"If God is for us, who can be against us?"

2006-10-16T03:33:00.000-07:00

Hi! It's been a really long time since I've updated, there's so much to tell I don't know where to start! A picture's worth 1000 words....so I decided to use them to try to describe everything I've been up to lately!

This is in St. Malo where we went with our whole class last weekend. We went to Normandie and Brittany and went to the d-day beaches and mt. st. michel. St. Malo is absolutely gorgeous!
This is Amanda, me and Becca in St. Malo....the sunset that night was sooo beautiful!
This was yesterday...we decided to rent bikes and bike around Paris! It was so much fun! We biked over to the eiffel tower and had lunch in st. michel.
This was the whole group who went bike riding...so fun! Believe it or not, the eiffel tower is behind us, but the guy who took the picture didnt get it in the picture at all!
Me in Fontainbleau, where we went this weekend on a day trip. Beautiful palace....
Cara, Becca and Amanda and I....dancing in the grand ballroom in fontainbleau.....That's what a ballroom is for, no?

That's it for now...but I'm definitely going to try to keep this up!!

2006-09-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

Bonjour!
Wow it's been ages since I've been on here....
I actually don't have a lot of time to write anything really worth reading...but for anyone who's interested...here's a link to my pictures from Europe!

gwendolynelisabeth.smugmug.com

Au revoir!

2006-07-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

So I'm long overdue for an update....

I've been reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, and it's been an excellent book so far, but Sunday night as I was coming back from Saratoga Springs, this one partiular part in the book really struck me. It was on God's grace....here's a bit from the book:

“While standing in line at the checkout counter, the lady in front of me pulled out food stamps to pay for her groceries. I had never seen food stamps before. They were more colorful that I imagined and looked more like money than stamps. It was obvious as she unfolded the currency that she, I, and the checkout girl were quite uncomfortable with the interaction. I wished there was something I could do. I wished I could pay for her groceries myself, but to do so would have caused a greater scene. The checkout girl quickly performed her job, signing and verifying a few documents, then filed the lady through the line. The woman never lifted her head as she organized her bags of groceries and set them into her cart. She walked away from the checkout stand in the sort of stiff movements that a person uses when they know they are being watched.

“Later I realized that it was not the woman who should be pitied, it was me. Somehow I had come to believe that because a person is in need, they are candidates for sympathy, not just charity. It was not that I wanted to buy her groceries; the government was already doing that. I wanted to buy her dignity, And yet, by judging her, I was the one taking her dignity away.

“I wonder what it would be like to use food stamps for a month. I wonder how that would feel, standing in line at the grocery store, pulling from my wallet the bright currency of poverty, feeling the probing eyes of the customers as they studied my clothes and the items in my cart: frozen pizza, name-brand milk, coffee. I would want to explain that I have a good job and make good money.

“I love to give to charity but I don’t want to be charity. This is why I have so much trouble with grace.

“A few years ago I was listing prayer requests to a friend. As I listed my requests, I mentioned many of my friends and family but never spoke about my personal problems. My friend candidly asked me to reveal my own struggles, but I told him no, that my problems weren’t that bad. My friend answered quickly, in the voice of a confident teacher, “Don, you are not above the charity of God.” In that instant he revealed my motives were not noble, they were prideful. It wasn’t that I cared about my friends more than myself, it was that I believed I was above the grace of God.

“Like Rick, I am too prideful to accept the grace of God. It isn’t that I want to earn my own way to give something to God, it’s that I want to earn my own way so I won’t be charity.

“As I drove over the mountain that afternoon, realizing I was too proud to receive God’s grace, I was humbled. Who am I to think myself above God’s charity? And why would I forsake the riches of God’s righteousness for the dung of my own ego?"

Wow so I understand the idea of God's grace, but have a hard time accepting it sometimes. This was just really eyeopening me to me and it reminded me of a song by Warren Barfield called "Take my life" here are the lyrics...

"This world is not my home
This life will pass
Only what is done for God will last

With the time we have
Let’s not waste it away, no
Let every heartbeat, let every breath we breathe say

Lord, take my life and use it up
Spread it thin like a blanket of love
Over the world that You gave Your blood for
Take my life, take it all, Lord

Lord, without You
Nothing makes sense
Down here the grass dies on both sides of the fence

So all my vain searching
Will never amount to much
Here’s my life, Lord, use it up for the cause of Love
For Your cause"

Any thoughts on grace?

