Women in Black: First vigil of 2010

Every time a homeless person is found dead outside or dies by violence in King County, WHEEL (a homeless women’s organizing effort) and the Church of Mary Magdalene (an ecumenical day ministry) mobilize for our silent witnessing vigil called Women in Black. On Wednesday, February 3rd, we will stand our first vigil of 2010 for one new homeless death.  We will honor and remember are:

• Anna Moore, 42, who died by accidental drowning in Ballard on January 18th;

Our hearts go out to her friends and family.  She was a beloved Ballard community member and had been homeless there for a number of years; a memorial service was held for her in Ballard on January 22nd.  A nice article about the memorial service can be found in the Ballard News-Tribune.

The number of known homeless deaths outside or by violence in 2009 was at least 36.  The majority of these deaths were caused by violence.  This is exactly why Nickelsville and more day/night shelters are so desperately needed.  JOIN US!

(Taken from the Women in Black press release)

On anything that resembles a clear morning, I find myself with a growing anticipation to cross the Aurora Bridge on my way in to work.  There is hope of catching just a fleeting glimpse of the majestic Mountain and the two ranges that surround it.  Some days, Mt. Rainier is a mere shadow before a rising sun, a hint of something powerful.  Other mornings, piercing colors chase away the fallen night, and the snow capped mountain rises alongside the city.

I’ll be honest, living the view of the mountains never gets old.

This is me, catching up

Using Stephanie’s seven-thought format, here I go:

1. Christmas was wonderful.  I was able to take off nearly 2 weeks.  I flew into Atlanta, where Kris picked me up, and we drove down to Florida, with a brief stop for a wonderful dinner and visit with the Gates family.  Sitting around Brian and Stephanie’s table (that apparently exists no more) makes me miss living in the South.  Or at least living near old friends.  I miss being around people who just instantly make me feel at home.  And I miss my super cute godson.  I mean, look at this kid!  Who wouldn’t miss that face?

2. This was the first Christmas Kris and I have spent together.  We spent 5 days in Florida, celebrating with my family.  On Christmas Eve, we went to Marianna to spend the evening with the Burkes (mom’s side).  It was the first time in 5 years every single member of the Burke family was there!  What an amazing gift.  A lot has happened in five years: Kate and Derek have had two kids, MaryGrace has gotten married and is expecting her first child, Ellen moved to Africa, Bev and Austin moved to Albania, Alison got married, Philip started medschool, Robert started his own buisness, Ben got married, I got engaged.  Needless to say, there was much to be celebrated!  The two days after Christmas, most of the Hooks family got together.  Even though we weren’t all there, it was still a great time, complete with a visit from Grandpa’s brother, Uncle Kenny, and cousins Ken and Louise.   It was a special time for the Hooks side as well, as we were able to celebrate the engagement of Arthur and Liz mere hours after the special moment!

<——Burke cousins

<—– Just a few of the Hooks cousins celebrating Arthur and Liz’s engagement!

3. After Florida, Kris and I trekked it back up to Atlanta to spend a few days over New Year’s with his parents.   It was a relaxing time, spent watching lots of football and playing with the dogs.  I am so thankful that I am marrying into a family that I feel so comfortable with.  I enjoy spending time with Kris’ family, and know what a blessing it is to have in-laws that I not only get along with, but love very much.

4. Now I’m back in Seattle.  And Kris is here.  After 2 1/2 years apart, we are FINALLY in the same city!  There are days that I just can’t believe that the distance period of our relationship is finally over!  While I wouldn’t change the last 3 years, they haven’t been easy.  Yet, they have made us a stronger couple.  And I will never take for granted having my man in the same city!

5. Work is going really well.  Have I mentioned that I love my job?  Because I really really do.  And I am excited to be able to finally announce that I have been offered a position at Mary’s Place after my term as a Mission Intern is completed this summer!!  I will be the Family Services and Volunteer Coordinator!   It will be a nearly-fulltime position (32 hours) at a job that I already know and love.  Seriously, how blessed am I?

6. Random fact for the day.  In 2009 I read 31 books.  Some were amazing.  Some, not so much.  My favorite of the year?  The Help by Katheryn Stockett.   I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but particularly to anyone who has roots in the South.  It is hard to describe exactly how this book makes me feel except to say that I am glad I live in the time when I do.  Least favorite book of the year?  Love in the Time of Cholora. Seriously disappointed.

