A Cup of Chai and Kisses

Many of our dear friends, who live in our complex, stopped by to meet Benjamin!  They were kind to wait a few weeks after we came home from the hospital, but later confessed that they found difficulty doing so.  It was a precious time to introduce our son while they sat in our home, enjoyed a cup of chai, and showered both our boys with kisses.  It's times like these that we are so thankful that, when family is far away, our Lord has surrounded us with friends who treat us as such. 

A Long Way from Carolina...Part 2

Some of our favorite places are even better when spent with some of our favorite people!  We took Mom and Dad Mayfield to our favorite restaurants: Big Chill and Chillis.  Sawyer got to show his Papa Fun City where he dreams about playing one day.  The guys also took them to Dilli Haat to do some great shopping while I stayed home with Benjamin.  That was definitely painful seeing as it is my ALL TIME favorite shopping place.  They took the metro and the Mayfields did a great job: Dad being squished by all the other thousands of men in the compartment and Mom sitting alone with Sawyer in the Women Only section.

A Long Way from Carolina..Part 1

Mom and Dad Mayfield came for a 2 week visit from South Carolina on February 19.  We kept telling Sawyer all day long that Mama and Papa were coming, but it just didn't sink in until I woke him up 15 minutes before they arrived...11:30pm!  The door opened and we had one surprised (and a bit confused) little boy on our hands.  He was overjoyed to see them, but seeing them IN India and not on a computer screen took him awhile to figure out.  But once he did, he never left their side!  We'll be sharing many precious memories, but one of the best was seeing the boys together for the first time with their Mama! 

Valentine Month Surprises

How else could the Lord share His love with us other than the obvious of Him laying his life down for a world He loved?  He surprises us with blessed gifts we could never have created on our own!  Here are just a few ways He has done so this month: Valentines Month.


We had planned a movie date last Sunday, February 6, while our winter intern babysat Sawyer.  Just one last date together before we became a family of 4.  But, waking up with intense back pain, we instead headed to the hospital and 20 hours later, Benjamin Joseph was born!  JP expressed that a date to the hospital to have our second son together was better than any kind of movie date!

While we were in the hospital, a dear Indian friend insisted she make lunch and dinner for our intern and son since we were gone.  Since coming home, she has continued to make lunch and dinner for us and will do so until Mom and Dad Mayfield arrive in 5 days.

A day after we returned home, we got a surprise email from a very dear friend from the USA.  She had made plans to attend a wedding in Nepal with a one night stay in Delhi.  She had arranged to stay with someone else, but with an unexpected delay in flights, she was found "homeless".  She ended up staying with us 2 nights!!  Mindy is not only one of our dearest friends, she is also much like family!!  If our moms couldn't be with us the day after we came home, we couldn't think of anyone better than Mindy!  What a joy that, just when we thought she wouldn't seem Benjamin till was 6mos old, the Lord brought her to our home when he was 2 days old!

Sisters Host Suprise Baby Shower!

Sunday schedule with our team included India orientation, lunch and kurta shopping at Ambi Mall, and then more orientation and party planning in the afternoon back at the Mayfield home.
We arrived back to our place and everyone seemed to be going way to slow for me in making progress back into the house.  I led the way, opened the front door, and suddenly was stunned with the house covered with streamers, balloons, and my Gurgaon American sisters INSIDE the house!  With those ladies infront and my team behind, SURPRISE was shouted loudly and all I could think was, "whose birthday is it?"  However, as soon as I saw my "princess" chair covered with presents and my favorite snack foods on the table, I realized it was a baby shower for Benjamin and I.  And yes, I started tearing up!  Especially when I saw that Tiffany had made a HUGE bowl of peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. 

Apparently my sisters in Gurgaon called my sisters on the team and planned out the entire thing.  My wonderful husband was also in on it in picking out the specific day to surprise me and by giving our house key away so that the party could be set up while we were out.  It takes a lot to surprise me, and I have to say they pulled it off nicely!  I never expected it and was showered with so much love from them as well as gifts from many friends back home.  People had even gone so far as to think of Sawyer and make sure her had a few little gifts to open.  But honestly, the balloons were enough for him!  HA!

The other part that I absolutely loved was the fact that this was something I could tell Benjamin about his birth that was different than that of Sawyer's.  So much seemed extra special with Sawyer with him being the first that I am very sensitive to Benjamin just getting the hand-me-downs.  This is one thing Benjamin will have that Sawyer will not and I love it!

