tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51248262011-04-21T12:46:14.124-07:00[insert your life here]where I've come from.
where I've been.
where I'm going.lalbenoreply@blogger.comBlogger2351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-15991489618771355152008-02-08T12:24:00.001-08:002008-02-08T12:24:47.461-08:00lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1152817586424411122006-07-13T12:02:00.000-07:002006-07-13T12:06:26.460-07:00I post more frequently in another place: xangaplease go there, especially if your name is LORNA!lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1148978869731092592006-05-30T01:46:00.000-07:002006-05-30T01:47:49.740-07:00comment spammers make eating blogger like a bitter.sour.yuck taste in my mouth.not cool.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1125555821413104622005-08-31T23:22:00.000-07:002005-08-31T23:23:41.416-07:00whoa!welcome to September.life in full swing.last semester at trinity.seeking.read 6-7 books this summer.oh, life goes on.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1114505442825223772005-04-26T01:42:00.000-07:002005-04-26T01:50:42.826-07:00Packing begins again! But this April I am not moving anything further than two miles up Glover to an old brown house with as many quirks as my church's building in Snohomish. I have little desire/motivation to pack.. but plenty to move to the next chapter of life.Mars' Hill finished off strong. Some of our toughest critics congratulated us at the end and I feel ok about all of it. Many things lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1114074432069554292005-04-21T01:58:00.000-07:002005-04-21T02:07:12.070-07:00Oh my goodness.Today I developed three rolls of film from various events this semester. From San Francisco to White Rock: there were at least 5 pictures I looked at once and said, "Oh my goodness, I want to make you a really large photograph." James let me borrow his Pentax SLR for a few months (isn't he so generous?) he had a super sweet lens on it with a really wide aperature that made for a lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1112526467959774922005-04-03T04:00:00.000-07:002005-04-03T04:07:47.960-07:00Friends, I am currently working on my term paper (12 pages) for my Christianity and Culture class. I am hitting up the creative non-fiction side of things, pseudo similar to Anne Lamott's "Traveling Mercies." (Have any of you read it? if not, you should: it's good!). I am thinking about writing about those positive moments when my different notions of the kingdom of God have been challenged.. lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1111053474500246962005-03-17T01:54:00.000-08:002005-03-17T01:57:54.506-08:00I am having difficulty bringing “the Kingdom of God” into terms in which I can tell you how I have encountered or experienced it. Ultimately, I think, this is a problem of definition very much in line with what Walker Percy engages in his book Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-help Book. My thoughts are walking down paths too narrow and too dark. I am trying to define things that I hardly lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1110538639959441112005-03-11T02:57:00.000-08:002005-03-11T02:57:45.390-08:00I love the look of...a bird perched close to mea friend receiving a gifta chest as it rises and falls, as it inhales and exhalesa reflection in a tall window when night time approacheslalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1108198979205692162005-02-12T00:58:00.000-08:002005-02-12T01:02:59.206-08:00Yes, yes... always returning when some little happening inspires sustained thought. And in those moments writing seems all that will make help make sense. Writing tendency: leave out semi significant words that could connect thoughts. Why? The thoughts aren't connected in my mind.likely: I won't run in the morninglovely: the sun has brightened life and now I am living for day light.so maybe I lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1107163127637774062005-01-31T01:17:00.000-08:002005-01-31T01:18:47.636-08:00Kevan Gilbert
is 20, and has the raddest music on his website.
check it out.
http://www.kev.elbowroomdesign.comlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1106872700591119882005-01-27T16:25:00.000-08:002005-01-27T16:38:20.593-08:00so the goal now is to read Nietzche's Genealogy of morals before Tuesday, construct a character, core concept, setting, etc for my screen play, write an article on some political event before next friday, and read more of this note from the pope.
Those are my classes in a nutshell. I have the raddest classes this semester: first is Christianity and Culture. We've been discussing and challenging lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1106065588912473332005-01-18T08:10:00.000-08:002005-01-18T08:27:38.633-08:00For the record: I don't have ownership over www.leah.com, which is really too bad because they have such a -rad- web designer. Also, I didn't spread word about my xanga because, for the most part, it was just in existence so that I could leave comments on bethany's xanga (algoprofound: so much so). And today, I will leave you with a few words taken out of context from Soren Kierkegaard:
"In lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1105149060294856622005-01-07T17:45:00.000-08:002005-01-07T17:51:00.296-08:00favourite professor hughes sent me an e-mail expressing his disappointment that I had closed down my website. I know, it was an unfortunate turn of events but I just didn't have time to keep it up and it was really getting too many hits and random people who wanted to come over and color and stuff and.. I just couldn't handle the commitment with all of these friends. So I will focus elsewhere (lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1099476042955884672004-11-03T01:29:00.000-08:002004-11-03T02:00:42.956-08:00I love collage.
evidenced in our home office. Melissa, Veronica and I fill the walls with pieces and pictures of our lives. Veronica's massive calender. Melissa's Rose and catscratch tic-tac-toe match with Uncle Billy. My posters ripped off poles and walls in Europe. we've brought our lives together in this small space and the edges are meeting and adhereing to one another.
