The seriousness of Allahabad and Varanas

Tagging along with Bill for his work trip to Allahabad was a huge cultural experience for me. I did not realize how much the city would impact me with its people literally living on the streets, naked children roaming around and trash spread along the streets and sidewalks.

LOTS of bicycle rickshaws EVERYWHERE 

This is a picture I took steps away from our hotel entrance, extremely poor people living alongside the road with barely a trap for their roof and sleeping on the dirt with bugs everywhere. 

Ganges River 

Pilgrims gathered to worship Shiva 

We saw hundreds of Pilgrims walking barefoot along the highway and streets

Buffalos bathing in the Ganges 

So many animals just hanging out

The fun of Allahabad and Varanasi

Enjoying breakfast and playing at a local coffee dive

Just taking in the green grassy area outside our hotel 

A life size remote control car- one of Harrison's highlights 

Second highlight was finding his first Ninja Turtle! He was so excited to call Uncle John and show him. Harrison has heard many times about how Mommy and Uncle John would play Ninja Turtles together all the time growing up.

Peeking inside All Saints Cathedral 

Services continue to be held on Sunday mornings at 8:30am 

 

This boy is so silly!

Daddy and Harrison working together on an activity book 

Harrison was so excited when we told him we where going out on a paddle boat along the Ganges in Varanasi

As a group of Indians were amused by us (Harrison mostly) I decided to snap a picture of them

Parents Day

 Saturday was Parents Day at Harrison's school. He was so excited to show me his classroom and for me to meet his teachers and new friends. Daddy was out of town for work, just me and my Harrison

Harrison was so excited to have a plant to bring home. We then had an afternoon date to see Planes: Fire and Rescue 

I am so thankful for such a wonderful school! 

My view from the gym

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One year

2:55am on 16-7-13 we arrived in Hyderabad, India. 

It has been an incredible year:

* Saturday morning breakfast at The Westin (seriously this is where The Nagel's are every Saturday we are in town)! 

* Amazing new friends I have met from all over the world 

* A wonderful church community

* More appreciation for the things I have in my life. The tent communities (slums) are everywhere you look, it is unavoidable 

* Learning to purge the things we are not using...I give these unused items to my maid or driver, they are completely thrilled and always so appreciative 

* Cows and Buffalos just hanging out along the side of the road as well as walking, stopping and sitting on the road while cars buzz by, yield to the animals 

* Cars and people everywhere- I mean EVERYWHERE! 

* Recently started volunteering on Wednesday mornings Sarah's Covenant Homes

Here are a collection of things we often see...

We are truly Blessed by our wonderful friends, whom have become our family...

SO thankful for a wonderful driver, Faiyaz

Thank you God for a wonderful husband whom has taken me by the hand and shown me the world

God you are so GREAT! 

 

Celebrating Yes!

I am taking an online 30 day ecourse on Happiness is your Nature. This week the focus is on the inner critic and today's assignment is to reflect on how far I have come in the past 3, 5,  or 10 years and how much I have gained in my life. I have chosen to reflect on the past 3 years. 

Thee years ago I began my journey of better health. Three years ago I was overweight with little muscle strength and eating a lot of fast food, lots of sugary coffees, soda, pizza 1x a week, cooking quick unhealthy meals (mostly prepared/packaged foods). I never thought about going to the gym for boot camp and/or Crossfit.
Then I found a great deal for bootcamp online (July of 2011) and decided to support a local company/friend's husband. I was terrified at first by going due to my fear of what the other strength levels my classmate would be and if I was going to be the only overweight beginner. My fears dissolved quickly when I stepped into the gym and saw other classmates just starting out like me. 

In April 2011 I met Natalie, my health coach. When we first began meeting I would not look her in the eyes while I talked about my food choices because I felt so ashamed (though Natalie never ever made me feel this way). One of the many wonderful things Natalie did was going shopping with me at the local store to help me in making better ingredient choices for cooking and snacking. Since moving to India one year ago she has been my rock in the ups and downs of my journey in overcoming the challenges of living in India and being more gentle with myself. I continue to have a food log and use myfitnesspal on a daily basis. Do I want to keep a food log and online tracker for the rest of my life, no. But for now these tools are amazing for me to use in keeping track of my daily choices and helping me to work on mindfulness. I do have treat days three times a week and I am not DEPRIVING myself. This is my process of making healthier choices.
I never thought I would love lifting weights, doing high intense workouts, and working as a team with other classmates focusing on being stronger and healthier. I am so thankful for Riley Athletics (in Seattle) and Potens Crossfit in Hyderabad. 

I continue to work hard on being more gentle with myself, mindful in my eating choices (especially social situations and after dinner kitchen roaming are HARD), taking one step/day at a time and that the number on the scale is not the only factor in staying healthy. I am my own person, NO one can take that away from me.

This wonderful journey continues as I become healthier for myself, my loving Husband, and our extremely active son.   

2011

2014

My Saturday morning date!

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