Double the Pleasure... Double the Fun!

While Laura and Lynnea aren’t twins, they’re certainly inseparable! In a dorm full of high school students, they are the “babies,” and yet they proudly represent the middle school as our two 8^th graders. Though they might be young and have an earlier bedtime than the others, they are treasured at Liel.

This is Laura’s second year at BFA, living at the Liel dorm, and it has been a joy to watch her grow here. Laura may be little, but she is bursting with energy and zeal for life. You might remember a post about her last year, affectionately nicknamed “Baby Bean.” As the daughter of a military father, serving in Moldova, it is no surprise that she is extremely disciplined in her studies and chores. She is often the first one up on a Saturday morning and first in line for breakfast at 9:45am (breakfast is served at 10am) having already cleaned, organized, and vacuumed the computer room (her weekend chore). We often joke as a dorm staff and wish that Laura could do all the students’ chores because she is so thorough and reliable.

I appreciate the way that Laura lives without abandon. She is bold and courageous. She is not afraid to speak up and ask questions. She is not a people pleaser and this gives her the freedom to be herself. She sings at the top of her lungs. She stands on top of chairs to tell stories about Harry Potter. She dramatically rehearses her new Zumba moves in the kitchen (while trying to pack her lunch at 9pm). This girl brings joy to my life.

This is Lynnea’s first year at BFA, living at the Liel dorm. Lynnea moved to Liel after her parents, Troy and Michelle, were accepted as dorm parents and missionaries here. Lynnea is joined by her two older brothers, Seth (a senior in high school) and Keith (a sophomore in high school). Lynnea is an artist through and through—she has a beautiful voice, she paints, she makes jewelry, and she loves to do her dorm sisters’ hair and make-up. There are so many things that I appreciate about Lynnea—I adore her laugh and smile (it makes a good day better), I enjoy watching her dance in rain and hail storms, I am encouraged be her love for her family, I am blessed by the thoughtful ways that she serves others, and I respect the way that she earnestly apologizes to those she has hurt. This girl also brings joy to my life.

CTL: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Laura: “I want to be in the military. But, I am not sure which branch of the military that I want to be in. So, I want to be a pilot, but you can be a pilot in the Army, Navy, or Airforce. Why do you want to be a pilot? Because it’s fun. Duh. (Laura swivels her head at me…haha) I also want to be in the military because my daddy is in the military—the Army to be more precise. My mom wants me to go to WestPoint, which is in New York, which is also the Army academy, which is also where my good friend wants to go as well.”

CTL: If you had great power and strength, if you were invincible, and if you couldn’t get hurt, what dare-devil activity would you do?

Lynnea: “Cave spelunking! It looks so scary but if you couldn’t get hurt then it would be fun to explore God’s amazing creation beneath the earth in dark places. Can I also have flashlight eye-balls?” (Of course!)

CTL: What are your simple pleasures?

Laura: “Painting my nails. Hanging out with close friends.”

Lynnea: “Just being around people.”

CTL: What is your favorite thing to do together?

Laura & Lynnea: “Taking pictures of each other making funny faces!”

CTL: Think about a special adult in your life, what has he or she said that has been of great value to you?

Lynnea: “My dad. He always says, ‘Lynnea, you have a choice.’ It’s SO annoying. But every time I am struggling, he tells me, ‘Lynnea, I know you’re not gonna like this…but, I have one thing to say…you have a choice.’ It’s valuable because it helps me to realize that I do have a choice in tough places--I can choose to climb out of my hole or I can choose to dig deeper into the darkness. And usually, I do make the choice to do something and it has helped me. “

CTL: What is your favorite part about having 10 dorm sisters and 2 dorm brothers?

Laura: “Not being bored! At home, I am bored 24/7. But here, I am only bored for maybe 10 minutes a day. I also really like girl time and being able to borrow lots of clothes!”

CTL: How do you think you have grown since you have been here in August of 2010?

Laura: “Well, I have grown 4 inches (I think)! I have also grown in Christ. I have grown into a bigger room. I have grown to be more independent.”

CTL: What has been the biggest change from 7^th to 8^th grade at BFA?

Laura: “Transitioning from a co-ed dorm for middle schoolers to a high school girls dorm. And also living with a new set of dorm parents.”

CTL: Have you enjoyed your time at Liel?

Laura: “YES! It was my favorite and best experience…without my parents!” (Laura is smiling and laughing)

CTL: What has been a special blessing for you this year?

Laura: “A new best friend!” (Laura points to Lynnea)

CTL: Lynnea, what is like for you to share your family with 12 more girls?

Lynnea: “Well, I have done it all of my life. My parents served at an MK boarding school in Kenya for 6 years before we came to BFA. It’s something that I am familiar with and used to.”

CTL: What would you girls change about Liel?

Laura: “The Roof. It needs a bridge, a pool, and chairs for sunbathing.” (The dorm dad and I just so happened to lose the girls tonight as we were getting them ready for bed…they went missing…guess where they went? They ventured out onto the roof for the first time…we kindly asked them to come down!)

Lynnea: “I would change the garden. It drives me bananas. It is overgrown… my dad is going to take some round-up and start from scratch.” (This is not the German way…haha)

CTL: How/Why are you different from most girls your age in the United States?

Laura (answering for Lynnea): “You’re a missionary kid. You have traveled to Africa! You have lived in girls and boys dorms! You have experienced it all, Lynnea! Most girls her age have also NOT been friends with Laura Atkins!”

Lynnea (answering for Laura): “Laura is indescribable. I appreciate that she is not afraid to be herself. She is a military kid., but she fits in here so well. She loves Jesus and has the same values as I do. “

CTL: What do you do in your free time?

Lynnea: “I like to hang out with Laura and with my family. I also like to draw and just do artsy stuff.”

Laura: “I like to hang out with Lynnea and I like to clean my room. I do homework, watch movies, and read books. I also like to brush my teeth.” 

Deceptive, but funny!

Lynnea with Laura's legs

 And more!

Laura with Lynnea's legs

I hope that you have enjoyed this sneak peak into the lives of Laura and Lynnea. They are sweet and funny girls with a lot to say! Please pray for them as they finish this year at BFA and continue to grow into the women that God has created them to be!