Wandering Home

I'm home - well, if we're being specific, I'm in one of my many homes, as I have meandered west to Moorhead, MN to catch up with some dear friends, (attempt) productivity, and transition back into this place.

No more Norway. Time for tales of a semester abroad-a daunting task when you consider just HOW much can happen in the span of 16 weeks. I'm not quite sure where to begin, what people want to hear, what the most important (if there is such a thing) part of my time in Lillehammer. All the while trying to practice what I've learned, being fully present where I am, wherever I happen to be, and just soaking in each beautiful moment. Whew.

Jet lag was non-existant on the return leg (thank goodness), goodbyes were said, customs were efficient and drama free, and THEN we were welcomed home by our waiting families! Dad was there to pick me up and sweep me upstate to where my mom and lovely sisters were waiting---with a cake that said "Hei hei!" They DO listen to me after all....and sometimes there's more than just babble that I say :)

It's good to be here. It feels surreal, but comfortable.
I have beautiful people in my life here in Moorhead....
at home in little old Esko....
and at camp, where I'm headed next....
in Lillehammer....I miss you all already.
and all those lovely wanderers who are scattered throughout this tiny and wide world-in the West Bank, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, England and countless other places.

"All who wander are not lost"
I'll keep a wanderin' as I go through these days and weeks of transition and acclimation. Thank you all for your love and support as I've traveled through this wild and crazy world...It's been an incredible experience and I am so grateful for all of you who what wandered with me.

Peace and happy wanderings to you dear friends....

...To Be Continued

"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place...like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and place, because you'll never be this way ever again."
- Azar Nafisi
I have roughly 34 hours left in Norway.
I will be home in approximately 46 hours.

I am so excited to see my family and all the beautiful people in the States...but if I'm being honest, being "home" doesn't feel like a real possibility. My reality, my worldview has changed. I've changed-and I don't know how this new Laura fits into life at home...but I'll find out!

It's hard to say goodbye. I hate the feeling of farewells and not knowing the next time you'll meet again (although I am sure we'll meet again!). At the same time however, goodbyes are important too, as they teach us just how important and special the people in our lives are. We are forced to reflect on how these individuals have influenced us and blessed us during our time together, and there's a real gift in that.

This week has been full of goodbyes. I’ve been on a rollercoaster of emotion-sorrow at the thought of being away from these people and this beautiful place, anticipation at the thought of seeing my family (!!!), disbelief at how quickly four months have passed, curiosity at the prospect of what lies ahead. It feels very similar to how I felt four months ago, just prior to leaving for Norway and this grand adventure. Leaving home and beautiful things, people, opportunities in trade for new experiences, different people, a fresh outlook. Feeling this way has shown me just how much of a home I have here in Lillehammer, which is a beautiful thing, particularly knowing that even as I return to Minnesota, this home, these people, this experience, will hold a place in my heart that I’ll carry with me as I go.

Like most of my many homes, my sense of place and purpose is largely rooted in relationships here in Norway. As I’ve mentioned several times throughout these reflections, the people I’ve met here have taught me how to accept hospitality, given me permission to share my story and to listen to theirs, and showed me what it means to build community in a new and life-giving way. I’d like to share a little bit about some of these relationships that have blessed me these months:

Anne and Oddgeir, Astrid, Maria, and Magnus. They have been my family and my home base here in Lillehammer. Anne and I have spent many beautiful hours chatting, walking, reflecting on life, faith, pilgrimage, and the beauty that comes when you “dare to share” with one another. Oddgeir has encouraged me on my journey, empowered me and provided me with countless opportunities to be part of the community here in Lillehammer. Astrid, Maria and Magnus have been my playmates (they’re 12, 10, and 7 respectively J): we’ve played together, laughed a LOT, sang and danced. They’ve helped me with my Norwegian and I with their English; we’ve built a very special friendship. This is one of the most beautiful families I’ve been able to be a part of. They are welcoming, gentle with one another, they laugh easily, and they are rooted in a deep appreciation for nature, faith, art, and music. It has been a gift to be a part of that these past few months—and I could say so much more, but for the sake of a readable length post, I’ll keep it brief!

Darin, Ann Christine, Kamilla, Jonas, and Sigrid. The Elvemos have been a blessing on my life on both sides of the pond! We connected at camp a few summers ago, and again this past summer (2010); when they heard I’d be in Norway, they invited me to visit. Going into this experience, this was the travel excursion that I knew I wanted to do—and as I mentioned waaayyy back in February, I did! We spent a wonderful weekend together, laughing and singing, reconnecting and deepening our friendship. I got to sing camp songs, play with beautiful children, have meaningful conversations with two of the wisest individuals I know—such a gift! It has been a blessing to know that there is familiarity here in this place too; knowing that there is a family that I knew prior to departing for Norway that knew I was here, cared for me, and were thinking of me made this an even more meaningful experience. I am so thankful to have been able to visit and get a glimpse of life in Norway through a the lens of these wonderful people!

Silma. This was one of my chance meetings that changed my experience for the better~we bumped into each other at school, she heard me speaking English on Skype and asked where I was from. Turns out, she studied in good old Fargo last semester as an exchange student! Small world, huh? Since that day in March, we’ve met up weekly to walk and talk: about life and love, dreams and ambitions, pros and cons of our respective cultures. There is something fascinating about sharing these conversations with one who has lived in your world for a period, which we both have. Silma has been a true blessing on this whirlwind of an adventure; she has a beautiful soul, a deep sense of independence, an open attitude, and an incredible sense of welcome—I feel so fortunate to have made a true Norwegian connection!

Christina and Daniel. This has been a particularly special friendship for me, as I had very little to do with it’s origin. These two wonderful people happened to be at the Thomas Mass service up at Nordre Al in March when I spoke (I later found out that Anne had suggested that they might be interested in meeting me—yet  another way she has blessed my time!). The three of us chatted a bit after the service and a few days later I received a mail (Norwegian terminology for e-mail!) inviting me to coffee. That chat prompted us to meet several more times throughout the semester, and we have built a lovely friendship. This couple has shown me more about this place that has been home than I could have ever possibly discovered on my own—a feat that is all the more incredible since they’ve only been here for a few months longer than me, as they are from Denmark and are continuing their studies here at HiL. We’ve had beautiful rich conversations; the sort that cause an afternoon to slip away and the words echo in your mind for days afterwards. I am so amazed at these two—they’ve been so good to me, and I am so excited for us to meet again, to sit and talk on the porch, hike through the forest, make music together, or perhaps have another picnic in the hail—yes, that’s alluding to a true story! In other words, they too, have changed me, blessed me, and enriched my time in Norway.

