Frogner Park

 Yesterday I was going through some old pictures, and I found this one taken on an old fashioned camera and then scanned into a computer years later.  It was taken Spring Break of my Jr. year of college in Norway, when I went to Scandinavia on a choir tour.

We visited Frogner Park in Oslo and this was one of MANY statues in a tremendous and breathtaking sculpture garden.

Oh Shenendoah!

This weekend I am not at my ten year college class reunion... and it is killing me.

All I can think about is what I would be doing if I had dragged my little troopers to Washington and Lee University and my beloved Lexington, VA... and I'm sure it would have been crazy -- but there is no where else in the world I would rather be this weekend than in beautiful Lexington.

I love my Little Generals, and will enjoy my weekend in Colorado with them...

... but Golly Gee, I wish I was in Lexington.

Oh, Shenendoah...

Flashback: Rome Update Ultimo

 Flashback: Rome Update Ultimo

December 16, 2004

Dear Ones,
My goodness, this is surreal - my final Rome update.

The past ten days or so, since my last email have been WONDERFUL and full of new adventures, revisiting old favorite places, managing some time to study and mentally preparing to leave Rome.

Last Tuesday, my last JCU class met at the Vatican Museums and I went to Vatican City early to go to the top of St. Peter's Basilica to see the surrounding view of Rome.  I was there nice and early - well, early by Italian standards and had no line at all.  I literally walked up to the ticket counter and then climbed to the top without having to stop.  It was the most beautiful sight.

The Vatican is built on top of a hill anyways, and nothing in Rome is taller than St. Peter's so the view is spectacular.  It was early enough in the day that the fog from the city had burned off but beyond the city and around the far off hills had a nice morning mist.  The sight was just breathtaking - not only because it is was so high and nice, but because I was able to overlook the entire city I had survived in for the past four months.  I knew I had less than two weeks left in this amazing place, and this sight - the ENTIRE city spread before me - was a nice commencement to the mindset of saying goodbye.  I was looking over the city as a city, but also as an experience - a good one.

From the cupola I met my class in the Vatican Museums where I had class on Raphael and Michelangelo - in the Sistine Chapel... that's something I can't say everyday.  :)

Last Wednesday was an Italian national holiday, December 8, the day celebrating the Immaculate Conception.  I went out to dinner to an awesome Chinese restaurant near the Colosseum and, since it is a little ways from where I live in Trastevere, on the way, I was able to see a lot of the city lights up for Christmas.  Lights are EVERYWHERE here in Trastevere - long dangling icicle lights, but with really big bulbs that light in a pattern to look a little like snow.  There is huge tree up in Piazza Venezia in front of the Capital building, and even the street musicians are in the holiday spirit by wearing Santa suits.  Oh, and there is a Nativity scene in the Vatican in Piazza San Pietro, but I do not know if they will unveil it before I leave.

Roommate dinners and activities have been an ultimate priority this past week as we have begun to hint at the fact we will miss each other a great deal.  We know that once we start getting sentimental, we know it will not stop, so we have been avoiding the huge heart-bearing good-byes we have coming.  Last week we had a roommate dinner at an Indian restaurant here in Trastereve which was recommended to us by local friends.  It was really good and we tried new things and felt like very grown-up, cultural people.

Sunday morning I went to a HUGE Roman flee market called Porta Portese.  It is apparently pretty famous and an instrumental Roman experience, but I had not been yet.  I met a friend early in the morning to avoid the HUGE crowds that come later in the day.  We bought some Christmas presents and had fun haggling with the vendors.  Then we split ways and I walked up to a church a W&L friend recommended to me - Protestant and English.  :)

The church was Episcopal in denomination and British.  The service was nice and it just felt so good to be in a church again and take communion and sing hymns.  Plus, the Sunday before exams is always a key time to go to church.  :)  My W&L friend, Jacob, was actually at the church that day also and so we walked back together and talked about how it feels to know we're leaving soon and things we have to do before we leave, and what it will be like to return to W&L.  It was really nice and we plan on going back this coming Sunday.  Plus, they are having a Lessons and Carols candlelight service on Sunday night before we both leave Monday morning, so I think several friends and I will attend that before going our separate ways in the world.

Exams came and went and produced stress, but all the roommates and I have emerged relatively unharmed.  One night, Monika, Liza and I were all up late working and Liza started fading and wanted to sleep.  Monika and I knew that she really had a lot of work to do and she needed to wake up and keep working, so we put a dance song on the computer (quietly because Christina was asleep) and danced in the family room to wake up.  The funny part was, it was not fun, dance-club dancing, but instead, come up with the craziest dance you can in order to make Liza laugh so she will not be sleepy anymore.  It was hilarious and put us all in better, more awake moods.  Gosh, I am going to miss those girls.

