Ah, America

Yesterday I got a particular hankering for Starbucks coffee. When my dear husband suggested I make coffee, I made it clear that not just any coffee would do. Indeed, not just any coffee, but Starbucks. When the idea was put forth that I could just go buy a refrigerated cappucino from the grocery aisle of Walmart, I refused it, too. "I want the experience, not just the coffee. The warm, friendly smells greeting me as I walk in the door. Someone asking for my specific, detailed order based on tastes unique to my palate. Then, when I hear those sweet words singing out my order, I relish that last breath before taking the first sip. It's not just that, either. The feel of the paper cup in my hand engages my senses.

Ah, America.


Sadly, my status as a newlywed college student who, although blessed by God, lives 20 minutes away from Starbucks, did not receive the 5-senses experience of Starbucks coffee... In fact, I probably won't for some time. Ah, America.

A Year In the Making

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love?
Measure in love.
Seasons of love.


...I realize it's been a year.
Oh, but what a full year.

A year of trial, a year of triumphs.
A year of aching for home and creating and embracing a new one.
Love gained and love given
Same job, new name, new boss, same hair color
One more year at Berea completed, not a vegan, healed from celiac disease
Old church lost, new church family gained
Still watched more movies than read books, but the gap is lessening
My first B at Berea... and my fourth semester of all As
I now speak a different language, but the same language with, hopefully, more fluency
I've discovered Rick Pino and Jason Upton, and Jesus Culture

I held roses, kissed a man, and said I do.
I kissed a man for the first time
I set up house -- and not a dollhouse

I discovered new pieces of myself, and embraced things I wanted to ignore before
I wandered the streets of New York alone
I have been in the minority and majority
I got my first $100 pair of shoes, and my first purse over $50 - and didn't pay for either of them
I called my family and friends more frequently
I became a better boss
I was the co-editor of a magazine with a readership in the thousands
I drew closer to Jesus and he drew closer to me

I am different, but still the same
I have changed, but remain steadfast
My dancing shoes are back, and I don't plan on relinquishing them again...

Thank you, Jesus, for the past year - thank you for never leaving me in the midst of it. You're welcome to show me where to go this year! Please help me listen and love better.

Letters: A Glimpse into the Craziness

I'm horribly aware that I haven't posted in ages. My sincerest apologies...

This thought stuck especially deep when I called my Mom for the first time in about a month and she responded with, "LeAnna, myy LeAnna?! Could it be?" Thanks for the sarcasm, Mom... but yeah. Sorry :( I still need to call my Dad- I think that's a three month communication-less-connection. Aach- will I ever improve?

Well, the fact that I just finished my 21 page research paper and I completed my three page paper early has led me to respond to the rest of the universe for the first time in a little while.

I recently discovered that I spend an amazing amount of time on facebook. The thought at first dissapointed me, but then I thought - what an easy way to keep in touch! Fabulous! Beautiful! Bonito! Bravissimo! Hmmm.... but wait... is there a deeper, more sinister truth lurking below the surface? Perhaps.

Facebook is quick and easy (ok, so relatively quick, but mostly time consuming because I choose to make lots of "quick stops" which turn into "one more update"....). What happened to my great longing to put pen to paper and let ink flow across the continental divide to my friends and family at home. Beyond that, my friends overseas haven't heard from me in ages! Guilt. Condemnation. Ok, right, not from God. ok.....

So, I've decided that I WILL spend a portion of my hard-earned two week Christmas break penning and sending letters. If you would like, I will send you one (just give me your address). I'm determined, and hopefully can break the spell of the shiftless communication cycle of my college sophomore year.

SOME SNIPPETS:
I'm alive, doing well. Desperately in love with two men (thankfully one is God, which eliminates a freaky love-triangle thing... this one isn't freaky-hee hee- see photo). I miss the mountains, but am growing a deeper connection with the hills. I still find funny phrase issues - like dressers are called drawers here! I'm allergic to wheat now. I still have the same roommate. I lived with the college president this summer. I'm the photography manager at work. I'm going to try to major in international studies. I baked 4 pies yesterday. I was voted homecoming princess of the college (see photo). I have an amazing church where I'm on the dance team. I need to do laundry (a constant state of being). I cut my hair and gave it to locks of love- now its short again!
Visit to Washington with Brian - Hooray for meeting the family!


Homecoming Princess and her Prince

Freshman Year

Check it out!

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

A New Video

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

Well, I figured it’s about overdue time for an update on my life… (sorry it’s even later than I thought it would be, Dani!)
After a long, frustrating job search, I’m now a “loss prevention detective” (aka shop-lifter-stopper-person). :) My department had no manager for my first week, and so starting off was pretty chaotic. I mostly just cleaned the office and helped catch up on paperwork (the guys I work with don’t exactly thrive on office work like I do!). But now the new “lead” has arrived, and over the past two weeks, Daniel, Rick and I have gotten to know each other. I’ve been surprised by how much fun I’ve managed to have! We’re usually teasing each other about something or the other… it’s refreshing to have a good balance between getting work done and goofing off.
My routine family craziness has managed to settle down a bit. As of late, there are no crisis to report *can everyone say, ‘hallelujah!!!’* Our household has become smoother as of late- DeLynn moved out (not under the best of terms, but children grow up and make their own decisions and have to face the consequences…) Grandma’s getting more used to people ;) and we’re getting more used to her strangely wonderful obsessions with all things plantlike and political. Victoria’s just been elected not only the president of the Fresh W.F. west class, but also president of her FFA club! (hmmm… taking after someone? jk). A week ago, I got to go to Aaron’s “pinning ceremony” (similar to graduation) from the medical careers program that he’s been in. Mom’s still trucking along at housekeeping, and every once in a while I’ll go with her and it’s fun to be working together again… Laci (my roommate) is a major exception to that “calm” factor ;) She and I have bonded in dangerous ways that we are both sworn to secrecy on… HA! Seriously, I don’t think you would WANT to know!!!!
There isn’t heaps more right now… like I said, the craziness has finally found some sort of settling. It’s really strange. :) I want to be able to just bask in the restfulness of it all, but I can’t help thinking this is the eye of the storm with me going to college this fall (I just found out I probably can’t register for fall classes till a few days before they start! Crazy? I think yes!)
But, I’m trusting God, working on taming my tongue, leading worship at Mars Hill Centralia, and living life. Recently, I’ve spent lots of time missing England and the people I love there… I still am not sure what God has in store for me on that front, but I keep telling myself that patience is a virtue (go figure). (and speaking of going, I read an awesome blog entry on waiting tonight… If you have time, definitely check it out… it’s shorter than mine! Lol http://voxpopnetwork.com/reformingthefeminine/2008/05/28/waiting/ ) On that note, I will bid you all adieu and thank you for reading my slightly long entry. Hope I didn’t bore you and that you feel a bit more a part of the slightly-less-than-usually-crazy happenings in the “crazy Kaiser universe” (credit goes out to Joseph Lloyd for that one…)