I am so thankful for all these people, along with the countless of others I have met here. These relationships have changed me, educated me, and inspired me, as good friendships ought to do. To think about leaving people causes this annoying thing where water leaks out my eyes to happen (in other words, I am still a crier!), but I know we will be connected in thoughts, e-mails, and someday, reunions! I am certain of that.

I don’t want to leave for all of the many reasons listed above. I don’t want to depart from this awe-inspiring beauty, I don’t want to leave this experience that has changed and challenged me in new and incredible ways. But all good things are so often because they are not permenant. As Oddgeir reminded me on Monday morning, this was to be a four month experience of living abroad—and it has been that. And now it’s time to return home, deepen my roots there, and grow in a new way.

Am I scared that I might lose what I’ve learned? A bit, but I know I will carry these precious memories and experiences with me; after all, they’ve helped to make me who I am at this moment. I’ve grown into myself, and wherever I may be in the world, I’ll always be me—and some bit of me is thanks to Anne, Oddgeir, Astrid, Marie, Magnus, Darin, Ann Christine, Kamilla, Jonas, Sigrid, Silma, Daniel, Christina—and so many others. To quote a dear mentor, boss, coworker, and role model from Moorhead: “God created the world for relationship;” It is safe to say that I have been blessed abundantly with meaningful and life changing friendships, that are to be continued even as I return home TOMORROW!

Hellos, Goodbyes, Leaving & Arriving Once Again

Several people have commented on the fact that going home must be far easier than leaving for Lillehammer in January was.

I thought it was going to be; however, I stand corrected.

Prior to departing for Norway, I had little interest in the leaving part. I was happy, comfortable, confident and in control of my life at Concordia & all my little communities. Don't get me wrong, I was very excited to go to Norway; I just didn't want to leave people, places, life behind. I was trading the familiar and the established for a deep dark void of the unknown land of Norway. New places, food, language, scenery, people; no close friends to accompany me, no "safety net." Just newness. Yikes.

So logically, I thought that May 19th would be a long awaited day-and to some degree, it is. It will be wonderful to share my experiences, hug family and friends, visit Moorhead, get ready for SUMMER! But I'm not only going home, I'm leaving-again! Leaving my new friends, my traveling companions, my routine, my home….it’s going to be a huge transition. Another one.

I’ve gotten used to being on the go…to being the outsider, the stranger, the American girl in Norway. I’ve let go of a lot of things, gained a TON of confidence in myself and who I am. I’ve learned to depend on me, rather than everyone around me-don’t get me wrong, I’m still a people person who thrives on having good relationships, but I’ve learned that it’s crucial to be in relationship with myself too. Going home…I’m returning to routine and regular life-a life that I love and have  missed, but I worry that I might forget what I’ve learned or worse, ignore all I’ve discovered.

The thing about home is that it’s familiar and comfortable, which is the exact opposite of what the last four months have been. It’s been an incredible semester, but comfortable is not the first word that I would use to describe the experience of dropping everything, hopping on four planes, skipping seven hours ahead, landing in a foreign land where jeg snakket ikke norske with nine other American students who I didn’t know prior to January 27^th of this year, submitting myself to countless challenges, including learning the art of travel planning, attempting to speak Norwegian, and figuring out the mysteries of how three lovely ladies can share one very small room (and one closet) for four months. Nope, not real comfortable. But it has been amazing.

I’ve seen the Northern Lights, learned to eat brun ost and strawberry jam on my waffles (brown cheese-goat cheese),  been engaged in great conversations, spoken at a Norwegian church, babysat some darling children, taken dance classes for the first time in several years with no obligation of being an instructor. Cross country skiing, coffee drinking (I knew I would love this country when I discovered they have the highest coffee consumption worldwide!), hiking, traveling, cooking, some studying, and countless other things have filled these days, weeks and months. I’ve been to seven countries, seen several dear friends from home, developed new and precious friendships, spoken English, French & even a little Norwegian (Jeg snakker lit norske!). I’ve learned to appreciate my family and friends, my classes, my work and my natural pace to approaching life more than ever before. I’ve lived with nine strangers who have become like my siblings and we’re still getting along and enjoying each other’s company (teasing each other and squabbling like siblings at times, but always looking out for one another).

“Away is a place I’ve romantically created where problems can be figured out, meanings found, and transformative relationships stumbled upon.” Enuma Okoro.

This quote is by one of my favorite authors, and I happened upon her latest blog post this afternoon, and this line jumped out to me. I’ve been away for so long and while I’ve been away, I’ve approached the somewhat daunting task of solving life’s problems, or at least putting them in perspective. I’ve discovered deep meaning in meeting people, the skills developed from exploring new places (I can now read a map, navigate airports and train stations like a pro, and orient myself better than I ever thought possible!). More than anything though, I’ve learned how beautiful relationships are: relationships with self and others.

My relationships look very different to me now than they did a few months ago. Perhaps it’s simply a deeper appreciation or maybe it’s a new sense of openness to creating and fostering community with whoever I happen to be with. Maybe it’s recognizing how those really special friendships are capable of extending across oceans, time zones, and life experiences, even against all odds. Certainly, the magical, God-given gift of friends has become all the more apparent as people have shown up here in Norway, extending grace, hospitality and love to this little Laura. I believe in the power of relationships.

Being away has taught me this-or opened my eyes to this. The challenge now is to remain “away” while remaining rooted in where I am, wherever I am. Lillehammer, Moorhead, Esko, Camp Hiawatha, I am always away from somewhere, while simultaneously being home. I can be present where I’m at, open to the experience of the world, all the while acknowledging how all of these places, people, opportunities have challenged me, shaped me, pushed me, and taught me how to be more fully me.

There’s so much more wandering to do here in Norway, but I only have a few days left. Coming and going, packing, planning and flying. More tales to come of these last few days, but for now, I’m going to enjoy this misty, magical day in Lillehammer and be right where I am for a bit!

Solo Steps...All Over Europe!

Hello dear friends!

Apologies for the long delay between posts-life has been a whirlwind of travel planning, gallivanting across Europe, riding various forms of mass transportation, studying for finals and soaking up every little moment of life in Norway (or wherever I happen to be at that particular moment!)

The month of April was primarily dedicated to travel-we had a group excursion to Germany, and from there my solo travel began! My holiday was spent in Edinburgh, Paris, and Taizé (a Christian community in the south of France...more info to come later!). And as indicated in the title, all of this travel was done all by little Laura lonesome--and I loved it! Planning was quite stressful; I was very nervous about making all my connections, getting lost, and all those other things one ought to worry about when venturing out on an adventure. But everything went perfectly, to my surprise and great pleasure, which made this holiday even more spectacular!

Okay folks, here come the travel tales!

