God is Waiting

I read THIS today. I had to share.

The Mallu - North East Connection

When I was doing my masters, I was part of a crazy all girl acapella band. Well, you can't really call it a band, we were a quartet. In an institute consisting mostly of literary nerds geniuses, we were the first to do something like this. We created some fantastic memories practicing, singing for the passengers on a train, and we even went all the way from Hyderabad to Bangalore to participate at IIMB's culturals only to find out that the "Western music" competition was actually only meant for rock bands. Not to be deterred, we sang our rehearsed numbers in an impromptu show that acatually managed to draw a crowd!

The 'Sitaphalbandees' as we called ourselves (laugh! That's what the name was supposed to do! We named ourselves after the area our institute was located in - Sitaphalmandi) consisted of 2 Mallus and 2 Nagas. Happy Memories!!

Today, I came across a video posted by my old bandmate on facebook. She called it the Mallu -North East Connection. And I just loved it! This is a video of the Shillong Chamber Choir whom I absolutely adore! Here is their official website .

It is a Malayalam song for a Malayalam movie composed and sung by people from the North East of India. What a lovely blend!! Malayalam is a difficult language to pronounce and I think they have done a great job!

Here it is! Madi Madi (meaning "Lazy, Lazy)

Leena

Let me introduce you to a dear friend. Even before I actually met her, I heard from different people of how sweet she is. My mother-law would praise her for her thoughtful nature and for the fact that she always made it a point to keep in touch. (something I am terrible at). So, (the old me) was a little miffed that there was this girl - the perfect daughter-in-law that I had to be friends with. Silly me. Because I hadn't met her yet.

But when we did, there was this instant connection. Sure, she was just as sweet and thoughtful as everyone had said, but she wasn't rubbing it in my face. I loved being at the receiving end of her sweet nature and generosity! She had brought along her little 3 month old baby and I fell in love with the perfectness of little Joanna and enjoyed carrying her around.

Over the last four years, I have got to know her as a dear friend, with whom I share so many similarities in spite of our differences. Over facebook, she reached out to me at a time when I felt quite alone and I will be ever grateful for that. We hardly keep in touch (yeah, that's me :-) ) but she is someone I would call a kindred spirit. Nanma adores her Joanna chechi(big sister) and I look forward to their annual visits to India when we can meet in person and re-connect.

Leena is inspiring. She is a woman who's goal in life is to be the kind of wife and mother God wants her to be. She has this amazing ability, where she uses ordinary everyday occurrences as windows through which she lets God show her the bigger picture. She started on her blog a while ago, but her most recent post really struck a chord with me.

So dear readers, go over to her blog and read. Be inspired!

Just Gotta Share This!

Look What I found!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soAk3F0wX9s&feature=player_embedded#at=184

WARNING!

This funny poem was posted on the door of our teachers lounge. I quickly googled it and thought I MUST share it with you.

WARNING !

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

- Jenny Joseph

Then I went on to youtube to see if there were any readings of this poem and found these 2.

This one is a reading by Jenny Joseph herself. She is now old enough to be wearing purple, hoard pens and pencils and pick flowers from other people's gardens.

This one is read aloud by a little girl. This video is actually a cancer awareness video for Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital, London.

Nod, nod, Noddidy nod

I found this today . Well, I didn't, someone else did and posted the link on their blog . Now I'm going to do the same .

Not because this is some tag or chain mail kind of thing in the blog world. (there's got to be a name for that. I just don't know) But because as I read this woman's words, I found myself nodding, nodding and noddidy* nodding in agreement .

And since I loved it, I'm sharing it with you !

It looks very very wordy, and it is . But please do me a favour and read it through till the end .

Just click here .... no .... HERE!

* I made up that word. I googled "noddidy" and there is no link to such a word . I'm the first person in the world to make up something so splentacular ! Be very thrilled that you read it first over here . Unfortunately 'splentacular' is already in use by some crazies like me or i'd have claimed that too !

His Eye is on the Sparrow

Angie Smith is one incredibly inspiring woman who's blog I was introduced to about 2 years ago. She started blogging to write about her 4th daughter Audrey Caroline who was diagnosed with life threatening issues in vitro. She and her husband Todd (He sings with the Christian band Selah) took the decision to keep the baby rather than abort. Audrey Caroline passed away shortly after birth.

Angie's blog is about her journey through this. A couple of months ago, Their youngest daughter Charlotte was born. I just cannot imagine going through what this family has been through, and yet they are able to inspire others with their close relationship with God.

Here is a post she wrote on another website she contributes to.

http://www.incourage.me/2011/01/sparrow.html

I read this today, and I found myself nodding my head in agreement to all she said. How many times have I sung the hymn " His eye is on the sparrow" and not really realized what it meant!

Go.... scoot.... go read that post. And then go on and read Angie Smith's story. It will not fail to move your heart.