Home Reflections

I apologize for my blotchy blogging - Internet accessibility is hit or miss, especially since I am not in front of a computer all day anymore. Nevertheless I will try my best to keep you all updated as well as stop by your blogs to say hello!

To tide us all over, some Mt. Rainer and Baby Dan Dan pics!
So far, the transition has been so wonderful. I have just loved every minute of being here again - from morning coffee with Mama, to holding Matt's hand, to meeting my new nephew, Daniel. I am so in love, in so many ways! :)
Saturday was a run with Matt, time with my sister, and a friends wedding. Then Sunday was church and time with his brother and their family in nearby town. So fun. Then yesterday, Monday, I spent the day with my middle brother, Taraz, fixing up the guest room into what will be my room until I get married. It was so fun! He loves to organize and clean things.
I was so exhausted at the end of the day yesterday that I was in bed by 9pm.

Today was a day with mom - out at her garden (pics to come!) and driving around doing errands together. It is great to be in her presence. What a hoot!

Plans are coming together for the Fourth this weekend (at my sisters' near Seattle) and a big family camping trip all of next week. The following weekend will be out in Matt's town, four hours away. We are so grateful for weekends - we live in the same time zone, so - very happy about that!! :)

July is looking like it will be all about family, catching up with old friends, and connecting with some new ones. I have no intention on looking for work until the fall - this "season" is a special one for me. I thank God for the provision to make it possible.

Tomorrow is another "to-do" day - and more adjusting, I suppose. Matt has Friday off - so I am counting the days until the weekend (aren't we all? :)

Until then...many blessings to you all!

I'm HOME!

I'm already busting out my camera at any and all opportunities...
Oh it was a great weekend. Here am I with my dear friend Renee at her wedding on Saturday.
My dear fiance and I!
Dad and daughter dance!
The Newlyweds... :)

Ok - I promise more pics and stories SOON! But I am in the middle of steam cleaning my bedroom carpets and everything is a wreck. A fun one though!

Stay tuned!! :)

40 Months

It is moving day!
40 months ago today, on Feb 26, 2006 I moved into the Edison House. A precious little house on Edison Street in Arlington, VA - just five miles from the White House.

I was first welcomed by Lauren and Kyla, then Malia and Mary. Those first few months in the house were pure joy - I was job hunting and new only a couple other souls in the city, and my housemates became my closest friends.

Malia moved on in July to get married, and Kendria joined us. A sub letter, Katie, came for a spell while Lauren went off to Oxford for the summer. It was an awesome year.

By Christmas, Mary would decide it was time for her to move back home (and later that year got married!) so then in January, the sweetest kindred spirit I have ever met moved in: Marianne. Her family was from Prince Edward Island! So now in the house was Lauren, Kyla, Kendria, Marianne and I (above pic has all of us plus Marianne's visiting brother). It was an awesome year - 2007!

Kendria soon moved on to the city to be closer to her school and Kyla moved on to Nashville to be closer to family. That brought in Stephanie and Jen to the Edison House! 2008 would be a crazy year!
(L to R: Steph, me, Lauren, Marianne, and Jen)

Lauren then moved back home in February as the administration changed over and took her job with it. Then, Steph most recently moved to different place nearby.

Now, it is my turn.

I have had the most wonderful three years here in DC, and it would not have been as rich of an experience if it were not for this house. My room is all packed up and I know a new gal will be joining the Edison Girls ranks as of this fall. It is bittersweet, but how amazing is it that I am moving out when I am newly engaged to a man from back home? A great reason indeed!

I survived my last day of work - and when I left the office, I used the all-page button and announced, "Ladies and Gentleman....Ruhiyyih has now left the building!" I could not help it! I had to get one more crazy thing out of my system :)

Friends visited last night and helped me eat the rest of my food. I am almost packed and my dear friend Dina is taking me to the airport in a few hours. I can't believe I am going HOME...for GOOD! I have saved for three years the money to take this break...and I promise it will be well-spent.

Thank YOU, Blogosphere, for your encouragement! (You know who all of you are!)

MOM: I AM COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!

Matt: How about a date tonight? And next weekend? And the one after that?

Thank you, DC! Hellllllooooo Washington STATE!

Ah Goodbyes...

My Bible study ladies and I had a little picnic last night out at Rock Creek Park - we had just had the first meeting of the summer semester, but it would be my last small group here, ever :( I was glad to have met one last time. As we were wrapping up, I caught this sunset over my shoulder (we were in the Adams Morgan part of the city)...
I'd never seen this mural before...and oh...goodness...do they have Chipotle in Seattle yet?
*sigh*. I will miss this fellowship but I know that God will provide for me back home as well, even after a three-year hiatus.

