Some Thoughts

"The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say."
("The Old Walking Song")

Thank you, Tolkien and Bilbo, for giving me such wonderful words to consider as I head out into the world at the end of my college experience. My journey is not ending now, it is only beginning. I am most certainly ready for an adventure.

This semester I have been thinking a lot about the end of Isaiah 40:

"To whom will you compare me?
   Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
   Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
   and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
   not one of them is missing.

Why do you complain, Jacob?
   Why do you say, Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord;
   my cause is disregarded by my God"?
Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary,
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

The song based on this passage was always one of my favorite camp songs. Although I know in my head that these words are all true, it often takes more than just my own understanding to allow my heart to acknowledge this truth.

As I've walked through some tough emotions this semester, I've come out on the other end reminded more than ever that my way will never be hidden from the Lord and my cause will never be disregarded by my God. He and I are in this together for the long haul.

A Letter to Parents from a College Freshman

I was recently looking through all my old documents on my computer and came across the following letter. I wrote this 2.5 years ago, right after my freshman year of college. 

To any parents who are still in the thick of raising their kids:

Dear Mom and Dad,

I just finished my freshman year of college at Houghton College, a small liberal arts college in western New York state. This school year was amazing—new friends, encouragement and challenges from fellow Christians, committed professors, so much to learn, see, and do. I can honestly say that I have thrived at college. Throughout the year, though, I have contemplated the reasons why I was well prepared to enter this new environment and do well in Houghton’s rigorous academic setting. I want to share some discoveries I have made with you in order to encourage you in your parenting journey.

I know there are lots of other parents who have reminded you how childhood goes by so quickly and encouraged you as you work hard to raise your children well. You probably also have memories of your own childhood—the good times and the bad—and have thought about how that foundation molded you into the person you are today. We each have experiences from the past from which we want to protect our loved ones. Right now I want to encourage you in the work you have already done. Keep going! You can do it! With Christ all things are possible.

Before school started last fall, I went with fifty other Houghton freshmen on a two week wilderness adventure trip in the Adirondacks. One of our activities was a two night solo in the woods. I loved this time to contemplate and journal. Since I only had a notebook, a Bible, and a pen to keep me company, I decided to write letters to my parents and my sisters. As I was writing to my mom and dad, I started to cry—partly out of joy and partly because of sadness. I thanked them for the time and effort they spent raising me and teaching me the right way to go. I know my parents aren’t perfect and that’s OK with me, but I also think they did so many things right in partnering with God to help me navigate the first 20 years of my life. I am so thankful God decided to place me in the family of Gerry and Lorraine Stobbe. I cried, though, because for me this act of going off to college meant the end of my childhood. I would always be their daughter, but never again would I be a child. I have watched so many of my friends grow up and leave home to start their new life as adults, but now it was happening to me and I couldn’t believe it. Part of me didn’t want to believe it. I just wanted to be the little girl sitting on a chair in the upstairs hallway while Daddy blow dried my hair at the Little Girl Beauty Parlor. I didn’t want to acknowledge the end of those days when Mommy, Lillian, Charlotte, and I sat on the couch to read picture books.

Sure, I’ve been alive 19 years, but it really doesn’t feel like that. The other day I was babysitting two young children for a few hours. I encouraged the four-year-old while he climbed the hill to the park, I followed the 18-month-old while she toddled around the front yard, and I watched and smiled while the boy pushed his sister around in her walker as she laughed joyfully. I thought about the box of family photos my grandmother had just taken out of her closet. Most of them were of me, the oldest child, and then came Bethany and Lillian photos, and then Charlotte appeared. One of my favorites is a before-Charlotte photo: in our living room Lillian and I have set up a car by lining up chairs. I am driving with Dolly-with-a-Body beside me, a blue bear and cabbage patch doll ride in the middle row, and Lillian sits proudly in a rocking chair in the third row. Big sister takes the lead!

So, from a 19-year-old working on both treasuring and letting go of her childhood: please treasure these days! You will be tired…you probably are right now. Your children will frustrate you to no end…I did my share. You will be clueless and confused…for some reason we often enjoy pushing our parents to that state. Your children want and need your love, and they will remember it always. May your children rise up and call you blessed.

Whether you homeschool (like my parents did) or not, remember that you are your child’s most important teacher. Mom and Dad, we want to be just like you! We’re watching you to see how you react under stress, how you help those in need, how you care for each other. Your interests will often become our interests. This past semester while I was in Europe I had the chance to see numerous Impressionist paintings in London, Rome, Paris, and Edinburgh, and I loved (almost) every one. I have to believe that this is because my mother loves the Impressionist painters and introduced me to them early in life. We studied Degas and his ballerinas, discussed Renoirs, copied Monets. All those trips to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts that I complained about when I was younger formed a foundation for my understanding and appreciation of fine art that helped me to appreciate the works of art I saw in the National Gallery and Tate Britain in London.

