Knitting Projects

I got a bunch of yarn over Christmas, and haven't used it yet...and as we're starting to pack and feeling VERY overwhelmed by how much we have to fit in 5 small trunks, I've decided to use what I can and leave the rest. :) SO, here are my projects!

Baby Booties

Big Person Booties

Wurm Hat

For all you knitting lovers out there, here's a great website with tons of free patterns (thanks for telling me about this Kate!!!)

I've got one "big person bootie" made - I guess I'd better get moving!

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*We spent the majority of today sorting through all our stuff - WHOA accumulation! We now have a "to go to buyer" pile, a "to give away" pile, a "to pack" pile, the list goes on and on. :) But, coming home feels closer than ever!

Oh, for the love of literacy...

"You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." - Charles Jones

My mom told me this quote a long time ago and I've randomly thought about it ever since I first heard it. Is it true? I think that for much of our life it is or will be true. For most of us there will be a time when we live the same life year after year. As people are traveling more often, it seems like we could add "the places you see" to this quote. BUT - if you can't travel, books are the things that take you to the wide world beyond.

I LOVE books, and I attribute that mostly to my parents. Some of my favorite memories growing up are those of reading together at bedtime. All 64 of the Hardy Boys novels have been read aloud in the Stellmaker Home at one point or another over the years - and endless hours of cuddling happened as novel pages turned. I think because I felt so loved while we were reading, I now LOVE to read.

I feel like reading opens our minds to other worlds and exciting new possibilities. In the novel, our imaginations are encouraged and guided. In the non-fiction work, our boundaries increase and we gain exposure to people and events that we otherwise would never imagine or understand. In short, I LOVE to read!

And so, I have 3 thoughts.

1. I just found out that 48% of women in India are illiterate. Can you believe that?! I think this could be the #1 reason that such harsh gender inequalities still exist here.

2. I'm 100% committed to bedtime reading with my kids. :)

3. Thanks, mom and dad, for giving me this love!

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**This is my latest brainstorm - I want to start up a "Culture" book club next year where we pick a region of the world and read a true-life story every month from that area. Especially as Christians (but also as citizens of an ever-increasing "flat world"), it is SO IMPORTANT that we get out of our comfort zone of comprehension, and push ourselves to understand how things REALLY ARE. America is abnormal, and we are, therefore, also abnormal. How can we ever hope to reach the people of this world if we understand NOTHING about them?

I'm thinking Tibet or China for the first focus. Anyone interested?! I've already got a pretty sweet list for both of them. :) I thought we could pick a central Iowa location (Ankeny?) for whoever wanted to meet, and then send the book list out to whoever else wanted to read along from afar. Maybe start a blog for people's reflections?! Really start to challenge ourselves and gain a broader world perspective...

Book #8: Dream Giver

The Dream Giver

by Bruce Wilkinson

And, the last of the Hong Kong book club (can you tell that we sat in coffee shops every other day on this vacation?!) This book is SERIOUSLY awesome. Bruce Wilkinson considers himself a "dream coach", and works to help Christians find their "Big Dream". The first half of the book is told like Pilgrim's Progress. Basically, a man called Ordinary lives in the land of Comfort, and goes to his Normal Job, and watches his screen and goes to bed. (I'm not getting the names quite right, but you get the idea!). THEN, he has a dream, and realizes that everyone is born with a Big Dream. This Big Dream would take them out of the land of Comfort - and each dream is given by the Dream Giver.

Ordinary decides to follow his big dream, but is faces with many obstacles. Fear, Giants, the Border Patrol (turns out to be his family) - but he chooses to continue toward his Big Dream, and eventually discovers what he was MADE to do.

The second half, Bruce Wilkinson talks about the analogy and the difficulties we face in our life as we decide whether to pursue our dream or give it up for the sake of comfort. I read it right as God was challenging us to at least be willing to go where He asked, and it was EXTREMELY powerful. AND - I redefined my "Big Dream" - it was really exciting. :)

This book gets a BIG recommendation from me!

