there's no place like gnome.

(Above: Bicycles outside of my apartment building on Thursday morning.) Beginning on Wednesday, western Minnesota has had constant snow falling from the sky and it has yet to really stop. Add a little wind and the blizzard conditions begin.

We were one of the few churches who held services on Christmas Eve. We had two services, 4pm and 6pm. It was a delightful service with lots of special music, readings, and candle lighting. I was involved in much of the service but my main part was doing the children’s sermon. I called the kids forward and we talked about Jesus being our flashlight. It was fun.

After services, I went to the Stelter’s home (my supervisor and his family) for dinner, gift opening, and a fun game of CatchPhrase. We had meatballs and potatoes, wine and coffee, gifts and games. It was a lot of fun. I wasn’t able to be with my own family but I was thankful to be with another family and a bunch of church ladies. The four older women from church who were there stuck around until midnight, through a long game of CatchPhrase. Hilarious.

I made it back to my apartment after midnight but barely through the snow drifts – I nearly got stuck at one point. Further proof that the next time I’m in a bigger city, I must buy a snow shovel to carry in my trunk. Because the snow was still falling and the wind was blowing, we cancelled our Christmas day service at Grace. My Christmas day plans were also put on hold due to the snow and thus I stayed in my pajamas all day long, watched a lot of Friends, and quilted.

Bicycles on Saturday afternoon

Today, Saturday, was another day in my pajamas, sticking to my apartment as it continued to snow and blow outside. Estimations would lead me to guess that we’ve had over 15 inches fall in the last three days, if not a few more. The old man with no teeth who probably shouldn’t still be driving but parks his maroon van next to my Corolla at the apartment building told me that we have gotten over thirty inches; we only talk when we both happen to be at our vehicles at the same time. I don’t even know his name so whether or not he is a reliable source is still questionable …

My tree has been up for a week and finally tonight the ornaments were hung.  I turned on the movie Elf – my favorite Christmas movie – and hung ornaments as he traveled through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, past the sea of swirly, twirly gumdrops, and then walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.  

Keith, the custodian at church, is very much a grandpa-like figure. He’s great to chat with, always waves to me when he passes me while he drives school bus in the morning, but the conversations are never too in depth and rarely cross into a personal arena. And his wife, Gail, makes homemade donuts; I have been lucky enough to be the recipient of such delicacies and will be bringing them home next week to share.

Anyways, it’s Tuesday morning and Keith is strolling through the halls of the education wing, pulling his large garbage can behind him, emptying the garbage from the classrooms as he passes. He casually strolls past my office, pauses, and then asks me from the doorway, “So, found any boyfriends yet?” He laughs and then continues on his way as I stumble on my words and – I’m sure – turn red.

Boyfriends. Plural. I guess I have my work cut out for me if I’m to live up to Keith’s expectations for my social life. I’ll get started right away.

It can’t be denied – I’m surrounded by Scandinavians. First of all, it’s Minnesota. Second, there are gnomes in a park on the edge of Dawson. No doubt Norwegians and Swedes are a plenty. Thus begins my Scandinavian Saturday …

First, lefse instruction, rolling practice and eating at church. Margaret, a congregation member, volunteered to teach the art of lefse this morning at church. The same tutorial was given last year and was well received. This year, I gathered with perhaps 15 -20 others of all ages in Grace Hall to learn from the expert. (I, of course, have already had lefse learning from THE expert, Aunt Peggy; Margaret’s tutorial was simply a nice refresher course.)

Then, for my afternoon activities, there was a nordic festival of sorts in nearby Madison. My coworker, Karen (seen above as my lefse partner in crime) invited me along to the craft sales there. We browsed the sales in Madison and then ended up shopping our way back to Dawson. We stopped at Loopy’s dollar store in Madison where I believe some good gag gifts are to be found and then a little boutique here in Dawson. It was a fabulous little afternoon of casual shopping and chatting.

Unfortunately, my Scandinavian Saturday ends with there with the nordic festival and lefse. I have no lutefisk to eat for dinner or Norwegian sweater to wear for the evening. Despite the quick end to the Scandinavian activities, it was a good day. Good Saturday.

What Maintains Lindsay’s Sanity #1

I am currently in the beginning stages of my third month on internship in Dawson. It has been a great experience thus far but I would be lying if I said there haven’t been difficult and trying moments on my sanity while in this gnome village. (Today being one of those days – I left my apt. only to go to the gym and didn’t vocally talk to anyone. It was a lonely day.) Thus begins a series of ‘what maintains Lindsay’s sanity.’ Not particularly in any order –

#1: Friends on dvd.