GERMANY
The 11 of us Americans bordered an airplane at good ol' Gardemond International Airport, which took us safely (through the fog) to Berlin, Germany where we were met by Mark & Sonja Lund, who are the fearless leaders of Study Abroad at Luther College. Mark is somewhat of a Luther junkie like me, so his vast knowledge of Germany, theology, and random Luther trivia led to great conversation throughout our time in Germany.
Whilst in Germany, we toured every place that Martin Luther, the great Protestant Reformer, lived (aside from his birthplace and death place--though we did see his grave in the Castle Church in Wittenberg!). Wittenberg gave us a chance to see the Town Church where Luther preached & his children were baptized, the aforementioned Castle Church where the 95 Theses were posted (!), the Luther Tree (where Luther burned the papers sent to him from the Pope excommunicating him from the Catholic Church if he refused to recant the 95 Theses...obviously, Luther did NOT recant these things, as the papers ended up as charred little bits of ash around the base of an oak tree....). Also in Wittenberg, we visited Lutherhaus, the monastery where Luther studied and where he and Katarina (his lovely wife) ultimately lived and raised their family. We walked the streets where Luther did, had great conversations, soaked in rich history, which made this Lutheran Chick very happy!
Following our two day stay in Wittenberg, we made our way to Erfurt. En route, we stopped at Buchenweld concentration camp. It was a very sobering experience to stand in the place where so many people suffered at the hands of persecution and injustice. This was not an extermination camp; however, many died simply because the workload demanded of them was inhumane and their bodies could not handle the strain. This was the same site that Dietrich Bonhoeffer was kept at during the war, and when given the chance to walk to another camp, he and thousands of others made the forced march, believing it was their only chance for liberation. However, Bonhoeffer and many others perished on the march, and shortly after they left, Buchenweld was liberated by the Allies. That morning caused us to all pause and consider the reality of the Holocaust and the horrors that happened...
After our tour of Buchenweld, we made it to Erfurt, where we stayed at the Augustine Kloister, where Martin Luther was a monk. This was the place where Luther presided over his first mass, where he studied and lived; and it was here that we got to stay and live the life of a monastic for a night! We each had our own very simple quarters, and it was a very meaningful experience for me to be where Luther got his start as a theologian and scholar of religion!
Also in Erfurt, I had the great pleasure of spending the evening with the one and only Yvonne Zgraggen, fellow Cobber, roommate, and dear friend who is studying abroad in Jena for the year! An evening spent catching up, laughing, eating great food and enjoying each other's company made my time in Germany even more precious! And our final day in Germany was spent at Wartburg Castle, where Luther hid out, disguised as Sir George. Jaunting around a castle, a little last taste of Luther-land...I was a happy girl!

From Wartburg, we made our way up the autobond (yikes!) to Berlin, where I said farewell to my fellow travelers and set off on a ten day adventure....alone!

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
From Berlin to Edinburgh (a seamless journey, save for the five minutes I spent trying to explain to the poor man at the customs desk WHAT in the world I was doing in the UK (they wanted an address for where I was staying...which I did not have), WHY I didn't have Biz's address ("Um, I just haven't ever had it, and I don't have a phone or computer access to ask for it now....), WHO this crazy Biz character was and what SHE was doing in Edinburgh ("She's another American, volunteering through the ELCA working with the homeless and doing a year of service abroad) and after all of my sleepy Laura explanations (give me a break people, it was 12:30 in the morning, I had just woken up after the soundest plane nap ever taken and I was a wee bit discombobulated.), the man decided I was harmless, took mine & Biz's full names, and let me go through, where I was greeted by the beautiful Elizabeth Sorenson!
Our week together was lovely-mostly sunny days spent drinking coffee, catching up, exploring the city of Edinburgh, and causing a few shenanigans along the way, as we tend to do! Much of this time was Laura time, as Bizzy bee had to work, so I spent many a day scampering about the city, relishing in the English speaking nation, sipping good (and reasonably priced!) coffee, snacking on Cadbury chocolate, fresh fruit, and other little treats I found along the way. Visited a few gorgeous gardens that were in full bloom (in direct contrast to Lillehammer, which still had a great deal of snow on the ground when I had left several days prior...and this is mid April people!), explored the castle, wandered Princes Street, took myself out to the ballet. Biz and I climbed up to Arthur's Seat (read: scaled a cliff, descended down a ravine-we didn't feel much like staying on the paths!), spent a day at the beach, where we were chased away by a trio of naughty little boys on holiday who were stirring up mischief by picking sand battles with innocent young women like us, throwing sand at us & attempting to snatch our things. We ate well, laughed a lot, and even found yet another Cobber, Miss Kari Beth Shobe, who happened to be spending her holiday driving through the UK with Mamma & Papa Shobe and friends, so we met them several times for dessert-Cobbers, Cobbers everywhere! All in all, it was a lovely holiday!

FRANCE
From Scotland, I flew to Beauvais, France, where my travel planning was less set in stone and I was most nervous-though all went well! From Beauvais, I took a bus to PARIS, where I hopped on the metro and navigated myself (using my five years of Français and my newfound map reading abilities) to my hotel, where I dropped my things, printed my train tickets for the next day, freshened up a bit, then took myself to the Eiffel Tower, where I soaked in the warm spring evening under the glow of the lights, the buzz of excited chatter, and the decadent chocolate crepe that I treated myself to! An American girl in Paris-a very happy girl indeed!
And the next morning dawned bright and early, taking me to Gare de Lyon, where I boarded a train that would take me south to Macon and to Taizé, where I spent four days among fellow young adults from all over the world, singing , meditating, and being in community. It was incredible to be there over the Easter holiday; On Easter Sunday, there were over five thousand people there, singing and celebrating the fact that we are a Resurrection People! I learned a lot, had time to rest, give self care, meet people from all over the world, be in conversation with people of all sorts of stories, faith journeys, all the while being surrounded by the beautiful sights of the south of France-rolling hills, trees in blossom, gorgeous water...ah!

NORWAY
When my time at Taizé was over, I boarded my 12 hour bus/train/bus/airplane/train combination of transit that would take me back to Norway. This day was spent marveling at my newfound independence; not only that I had successfully navigated my way through numerous airports and train stations, "parlez-vous français"-ing my way through the stereotypical view of Americans, but also realizing how much I enjoyed my solo travel! Never had I envisioned myself as one who would choose to venture out alone, but here I was, exhilarated from my week and a half of independence. What a life-giving experience. I am so proud of myself, thankful for the help I received along the way (Mark & Sonja for dropping me off at my airport in Berlin, setting me off on a successful beginning, Biz for her hospitality & friendship, all of the beautiful people I met at Taizé, and throughout my travels, and of to Dad & Mom for helping with all the logistical planning stuff-and for worrying, of course!).

