Back to school again

1. Seeing familiar faces in my new classes.

2. Fuji apples. They are ridiculously good.

3. Lipton Vanilla Caramel Truffle Black Tea. Yes, it is Lipton, but it's like drinking something divine!

4. A warm day filled with sunshine. I drove part of the way home with the windows rolled down.

5. Drinking caffeinated coffee. Oh sweet nectar, how I've missed you... and now my stomach is able to tolerate you again!

Late graces

1. The husband and I made it home safely from SC. It was nice to crawl into our own bed at 1:15 am.

2. Getting a chance to worship at University Lutheran in Clemson. It's such a special place for me to worship; I feel it's the place where I came to know God's love.

3. The husband's boss said he didn't see issue with us relocating to the Bay area. This means the wheels are turning. I sent my statement of intent to PLTS this morning...

4. A lazy morning where I have not been throwing up. I'm so thankful for today's slow start.

5. Being able to grocery shop for solid food.

Guess who's back? Back again.

I know I've been tardy in my daily graces. But this is something I don't want to give up.

1. Seeing "Monsters vs. Aliens" and watching the husband's name scroll by on the credits. He works hard at his job, and the movies are the reward... I'm so proud of him.

2. Having dinner with Jason at TD's. I am forever indebted to Jason, as he is the person that introduced me to the husband all those years ago at a third of July party. It was so much fun to reminisce with Jason.

3. Being able to eat real food. One of the reasons I have been unable to update was because I was spending so much time in bathrooms due to a horrible intestinal bug. It's nice to eat real food (and most importantly, keeping that real food down!)

4. Visiting Booksmith, one of my favorite independent bookstores in SC.

5. The husband and I getting a chance to visit my parents and brother.

Elsa's Day

1. Celebrating Elsa Rasche's long and eventful 101 years. It was a beautiful service, and wonderful to talk about everyone's memories of Grandma Rasche.

2. Time with the in-laws. I married into a wonderful family.

3. A sunny afternoon. It rained early in the morning, but the weather was beautiful on the drive to the memorial service in St. Charles.

4. Getting the food items ready for the lunch and dinner. It was all made. On time. Whew.

5. Sitting in the family room with the immediate in-laws, hearing funny family stories.

Friday, but a day late.

1. The sister-in-law's safe arrival from GA.

2. Finding my dance recital outfit. At Wet Seal. In St. Louis. Wonders never cease to amaze.

3. Not killing my in-laws with cooking dinner. I'm sure they're thankful as well.

4. Lunch with the mother-in-law's dad.

5. Listening to the in-laws' memories of Flip the dog.

Final four start.

1. Finding Wensleydale cheese in St. Louis.

2. Getting a chance to talk to my mom.

3. Telling the husband's mom the husband's reasoning as to why he is wearing his orange fleece pullover.

4. Going on a neighborhood walk with the husband and the father-in-law.

5. Getting a chance to read for leisure.

St. Patty's Day

1. Tap class.

2. Finishing the winter quarter.

3. Meeting Joyce for lunch.

4. The Glendale Public Library.

5. Headphone splitters.

St. Patty's Eve

1. Study group. Yes, it was an intense four and a half hour session, but it was fun at the same time.

2. Study group breakfast. I brought a breakfast casserole. Aretha brought her waffle iron and batter. Ben made fruit smoothies. It was good food fuel for studying.

3. Getting to talk to my brother. I'm glad he had a fun time in Myrtle Beach, otherwise known as the Redneck Riviera.

4. Sunshine. It's nice to have springtime weather.

5. Caramel and vanilla tea. Wow, was that good!

March 15

Today is a difficult day, but even in this difficulty, grace can be found.

1. My husband's grandmother is with the heavenly Father. My husband and his family are mourning, but all we can do now is hope for a reunion at the eternal banquet. Pastor prayed with my husband when we found out (the husband got a phone call with the news right after first service), and Pastor's parents were there with hugs.

2. The ability to get airline tickets to be in St. Louis later this week.

3. My husband wearing a bright orange fleece pullover. His grandmother called it a gay fleece because it was a bright, happy color.

4. Watching more of the first season of "Gilmore Girls" to keep occupied.

5. Holding my husband and telling him I love him.

Saturday musings.

1. Being in contact with family today. Today was a difficult day and it's hard to wait for the inevitable. But having the support of family is incredibly uplifting.

2. Going out for a short walk.

3. With today's events, it's actually a blessing to know that while studying is important, it doesn't take precedence.

4. Watching old episodes of "Gilmore Girls" on DVD. It helped the husband laugh.

5. Hugs. They go a long way.

"The one you love is sick"

"My mother is gone."

My mom cried those words into the phone three years ago when her beloved mother, my sweet grandmother, passed away. It was especially hard for my mom, because she couldn't return to India in time for the cremation ceremony. I remember my brother and I both took a day off from work to talk about our Nani. Both my brother and I didn't want to interact with the outside world that day;that day was reserved just for us to mourn. My brother and I returned to work and our regular lives. One of my coworkers tried to offer comforting words, but I remember feeling incredibly upset. He said something along the lines of, "Well, she was old, right? She led a good long life. Her death may have been for the best." I was upset when he mentioned that her death may have been for the best. At that point in my life, I didn't understand. I could not comprehend how death could be for the better.

