Alaina has been blessed.

 

 Dad Andrew sang his natural seconds towards the end.

Sometimes when you least expect it our babies bring us unexpected joy. Alaina has always sung right from her baby years. Infact its such a joy to sit in the car with the kids and go on any trip as the whole journey is filled with their song. No la la and humming for them.   Their Mum has taught them to listen and learn the words as well. No baby stuff, -- sing full throated with the singer and sing knowing the words.

Therefore it really wasn't that surprising for me to hear that she had been asked just before her state swim meet -- yes shes a state swimmer too like her Dad! So! she was asked by her coaches to sing their National Anthem. What an honour but not so for Alaina who takes lead roles in her private school musicals.

  

Mum Annika was told to take the video from the other side of the pool

 So just before her State swim meet, she stood up infront and sang along with her little 6 year old brother. Alaina is an alto and not a soprano and there is a note at the end which she cannot really do justice to. So, in typical big sister manner, she called in little brother who has a pure soprano voice still to take that top note!

It was adorable! And the whole stadium as you can see erupted with applause at the end.  Needless to say her parents were proud and over joyed. For me my heart is full as I went to look after her for 6 months when she was born a 7 month old premie  in freezing cold Omaha, Nebraska. Whatever she does brings so much joy to me.

I just feel so sad Dad and Mum and Uncle Si  are not here to see the Furtado singing gene is being carried on. God bless her and may she always bring all of us continued joy in all she does.

Adopted trees hold my curse!

 

Sadly damaged by a miscreant who now holds my curse

We decided to adopt around 24 trees on the road planted by the BBMP with school kids. They were young but the forest department had waited, nurturing them to a decent age before planting them on the road during the rains. Every tree had a name and the school the child attended. A praiseworthy scheme which the BBMP had pursued to try and bring tree cover back to Bangalore.

 The mature flowering tree on Richmond Road 

Its been two years since we began looking after it because we know how beautiful the road with turn once the tree matures. But knowing that we do have people who are jealous and nasty I placed a curse on the tree that whoever touched or damaged either of them will languish with a string of bad luck. 

Planting in the farm

The trees we have put down in the farm are safe and are growing well. Infact the 10 year old ones are full of flowers and bring a lot of joy to the whole village. Knowing that its just a little effort on our parts to encourage these trees to grow it is sad that one tree has been so brutally damamged.

But I do know my curse goes to the person who has damaged it. does not take much to plant, but it also takes minutes to destroy. May my curse damage profoundly the person who committed this senseless act. And may the curse follow him where ever he goes.

Church of Our Lady de Penha de Franca

 

We were going for a family wedding and it was my first visit to Church of Our Lady de Penha de Franca in Britonia, Goa. Goa's churches are outstandingly beautiful, with some to rival any in Europe and this is one of them.

The Church of Our lady of Penha de França is one of the most extraordinarily sited churches in Goa. It is visible from far away and hence one of the most noted by all visitors to the territory. Located along the bank of Mandovi river, the church was first constructed in the 1626 and reconstructed in 1655 after the church suffered damage; it is now a national monument.

 Popularly used for conducting marriage ceremonies and other religious events the historic church also offers an impressive view from the riverside. I did not realise its position till we walked out of the service to the wide expanse of the sea to one side.

A yacht slid by as we stood watching the waves gently slap against the walls surrounding the church.  A gentle breeze lifted my hair and the light teal blue dress I wore as my eyes looked out to sea. All around guests to the wedding were snapping selfies as they stood on the steep laterite steps.

The inside of the church has been maintained and thankfully not modernised. We sat next to a beautiful side altar with St Francis Xaviers statue prominently in it. Carved in wood it showcased the skills of the artisans who built these churches.

I remember the pulpit in St Patrick's Church in Bangalore as a child. It was similarly carved like the picture above and sadly don't know what the authorities have done with it. By the time I attended church as a child,  the priest stood at the altar and preached and not in the pulpit.

Just look at that breathtaking side of the building where probably all the priests live. The water body is filled with pink water lillies and we all just stood gaping at the calm scene. So many guests had arrived from Bangalore and stood taking in the beauty of the entire church.

 

But the most beautiful part of the entire church is the altar. Its outstanding with its gold patina and elegant finish, it kept us riveted through the service.

Go visit the church if you are holidaying in Goa. Spend a few quiet hours there and I'm sure you will come back refreshed and happy just being in the presence of God.