And here I am. Sat my exam on Friday morning (and afternoon: this was a four hour written exam! Not a “four question, write as much as you need to to sufficiently answer the question” but rather, “here are three questions, answer two, and write the entire time.” Yikes!), so I’m mostly done academically. A couple short papers, then I’m finished with junior year. And in two and a half weeks (18 days from today!), I will be on Minnesota soil. Weird.

I’m not sure how I feel about being home. Okay, that’s a lie: I am SOOO excited to go home! To see my family, friends, prep for camp, hear about life in Esko, Moorhead, at Trinity, Red River Dance….it’s going to be fantastic! But at the same time, there is so little time left here in Lillehammer, where I have built a bit of my life. I’ve learned so much in my time here-and I have some dear friends who I hate to say goodbye to. It’s not as easy to leave as I thought it would be. But May 19^th is coming soon-I’ll be home within this month! YAY!

In the meantime though, I have two more group travel excursions: tomorrow I am setting off for a trip to Bergen (in Western Norway) and Copenhagen, Denmark. We’ll be going for the shear benefit of going, so that will be lovely! Then next week we’re setting off to spend a week at an organic farm north of Lillehammer-which sounds fantastic. Then we’ll have four full days here in Lillehammer to pack, say goodbyes, celebrate 17^th de Mai and head for home on May 19^th.

So much to do.

So little time.

So much growth.

So much potential.

Thanks for all the love!

SEE YOU SOON!!!

April Showers....

Well, spring has sprung! Even in Norway, there is promise of green grass, warm spring evenings and buds on the trees....the question remains if these things will arrive before I depart come May. Though the potential is there, the snow is too~maybe that will change soon?! Let's hope so!

Thought it was about time for another update:
Since last week, I have been busy busy busy~wait, what?! This sounds more like life in Cobberville, not life in Lillehammer. But you heard (read) me correctly: the pace is pickin' up, folks, and the race to the end is on. Suddenly, life here is a flurry of homework, extra class sessions, travel planning, thinking about and planning for summer at Camp Hiawatha, budgeting, socializing, and trying to slow down enough to soak in every single moment here in Norway. Whew!

This weekend was centered around spring break: planning, mapping out the logistics of getting from one place to another, calling the train companies, booking flights, calling Mom & Dad for advice (you are the best...seriously, I'm the luckiest girl ever to have you two! MWAH!) and pondering the balance between sanity and frugality. It was kind of stressful; actually, if I'm being fully honest, I think that's the most stress I've felt since leaving America, so the whole process hit me hard and I realized just how much I miss my family and friends. Hmm. Tough thing to realize while in the midst of planning a dream of a spring break excursion huh? But it got me thinking, and it made me recognize just how important it is to be fully here and rest in the knowledge that even with an ocean and a few thousand miles between us, I still have a Dad who is willing to map out a route for me that makes sense to my crazy brain; a Mom who knows just what to say to make me smile; and countless friends and loved ones who have filled my inbox and FB wall with love and support from home. You all have been and continue to give me permission to live into these days and experiences fully and completely~so thank you!

And after a few tears of stress and frustration, I got to go and babysit for some darling Norwegian children. We had a fantastic evening together, laughing, playing games, bridging the language barrier: apparently I'm only a little bit difficult to understand...and my Norwegian is passable (that is, if you want to hear where I come from, how old I am, who my family is and that I don't really speak any Norwegian at all!). It was such a great night: These are great kids and it made me so happy to play board games, eat bon bons and sing silly songs together: simple joys. So great!

Seven Weeks. 50 Days.

Hello again friends~Here I am, back in Lillehammer after a delightful weekend in London. Yep, I get to spend my weekends abroad, exploring foreign cities, eating good food, seeing beautiful historical monuments. Yep. This is indeed my life. Crazy, huh?

My time in London was phenomenal! I spent Thursday with a dear friend and fellow Cobber who is living in London for the year. We got an opportunity to catch up, share travel stories, reflect on our time abroad & marvel at the beautiful sprng day we shared. IT wasso wonderful to see her and as the day passed, we both realized that though we have spent a great deal of time together through shared classes, similar circles of friends and shared interests, we never succeeded at making and keeping a coffee date. It literally took us both uprooting our lives, moving across the world and a great deal of travel (me from Norway to London, her by means of lots of tube and bus rides in order to meet me) in order to finally meet for a koppa. But we did~and it was spectacular! I am so thankful to have shared a beautiful spring day in London with the beautiful Kari Beth Shobe; it was just what I needed!

The rest of my time in London was equally wonderful; lots of sightseeing, miles and miles of walking, multiple attempts at navigating our way through streets that changed names and weren't perpindicular to one another, and countless moments of awe and wonder at the beauty around us and the lovely warm weather--I got to run around in flats and a short sleeve dress; a far cry from my uniform of late consisting of boots, jeans, sweater & outdoor gear...it felt so good to have sunshine on my face and wind in my hair (wind that doesn't bring snow and freezing temps with it!). A definite highlight of London was seeing Les Miserables. I have literally waited six years to see the show, after having played the role of Gavroche my freshman year of high school. I was nervous about seeing it; after all, what if I had built it up too much? But I was blown away and it was perfect. I am so glad to have seen it, to have the music echoing in my ears and my heart as I traveled back to Norway where snow and ice still abound, though admittedly the thaw is beginning to speed up!

And now, back in Norway, I am realizing how little time remains here. I have two weeks before I leave for Germany for class, and from there spring break will commence, taking me to Scotland and France. Upon returning to Norway I will have a day to prepare before sitting exams, the weekend to pack, then off we go again for a whirlwind tour of Norway & Denmark, taking us back to Lillehamme for the 17th of May celebrations (independence day here in Norway), then I'll be home again the 19th. I have 50 days left here in Norway. I'm not sure how I feel about that...I am torn between wanting time to slow down so I can soak in Norway and speed up so I can finally hug all of the beautiful wonderful people back home ♥

But seven weeks remain. Lots of homework, travel, springtime (I hope!) will fill these 50 days and soon, soon, soon, I'll be back in Minnesota, preparing for a summer in God's Great Northwoods, catching up with friends and exploring what being home looks like. Before any of that can happen, however, I have some classes to attend--I'm off for now, see you all soon dear friends!

Sunday Night @ Nordre Ål

Ooookay, so maybe it doesn't quite roll of the tip of your tongue the way Sunday Night @ East (excuse me, Concordia) does, but in many ways, the evening felt familiar to the community and the service I am used to in Moorhead.