Thanks to all who made this possible and to those who took the time to shower us with love!  I will never forget it!! 

Christmas Tragedies & Possibilities

 So far, we've had 2 tragedies this Christmas season.  Joseph, sitting on Sawyer's lap while under Mommies watchful supervision, fell from Sawyer's lap for the split second Mommy turned to take a drink.  Joseph was decapitated, but fortunately with a clean break that was easily fixed with superglue!

Then late one night, a shelf in the boys' room fell and knocked Sawyer's tree to the ground.  Other than the tree looking a bit mangled and the ribbon being tossed here and there, we had another decapitating event.  One of JP's "son" ornaments hung from a branch, head intact, while the body lay in one piece on the floor. 

With these 2 tragedies comes the reminder of one GREAT possibility!  The possibility that is absolutely conceivable for a well decorated Christmas tree and a pre-toddler to be present in one house without any problems!  Our tree has been up for 2 1/2 weeks now, limitations have been set, 2 parents mean business, but have remained calm, and one pre-toddler obeys!  Don't get me wrong, Sawyer has definitely been fascinated!  But, after testing the limits a time or two, he has done very well with remaining at the foot of the tree and looking UP!  

"Oh Christmas Tree!  Oh Christmas Tree!"

"How lovely are your branches!"

2010 Christmas Ornament

Door Skirting

We are so thankful!  The door guy came today and inserted the door skirting to close the gap below a few of our doors leading to the outside.  This SHOULD stop our mouse problem!  Not to mention the fact that he told us he would come around 4 to 5 and 2 minutes till 4, he showed up!  AMAZING!!!  And when the guy dumped all of his contents onto the floor to find what he needed, it was one mess I didn't mind!

Please Pray for Bijili

Bijili is our house helper.  She comes 6 days a week for about an hour to clean our floors and, as of a few days ago, wash our dishes.  She is Bengali meaning she is from the state of Bengal and her home city is Kolkata.  Although a bit rough on the edges and sometimes stubborn to do things HER way, she is a hard worker!  I've come to care a great deal for her and she makes me laugh!

After a few months of working for us when we first arrived 2 years ago, her nephew came down with a brain tumor, we prayed for him, and he has been doing fine.  However, 2 days ago, she came in very upset and I knew something was wrong.  At first, she said all was okay, but I made her tell me.  Her nephew is not doing well and the doctors are giving him 2-3 days to live.  Today I prayed WITH her in what I would call Hinglish (not cultural in anyway) and, afterwards, you could tell she didn't know what to think.  However, I knew she felt something as her shoulders were quivering the entire time.  Please join us in praying for her nephew at this time and for answered prayer to be a mighty revealing of WHO our Lord is to those around us!

Queen Bee

House chores are difficult regardless of where you live.  However, in India, they are a reoccurring nightmare!  Indian friends often ask me what it's like as a housewife in America and are always amazed to hear that you don't have to dust and clean your floors daily.  It truly is so dusty here that the floors have to be swept and mopped daily, furniture dusted, and, not to mention, the never ending cycle of washing dishes!  We are thankful to have a washing machine, but hang our laundry as our facility is not equipped for a dryer.  Now, there are some people who can afford dishwashers and dryers.  But I am not one of those people and it's okay!  Or should I say, those two items are not things we have budgeted for and, therefore, are at peace to do without.

But with all that said, chores take up a lot of time and I find myself struggling to get everything done in one day plus be a good Mommy, kind wife, faithful blogger, a sane pregnant woman, listening friend, and effective ambassador for HIM!  Therefore, we re-figured our budget and made allowances to pay someone to wash our dishes and cut fruits and vegetables!

For the past 2 days, my life has been less complicated and more organized than it's been in quite some time!  Of course it's not ALL roses.  I like my space and my first preference is not to have 2 women in my kitchen, for 1 hour, 6 days a week.  And I do feel a bit like a little queen, sitting on her throne, facilitating the help.  BUT, that sacrifice is worth every penny in exchange for the blessing I am receiving from it!    Plus, it's good practice for my Hindi and great opportunity for Sawyer to hear 3 languages: English, Hindi, and Bengali!  (Sorry for the poor picture quality/take-I snuck it while they were working hard and couldn't bear to let them know I was taking it while they were in their "work" clothes).

