A Brief History

I don't know when it was that I first "knew" I wanted to marry Curtis Romjue. On some level, it was probably before I even knew him very well at all. I was drawn to him like a moth to the flame. Or as Curtis would say, "Like a moth to the female moth." A friend had told me a couple years before I even met him that we would end up together. So when I met him I was already attempting furtive glances into his soul. Why would she have said that? I had to know!

We met during my junior year, waiting for a professor to confer with us during his office hours. Due to his chronic (and fortunate) tardiness, we were able to converse for almost half an hour about travel, faith, life. I left feeling like... "WOW!" Curtis later told me that he barely remembered anything about that conversation because he was trying to concentrate on what he had hoped to say to our professor. He did, however, remember that I had long hair at the time.

I had a crush on Curtis for the better part of a year. The kind of crush that drives a woman to "accidentally" leave her sweater at his house after a party so that she has an excuse to go back the next day. Curtis vaguely knew that I existed. Over time, and after repeated visits to his house to retrieve forgotten articles of clothing, I got to know and love the young men that lived in that house and the myriad friends that might as well have lived there. Gypsy Hall. It was a hub of social activity - the kind of social activity I craved and had seldom found previously. "Story time" in the evenings. Impromptu jam sessions and dance parties. Art nights dedicated to showcasing and enjoying our friends' talents. Philosophical and theological exploration over potluck feasts. I had found my community.

The more time I spent with Curtis in the context of his community (which had become my community), the girlish crush faded and simultaneously blossomed into a genuine friendship. There came a point when I was able to honestly tell my girlfriends, "I'm over him." It was true. I was no longer doodling his face in my class notes. He was a real person now. I could no longer idealize (or idolize) him.

My senior year ended. I graduated from Seattle Pacific University with degrees in Theology and Spanish, went back to Texas for a month to spend time with family, and then spent two months traveling around Europe with my friend Eliza, sleeping in a car, sneaking into campsites to take showers, living off of the complimentary bread from restaurants. When we returned to Seattle at the end of the summer, we brought with us pictures and memories from a dozen countries, tanned faces and the fresh confidence that comes from having undertaken an exciting adventure. Maybe it was a combination of these factors that caught his eye, or maybe it was because I was always meant to be the one to catch his eye. It just took him longer than me to figure that out, I guess. *wink*

It took me about a week after being around Curtis again to realize that something was different. This time, he had some furtive schemes of his own. By Christmas, I was fine with re-developing my crush. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Why We Chose Rosario Head

We discovered this magnificent spot by no plan of our own. We had been checking out a couple sites on Whidbey Island and were making our way up to Bellingham when, on a whim, we turned into the entrance of Deception Pass State Park. It didn't take us long to recognize the raw natural beauty of the place. We hurried to the ranger's station where Darlene informed us that we should make our way to Rosario Head - on the map an unassuming little protrusion of land, just outside of the main area of the park. Little did we know. Rounding the bend in a walking path, an expansive view unfolded before our eyes. We found ourselves on top of a bluff overlooking miles of jagged coastline, pebbled beaches scattered with driftwood, the Puget Sound opening to the Pacific and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. We had found our spot.

Perhaps one of the most magical places on earth that I have ever seen is the island of Inish Mor, off the west coast of Ireland. The bluffs overlooking the Atlantic took my breath away. They gave me simultaneously a sense of wonder, longing and giddy joy. I had never been inspired with that same unique set of emotions by any other natural setting until Curtis and I walked out onto the bluff at Rosario Head. I can't wait for you to see it yourself.

DIrections to Wedding Site

From I-5 North or South:

-Take exit 230 and head WEST on WA-20 toward Burlington/Anacortes (11.7 miles)

-Turn left to continue following WA-20 SOUTH towards Whidbey Island (5.0 miles)

-Turn right just after Pass Lake onto Rosario Rd. (look for a Romjue-Damoff wedding sign :)

-Pass Bowman Bay Rd. (just as you turn onto Rosario Rd.) and take the next left onto Cougar Gap Rd. (look for wedding sign)

-Make first left onto Rosario Beach Rd. and stay left following it down to the water. WELCOME!!!


