Is this Fall?

First. Thank you so very much for ALL of your kind words. So many dear friends responded to my Therapy post. You certainly didn't need to, but it was wonderful. It felt like I was actually getting hugged. Like I was Wilbur: "Chin up!" And you all are Charolette. (pretty sure that's spelled wrong, oh well) And thank you for the perspective many of you shared with me. I needed that.

Today, I woke up at 6:15 to Simon's cute little face in mine. "Mom. It looks like a rain forest outside. It's foggy, and awesome. And creepy." My first thought was, what kind of poisonous gas looks like fog and could kill us?" Then I rolled over and asked Peter, "Does it get foggy here?" And he assured me that is did. Which makes sense, since we do live so very close to the beach. Anyway, the kids were thrilled with this. They hurried outside to stand in this heavy, warm, misty fog. The tropical birds where at their best, early in the morning. When I took Roo to school at 8, I still couldn't see two houses down the street. And I heard water dripping from the trees. My clothes were stuck to me, and hanging with loads of water. It was strange, to say the least. And then - it was gone. Lifted.

I've heard it's so humid here due to the weather in India. We don't get ANY rain. I think I told you it's rained three times this year. In spring, they get sand storms. Is that weather? I don't think so. In Houston it made sense to be so humid, as it rained all the time, then cleared up. But here, I guess we just get India's after effects.

I know you'll think I'm making this up. But I truly am not. Last week I was sitting with my four youngest, reading books, on a lazy Thursday afternoon. (pretend Saturday, to you) Peter and Sam had gone to the city for the day to buy cleats. (you see what I'm saying?? A full day, just to buy a pair of shoes! Everything here takes SO much work!) While we're all looking through books, the room dimmed. Like a light had gone out. And I'm not joking when Roo, Si and I all looked at each other and, together, yelled, "CLOUD!!" We all jumped up out of our comfy seats, ran outside, and searched the sky for that one puffy cloud that had covered the sun for just a brief moment. "There it is!" We all yelled and pointed, while covering our eyes from being laser- beamed, melted out of our heads by the very hot and close to the earth, sun. (close to the equator, you know)

I swear to you that we have not seen ONE cloud since we've been here. Not one. And we were thrilled to see just one, small puffy cloud. We actually saw a couple that afternoon, but they were gone as quickly as they came. So you can see why the kids were so excited about the mist and fog settling in for the morning. It was a nice break, for a bit. Never fear, though. By noon, we were in the frying pan again. We do have days that there is very little visiblitly. Being right next door to the worlds largest oil refinery will do that. But for the most part, it's usually just fine.

In other weather news, I heard TWO air conditioners click off the other day. (AC' s NEVER turn off here. We don't have to pay the bills, so they run all the time) There I am, just walking along, and I hear TWO turn off within a block. I mean really. It was 94 degrees last night at 7 p.m. We're coolin off and the AC's are proof! (If you feel you must tell me all about the great fall weather - forget it. I don't want to hear it! Just kidding. You can tell me, but I won't like it!) Susan asked a great question about prayer time, which I will answer soon, like when it's not 11:30 at night and I can actually see my laptop screen. If you have questions, ask away!