Book #7: A Long Way Gone

A Long Way Gone

by Ishmael Beah

As I'm mostly writing these "reviews" to keep track of what I read and what I think of it for myself, I'm going to keep this one short. I also read this while we were in Hong Kong - thanks for the recommendation cousin! It's the story of boy soldiers that are forced into service by different rebel factions in African countries. And, it's heartbreaking and shocking and (in the end at least) somehow hopeful. Would definitely recommend it to the person hoping to increase their awareness of the suffering in the world - there will never be change if we don't know what's happening!

A picture says a thousand words...

Book #6: Three Cups of Tea

Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson

I read this book over Christmas break while we were in Hong Kong, but realized I hadn't counted it (or a couple others) in my yearly total yet. So, here's book #6. :)

"Three Cups of Tea" is the true story of Greg Mortenson. Greg was an avid mountain climber, and had traveled to Pakistan to summit a very difficult peak when he got separated from his group and nearly died. People from a small village found him and took care of him until he was healthy enough to return home. As he was leaving, he asked what he could do to repay them, and their only response was "build us a school."

Over the next 5-ish years, Greg struggled to save enough money to go back and build this town a school...and through a LOT of difficulty, frustration and multiple setbacks, he succeeded. He also ended up founding a non-profit organization to continue building schools in the most unreached parts of Pakistan in order to allow children (and specifically girls) the chance to receive a secular education.

I LOVED this book - it is now required reading for the U.S. military, as it gives a real-life picture of the people most affected by the war. It ALSO gives Americans an alternative for "fighting terrorism" - providing these children with an unbiased education stops extremist groups from indoctrinating them with hatred and lies, and impacts future generations. Two thumbs up - book #6 accounted for!

Book #5: Curfewed Night

"Curfewed Night", by Basharat Peer

W. H. Auden's poem "Partition", speaking of how Sir Cyril Radcliffe was sent
to fix the border between India and Pakistan in 1947.

Unbiased at least he was when he arrived on his mission,
Having never set eyes on the land he was called to partition
Between two peoples fanatically at odds,
With their different diets and incompatible gods.
“Time,” they had briefed him in London, "is short. It’s too late
For mutual reconciliation or rational debate:
The only solution now lies in separation.”

Ever since we got here I've been intrigued by Partition and India's Independence from Britain in 1947. I, of course, will never fully understand the full implications that event had on the country, but I'm doing my best to at least appreciate the impact it had on individuals and their families. In essence, India and Pakistan used to be one big country, but when Britain gave India independence, the country's Muslims feared Hindu domination. They, therefore, insisted on creating their own state: enter the Partition. The country split into the "muslim" section (Pakistan) and "Hindu" section (India). I apologize if this is a gross over-simplification - just trying to bring out the most important points. In any case, anywhere from 1 to 7 million people died during this conflict - it is the main event in India's 20th century history.

Kashmir was (and remains to be) the most largely contested area between Pakistan and India. Before Partition it was a "princely state", which basically means it could exist autonomously apart from British rule as long as its rulers followed certain rules. After Partition, things became confusing. The state of Kashmir was basically split right down the middle during Partition. It was ruled by a Hindu king, but had a predominantly Muslim population. For a while complete independence was considered, but BOTH Pakistan and India had particular reasons for wanting Kashmir to remain part of their country. And so, it has been a contentious place ever since.

Three border wars have been fought between Pakistan and India since Partition, the most recent beginning in 1989 (with insurgent Kashmiris calling for independence) and continuing into 2002-3. President Clinton called Kashmir "the most dangerous place on earth". The Indian military has been extremely brutal, and MANY Kashmiris - both militants and civilians - have died during this conflict.