Nothin' Could be Finer....than a SURPRISE!

Remember how, during our stay in the States, our journey's path surprisingly took us to the South?  Well here's the fun story!!

We didn't think we would get to go to South Carolina during our visa trip.  We thought we would be in Spfld for 2 weeks, waiting on visas, and then would return shortly after.  Say mid October.  However, there were some unexpected, but not surprising delays with JP's birth certificate that held us there a bit longer.  Then, when we were trying to schedule to leave on the 20th, there was going to be a $3000 dollar fee for going then rather than waiting 5 more days.  So that left us leaving the 25th which, at the time, was a little less than 2 weeks away.  Knowing this, we talked to our boss, and were told to be back for a meeting on the 24th!

We immediately rented a car, packed our bags, finished a few meetings/get-togethers we had already scheduled, and then headed down South at 4am in the morning that Friday!  Mom and Dad Mayfield had NO IDEA!!  Misty was in on the plan as to make sure no last minute plans to leave that weekend were made.  In fact, she was even willing and helpful in revamping plans that Mom Mayfield had made with Jack that weekend just so that we could instead be with her.  We told Mom and Dad that we were leaving on Friday and they just assumed it meant back to India.

Traveling with a one year old makes the trip a bit longer, but the Autumn leaves and smooth American roads made up for the increase in time.  16 hours later...we pulled up the driveway!  Quietly shutting the doors, creeping up the sidewalk, and positioning ourselves perfectly in front of the door, we pressed the doorbell!  We could only imagine the thoughts running through their heads.."Who would be at the door at 9:30 at night?"  The door opened and.....SURPRISE!!!  The rest was hugs, kisses, laughter, and the acknowledgment that THIS had been the ultimate surprise that would never be outdone!! 

My Two Sons

When we first found out the news of Baby Mayfield #2, I naturally had the desire for a little girl.  We have Sawyer.  Now how wonderful to bless our home with pink and a few frills.  However, while reading from my Mother O'Mine poetry book, I ran across this particular poem that planted a seed of desire unlike any other.

My Two Sons

by Melody Carlson

My two sons,

I always wanted you.

Even when I was a little girl

Playing with baby dolls.

I clothed them and fed them,

Rocked them and sang a lullaby.

Thinking that one day,

I would have babes of my own.

And God gave me you,

My two sons.

And I clothed you and fed you,

I rocked you to sleep

And sang you a lullaby.

And it was wonderful.

I wanted it to last

Forever.

But quickly you grew older,

With sturdy legs and grinning faces.

And we made a sandbox,

Played with Legos.

And read stories.

We learned to ride bikes

And mended owies.

And you grew up.

Now you are young men.

Both over six feet tall,

With whiskers.

It feels like you don't

need me-very much.

And I have to let go.

And trust God to care for you,

But it's the hardest thing

I've ever done.

My two sons,

I always wanted you.

But now all I can do

Is watch and pray,

That you will let God

Clothe you, and feed you,

Rock you and sing you a lullaby.

And it will be wonderful.

We can't begin to imagine all the joy, laughter, lessons, tears, and smiles that we will embark upon with Sawyer and Benjamin!!  Thank you Lord for letting us be (soon to be) parents of 2 sons!  

Or should I say, 2.... for now!

We Mean What We Say!

Sawyer just figured out how to climb up onto the sofas.  It's ADORABLE!  One foot up, a slight grunt, pull, and lift off!  He sits back, reclines, and squeals for joy.  However, he has also realized how fun it is to crawl to the end of the couch and stand up.  Hmmm...

We have started working on "Sawyer, do not stand, sit down!"  We've used the same words.  Modeled to him by showing him "sit down".  Does he understand?  YOU BET!  Does he obey?  That's another story.

Today, he did what he always does.  Foot up, grunt, pull, lift off, and squeal!  Then, travel to the end of the sofa to stand up.  However, today, I asked him to please sit down and not stand BEFORE he did so.  He looked at me, smiled, and slightly lifted his legs to a standing position only to sit down quickly.  Smile! 

I responded.  "Sawyer, think about it.."  He looked at me, smiled, slight lift of the legs, sat down quickly.  Smile! 
"Sawyer!  Sit down.  If you stand, I will put you OFF the couch."
His response?  Smile and STOOD with a joyful squeal!
I gave a slight spank, repeated my phrase, and put him down.  I'm Mommy and I mean what I say.  He of course whined and looked at me as if to say "how dare you do that to me!"  It's SO cute, but I mean what I say!

