Putu has a name.

Last week we attended our first one month and seven days baby ceremony. 
Yes can you believe it, these guys love there ceremonies over here. 

When a mother gives birth, she, her husband and baby are spiritually unclean and are not allowed to enter a temple until the baby is one month and seven days old and they have all been cleansed by the Manku. Similar to when a woman is menstruating and cannot enter a temple.

Putu (first child) was given the name of Cahaya Laksmi Dewi. After a month of Ima's sister asking what is her name, Ima gave up and said you name her as we cannot think of anything. So her sister came up with Cahaya "a little ray of sunshine" and the two goddesses names Laksmi and Dewi. it was a great success as everybody loves it, Cahaya is pronounced Chahaya as the letter c here in Bali is always pronounced with a ch sound.

                           Made presenting Cahaya with her two baby black roosters.

 Wow there were offerings everywhere stacks of them, fires burning to open Cahaya's mind so she will not suffer from depression or anxiety but have a clear path to consciousness and the Gods.

She was presented with two black baby roosters to grow up with as her souls protectors, (no wonder we never get a sleep in  around here the village is full of frickin roosters)!!

We still don't know who she is the reincarnation of, I think we have to wait for her foot touching ceremony.....keep you posted.

Her parents are just gorgeous, they were over the other day (Ima is now the latest knitter in the village), and they were worried that Ima's milk was no good as Cahaya needs the breast hourly and the only way she stops is if Made holds her all night....yes ALL night. 

Well little Miss Porky Cahaya has no problem with her Mothers milk, she just loves being held all day AND all night. You know over here the whole family sleep in the same bed until the children go to school some even stay there until they are too tall to all fit in. I couldn't stand it, but sleep is no big deal for the Balinese, you have what you can get when you can get it and no one complains. 

My beautiful girls holding their first piece of knitting, all wearing the hats that Mum knitted for them.

                                                          
 Happy Days!

Sorry this email has taken so long, we have all been flat out over here with Cremation, Sib's arrival and a whirlwind trip to Perth. But if I was really honest with you i would tell you I have been putting this blog on hold, you know it's really crazy why do we put off things that bring us joy??? I love doing this but sometimes to get started is just so hard and it reminds me of being at Uni and doing an essay but once you know what you want to say something inside takes over and you can't stop and your so happy getting it all out and when your done you feel complete. Soooh why not do it straight away?? Arrrgh frustrating, but anyway I won't go on as I better start my next Blog. Here's a sneak peak 

Banjar Cooking

OHMG my first thought was do I have to eat that next week??? But I was told no that they are for the spirit to take in the next life! Whew! Think of us on the first of October when we've been invited at 5 am to dig up Made's grandfathers bones and wash and wrap them all ready for cremation at 1.00!

Catch you in a week or so love J.