Since moving to Lillehammer, I have found a lovely community in Nordre Ål kirken; literally, the North Church, here in Lillehammer. Anne & Oddgeir, the pastors there, are a lovely couple with BEAUTIFUL children who have sort of adopted me and extended hospitality and welcome to this wide eyed wanderer during my time in Norway. Anyway, Oddgeir asked me if I would be willing to share a bit of my faith journey with the congregation last night and I agreed, opting to return from my weekend trip to Oslo a few hours early for the sake of participating in this service of meditation, sharing, music, and prayer. The service was done in the style of Thomas Mass, meaning it was full of different components geared towards personal reflection and prayer.

The whole energy was familiar: the checking of mics, the talking through of the worship order, listening to the musicians prepare for the service. In those moments, in a place far far away, I was home.

I am still marveling at the opportunity; I got to share a bit of my story in this country where I have just happened to be for a short window of time. I get to be a part of this community, these people have become a part of my story. How often will I get a chance to share and grow in these ways? I feel so blessed to have had a chance to be open to these opportunities, and moreso, to be open to the people that have come into my life in the past few months.

This journey has not been an easy one; in all actuality, I think this may be the most difficult thing  have ever done, uprooting my life, moving across the world, leaving those I love and cherish behind for a season. But it's also the most life-giving and altering thing too. I have gained a tremendous amount of independence, confidence, and willingness to try new things, meet new people, and be open to where life will lead.

Learning.
Listening.
Sharing.
Growing.
Pondering.
Wandering.

All I can be is fully and wholely me. And I'm discoverin more and more each day who I am becoming and where this path is leading. Life is all about the journey, and these four months are proving to be an uphill climb, complete with awe-inspiring beauty, victories large and small, and companions who will help me on my way....and the view is breathtaking! The journey is still underway, still worth every step, and has provided me with time to reflect and discern more about who this wide-eyed wanderer really is.

I Feel Like Walking the World...

...Or at least Lillehammer!

Sorry for the lack of posts in recent days...life has been full, days have been long, and this girl has been busy learning, listening and growing.

This past week was a delight, as I got a visiter from home...by means of Scotland! My dear friend Biz (who is living in Scotland for the year) opted to celebrate her birthday with me in Lillehammer, so I got to explore my city in a new fashion: on foot! We did a lot of walking, as the weather was warm, spring was in the air, and a strolling tour seemed more conducive for seeing as much of Lillehammer as possible in just four or five days. So walk we did! To and from Storhove, which is my home, all over the city, to the Olympic Center, Maihaugen...such a treat!

And beyond the opportunity to explore this place, it was such a blessing to have a familiar face-someone I know and who has known & loved me for a long time-share in this experience. To share news, stories, memories & laughter...so wonderful! And of course, many of these conversations took place over coffee, either accompanied by Oreo Deluxe cake at Dolly Dimples (my new favorite resturant in Lillehammer!) as a midafternoon treat, coffee from the kantine here at HiL, or even a cuppa from 7-11as we walked. We sipped, strolled, laughed...one of the most life-giving weekends I've had here in Lillehammer.

Aside from visits from home, the past week has been filled with epiphanies, great conversation and lots of walking. I'm not sure if it's the imminent springtime (YAY!!!) that is drawing me outside, but I've been relishing my walks throughout the city, often solo excursions which have provide time for reflection and thought. And from all of this walking, I've realized that I have finally fully landed here in Lillehammer. I am no longer clinging to the other nine Americans, have gained confidence and courage to venture out alone & create my own exeriences and beyond that, realized that it's okay for me to do things outside of the group. It's been such a treat to realize this, to settle into myself again, indulge my independent spirit and embrace this city and all it has to offer.

The funny and wonderful part of these recent days is that my walking has coincided perfectly with the beginning of Lent. I have never been one to give up something for Lent, nor have I ever felt the need to. This year, away from my communities of faith, family and friends though, there is something comforting about the practice of walking that connects me to those I am missing. I'm missing the youth and staff of Friends in Faith, my family, my dear friends and all that is happening on the other side of the world. It just hit me that I'm missing out on all of that. BUT...I'm also growing from this opportunity. Experiencing the chance to be strong in myself, make my own path and create my own story...even if that story is a bit different than those of my fellow travelers, or even what I could have ever imagined for myself.

So I'll walk. To and from the city. Up and down the slopes of Lillehammer.
And as I walk, you can be sure that I'll be thinking of you all...thankful for your love, prayers & support on this journey. Amazed at the blessings that each of you are in my life. Astounded and befuddled at the way our bodies work well enough to walk (I mean, our feet are pretty small...especially mine! How in the world can they support our bodies and balance and move and not topple over?!?! So interesting).

I feel like walking the world....

Flying time, Sparknotes, Northern Lights, and Legal Residency....

So time really flies by.
I've been in Norway for over a month...nearly a month and a half now. Wow...it's going so unbelievably quickly! Two months and I'm home; I'm nearly a third of the way finished with this adventure. Kind of incredible. Yikes!

A quick recap of the past week:
My weekend in Tromso was spent laughing, deep coversations, playing Legos & Polly Pockets, skiing, sledding, eating wonderful food, reminicing, and soaking in the presence and company of some dear friends. It was such a life-giving three days, refreshing me, rejuvinating my soul and spirit and empowering me to become more comfortable with travelling solo! What an exhilerating experience to fly/train/bus alone, make plans & carry them out successfully! What a drastic change from my mid-January (pre-Norway) airport experience in which I was nervous and anxious about navigating the airport...and that was in the company of two adept travellers and dear friends~and here I was, manuvering through check in, finding my gate, and making the journey all by myself. No mishaps, no(t much) worrying, and a wonderful experience!

And here we are yet again, poised on another weekend here in Lillehammer. This week has gone quickly; Monday was a travel day, followed by classes about an hour after returning to our flat (whew) and Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (today) have been fairly standard days of homework, classes, hanging out with friends and marveling that we are in NORWAY!  That's still such a strange thing to realize! I often catch myself surprised at how normal this place has become; it's another home. I'm comfortable here, cherishing these days and weeks of learning and engaging in conversations. Oh yeah, and we saw the Northern Lights: so incredibly beautiful! Funny story about that: It was Tuesday night, and we were all still sleep deprived from our weekend travels and a very long day on Monday, so I was headed to bed early. Lights out, dressed in my standard sleep gear: tie dye t-shirt and running shorts. This was at about 10. Around 11, I heard a HUGE commotion from the living room, complete with yelling, shrieks and running for the door. Obviously, I woke up, and went to see what was happening. Did I manage to throw on sweats or mittens before I went out? Of course not. So when I arrived beneath the dancing green glow of the Northern Lights, dressed in my winter boots, nice pea coat, running shorts, spectacles, and scary sleepy hair, it's no wonder that my fellow Americans gave me funny looks. Oh well, I got to see the Northern Lights in Norway. Win-plus it makes a good story to tell!