Fast forward to this morning. My husband and I are sitting on the couch, drinking our morning coffee. We just got off the phone with his mom and dad, talking about sweet gumballs, yard work, the stock market, and life insurance for young adults. We hung up the phone, only to have it immediately ring again. My husband's mom was on the line, crying. While we were chatting on the phone, my father-in-law's cell phone rang. It was the senior home where his mother, my husband's grandmother, lives. My mother-in-law told us that it was bad news, and that she and my father-in-law are on their way to the senior home. We were left with this information, and the knowledge that my husband's grandmother has pneumonia.

My husband's grandmother is a remarkable woman. She's 101 and incredibly feisty. She's strong-willed and also very funny. My husband's family jokes about her being the Energizer Bunny as she keeps going and going and going. Another comparison was a Timex watch, as "She takes a lickin and keeps on tickin."

My husband started to cry. This is his grandmother, who he has fond memories of visiting in Frankenmouth, drinking Verner's ginger ale. This is his grandmother who made meringue cookies every Christmas. As I'm holding my husband, he cries on my shoulder. There are no words to say that can comfort him. I cannot and will not tell him, "Oh, she's 101. She led a good, long, happy life." I cannot and will not tell him, "Well, it's her time to go." The only words I can say are, "This blows." Because it does.

In a new understanding, all I can really think about is "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." My husband and I are sitting by the phone, not knowing of what is happening with his grandmother. We do not know if she is still with us in her physical body. But I do know that the Lord is with her, as He is with my husband's entire family as they await for news. I also know that the Lord is the resurrection and the life.

A good Friday the 13th

1. Running into Marcos. I haven't seen him in forever, and it was great to catch up with him and to meet his girlfriend!

2. Using my Staples gift certificate to buy a few boxes of 24-count crayons. I hope kids somewhere around the world will experience joy and fun coloring with crayons.

3. Going for an evening walk with the husband. The weather was nice and brisk.

4. Talking with two of my old bosses at Clemson. It will be nice to see them in a couple of weeks!

5. Happy birthday to Niharika-di!

Last class Thursday

1. Getting my last Gospels paper back. I had such a hard time trying to write the paper and I gave it my best effort. I about died from shock when I looked at the grade. But it's good shock.

2. Meeting with Emily. We've missed each other at church, and she's on campus the days I don't have class. Today we had the chance to catch up and share our scholarly adventures with one another.

3. Spring cleaning. Salem's youth group now has a new-to-them boombox to take to the beach.

4. A quiet night to myself. The husband and his best friend are headed out to a concert tonight. I plan to drink tea, study, and go to bed early.

5. Getting to talk to Pastor Chris and share my good news with him.

Oh. My. Goodness.

1. I. Got. Accepted. Into. PLTS. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. I received an email from the Director of Admissions. Oh my goodness.
"Hi, Tuhina. And congratulations! The Admissions Committee has completed its very positive review of your application, and you have been admitted to PLTS. I look forward to welcoming you on campus.

I understand that you had a good visit with my admissions colleagues last week; I'm glad that went well. I wish I could've been there too; but my health issues are being taken care of in good order, and it was best that I stayed and got things taken care of.

I am down in southern California periodically doing admissions work in various places; perhaps we will have a chance to meet this spring or summer.

Soon we will send you a hard copy mailing--an official letter of admission, plus some other paperwork for your attention.

Blessings to you. You'll make a great addition to the PLTS-GTU academic and faith community! May your continuing studies this semester (quarter?) go well.

In Christ,

Steve"

2. Peace and quiet. I've missed that. The phone has hardly rung today, which is wonderful.

3. A working heater in the apartment. I'm spoiled with climate control!

4. Getting a few book recommendations from my professor. I've been having a difficult time communicating the Gospels with some of my family members. The difficulty is not through them wanting to hear about what I've learned, but the lack of a common vocabulary of eastern and western thought. My professor sent me some books that will hopefully close up that gap.

5. Thinking of picking out my leisure reading, which will commence at 10AM on March 17th... Sarah Vowell just released "The Wordy Shipmates," and I really want to read it!

Tuesday

1. Getting to spend quality time with my brother while he was in town. He left this morning to go back home, but the husband and I will see him (and my parents) in a couple of weeks!

2. Date night with the husband before the mad brain cram begins.

3. All of my paperwork is at PLTS as of today. Recommendations, applications, essays, financial aid, the whole shebang. It is no longer in my hands.

4. Meeting Joyce for lunch.

5. Finishing all of the reading for the quarter. Now I just need to see if this all makes sense!

Monday

1. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The husband and I have been meeting with a financial counselor to make sure our finances are in order, especially that we're on one income right now. The husband and I want to make sure were financially stable, especially in the case of an emergency. Our financial counselor is also a wonderful woman to work with.