Today is my last day at work....oh goodness this will be hard. I have loved my job! Pray for me....

Happy Thursday, all :)

Last DC Days...

It was a gorgeous evening in DC last night. I ventured out to the White House Ellipse (front lawn) for a special event.
John Prendergast spoke at Invisible Children's "How It Ends" Lobby Days for Uganda event.
Could you believe that I ran into my former roommate from when I stayed in Gulu, Uganda? Shaynon was there to support the efforts to end the war in Uganda too. I was overjoyed to see her there and catch up a bit with her.
The Park Service was so gracious to allow us to hold the rally here :)
It was a great event - I was so encouraged and thought of the precious kids that I had met while in Uganda last year, and knowing that all of these young people met with their representatives all day on their behalf. SO exciting!
This is just one of the many reasons why I love DC - so many causes are fought for here. It is a nice reminder that we have a voice. One story was about an 18 year old girl that nervously went to her senators' office and during their appointment told him why she got involved with helping to end the war in Uganda. That particular representative decided to co-sign the bill for disarming the LRA JUST because he was so impressed to see a young person caring about what was going on in Africa!
We got a nice glimpse of the President's motorcade coming home. What an entourage!
On another note, my co-workers gave me a sweet going away gift at my goodbye lunch...personalized M&M's!!! Too fun :)

It was SUCH a great day in DC - I know that I only have a couple more days left here and to attend the event yesterday meant so much to me - it was the first cause I got involved with when I moved here three years - and SO much has happened for Uganda since then!

Today is a final staff meeting and my last Bible Study...Oh I am so grateful.

Happy Wednesday, all!

I'm OK!

Whew I got a lot of calls, texts, and emails - the worst accident in DC's Metro history occurred here yesterday. We are all so sad about it and our hearts go out to the victims and injured, and their families.

I was just getting on the train down around 5:20pm - the station attendant was distraught, and I asked if he was ok. He said that there was an accident on the Red Line, but that I should make it onto the Orange line ok. I took the Blue line from Alexandria to Rosslyn, then took the Orange line west from there to my home in Arlington. There were some major delays, but in light of the accident, everyone was understandable. It was the quietest, most somber ride home.

I got a ride to work this morning, just a little too on edge to ride the Metro today... but I will be back on it tonight.

On another note, I am really enjoying time with friends before I go. I am so blessed.

Happy Tuesday, all!

Productivity!

Everything in this room I gave to the Goodwill:
I started out Friday night with a pile of stuff, and it was pilfered a little - my friends have enough stuff apparently! So, by Saturday afternoon I'd made a massive donation to the goodwill. Some stuff was hard to give up but not worth the cost to ship it home.
My college friend Kathryn came down from Philly to help me haul stuff away and provide some much needed companionship during my last weekend in DC. She was here when I arrived and helped me settle here in the first place - and now she is seeing me off!
I got in one more last trip to Ebenezer's Coffeehouse in DC - iced Chai goodness!
My favorite viewing spot of the Capitol building...it was surrounded by fireflies dancing everywhere, too.
I got Kat to pose for the camera!
...And make the top of the dome stick out of the top of my head...we were so creative...
A gorgeous sunset illuminated the Smithsonian Castle brilliantly. It was a great weekend, so productive...I can now officially say that I am PACKED. Entirely. Now I just live out of my suitcase until Friday and I am off!!!!

I am prepared for the emotions to come, I think...and now have the free time to spend it with the people that I care about most. Lots of lunches with friends, co-workers, dinners with church friends, and a special rally for Uganda on Tuesday. I will be taking lots of pics this week as I say my goodbyes to this amazing city.

I really have been so blessed living here. What an incredible experience it has been!

Happy Monday all!

Come and Get It!

I am doing something a little crazy tonight, and I am so excited.

I packed away everything that I need to take home into a spare closet in the house. Then, I made sure that absolutely everything that remained behind in my room - which is still a lot of stuff - is stuff I can part with. Some of the things I'd really like but just can't get back home to Washington State. So - it is a free for all!

I am inviting over all of my DC friends tonight to take anything they would like from my room for free! Just come and take it! Take my stuff, plunder it, far away from here. Furniture, bedding for a twin bed, photo frames, candles, knick knacks, calendars, lighting, clothes, storage containers, cork boards, shoes, stationary, laptop bags, purses, stuffed animals, small tv, language study tapes, vaporizer machine - totally random, but my things may just be someone elses' treasure. I am excited!!

I will take some before and after pictures for the fun of it.

If any of you readers are in the DC area and want to come, leave your email in a comment below and I will provide directions!