I really liked "Curfewed Night". It's written from the perspective of a man who grew up in Kashmir, left for higher education, and then came back with a new perspective. In order to really understand what had happened while he was away, he sought our stories and learned people's suffering. While it was hard to read, it was enriching and helped me grasp the situation and history behind the conflict.

Best Part = we're going there this summer! (don't worry, the conflict is almost non-existent right now!)

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**My goal for the year is to read 30 books...and as you can see,this is only #5. I'd best get moving! Hopefully as school is finishing up I'll be able to find more focused reading time. :)

Snow Dog

I laugh every time I see this picture - thought I'd share our snow dog with you. :)

full of feelings

i've been full of feelings lately....here's my babble.

i miss my webster city kids. my freshmen babies just graduated this last weekend, and I couldn't be there. sometimes i get so sad i can't do anything else but just sit and be sad. did i make a mistake leaving? no...but i still feel really sad.

i feel sad and confused about leaving here. it's been a wonderful experience, and a year where we've been stretched and grown and experienced intense EVERYTHING...and i love intensity.

i feel sad about leaving the family we've made over here and the students i love so much.

i feel so excited about coming home. i can't wait to be with family and friends, to rekindle relationships that have had to take a back-burner this year.

i feel so scared about coming home. i'm different now - how will i fit in? will people understand us? will people want to understand us? where's our niche now? how will what we've learned change the way we live?

i feel scared about the future. i know GOD is challenging us in new and exciting ways, but sometimes that scares the crap out of me. i never wanted to become stagnant or complacent in my faith...but until this year that meant going to a women's retreat for a weekend or listening to a challenging sermon in the car on the way to work. this year, though, i've met a different GOD, and this God is big and demanding - all-loving and wonderfully compassionate - and frankly a bit scary.

i feel sick...physically sick - for almost five days now, and i'm sick of being sick. :)

i feel sad about the things we've missed being away this year. i know the experience has been worth it, but i'm still feeling the loss.

i feel inadequate for my job next year. i took an elementary music job because i desperately want experience in all areas of music, and this is a great job that got offered to me in my home town. no morning commitments, no night commitments - we might actually get to have a life outside of my job for once! but, i'm not passionate about elementary (yet). i'm not skilled in elementary (yet). and, i thought i was done feeling inadequate and unequipped! after all, i already had my first year of teaching...doesn't that mean you're done with the stretching?! :)

i feel worried about the future. chris doesn't have a job yet, we're moving in with my parents (which doesn't worry me, it just isn't a long-term plan), we have no cars and no money. hmm...

i feel so excited for my sister to be here. :) i feel excited to share this part of my life with her, to process with her and see how she reacts to things that i haven't been able to figure out how i'm reacting to. i feel excited to have someone that i know so well be in this crazy, strange, exotic place.

i feel confused about india. how can a place that is so rich with culture and history and tradition be filled with such pain and suffering? how can human lives be so driven by basic need? how can so many people be concerned with mere survival? and, now that i've seen it, what does that mean for my life?

i feel stuck. all these feelings are feelings that won't change for a while. we get home exactly 2 months from today. and, while those two months will be filled with great things, they aren't things that will change these feelings. i won't have started my new job, i won't be home yet, i won't get to hug my webster city kids, i won't know what the future holds for us. and unfortunately, patience is not one of the feelings i'm having in abundance.

i feel like i'm not myself. i've always loved the "different" and "exciting" and "abnormal", but lately i find myself longing for the familiar and comfortable. there are days when i'm not even looking forward to our summer travel plans because it means not being home longer.

thanks - i'm an external processor, and it helps to babble.

Radical

God has been teaching Chris and I what it looks like to actually follow Him. Lately it feels like He's been throwing stuff at me, and I'm nervous, excited, challenged, and sometimes terrified.

I guess I'm realizing, for the first time, the extreme cost of Christ. If we're ignorant we can claim ignorance. But when we know, we can't hide. We have a responsibility...and have to decide whether we choose to obey or disobey. I wish God had started this semester with a flashing sign from heaven saying: Information Learned Here is NOT for the Faint of Heart! And so, I'll say it - the information in the sermons and websites below comes with a responsibility. A beautiful responsibility, but sometimes it's scary to really count the cost.

