Catching Up

Let's call this the shotgun blog entry, a summary of life outside of work over the last few weeks...

We pulled out our pasta roller attachment (another wedding gift) and cranked out sheets of spinach pasta. The process was quicker than expected -- and the pasta tasted better than it looked. We froze the majority of it for future meals.

In stark contrast from last year's trip to Hawaii, we marked the first anniversary of our engagement (Feb. 22) here in Virginia. Flowers delivered to Missy's office were a welcome surprise (1-800-flowers.com is great).

After attending RaVae's funeral in Grandview, Washington, we headed back west for a rainy few hours in downtown Seattle. We explored Pike's place market, had dinner with Christine Wong (a classmate from my high school days), and lodged with Travis and Janae (Missy and Janae grew up together in Meridian, ID).







Following a warm winter, we marked the first 70+ degree March Saturday by purchasing household plants. Missy plans to employ a green thumb this year -- and brighten our balcony with flowers and plants.

Book Report: Why I love "Catlow" and "The Scarlet Letter"

The Scarlet Letter: major epoch of American literature and nastly little view of Puritanism. I love it. Like most American high schoolers (i.e., not Jason, who spent his formative literary years in Canada), I read and appreciated the symbolism of the book in the 11th grade. But when I read it again in college I found myself absolutely unable to put it down. It was my first clue that classics are also simply good reads. So, anyway, I was banking that the last love-fest with the book was not just a fluke.

The writer of the introduction started out by stating that the book is not about the sin of an individual, it is about the absurd punishment placed on her by society. I, book snob that I am, disagreed with her, scoffed in her general direction ,and skipped her introduction to start the book immediately. Having reached the other cover for the third time, however, I'm willing to humble myself and compromise with her a bit. The book is certainly not about the sin, but neither is it ultimately about the punishment. It is more about guilt and its interaction with punishment and truth--and how guilt manifests itself in us and through us, in how we repent, and what if we don't. Mmm, yummy book straight from Mrs. Rickett's class in the 11th grade.

As for Catlow, the rugged, reserved cowboy, the fast horse, the magnificent scenery, and the kick-tail woman (who is inevitably won over to afore mentioned cowboy)...what's not to love? Reading a Louis L'Amour book is a bit like rediscovering myself, if only the love of a good western that was instilled in me at birth.

A good and hard (and good and hard) weekend

Last Monday, my Aunt RaVae passed away. She had been battling cancer for almost five years, and over the past couple of months had been waging a pretty severe war. Jason and I flew to Seattle and then drove to Grandview, Washington, to join our family there. What an incredible weekend of celebrating an awesome life and weeping together! My heart was aching and rejoicing all together.

I spent so much time during my growing-up years in Grandview and at Aunt RaVae and Uncle Don's house, and memories flooded me (and, subsequently, Jason, who heard them all) over the weekend. It has been special to spend extra time with Aunt RaVae since she was diagnosed with cancer--she was part of a test study at the National Institute of Health back here in DC, and she came back three or four times a year and got to hang out with me (and with Jason, as she was extremely anxious to meet this boy in my life!). Ah, I could go on and on and on with memories and happinesses and tears.

If a funeral can be great, this one was. I was reminded all over again that, even though we don't understand why some things happen, God is good and God is big and we only see a tiny part of reality. Throughout the past few months I have learned in a new and clearer way about the awesomeness of salvation. Yes, we have a God who can heal our bodies, and sometimes He does. But even more, we have a God who can raise us from the dead, who can make us clean and wrap us up in His righteousness and then bring us to be with Him for the rest of eternity. And He longs to do this for each of us! Isn't it excellent to live in that reality?

Read the attached article (is it uncouth to link to an obituary) or just listen to Casting Crowns' song "Lifesong" to get a glimpse into this awesome woman who got to take my blankie away from me when I turned four, teach me how to properly use lipgloss, and help me pick out the perfect wedding dress.

missy

ps the above picture was taken right before our wedding.