As I prepare for my exams that begin next week I try to find ways to keep me focused and alert. I try coffee, tea, caffeinated drinks, getting up to dance around my room like a clown, etc etc. All of this to say, drinking coffee or tea makes me think of one of the most inspirational women I know. Her name is Rama Didi and she lives in Bijwason, Delhi, India. Rama Didi works at Asha Mission Children's Home. She cooks, cleans, washes clothes, makes the WORLD'S BEST CHAI TEA, but most importantly she loves the 30+ children that live at Asha Mission. She gets paid just a few rupees a week to work there, but the list of things to do everyday is endless.

My friend Andy whom I was in India with is quite the prankster. He would do impersonations of our new Indian friends for Rama and she would absolutely die of laughter. She has the best laugh, it is so contagious!

This past summer I visited Asha Mission for 3 weeks. They were three of the happiest weeks of my life. While there Rama Didi would invite me on little village excursions. I got to go with her to visit her friends around the neighborhood, and once she had me accompany her to the local post office. Rama Didi speaks very good English, but is sometimes shy to use it.

Anyway, I admire Rama Didi and all that she does. I do hope I get to see her again this summer. Oh! and she is engaged to be married to a Spanish Missionary who lives in Texas, how exciting!

This past weekend I spent time in Nashville with a few of my friends. We stayed up late, drove around, got lost, listened to music, danced, ate and ate, but most importantly we laughed. It's a simple yet priceless thing- laughing. Sharing laughter with friends is such a joy in life. It sounds cheesy, but seriously. What's better than having a good laugh over something ridiculous? We were at Waffle House late one night. We were sitting in a booth, Brynn next to me, and Holly across from me and Kelsey across from Brynn. We were all chit-chatting away then Brynn and Kelsey said the same thing at the same time. ALL CRAZINESS BROKE LOSE. Kelsey nearly tipped over the table trying to reach across and "jinx pinch poke" Brynn on the arm. Kelsey got all tangled up in the mini-blind's string and almost knocked over all the condiments in the little silver metal stand they are held in. The people of Waffle House probably thought we were all insane at this point. For the next 7 or 8 minutes we all cackled with laughter until we couldn't breath anymore. We finally calmed down, then laughed again. It was like 1 a.m. and we were all pretty sleep deprived to top it all off.