I feel like I am getting purged, but it is so good for me. Lightening my load, traveling light - it is just the right thing to do.

I will take some fun leftovers and make a giveaway out of it, too :)

Happy Friday all - stay tuned for more adventures that is the insanity of up and quitting a great job in the middle of a recession, and moving back to where my heart is :)

His Ring Story - The He Said Part!

(Photos by Stephen Elliot)

Story by Ruhiyyih's new fiance, Matt :)

When I look at the ring, or see it in one of our pictures, or just think of on her hand, I see God's Wonderful, Incomprehensible, Love, Provision, Mercy & Grace.

Really.

The story (short version) is that one of Ruhiyyih's friends offered to give me the ring so we could get engaged. This friend and Ruhiyyih have * never * met in person. And I have never met her either. She offered via email message to me; and besides this amazingly gracious offer, also had the sensitivity to sort of peremptorily apologize in case merely offering the ring might offend my masculine desire to “earn it myself”.

Let me say, there was never a need to apologize for anything. I'm humbled, and honored. Whether this surprises anyone reading this or not – it was never a question to me that I would accept this. It was obviously from God from my vantage point. He was using a person to be a vessel for that blessing, but it was from him.

One thing that she said in particular was that since God was extravagant with grace toward us all, she could be extravagant with what He had provided in the first place. I'm paraphrasing a bit, but that was the “message”. She shared that she had felt like God was leading her to use this ring to bless someone with and had even explored other means of doing just that to no avail. It's as if all other doors were shut, until we came along.

Again, I believe it is all God – his gift, his timing, his open doors (or not).

The thing about gifts is that you don't earn them. You can't. If you could, it wouldn't be a gift, it would be a paycheck. I don't feel like my employer is “doing me a favor” when payday comes around: I did the work, I earned the pay. Hmm, this seems like it's in the Bible somewhere... (Romans 4:4)

God's Grace is a gift to us. We can't earn it. What we deserve is to die, be separated for eternity and suffer judgment. That's what we've earned according to God's Word. (Romans 6:23 & 3:22-24) BUT – and it's a big “but” - what get from God is Grace, offered freely as a gift, if we want it.

We can say no if we want. I could have said no to the ring if I wanted. It's conceivable my pride could have got in the way. It didn't. Was I offended? No way! Am I offended that although with God I deserve death, separation and judgment, I am offered eternal life as a gift instead? (At the risk of being redundant) Again, no way.

I really do believe the ring is from God, direct to us, by way of a human vessel. And it's not just a “get us by ring”, it's a really beautiful ring with a giant rock on it. It's way bigger than I could have bought myself, even if I had the decent job that we've been praying about for months now. And that is just like God too – to bless you with something really, really good and not just enough to scrape by with. If we had received a “starter” ring that would have worked for us – plenty of people can't afford the ring they might really like when they first get married and “upgrade” later for an anniversary. That would have been fine. Ruhiyyih is not materialistic and she didn't want a big stone. In fact, when it was mentioned prior to all this, she just wanted to make sure the stone would be a conflict-free stone.

So I see Grace and Mercy. That's what this gift represents.

I also see his Provision. As I said, and probably many of you already know now, we have been praying for a good job for me for about 10 months. I used to make good money, and I quit my job in January 2007 to get into the Mortgage industry with a good friend that had been in that line of work for years. In hindsight, it was the worst timing ever. It took me a while to finally 'get it' too – we thought maybe things would level out and rebound for way too long. Eventually I threw in the towel and have been working through a temp agency for months. But God has provided a wonderful woman for me to marry, and provided plane tickets to see each other, cell phones to call one another, and finally this ring, among many other things. He can provide the job as well. I see this ring as a promise from Him that He will take care of us.

And I see God's Love. It all comes from that anyway – Grace, Mercy, and Provision all come to us because God's character in the first place is Love and He loves us all.

The other lesson is this is that God uses people to be a vessel for blessing to others & we can all (potentially) be that for someone. I encourage you to look around wherever you are.

Again, I am honored and humbled. I hope that our story only encourages other people around us, points everyone to the Source of Grace, Mercy, Love, and Provision of all types, and gives Him the glory.

Thanks for reading,
Matt, Ruhiyyih's very excited fiancee

The Goodbye Process

9 days and counting.

I'm 3/4 of the way packed. Huge Goodwill donation pile made, getting a lot of things wrapped up at work, and making plans for my upcoming (LAST) weekend here in DC. How do I do it all in 9 days, several of them ones in which I have to work?

I am finding that there is a weird grieving process when you are up and moving away after living in the same place for a few years. Strangely though, I am sensing that my closest friends here have all moved on regarding my going home - and they did so awhile ago.

