CLASSES

Ok so I'm busy. =/ So far I've had four out of the six classes, and in general I like them... I'm just overwhelmed. I need to figure out blackboard (cause pretty much the WORLD is on there... and you don't print things out in college apparently, so it's all done on blackboard...) and then how to register and use my "clicker" for the bigger classes. Once I do that I think I'll feel better.

Today was weird... and good I think... I actually shared my "story" with someone. We had to, you see. In Enlish 110 our first assignment was to interview someone in the class and write a profile on them, and in turn they're doing the same for us. So we basically had to share our story... the biggest event in our life and how that's shaped us and is incorporated in our dreams that we have today. HOLY COW! I was totally gonna cop out and share something trivial or random, but then I decided that now is not the time to be doing that. Yeah, maybe there are times when you don't wanna open up to people and share your life story, but I don't think that I should do that as much anymore... Cause I have a God-given story, and if I truly want to be used by Him, shouldn't I share what He's done in my life? I think so.
So I shared. I shared that I lost my best and "sister" friend, Claire, in a car accident, a month before my freshman year of high school started. I shared that I'm not, nor ever will be, over that, but that I truly believe that God works EVERYTHING for GOOD for those who love Him, and that my biggest dream in life is to be able to use the trials I've had in my life, to help someone going through something similar. That's what I want to do. I want to be able to help people and see firsthand something good come out of a bad situation. Cause otherwise what's the point? I don't know.

So that was today. Kinda rough, overwhelming, and LOTS to think about and TONS more to read, but that's what I'm here for, ya know? Here to learn and to grow. Mmk, till next time!

Orientation Week

I've been SO BUSY being here! Sunday was a full day... Mary and I got up and went to breakfast with my family - Panera Bread has really good bagels, by the way - and then, after taking Mary back to campus, we headed to Grace Evangelical Free Church for their service. I loved the service. I mean I got in there, looked at the bulletin, and right there in the bulletin, it had all the numbers for the finances... like what last week's tithe was, and what the budget was. So, crazy concept, the church actually has a concept of what's going on! Well, that's how it appeared to me at least. Who knows. So I liked that, and I like that there's 3 pastors on staff, and, as far as I understand things, they all kinda trade off with the preaching and the administrative stuff.. I liked that. The pastor who taught yesterday was the professor of the Theology class I sat in on last October when I toured BIOLA. He's actually the reason, or his class rather, that I decided to come here. So it was really cool to hear him again. He's a great teacher.

After church, I had lunch with the family and then had to say my goodbyes... :( It was sad, but I didn't cry or anything... I had a event with my SOS (Student Orientation Services) group right after, so I didn't really have time to think about it. The SOS event was great :) We got together with three other groups and then piled into random cars (all going to the same place of course) and headed to Downtown Disney for a scavenger hunt. Such a great time :) We did some fun, random things... (see picture) like making a pyramid, and having two strangers join in, jumping in one of the disney fountains (we found an undercover security person that way... whoops!), etc. I met some more people - everyone here is so nice - including another person from Washington! Turns out he, and the other Seattlite in our group, both know some of my friends back home.. weird the connections you'll find with people! We got back and had dinner in the Cafeteria, then went straight to some orientation thing (it was kinda.. odd. Mary and I felt very awkward about the whole thing... we "joined the circle") and then had "singspiration" which is basically a worship service. After that we had hall "mixers" and met people in the dorms.. met lots of people that way. :)

Yesterday we had ANOTHER orientation meeting at 8:30 AM, then had a few hours of "free time" before the next meeting, and the next meeting... ahhh they are sooooo pointless! I'm very ready to be done with orientation meetings. Actually EVERYONE is ready to be done with orientation meetings! I think there was one part of ONE of them that I actually appreciated having them give us the information.... other than that ya could've just asked and had a 5 minute conversation with someone and found out all you need to know. Ew. But then beach day was yesterday at 3 :) My new friend Anna and I rode in the buses together - turns out she's a kindred spirit - her favorite movie is the same as mine.. BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. =D So we had a nice chat. The beach was great and BEAUTIFUL just like a vacation spot, and Anna, her roommate Hannah (yeah, the three of us have fun standing in circles together and introducing ourselves... "Anna, Hannah, Anna..") Mary, and I played in the sand, felt like little kids, and just talked and talked. I loved it. Big worship time as well - it was a good night. :)