My mother also loves nature and the outdoors. Throughout my childhood our family vacations consisted of traveling from one national park to another. Despite my constant complaints about the heat, she continued to take me, however unwillingly, to see birds, bison, and beekeepers. Now I work at a summer camp and teach Outdoor Living Skills.

Just one more example—my mother loves history, especially hands-on history and museums. As a homeschool family, we had many opportunities for field trips to avoid learning from textbooks. Again, family vacation meant museum hopping all around the United States and Canada. I must confess that although I did appreciate these museums some of the time, most of the time I just did not understand what a wonderful education I was receiving. And now, guess what? I just chose to go on a three week vacation with my roommate, Jenn, that was all about the museums and historic sites of Rome, Paris, Edinburgh, and eastern Massachusetts…and I loved it. Going back to Old Sturbridge Village with Jenn reminded me of all the times the Stobbe School went on a historical trip back to the 1830s. I remembered my favorite places to go and asked all the right questions so that Jenn could get the full experience. After I took her to Plimoth Plantation, I found family photos (again from my grandmother’s box) of the Stobbe School visiting the Mayflower. My recent visit was different since the captain talked hypothetically about marrying me to his son, but that same feeling of awe I must have felt 14 years ago when I traveled back almost 400 years met me this time as I learned about the Pilgrims and their experiences. You may think all those art galleries, nature walks, museums, and historical villages are going right over your children’s heads, but believe me, they are not. Take advantage of those opportunities to learn and discover together.

Pretend for a moment that I am your family’s babysitter. Picture me saying goodbye when you return from an evening out. Don’t worry, I took good care of your kids…I fed them macaroni and cheese for dinner, we played hide and seek, I read them a few chapters of Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and then I put them to bed. Now you are back after a refreshing evening out, but you know that tomorrow morning (or, oh please no, maybe even sooner) it’s all going to start over again. Feeding, teaching, disciplining must go on. Playing games, reading books, driving to activities happens too.

God has given you these children. Mom and Dad, we need you. We love you so much! We don’t always understand why you do what you do, but somewhere deep down we know that you have our best interests in mind. Please take good care of us. We are so proud of you when you do a good job. J We are praying for you. We notice and think about a lot more than you might think we do. We aren’t telling you this to scare you but to help you be aware and challenge you to do your job to the best of your ability. There are so many people out there who want to help encourage and support you. Just remember that this time isn’t going to last forever. Someday your son or daughter is going to be heading off to college or out into the big world. Hopefully they’ll have the time and thoughtfulness to sit down by the edge of a lake and write,

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you so much for raising me and helping me to grow into the person I am today…

Let's Go Red Sox!

Today I went to Fenway Park with my dad for some good old baseball. This year is the park's 100th anniversary. Happy Birthday, Fenway!

The weather was beautiful. I got to spend time with my dad. His company has really good season tickets. But, best of all, the Sox won.

Watch out for the Green Monster!

Look at those Red Sox. Such fancy duds.

P.S. Some of you may be wondering if Loony was actually there for all these pictures I've been posting this summer or if he has been photo-shopped in. He has been there for every single one of these experiences.

Blueberries, Lobsters, and Loons, Oh My!

My lovely mother's birthday is in August. That means every August we get to have a delicious Maine lobstah (this is the correct pronunciation) and clam feed. Blueberry pie also makes a very delicious birthday cake. Happily for me this was last night while I'm in Maine. Loony wanted in on the action.

Happy Birthday, LTS!
Love, Loony.
P.S. Can I have some, please?

Spoiler: Loony won this face-off.

Loony Does Maine Things

Reading in the hammock

A turtle friend

Anybody in there?

The boathouse

An old picnic table rests in peace

Our outdoor shower

Sunning on the dock

Birch trees, my favorite

I used to be small enough for this swing set.

Helpful Washington Websites

I used a whole bunch of different websites this summer. Here they are to assist you in planning your DC vacation (which, of course, you want to go on now that you've spent all this summer reading about what I've been up to there).