2006-06-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

I've given up on trying to post regularly...anyways this weekend was really fun...Saturday I hung out by the pool for a few hours and studied humanities a little. Then I went to the Getty Museum, which was awesome as usual. We actually got to walk around the gardens this time. It was great. My younger cousin graduated from high school this past week, and she had a graduation party on Saturday which I wasn't able to go to. I can't believe she's going to be in college next year! That's a crazy thought. Sunday, my roomie and I went to Six Flags. I hadn't been to Six Flags since the fall and it was so much fun! We left Pepperdine around 8...The park opened at 10. We wanted to get there really early so we could avoid the long lines of the newest roller coaster there (Tatsu). So we actually get to the park around 9 - traffic wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it was going to be. To our complete shock there were about 60 cars or so ahead of us, stopped and lined up in front of the parking lot gates. The park wasn't even open yet and we were already waiting in line. After about a half an hour they let us in and we joined the line of people waiting to enter through the main gates of the part. We finally got in, and headed straight to Tatsu, and got a good spot in line and didn't have to wait too long. It's a really fun roller coaster...Not my favorite one though. Then we went on X which is my absolute favorite one ever. The seats on the X flip in complete 360's the entire time. It's awesome! For the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon we went on 13 more rides....The lines weren't too bad surprisingly. I think it's because everyone was in line for Tatsu. Anyways we went on one ride 5 times in a row. It was really fun. By the time we got back we were exhausted. Yesterday was an awesome day as well... Class .... Work .... Hanging out. I love summer session. I'm excited to go home, but I don't want to leave here yet. Everyone keeps asking me how many days are left till I leave, and you know what? I have no idea. I don't feel like starting that countdown just yet. It's not like I'm just going home for the summer...I wont be back here for another year. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't like things to change. When I'm happy with something I would prefer it to stay like that. And let's just say I'm perfectly happy at the moment.

2006-06-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

How wrong are first impressions sometimes? Yesterday I was working in the booth, smiling and waving as people drove by. At one point a car pulled up very quickly and stopped abruptly a few inches before the gate; the car tires were practically on the sidewalk. I looked at the passengers in the car...two girls, around my age. My first thought? "Seesh what the heck is up with Pepperdine people?" I was so sure they were going to be really rude. Despite my slight annoyance, I went over to them and asked them where they were headed. One of the girls replied..."Hey do you want any chocolate cake or coffee cake? I work at Coffee Bean and they sent me home with tons of food. We figured you might want a piece or two since you have to sit here all day." Wow. They handed me a box full of cake and drove away. I felt like such an idiot. Why did I come up with such a quick judgment of girls I don't even know? So then it made me think....how often do I judge people, even if it's accidental?

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

*Matthew 7:1-2*

The last thing I want to do is judge people. This just made me more aware of how easy it is to come up with an assumption of someone before knowing who they are. I feel bad. On a different note, it was a really nice thing to do....and I definitely want to make a point to do something nice like that for someone else. Back home whenever I would stop by the precinct my dad would always tell me to bring a box of doughnuts for the people working. Good philosophy.

Oh and that picture above....that's the view from the library...I was studying for a test....and it was so pretty I just had to take a picture.

Jenessa (my rommie) and I went up north this weekend to her house...here are a few pictures from the weekend (it was awesome!!!):

2006-06-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

“Cheers” That’s what the last person who drove up to Pepperdine said to me. Today’s my first day working for Public Safety. It’s been interesting so far. Around 11 I showed up at headquarters and waited in the break room for a little bit. I met up with one of the other SSO’s (student service officer) named Guy and we drove down to the main booth. I was basically shadowing him on his shift so I could lean what to do. It’s really funny being on the inside of the booth after spending an entire year just driving by. Guy explained things to me for about 8 mins and was done. An officer pulled up and asked me if I had my computer. I didn’t have time to grab it from my room before my shift, so he drove me to my apartment and I was able to pick it up as well as 2 dvds. For the next 2 hours Guy and I each watched movies on out laptops and let people in to Pepperdine. There’s a baseball going on today, so there where more people coming through than usual. Around 2 Guy left and went over to the other booth on the other side of campus. That both gets wireless internet, and much less traffic…so apparently it’s the better booth. Oh well, I’m honestly enjoying being here. It’s fun to wave to everyone as they drive by, and getting to talk to people who are here to visit and stuff. The funniest thing is when I know the people driving through and they do a double take and slow down to say hi. A few minutes ago a professor of mine drove though. Surprisingly enough, time is passing by pretty quickly.

