My Birthday Is:

Me, the fields, and my blue polka-dot dress.

I am happy to be 23.

When God dresses us

"Morality is indispensable; but the Divine Life, which gives itself to us and which calls us to be gods, intends for us something in which morality will be swallowed up. We are to be re-made. All the rabbit in us is to disappear--the worried, conscientious ethical rabbit as well as the cowardly and sensual rabbit. We shall bleed and squeal as the handfuls of fur come out; and then, surprisingly, we shall find underneath it all a thing we have never yet imagined: a real Man, an ageless god, a son of God, strong, radiant, wise, beautiful, and drenched in joy."

-C.S. Lewis, "Man or Rabbit" in God in the Dock

Do I dare?

What was written here...


was imagined here.

Do I dare step in? For we all know that those who step in never return the same.

After all, it's a land of mysticism. It's the world that only children and the one grown man by the name of C.S. Lewis can really know. That world with entryways made of bent trees covered in vines,

winding paths enclosed by green trees and weeds that dance as you pass them by,

and animals that speak.

And so, I ask, what is one to do after stepping back into the common world of underground trains, street vendors, and men in business suits?

I think the Inklings knew.

And so do we.

It's good we have each other. And our leaf.

And our memory.

I suppose England will never be the same in our memory, for we have secrets of a distant land. Perhaps tomorrow I'll again dare to enter.

When there will be no more good-byes.

Two days ago we said good-bye to our dear Manna who is moving to southern Norway. Our apartment will not be the same without her.

Before the final good-bye, a celebration was in order. We played our instruments...

and sang. All to the glory of God who both gives and takes.

Soon, there will be no more good-byes. Soon, there will be eternal communion. Soon, we will not miss anyone. Soon, all will be unified and made right.

And so, I am thankful that good-byes come with bitterness. For they are only a reminder that we are, in fact, not yet home.

"The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves to be at home here on earth. As long as we are aliens, we cannot forget our true homeland."

-Malcolm Muggeridge, Jesus Rediscovered

My Window

My window and I go on dates. Every morning and every evening we are together. If you're lucky, I'll allow you to join our date. But know that if you do, you are very lucky.

My window is my loyal friend. But I guess I can share him...with a few.

I thought it would never come.

I waited and waited. But spring just wouldn't come.




But then it did...first the flowers,

then the fruit,

and finally the girl-time giggles.

I won't believe myself the next time I say it will never come.

Images of Easter

According to the church calendar, it is Easter for 50 days. I am so glad for that. It's a good excuse for not allowing yourself to get too sad. My Easter this year was one of the most joyful in my 22 years of life. So, here's the story.

Chapter 1: Little girl from Brooklyn, New York, comes all the way to Bergen, Norway to visit her friend, Rebecca. Immediately after the plane lands, she goes on her first Norwegian hike.

They do simple things together...Sunday walks in spring skirts,

strolls by the harbor in silent rain...the kind of rain drops that fall but never soak through clothing,

and window shopping in stores that are closed for the season.

Chapter 2: To the Fjord.

Trains are satisfying. If they could take a train everywhere in the world, they would.

And old, wooden doors are delightfully poetic. Especially ones that when open, are most inviting, and when closed, are quite fearful to the passerby.

But white, wooden fences on the other hand, are always gentle and do not hide anything dark within themselves.

What does one do with a day on the fjord? She couldn't tell you.

But I'm sure you could guess.

Chapter 3: Grieg

It's good to spend some time with Grieg. After all, he was a rather short man, and had a certain kind of inspirational philosophy to life.

Chapter 4: More mountains

They have just climbed the vicious Mt. Ulriken.

Chapter 5: A Rainy Good Friday

They have found the children's corner at the local art museum. Complete with gigantic, red pillows! Perfect for taking a little rest before the mass begins.

Chapter 6: The Preparation

Mourning can only last so long, and Saturday is filled with the preparation. Preparation for something big.

Chapter 7: The Celebration

An explosion of joy occurred on Sunday. It turned out that this Jesus everyone talked about was no longer dead. Well, this changes everything, doesn't it?

And who has met more beautiful people? Surely they can't be found in New York.

But the little girl from Brooklyn disagreed, and had to return to the rustle and bustle of angry people and honking horns. Norway misses her. But her friend from Bergen misses her even more. But I know she will return. After all, who could leave Norway and never return? Surely not I.