After my exams ended, Christina and I took the afternoon to wander around Rome.  We went to the Mouth of Truth (from Roman Holiday).  We took fun pictures of us with our hands in the mouth and then enjoyed the warm and beautiful day.  The temperatures here are still just delightful.  In terms of temperature and leaves changing colors, it feels like mid-October.  That is one reason it is probably harder to leave - it does not feel like four months because it does not feel like December.

This morning Christina and I met a friend, Regina at the Colosseum to accomplish a mission Regina and I have had from the beginning.  Our first weekend and Rome, Regina and I went on some tours of Rome offered through the school.  One of the tours ended at the Colosseum and Regina and I were intrigued by some Italian men who dress up as Gladiators so tourists and have their picture taken with a Gladiator in front of the Colosseum, for a price of 5 Euros.  Regina and I wondered if we could as the man to pick us up for a picture.  We decided that for 5 Euros, they should comply with our request, but we decided that we would probably look foolish in asking and since we were going to return to the Colosseum throughout our time in Rome, it would be something we should do nearer to the end of our visit rather than the beginning.  So we went this morning on the mission of finding a Gladiator to lift us up into his arms for a picture regardless of how foolish we looked.  It is sufficient to say:  Mission Accomplished.

I fly home on Monday leaving Rome around noon and getting in to Chicago by 6pm or so.  Lovely time changes allow that.

I have learned so much while I have been here and cannot even touch on everything because the email will never end but my time here has been amazing!  I learned as much about myself as I have about Italian culture or in any class.  I would come back in January for winter term if I could - a sentence I NEVER expected to write in the beginning.

I hope you are having a wonderful advent season and that you have enjoyed the Rome Updates.  This closes the section of my college life in Rome and I have loved sharing it with you.  So many people have written that they feel like they are right next to me at all these places, and just know that you were.  Many of the amazing things I have seen and done prompted my wishing a given person was here to see or experience it with me.  If you are close enough to me that you are on this list - at some point of my time here, I thought of you.

That having been said, I am excited to see friends and family again.  A piece of my heart, however will stay in Rome, and returning to this city in future years (just like in Muskegon, Lexington, or Vail) will feel like coming home.  If you ever find yourself in Rome (and I wish that for all of you), give me a call and it will make my day to talk to you about places I loved and things you should do.

I love you all.  Merry Christmas!

This is Brooke, author of the Rome Updates, signing off.

- B

Sustaining Friendships

When I went off to college, I was a part of this amazing world where new friends fell from the rafters.  Between Bible studies, philanthropic events, musical ensembles, group projects, sorority life, and sorority recruitment, I made so many friends.  Each and every day, I was meeting someone for coffee or a walk or lunch to simply catch up.

I really figured that this would be the case for the rest of my life -- new, genuine friendships forming all the time.

I guess my alma mater, Washington and Lee University, was just really a special place, because forming friendships have been difficult for me ever since.

It has not become easier living in very small, rural Rifle, Colorado, and working a job where I have no daily colleagues.  Each year, I have the same students, but a new batch of teachers with whom I work.  I also cover 150 miles of terrain -- these are unique and difficult situations for building a network of girlfriends.

Since new friendships are hard, I am so incredibly blessed that my husband agrees with me in the priority we put on the old friendships we have.

We live in a day and age when it really is very easy to keep in touch with old friends.  With email, texts, facetime, facebook, photosharing, and more, it really is easy to keep up long-distance friendships.  Nevertheless, there is something so beautiful and magical about two long-distance, old friends being able to re-connect in person and just pick right up where they left off.

I recently had two friends travel and come within 400 miles of Rifle... Hubby and I did not hesitate to make sure one or both of us traveled the distance to reconnect with these dear, old friends.

My friend, Mary Carol (my sorority big big big sis) came to Denver for work, and was in town from San Francisco.  Tracey Ann and I took a long day driving to and from Denver just to meet her for dinner, but the trip was totally worth it.  This was my fifth time getting to see Mary Carol in the last twelve years.

Another friend, Catherine (my sorority little sis) came to Salt Lake City for work, and was in town from Mississippi.  That trip coincided with a weekend and so the whole crew, Hubby, Tracey Ann, Lexie and I traveled the 300+ miles to meet her for dinner (Lloyd had fun at the dog-sitter's house).  This was my fourth time to see her in the last ten years.

