We are back in Enumclaw after a big-family weekend in Seabrook, and seeing an old friend in Sequim on the way home. More about the lovely Pacific Beach soon, but here are two more Michigan snippets - Aubrey's amazing cat, the fat and friendly Fezzik - and my kindred spirit Sara, with bubbly, cheery Raya. The two had never met before but after a sweet shower that Sara had for me, we got to spend some time with Raya, the first female (Christian!) piper to join Cabar Feidh after I did :) We hadn't seen each other since I moved four years ago, so it was good to catch up.
I could never say enough about the blessing that dear friends have been in these past few weeks, especially in their celebrating with Joel and I (even though they haven't met him yet). It's been overwhelming!

Love, Cait

P.S. the counters are safely replaced, but here is more of the sharpie spree:
(I'm making it sound like a big deal but really it was just something silly to keep all the cousins excitedly occupied during one of our big barbeques at Grandma's)

P.P.S. I finally bought this song on iTunes :)
P.P.P.S. Five weeks gone and one more until I see Joel again!

these are some goings-on

Local lavender has been dried for shower-favor sachets. It smelled beautiful through the window.

My fantastic cousin Hannah. I wish you could all meet her, really.

Said amazing cousin suggested that we color our grandparents' counter with sharpies since they were getting it torn out (it's now a gorgeous granite). They agreed and the little cousins enthusiastically obliged!

Sister.

We just returned from a full, too-busy time in Michigan. It was lovely to see old friends again, and I was so blessed by them. It was simply a little too hectic. I will write more about the lovely parts soon :)

How is your August so far? It feels like it's flying by in some ways and dragging on in others!

love, Cait

Rainier

Last week I went on the longest hike I've ever been on, with Joel's adorable sister, sweet mom, and younger brother and brother's girlfriend Heather. It was near Mount Rainier, and we encountered a lot of wet and slippery snow-covered paths! We saw plenteous birds, gophers (up close! I wanted to cuddle them), elk, deer, and even a mother bear with her cubs, from a distance!

It was fantastic, and I couldn't believe how close to the mountain we were, but made me miss Joel really bad.

IloveWashingtonbutnotwhenJoel'snothere,
Cait

twenty-four and forty-nine

It has been a very bittersweet trip, these last two weeks. It was bittersweet, already, because I was going to be away from Joel for over a week. But now that week is turning into six. Stand-by flights failed us and we are across the world from each other for over a month, longer than it will be from when I get back until our wedding day (that is the good part).
That was very, very hard to realize, having not bargained for that long away. It's helped me know how blessed we are to live in the same city, unlike some courting or betrothed couples. God has very wise purposes we don't know in this, and it is a unique reminder that Christ is my true bridegroom, and that seeking Him first is important even when Joel and I are together. Joel reminds me that if we knew all that God knew right now, we would choose the same things. Painful to think about but true!

Those numbers up there are how many days until I'm home again, and the number of days until September 25th :)

And after a weekend of attempts, all this was found out on my birthday. That was so sad! We still had a very sweet evening at dinner with Joel's family, who are so kind and lovely to me. But it was difficult to think that I was supposed to be meeting all his relatives with him, and then when all my family came on Wednesday, he was supposed to be getting to know them all for the first time. Also, I've never gotten to see him on my birthday! What is neat is that when all of this does happen someday, it will be as husband and wife, for real.

love,
Cait

i here refrain from a pun on 'Czech'

My dad flew to Prague last week and I went on the layover with him. The only other time I've been on one of his layovers was to Venice, two years ago (I'm still in love with that place). We had 24 hours in the beautiful city and it was a wonderful time with him as I get ready to go back to the states.

This is going to make me sound like a spoiled brat (which I am when it comes to traveling! That's what comes of having a pilot father and living overseas. We've been so blessed!), but really, once you've been to the major European cities....they all start to look the same.

This was no exception, but the unique thing about Prague is the cause of its well-earned title, City of Spires. Along the skyline and everywhere you look are the delicate, high-flying steeples and peaks of town halls, cathedrals, castles, and clock towers. Hauntingly fog-covered in photographs (how I wish I'd had a polaroid!), and starkly rising in streetside watercolor print shops, the Charles Bridge had the best few and was crowded with artists.
Photos to come soon, I hope! There is much to do in the THREE days before I leave, and tonight I'm cooking a big dinner for my dad and Joel and some others (but that's fun and relaxing :).

much love,
Cait

P.S. What says 'processional music' (think 'entrance of the bride or bridesmaids') to you? I'm stuck on music!

Lebanon: cute kids and ancient buildings

Lebanon was beautiful. It was good to see old friends again (and to see children whose birthdays I remember!), joke about culture, remember stories, laugh at the kids faces and antics (that is a snail that Judson is kissing), see the rough beauty and ancient ruins in Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, Beirut, and southern villages. A soap factory, a hippodrome, harbors, ice cream, a circus troop, gorgeous little Jemmilie.

but I'm especially glad to be home again.
love,
cait

Further East

These were some of the sights we were greeted with at the Tsukiji fish market, at 5 a.m. on our first morning. Huge frozen tuna being examined and loudly auctioned off, and the freshest sushi in existence.

We then went to the Kabuki-za theatre in Ginza, and saw one act of kabuki (Japanese opera). It was interesting be we saw one which didn't have much singing in it.

Asakusa walkway and the Senso-ji temple. Look at all the crazy ice cream flavors! They included variations of green tea, soy bean, and black bean.

I thought that street was so pretty (nevermind the guys with the bike - haha! that kind of wrecks the photo), and the sign below made me smile. I have some antique monkeys from Germany and we bought one here for my little sister.

The famous Takeshita street, Harajuku - it was packed, and even more so the next day.

Some girls on Takeshita street (above), and an interesting procession in Harajuku.

Forever 21 was the funniest thing - it was a multi-storey complex and had roped off lines outside because there was a sale going on. I couldn't believe it!

Looking at Blythes in Nakano (I didn't buy one), and one of my favourite photos from the trip - playing around with settings in the train station.

Shinjuku at night - when I think of Japan (before and after) I think of bright city lights at night, among other things. Here are also a few of the famous vending machines - they're everywhere!

Rows of colorful shoes (everyone wore heels!) and more 'fruits' on Takeshita street in Harajuku.

The Golden temple; Kyoto. (I will write more about all the temples soon.)

I don't remember what this temple was called, but the view was beautiful. It would be impossible to capture it perfectly.

At the Gion corner in Kyoto, we saw a show with various ancient traditional art forms. There was a comedy, music, tea ceremony, real young maiko dancing (it was beautiful), and banraku puppetry, in which the puppet is controlled by three men.

That night we ate at a tiny Teppan Yaki place, where I had the best grilled mushrooms in existence, and the owners walked us to the elevator and bowed until the doors closed. What a cultural experience! Below is the tea ceremony we did in Uji.

The A-dome, above, and Hiroshima at sunset. The Peace Memorial Park and museum was sobering.

On the train to Miyajima island, above, and funny monkeys and sweet, sweet deer on the trail to the island's summit, after taking a stunning ropeway.

Farewell to Miyajima and Japan - the ferry back to Hiroshima was passed by another full of waving Japanese students.

I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse.
much love,
Cait