In other news....I'm officially a resident of Norway now! My visa came through early this week and I moseyed on down to the Lillehammer police station yesterday, answered the necessary questions, took a (terrible!) visa picture, and waited to get that beautiful sticker in my passport that allows me to live here--no longer a tourist! Yay!

To Tromsø She Goes!

Greetings from the North...the waaayyy North! Tromsø, Norway, to be exact.

Yesterday was my first solo travel excursion from Lillehammer to Tromsø....and it was exhilarating, slightly terrifying (actually, just the preparations and the prerequisite period of worrying about it was the terrifying: the actual experience was about as smooth as it could have possibly been!) and wonderful! Hanna and I took the train from Lillehammer to Oslo together, as we were the only two of our American crew that were not setting off for Stockholm this weekend, so we opted to do some travelling during the daylight hours.

After we said goodbye, I was on my own to navigate the airport and make sure I was in the right place at the right time, while she road on further to catch her bus. The funny thing was, I got all of 100 yards away from the train when I found someone I know: one of our fellow international students at HiL was dropping his girlfriend off after her visit, so we spent a bit of time chatting and those few moments with a familiar face calmed my nerves and then I was good to go! Found my gate and ended up waiting, waiting, waiting (I was NOT going to risk any travel mishaps, so I made it to the airport nearly three hours prior to my flight. Probably not necessary, but whatever!). Once on the plane, I made a friend in my seat neighbors: a young mother and her two year old son who were flying home to Tromsø after spending some time in Oslo. It was so refreshing to chat with her, to ask questions, share my experience....what a gem of a family!

And what, exactly, am I doing in Tromsø, you might ask? I am here visiting the Elvemo family, who I know from my time at camp...first from doing a day camp three summers ago just prior to their moving to Norway and then again from our week at Family Camp together this past August. We had spoken briefly about the possibility of a visit during my time in Norway, and I was way excited at the thought of making the trek north, but what really set my determination was what Jonas (the seven year old boy) told me when we said goodbye this summer: ``Next time I see you, you will be at MY house!``

Here I am! What a treat to be among friends, to challenge myself to travel alone, to hang out with some wonderful kids and play and laugh for three days! I am humbled by the radical hospitality that they have shown...from picking me up at the airport, to greeting me with food and conversation, a bed with sheets (Don`t laugh-this is actually a big big deal for me! Our flats only have duvet covers and a fitted sheet and for a girl who LOVES the combination of sheets, blankets and a comforter, it has been a bit of an adjustment! But I digress.)

As I write this, I`m sitting, sipping a cup of coffee (again), listening to the wind bow through the trees and pondering all that the day will hold! I was up early to say hello to the kidders before they headed off to school for the day. Kamilla, Jonas, Sigrid and I were all very excited to be reunited! Darin and Ann Christin told me last night that yesterday at daycare four year old Sigrid announced that: ``America is coming for a visit!`` Amidst a breakfast of giggles and conversation and trying to get everyone out the door on time, I found myself so content...to be among friends, to hang out with some of my favorite kids, to have some independent experiences to share with my group when we all come back to Lillehammer on Monday morning-what a neat thing!

In a couple hours, Kamilla and I will be headed into town to show me around and walk a bit, have a treat and catch up! It is such a treat that she is done with school early today, Ann Christin and Darin are off this weekend, and I get to be a part of their lives for a few days! Tales of the weekend will be coming shortly!

Love from Tromsø!

Reflections on a lazy Thursday afternoon...

Hei hei!
Jeg heter Laura og jeg kommer fra Minnesota, men nå bor jeg i Lillehammer! Jeg drikker kaffe og skriver et blogginnlegg til dere. Jeg laere norsk og jeg snakke litt norsk nå. Jeg har det bra! 

Translation: 
Hi hi!
My name is Laura and I come from Minnesota, but now I live in Lillehamme! I am drinking coffee and writing a blog post for all of you! I am studying Norwegian and now I can speak a little bit Norweigian. I have it pretty good!


As you can see, life is really really good. I'm sitting here in Størhove, our little flat, sipping a cup of coffee (mmm, typical Laura behavior), watching the snow fall outside my window, listening to Mumford & Sons, and marveling at how wonderful everything is at this particular moment. Ahh...


The past week has been quite lovely! Last weekend, all of the international students from HiL (our college) packed up for a weekend in the mountains. Wilderness time was so welcome! We spent the weekend with the other international students and our Norwegian buddies chatting, playing outside, and getting to know each other better, which was fantastic. The lodge we stayed at was out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful mountains...it was awe-inspiring and I felt so small in comparison!


When we got back on Sunday afternoon, Courtney (one of my lovely roomies) and I got creative and started baking with what we had at our disposal! What do you get when you mix five apples, a pear, half a jar of strawberry jam, granola, sugar, flour & cinnamon together? Answer: pure deliciousness! We've gotten quite handy in our baking skills, paricularly in terms of our innovative skills for using what's available! Sunday night concluded with a group meal at Joy's (our trip advisor) flat: chili, cornbread and our apple(pear)crisp! Mmm...a very midwestern meal & an altogether wonderful way to wrap up a great weekend!


Monday morning brought in Valentine's Day...and a sweet surprise! Our lovely male roommates, Erik & Dave, left Emma, Courtney & I a lovely Valentine's Day card and candy, which we found when we woke up on Monday morning! Awww~it made us really happy! These guys know how to make us girls smile! The rest of our day of love was spent in class, followed up by a trip to town for some grocery shopping (read: chocolate), candelit applecrisp eating, family photos AND some travel planning. Which leads me to some VERY exciting news....


I booked a flight to Tromso, Norway (wwwwaaaaaayyyyy North~up past the Arctic circle) to go see some dear friends next weekend! My first solo excursion...uffda! I'm super excited to see Darin, Ann Christin, Kamilla, Jonas & Sigrid, a family I've known through various camp experiences for a few years now. So, next Thursday, I'll deviate from the rest of the group (who will be spending our long weekend in Stockholm, Sweden...kinda jealous!), and set out on what's going to be a slightly terrifying/exhilerating experience of travelling on my own!


