The Land of Morning Calm

I don't know if anyone's even checking this blog anymore (I've been lousy at updating it), but I'm adding an additional blog address for our year in South Korea. In case you hadn't heard, Paul and I are going to Sokcho, South Korea, to spend 12 months teaching English. So, we'll see you all in a year! Hope you're having merry and joyous holidays!

Voyage a Paris

We're back! I've started a blog on our recent trip to Paris, though for now we're both pretty tired and I've only posted a couple days' worth. Hopefully soon I'll have the whole week up there...though the snapshots you'll see are just a tiny representation of all that we experienced last week...it was an extremely awesome trip. And I have 300+ pictures to prove it...

Labor Day Weekend reflections.

So, it's been an extremely long time since I updated this blog and I feel a little lame about that. Usually when summer is about to end, I feel a bit of panic and disappointment, wanting it to continue for a couple more weeks, before all those shortened cold busy days set in. But I've had a great summer, though you wouldn't know it from my blog.

Since Paul graduated back in May, we've had evenings and weekends together, unencumbered by papers, tests, classes, and studying. It's really been grand and we've been able to go camping (twice), hiking (twice), kayaking, tubing, to outdoor concerts, home to New Hampshire, home to Chicago, out to visit relatives in rural Virginia, as well as the regular weekend excursions (favorite local restaurants, movies, walks, etc.). We've also had the privilege of several friends visiting our place here in Arlington to tour DC. We've been gone pretty much every weekend.

We've also done some thinking about where we've been and where we're headed and where we'd like to be after our time here. Less than a year ago, the plan was to stick it out for 3-5 years...Paul would finish school and find a job...Aubrey would go to school and then find a job...and we'd make a name for ourselves for a little bit and then return to Chicago. But we burned out from the hectic busyness of the DC lifestyle quicker than we thought we would, and we don't wish for more days of long hours, long commutes, and workaholism. So we decided instead to make the move to Chicago quicker...that is...after a year of teaching English in South Korea (which will start in January).

And so the rhythms of fall have arrived, and after a restful Labor Day weekend, I am ready for the coolness to settle in. Today we had a great time having breakfast with family, going to a Nationals game, and finishing it off with a concluding summer beer bratwurst and sweet potato fries.

Adieu, summer.

Le Vent du Nord

This weekend Paul is away in Washington state for the wedding of James and Sarah Bauler. I've been left to my own devices for the past 4 days, and today I went to Leesburg, VA for the Potomac Celtic Festival. Can I just say that Celtic music kicks ass? I was delighted to find four tents with constant loveliness emanating from fiddles, dulcimers, guitars, harps, accordions, mandolins, and even a hurdy-gurdy. Celtic clansfolk in traditional garb. Old Irish story-tellers and poets. Meat on a stick. Men in kilts with long beards, thick socks, and laced-up boots. Young girls dancing with their arms motionless.

I'm a sucker for outdoor concerts, so I knew I'd enjoy it. But perhaps the best part was a band from Quebec called Le Vent du Nord (the northern wind). I'm no expert on Celtic music, so I wasn't surprised that I'd never heard of them, but I was a bit surprised that they were from Quebec. Four extremely talented young men, each playing several intruments, Irish dancing during the show, singing in French, and getting the audience extremely involved. I was glad that they had 2 sets. Of course I stayed for both...and bought their CD :)

Camping

Rebecca, Ryan, Janna, Matt, and Paul

I'm a camper. My family camps. My old church camps. A lot of my friends camp, too. It was even a condition of Paul and I marrying...that we'd camp. It just feels right. Paul demonstrated his understanding of how important this is to me when he got me a new tent for my last birthday.

So when Matt and Janna graciously planned a getaway in the Shenandoah area over Memorial Day weekend, I got a little excited. We headed out there Saturday afternoon and first checked out a great book fair in Mt. Crawford, VA. Paul stocked up on Mark Twain classics--I got Witness to Hope, a biography of Pope JP2. Then we went to Klein's for ice cream (a peach milkshake--mmmm!) in Harrisonburg. Then we went back to our very private and secluded campsite, which was actually on some property on the river (owned by friends of friends of Matt and Janna's)...so it was only the six of us!