I love college.
lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1098433636863773392004-10-22T01:26:00.000-07:002004-11-03T01:29:29.820-08:00Seth,
I was sitting in the Atrium studying yesterday and saw this individual walk past. He was clad in khakis and flipflops, and walking with a slight poof of air below his heels.
I thought of you.
miss you, friendlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1098092342344010572004-10-18T02:20:00.000-07:002004-10-18T02:39:02.343-07:00returning.
nearly everything seems somewhat cyclical. history is said to follow some cycle of crisis, stability, revolution, unraveling. current thought looks on old thoughts, picking out the best.
perhaps inspiration has returned. in a new form, but nonetheless returned. inspiration in the form of rest after an extended evening. warm hands despite the fall evening chill.
a promise for lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1096711591443620522004-10-02T01:56:00.000-07:002004-10-02T03:06:31.443-07:00I think I bit my lip.
And in other news: The second issue is out (welcome to another year of leah's life in paper time. events are marked according to which issue they fall in, on, or between). I nearly broke while we were creating it. but gems of friends like Bethany (the presentation editor, aka best friend to the visual editor) and Veronica (roommate and Editor-in-Chief) didn't let me lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1095410731606939282004-09-17T01:12:00.000-07:002004-09-17T01:45:31.606-07:00What a month it has been!
I have no idea where to start and what to say because it seems ultimate recap would be ridiculous...
We made a paper. It took a week of design and a few sleepless nights and it's OUT and we partied tonight and people LIKE[D] it! (the paper and the party).
friend Nate got an organ at a thrift store a week or so ago. It's retro fashion was all the inspiration needed forlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1092810138435537492004-08-17T23:14:00.000-07:002004-08-17T23:22:18.436-07:00greetings from far, far away!
[soon to be further!]
I leave for school (Trinity, not Lithuania) this Saturday (August 21). At the end of the summer I am realizing that there were a few people I didn't get to hangout with nearly as much as I wanted (Austin, send Karen and Sharon my greetings and apologies) (Seth, enjoy your coffee!).
This year will be fanatically busy but wonderful. James and Ilalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1091774732593357182004-08-05T23:24:00.000-07:002004-08-05T23:45:32.593-07:00Just another obscurity I have learned about life:
Sometimes you don't realize what you are passionate for, against, or about until circumstance slaps you in the face. I suppose that is part of what keeps life exciting: we're never going to have it "figured out" because each step brings us closer to the next obscurity. There's a slight rush involved with not knowing: and it's extreme when you lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1090212455550067172004-07-18T21:44:00.000-07:002004-07-18T21:47:35.550-07:00The summer has reached it's peak and will cascade from here. The STP is over, nearly all of my muscles are slightly sore. Now it's just a few weeks before James leaves for a month in Europe and a few weeks after that I return to Trinity. More report on the 206 miles of the STP later... I am exhausted tonight.
lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1089843922602503742004-07-14T14:44:00.000-07:002004-07-15T07:56:34.700-07:00Talking with Debbie, Molly, and Amanda last night was good. We discussed our journal size preferences, pen weight prefereneces, and how we need to be moldable in God's sculpting hands.
I am always making promises as to how I am going to change my life: it's hard to get your sleepy-self to convince your able-body to wake up in the morning. Sleep hangs on like a 4 yearold around your leg, just lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1088839353523247252004-07-03T00:19:00.000-07:002004-07-03T00:22:33.523-07:00oh, leah. Go to bed.
PS: I bought some of my own pictures on ofoto. It's the first time I've gotten prints of my digital images. The cool thing is, because of their different presentation, they will have a whole new impact on me. I am stoked to see them.
Happy Independence Day!lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1088549459627667902004-06-29T15:40:00.000-07:002004-06-29T15:50:59.626-07:00time time time time time time.
I can say it 10000 times in one day and its amount will never increase. That's trouble. But really I just need to reorganize and learn how to manage the time I have better.
I have this tendency to stay up late because night hours offer you nice, quiet, seemingly endless time to get little projects done (like removing a desk from your bedroom and seperating the lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1088231266472246742004-06-25T23:09:00.000-07:002004-06-25T23:27:46.473-07:00It has been two months.. ok, not exactly two, but nearly so.
As I sat on the hot dog chair at the hot dog stop I considered what this two month marker meant. How has the time in Lithuania manifested itself in my life? The obvious disregard for strict timelines aside... the thing I find myself thankful for everyday are the relationships and the life experience.
Three things take up my time theselalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1087541348740667842004-06-17T23:38:00.000-07:002004-06-17T23:49:08.740-07:00This isn't on my to do list for tonight but allowances are made from time to time. So here we have a brief update on life:
Wednesday I fell from a rock wall and fell for climbing. Molly and I did some bouldering (horizontal rock climbing) and I am still enjoying the after shock of sore sore fore arms that I never knew could be so sore.
