Taking a Turn for the Worse

Any suggestions or tips on how to save a strawberry plant that turned brown and died literally overnight would be greatly appreciated.

Have a Magical Day

That is what they tell you at Disney World, and I love it! Last week the girls (Mom, Shaanti, Jenny, Auntie Fay, and cousins Katie and Kristine) and I jetted down to Florida to partake of all things Disney. We had a wonderful, wonderful time--even though we were faced with the tragic fact that the Pirates of the Carribbean (best ride ever) was closed all week. Still, we Splashed down Mountains, traveled the Small World, and crashed down the Tower of Terror. Fantasmik.

It really is so delightful to be surrounded in twinkle lights and castles, Disney songs playing softly in the background all day every day. I wish the whole world were more like Disney World. Can we go back soon?

Attached are pics of the crew (and a stranger who didn't bother to look where he was walking) at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom, the cousins with Sleeping Beauty's Castle, and me with a character from my favorite Disney movie--Robin Hood, of course!

Looking Sharp

Check out the latest post on my Grams--she is looking so swell!

A Graduation Celebration

Last weekend we loaded up the car and drove to Ohio to help celebrate Justin's graduation from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Jason's mom got her Masters, too, so it was a double celebration. We had a great time, and I finally got to meet the whole family, which was wonderful. We are so proud of Justin and Lynda--lots of hard work, and they deserve a vacation (we vote Washington DC). You can see here a shot from the balcony of Justin getting his diploma, as well as a couple Small Family Photos. There are lots more pictures in our album on the sidebar, though, so peruse at your leisure.

I have every intention of staying more on top of the blogging, and hopefully this innundation of entries will get a little more under control! I'm hoping the long weekend will afford us a little extra time to get things caught up.

The Volcano

Waiting in Line
Originally uploaded by jmsmall2005.

Waiting in line at Kings Dominion is not a very exciting picture, but take a look at the coaster behind Jason. Blasting straight out of a volcano at top speed, suspended from a twisting roller coaster seat. Sounds fun, huh? Well, Jason liked it. Turns out I'm a wee bit afraid of roller coasters. But we had a good time "regaining our youth" at King's Dominion.

Our First Strawberry

Our First Strawberry
Originally uploaded by jmsmall2005.

Okay, so it's not enough to make a milkshake, but we are awfully proud of this beautiful red strawberry. Who knew I could grow something?!? Jason and I sliced it up nicely and shared it. Yum!

Incidentally, since this strawberry was picked our plants have become strawberry-producing fiends. I'll have to show you soon, they are almost ugly there are so many berries growing!

High Drama

That is how Jason described his recent trip to Abuja, Nigeria. He was with the Deputy Secretary of State on a mission to close the Darfur peace talks successfully. With 36 sleepless hours, much well-placed diplomacy, and nail-biting to the very end, they came away with a win! A huge step toward peace in Sudan!

Jason can write more about his experience later, but I just have to brag on him a bit. Attached is a picture I swiped from the AP. Deputy Secretary Zoellick is third from the left, and Jason is next to him. For more official details, take a look here.

Two Weddings and a Nephew

I told Mom today that Jason and I will lay low at least through the summer, because ALL of her children experiencing Major Life Events at the same time might be too much to take.

On Sunday, Jenny's picture popped up on my phone, and finally--FINALLY!--it was the call we've all been waiting for. Ring on the finger, wedding date for August (yes, August), and much giddiness on her part. Ours too--Chad is a great guy and we're looking forward to having him as part of the family.

Really, though, that is three weddings for my parents in a year and one week. Crazy, no?

As for the nephew bit, it will be baseball caps instead of frilly dresses this fall--Shaanti's having a boy. We can't wait to meet the little chap!

April Showers

We found ourselves with a completely free Saturday day today. An early summer graced us this week with temperatures in the 80s, and we planned to spend the day in old youth-group fashion at Kings Dominion amusment park. But we awoke to grey skies and rain and decided we were not youthful enough to do roller coasters wet. So it's been a Saturday of tooling around our condo. I like it. It's sort of like an unexpected bonus.

Right now the rain is coming down so hard that I think the swimming pool outside our balcony is going to overflow. But rain makes good music, so we are sitting with tea and candles as Jason decides which game he is going to beat me at tonight. It's a special treat for him when I offer to play games, just the two of us--I suppose I should begin getting used to losing, since I have apparently chosen to do so for the rest of my life!

