Peaches, this is at the Peach Festival

Next, we had a fun birthday trip with Josh and Asher was a trooper for that...

Then, Josh's fam came to visit over August... we did some hiking, hanging out, pottery...

We painted Asher's room, well, just one wall and Asher discovered cars...

And the latest? Asher flunked his gluten test, so he is gluten and wheat-intolerant like his daddy. So looks like my gluten free gourmet mission is fueled even more now, check back to my food blog soon, I will be updating with new recipes and old ones too. But for now, I leave you with some gluten-free goodness...