Therefore, despite having an absolutely adorable child....
We...MUST.BE.CONSISTENT.

Apples to Caramel Apples

We had a great Halloween party at our place along with our wonderful friends!  The evening consisted of snacking on chocolate from our 6 lb bag from the States, dipping apples in caramel, consuming Tiffany's A-MAY-ZING lasagna, more chocolate, great conversations, making sure every caramel apple ended up either IN our mouths or around it, and a competitive game of Apples to Apples!  Even Sawyer and Nay-nay participated.

Happy Halloween!!

Fun with Cousin Ella

Having a Boy!!

We had an ultrasound done on Monday!!  Mom watched Sawyer while we were able to go as a couple and see our baby!  We had a great time together and loved finding out we are expecting Boy #2!!!  Baby was not totally cooperative at first; keeping his legs and feet up and over his head and snuggled down low.  But then he stretched out and, again, we were amazed at what technology allows you to see!

And on the way home, all we could think of was how HE is planning our family, the paths He has set before our sons that we don't even know of yet but all for HIS glory, and all the examples of influential BROTHERS in the Word.  Oh Lord, may it be so for ours as well!

WHAT IS THAT???

As you know, we have a night time visitor that is STILL coming into the house.  This morning I found some yellowish spotting near the door in the living room!!!  Not a good start to the day.  I LOVE nature...OUTSIDE!!!  I don't do rodents, spiders, cockroaches, and the list goes on.  Seriously, can't even squish bugs with a paper towel.  So with an already guarded, nervous temperament today because of the yellowish liquid spotting, I was extra sensitive to ANYTHING in the house.  Then I saw THIS

on the tube to our water filter in the kitchen!  FREAKED OUT!!!  (JP gone to language the whole day leaving me ALL.BY.MYSELF!)  Thought, if that is poop, we seriously have a RAT not a mouse. 

Ran out of the kitchen.  Tried to calm down.  Attempted to go back into the kitchen.  Took another look.  That's when I noticed little antenna type things coming out one end.  Jiggled the tube.  Antennas disappeared. 

NO POOP!!  Just a very large slug.  People, I don't know the details and I really don't care.  Just thankful that it was NOT POOP!!!!

Surprise in Nature: Hoopoe NOT Woodpecker

Thanks to my friend Jessica, who took time to do a bit of research, we learned that the interesting bird in our yard was NOT a Woodpecker, but rather a Common Hoopoe (hu-pu). 

Here are just a few interesting facts about our daytime-in the yard-DEFINITELY welcome-visitor!

• National bird of Israel
• State bird of Punjab, India
• Considered sacred in Ancient Egypt
• Sign of virtue in Persia
• Appears on the logo of the University of Johannesburg and is the official mascot for the Universities sports.

Thanks Jessica for taking the time to look into that for us.  It meant a lot to us and we feel all the more blessed....and educated!  

Dear Night Time Visitor...

Dear Night Time Visitor,

We fully support you in the literary world!  Upon our bookshelf we welcome and chat often with Lilly and Julius, Wodney, and City & Country Mouse.  Unfortunately, seeing as you creep around in the dark trying to find yummy things to eat and have left a few of your droppings in our living room, you are NOT welcome here.  Therefore, you have two choices.  1-Find another place to visit or 2-indulge in the delicious snack we left for you in a few of your hiding places in the house.

Sincerely,
Your Chosen Hosting Family-The Mayfields

Surprise in Nature

It's neat surprises like this that make our day extra special sometimes.  Hadn't seen a bird like this in India before.  We are not the expert bird people, but we think, from the size and shape of the beak and head, this is a wood pecker that was strolling along the ground eating bugs in our yard.  But if YOU are more wise in the field of birds, please share what type of bird this might be?

Refreshing Rains

It has been raining so much this summer that we actually have what most people call a "monsoon" season.  And we are loving the blessing of the beauty the rain gives the nature around us on ground floor.  We're also very thankful for the new lake that appears after 2 minutes of down pour and stays until the rain stops.  Good thing we have 3 drains in our yard? 

September: Simply Sensational

Why is September a sensational month in the Mayfield home? 