Last weekend we drove down to Roanoke, VA, to see my dear Oxford friend Krista walk down the aisle on her father's arm. The drive was beautiful, the bride stunning, and the reception just right--Jason said that if there had been a comedian it would have been his ideal wedding reception (he got kicked off the wedding planning team when he suggested that about this time last year--I think that was his goal). Krista and Scott came to eat Lebanese with us in January, and what a treat to be there to share their special day.

I'm about to start adding pictures to our new online album, so feel free to check them soon. In the meantime, I really hope that Jason left the tv on NASCAR on accident while he ran down to the laundry room (my husband is the best)...

Jen's Birthday in Grams' room

Jen's Birthday in Grams' room
Originally uploaded by jmsmall2005.

Here is one of the pictures mentioned in the blog below. When I get home I will try again to post the pictures on the actual blog entry, but for now blogger is being difficult.

Back on the Ground...for now

The latest delay between blogs was due to traveling on two counts--Jason east (Nigeria), Missy west (Idaho). Much was accomplished for the good of the nation on both sides, plus Missy got to spend some time with family (major perk of the job, not sure what will do when job ends in T-minus 8 months).

Jason's trip to Nigeria was hot and actually cut short, and if you want more details you will have to ask him because that is basically the extent of the report I got. We had successfully (we thought) planned to be gone at exactly the same time, rather than the usual "one of us leaving as the other one's flight is hitting the ground in Washington" fiasco we have experienced many times in our relationship. Of course, Jason ended up leaving Nigeria five days early, but it was closer to success than we've ever been.

As for my trip, I've attached a couple pics--one of me with the soon-to-be-newly-weds (I had a chance to hang out with them for a couple evenings while I worked in North Central Idaho--they are finishing up at the University of Idaho), and one of the rest of the family with Grams, now in rehab. It was great to spend time with Casey and Kim, learning wedding details, seeing each of their new houses, playing games, and basically talking with my brother for hours (one of my favorite pasttimes). And it's always good to see Grams and how she's getting along. For the first part of my trip she was able to speak really well, which makes it all better (she told me the most hilarious story of the doctor bringing in his little dog and making it kiss her. Grams and I share a less-than-love relationship with man's best friend, and she said, "And here I was, lying here helpless with that squirmy little thing on my bed..."). We also went up to McCall, where my parents are building a cabin (read: lodge) and checked out the progress. Sooo exciting, and can't wait for it to be done (but not as much as my parents can't wait...)

Note: I've updated the photo album attached, being less impressed with gfoto and willing to try flickr. We'll see how it goes, but for now you get better quality when you look... Pics of my birthday and a recent springish bike ride included.

The One With All the Big News

Oh! I'm such a delinquent blogger that no one is even going to read this exciting entry! So many things keep happening in our extended lives that I can't even keep up. Here we sit, happily, quietly, normally in our little Virginia home, while the rest of the family (my family, anyway) has nary a moment between momentous occasions!

To sum it up, the family is growing. Jason and I may have our little family of herb babies and pansies, but pretty soon we will also have a niece or nephew to spoil rotten, as well as a new sister-in-law to love and adore (except that we already love and adore her). Shaanti and Adam have decided to make us Uncle and Auntie sometime around the end of September, and I am ecstatic, having already purchased the first of what I'm sure will be many, many adorable baby outfits (left). Hee, hee!

And only a few weeks ago Casey, with teeth chattering and knees knocking, made his girlfriend Kim's day by proposing on a freezing beach in Oregon (he said it may have been much more secluded than Jason's crowded Waikiki proposal, but that was only because they nearly got frostbite and most people wisely stayed inside). Am so excited, as believe Kim to be a fabulous human being and I'm glad that we can officiall call her sister soon. They are getting married in July. Many trips to Idaho in our near future!

As for us, we just had a delightful Saturday morning breakfast pondering the growth of the herb babies (rosemary sprouted overnight) and drinking tea in pjs on our balcony. It was almost 70 degrees at 7 this morning, and while that bodes very poorly for prospects of a bearable summer in DC, it is delightful for the first day of April.

Oh, and really, this is all true, no April Fool's.

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.

Why Reunions Should Happen in the Winter.

Jason was chastising me for having so many good pictures on my camera that have not been blogged! I find that I have spent about every long weekend since we got married "rearranging" things in our spare room closet, in hopes that if the boxes are all just so I wil be able to fit more in there. I have actually had a little success this weekend, and now, for the first time since moving in here, I have a clean desk. Perfect from which to blog.

Anyway. Last weekend Winter moved back in as a blizzard. I welcomed him in New York City, where I and three of my Oxford friends traipsed through over two feet of snow on our way to diners...and coffee shops...and restaurants...and pubs as we settled in for what turned out to be a long weekend of conversation. Five years after we spent 3 months living in close, Victorian quarters while studying abroad, they can still ask just the right questions and gently pull at all the right corks and stoppers to get my soul pouring out. Can it be possible that I hadn't seen them since 2002? What an amazing time we had!