7.  My dear friend and mission classmate Abby came to visit last week.   I felt so bad because I had to work the entire time she was here, but Abby is a wondering soul who loves to explore, and Seattle is a great city for just wandering around.  Though, it is a much better city to wander when it isn’t raining – like it was every day that she was here.   I am thankful for the time she was here, and the time we had to share, laugh, eat and remember.  I love my mission classmates, and am always thankful for time I get to spend with any one of them.

<—- Miss Huggins and I on a ferry with a very grey Seattle in the background

That’s all for now.  Hopefully more updates to follow soon.

It’s Sunday.  It is almost noon and I’m still in my pjs, sipping coffee, watching Baltimore whoop up on New England in the playoffs.  My fabulous fiance – who now lives in the exact same city – and I are getting ready to go register for wedding gifts.

I know I have a lot of posts to catch up on.  And I will.  But for this moment, I just want to share that I am content.  Life is so very good.

The difference in a year

December 10th.

Three years ago today, I was living in Kentucky.  I was a bartending seminarian.  We were all anxiously waiting for the miraculous arrival of Mr. Asher Paul.   I was in the beginning of a relationship that would eventually become THE relationship.  I was anticipating graduation, enjoying snow and had a house full of dogs.

Two years ago today I was in Indonesia.   It was a three week whirl-wind trip full of spicy food, bad air and incredible learning experiences.  I was able to attend a UN Conference on Climate Change.  I marched with indigenous peoples from all over Indonesia.  A few weeks earlier I had attended a traditional Indonesian wedding, and spent time with the families of migrant workers.

One year ago today I was in Hong Kong.  It was my final day in Hong Kong.  I cannot begin to express what all I gained from my time there.  I spent 15 months trying to blog about it, only to feel that I failed miserably at accurately conveying how meaningful and impressive every moment and individual was.

One year ago today I was in transition.  Leaving my apartment before dawn, (and subsequently breaking my toe!), and ending the day in Japan.

One day.  Over the span of three years.  From Kentucky, to Indonesia, to Hong Kong, to Japan, to Seattle.

Last night my dad called.  He asked what I was doing, and I said eating dinner.  “Anyone with you?” he asked.  “Of course not,” I replied.  “I lead a pretty boring life.”

I think I need to retract that statement.  My how time flies when you’re having fun; traveling the world; discovering what it means (and what it doesn’t mean) to be a missionary; watching friends get married and expand their families; falling in love; meeting new friends; saying goodbye to new and old friends; learning about migrant rights and issues surrounding homelessness…..

It’s official!

I am now an official Washington resident.  With a really horrible DL picture.  But official nonetheless.

Have I mentioned lately how much I absolutely love my new city?  Because seriously, I do.   So it was a big day for me, changing my residency.

This is the first time I have ever changed my residency.  Yep, you read that right.  I lived, let’s see, pretty much all over the Southeast.  Yet I have never changed my residency.   There isn’t really a good reason for it, other than I have never lived in a place that I was willing to commit myself to enough with a driver’s license.   But Seattle?  Geez, I love Seattle.  I love Washington.  I love being on the West Coast!  For the first time in years, I feel at home.

It’s a good feeling.  Even if it does come with a pretty bad DL picture.

Happy Thanksgiving

I’m thankful for:

• my cute rain boots;
• that my brother has been here with me all week;
• getting to see Alice, even if just for a night;
• Skype;
• that this is the last holiday Kris and I have to spend apart!;
• only paying $4.26 for a 15 pound turkey;
• pumpkin pancakes;
• strong coffee;
• getting to talk to my family;
• a community of wonderful YAMs who share in my frustrations and my joys and who can always make me laugh;
• a day off from work;
• a place to spend Thanksgiving dinner – with new friends and lots of food!;
• for my wonderful, ridiculously cute godson Silas (AND his awesome big brother Asher);
• getting to see friends in California in two weeks!;
• that my family and fiance both believe in Christmas AFTER Thanksgiving;
• for my wonderful co-workers;
• for the ladies at Mary’s Place who continue to inspire me everyday;
• Thanksgiving Day football!!;
• funky scarves;
• that I get to marry the most amazing man in 7 months!;
• Seattle – I love this city – even when it is cold and rainy,
• friends who I don’t get to see often, but who love and support me always (Stephanie, Valerie, Leslie, Jan, Stacy, Nathan);
• having a car for the weekend! (thanks Marty!);
• blogs – I love the way it keeps us connected and informed;
• my education;
• seeing beauty in brokenness and grace in pain;
• Ingrid Michaelson – her music makes me smile;
• babies – everyone is having a baby these days, and I am thankful for my friends who have healthy, happy babies;
• that worship comes in many forms;
• good books and a comfy blanket;

…there is so much to be thankful for.  I hope you take some time today and everyday to remember what it is that you are thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving All!!