These are dear, dear friends and, really, life isn't going to bring them to tiny Rifle, CO very often -- maybe once a lifetime.  I am so lucky that I never had to convince Hubby if we should travel hundreds of miles to see my friends -- we just had to brainstorm how was the best way to do it.   He understands and supports my desire to make up the difference in travel when they are in the mountain timezone.

Friendships don't just magically last for a lifetime, and there is something about sitting across the table from an old friend for a few hours and just picking up right where you left off the last time you saw each other.  That effort of re-connecting in person is what sustains friendship across time and distance.

Lessons from College

My freshman year of college was amazing. 

So many new friends, new experiences, new traditions -- it was so exciting.  Once I joined a sorority, I remember gushing about how amazing college was, and one of my older sisters commented that freshman year is awesome -- and every year after is different.

I remembered thinking she was crazy.
She was completely correct.

Freshman year of college was amazing -- and it was one of a kind.  All the freshman lived in one location on campus, and we were hungry -- hungry for friendships, for college life, for learning, for everything.
Sophomore year was very different -- all about our respective fraternities and sororities, which was a very special year in its own way.
Junior year was when I (and many of my classmates) studied abroad.  It was a wonderful year of being an upper-classman, really working hard toward one major, and totally knowing the ropes.
Senior year was about savoring the last year.  It was about memories with your friends for the last time -- sort of a time when I grew out of the sorority, lived off campus, and began to make plans for post-college.

Nothing was ever the same as freshman year.

This lesson from college is why I am not naive enough to believe I will always be able to dote on my children the way I can dote on Tracey Ann these days... but, at present, I LOVE to dote on Tracey Ann.

She is just my little side-kick.  She is my favorite hobby, the best book I've ever read, the most rewarding project I've ever worked on.  I love to just spend hours and hours and hours with her.

I know I will love future children in intense and amazing ways... but the seasons of life will be different from when I just had one little eight-month old of whom to take care.

There is no doubt, I will love my children equally -- but this is a very special time when I can devote my full attention to one growing, curious, perfect baby.

Friends and Laugh

This past weekend, Tracey Ann and I met friends of mine from W&L for lunch halfway between their home and my parents' home.  It was WONDERFUL to reconnect with them, and they are crazy about Tracey Ann.

We ate at a great BBQ place, and the menu had a category that I found hilarious...

1000 Words

1000 Words

Washington and Lee University
Lexington VA

W&L Mock Con

Yesterday I spent the day in bed fighting off a sore throat that has moved into my nose and head... yuck.

While in bed, I tuned in to the Washington and Lee University Mock Convention.  Every four years (every election year), Washington and Lee University students host a Mock Convention for the party which is not currently in the white house in order to predict who the presidential nominee for the non-incumbent party will be.

 

Washington and Lee University (W&L) has a primarily conservative student body, so the years when the Mock Convention is predicting the GOP candidate, the Mock Convention is a HUGE event.  The Mock Convention (Mock Con) is over 100 years old and has been called the "most accurate mock convention since its inception in 1908".

This year's Mock Convention included live speakers such as Gov. Mike Huckabee, Ann Coulter, James Carville, Gov. Bob McDonald, and Gov. Haley Barbour.  All in all, the speakers included 4 Governors, 2 Attorney Generals, 5 Congressmen/women, 1 Ambassador and 1 Senator.

The entire event started Thursday and ended Saturday night.  I only tuned in for the Saturday afternoon session.  Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour gave the address this afternoon and he has some awesome points.  He served under President Reagan and he alluded to the time (during President Reagan's presidency), the only time in this nation's history when the budget was balanced...

Gov. Barbour's points included the following:

• The upcoming election will be the most monumental of his lifetime, and possibly the most monumental of our lifetime because the two presidential contenders will be on such opposite sides of the political spectrum -- President Obama is the most liberal candidate to have ever been in office and his spending is completely out of control -- Gov. Barbour emphasized to the students that they will be the ones left to pay the bill the President is creating
• This election will be very difficult for a GOP candidate to win because only once in the United States history has a party lost the White House and won it back after only one term (the only time this has happened was after Jimmy Carter's term)
• Gov. Barbour emphasized the importance of the W&L students' prediction, but further emphasized that the work has only just begun.  The work is not in predicting the next GOP presidential candidate, but in getting the GOP presidential candidate elected!
• Gov. Barbour recalled a story from when he worked under President Reagan.  President Reagan was talking about the people who are first to blame America.  Many of them are Americans -- whatever is going on, they are first to blame America.  President Reagan recommended that, in a given situation, apply the "Gate Test"... pull down all the gates, and where do the people flock?  Where people flock, that is a great country.