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The Drawing

It was maybe a month before Curtis and I became "official" that I sketched into my journal the drawing you'll be seeing on your save-the-date cards and invitations. It represents how I felt in that season - on the cusp, looking forward, scanning the limitless horizon, about to take a leap.

The coolest thing is that we found Rosario Head, chose it to be our wedding site and only later remembered that drawing in my journal and its eery resemblance to that actual location which I had not even known existed. Did I, on some level, know that Curtis and I would get married standing on a bluff? Am I psychic? That's hard to say. When I ask a person whether they prefer mustard or mayonnaise, I can almost always guess before they answer. My guesses usually aren't right, but I can almost always make a guess one way or the other before they tell me. I'll leave it to you to decide what that means.

International Justice Mission

Thanks for your interest in the International Justice Mission (IJM). As an officially registered 501(c)3 "non-profit band" JUBILEE has promoted and supported the work of this incredible organization for the past 3 years. In March 2006, I became an official IJM Justice Advocate - a trained volunteer. I wrote this article as an introduction to IJM for people visiting our website (www.livejubilee.org)

Much Love,
Curtis
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AN INTRODUCTION TO IJM – Article by Curtis Romjue of JUBILEE

Gary Haugen (Harvard, University of Chicago Law) worked with the US Department of Justice and led the United Nations Rwanda genocide investigation before going on to found the International Justice Mission in 1997.

During his time with the UN, Haugen was exposed to a variety of our world’s great needs. Some people need food. Others need medical attention. Just as basic as these is the need for JUSTICE.

Haugen discovered that there are many groups who bring aid in the form of food and medicine, but where basic human rights are being denied – as in the cases of forced child prostitution and slave labor – there is often no one to help.

If a Peace Corps worker or missionary finds a child without food, the response is rather simple – get them food. But what do you do when you uncover a brothel where children (some as young as 5 years old) are forced to perform sexual acts for paying customers? What do you do when you encounter the multi-billion dollar industry of rape for profit? Go to the police? Unfortunately, too often the police are part of the problem. Their silence is for sale. So what now?

Haugen learned that to help these victims of injustice, you must work within the appropriate channels of law. IJM is composed of legally trained professionals who conduct private investigations, documenting evidence in cases of injustice. Not relying on the local police force alone, IJM ensures that this evidence reaches the courts, and labors diligently for the prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators.

IJM's Four-Fold Purpose (from www.ijm.org)

• Victim Relief - Relieve the victim of the abuse currently being committed.
• Perpetrator Accountability - Bring accountability and just consequences under the law to the specific perpetrator(s) of abuse.
• Structural Prevention - Prevent the abuse from being committed against others who are also at risk by strengthening community factors that are likely to deter potential oppressors, reduce the vulnerability of at-risk populations and empower local authorities to stop such abuses.
• Victim Aftercare - Provide access to services to help victims transition to their new lives and to encourage long-term success.

What to Wear

You don't want to be caught looking like a loser at Rosario Head this fall. The fashion forward will take these tips to heart:

-Casual elegance (emphasis on "casual") is the way to go. You'll be outside for a good part of the day, enjoying a state park, lawn games and hopefully plenty of sunshine. Dress for comfort, but don't be afraid to show you've got style.
-Layers may be your best bet to avoid the breeze blues. Keep a jacket in hand, it can get gusty on top of the bluff. (Ladies may want to order their coiffure accordingly.) Don't worry: the after-party will be taking place in an area protected from the wind.
-Umbrellas are the accessory of choice for those who want to be noticed at Rosario this September. Keep one in hand to keep things from getting out of hand.
-Heels are a complete fashion no-no this season at Rosario. While red carpets and catwalks have been the bearers of fashionable feet for decades, Rosario's rustic paths call for a whole new vogue. Ladies - comfortable flats only. Gentlemen - leave your polished leathers in the closet.

And remember, the paparazzi will be present, so if you forget to wear anything else, don't forget your smile! (But please don't forget to wear anything else.)