We survived Hurricane Sandy!

I received a comment from a blogging friend that he hasn't heard from us since my last post in Baltimore, when we were preparing for Hurricane Sandy! Thank you, David, for your concern!! We are fine! In fact, we were untouched inside the four strong walls of our friends' old home. The storm started before 9am on Monday and faded away during the early morning hours on Tuesday. The winds were UNREAL... unlike anything that I have ever heard or felt. For hours, I expected any minute that the windows would be sucked right out of the walls. It rained and rained and rained HARD! The power flickered off and on all day, but we were fortunate to retain power, (although I’m quite certain we would have more than survived without it for a few days!) In one simple sentence: It was an adventure. A first anniversary to always be remembered! Despite Sandy, it was a great trip! ♥♥♥

Friday and Saturday were especially a lot of fun! We arrived in Baltimore by 10am and were warmly greeted by our dear friends, Sambat and his smart and adorable daughter, Elsie. I couldn’t quite remember how old Elsie was, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw her again (I had only ever met the Long family at our wedding one year ago.) When I got in the backseat beside her car seat and I said, “Hi Elsie! How are you?” and she responded, without hesitation, “I’m pretty good. How are you?” I knew she was well advanced and, over the course of the next few days, she continued to IMPRESS me! ♥♥♥

For lunch on Friday, we ate at a delicious and beautiful Indian buffet. So, so, so good. I could not stop eating! Afterwards, the four of us explored Baltimore city around the bay. We walked a lot! Laughed a lot! And took a lot of pictures! At 5:00, Sambat’s wife, Danielle, joined us and we went to the National Aquarium. Aquariums are one of my favorite things and it wasn’t even my idea to go! SO FUN! The jellyfish exhibit was very cool (I’ll spare you all the pictures!) and they even had a DOLPHIN SHOW! ♥♥♥

 On Saturday, we explored the streets of Washington DC between the Capital Building and the White House. There is so much to see in DC and I wish that we could have seen so much more [I saw a lot on a school field trip in 9th grade, but I wanted my husband to see it all!], but I enjoyed just walking hand-in-hand with Titus; and the weather was beautiful! We started our day at the United States Botanic Garden – a beautiful living plant museum – where we had a picnic lunch outdoors at the First Ladies’ Water Garden. Another big sighting of the day was, of course, the White House! The pictures of me in front of the White House… are not good… but below is a good picture of my husband! Just beyond the White House, we found a 24/7 worship experience happening for 40 consecutive days before the elections. Very cool experience! I made a new Spanish-speaking friend and explained to her that many people think America has no hope, but as certainly do! We have a living hope in Sovereign God and we must seek Him to lead our country, homes, and selves! ♥ ♥ ♥

Other adventures include: shopping at the Asian market, an authentic Vietnamese restaurant, Titus teaching Sambat how to cook, puzzles with Elsie, and movies in the evenings. ♥♥♥
Again, despite Hurricane Sandy, we had a wonderful time in Baltimore! I wish that we lived closer to the Longs and the Novs, our two Cambodian-American couple friends who cannot only relate very well with Titus, but understand cross-cultural relationships.♥♥♥

Love, Love, Love,

Jewel

Baltimore

Writing this from Baltimore... preparing for hurricane Sandy aka "Frankenstorm." The Washington Post predicts it will be New England's worst October storm in more than one generation. People are stockpiling food and water, buying chainsaws and generators, taping windows, and pushing other customers in the battery aisle. Danielle's school already announced a closing tomorrow. Still... I remain a doubter. Perhaps I am naive, having never before experienced a hurricane or the threat of. We should know in the next 24 hours! In 48 hours, we're scheduled to fly home!

It's been a really good three days already, and hopefully that trend continues despite threatening weather. We flew in Thursday morning and were greeted at the BWI airport by Titus' good friend from Cambodia, Sambat, and his curly-headed, three-year-old daughter, Elsie. We went to a beautiful Indian buffet for lunch and it was... SO GOOD! Wow. Really would like to have one of those in Marion! After lunch we explored Baltimore City by foot. It was a perfect October day! We walked around the harbor, through some shops, up a huge hill to the park and a beautiful of the city, and enjoyed some live music and Italian ice. At 5:00, we got half-price tickets to the National Aquarium, and enjoyed stir-fry and Chinese leftovers at home.