Transportation
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (This site is your best friend)

DC Adventures
Visiting DC Resources from Sen. Scott Brown
Smithsonian Museums
Library of Congress (Capitol Hill)
Monuments
DC Outdoor Films
Jack's Boathouse (Georgetown)
Kennedy Center (NW)
National Arboretum (NE)
International Spy Museum (NW)
Jazz in the Garden (NW)
Old Post Office Building (NW)
DC Birding

Virginia/Maryland Adventures
Shenandoah River State Park (VA)
Downriver Canoe Company (VA)
Sandy Point State Park (MD)
Great Falls Park (MD/VA)
Mount Vernon (VA)

Food
(Here are all the places I went)
Good Stuff Eatery (Capitol Hill)
Thunder Burger and Bar (M St, Georgetown)
Mandu (NW)
The Dubliner (By Union Station)
Nando's Peri-Peri (By Dupont Circle)
Toki Underground (H St, NE)
Crumbs (Union Station)
Sidamo's (H St, NE)
Clyde's (Georgetown)
Crystal Thai (Arlington)

(If I had more time and money, I would also have gone here)
We, the Pizza (Capitol Hill)
Founding Farmers (NW)

Living in Arlington
Trader Joe's (Clarendon)
Arlington Public Library (Central Branch)

Churches
Capitol Hill Baptist Church (Capitol Hill)
National Community Church (Barracks Row)
National Cathedral (NW)
Columbia Baptist Church (East Falls Church)
Restoration Anglican Church (Arlington)

DC Family Finale

After 10 lovely weeks in Washington, D.C. interning with World Vision and exploring my nation's capitol, it was time to test my new-found knowledge and spend 3.5 days guiding my family around the city. I have to say, and I believe that they would agree with me, I was quite a successful tour guide. If you are looking for a 3.5 day DC itinerary, here is a tried and tested Stobbe adventure.

Day 0.5 (Sunday afternoon)
We checked in to their hotel in Rosslyn, and then walked down along the Custis Trail to Roosevelt Island. Although I had gone birding around the edge of the island earlier this summer, I had never actually seen the statue of Teddy himself, which is in the center.

Then we walked across Key Bridge to Georgetown and decided, after much discussion, on dinner at Clyde's. It was a deliciously good choice.

Day 1 (Monday)
I had saved Mount Vernon for when my family was here, so we ventured off down south to visit George Washington's plantation on Monday morning. We had a beautiful day to wander all over the grounds. Overall the weather finally decided to cool down a bit while my family was here, so we were able to actually enjoy our long walks around the DC area without dying from the heat and humidity.

After a picnic lunch, we drove into DC and did a blitz of several museums around the Mall. We visited the National Archives, Lillian guided us through the highlights of the National Gallery of Art (West Gallery) in 30 minutes, and then we all trooped over to the National Air and Space Museum. At this final destination, we were all so tired we couldn't stay awake while sitting in one of the many mini movie theaters in the museum.

We tried to go to dinner at the Melting Pot in Arlington, but it was way too ridiculously expensive so we switched to Five Guys. :-) Talk about one end of the spectrum to the other.

Day 2 (Tuesday)
I arranged a tour of the Capitol Building for us through one of our Massachusetts senators, Scott Brown. Two of his interns gave us a great tour, and then we were able to go sit in the House chamber (just to see the room - every thing is in recess right now).

After lunch at Union Station, we went back down to the Senate office buildings and visited one of my dad's coworker's sons who is working for Sen. Brown right now. By this point my family was ready to be done with the touring, but they still hadn't seen the Library of Congress Jefferson Building. I had been in it at the very beginning of the summer, but I hadn't done the tour. The tour is definitely worth it - otherwise you just end up looking at all the decorations in the building and thinking "oh that looks nice" with no idea of why it's actually all there.

At this point, everyone was ready for a nap back at the hotel before heading to dinner at a the home of a homeschool friend from Massachusetts. My family got to meet several of my DC friends and have a real dinner at a house for a change.

Day 3 (Wednesday)
At the beginning of my family's visit to DC, I told them there are four things to see as tourists: Museums, Monuments, Memorials, and Government Buildings. In our first two days we had done several trips to the first and last of these, but Wednesday was dedicated to the monuments and memorials in DC. We did a very long walk to see all of the following:

• Iwo Jima US Marine Corps Memorial
• Arlington Cemetery (Kennedy gravesite and then the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers for the changing of the guard)
• Memorial Bridge
• Lincoln Memorial 
• Vietnam War Memorial
• Korean War Memorial 
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
• World War II Memorial
• Washington Monument

On the Vietnam War Memorial, we found the name of one of my grandparent's neighbors from Maine: Lloyd B Haskell, Jr.

Of course, Charlotte needed a moment to converse with Lincoln himself.

After the Washington Monument, we kept walking back to the Air and Space Museum. Such a huge museum! Before we all collapsed, we walked over to the Old Post Office Tower, which is now owned by Donald Trump, to get the view out over DC (the Washington Monument is still closed from the earthquake in August 2011). Finally we stopped by the White House to wave to all the security guards (and Obama).

And that was the end! We survived and all agreed that it had been just fine to wait until we were all grown up to do a family vacation in DC.

Now that I have completed this epically long blog post, I am going to enjoy my time in Maine by canoeing on Little Ossipee Pond.