Matt cooked us burgers and brats. We played lacrosse and ultimate frisbee (and Paul injured his toe on a mean old stump--thankfully Janna and Rebecca bandaged him up real nice). We drank wine and looked at the stars. We fell asleep to the sound of the crickets and the winding creek. We peed in the woods :) We took a drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains today and had a picnic (courtesy of Ryan and Rebecca).

We forgot our cityness for a while and we relaxed. It was lovely.

Ah, the company of good friends...

Paul and Janna engrossed at the GV book fair

Matt gettin' his grill on...

Rebecca sets up house...

Janna and Matt sing "The Pink Panther" theme song

The Gimp (who lost his big toenail in Ultimate Frisbee)

Well-rested and refreshed at breakfast

Ah, the Shenandoah Valley

Chipmunk Cheeks

Several months ago I had my first dentist appointment in Arlington, and learned from Dr. Belt that I would need to have my wisdom teeth pulled. Thinking I had a bit of time to play with, I was disappointed when the oral surgeon gave me 2 months to get it done. So, rather than delaying the inevitable, I had the deed done this past Friday. I wasn't nervous until I actually got in there and they strapped me down (an interesting fact I would repeat to Paul about 3 times after the surgery, forgetting each time that I'd told him...), but only mildly then. That anesthetic was pretty wild, though...about as close to a drug trip I'll ever come.

If you can get past your gums bleeding, the drooling (which, as many of you can attest, is not a new thing for me!), and the drowsiness from the prescriptions, it wasn't so bad. Probably the most humorous part of it is looking like you've fought the good fight (or have stuffed your cheeks with marshmallows reminiscent of the game "Chubby Bunny")...

It may not look like my face has changed all that much (it looks worse today), but it feels like this...

Luckily, I have the sweetest most attentive nurse right here to make me mac 'n' cheese, bring me ice cream sundaes, and help me laugh at myself. Thank you, Paulie!

Katelyn Rose

Speaking of roses, here is the newest addition to the Wise family. Katelyn Rose was born to my sister (Sarah) and brother-in-law (Kevin) on March 20th at 4:19 pm. Sarah and Kevin kept the family in suspense overnight as to what her name was. She joins a happy older sister (Kyra) and the family dog, Rudy.

"God gives us beautiful roses"

We have reached la Semana Santa (Holy Week). Last night I had the privilege of attending a reconciliation service at my church, St. Charles of Borromeo. Catholics are strongly encouraged to participate in the sacrament of confession during the Lenten and Advent seasons. But instead of doing this individually, some churches hold parish-wide opportunities for confession. St. Charles had 10 priests there for this very purpose.

It's a powerful thing to see your fellow Christians lined up, waiting to confess their sins, waiting for the relief of God's mercy and forgiveness. It reminded me of those in the Bible that flocked to Jesus for physical and spiritual healing, waiting in lines and crowds just to catch a glimpse of him. I went to Fr. Dominic, a visiting (and studying) priest from Africa. Lately I've opted for face-to-face confession (instead of behind the screen), and it was such a beautiful and humbling experience to talk to him. I don't know if all African priests are this way, but he was extremely gentle and tender in his listening and guidance, making me feel like I wasn't just #3 in line. "God gives us beautiful roses," he said, "but these roses have thorns. We cannot clutch them tightly or they will hurt us. We have to be careful and patient in holding them." He was speaking of the people in our lives and how we can come to love them through lifting them up and by patiently understanding them, and by asking God for wisdom and strength when we feel tempted to sin in our communicating. And he spoke about offering up frustration and discouragement in prayer as a weapon against sinning. For the struggles I was experiencing, his words were very refreshing.

Sometimes I'm not very creative when it comes to prayer. I remember to pray before meals and at bedtime, and often during the day for those who are sick or hurting. But prayer is not what I turn to first in times of weakness or anger. And "pray for those who persecute you" doesn't come easily.

This Saturday I will be confirmed in the Easter Vigil along with my fellow candidates and catechumens. I have chosen 2 saints I admire for my confirmation name (though I will only be using one officially): St. Francis de Sales and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. St. Charles has its initiates participating in Holy Week services every night of this week, so it is busy. But it is a joy, especially since the preparations I've been making for this event for the past 2 years (as a future Catholic) and earlier (the faith handed down to me by my parents) will be made complete. And I am grateful for the waiting, excitement, uncertainty, and struggle I've been through to arrive here, and for all the encouragement and support I've had along the way.