41 Moons Given

Last night Erik and I celebrated our 41st full moon together. What, one might ask, does that even mean? Let me explain. The first walk Erik and I took together just four summers ago up in northern Minnesota happened under a full moon sky...which was shining beautifully on one of the lakes near us. That was the start of us. It wasn't that that we officially started dating or had any monumental conversation during our full moon stroll, but something was started in each of our hearts that would begin to align the direction of our lives. Since that first moon, we have paid attention to the phases of the moon more closely. The waxing and waning that happens in the sky provides a more understandable timetable for our life together. 41 moons makes sense in my head and heart better than if I were to tell someone that I met Erik the summer of 2006 and that we have been married for two years.

The way you celebrate a moon is quite simple. All you need to do is get out under the dark night sky and look up at the moon in all its fullness. You soak its beauty in with your eyes. You notice the way it lights up the night around you as it reflects the light of the sun back onto the earth. Ha! I am laughing at my description because I have never thought of teaching someone how to do this. It's sounding like some ancient pagan practice by some more serious lunar followers. Well, Erik and I have celebrated some of our moons next to each other and some of them in separate states. I always liked thinking that we could see the same moon even if I was at Grandpa's house in Washington and he was out in the field with students in the Utah wilderness. The moon is a piece of Creation that we pay attention to more closely as it symbolizes our love for each other. I am thankful for 41 moons given.

We watched the full moon last night from the roof of our house, which happens to be a university dormitory with six floors. It was fun to listen to the night sounds of our new city on a rather calm Friday night. Our watching almost always brings us back to talking about our first moon and all the life that has happened since then. We have full hearts as we look back.

Our first month spent living in eastern Europe has increased our interest in the people and culture around us. We are excitedly trying to progress in the language and I was even able to sign up for the same class as Erik for Lithuanian 101. Erik has jumped in with both feet as he completed his first week of the fall semester as a student registered for 8 classes! (It appears as if all of his semesters at LCC will be quite full if he is wanting to be able to graduate within 2 years.) I find myself in one of my dream jobs as a Resident Director here at LCC. The challenges and demands of the job are sometimes consuming, but I know that learning the ropes is taking a lot of my energy and attention right now. I enjoy this beginning and am looking forward to a more balanced pace of life once I figure out how to live and work and socialize all in one place.

I am really eager to invest in these students. I know I have much to learn from them and their stories. There are over 21 countries represented in the LCC student body this year. It makes for quite an interesting mix of people. The other day I answered the phone in the lobby and I could tell that the caller was speaking Lithuanian. I tried to find someone in the crowd in the lobby that could help me out with translation. You would be surprised at how long it took me to find a Lithuanian speaker in that busy lobby. I was struck with the diversity that is in this place. The stories will continue to happen and I will continue to share them with you.