What I'm Reading

Or actually finished ....

Written by Booker Prize winning author Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger is a fascinating first-person novel detailing the life of a lower caste Indian in modern day India. The corruption, the ambition, the "entrepreneurs," and the "half-baked," -- this is an intriguing read for anyone interested in gaining insight into real-life India.

Updates

MBA and I have arrived safely in Edinburgh. Yesterday morning when we flew into Edinburgh, the whole of Scotland seemed to be covered in snow. It was beautiful.

Although - after spending all of my Virginia stay in snow - I felt a bit over it.

Then I awoke this morning to lots of rain and howling wind. I quickly decided I prefer snow.

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In other news, we also just received a phone call that my luggage will be delivered before noon. With all of our traveling in the past several years, I've learned to plan on having at least one piece of luggage to go missing for a few days. It will inevitably happen! When I travel back home for approximately a month, that also means that my entire wardrobe is basically traveling with me. Hence, it's nice to know that by noon today, my belongings will hopefully have found their proper place in our flat and not at Charles de Gaulle airport.

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And in the most important news of all, please keep my friends Mike and Missy Wilson in your prayers. The Wilsons are such tried and true friends of the Suttons, it's hard to put their friendship into words. When massive catastrophes occur, like in Haiti this week, it's difficult to know how to pray for hurting people beyond asking God to help and meet needs. But when it's three million people that need food now ... it's hard to know where to begin and how to help. However, you can specifically pray for one situation. The Wilsons are in the process of adopting their little girl Tia from Haiti. Mike and Missy were both in Haiti last week signing the paper work before the Haitian judge to finalize matters with the adoption. Mike and Missy have both spent quite a bit of time with Tia in Haiti, and she's already begun being grafted into the Wilson clan. When Missy called early Tuesday evening to ask us to pray for Tia and Katie (their other daughter who just left last week to work at an orphanage in Haiti for seven months), my heart just hurt for her. How devastating to know that your children, if they survived the 7.0 earthquake, must be going through so much -- and you're not there to comfort them and take care of them. Wednesday morning the Wilsons heard from Katie, and she and Tia are both alive and well. Wednesday afternoon Mike flew to Haiti and is in the process of trying to bring Tia home. Mike had to get some final paperwork from the American Embassy, and the American Embassy closed right there in front of him. Not only is the adoption process incredibly trying, but the devastation of Haiti that he's experiencing is especially difficult. You can hear more from Mike and Missy at their blog Bring Tifi Home. Please keep them in your prayers.

Here's a video of Tia and Katie from last week before the earthquake hit.

Books of 2009

Must Read: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Skip: Julie & Julia 

Interesting Read: Tipping Points

Skip: Notes from a Small Island

Entertaining Read and Thought-Provoking: The Reader and Boy in Striped Pyjamas

Fascinating: How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed

New Favorite Author of 2009: Helmut Thielicke (new to me)

Still Reading and Likely Worth Finishing: Audacity of Hope


Not everything I read in 2009 is title-worthy. Some were ho-hum. Some were fascinating but not life-changing. Other books I enjoyed but am not convinced everyone out there would enjoy them equally.

So what did you read in 2009? Anything worth recommending? Anything you're looking forward to reading in 2010?

Frequent Flier 2009

Where did we go in 2009? Here's the frequent flier list for this past year:

Nashville, TN
Lynchburg, TN
Roanoke,VA
Charlottesville, VA
Knoxville, VA
Oakridge, TN
Washington, DC (The White House!!!)
Alexandria, VA (British Visa attempt numero dos!)
York, Engalnd *
Paris!!!
Loire Valley, France
Berlin, Germany
Prague, Czech Republic
Cambridge, England
London (Whoops!)
Florence, Italy
Siena, Italy
Rome, Italy
Dundee, Scotland
St. Andrews, Scotland
Inverness, Scotland
Dunskeld, Scotland

And: Many, many, many castles which were at one time considered unique and individual jurisdictions. Such is life in the old world! We also drove through many villages and small towns in England and Scotland, each with unique and individual charm.

Here's to more globetrotting in 2010!

* Indicates more than one overnight stay.

Let's Make a List

Since we arrived in America a bit over two weeks ago, we've been traveling and going like crazy. I've been on a whirlwind tour of the South and have seen many family and friends. It's been a joy! Highlights include many family meals, hearing my young cousins read Hebrew (impressive!), and driving a car. Is there anything more liberating than driving?!?! I'm not convinced there is. 



2009 has been a crazy year. Some highlights and favorites:


1. Receiving my British Visa after drama, drama, drama. I can now live legally in Britain until 2012.

2. Family visits.

3. Living in Paris for five weeks (one block from the Seine and Notre Dame). Subsequently, dining al fresco on the Seine almost nightly the entire time we were there.

4. Traveling, traveling, and more traveling. I love it! (Frequent Flier Post to Come!)

5. Helping my parents find a home in Virginia. We love putting down roots!

6. Welcoming new international students and their spouses to Edinburgh.

7. Reading some fabulous books and participating in a few book clubs.

8. Cooking up a storm with a really good friend in Edinburgh.

9. Weekly adventures with my husband. Whether it be hiking the Fife Coastal Path or visiting the Edinburgh Music Hall, we were always on the go.

10. Really, truly appreciating our ex-pat life for what it is.

I'm really looking forward to 2010 and all the blessings, challenges, and adventures it will bring.

Happy New Years!

Merry Christmas!

 We've had a white Christmas in central Virginia.

 

Check out all our snow!!!

From my home to yours ~

I hope you've had a joyful holiday.

Buying Local

When possible, I'm a huge fan of buying local. Here's a great website to help you locate where to buy newly released books locally: Indie Bound.