2. Walking with the husband partway to work this morning. It was nice to get extra time together.

3. Finishing one of my books for Gospels. I cannot believe the quarter ends next week!

4. My mom and dad's wedding anniversary. They've been married for 39 years!

5. Multiple washers and dryers being open in the apartment complex. I was able to wash five loads of laundry in a matter of a couple of hours!

Even more sun this Sunday.

1. The nice people at the Apple Store fixed my MacBook without any huge issues. I am so relieved, as I've come to rely on this little computer more and more each day...

2. Kleenex with lotion. My nose is extremely thankful!

3. The brother came back to Glendale early this afternoon, which meant he, the husband, and I had a fun afternoon together. We traded CDs and DVDs at Amoeba, then finally took the brother to our favorite restaurant in West Hollywood. Caffe Angeli has a rotating menu based on seasonal vegetables, and the food is so wonderful, words cannot describe how good the food tastes.

4. Daylight Savings Time starting. An extra hour of sunlight means longer walks in the afternoons!

5. Playing with my food. An orange wedge looked like a whale, so it seemed like a good idea to make whale sounds while peeling off the pith. The husband then pretended his wedge was a manatee. Then he took a bite and decided that the deformed manatee looked like the state of South Carolina.

Saturday

1. Getting to spend some quality time with three of my friends at the Huntington Library. We started with an early lunch at the tea house, then wandered around the Japanese and Chinese gardens. The gardens were beautiful, but later this spring, I think the gardens will be spectacular in full bloom. It was so great to walk around the gardens, catching up with one another. It was also neat that our men had their respective boys' day as well.

2. Going for a walk with the husband. It was a short walk since we're both stuffy with colds, but it was a good walk nonetheless.

3. Ben and Kathy called to check on the husband and me. That was very nice of them to see how we were doing.

4. Watching "Juno."

5. Randomly wandering inside the Pacific Food Mart. The husband and I went in there on a whim... their pastries and desserts looked beautiful!

Friday Graces.

1. Getting to see a movie with my brother.

2. Surprising my brother with a copy of "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life." He'd been looking for the book for a couple of months; I randomly found it yesterday while running errands.

3. Coffee time with the husband. Best way to start the day.

4. Watching U2 perform on "Good Morning America."

5. Finally completing all of my financial aid paperwork.

Thursday Graces...

1. Vitamin C in its various forms. Vitamin C pills, oranges, orange juice, clementines... you name it, I probably ingested it today to ward off the sickies.

2. Lemon chamomile tea. Good way to start off the morning. And that Fuller's refectory doesn't charge for hot water if you bring your own cup and your own tea bag.

3. Finding a suit after weeks of looking. And buying that suit for a steal!

4. A much needed nap. My body is demanding rest, and I'm blessed to be able to take a nap in the middle of the day.

5. Getting the birth announcement for Matthew James Madrill! I can't wait to meet the little man in September!

Wednesday...

1. My brother is here!!! YAY!

2. A nice warm jacket for today's cold weather.

3. Oranges from the farmer's market.

4. Hugs from the husband!

5. Raisin cinnamon bread for breakfast.

Sing, Sing, Sing. And I've sung!

1. Getting to have lunch with Joyce. I haven't seen her in a month and I've missed our weekly lunches. Silly when this little thing called life gets in the way.

2. Tap class. And the relief that I only have to learn two routines for the summer recital. I thought I had to learn three. There's only so much room in my brain to spare!

3. Reading completely absurd books in Barnes & Noble this afternoon. Especially "The Complete Idiot's Guide to 2012." Weird, but great for killing time.

4. "No Line on the Horizon" on vinyl. I'm so happy more albums are being produced on vinyl again...

5. After a few months of searching, I finally found a replacement for my worn out Target canvas sneakers. This entry is bittersweet, as the near-deceased pair of sneakers was purchased for $2.50, and I definitely got my money's worth, as I purchased them almost five years ago. (Can you tell I have a hard time letting things go?).

How is it already March?

1. Walking the husband partway to work. We parted ways at Grandview and Glenoaks. He walked to work; I wandered around Kenneth Village for my morning walk.

2. Seeing daffodils on the morning walk. After seeing the daffodils, the husband and I reminisced about the wild daffodil rescue when we lived in Clemson. We rented a fabulous house on a half-acre lot, and all around the lot were wild daffodils. Before the landlord came over to mow our lawn one morning, the husband and I were madly digging up daffodils from around the yard and replanting them near the porch steps to save them from being mowed over.

3. Meeting with four wonderful women this afternoon. These weren't just any women, though. They were ELCA seminary representatives, and it was wonderful to get a chance to talk to them about my discernment process.

4. News and pictures of the snow down south. I miss my friends, family, and yes, even the state of South Carolina.

5. A wonderful husband. I don't know how he ended up married to me, but he's a blessing that cannot be described by mere words.

Sunny Sunday

1. Getting to visit Andrea and Josh. We got to see their new home, gave them cupcakes, and returned their copies of Settlers of Catan.

2. Playing a game of Scrabble with the husband.

3. Finalizing Women's Day Out for Saturday morning.

4. First day of March! Springtime is closing in!

5. Getting to watch "The Waterboy" on television. It's not a wonderful movie, but gosh, it sure is funny.