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be creative.

14 Apr
Creativity has been on the brain lately.  In talking with a friend today [I’d say over coffee but he was drinking tea and I was drinking nothing so that would be lying.], we talked about how I’ve embraced my creative side this year.  [Uh oh.  Lindsay’s talking about herself again.  Abort!  Abort!]  I’ve always thrived on being creative in different forms, but this year in particular, it’s become a deep part of who I am.  It’s tied strongly to my thesis [that I still haven’t technically started writing but I have made progress in the forward direction, I promise]; so who wants another quote from my thesis resources?  You do?  Really?  Awesome.  I’d love to share.  Thanks for asking.

“Person implies not simply the freedom to have different qualities, but mainly the freedom simply to be yourself … Creativity is the positive exercise of that human freedom.”  
[John D. Zizioulas, Communion & Otherness]

Go.  You’re free to be unique and be yourself.  Create something no one else would.

Don’t the possibilities just make you giddy?  The possibility that comes with the freedom to be your own person and how genuine creativity is a witness to the unique person you are just makes me purely excited!  I am not lying when I say that my eyes swelled ever so slightly as I read much of this source.  Gospel to my heart.  Be yourself and no one else, damnit!

[Lindsay’s inner monologue:
George: Do you really think I should swear?
Marty: Yes.  God damnit, George, swear!
Thanks to Back to the Future for narrating selections of my life.]

Your favorite way to stay creative/engage in creativity?  I’ll even give you a list from whence to choose.  I’ll go with numbers one, two, three … okay.  All of them.  But really eight.  And eighteen.  Sixteen.  One.  And twenty-eight.  

Source: tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

ps  also five.  six.  eleven.  nineteen.  and twenty-five.


okay.  your turn now.  which do you pick?

favorite links of late.

9 Apr
It gets no cuter than this.  Seriously.

How genius is this?  Oh, Martha, how I love you.

I love Easter.  [Were you aware?]  As a child a la middle school, I held Easter parties for my friends.  Egg hunts, art projects, pin-the-tail-on-the-bunny, you name it.  These are on my to-do list, maybe even to coat the inside with chocolate like a European Kinder surprise egg.

A good reminder.  Know your gifts and use them.  It’d be a shame not to share all you’ve been given.

Growing up, my mom had a wingback chair.  I used to think it was uncomfy and definitely not my favorite.  Seeing these green ones makes me think my tastes have changed.  To do: Learn to reupholster furniture.

a blog is a funny thing.

4 Apr
Can we just take a minute to talk about blogs?
They’re interesting creatures.  An online journal, forum, soapbox; it could be described in lots of way.  For me, it’s how I process my days, how I share my life with those I don’t see everyday, and a creative outlet.  I’ve always loved to write.  I was that dorky kid who loved writing research papers in middle school with all the notecards.  [color-coordinated, of course.]  I had more than one pen-pal, and throughout middle and high school, I actually wrote a sometimes monthly, sometimes quarterly newsletter for the Dancing Bananas, my close group of friends.  [For real.  It was called Update! and – if I may say so myself – my friends loved it.  Unfortunately – but also conveniently for blackmail purposes – I have no issues of Update! to share on this current computer.  Pretty sure most are saved on a hard disc.]  Perhaps all signs in my past lead to me being a dedicated blogger.  I wouldn’t have posted 34 times in the month of March alone if I didn’t love writing this.
Recap: It’s how I process, how I share my life, and how I engage in my passion for writing.
Additionally, it has helped me make friends.
Seriously.
A blog is a funny thing.
If we meet in person, I’m a pretty shy and guarded person right off the bat.  An introvert who is aware she can say some pretty dumb and awkward things [especially if you don’t know me], I usually keep my mouth shut.  It’s been crazy how I have discovered that certain people read this blog and suddenly, friendships begin to form.  I can’t quite pin it down but something about sharing of myself here, on this blog, allows me more open up further in person and it’s a great conversation starter.  If you already know things about me and, knowing that, haven’t declared me too weird or off my rocker, then let’s be friends. It’s been awesome this year to gain those friendships, and so good for my soul.  
That being said, I’m still not always certain who reads this.  [A fun example: Tammy, my office neighbor in Dawson, had mentioned that her brother reads my blog.  I don’t think I’d ever really met him until this past Saturday when I was at the musical.  Tammy and her family sat next to me.  As her brother scooted past to his seat, he bumped my arm and said, “I read your blog.”  Here’s a shout out to Terry; thanks for reading!] I’m not always sure why people visit this funny thing called a blog.  I ramble about my life and am humbled that people read it.  And enjoy it?  If you say so.  
That being said, I ask in the most polite and kind-hearted manner – Who are you?
I share my life with you.  I keep the blog updated with the ins and outs of my world, but that’s a pretty one-sided deal.  If we’re going to be friends, it needs to go two ways.  I think it would be awesome if you commented on this post or sent me an email [lmstolen at gmail dot com].  Introduce yourself. Let me know what’s going on in your world and I promise to respond.  [If I know you well, see you nearly everyday, or you’re a family member, you’re exempt from this request.  I would, however, still appreciate a life update.  Or a joke.  Or the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done in your presence.  That could be a good post to come.]  Then I can better know who you are, we can hold hands, and skip into the sunset. 
I really think you should say hi.  Then we can be friends and do things like high-five each other.