Wednesday night I got a food handler's permit for my secondlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1087198123813328732004-06-14T00:11:00.000-07:002004-06-14T00:28:43.813-07:00Sunday school was fun this morning, though somehow it seemed terribly short. Pastor Jeff is off studying in SoCal for the week so Dad led the ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) in fragmented (we were seperated into three groups) discussion on spiritual gifts.
Sarah and I grouped with one of our former Sunday School teachers (grades 5 and 6) who also happens to be Pastor Jeff's wife, Joanie. After lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1087031722081550972004-06-12T02:04:00.000-07:002004-06-12T02:15:22.080-07:00The time to write is at night. Well, usually. Tonight I am having issues keeping my eyes open. This means these thoughts may be slightly incoherent and the probability of typos is four times greater than it would be on a normal late night.
Earlier this evening I hated photojournalism. I was watching Nancy Reagan stroking her husband's coffin, crying. For a moment I could faintly hear her lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1086726491734567472004-06-08T13:18:00.000-07:002004-06-08T13:28:11.733-07:00Supposedly I should be racking up 180 miles on the bike this week for the STP training. Oh my dear goodness, that just isn't going to happen.
My midday hours were spent outdoors: this is a wonderful thing. I attacked some unnecessary grass and weeds in our front-side yard and wondered how quickly my skin would start to burn (how can I miss the annual summer tribute to neopolitan?). After the lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1086367451026258932004-06-04T09:38:00.000-07:002004-06-06T16:40:38.643-07:00Friday morning in all its glory:
I woke up to the sun shine flooding the small living room of my older sister's 3rd floor apartment. My eyes weren't tired anymore but thankful for the first picture they were greeted with: rolling green hills with a valley full of living accomodations for college students and families. Bekah and I ate breakfast together as I read to her the duties she must lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1086331933234627062004-06-03T23:31:00.000-07:002004-06-03T23:52:13.233-07:00The afternoon ran something like this: Another sunny lunch hour by the waterside reading another chapter of CS Lewis' Mere Christianity. Yes, this book has been on my reading list since 11th grade. It's finally being read and I think it's being more enjoyed than it would've been thanks to what I learned this past semester in Moral Philosophy and Philosophy of religion. Kudos for education!
Afterlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1086070363674348032004-05-31T22:46:00.000-07:002004-05-31T23:12:43.673-07:00Amanda and I are going to meet atleast once a week this summer for a few minutes of encouragement and conversation. We did it via e-mail in the fall and I am realizing how invaluable that accountability was for me. There were certain overarching themes from my time in Lithuania that Amanda has encountered here in Seattle in a different way: childcare. From suffering to the role of history (in ourlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1085990985867267002004-05-30T22:10:00.000-07:002004-05-31T01:09:45.866-07:00It's highly likely that I will be unpacking all summer long only to pack up again in less than three months. This is such an odd way to live... it's a perpetual moving. This summer is going to run away from me.
informercials are redundant... but redundancy isn't always that bad. However, in the case of infomercials: redundancy is bad. It's better to get up and turn off the background media.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1085558073787334792004-05-26T00:39:00.000-07:002004-05-26T00:54:33.786-07:00The side effects of transcontinental travel are still lingering. The little weights that fall from my eyelids at 830 everynight are a constant reminder that something fierce and amazing was my life and is trying to find it's space in the layout of my timeline.
Jetlag is a wonderful thing. Right now I would be contently lost in the logistics of organizing and solidifying summer employment like lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1084830209203060362004-05-17T14:43:00.000-07:002004-05-17T14:43:29.203-07:00I told Adrianne when we went to Tallinn about my problem with crushing after city upon city like a school girl in the spring: St.Petersburg was hot, but Tallinn was something else. The crushes haven't stopped there. My parents and I have been touring europe for two.5 weeks now (going home on friday!!!!) and I have fallen (yet again) for the beautiful city of Bruxelles, Belgium. It's *drop dead lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-108413179233704142004-05-09T12:43:00.000-07:002004-05-09T12:46:28.390-07:00the week has passed kind of slowly, actually, but in the way that weeks pass when you aren't aware of the days. We are at Kava Kava Kava, a little coffee shop in Prague. Tomorrow is our last day here and then it's on to Heidelberg (Jess's old stomping grounds!) for a night, then Paris for a few days. I am going to go all out on the Amelie photo action and hopefully find a lawn gnome (or ninja) tolalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1083256917750284262004-04-29T09:41:00.000-07:002004-04-29T09:45:03.560-07:00They aren't sad goodbyes... yet. (I still have a few more days...)