Busy for the holidays

It has been a crazy busy week.   It seem there is a lot to update about!

• Kris has 3 days left at work in Lexington!!  I could not be more excited that he is leaving Kentucky.  While there were some good times in Lexington, and there are still some very good friends there, it is time to move on.  And I’m glad that Kris is almost finished.  Kris is in the midst of packing up, so prayers for him please.  He’ll leave Lexington and head to Atlanta for the month of December.  We’ll be together for Christmas in Florida, then back to Seattle together!!  I am SO ready to live in the same city as my man!
• My little brother is visiting this week!  We’re having a good time goofing around, catching up and exploring Seattle.  Pictures to follow.
• Life at Mary’s Place is BUSY.  My director warned us that until December 26th, it is just going to be busy and chaotic.  And she was right. Our numbers are up, and tensions are high.  It is a hard time of year for most of the women.  They are seperated from their families and that’s especially hard this time of year.  It’s COLD outside, and WET, and that only adds to the frustration.  We are doing all we can to not only keep the peace, but to provide times of warmth and love for the women as well.
• One of these instances was on Saturday, for our Annual Thanksgiving Celebration!  We held our celebration at a church up the street, in order to have a little more room.  They have a beautiful chapel where we held our hour long hymn sing with a full band!, and our service.  Our Thanksgiving meal was held in their gym.  The tables were bright and colorful.  The food was amazing.  The volunteers were numerous and incredibly helpful!  We had about 65 volunteers – there were 6 year old boys and 70 year old women there to volunteer their time and share their hearts with the women.  We had about 110 women and children attend the lunch, which we considered a GREAT turnout!  I loved seeing the volunteers hugging the women and calling them by name at the end of the day.  What a beautiful day.
• I also have some potentially wonderful news to share about Mary’s Place, but that will have to wait till after 2:30pm today.
• I’m the turkey lady this year.  Two turkeys in one week.  One I made for the Mary’s Place celebration.  The 2nd I am making on Thursday for our celebration.  I’m gonna be turkey-ed out.  Nah, there’s no such thing!
• Wedding planning is going well!   We are down into the details, which is a little tedious, but a lot of fun!  I just really can’t wait for June 12th!!  It’s gonna be awesome!

That’s all for now folks.

How time flies

I met Mari not too long after I had started working at Mary’s Place in February.  She came to services on Saturday, and dropped by occasionally during the week.   While not currently homeless, she had been in the past and is still extremely low income.  She’s a sweet lady, quiet, thoughtful.  She is proud of her Native-roots and kind to everyone she meets.  People who know Mari, love Mari.

Not long after I met her, Mari found out she was pregnant.  She had a spirit of quiet excitement.  “This is my last one.  I knew how many children I always wanted, and this little one will finish me off.”   Everyone was so excited for her.  Maryanne, another church-goer, made her a baby blanket.  Another lady brought a sweet little outfit and hoodie for the baby.  There were gifts of diapers, hats and love.  At the beginning of the summer, she informed us it was going to be a boy! Everyone had an opinion for naming the baby.  Mari would just smile, “We have his name picked out.”

Three weeks ago, Mari came into church for the first time in a month.  With her, little baby Sage.  He was bundled up in one of the blankets that just a few months before had been a gift.  Everyone ohhed and awwed at the sweet little baby.  A tiny miracle.  There is nothing like an itty bitty baby to reduce a room full of hardened, weary women into a cooing mess.

It is amazing to me that I have been here long enough to see a non-pregnant woman become a mother.  These last ten months have just flown by.  It is sad to think that there is only 6 months left in this program.  It has truly been a life-changing experience.  I have able to travel the world, work in grassroots organizations, learn about issues in migration and homelessness.  I am a different person than I was 2 1/2 years ago.  A better person, I think.  These last ten months, I have become wholly invested in the work of Mary’s Place and the Church of Mary Magdalene.  So much so that I am not leaving Seattle after my Mission Intern program is finished in the Spring.  I am hoping to stay on with Mary’s Place, but even if that is not possible, I want to stay in this community.  I feel at home here.  I feel a sense of peace in staying that I haven’t felt in a long time.  It feels good to be here, invested, learning, stretching.

Fall

Tell me, is there anything better than having your house smell like fresh laundry and chocolate chip pumpkin muffins?  Cause I really don’t think so.