The biggest treat was the extra day we all had, as we literally got snowed in in NYC. Though the trip back to DC was a nightmare, it was WELL worth it for the extra time...and laughs...and topics to discuss...

Cheering the Opening Act

Last night Jason and I tried to reclaim our youth by sitting among the junior high crowd at the David Crowder Band/Third Day concert. It was the first concert of the tour and way fun. I actually love Third Day and had wanted to see them in concert for a while, but I will admit that it has been a struggle over the past two days to get the latest Crowder CD out of my car CD player (where it has been since I gave it to Jason for Christmas) so that I could catch up on Third Day's tunes. I have a deep and abiding love for DCB, and the 45-minute opening act was not nearly enough to quench my need for some live David Crowder tunes. I could write an entire entry, speech, or exegetical essay on the profound impact that the latest David Crowder Band CD has had on my life, but I will save it. For now, I will simply quote my brother: "thedavidcrowderbandisreallysweet."

That said, we did NOT leave after the climactic opening act, and Third Day was grrrrreat. My favorite part, of course, was when Jason was the only person in the whole audience who knew the words to "Consuming Fire," as most of the crowd had not been alive when the song was originally recorded...and when Third Day did the Nazarene College Circuit back in 1998. We spent the first 30 minutes of waiting motionless to get out of the parking lot reminiscing about seeing Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys, Smitty, and P.O.D. (if you catch that reference let me know) back in the day...when we were the age of the rest of our co-concert goers.

I can't say I didn't groan (hoarsely) when I pulled my sad old body out of bed this morning, but it was way worth it. Rock on. (And go buy the David Crowder Band CD.)
missy

The Archives

On his way back to Ohio from his month in Florida, my brother Justin "passed by" to drop off the beach chairs we bought in Tampa, and to visit the National Archives. His previous attempts to see the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were frustrated by ongoing renovations which closed the archives for several years. I set him up with an 8th floor reception room tour at the State Dept., and Missy got him a tour of the Supreme Court. It was great to have him drop by and hang out with us, if only for a short time. Those chairs will come in handy for a possible beach trip this summer.

Entertaining

Playing hosts this weekend, we ambitiously scheduled a dinner party for Saturday night and a Superbowl party on Sunday evening (overly ambitious, we know). Missy invited two co-workers (Solara and April) from her office with their significant others on Saturday. I prepared a classic lasagna with crock-pot/homemade pasta sauce, Missy used the breadmaker to crank out some rolls, and our guests provided salad and drinks. It was a perfect evening for food, fun, and laughter, despite the fact that we spent most of the day cleaning house (and installing new light fixtures in the hallway, recently damaged by the flood - see previous entry).

On Sunday, we invited three couples from our Sunday School class to watch the big game on my new plasma HDTV. Caleb's wife was out of town, so he brought their new pup Bullet instead (Note: the invitation for the pup was cautiously extended, and does not suggest we have altered our strict intolerance for pets). Missy and I took up competing allegiances (Seattle and Pittsburgh, respectively) -- but we enjoyed the game nonetheless. We served my [correction: Kim's] famous chili (both a spicy and non-spicy version), cornbread, a veggie platter, fruit pizza (a Johnson specialty), and home brewed iced tea. Our guests provided additional munchies. We had a great time with the crowd -- chatting about life, sports, and SNL -- squeezed into our cosy furniture (see photo).

We have become real entertainers. Missy is a fabulous host. We share the cooking responsiblities. And I get to write the blog. All of which works out great!

It's Raining Inside

The sound of water cascading inside the walls, and the rumble of diesel-powered trucks. That's what Missy and I heard in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday. Turns out our neighbor on the 3rd floor (2 floors above us) fell and "broke" her toilet, then managed to lock herself out of her apartment, whilst her bathroom flooded. The EMTs on the scene patched her up (something close to 50 stitches) and the firemen had to come and break her door down in order to turn the water off. In the meantime, water had soaked through the apartment above us, draining through our ceiling light fixture. We were informed to drill holes in our ceiling to let the water drain out into buckets, which we did. The water drained out for over an hour, leaving unsightly water stain marks (see photo). The full verdict of the damage is yet to be seen (as the drywall dries out), but we seemed to dodge the bullet on this one. There will need to be some wall patchwork, but our beautifully custom-built cherry kitchen remains unscathed.

Tragedy averted.