I just said goodbye to my Belarusian friend Stiopa. The boy has the most addicting laughter/cackle I have ever heard. I want to tape it and listen to it every day after lunch to brighten the height of the day a little more. It wasn't really a goodbye, more of a thank you for making me smile; thank you for letting me laugh with lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-108262044320802982004-04-22T00:54:00.000-07:002004-04-22T00:57:01.483-07:00Tonight we return to where it all began... Not Vilnius: HBH! HBH was perhaps the start of our Klaipeda adventures... It's this rad ethnic Lithuanian Restaurant in the middle of a forest some 30 minutes out of town. How does it stay in business? The world may never know... except for the fact that it's out door wooden wonderland and theme park excited even the aged babushkas with the opporunity tolalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1082098888691860132004-04-16T00:01:00.000-07:002004-04-16T00:04:21.606-07:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY SUE DEVER!!!
Welcome to the realm of 19 yearolds.
It's terribly exciting and only lasts a year so enjoy
it while you can!
I love you friend!lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1082098258396046942004-04-15T23:50:00.000-07:002004-04-15T23:53:50.623-07:00There was something... it always starts this way.. but it's true: There was something so terribly beautiful about this night. Eleven sojourners enjoying a picnic 100 yards from the Baltic Sea discussing delicious food and eating it; discussing depature and preparing for it. My heart has made a home of this place, it took 2.5 months but my heart is at home here. And now it's time for being at homelalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1081778297713497172004-04-12T06:58:00.000-07:002004-04-12T07:01:06.090-07:00Happy Birthday Granda!
or as we would say in Lithuania:
Su.... um... I'll check on that. I think it's Su Giemo Diena!lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1081460234198196792004-04-08T14:37:00.000-07:002004-04-08T14:39:59.216-07:00At Christmas I got to hang out with my little californian cousin Kimmie. With 14 years between us, I consider my lingering youthfulness a gift allowing me to still connect with my favourite cousins and younger friends. Kimmie has no understanding of personal space and little regard for turkey breath. Her young eyes saught fairy tales in my own and when she found them she desired to be as close aslalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1081176441430677642004-04-05T07:47:00.000-07:002004-04-05T07:50:03.170-07:00Sorry I haven't written for a while. I was in Estonia!
ha! I just love saying that... I was in Estonia. mmm da na na. Yeah! That's cool. Tallinn [the capitol of Estonia] is my newest love for European cities. It's cleaner than Vilnius; more intimate than St.Petersburg.. and a lot more stylish than Klaipeda. It has a wall dedicated to wool gifts called the sweater wall... how much cooler can you lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1080134015406260092004-03-24T05:13:00.000-08:002004-03-24T05:16:05.356-08:00I thought the internet was bad before: now it's a battle to merely get connection on most days. And that's a bit stressing right now because I am trying to preregister for classes for next year and arrange my job for the summer. Internet Cafe, here I come.
Stories could be told but I am not wanting to relay them right now. Instead I am looking out this window next to me to a sea of unique lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1080132570024377712004-03-24T04:49:00.000-08:002004-03-24T04:51:59.483-08:00MONDAY 03.22.04
Oh goodness. I know I should be fired for the lack of updates on life and such but forgive me: there has been a lot going on.
Most SAs found their first week back from Russia to be a challenge. Mine was mostly normal, the latter half aside. Classes continued: I wrote mini papers, read books for bigger papers, drank tea, walked around, celebrated a birthday (Char is 19!).
lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1079345487383498392004-03-15T02:11:00.000-08:002004-03-15T02:13:48.246-08:00the rumors are true... I have returned home [to the lithuanian highrise overlooking the baltic sea] WITH my camera and footage of the forbidden metro! [which were essentially glorified subways]
Russia was enchanting... I think I am in love with St.Petersburg. The canals and beautiful bridges; Free entrance for students to the Hermitage; cheap [semi-illegal] cds; funky russian style; walking lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1078533742727143962004-03-05T16:42:00.000-08:002004-03-05T16:44:33.966-08:00Ok Mom. Here's my itinerary:
03.06.04
leave Klaipeda 845
arrive Riga 1400
leave for Moscow on night train at 1600 (with our own little 4 person rooms!)
03.07.04-03.09.04
Moscow
03.09.04
leave Moscow on night train to St.Petersburg @ 2330
03.10.04-03.13.04
St.Petersburg
03.13.04
leave St.Petersburg on night train to Riga @ 2149
03.14.04
arrive Riga 930
arrive Klaipeda 1500
oh wow...lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1078480627473178822004-03-05T01:57:00.000-08:002004-03-05T01:59:18.543-08:00So the SA leaders are using a "shock-em-into-submission" type tactic for our Russia trip. Outlining the worst to prepare us for the best. I appreciate it but at the same time... their tactic is working and I am a bit freaked out of getting lost on the metro and not being able to read my Russian metro schedule to get home to the hostel (don't worry mom it probably won't happen.. and if it does, I lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1077879201252155132004-02-27T02:53:00.000-08:002004-02-27T02:55:25.356-08:00A story that must be shared! ha! It's from an e-mail I was writing (sorry for the redundancy James!) so enjoy because I did!!
oh! There was this one guy who was really excited to meet some american girls. He took a picture for us then after he finished his meal he came over to our table again and said "I just wanted to say, I hope you have a great time" in troubled english. Then when he left thelalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1077699105901726332004-02-25T00:51:00.000-08:002004-02-25T00:53:47.950-08:00It struck me last night that memories were escaping me because I wasn't writing them down often enough. So I journaled and took care of that problem. Ah, the bliss of an easy solution!