And the rest of the week has been equally wonderful! We're in the process of making plans for a weekend trip to London in March, as well as planning our respective Spring Break trips. As of now, Al, Emma, Courtney, Dave & I are tentitively planning on France, Spain, and either Italy, Ireland, or Austria. Sounds good to me! Along with all of the excitement of travel planning, it just feels good to be established here~to come back to our flats after a weekend away made me realize just how quickly this place has become comfortable. I am so blessed to  live with such great people (our flat has so much fun together! It's kinda ridiculous how much we like each other.), and beyond that, I feel so fortunate to be able to soak in this experience: I'm not super busy, so I have time to devote to learning Norwegian, to discuss our classes and the cultural differences we're encountering, to spend a random Wednesday afternoon strolling through downtown Lillehammer. What a refreshing change of pace; I think it's good for me.


Prayers & peace~L.

The Prettiest Girl in Lillehammer....

Last April, I made a new friend. His name is Lyle.
Our first exchange was based around the subject of socks~and the fact that I was just wearing sandals. He was worried about my feet being cold. I explained that I was celebrating the first day of spring by setting my feet free. What a silly, beautiful way to make a friend.
Lyle is an older man from Moorhead, a retired pastor who now attends Trinity, frequents my favorite coffeeshop, Moxi Java, and is a regular at chapel. Through all of our encounters in the last year, Lyle has become my adoptive grandpa.

Lyle is one of those unexpected blessings who has absolutely changed my life. He is full of wisdom and wit, great life advice, and he always leaves me with thoughts to ponder. He always leaves me with a smile, and reminds me of the power that a smile has-a smile is like sunshine.

As I was preparing for Norway, I spent a few weeks in Moorhead, just spending time hanging out with friends, working at Trinity, dancing at the studio. During one of these days, I was at chapel and I ran into Lyle. We exhanged updates on life and we talked about my upcoming journey. He proceeded to tell me this story (as told from his perspective):

When my mother was younger, her neighbor always came over for tea. Her neighbor was an elderly woman from Lillehammer who loved her dog, getting on in years & was lonely. So my mother had her & her little dog over for tea & coffee everyday. This little old lady would tell stories of her time in Lillehammer as a young lady, and everday she would end her story with  "...and I was the prettiest girl in Lillehammer!"

Every time Lyle told me this story, he would smile and tell me that it was my turn to be the prettiest girl in Lillehammer...ahh, fer cute! And so far from the truth--Norweigians are the most beautiful people in world (except perhaps the Icelandic people)!

But Lyle's story makes my heart smile. And like all of his stories, it's made me think. My advisor at Concordia has a saying about stories that has hit close to home as I pondered this tale from Lyle: "I believe stories are true. Some of them actually happened, but all of them are true." This woman was indeed the prettiest girl in Lillehammer. True story.

And now it's my turn. To soak up the beauty that surrounds me (mountains surrounding me, majestic pines leading our eyes heavenward, crisp air rejeuvinating me as I walk to class or stoll through town). To absorb the sheer awesomeness of this experience in the people I'm traveling with and the people I've met. To learn about and question my place in the world. There is beauty here. And there's something truly beautiful about knowing that there are people at home-people like my friend Lyle-who are sending love my way and supporting me all the way.

The day I left Moorhead, Lyle gave me a present: a little. gold address book embossed with the Concordia seal: "So you always remember where you come from, even when you are the prettiest girl in Lillehammer."

It's not about being drop dead gorgeous or thin or stylish. It's about being open to laughter, to love, to knowledge and wisdom that comes from the people you encounter on a daily basis. That's what makes us all--you, me & everyone else--the prettiest person from wherever we are. How very cool.

Love from the prettiest girl in Lillehammer.

Books & Babble

Setting off on this adventure, I realized that my church life was going to look much different than it does at home. My communities were going to be drastically altered, and there would have to be some adjustment. Living in a country where less than 3% of the population goes to church is vastly different than my upbringing in the Midwest. Not a bad different, just different. Anyhoo, as I was preparing, I sent out a plea for books to sustain me in my travels...and I have quite the supply! Thanks friends!

A slight tangent (since I never ever tangent when I speak, right friends?! Ha): At Extravaganza, one of the keynote speakers was Enuma Okoro, author of Reluctant Pilgrim (one of the books I've already finished & which I highly recommend!). Her words have given me lots to ponder as I’ve embarked on this journey. She started her message by referencing her title: “I am a reluctant pilgrim. Always on the journey.” Starting out on this adventure, I struggled to let myself really allow that it was okay to go away for three months. Leaving my friends, family, relationships. Taking a hiatus from my ordered, crazy busy world…I am a reluctant pilgrim of sorts. It was tough. And when I stop soaking in the gorgeous scenery, meeting other international students, hanging out with the rest of the Concordia/Luther crew…it’s still tough. There’s a part of me that is starting to miss the comfort of my schedule, being constantly surrounded by people who know me, can read my face, get my weird-not-always-super funny attempt at humor, people who call me out when I’m clearly not speaking my mind...but that’s because what’s back home is comfortable, familiar…never easy or mindless, but it’s mine. In that sense, I am a reluctant pilgrim.

And I most certainly am on the journey of a lifetime! Despite any pangs for the familiar, I am totally and completely soaking up these people, these experiences, these classes: This is the opportunity to let go and do something different. A journey to greater independence, confidence, communication skills…the list goes on.

Throughout last fall, I had several conversations (usually over coffee) with some dear friends regarding this pilgrimage. Advice, wisdom & love was present in all of these convos, but in particular, these few stick out as gems that have sustained me in my preparation & my travels.

Early in November, I sat with one of you in Moxi. As we were sipping on our respective  peppermint mocha & hot chocolate, I started rambling on about how I wasn’t ready to leave, to abandon my life when things were just sooo good; questioning what sort of insanity had possessed me to sign up for this thing anyway. And he stopped me and reminded me that there is real beauty in leaving when things are great-making it all the more exciting to return! And he did so by citing one of my favorite movies “You know, you don’t need to go all The Holiday and leave the country only when men are being stupid. You’re allowed to go when things are good, you know?” The way he said it, accompanied by the teasing, compassionate tone reminded me that this really is okay—doing something that is truly focused on me for a change…something I had never thought about before.

Another bit of wisdom came in the form of a text, something that was said regarding something completely other than Norway. All it said is “Take a risk.” I don’t do this. I don’t risk—I am a completely safe, naïve, straight & narrow kinda girl…but this study abroad program is a HUGE risk. A leap of faith. A pilgrimage. Journey’s never are without risk, never without some sort of unexpected blessing & challenge. New people, new school, new country, learning a new language~uff da! There’s a risk for you!

And the Sunday afternoon before I left, I sat with one of my dearest friends & mentors in the Hyatt Regancy atrium chairs, finally allowing myself to grieve the leaving, express anxieties about all these new experiences that lay ahead. Not so much the words that she said, but the listening ear, the friendly presence, and the hug she gave me when we finished talking…that made all the difference. To hear a still, small voice, a gentle whisper remind me as we hugged that it would be okay, that she’d be thinking of me, sending me love, reassuring that God would go with me…that fifteen minute conversation was such a blessing.