Today - more of the same. 4 freakin hours of orientation meetings (again, mostly pointless), then lunch... now just trying to organize my thoughts and books and notebooks for THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES TOMORROW!!! Been praying for Shanna - she heads to Austrailia TOMORROW! I'm so proud of her. Proud of Arthur too - he finally got his car! And it was the one he wanted... he looked for a long time and found a good one :) I can't wait to actually see it and drive around with him in it! :)

I just realized my birthday weekend is gonna be a long weekend, and I'm really excited about it! I'm not a big birthday celebrator (I actually don't like birthdays), but it'll be nice to maybe relax or do something fun on it. :) I don't miss Seattle as of yet... just a few people in it. I love you guys. Thanks for the emails and such! I really appreciate it! It makes my day :)

lots of changes...

Heyy!

Well as all of you should probably know, I'm here in sunny So Cal attending BIOLA. :) I packed up last week and flew down with my family this past Tuesday. Wow - it's been so crazy! Saying goodbye was reallllly hard... Monday morning I said goodbye to my Shanna which was really hard... It was a little too reminiscent of another similar goodbye 11 years ago... :( SAD DAY. The rest of the day was good though... Arthur came over and distracted me from the sad part of the day... we gave gifts to each other :) and talked, then went out to Rositas (my favorite restraunt ever) for lunch, then headed home to pack more. We basically just relaxed and hung out, listened to music, sat on the dock, hung out with my family etc. It was very sweet. Tuesday morning I flew out at 8 am. Arthur was able to come to the gate with me (we learned something about the airport - if you don't like the answer one person gives you, go try someone else till you get the answer you want.) and it was really hard to say goodbye... :( I miss him so much!

But the point is, I got through the goodbyes alright so far. Not TOO many tears... so far. Wednesday we went shopping (we being mom, dad, and I - Grandma, Grandpa, and Sarah stayed at the hotel) for dorm things - by the end there was hardly enough room for me in the car! Then we met up with some of my FAVORITE people ever - the Tullsens! HOOORAYY! I finally, after almost 13 years, get to live in the same state as them! Only 2 ish hours away too :) Some things just never change. Wednesday was Disneyland day! My cousin Will has been working there this year and he and a buddy of his were absolutely AMAZING and awesome and got us all (all 6 of us) in for FREEE! We had a blast. :D

Yesterday was moving day! Ahh I had SOOO MUCH STUFF!!! I felt sooooo self concious! But it's alright now - everything is packed and organized and there was actually an abundance of room for all my mountains of clothing :) I was quite pleased. I found somebody else who also brought 7 pairs of jeans, and 5 pairs of shorts, and about 6 dresses... I'm in good company here. :) I LOOOVE my roommate too - Mary is the best. We both had our first night in the dorms last night.. just talked and set up our room some more... turns out we have a lot in common :) I also got to go out to Newport Beach last night, and we all had dinner at the best place ever, BJ's, with Will and his girlfriend, Vicki. We had great conversations and lots of laughing - it was very nice. :)

Today was the first day of Orientation. I got my student ID this morning, then went straight to the Gym for the SOS kick off. (still don't know what SOS stands for.. but it's about orientation week I know! :P) The leaders did a skit, then we broke up into our SOS groups and got to know each other a little bit. I met several really nice people, even one girl from Seattle! I'm really very happy. It's going better than I thought so far.

So I will try to keep this updated. And I want you all to know that while I'm having fun, I'm still missing all of you, my friends. I love you guys. You're probably all up on my wall - I have a lot of pictures to put up! Can't wait to be reunited with you all in December. Till later!