My new home!

I finallly made it to Seattle.

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Our apartment is a complete disaster with my things strung all over. But I am hoping to have everything done by today (obviously being distracted by blogging isn't helping!).
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I am already bustling with things to do, places to go, people to see. It is GREAT!!
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Pictures coming soon!

Recalling the longest summer of my life.

As summer is so closely coming to an end, I think how quickly it has come and gone. In May when I was on my way home from school I was thinking "What the heck am I going to do for four months at home with my family in St. John, WA?" (For those of you that have lived away for a period of time and come back to St. John, you know the agony of what I was about to face.) However, these past four months have truly been relaxing, refreshing, nice, and a unique experience - something much needed after four years of craziness. I would almost say I was lazy but I am looking at it from a different angle and taking it as a huge blessing from God! (Excuse? Not sure yet! =)) I just wanted to take time to say a big "Thank you" to God and to reflect on some of my summer highlights:

1) Senior CRUISE. The Monday following graduation I was able to embark on a wonderful mini-vaca with 7 great people from Bethany! We began by road tripping down to LA to board our Carnival Cruise "Fun Ship" - and what a FUN SHIP it was!!! We had a great time in Ensenada, Catalina Island, and just aboard the ship! If you haven't been on a cruise - it would be of my highest recommendation!!

2) Vacationing to FLORIDA. In April, Leigh and I decided...It's time to party and vacation to Florida. What a great idea that was - we had a blast! At the end of June, in between Leigh's quarters, we took off for the Sunshine State: suntanned on the beach in Daytona, swam in the waves of the Atlantic, played Settlers, ran around in the rain, iindulged in Smoothie King, watched movies, slept lots, relaxed and had a great time. A week later we headed home - that's a whole other story! Recommendation: never fly to or thru Albuquerque.

3) Phase one of moving into our new Seattle Apartment (Pictures coming later). On July 5, Dad, Litney and I journeyed over to Seattle to begin moving into our cozy new home. Litney and I are so blessed because my mom and dad bought us all of our necessary furnishings - beds, mattresses, dressers, bookshelves, tv stand, futon, desk, etc etc etc!! (Thank Jesus for parents and their credit cards! =))

4) Days on the Lake. My family (+ Bob) was able to take a few days this summer to go out boating on Rock Lake. It was so great to just sit in the sun, have the wind in my hair and enjoy a relaxing time with people I love. My brother finally tubed by himself for the first time and loved it - he NEVER let go - I am not sure he knew he was allowed to!

5) Surgery. The after part wasn't such a highlight (in fact, it was the lowest low of my summer), but the fact that I finally got it done is great!

6) Helping with Swimteam and Cheerleading. Gosh, I never thought I would come back and be so involved with the community, but helping out with these youngsters was one of the best parts of my summer. It was such a blessing to see these kids grow and accomplish so much in just a little bit of time.

7) Hanging out with my family. I enjoyed the little Spokane outtings with my mom, the sibling "dates", and sports talks with my dad (like always). I am so blessed to have a family whom I love and who loves me! Over the past few days my mom has been transferring all our old home videos to DVDs so we have had the opportunity to watch the "growing up" process all over again. Man, I am not sure I have ever laughed so hard - some moments are absolutely humiliating! Wow!

8) Personal time. This summer allowed me to take a lot of time just to sit back and reflect on my life. Goodness, I am so blessed and thank God daily for all He has given me - especially for this great summer.

Seattle....here I come!!

I left a part of my heart at Bethany.

There comes a point in one’s life that moving on and growing up is bound to happen. This usually involves moving to a new place, starting a “real” job, having bills, and meeting new people. But this also means leaving friends behind, leaving a place you love and have grown in, and starting all over. I am at this point. I am moving from a place that has been my home for four years and to a place that is almost foreign.

Bethany University will always and forever hold a huge and special place in my heart and in my journey of life. It is where I found myself, met amazing mentors and made lifelong friends. It is a community that inspires social, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual growth in every aspect. We were(It is) one big family who believed in each other, encouraged each other and inspired one another to take it the next level. This is where I was able to analyze my own life and transform into the person I am today.