Spring supposedly defeated winter the other day at Uzgavenes (Pagan Pancake Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday)... I saw it with my own eyes at the festival on Sunday. Little men were running around with huge burlap potato lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1077296170394286662004-02-20T08:56:00.000-08:002004-02-20T08:58:06.950-08:00I am taking two philosophy classes which I think is trouble. It's good to exercise the mind but many philosophers had to be depressed just because they thought about things too much. While listening to my professor rage on about some random sidestream that may or may not have related to philosophy of religion I started writing little notes to myself about philosophers:
if you can talk in a lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1076873641292845752004-02-15T11:34:00.000-08:002004-02-15T11:35:53.403-08:00Oh friends, It's been so long and I still owe everyone the "biweekly" letter from lietuva. Fire me because it's still not coming out for a few days. There is so much happening here. We're past the "get to know me" stage and moving into the "we must hang out and cook food together!" The temperature is slightly less bone chillingly cold so the streets are calling my name for exploring purposes.
lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1076266077945695072004-02-08T10:47:00.000-08:002004-02-08T10:49:42.560-08:00So friends, I uploaded some more pictures to my ofoto account. If you didn't get the invite to it the first time leave me a comment and I will get it sent your way. Here's a little intro:
"Ok! I (ab)used the fast Internet connection at school and managed to upload a few more pictures. These are from the western side of Lithuania namely Klaipeda but also a few from my little day trip to Neringa lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1075587795027352112004-01-31T14:23:00.000-08:002004-01-31T14:24:52.233-08:00Four weeks in, I am learning how to live here. Routines are appearing and constant onslaught of foreign languages is passe and not as much of a disturbance as it was in the first few weeks. I am finding my slot at LCC and appreciating so much the unity of the community and the encouragement behind doors 1, 2, 5, and 7. It's true not ever door in this dorm is open but a gentle knock is usually lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1075033900110645282004-01-25T04:31:00.000-08:002004-01-25T04:48:05.123-08:00A little sampling of different pieces I have written for different people and publications concerning experiences and excitement here in Lietuva. enjoy:
For the Mars' Hill:
And it continues like this… On my one side is a man from Europe, presumably Danish though I don’t know for sure. What I do know is I can’t understand a word he says. On my other side is a vast sea of ice the beauty of which lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1074382262147429802004-01-17T15:31:00.000-08:002004-01-17T15:34:15.576-08:00First things first:
Who sent me TOAST in a ziplock bag via the US Postal Service to an address I don't even live at for the next four months?!!!!
whoever you are... you are my hero for the rest of the month of January! I only wish I was home to eat the toast and thank you in person.
Second things second:
I wrote an e-mail to James and realized while writing it that it was a good synopsis of lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1074365094289995732004-01-17T10:44:00.000-08:002004-01-17T10:46:17.043-08:00They don't take pictures here in Lietuva. They make pictures. There is something beautiful in that change of phrase. It suggests that the photographer isn't merely capturing something beautiful; they are making it beautiful in the choice of angle, crop, exposure, and focus.
Anyone can take a picture, but those who can make them have a gift.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1074210437635258292004-01-15T15:47:00.000-08:002004-01-18T12:15:24.543-08:00I spent the greater portion of the evening writing a little article for the Mars Hill and my good friend Zack "I'm-so-not-emo" Rock. I will post it on here in time... or if it doesn't go to print. ha! The lesser portion (in time, not quality) was spent chatting with my Lithuanian friend Vitalius.
Something I love about living here: I had the time to spend 30 whole minutes staring at and writing lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1073771819403225902004-01-10T13:56:00.000-08:002004-01-10T13:58:15.250-08:00You know what I did today!?
Ha! I went swimming in the Baltic Sea!!!
You would think after complaining about the cold all the time I wouldn't submerse myself in such torture but after the 120 degree celsius sauna... the ice bound waters of the Baltic are a blessing. So there I sat in bathing suit and board shorts making friends with the sweaty Lithuanian man in the speedo next to me. The saunalalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1073600435277139932004-01-08T14:04:00.000-08:002004-01-10T13:32:42.966-08:00Labas!
After a little craziness in Kobenhavn, Danmark, I made it to Vilnius with only minor injuries and all of my luggage. Since I have no regular sleep schedule, jet lag hardly affected me. That was quite the treat, I think.