After Gov. Barbour spoke, the representatives for each state came forward to announce for whom they predicted their state's delegates would be cast.  Some of the funniest quotes from the delegation announcements included:

• "Washington DC, where there are more convicted fellons than registered republicans"
• "Hawaii, where over 1/3 of the world's pineapples come from... You're welcome"
• "Delaware, where size doesn't matter"
• "Texas, the only state where succession is still an option."
• "Kentucky, where more guns were registered in Obama's term than babies were born"

Now, on to the results.  Washington and Lee University students predicted that the GOP presidential candidate will be:

Gov. Mitt Romney

The breakdown was as follows:
Gov. Mitt Romney 1781 delegates
Newt Gingrich 222 delegates
Rick Santorum 151 delegates
Ron Paul 130 delegates

W&L Students also predicted who the GOP running mate will be.  They predicted the Vice Presidential Nominee will be:

Gov. Bob McDonald of Virginia

At the end of the convention, Gov. Romney's wife, Ann Romney called the convention and she graciously accepted W&L's nomination.  She apologized that Gov. Romney could not call and express his appreciation himself, but he was on an airplane, so she called on his behalf.  She sounded like a sweetheart and sounded genuinely appreciative of the students' efforts and the nomination.

All in all, it was very fun to participate in Mock Con, albeit across the miles.  When they announced Mitt Romney as the candidate, they dropped balloons and played a great song (unfortunately, I can never remember the name of the song, and I cannot find a live clip on youtube yet...).  Lloyd and I celebrated in my sick bed by playing tug-of-war in time to the music.  Wow, that is pretty pathetic.

Photos from Washington and Lee University Mock Convention 2012

Small Town Homecoming

This week, Chris and I got to experience an old-fashioned, small town high school homecoming.  The high schoolers must have had a half-day, because they were seen walking/driving all over town come early afternoon.

Meanwhile, the police force was monitoring mainstreet right in front of the middle school all afternoon to prepare for the homecoming parade.  All the middle schoolers filed out of school and onto the sidewalks around 2:30 to be on time for the 2:45 parade.

In addition to the high schoolers and middle schoolers, Rifle residents of all ages lined the sidewalks to support the small town event.  Here was the freshman class float -- they had the 60's I think.

When I was in high school, homecoming was definitely a big deal -- but it definitely wasn't a community event.  Our homecoming "parade" occurred during half-time of our football game as pathetically decorated "floats" circled the running track.  All in all, most of the students and football fans preferred our marching band's halftime show to the homecoming parade... we had a REALLY good marching band -- state champions 3 of my 4 years in high school.

 Football team's float

If I had grown up attending a homecoming parade like the one I saw today every year, I might have wanted to be a cheerleader -- they looked pretty cool (especially if you're a little girl).

I think the Cheerleaders had the coolest vehicle...

The only thing I have against the entire event is that no one stood in respect as the flag passed.  I commented on it to Chris and he informed me that all the kids needed to stay seated -- it was how they kept control of the whole thing.

I was surprised at how ingrained it was to me to stand with my hand over my heart as the flag passed.  I haven't attended a parade in over a decade, and I haven't stood beside my parents at a parade in nearly two decades and yet, when I saw the flag on its way down the street, it was completely instinctual for me to stand and put my hand over my heart... and become pretty bothered that no one else was showing the same respect.

 

This weekend will be a good one -- after two weekends of traveling, we are staying close to home while Chris writes a paper (although I have vision appointments for students in Grand Junction tomorrow).  The Michigan v. Minnesota game is tomorrow and I'm trying to get some pictures hung in our home (slowly but surely).  I've also been trying new recipes in the kitchen... this week included my first pot roast, homemade pizza dough and homemade pizza, and mint chocolate-chip cookies.  I'm definitely having altitude issues with the baking...

 

I'm trying to keep a grateful heart about life this weekend because I am missing my five-year college reunion this weekend in Lexington, Virginia.  I really wanted to get back to my Alma mater, Washington and Lee University, this fall for the celebration and I wanted to take Chris with me to introduce him to the magic and honor that is W&L.  He also could have met some good friends in town for the reunion, and some who still live in the area.  He also could have experienced a window into my years there... there are only a few places on earth where the campus is smaller than some shopping malls and where all students wear coat and tie (or female equivalent) for tailgating and football games.  Not this weekend, but we trust God will allow us to visit eventually.