Radical Sermon Series

147 Million Orphans

Kisses From Katie

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The only question - do we actually believe what Jesus says?

Luke 14:33 "In the same way, any of you who does not give up
everything he has cannot be my disciple."

Ode to My Mama...

Mom, I am SO glad that we get to celebrate you today.

You are awesome. You're a wonderful mom. You're a wonderful wife. You're a wonderful caregiver. You're a wonderful director. You're a wonderful friend. You're creative, musical, a great leader, a great teacher, patient with people when they need it, hard on people when they can handle it, a truth teller, a hard worker...so wise, so kind, and you give of yourself unselfishly.

You are an inspiration to me. You taught me to dream big and then go for it. You taught me to do my best at anything I do. You taught me to draw my numbers in sugar...and then let me lick my finger when I did them right. :) You taught me to get my work done, and then play hard. You taught me to value people before things. You encouraged me, told me I could do it when I didn't believe I could, and challenged me to be better. You gave us a secure and loving home to come home to, but always let us know that you would still love us no matter where we went.

I SO wish I could be there to tell you all these things in person...but know that you are loved from around the other side of the world. I can't wait to be with you soon.

I LOVE YOU!

Summer Plans :)

There are only 6 weeks left of school, and summer is fast approaching. THEREFORE, summer VACATION is ALSO fast approaching! My sister (and best friend!) Amy is arriving in India on June 15th, and will leave with us when we head out on July 16th...so we'll get to spend a WHOLE MONTH together, traveling around the country. What will fill our time, you might ask?! Let me tell you. :)

1. Hiking/Shopping Around Mussoorie - 6 days

While we could spend many more days on the sights around here, we'll limit ourselves to 6 days and catch the highlights: ride the ferris wheel, go on bicycle rickshaws, buy WAY too much jewelry, have shoes and clothes made just for us, and head up to the top for breathtaking views of the mountains. Can't wait!

2. Leh/Ladakh Adventure - 13 days

We'll be flying up to Leh, Ladakh with 3 of our friends from here, and spending time in the High Himalayan mountains. The first four or five days will be spent in Leh, visiting Gompas and taking in the Tibetan culture. THEN, we head out for an 8-day trek...here's the itinerary. :)

Markha Valley Trek: 7 nights & 8 Days

Day1 After breakfast, drive to Spitk Trekking Point. Walk to Zinchen: 4-5 hrs. Overnight camp at Zinchen 3380mt.

Day 2 After breakfast, walk to Kandla Base Camp: 5-6 hrs. Overnight at Kandla base camp 4380

Day 3 After breakfast, walk to Skyu: 6-7 hrs. Overnight camp at Skyu 3400mt.

Day 4 After breakfast, walk to Markha: 7-8 hrs. Overnight camp at Markha 3700mt.

Day5 After breakfast, walk to Thuchungtse: 4-5 hrs. Overnight camp at Yhuchungtse 4150mt.

Day 6 After breakfast, walk to Nimaling: 3-4 hrs. Overnight camp at Nimaling 4720mt.

Day 7 After breakfast, cross Gongmarula Pass (5130mt.) Reach Shang Sumdo: 7-8 hrs. Overnight at Shang Sumdo 3660mt.

Day 8 After breakfast, walk to Martselag: 1-2 hrs. From here, car will pick you up and drive back to Leh.

And some images of what will be surrounding us (WHOA GOD, huh?!)

3. Amritsar - 1 day

After Ladakh, Amy and I will part ways with Chris (who has to go back to work and break in the new programmer!) and head to Amritsar to see the Golden Temple and the Border Ceremony. Apparently these are the two highlights...and after that, there's not much else to see. :)

4. Dharamshala - 4/5 days

Next we'll head to Dharamshala, which is the home of the Dalai Lama and center of Tibetan culture in India. There are many things to see here, and it's also just a great place to "be"...so this will be a rather relaxing part of our trip.