I arranged for an "Open House" at my place for this Friday to give away stuff. I invited all my DC Facebook friends. One person RSVP'd. One.

I am crushed. And, sort of wondering if I should just cancel it. I admit that I planned it as a way to see everyone one last time without me having to go a million different places. The thing is, I don't have a best friend here that would take up the responsibility of planning a goodbye party for me. Or an engagement party. Folks here are so weighed down with work responsibility and volunteerism that it takes a special person to assume that kind of role.

I am struggling with feelings of being a bad friend. I have not been able to keep up with all the social activities the past three months as I got sick, I was watching my spending, and often I was on a babysitting job. I know that it is a two way street though - just as much as they should call, I should too, and I have not. I just went from day to day assuming that I would see people here and there - but it does often really take intentionality.

I am really sorry.

I don't even know if I have any DC readers, actually. But, it feels good to write this. I am learning a lot about friendships - loyalty, honesty, and not just having them but being a good friend too. I hate the idea of leaving here feeling this heaviness that I wish I could have done more to have taken better care of my friendships. The excuse, "I've been so busy" loses its meaning when I can see my friends having enough time writing comments and updates all over Facebook, but can't pick up the phone :(

Do any of you struggle with keeping up with everyone? Stop talking to some folks purposely to let the relationship go by the wayside? Would you rather be ignored or have people tell you that they just are not interested in maintaining a friendship?

I am not good with goodbyes. Boo.

*Sigh* Change is hard. But, God is good. All the time.

How It Ends

So funny how I was all teary on Saturday wondering if I'd made any kind of difference since I've lived here in the DC area. I've discovered over time that God has a sense of humor. Just as I was evaluating my work on Ugandan issues (and feeling like it was not good enough!), I got invited to a screening of Invisible Children's "The Rescue" and an accompanying documentary on what has happened since the April 25 event this year (it was on Oprah!). There was so much good news!

I was SO excited to hear that some important legislation regarding Northern Uganda and protecting children from being abducted to serve as child soldiers was recently introduced to Congress. The LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act legislation is aiming at stopping Joseph Kony and helping the countless children whose lives are at risk as long as he roams free. If passed, it would be the most significant action ever taken by our leaders to end this crisis. If any of you want to know how to help get it passed, click here! There is a Lobby Day event coming up June 22 and 23 here in DC for anyone that is interested - information here on that.

I felt so good coming home last night after such an interesting, reflective evening. I just *know* that soon the children that were abducted from their homes over the years and forced to serve in the LRA will be rescued - and be able to go home. I can only imagine the joy that it will bring to all of their parents!
When I was in Gulu, Uganda last summer (made almost entirely possible by the blogosphere's support!) I was already noticing so much change and progress there - for example, there was hardly any more "night commuting" - where kids would sleep in safe, public places for the evening to avoid abduction. Oh the kids there are beyond precious. This issue got close to my heart when I started sponsoring a little boy there, and praying for him. And, I do now realize that I can continue to work on fighting against injustices from home too - DC has been a place that really opened my eyes to these issues, an for that I am so grateful.

So, hopefully how the longest running war in Africa ends is with successful peace talks.

Hopefully how my time in DC ends is with lots of goodbyes with the people that I care about most.

And, how it ends in terms of making the trip allll the way across the continent is with my fiance meeting me at the airport, ready to hold an emotionally drained girl...
It is all going to be OK, right?

One day at a time...and only 10 days left here...means that I may be doing a lot of writing on here as I work my way through the upcoming changes! I hope that is ok :)

Happy Tuesday, all...

Happy Sighs

I am one giddy new auntie! Little Daniel Robert arrived on Friday morning - Rue and Anne are over the moon with the birth of their first son.
He was 6lbs, 8 oz, and is so precious! I can't wait to hold him in a couple weeks... I am so proud of Anne - new mom! :) Anne's mom, Kathy, took amazing photos!!
I love this photo of my older brother, my dad, and little Dan Dan... three generations!

I spent the entire day Saturday packing, crying, packing, and crying. I can't explain why I was bawling my head off aside from change is hard. I love this city but I love and miss my family more. I was filing some research I did on Uganda and wondered if any difference I made was "enough". I'd get all teary thinking about my sponsored child there and remind myself I can still help fight injustice when I move home too. It is just great to work alongside so many world-changers in DC. Very inspiring place to be!