After one day in Lithuania's capital city of Vilnius we (the study abroad studs) left for Klaipeda, our new home. We made a quick pitstop at Lithuania's original capitol lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1072832386877113072003-12-30T16:59:00.000-08:002003-12-30T17:00:51.873-08:00The countdown continues... six days until I step onto a plane bound for a four month, 21 day adventure.
In elementary school I watched friends leave for family vacations and come back two weeks later new people. Leaving gave them license to change. So when my extended vacation turn came around I said farewell to my closest friends and shuffled onto the big plane (a little frightened for my firstlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1072303505343826772003-12-24T14:05:00.000-08:002003-12-24T14:06:05.060-08:00Merry Christmas eve!!
I find I much more enjoy the 24th than the 25th because that is the day my immediate family and I spend all evening together going to two Christmas eve services (at Snoho and the old doughnut church, Bear Creek Community) and relaxing together in the living room, opening gifts, eating, talking. Then Christmas day my Dad, sisters, and I would run off to Grandma's house lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1072263643910079312003-12-24T03:00:00.000-08:002003-12-26T22:59:54.093-08:00Life keeps on and I will too as long as there is something to learn or relearn. I am convinced of two things:
1) I never want to start another post with "I" and,
2) Life is only worth living because we are constantly striving
Lack of completion... I have never reached a goal or completed anything truly worthwhile in this life. and for this I am so thankful! Minor accomplishments are little lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1071915828724463522003-12-20T02:23:00.000-08:002003-12-20T02:24:43.780-08:00The night is lingering; yet dawn is approaching only a few hours below the east horizon.
The morning light finds me state-side, stepping into possibly the busiest 17 days of my life. But they will be wonderful days! I am moving ahead, seeing life through a new favo[u]rite lens. And so, if time allows, several thoughts may be fleshed out in the next 14 days and also a back log of raw material lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1071684248296288252003-12-17T10:03:00.000-08:002003-12-17T10:05:00.950-08:00To my state-side friends:
I promise I will be home in time for mud football!lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1071340502493294442003-12-13T10:35:00.000-08:002003-12-13T10:35:50.903-08:00Ouch.
goodbyes are not my forte.
my heart kind of hurts.
Psalm 121.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1070667511170535112003-12-05T15:38:00.000-08:002003-12-06T21:32:08.123-08:00Now, as a brief break from studying (which I should probably use for sleeping... mmm, that's what I will do!)
I will answer the 2.5 questions posed to me a week or so ago...
in reverse:
austin said: "i think i want to go to europe.."
leah says: "Don't think! Just go!" Well... think about it just to get a rough plan. But hey, wherever the Spirit leads you! Europe is a prime destination. Will lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1070301760813461152003-12-01T10:02:00.000-08:002003-12-01T10:03:54.140-08:00There is a force that wages war on your heart when you openly confess your greatest weakness to a large audience. Like breathing through a tightly bound filter, the words fight to break through the small portholes of my self-concept. However, I know the agony is worth the depletion if my struggle meets another in a battle all their own so we can conquer this together.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1070051640479620762003-11-28T12:34:00.000-08:002003-11-28T12:34:34.076-08:00to continue the thankfulness:
rainy day runs to the caf
lunch time on viewday fridays (ahahaha!)
old friends who never forget the real you and remind you constantly
Carly and Erin for being like sisters to me all these years
emo Christmas songs!
my grandparents (WA & IA) for the love they've always shownlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1069979619619626682003-11-27T16:05:00.000-08:002003-11-28T00:08:47.856-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!
You know, it's a real good thing that we are allowed (and encouraged) to be thankful every day of the year because I have SO much to be thankful for. So... this will be a growing list throughout the day/week as things come to mind and as time allows.
What I am OH SO thankful for:
Our unknowable, yet known, God.
fantastic parents
fab[u]lous friends
the opportunity for a lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1069441259065156472003-11-21T10:54:00.000-08:002003-11-21T11:01:26.046-08:00Hi friends!
Life is going, and going well. Once again, it is production weekend so I thought I would write a quick hello for those you who don't see me on msn and could therefore deduce from lack of postage that I have possibly died or fled the country because the authorities have finally discovered my evil plan to take over the world. Anyway. I am alive. They haven't captured me. And God is lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1068890785309449922003-11-15T02:06:00.000-08:002003-11-15T02:06:46.013-08:00Jesus be the center
Be my source be my light Jesus
Jesus be the center
Be my song Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus Jesus
Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide Jesus
--My prayer, written by Michael Fryelalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1068707244555701982003-11-12T23:07:00.000-08:002003-11-12T23:07:21.983-08:00I love it when my sister leaves me random drawings in random places.
