tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817106153823181326.post5101752996856551308..comments2024-02-10T00:26:18.639-08:00Comments on Like a Lutheran: May God Bless You With DiscomfortLydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06312286151052827314noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817106153823181326.post-70054771236322476102012-10-18T14:43:01.605-07:002012-10-18T14:43:01.605-07:00Lydia, although I wasn't traveling and returni...Lydia, although I wasn't traveling and returning home that weekend, in many ways I DID feel more at home in Iowa than ever before thanks to catching up with you and Beau! I am so grateful that we encountered one another. Our conversation was so life-giving and hopeful to me, especially at a time when I have felt loneliness and confusion and painful discernment. I absolutely love the wheat-bread analogy, and I am so grateful you posted that benediction. So beautiful. So looking forward to keeping in touch on blogs and facebook and hopefully another coffee/lunch date again, sooner than the last!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13248330080224673546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817106153823181326.post-18568194335931701152012-10-09T21:49:15.041-07:002012-10-09T21:49:15.041-07:00I can understand where you're coming from when...I can understand where you're coming from when you talk about being away from home for awhile and that you can't necessarily go back. Having lived in 3 different states now, Brian and I are just now coming to terms with living away from the Midwest. South Dakota was similar to our culture, but it was also Western among other things we didn't particularly like. Now we are in a culture we prefer, which is similar to the Midwest with farms, friendly people, etc. Every place we have lived in has been rural, but each place has been culturally different. Although it is difficult, I have learned from various sources that we must fully embrace the culture we are in. Speaking from experience, I know it is not easy, nor is it something I really did while in SD. That hurt the experience, and it hurt other things, too. Now that we are here in MD, we vowed we would do things differently this time around, and have fully embraced the culture in every sense of the word. Of course, this is not to say we don't occasionally think about going home. It is a process, and it is definitely a constant mixture of emotions. If you ever need anyone to talk to, you can always lean on me. From one Midwesterner to another. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16707701850442597971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817106153823181326.post-24797042482330374842012-10-09T21:01:47.573-07:002012-10-09T21:01:47.573-07:00I can understand what you're talking about her...I can understand what you're talking about here, Lydia. The difference even between Iowa/Minnesota/Wisconsin is really palpable now that I'm living in a major metropolis like Chicago. Honestly, I feel less like I need to stay here longer to prove something to myself. I hope our wedding's another excuse for you to come back and experience Minnesota in another 7 months, when you may have made more progress in acculturation than you might imagine. :) Just please remember your Minnesota nice! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01432139555891624592noreply@blogger.com