You Are There

My friend Lauren posted this poem the other day, and I am going to repost it because it seems very appropriate. My move is rapidly approaching, and I just need to be in the moment and enjoy the days as they come. As my friend David said, "You are about to embark on a great adventure. All of your training has led up to this, and you will never again depart for your first post."

You Are There

by Erica Jong

You are there.

You have always been

there.

Even when you thought

you were climbing

you had already arrived.

Even when you were

breathing hard,

you were at rest.

Even then it was clear

you were there.

Not in our nature

to know what

is journey and what

arrival.

Even if we knew

we would not admit.

Even if we lived

we would think

we were just

germinating.

To live is to be

uncertain.

Certainty comes

at the end.

Can't help myself

Here are a few more beautiful pictures from the weekend. I didn't have any close ups of the bride and groom. Enjoy!

Photos taken by Bill Mapes, a close friend of the family. Please do not reproduce.

Tying the Knot with Pizzazz

This weekend we celebrated the wedding of my sister-in-law and new brother-in-law. The couple partied through the summer heat surrounded by their best friends and caring families. I love this simple picture of Cait bursting into laughter. To me, it embodies the whole spirit of the wedding.

Here I am getting some ink to commemorate the event.

Big Meadow

This weekend I went camping in Shenandoah National Park. We used our new tent--and thank goodness David taped the seams because there was an epic thunderstorm Friday night. Despite the rain, it was a wonderful weekend with friends and family (my little brother was in town) and I feel refreshed and ready to tackle S.I.L.'s wedding, language exam, and our Big Move. Below is my favorite picture from the weekend. I posted more pictures from the weekend on my Facebook page for those of you who know me there.

A surprise shower!

Happy wedding shower to my sister-in-law!!!! This weekend her best friends threw her a beautiful shower with lots of sweet treats, presents, and games. The best part? She had no idea it was coming.

Congratulations, Cait! I'm so excited for your big day.

Love,

No use crying over spilled ink...

although I did, I'm embarrassed to say.

I recently spilled ink on a new pair of white Levi's and boy did I get angry. I tried to explain to my husband that white jeans were something symbolic. I tried to explain how dainty and fashionable I felt wearing them - like a woman who never spills ketchup on herself (false) and who always looks crisp and put together (false).

Tears, bleach, and a bucket of oxyclean later, I now have a pair of white jeans with a gray spot that I have accepted as permanent.

So, my creative and fashionable readers, do you have any suggestions of what do do with them now? Dye? Distress? Buy a patch? Give up and donate?

The witching hour

My aunt came to visit me this weekend and we had a wonderful time exploring the city and going to all our favorite museums and restaurants. The picture below is from the Brian Jungen temporary exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian. We were all mesmerized by the way he turned everyday object into fantastical sculptures.

I'm now in the witching hour of Hebrew training. It is difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that I am nearly finished. My weekends are filling up before my eyes. And I continue to have mixed feelings about leaving DC (especially after such a wonderful weekend with my Aunt). I love this city and it will be so difficult to say goodbye. On the other hand, I finally got my housing assignment and all I can say is: come visit me PLEASE! You won't regret it.