I will go visit her now.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1068545214532551372003-11-11T02:06:00.000-08:002003-11-12T23:06:15.876-08:00Oh wow. Sometime each one of you should watch the multiangle version of "In my place" from the new Coldplay DVD. The man with the tool belt and the masking tape: so hot right now.
actually! This weekend was superb with lingering moments of grandeur! A few highlights:
*the first slice of Tillamook cheese with Melissa and Sarah
*lion king sing alongs with Sarah Michal Albertson
*running around lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1068279319725052272003-11-08T00:15:00.000-08:002003-11-08T00:16:34.210-08:00Hi!
I am in Woodinville for the first time in over two months. It's only for four days of which half of one is already gone. So, 3.5 more days: beautiful people to see, wonderful friends to enjoy, and a 2000 word comm theory paper to write. Mmm! That spells fun with a capital-F!
Bye!lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1068101040765706692003-11-05T22:44:00.000-08:002003-11-05T22:43:58.666-08:00Today was a crazily wonderful day!
In realistic terms I do not have time to write but the prep for my midterm will wait for just a few more minutes.
After nine consecutive hours of sleep I dashed like a popsicle to the gym at 7am. If I didn't enjoy sleep so much I think I would be an avid proponent of morning workouts. There's something relaxing about waking up to 160 pounds of pure metal lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1067850913406158122003-11-03T01:09:00.000-08:002003-11-03T01:15:12.070-08:00a few reasons for the serious lack of bloggage in this blogging environment:
1) Internet has been down in my dorm since Thursday.
2) It's production weekend....!
3) All my extra time (which doesn't actually exist) is spent elsewhere.
Next weekend is reading break! And I'm going to write a paper! I am stoked because my topic is actually something that interests me greatly (which is a good thing)lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1067367238974754082003-10-28T10:53:00.000-08:002003-10-28T17:12:39.380-08:00Once again, the amazing Eric-man displays his brilliance!
click here.... ummm, that still won't work. Go the long way like Bekah did...
check out the rest of his masterpieces at http://briefcase.yahoo.com/teddybearic.
click: My Pictures >Slogans >Leahlalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1067154824144764412003-10-26T00:53:00.000-07:002003-10-26T00:53:43.246-07:00"Send forth your light and your truth,
let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight."
Psalm 43:3-4
American Beauty and a few hours of round-a-bout discussion have left me with one conclusion: God is the Truth, and that isn't a copout: it's a fact.
My head is stuffed with random lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1066889402521701372003-10-22T23:10:00.000-07:002003-10-22T23:10:02.540-07:00Brief synopsis of the weekend:
I tried new foods!! I ate peppers! Fresh ones! (and ones drowing in sweet and sour sauce). AND I actually found a tea that I love. African Red Bush. Hmmm, Tazo goodness!
That was excitement, eh?
total amount of sleep from friday night to monday morning: 6 hours. But the paper looks awesome! We can't even keep the stands full.
I need to go run now. But tomorrow lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1066438833869715962003-10-17T18:00:00.000-07:002003-10-17T18:00:34.003-07:00I was so angry with myself last night. I attribute it to lack of sleep and the fact that I treated a good friend in a less than exceptional way and I hate it when I do that! Friends are so precious and they deserve so much more than to be the butt of your jest.
I felt like saltwater taffy on those... stretchy machine things: constantly being pulled and shoved by my own emotions. So this lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1066249226121271802003-10-15T13:20:00.000-07:002003-10-15T13:20:26.013-07:00because sarah is cool and spent so. much time working on this, here is the latest edition to the collected works of sarah michal albertson:
so here's a story.
There was this girl who was riding in a car in a city and she ran into a homeless person. She didn't kill him, but her car was dead. So she got out and started walking. Eventually she began to run and as she was running she began to lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1065751446556788642003-10-09T19:04:00.000-07:002003-10-10T22:57:31.416-07:00It's strange for me: this year the moments in my life are qualified by the paper. I was about to sit down and write to you all and the first sentence that came to my head was, "The third issue is out now..." and I was going to discuss the presumably scandalous illustration on the cover and my friend's genius response to it, but now... I think I will head elsewhere.
I am struggling with balance lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1065559136499855312003-10-07T13:38:00.000-07:002003-10-07T13:49:50.140-07:00Do you ever feel guilty for enjoying this life so much? I feel like a freshly opened, well-shooken carbonated beverage today! I attribute this to two things:
1) I got nine hours of sleep last night!!!!!!!!! and,
2) God has taken the driver's seat in the vintage land cruiser known as my life.
2/4ths of me wonders if this bubbly joy is perpetuating a facade that blocks all the ill things I don't lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1065258596931461322003-10-04T02:09:00.000-07:002003-10-04T02:09:56.923-07:00mars' hill makes me happy!
as do new friends and funky music.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1064964132159763832003-09-30T16:22:00.000-07:002003-09-30T16:22:12.100-07:00starsailor: love is here
oh yes.
I should've hopped on the flaming lips train a long time ago. Yoshimi and her pink robots make me happy.
listen. listen and enjoy.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1064605975073750162003-09-26T12:52:00.000-07:002003-09-26T12:52:55.246-07:00A typical story: blogger ate my post! ah! angst... but I will recreate the important part:
645am: James was at the computer packaging the paper while Christo and I were in the hall scanning it a third or fourth time for perfection. Exhaustion had come and gone more than once, but the spinning plates kept us going.
