Weeks in Review

We're sorry that its taken so long to get another post up. The developments of the past few weeks have caused things to be both sad and hectic, and we are just settling back into what feels more like a normal schedule. Because of the turmoil, this post will be backwards, meaning starting with most recent news and moving back over exciting things from the past few weeks.

This past weekend Nate and I traveled to Maryland for what will likely be our last trip to Sandy Spring Friends home, at least for a long time. Though the reason for the trip was extremely sad, we were very happy to see and spend time with family. The trip there was difficult, as some of you already know. Just as we crossed the border into Pennsylvania, there was a blizzard; we estimated three inches of snow in approximately twenty minutes. Without having time to melt before it was packed down, this made driving extremely treacherous, and we found a parking lot in which to sit for a while to wait out the storm. Once we did begin moving again, the highway in both directions was blocked off because of accidents and the only way that we were able to make any headway was going 0n 40 west, the opposite direction of where we wanted to be going. Luckily the GPS has a button called 'detour,' and it got us to our next highway on back roads beautifully. Unfortunately we only had an hour or so of clear driving before we had to tackle the storm a second time. We arrived safely, albeit two hours later than we had intended.

Mommer's memorial service was the most painfully wonderful thing I think I have ever experienced. Everyone gathered seated in a circle in a large room and sat in silence until they had something to share. So many people had her mannerisms down so well, and when stories were shared Nate and I would exchange a look that said 'that sounds exactly like something she would say/do.' The woman who was Mommer's nurse in the hospital was so touched by Mommer's personality and grace that she came to the service. Seeing how many lives Mommer had touched was wonderful. Getting to spend time with the family was, as always, filled with laughter and teasing.



We received news last week that Nate's second contest entry took top prize for Earlham's Dance Alloy poster contest (pictured above). This makes two designs in two weeks, and Nate is excited about finding another project to which he can apply his creative prowess. We also were able to use the new Ipod on the drive to and from Maryland to listen to 'Deception Point' and begin 'Dreams of my Father.' As an interesting side-note, the book is read by the author, so we got to spend a good deal of time listening to Obama's voice. On another side note, we can't recommend 'Deception Point'. Though we both enjoyed Dan Brown's previous books, we spent the whole time rolling our eyes and shaking our head while listening to this one. At least our running commentary about the story was fun!

A few weekends ago, my girlfreinds were wonderful enough to organize and throw a birdal shower for me. More pictures were taken but I haven't tracked them down yet. For now, here is a picture of all my 'girls' and myself. From left to right is: Amrit, Jen, Caroline, me, Ashton, Kaitlyn, Ann and Kyla. Ann is one of the girls from my cheer team, most are on the Earthquakers dance team, and Jen was pretty much the first friendly face I met upon transferring. They are really incredible, and you will hopefully be seeing them all and a few more as our ushers at the wedding. The one exception I think will be Ashton, who is moving out to Washington DC this winter.




We should post an update about wedding plans soon, but just thinking about it makes me tired, so it will have to wait. I'm also dedicating all my time these next few days to trying to finish the bathroom, but it is coming along slower than I had hoped and so will also have to wait. We miss and love all of you! Luckily we'll be seeing most if not all within the next month and a half! Happy holidays everyone!

A Life Well Lived

Mommer was born in 1920 in England. During World War II she, being a conscientious objector, volunteered to drive ambulances for the Friends unit in China. It was there that she met Colin Bell, a fellow CO and Brit who later became her husband. Together they embraced the Quaker ideals of nonviolence, caring for others, and living simply. In their time together, they were major parts of Quaker organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and Honolulu, Hawaii. Upon retiring, they pursued a more rural lifestyle, and ended up purchasing a farm in Fluvanna County, Virginia. In 1988 Colin passed away. I was five at the time, and only have a few memories of him.

After Colin's death, Mommer began her life anew. She became a primary fixture of the Charlottesville Friend's Meeting and for many years worked as a receptionist at a local dentist. Eventually she changed jobs to work at the front desk of the local library. Years later, when she moved to the Sandy Spring Friend's Retirement Community, she became the program coordinator, and arranged talks and showings for the residents. Whatever her position, she took her charge with gusto, and preferred working with others.