[Speaking of blogs … I blogged here tonight too if you feel so inclined to take the energy to click the link and then have the energy to listen to my ramblings on coats.]

the starbucks drive-thru.

21 Mar
Cassie and I went to the bank [she needed quarters], to DSW [she needed shoes], and then to Starbucks [we both needed wanted coffee].  [Can you tell I was the tag-alonger on Cassie’s errands?]

[enter drive-thru]
Guy: Welcome to Starbucks.  How are you today?
Cassie: Good.  How are you?
Guy: [kinda giggles, almost surprised that someone returned the question] Oh, pretty good.  What can I get for you today?
[Cassie places order.]
Guy: Can I interest you in a rocky road cakepop today?
Cassie:  No!  We don’t like your cakepops!
Guy: Oh, well … [kinda giggles again] how about another treat?
Cassie:  No thanks.
[Guy gives total; asks us to pull forward.  He opens window.]
Guy: Bon jour!
[Cassie and I giggle.  Exchange of money happens.  Guy runs away from the window, and then returns.]
Guy: Sorry.  I had to shut the dishwasher off.  Didn’t want it to overflow!
[He leaves the window to grab out drinks.]
Cassie: [turns to me]  He’s a redhead!  [my favorite.  along with Matt Damon.]
[He returns.  Hands us our drinks and leans down, his arms resting on the ledge of the window.]
Guy: So where are you guys off to?
Cassie: We’re heading back to school.
Guy: Where do you go to school?
Cassie: Luther Seminary.  [gives directions as to where the school is]
Guy: Oh, yeah.  I know where that is.  It’s really beautiful over there.
[We giggle.  We’re a little smitten by the redhead.  And because, yeah, it’s nice but it’s not that nice.]
Guy: Well you ladies have a good day.

[Oh.  We will, Mr. Sing-song-lean-down-onto-the-window-to-have-a-chat-with-us.  We will.  Because of you.]

mmmatt.

19 Mar
I have no problem sharing with you that I’d pay good money to stare at Matt Damon in a mediocre movie.  [He’s my favorite.]  But who are we kidding?  He doesn’t do mediocre movies.  Example #23:
The Adjustment Bureau dives deeply into questions of fate and destiny, the different paths we choose [or do we?] and people we encounter in life.  The unfortunate happenstance of spilling coffee and being late because of it can change the course of a journey, the people we meet, the bus we take – so the plot of this film guides its audience.  There’s a plan, a chairman in charge, a destiny we each are to fulfill.
Take it theologically, if you will.  [Cassie and I did.  Or don’t.  It’s awesome either way or with some mastered combo.]  I have had many conversations with friends – those who may not ascribe to particular beliefs or label themselves as religious – that push against God/religion/specific beliefs because of reasons this film addresses [intentionally or unintentionally so is unknown].  To not ruin the film for those of you who will rush to see it upon my advice [Do it!], I say no more.  Except let me know if you do see it.  And tell me what you think.  Or maybe we can go see it together?  [My arm does not need to be twisted for Matt Damon.]

distraught.

19 Mar
I’ve lost my gym shoes.
Have you seen them?
[Seriously.  I’m not typically too spacey … and don’t often lose things … but I can’t seem to find them anywhere.]
Last worn on Tuesday.  [I know, I know.  That doesn’t bid too well for my work-out schedule … but I did do yoga today, one form of exercise that does not require shoes.  I wore them home from the gym on Tuesday.  I know this for sure because I remember thinking to myself, ‘This is naughty,’ as I stared at the signs in the gym that yell at us in capital letters – ‘PLEASE DO NOT WEAR YOUR GYM SHOES OUTSIDE.’]