So, Sunday was a rest day. After church I went to an afternoon tea out at a plantation in Virginia. It was a gorgeous day and lovely drive!
My housemate Katie is getting married on the Fourth of July - so we are celebrating her and her upcoming marriage. (Katie is second from the left).
I had fun taking photos of the adorable tea set. I remembered to stick my pinkie into the air when I sipped my tea!
Ohhhh yum. Great little sandwiches, scones, cookies...
Things that make me have a "happy sigh" - newborns, lovely afternoon tea times, looking at my ring, talking on the phone with Matt, and sweet anticipation of the things to come...

Happy Monday, all!

The Ring - Part One

"If Jesus can be extravagant with grace, then I can be extravagant with what I have to" the email read.

I stared at the computer screen, fighting tears. A blogging friend, someone I have never met but felt a strong kindred-spirit connection with, had just made the most outrageous offer I'd ever heard.

Some additional excerpts from her email to Matt:
"I've got a beautiful diamond ring that I feel like I am supposed to give away somehow. I still can't believe I'm doing this, but I am putting the offer on the table for you to have this ring if you want it. You can have it for free. You can do whatever you feel led. Or, you can pay for it by paying an extravagant favor forward someday." she went on to write. "I know what it is like to struggle financially and have to trust that God will really be Jehovah Jireh - the God who provides. I figure if He wants to use me in this situation, then so be it. God sure has a sense of humor!"

"...We are praying for you guys. We really believe in marriage and the story that it tells. We are cheering you guys on. Just make sure that you two know that you have to be a "cord of three strands" - in other words, woven together with God - to make it work for a lifetime. That is my prayer for you - that you will be strong, faithful to each other, always loving, always honest, and always close to Jesus no matter what."

I've been processing all of this for the last week. It just blows my mind and heart.

What is even more amazing, is that this generous couple could really use the money if they sold the ring. To choose to give when it hurts - and be the recipient of that gift - is incredible.

I look at my left hand, see the marvelous sparkle of the ring, and truly feel that it is a gift from God Himself. He simply used this friend as a vessel, and extension of His grace, mercy, and provision. It is almost comical because it is a glamorous, beautiful ring! I feel like it symbolizes purity, provision, a beautiful love, and God's way of showing Matt and I that He is taking care of us - even when the job is not working out, and the long-distance has been painful. Perhaps he was even honoring that we did not settle in our dating lives and we waited for each other. It is just all so amazing!

Even if Matt had gotten the job he'd wanted a month ago, he would still have to save up for months to get me a ring. Her gift meant that we could go forward into engagement with one after all. And just as much as I don't deserve salvation, the ultimate grace, I did not deserve this. But God gave it to me anyway.

Being the recipient of the ring has radically changed my faith in the Lord and His provision, and restored my hope in so many ways.

Being a recipient of such an incredible gift is a feeling I will never ever forget. And, I can only imagine that for the giver it is an amazing experience as well. I am excited to think of ways that I can "Pay it Forward" - starting with my upcoming move back home. I know I can't pack everything I have here into three suitcases, so I am excited to just give some things away. It will not be painful to part with as much when I think of this experience.

So there you go - part one of the story of The Ring. Part Two will be brought to you by Matt himself, next week. We will get to hear from him on what he thought about this whole experience as well. If you have any questions for my new fiance, please feel free to leave them in the comments section!

And please, tell this story to your friends. We all need to hear a GOOD NEWS story. And this experience is to amazing to keep a secret :)

I can hardly wait to meet this generous, selfless amazing woman and her family. They will be front row at my wedding :)

Happy Friday and a blessed weekend, all!

Writing the Story

Ohhh my goodness what a response from y'all! Thank you so much for all of the well wishes. Matt and I decided that we want to write the rest of the story from a "he said - she said" point of view, which means we will need an extra day or so to pull it together. His internet is down right now too, boo!
In the meantime I will share that I am over the moon with joy and excitement, and that getting to this next chapter in our relationship was only possible with the prayers of many, the generosity of his folks that provided the plane ticket, the incredible kindred spirit that provided the ring, and God's amazing hand over it all!
Since Matt was only here for the weekend, I booked my good friend and incredible photographer Stephen Elliot to do some shots of us around DC - mostly for me, as I got ready to say goodbye to the city. Then it ended up being an engagement shoot :). I love the photos that resulted - and it was SUCH a fun way to spend the afternoon on Saturday!
There were a ton of tourists all over the city that day, but it made it all the more fun. We looked like two goofballs in love just having a great time. And it was great indeed!
Thank you SO much Stephen for the amazing photos!! If any of you are in the DC area - you need to book this guy for your upcoming wedding. I highly recommend him!

I am going to continue writing the Most Amazing Provision Story Ever post...and in the meantime, more pics are on Facebook - look up my name, you'll find me! :)

Happy Tuesday, all...