5. Mussoorie - 3 days

We'll head back to Mussoorie to pack up the house, ship everything back to the states, and pick up Chris. And then, it's out of there for now!

6. Agra - 2 days, 1 night

Right before our official departure, we're planning to visit Agra to see the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatepuhr Sikhri. It's going to be RIDICULOUSLY hot, but definitely worth it. :)

7. Ireland - 10 days

At the end of our trip, we'll be meeting up with the WHOLE FARLEY FAMILY in Ireland! We're SO excited about this, and can't wait for extended family time again!

I'm just getting really excited about it, so I thought I'd share. :)

Karuna Vihar

A few weeks ago was "Earth Day", and the school's C.A.R.E. program set up a bunch of activities for the junior high and elementary kids to do. I got to chaperone the trip to Karuna Vihar Vocational Center, a center which purposes to help physically and mentally handicapped students above the age of 13 to learn skills that will help them get jobs. So, we geared up and headed down to (the VERY HOT) Dehra Dun.

We spent a while walking around and just seeing what all the kids were doing...and then we jumped in and helped. I ended up spending most of my time with Lucky. We kind of just clicked, and had a blast!

We made paper beads and helped the students string the beads into necklaces.

Kathy read "The Giving Tree" at the end of the day.

The final event was a dance performance given by these four girls. It was so much fun!

It was a great day, and was really nice for our kids to spend time with students they don't normally interact with. And although it was SO HOT, it was definitely worth it. :)

We Be Ballin'!

Last weekend was FILLED with basketball. And, lots of other stuff. :) Here's the weekend in pictures....

FRIDAY
4:00 PM - Take a picture with all the girls in my office
*They don't have the tradition of "dressing up" on game days here...but we brought that to India last Friday! Aren't they all so cute?!


6:00 PM - Supper with all the teams

7:00 PM - Indian Music Concert
* I had to wear a saree...and the girls were CONVINCED they could put it on me better than I could. 30 minutes later, I'm dressed and ready to go. :) (note that I look more like a mummy than concert-ready!)


8:45 PM - Basketball Game #1
*Quick change from concert attire to game-wear, and we're ready to go.


Halftime - dance tradition with Mr. Luukkonen

Outcome: Friday's game was ROUGH. Indian basketball rules are very different than American rules...but we apparently missed the memo, because the girls were basically being body-checked the whole game. I had to send 6 different girls out into the hall because they were so upset...and I actually ended up yelling at the head of the P.E. department because I was so frustrated that the refs weren't calling anything. At the end of the game the girls were beaten, bruised, and exhausted...but they had handled themselves SO WELL, and I was so proud. :)

SATURDAY
10:30 AM - arrive at school for a day filled with basketball matches!
3:30 PM - second and final match of the tournament.
* Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day...I love these girls!

Supriti and Stutii watching from the side...

Samiha, Eriko, and Kethayun posing for the camera...

Team huddle...

Working hard during our second match...

Stutii watching the boy's game intently...

Ugyen, Samiha and Istuti cheering on the Woodstock boys...

Amber...

Kethayun...

Anjuri...

The whole team, lovin' life once our games were over!

5:00 PM - Awards ceremony

While we came in third (out of three...!), I was SO proud of how hard they worked. They barely knew how to dribble on the first day of practice, and they really held their own at this tournament. AND, they did it while juggling school, music, and an intensely scheduled life.

6:00 PM - The after-party
Afterwards....SLEEPOVER! Chris graciously allowed me to invite the girls over for a sleepover, where we made pizza and brownies, had girl-talk, and watched Coach Carter/The Devil Wears Prada. :) I felt like I was in junior high all over again (except this time around was much more fun!)

Good times had by all. :)