• We dig back into our holiday trunk to pull out Fall decorations for the house.  Leaves may not change around here, but the aroma and ambiance within 001 does!!
• Sawyer's bookshelf contains all our Fall, Pumpkin, Halloween, and Thanksgiving books and he is already enamored by the new stories and pictures he is encountering!
• Several ladies will come and fill the house with laughter and fun as we have a card-making party!
• We are definitely avid followers of certain TV shows:
• September 14 season premiere of Parenthood on NBC via Hulu
• September 21 season premiere of GLEE on FOX via Hulu
• September 23 season premiere of The Office on NBC via Hulu
• A bit sad that our attention is no longer on ABC this Fall.  We feel "Lost"!
• At the end of the month, we are taking a trip back to the States for a required visa run and to get new visas.  So of course, we are looking forward to seeing another "home" with family in it!

Feels Like "Home" to Me

3 days.  No internet.  Amazing how the computer is somewhat of a "home" to me.  

Internet problem?  The Airtel guy finally came to our "home" after 3 days to fix the problem.  2 wires had come loose from rotting due to a previous water seepage issue in the house.  Yes, this is our new home that also has smaller water leaks.  Oh Uni-World, amazing how your homes are quite the challenge to me!

And for that past 3 days, I have been hanging pictures on the walls.  Amazing how they make this house seem like a home to me!

Thankfulness: A Bit Lacking

For the past 3 months, our lives have been anything, but stress free.  Some stress came from situations of just busy-ness and the beautiful wonders of having a second child.  But others, the ones completely unexpected, kind of slam-dunked us under water and then spat us out onto a deserted beach.  Mayfields-shocked, drenched, and trying to hold on tight to the only thing constant: our Lord Jesus.  Most of those moments were from house problems and visa situations, as we have previously told you.

We are in our new home, but that new home is still in India which still brings many problems to mess with, figure out, work through, question, and wait on.  Plus, monsoons have been extra heavy this year leaving many in our complex, including us, sick!  Again, anything but stress free.  So, as most would claim, we have MUCH to complain about.  Don't we have the right to do so?  I mean really. 

But as we are learning, while holding on tight to His hand, is that we HAVE complained too much and have forgotten to find things to be thankful for, to praise His name higher and higher!  Lately, I have felt so heavy with the conviction of this wrong that I have been doing against my wonderful Creator.  Great news.  Asked.  Forgiven!

It's been, and still is, a season of hardship for us, but one that should never go without THANKFULNESS!!

Today.  Our maintenance crew spent the day mowing the lawns.  Our's included.  As I went to take the picture of the lawn mower WITH a power cord just for laughs, the Lord spoke.  Thank you Lord, that there are men who cut our grass often leaving us free from that chore.

Thankfulness a bit lacking?  No more.  I choose to be thankful in the storm!

You Break It...

You know that sign that often appears in many stores "You break it, you buy it!"? Well, shouldn't that same concept also apply to a handyman that enters my home to fix or install something and, in the process, breaks a window? Claiming it was just a mistake doesn't get you off the hook little fella.

Alicia's sign says "You break it, YOU fix it!!!"

1 year ago...

Personalize your own scrapbooking design

Memory Greater than a Picture

We had our first ultrasound of Baby Mayfield #2 yesterday.  It was with our favorite tech, Dr. Bajaj.  She remembered us for sure and it was neat to see her meet Sawyer in person for the first time rather than on the big screen.

The picture: lights out except from that which is coming from the monitor and screen, Mommy resting on the bed smiling from ear to ear, Sawyer and Daddy standing near the flat screen watching, Sawyer pointing and saying "whisda", Dr. Bajaj giggling at big brother's "conversations", and our second precious one flipping around, praying, waving, and showing off his/her 10 fingers and toes!  Surreal.  So surreal.

No picture was taken.  No picture needed to be.  That memory will forever be ingrained in our hearts; capturing something much greater than a picture!

001..Welcome!!

Our home.  Plus a bit of clutter.  We moved in at the end of July and are slowly making it home.  What can we say?  We've moved plenty of times, but with an 11 month old?  It's a first for us.  The walls are a bit bare, boxes can still be found here and there, but we are definitely thankful for our new place.  Pictures: Living Area; Dining Area; Living/Dining Room long shot; Front Entryway/Hallway; Kitchen pics; Entryway from the Hallway.