The wisest $125 I have spent on Amazon is buying a used copy of the complete ten seasons of Friends on dvd.

Joey, Chandler, Monica, Rachel, Ross and Phoebe have become my closest friends in Dawson. I eat lunch and dinner with them nearly every day. We share time together before bed. On my weekends – today in particular – when I may have no where to go or nothing to do, we spent a lot of time together. A whole disc’s worth of time. Monica and Chandler got engaged today. I’m pretty excited for them.

The danger here is that now everything in real life relates to a Friends episode I have watched. I struggle to not become that annoying girl who has a Friends story to go with every conversation. However, if anyone is up for a game of Friends trivia, I have the game at home and would be willing to play now. I received the game years ago but found it to be extremely difficult … I’m thinking it will be easier at this point, now that I’m so tight with the Central Perk gang.

Other friends I have kept and visit with frequently: Aragorn, Gandolf, Frodo, and Sam. Pretty sure I’ve watched all three extended versions of LOTR at least twice in the last two months. Marty McFly. I like to travel with him. I have also watched Elizabeth Bennet and Mr.Darcy fall in love many a-time; “You have captured me body and soul and I lo – I lo – I love you.”

I have developed a fake laugh. I’m not sure what this says about me, my setting, or my ministry but I have a fake laugh. It goes like this: a ha. (pause) a ha. (pause) a ha.

lasting only for a short time; impermanent.

I drove two hours south to Shalom Hill Farm last Tuesday for an intern cluster meeting. All of the interns and their respective supervisors from the area gather together to discuss internship and how the year has began. As the interns came together to discuss the joys and stress of internship, this word surfaced – transient.

I have been a transient person for the last eight years. I have never lived in the same location for more than a calendar year. Sure, I spent four years at Luther in Decorah but those four academic years were spent living in four different locations on campus with a summer of moving home in between. From Luther I moved home and then continued onto Stillwater. Stillwater to St.Paul, back to Stillwater, return to St.Paul and now onto Dawson. My life has been transient.

At internship cluster, we focused on the negative aspects of being a transient person, of not being in one place longer than a year, of being new and unaccustomed to the places we live so often as we start somewhere new. I agree. There are certainly negatives of a transient lifestyle. No deep roots are allowed to grow and the beginnings of settlement are uprooted in the early stages of growth.

But then this weekend I drove to St.Paul and in a way, it felt like I was going home. It was familiar. I have spent the last two academic years as a city dweller in the eastern-most Twin City. There were friends, hugs, and the familiar place that I have grown to love of Luther Seminary. Even as I drove on 94 past the Minneapolis skyline, I felt welcomed back to a place I knew well, a place of good memories and lots of growth. I never dreamt that I would enjoy living in a city, especially one as large at Minneapolis/St.Paul, but have proven myself wrong.

I took a side trip to Stillwater to visit former coworkers on Friday. As I drove on Myrtle Street, down the hill towards the scenic St.Croix, I had another moment of peace, of familiarity. Stillwater feels a bit like home too. The people that welcomed me, people with whom I spent two and half years in partnered ministry, reminded me why I love Stillwater, why it felt so good to return, even if only for a short visit.

Then today I returned to Dawson. My visit to the cities was short but I was able to see so many people who are important to me in my life. It was a wonderful trip. I drove past the gnomes at the city limits and dropped my bags in the middle of my living room. I realized that Dawson is quickly becoming a home too. I enjoy my time here, the place where I lay my head at night and cook my meals, and the people of the congregation I am serving.

I also realize that in just over twenty days, I will be traveling home home. Edgerton is my first home. Whenever someone asks me where home is, the answer is Edgerton. It’s the place of my family, my childhood, and I will be counting the days until I make the trip, anxious to see family, friends and Jetta, the family dog.

Though I am transient, never in one place for too long, I have found value in the moving, traveling, and non-sedentary lifestyle that has been my own for the past eight years. I find myself at home in many places. As we discussed at internship cluster, it most certainly has its struggles and challenges, but right now, I am able to focus on the positives and hope to make the most of my time in Dawson, before my transient lifestyle forces my uprooting again.

October is apparently Pastor’s Appreciation month so the lay committee at Grace held a coffee hour in our honor and encouraged congregation members to write notes thanking us for the work we do. I had a stack of cards from people to read and enjoy, which is unbelievable to me – I’ve only been here for two months. One short note made me feel infinitely better on a day that I was stressed, tired, and crabby —

Pastor Lindsay,

Just starting your journey with us and we love you already.

Thank you.