Tears fill my eyes as I think back to the memories I made over my four years in this amazing community. The friends that crossed my path have made imprints on my life. People I barely even talked to have influenced my life in ways they will never know. I choke up now as I realize that I may never have this same type of opportunity, that I may never see some of these terrific people, and that my alma mater will carry on, take in new people, touch student’s lives, and make impacting differences without me experiencing this (Though, I am thankful and "praiseful" that this will happen!). I love Bethany University and everything it has to offer to the people who are a part of it. I pray daily that HUGE things will begin to happen and that the fire of God will rush through that campus and transform it and the lives of the people there like never before. God is amazing, everlasting, miraculous, and almighty – He’s going to be doing BIG things at BU – watch out!

Here are a few of my lifelong memories:

*Walking on the campus for my first time as a new student
*Moving into my first dorm room in Miracle
*Cheerleading
*”Senate” team for intramural basketball
*Renovating the Spot
*BUSG Senior year – what an amazing team of beautiful people!
*Kayoko Sakayanagi – just saying her name brings a smile to my face
*John Deere themed room with Jenny Roomie Williams
*GYRAD’s – thank you date’s!
*Homecoming – every year, but the one I like to most remember is Junior year when we won!
*My speech for Freshmen Class VP
*My speech for ASB President
*Kidnapping Glen Smith for an In-N-Out run Freshmen year with Darcy and Jenny
*In-N-Out runs just for fun!
*Getting tattoos
*Being “Mama Larissa” to Deborah, Bethany, Diana, Brenna, and then most of Circus girls
*Living on Circus in my own room – loved it!
*Omar Visquel date with Hailey and Jenny
*Everything the “Trio” did: Hailey, Jenny and I
*Going to my first NBA game! Go Warriors!
*Phoebe’s random room visits
*Elisabeth and I always borrowing clothes
*Lauren, E-tyler and I living together in the basement for the summer
*Fighting and arguing with Jared
*Café Brazil – Acai bowls
*50% discount and Chili’s and everyone wanting me to get that for them
*The “Hole” and then the “Cork”
*Thanksgiving outing Senior year with Corey, Mike, Phoebe and Lauren
*Going to Alcatraz
*Working with the Administration
*SF shopping days
*Getting a misdemeanor for sneaking into the Hilton
*Beach nights/days
*Waffle Sundays
*Cheetah Chases (CHAMPIONS!!)
*Senior Spring Banquet
*The “cork” in the last week of school with 25 people
*Going to the haunted barn and getting stopped by the cops with 16 people in Phil’s truck
*Going with Steph, Jared and Joey to the lake to go rowing
*Monday night chapels
*Student Development Team
*Being ASB President
*Watching croquet in the Popineau Park frosh year
*NSO’s/ Campus Days
*Clash n’ Bowl
*The Bong Show
*The trees that turn beautiful colors by the library
*Easter weekend with Jared and Ryan at Ryan’s house
*Watching the NBA playoffs in the Spot
*Spot Brothers
*My birthdays –especially senior year at Chili’s with 25 people
*Graduation party with all my favorite people
*Meeting some of my best lifelong friends!!

I love you BU community!! And I miss you all terribly!

do you know who i am?

I've never been....Just a number.

I have really been busy applying for jobs and trying to find something suiting for this next year (at least) of my life. I have found and applied to many on craiglist, websites, school sites, etc and have yet to get a reply. It has gotten quite disappointing and frustrating. My mother took the liberty to remind me that no longer am I Larissa Leifer from St. John or Larissa Leifer from Bethany University. But I am Larissa Leifer from who knows where, who knows did what, and is just another person applying for another job who probably hundreds of people are applying for. I am to the point where I am finally feeling like a number in this world. Never before have I had to experience this, but it's time to face reality. Above is how the world is now....!

It's Official...I'm a blogger!

So, it's true. I have fallen into the "blogging" world. What this means? I am not quire sure yet. =) But I wanted a place to keep friends and loved ones updated on my new life in Seattle! (Okay, so I am officiallly not there, yet; but it won't be long so I wanted to get a head start on this whole blog thing!) It's already confusing so give me some time to get used to it....it may take a while!