I'm attempting this first post from my iPod, so no idea what you will be seeing. Hope it's decent!

Much love,
Jewel

Not at Home, but with Family

Titus and I rode a train to NY to spend Easter with Jessie, and to see our Cambodian-American friends: Phalkun, Janell, and Naomi.  After hurriedly cleaning the church after Wednesday services, we got on the train (my first time on a train, and Titus' first time inside a train - he's ridden on the top in Cambodia) around 1:00am Thursday and our friends picked us up at the station around 10:30am.  I slept fairly well and was surprised at the extensive amount of room at my feet (unlike an airplane!)

Phalkun and Janell took us back to the Asian market, where we bought a variety of Asian foods [including chicken feet - more on that soon] that we can't find at Wal-Mart in Marion.  We went to a few more stores and finally to Jitters, where we had iced coffee that tastes almost like it does in Cambodia (very strong coffee sweetened with condensed milk.)  At Phalkun and Janell's, we played Scrabble before preparing a variety of Cambodian foods, and enjoying it with Jessie and other friends who have also been to Cambodia.

Phalkun teaching my husband to use a bow&arrow

I slept in until almost 10:30 on Friday morning, and we passed most of the day and night playing games: Scrabble, Ticket to Ride, Nirtz, Swap, Monopoly Deal, and Skipbo. All three of us took turns winning and a good time was had by all. Jessie made pizza for lunch, and we went back to Jitters for more iced coffee and two games of Scrabble. For dinner, we met three of Jessie’s roommates at a quaint family diner; much laughter occurred there. After dinner, we rented two movies and returned home for an insane six-person game of Nirtz.

Saturday morning we watched Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Neither my husband or sister had a positive reaction to this movie, but I thought it was amazing. Seriously Oscar-worthy. It was a riveting and gripping story of what nine-year-old autistic Oskar does to handle his grief and understand why his dad was taken away from him [on 9/11.] It is about love and triumph and had me feeling all sorts of emotions.  Seriously wowwee. So so so good.  I recommend it!!!

After the movie we went to a mall in Buffalo [much much much larger than what we have in Marion] with Jessie and three of her friends.  I was on a mission to find a bridesmaids dress for my bff Loren's wedding in August, but I was unsuccessful.  I looked at probably 300 dresses in 20 stores and found only 5 or 6 dresses that I thought might work... but won't.  Sad!  I did however find 4 shirts for less than $6 each (Papaya might be my new favorite store,) and a swimsuit at Old Navy that I am in love with... and waiting for it to go on sale.

Jessie, Titus and I celebrated Christ's resurrection on Sunday at Phalkun and Janell's church and had lamb for lunch with her parents at their house.  After lunch we played games, sat around a campfire, had pizza for dinner, and played more and more games.  It is so wonderful that Phalkun and Janell live only a few minutes from Jessie [such a small world!] and we are able to visit them when we come to see her.  After Jessie graduates in May, I am not sure when Titus and I will be able to return to New York, so we really enjoyed all the time we could with the Nov family.

Love love love, 
Jewel

The World-Traveling Backpack

It has traveled to Mozambique:

It's been on a safari in South Africa:

Most recently, it went to Puerto Rico:

It's currently preparing for it's third trip to Cambodia.

and it has never gotten lost!

A Photo Journey..

Here are just a few more pictures from my trip through Kansas.... or "the Wesleyan missionary adventure" as George referred to it.




This is the house where George grew up with 9 other siblings. George's brother described his family as: "Farmers that have never farmed." His father said "I'm kind of hillbilly." This house has alot of character.






Geovanni & Christine's 3.5-yr-old daughter, Jael - what a cutie. She has her moments, as do most 3-yr-olds, but she really is a sweetheart!







This is Grandpa Dale (Sheree's grandfather) whom we lived with 3 nights in Table Rock, Missouri.  I remind you of the conversation with Abuela about baby Nathan.











This is just a monkey we found on the dock at the lake. He looks alot like George Wuertz, the missionary to Racar, Ecuador.  Thank you George and Sheree for everything you did to make my trip so good.  You're the model family of what I hope to do and be.








This is Kiara Sofia Saltos-Lehrian, my goddaughter, and I on August 11 - the day we flew to Kansas City. Only Kiara and her sister, Jael, slept on the plane, so we hung out while their parents napped the whole afternoon. She is a beautiful little girl, and I look forward to watching her grow and sending her gifts!