Christo stood with the paper like a brick path before him,
"This is good... Thislalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1064312625686974452003-09-23T03:23:00.000-07:002003-09-23T03:25:17.730-07:00So you may ask, "why is she up so late?!"
and then you remember, "oooh! It's been two weeks: it's production weekend!"
and then I say, "I need another iced caffeinated beverage from Tim Hortons!"
then you say, "coffee puts you to sleep..."
then I say, "zzzzzzzzz"
***
To add to the natural excitement of working the newspaper: I drew an outlet and power cord in Illustrator, and then I lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1063918869372913542003-09-18T14:01:00.000-07:002003-09-18T14:01:09.526-07:00I keep debating with myself about the intent of this blog and I think I am reaching a conclusion:
It is not a journalistic masterpiece or written artistic wonder. Instead it is way to keep the masses updated with the small aspects of my life...
so there we have it. I always do those stupid little introspective, "what's the point of this nonsensical wreck", inquiries and they help me rationalizelalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1063595519619905452003-09-14T20:11:00.000-07:002003-09-14T20:11:59.650-07:00I saw my dad today.
That made me so very happy.
I love him.
He brought me Tylenol Cold to make me feel better.
If you see him, tell him "thanks", again for me.
Have an amazing week!lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1063395017976408802003-09-12T12:30:00.000-07:002003-09-12T13:18:33.126-07:00hey kids--
my dearest little sister made a new blog because her's was viciously ripped away from her in the dark of a blogger outage and given to some unknown loathsome entity at iname.com.
angst to the core.
BUT! Never fear! Evil has not prevailed here! She has made her come back! Stronger than ever!
canadalovesyou.blogspot.com
and I do too.
now I must go draw shorts on half naked men lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1063235560462362512003-09-10T16:12:00.000-07:002003-09-10T23:53:05.603-07:00So, as I have mentioned to several other people:
I am on the design staff for the Mars' Hill, our student newspaper!
My coworkers are so rad. Christo, the editor-in-chief, is from South Africa and therefore has the best accent esp at 500 in the morning when he's sitting at a computer proofing and singing his own rendition of some crazy dub tune we were listening to. James is the visual editor lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1063089533034895232003-09-08T23:38:00.000-07:002003-09-08T23:39:29.753-07:00
The new 2G hanging at Ethical Addictions.
.
.
My original roommate Amanda! My RA and her convinced the higher ups to let Adrianne and I room together! This is Amanda reading "The Purpose Driven Life" with her boyfriend on the phone. She is an amazing girl! I hope you all get to meet her soon.
.
.
My resume for Mars' Hill. I had my first assignment tonight: taking pictures for a reflection lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1062724946095498192003-09-04T18:22:00.000-07:002003-09-04T18:23:14.373-07:00I made a conscious decision this year to be where I am and focus my attentions there. That said, I may not be blogging as much due to lack of time and the need to encourage and be encouraged by the people immediately around me. I missed out on so many wonderful relationships. And this year it's even more important that I get involved right away because I only have 3.5 months with these beautiful lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1062557474093037452003-09-02T19:51:00.000-07:002003-09-02T19:51:14.113-07:00back at Trinity: it just feels so right.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1062477897420710832003-09-01T21:44:00.000-07:002003-09-01T21:45:48.186-07:00Bicycle Tricycle. by Rosie Thomas is being added to my "Most Beautiful Songs Ever" List.lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1062449554771440942003-09-01T13:52:00.000-07:002003-09-01T13:52:34.810-07:00Dad and I rode ALL the way to the end of the Burke Gillman trail in Ballard!! It was magical. I saw "MILE 0" and the sign that says "Begin Burke Gillman Trail." Next summer we will ride all the way from the trail head in Redmond (or wherever it begins) all the way to Ballard and bike some 50 miles in one day! so fun.
more packing!!lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1062275843676867992003-08-30T13:37:00.000-07:002003-08-30T13:37:23.706-07:00I just found out that Adrianne and I won't be rooming together... Some miscommunication in the housing world of TWU foiled our dreams. But it is comforting to know that God has good reason behind this and my new roommate and I have a special purpose being together... I hope I don't freak her out... I hope we like the same music... I hope she let's me put up all of my funky/trash decor.
Sarah is lalbenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124826.post-1062265975987727912003-08-30T10:52:00.000-07:002003-08-30T10:52:55.863-07:00"My suggestions for doing evangelism in postmodernity, then, cannot be easily summarized because they require of us more than simply the straightforward application of a technique or two. The suggestions I have tried to detail in these pages beg for us to trade our fascination with propositions for a commitment to cultivating fluency; to augment our penchant for individualism with a zeal for lalbenoreply@blogger.com