This is how Chris fell asleep last night:

He held my hand for nearly an hour while he was sleeping before I needed to take my hand away.  I love being his wife!

Wedding Events: Friday Rehearsal Dinner

Our rehearsal dinner was a wonderful event!

The dinner was hosted by Chris' parents at my parents' home.  It was such an opportunity for our parents (ALL of our parents -- all four) to work together on this event.  Chris' parents did everything, but it was at my parents' home, so there was some great bonding time in the preparation and clean-up!  :-D

 

It was a beautiful evening and a great chance to visit with friends that had traveled hundreds and, in some cases, over one thousand miles to celebrate our wedding.

 We invited more people than just the wedding party because so many people traveled from far and wide.  All in all, we had about 75 friends and family.

 My dad's good friend from college, Dr. Harry Lawrence, came all the way from Lookout Mountain, Georgia to attend our wedding with his daughter Brooke (after whom I was named -- not in the picture).

Dr. Lawrence is an ophthalmologist and an Episcopalian minister and his family had been very good friends of my dad's for over 50 years.  Dr. Lawrence offered a beautiful prayer over our rehearsal dinner.  He is the one reading his prayer and my parents are next to him.

 

 My parents' property was the perfect place!

 These are most of my college friends in town for the rehearsal dinner.  Most are involved in the wedding, and ALL traveled FAR and WIDE to attend our wedding.  We have TREMENDOUS pride in our school and a very close bond as alumni.  We are from Washington and Lee University!

 

 A view under the tent

 The food was catered by Carinos' and was delicious (light on the garlic) :-D

 

My Aunt and Uncle gave Chris and me a rehearsal dinner present -- A Guide to American Ballparks.  Chris and I spent last summer visiting 18 ballparks, and we plan to make it to all 30 in the next few years.

 Chris gave a toast at the wedding and so I gave a toast at the rehearsal dinner.  I remember two things about our first date:

1. I admired his truck and he said that he was really planning for a family when he opted for the four doors.  His truck will be great for car seats, he said.
2. When he prayed over our dinner he said, "Lord, we give you all the praise for what you're going to do here."  I remember thinking, "What's He going to do?  Do you know something I don't?  What's God going to do here?"

I relayed there memories and talked about how Chris' prayer really set the tone for our relationship.  I also accidentally made a comment about our tying the noose, and immediately caught my slip and said, "I mean knot.  We're tying the knot!"  It was pretty funny.

 

 My two nephews were in our wedding as "Flag Bearers".  Here I am with the two boys while they are opening the presents Chris and I got them for their participation.  My brother (their dad) is also in the picture.

  

This is the daughter of one of my bridesmaids and just the most adorable little girl on the planet.  I don't have any kiddos yet, so I can really honestly make this statement about little Remington Lee.

 

After the rehearsal dinner was one of my favorite memories from the wedding weekend.  All of the young people (W&L friends, wedding party, out of town friends) came in my parents' house and just hung out for another hour or more.  Chris and I were both exhausted, so Chris went back to the hotel but I had some precious memories with friends after the rehearsal dinner.

There was only a few pictures taken of this hangout time... like nearly none, but in the above picture, Chris and I are facing a family room FULL of young people.  People were all over the couch, in every chair, on the floor and just hanging out.

I changed into more comfortable clothes and was fighting a headache.  A DEAR DEAR friend, Leah, rubbed my shoulders and pet my hair while I was visiting with friends which just felt amazing.  When I thanked her as she was leaving, she gave me a hug and said, "I was so hoping I would be able to do that for you tonight."  What an amazing friend and such a loving heart!"

We didn't linger late into the night because we had a big day the next day -- including an early morning running race.  Before we parted ways, however, we prayed as a group (popcorn prayer for anyone who wanted to speak).  I can't even express what a meaningful time this was to pray with this group of friends, some of whom knew each other, some of whom hardly knew anyone other than me, but completely united in prayer.

I don't remember all that was said, but I remember how touched I was that Chris' brother (our best man, and now my brother) prayed out loud.  It was very meaningful to hear his heart on this eve of his brother's wedding.  My amazing maid of honor prayed, along with several friends I hadn't seen in years. 

Also, my dear friend, Obinna closed us in prayer and I remember some of his words.  Obinna prayed about the symbolism that Chris and I were running a race together the morning of our wedding and that we would, in fact, be running the race of life together.  He said that the Lord calls us to the race he sets before us and that ours will be united for the rest of our lives.

Thanks for sharing in our wedding joy through the pictures and my memories.