Frankenstorm brings winds of change for Abdoulaye's K-1 visa!!!

This weekend I came down to Virginia Beach to celebrate my Memaw's 87th birthday and attend a dinner in my dad's honor (way to go you both!!).  Hurricane Sandy decided I shouldn't head back to DC until Wednesday (Amtrak trains canceled on Monday and not available until then!) and so I've been playing Clue and Trouble with my mom and cousin Elaine (in between writing papers for school :)

All of my activities came to a standstill when I received the following text message from USCIS regarding Abdoulaye's K-1 fiancé visa (I-129F):

Your case EACXXX is now updated.  Check "May Case Status" at www.uscis.gov...

This means his papers are getting ready to leave the Vermont processing center and head to Senegal. After jumping up and down and yelling so much that John turned up the volume on the television, I caught my breath and called Abdoulaye to share the news.  What next?  he asked.  Good question!  Now I'll see what I need to do and we'll start planning for Abdoulaye's interview in Senegal - hoping he'll be here in early December!!  OAA is officially back on the move!

Sunday night Skyping with cousin-in-law Matt and Mom

John loves Skyping with Abdoulaye!

Trying to be as cute as this one.

memaw!

 Memaw rode the Amtrak train to Union Station on Friday and I picked her up on a lunch pause to begin a weekend adventure.  I brought her back to the office where she met a number of colleagues before settling in nicely in a chair next to my desk.  I could get used to spinning around and having her cute little face right there!

On Saturday we took a tour of the Capitol with a group of folks Cassie and I met at the Ambassador of Mali's home last month.  Afterwards, we followed the underground tunnel to the Library of Congress and saw where Memaw wrote her papers while a student at George Washington University.  Then we took the bus to Georgetown, had lunch and picked up some groceries and cupcakes for a little soiree.

Sunday morning we donned skirts and dresses and headed to Foundry United Methodist Church where Memaw was baptized (as well as my Mom and aunts) and where she married my Granddaddy 64 years ago tomorrow.  It was such a treat to sit in the same sanctuary where such important events in Memaw's life took place and were commemorated.  You can see the White House from the sidewalk in front of the church and Memaw told me how dignitaries and foreign visitors would come to Foundry while in town and the secret service would be there.  DC is thrilling for me now and to hear Memaw's stories I know it was just as thrilling way back when.

Last night we had an intimate Baha'i study circle meeting of myself, Memaw and my friend Kyra where we talked about prayer and its place in our lives and what prayer means (coincidentally, the same topic of the sermon at Foundry!).  Again, such a special time to share with Memaw and listen to her prayers and thoughts behind the act.

Memaw will board the train bound for Virginia Beach (via Newport News) this afternoon and I'll get cracking on some school work that is itching to get done.  I've been spoiled having her here and will miss my little shadow and cute-as-can-be companion.  Enjoy some photos from our trip below!

With the suffragettes

With new friends (many-if not all-members of AMAW (Association des Maliens de Washington, DC)

Foundry United Methodist Church

Keeping it comfy in the apartment

andy warhol: portraits

Believe it or not, that feather boa is a photo-booth prop and not a part of Memaw's outfit!

Memaw and I headed to the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) yesterday to check out the Andy Warhol: Portraits exhibit on loan to MOCA by the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.  We were feeling pretty cosmopolitan after our venture to Steeler city for Elaine and Noah's wedding and enjoyed the journey through time via Warhol's portraits of famous people.  I can't wait to frame our pictures from the photobooth!

I saw this poem by e.e. cummings on this blog and it fills my heart.  Maybe it will fill yours, too?

be of love (a little)

more careful

than of everything.

guard her perhaps only

a trifle less

(merely beyond how very)

closely than nothing.

remember love by frequent anguish

(imagine her least never with most memory)

give entirely each forever its freedom

(dare until a flower,

understanding sizelessly sunlight

open what thousandth why and

discover laughing)

Loving this song seen below lately.  Thanks to Marija for introducing me to the Freelance Whales!

Have you seen any neat exhibits up in your town lately?  I'm always looking for new music - what are you listening to?