Always eager to chat, one could spend hours talking with Mommer about any number of topics. As a boy, I often got home late because I had stopped to talk with her. She was boisterous, a bit of a gossip, and likely to make amusing comments during dinner after a glass of wine. She was also generous, caring, and eager to praise. She loved learning and I would often get calls from her letting me know about programs on PBS. While at Sandy Spring, she and I compared notes when we both discovered we were watching "Planet Earth" at the same time. It's probably for the best she never learned to use the Internet; I believe she would have spent hours reading interesting articles and forwarding them on to everyone on her contact list.

Mommer touched many lives during her time, and all who met her were the better for it. Her life was a model of peace, dignity, and caring, and one which shaped my life in many ways. On November 10th, while surrounded by family, she passed away peacefully.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, November 22, 2008, at Friends House, 17340 Quaker Lane, Sandy Spring, Maryland 20860.

A second celebration will be held May 10, 2009, in Kent's Store, Virginia, a time when Mommer would hold her annual bird walk on our family farm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 or the Friends House Resident Assistance Fund, 17340 Quaker Lane, Sandy Spring, MD 20860.

Both of us were honored by the number of people who sent their wishes to us and to the family in this difficult time. The outpouring of love from both friends and family has been a much needed comfort, and we thank you all.

Sad News

As some of you may have heard, Nate and I spent the majority of our time this week in Maryland. We got a call on Monday night saying that Nate's grandmother, affectionately referred to as "Mommer" had been admitted to the hospital with chest pain. We left for the hospital within the hour, but by the time we arrived there, Mommer wasn't expected to live through the night.

She has made it the last few days, a recovery the doctor said was 'amazing' to him. She was wonderfully lucid on Tuesday and we spent all day with her. On Wednesday we moved her to her home at the Friends House, and she has nurses here 24 hours. She has entered hospice, and is on whats called 'comfort care.'

Anyone who has ever met Mommer will know how amazing she is. A few years ago she moved to Sandy Spring's Quaker retirement home, and within three weeks she knew all of the residents. The maintenence man even came by when she got home today to welcome her back. Thinking about losing her makes me feel like I can't breathe, and I know Nate feels the same way. We are lucky to have known her wishes, and to be able to give her the peace that she wanted. Please, if you can, just send up a quick prayer/hope/thought for Nate and the entire Bell family.

All the World's a Stage

Nate and I had a fun Halloween this year - one of my girlfriends made an Alice in Wonderland costume a few years ago, and when she moved she decided that 'she didn't have the hair to pull it off' and left it with me. So this year Nate and I went as Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter. This was appropriate because Nate can look extremely mad, as evidenced by the pictures I got of him. We also had a sweater that had Sponge Bob on it, so we dressed Cricket up. Nate is very distressed, because he now has to change his opinion on people who dress their dogs. The jury is still out on whether this will happen or not - some people who dress their dogs are quite strange. Maybe we're quite strange as well? Anyways, Cricket looked adorable.

We didn't get as many trick-or-treaters as we were expecting, so we have a ton of candy that needs to get eaten, which we fully believe that we can handle. After trick or treating, we went to something called the Farm Party, where Earlham's working farm opens its doors for the evening for the students to have a party - there were bands and everyone was huddled into the barn, which I'm told is pretty normal. Turns out we didn't get the memo that its COLD in late October. We still had a lot of fun. Ironically, one of our friends came as the Chesire Cat, totally independant of us. We got a picture with her, which hopefully will surface in the next week or so.

Cricket we think will be leaving us soon - the regional director for PCAR (papillon club of America rescue) says that as soon as he is up on the website, people will start sending in applications for him. This is causing quite a bit of pause in our house, because he's become very much a part fo the family. Its probably better that we don't keep him, but we've grown to love him so much! Luckily, we get to pick the home that he goes to, so its guarenteed that we're happy with the placement. But thinking about him leaving makes me so lonely. What to do, what to do?

In other news, Nate's design for a contest is now in the top three, and we should find out soon whether or not we had the best design. If we win, the poster will be put up in 5 different cities for teaching people about protecting run-off, and we will be the owner of a shiny new iPod (important because both of ours are broken). It makes me think of last Christmas, Nate's grandmother gave us a bookmark that said that there are two ways of spreading light; making it yourself, or being a mirror to reflect it. She asked me which I was, and I told her that I was pretty sure I was the mirror; Nate is so creative, and I'm his manager of sorts. I make sure he always has new ways to be creative, and that many people see his designs. I'm always so proud of him!

I have to go meet my girlfriends for the evening, but we miss all of you! Hope to hear from you soon. Love!