If I had a picture, I’d show you what they look like.  And if I had money to spare, I’d give a reward to the person who finds them.  How about a cakepop?

chicken blog humor.

13 Mar


Here’s hoping you’re here because you do find me interesting in person and in text, and not because you feel obligated in any way.
[And here’s hoping this made you laugh.  It made me giggle.]

life story.

11 Mar
photo credit: urbanoutfitters.com

It’s here!

10 Mar
The video for the variety show!  Watch me walk the catwalk, listen to my roommate’s bottle band and hear Joel rap about norwegian sweaters.  Right here, folks!

If you don’t want to watch all 95 minutes, here are some cheats:
– My roomie’s bottle band : fast forward to about 12:30
– Fashion show [the extent of my involvement] : around minute 41
– Pal, Joel’s rap on sweaters: minute 67

[ Seminary and church jokes are prevalent.  If you don’t go to school here, you may be puzzled. ]

I got the call –

4 Mar
And it Southeastern Minnesota for me!
The call actually came later last night, around 9pm, when I was heading through the door to go out with friends.  The bishop from this synod – which surrounds Rochester, Albert Lea, Red Wing and beautiful countryside of the like – welcomed me to the synod, gave me a few dates to put on my calendar to meet up within the synod, and told me that he was a fellow Luther College grad.  (Always a good thing.)  It was a short phone call but I was excited to get the news.
And I’m pretty stoked about where I’ll be.  Southwestern and southeastern Minnesota synods were my preferences and I think I’m quite content that it is SE.  Being in SE, I’m as close to home as I could be while in region three.  Chances are I’ll actually be closer to home than I am here while in seminary.  This makes events I have lined up in the fall [weddings and a Luther College homecoming] much more possible.  I’ve heard glorious things about the synod from classmates who went through candidacy in SE and know of one other person who is assigned in that direction – and it’s a friend [who I accept and enjoy despite an odd overall – the clothing item – fascination], which will be great to have as the process continues.
Speaking of friends, I have some great ones.  I feel so incredibly supported by those friendly people in my life throughout this whole process.  Last night, I met up with a group of friends and we laughed like I  haven’t laughed in a long time.  Lots of people have been wondering, asking, waiting with me as I wanted my phone to ring last night.  I felt the facebook embrace as people responded when I posted where I was headed [My sister’s comment?  “Proud of you!”], and I know that there were faithful blog readers waiting too.  [Sorry for holding out until this morning to post!  Maybe I’ve ended up teaching you patience, Sharon? :)]  Moral of the story: Thanks, friends.
Lindsay

‎: Hello to the Southeastern MN synod!

12 hours ago ·  · Like · 

  • Anne, Adam, Laura and 26 others like this.

    • Frank: yea! now can we go celebrate? 🙂

      12 hours ago · Like

    • Denise: Where??? What town???

      12 hours ago · Like

    • Lindsay: All I know now is the synod – all other specifics will follow as I interview/am called to a church!

      12 hours ago · Like

    • Jeanette: Super “like”!!!!

      12 hours ago · Like

    • Aaron: That is great Lindsay! That is my home synod. You will do great! Congrats!

      12 hours ago · Like

    • Gregory: Beautiful country! You’ll love it.

      12 hours ago · Like

    • Cindy: Congratulations Linds! Awesome country! Let us know all…when you know! 😉

      12 hours ago · Like

    • Trudy: Can’t wait to hear the details 🙂

      11 hours ago · Like

    • Carolyn: Hey Lady! That’s great news, I hope you’re happy with this situation and good fortune continues in your way!

      11 hours ago · Like

    • Emma: Yay! You won’t be too far away.
      Proud of you!

      11 hours ago · Like

    • Michelle: Congratulations Lindsay!!! How exciting for you!

      10 hours ago · Like

    • Sarah: So exciting!!!

      10 hours ago · Like

    • Clint: That’s awesome, Lindsay! A wonderful part of God’s world!

      10 hours ago · Like

    • Mary: Congratulations, Lindsay! SE MN is a great place!!!!!

      10 hours ago · Like

    • Heidi: Great news Lindsay!! I’m sooooo proud of you!

      3 hours ago · Like

    • Adam: Yea Lindsay!!!!!!!!!!

      39 minutes ago · Like

    • Doug: Woohoo!!!

      5 minutes ago · Like
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