Thank you friends. For your love & reassurance. For letting me ramble and babble….for being genuinely curious as to what I’ve been up to! You are so wonderful and I am so incredibly thankful for each of you and the role you play in my life. Love you much!

Prayers & Peace~L.

Home Sweet Lillehammer!

Here I am, snuggled up for the evening in my lovely little flat. Home sweet home!

Two days ago, I finally got a chance to put sights, sounds, smells to the place that will be home for the next few months. The ten of us Americans represent one third of all of the international at the University here in Lillehammer, the others of whom we met yesterday morning~right before we began our first day of classes! More on that later though…

We are staying in two little flats in one of the student housing developments here in town. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living area & a kitchen make for a pretty simple layout for our little apartment. We’ve had to get a little creative to make it our own, but we’ve done a pretty good job of settling in, complete with grocery shopping, having some “family time,” arranging bedrooms & unpacking. I know, oh for cute! Emma, Courtney & myself are the ladies of the house, with the resident guys being Erik and David. It is a really healthy group~lots of wit, humor & personality, which makes for a really fun, lovely atmosphere.

The first day of classes approached quickly after having had a month and a half off…kind of a rude awakening! But thankfully, it seems like we have a good mix of courses that will be interesting and keep us busy! All of us Americans are taking the same set of classes, which include culture & history, Norwegian language, a Scandinavian food course, and Legacy of Luther (which includes an overview of Islam as well). I’m super excited to learn about this place that is home for the next few months, as well as to gain at least a bit of survival Norwegian to avoid my wide-eyed, “ahhh, I don’t understand” face as often as possible. And most of you know, I’m a Luther lover…so that’s what I’m reeeallly looking forward to! Pretty diverse areas of study, some of which will contribute to my major progress, some that will just be fascinating to soak in the information (and then sit a four hour exam come April…eeek!).

Overall, I’m feeling good. It’s so nice to be settled and to know that I’m not going anywhere for the next few months~particulary when you factor in the fact that since December 17^th, I have moved out of my apartment in Moorhead, moved home, been back and forth between Esko and Moorhead three times, staying at various friends houses & being their resident “futon creature” for a few days at a time, took a jaunt to Kansas City, Missouri for the Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza (Such a fantastic weekend! So many great people in one place!), spent a layover-length time period back in F-M saying a few final farewells, then headed home to Esko…and two days later I was flying to Iceland. Whew. Constantly in motion, never in one place for more than a few days…so it feels fantastic to be able to just be home in our little flat.

Home. How bizzare, huh? But here I sit, surrounded by friends, and life is good!

Peace to you dear friends~L.

A Summary of Shoes

Well...the journey is well underway! 

One more night in Iceland, then Norway, here I come! We have found ourselves completely immersed in the culture and pace of Scandinavian life~it’s so wonderfully relaxed, laid back, and a totally fresh perspective on manner of living. Surrounded by beauty, a multitude of accents, languages, nationalities, we’ve discovered that there is absolutely no hiding our American status. Multiple times we’ve had Icelanders wave at us from their front stoops accompanied with a greeting of “Welcome to Reyjavik, Americans!” or “Hello tourists!” Granted, when we’re traveling in a group of ten rather conspicuous individuals (wearing jeans and speaking English with our Minnesooota accents) who ask directions often and are wide-eyed….we stick out a bit!

Prior to leaving, I spoke a lot about shedding the labels that define me at Concordia, in Moorhead, in America: dance instructor, youth director, religion & environmental studies major, overachiever, girly girl, Sunday Night @ East (Concordia) co-coordinator, Lutheran chick, type A, silly silly silly, fun loving, coffee addict, shoe lover…and the list goes on. Here in Europe however, I have nothing like that to define me. Instead my labels include: American, white, educated, woman. And that’s it. People here-including my fellow travelers (who are WONDERFUL, by the way)-have no idea who I am. And that, dear friends, is slightly terrifying. For a girl who is so relational, who loves people, who spends so much time with loved ones…I have no idea what it’s like to be without an established group of people in the world. And yet, here I am, three days into this adventure & the ten of us Concordia-Luther students have clicked right away (save for the first few awkward early morning hours where we were just feeling it out…but that’s the start of every large group excursion, is it not?). Now that I’m in motion, now that I’m on the journey, I’m beyond excited. The prospect of making Lillehammer home for the next three months is not longer such a foreign concept to me. Granted, there are people I miss already~dear friends, coworkers, the wonderful people at Trinity, family, dance students~but I know that love is surrounding me from across the world…and I’m sending it right back!

Now, many of you are well aware of the fact that I am a shoe addict with little feet. Thus, being a part of the inspiration for the title of this first post. As said shoe addict, I had an extremely difficult time abandoning some of my shoes for the next three months while packing for this grand adventure. Kissed the high heels, the fancy boots, the chacos goodbye for a bit and went to simple, practical flats. Now, most of you know I love my heels-the less practical & the sparklier the better! I dance around with these goofy, beautiful, stupid shoes in all terrains, weather & situations~vertical confidence, you know!? Anyway, lets use the leaving behind of shoes as a metaphor for this insane & wonderful adventure I've gotten myself in & all I've left behind:

I'm a person who craves and thrives on deep relationships. I prefer small groups of dear friends over large social situations, I love coffee dates filled with conversations about anything, everything & absolutely nothing. I talk a lot~if you know me well. But if you don't, I have a tendency to be shy, a little quirky & quite a bit reserved than my true bubbly nature typically allows. All of you people-my friends, family, Trinity coworkers & youth, dancers, mentors, professors-are those goofy shoes I had to leave behind, leaving me with a far depleted resource of utterly practical shoes in the form of me. 

Just me.

Yikes.

These next few months, it's just me. I don't know what it means to be just Laura, without all of my jobs and classes and friends, without a constant to-do list, without a full and chaotic schedule. What does that girl look like? What if I don't like those shoes that sum up who I am~I haven't worn them in a loooonnnnggg time, after all. In fact, I don't think it's ever been just me. These shoes are going to take some breaking in, some getting used to, some adjustment & acclimation to this new "style." I'm nervous, excited, worried...and I'm thankful that it's a temporary hiatus from my large supply of goofy, supportive, stylish shoes that are my loved ones at Concordia, in Esko, at Trinity, at camp....those beautiful people in my life that are each of you.

This is a big step. Thanks for your love & prayers dear friends

Miss you, love you & am thinking of you much as I continue on this journey~breaking in the new shoes!

Peace~L.