This morning it was gray outside… June gloom unfortunately; but since I’ve been in here the sun has come out, and it’s beautiful. I still can’t get over that I go to school in this place. It’s absolutely beautiful. I have a view of the ocean from where I’m sitting. I’ll have to take a picture tomorrow, because it’s hard to imagine otherwise. I took these pictures a few days ago when we driving back to campus...

Haha I guess I should be reading my textbook for my humanities class, I’m resting my arm on it at the moment. Our professor seems nice and somewhat fun, but the subject is just a little boring. I hope as we get into it more that it’ll become more interesting.

A friend of mine is visiting the Grand Canyon today. I really want to go there one day. I also really want to see Niagara Falls. I still have my old goal of visiting all 50 states. I think I’m up to 9 or 11 or something like that. I really want to go to some of the Southern states.

I’m really happy to be working for Public Safety. It’s fun to become a part of it. So I’m going to get back to doing my job now….smiling as people drive in….oh and watching Shrek II. Ciao!

2006-05-24T16:34:00.000-07:00

Today was absolutely b-e-a-utiful!!! I went to class in the morning, then Chelsea and I went down to the pool and swam for a little and then sat in the sun for a while. Then we drove down to Malibu and ate lunch at this little place called John's Garden. Then we went back to the pool and swam some more and then read out in the sun. Then I went back to our apartment and baked chocolate chip muffins. Then I walked over to work....And later Jenessa and I are going to head down to the gym, and then Wednesday Night Worship. It's been a terrific day!!!

2006-05-24T00:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've updated my blog. I've wanted to, but it seems like every time I sit down I get distracted by something. I took the picture above today as I was walking back to my apartment after class. The weather has turned absolutely gorgeous lately. For the past 2 weeks we've had "May gray" and it's been cloudy every day, no joke. So it's awesome that it finally cleared up. This morning Chelsey and I got up around 5:40 to go to the gym before class, but it was so beautiful out that we decided to run down to the beach instead of heading down into the depths of the gym. This morning the sun looked amazing, and it was still a little cool. We ran down the Pepperdine hill and down another path to the beach level. Then we ran along for a while. i had to walk some of it, I'm still not too good at running, but I like it. Then we ran back to school and made breakfast before class. Unfortunately, later in the day my right shin started hurting, and I think I might have shin-splits. I don't really have good running shoes, and I've been going to the gym everyday for the past 2 weeks, and I think it finally hurt my leg. It's frustrating because good shoes aren't going to be cheap, and I definitely want to continue going to the gym and stuff. Ugh. To top it off, it hurts to walk! Annoying. So after work today, I went and had dinner with my friend Holly and her family. Then she and I and 2 friends went to go see the Da Vinci Code (the second time for me). It's a good movie. I've got to read the book before I can really comment on it. Then we all went to BJ's and got pizzookies. Anyways I guess that's about it for now...

2006-05-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from Bible Lectures week:

Josh, Jolene and I (each day we had to alternate what color shirts we wore)...

Josh driving one of the shuttles

Some of the wonderful girls in childcare...I helped out one day...my favorite room was definitely the 6months-2yrs room....the kids were adorable!

This is how many people attended the main speaker sessions everyday

Todd with two elderly ladies we met...the one on the left graduated from Pepperdine in 1940!!!

Garrett and Dre, making sure cars aren't driving too fast on dorm road

Smile!

Haha...the boys making sure that people aren't being too loud while a session is going on...

My new roomie (Jenessa) and I went to Target a few days ago...

2006-05-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

Hmmmmm its 5:58am, and its starting to get light outside. Why am I up so early you might ask? Well, this morning we (student workers for the bible lectures) had to be at our assigned dorms to check people out at 5:45am. Who really wants to check-out at 5:45 in the morning? I have no idea. But, never the less, I'm here...Sitting in a lobby....Waiting for people who whish to leave my campus after this full week of bible lectures and head to their homes. This week has been amazing by the way. I've never attended the Pepperdine Bible Lectures before, and so I jumped at the chance to work at them this year. Get paid to spend an extra week on campus? Yes please! There are about 100 of us students working at the lectures this year. Last week on Friday we all moved into dorm 8. Guys on one side of the dorm, girls on the other. 3-4 people to a room. And lots and lots of stuff everywhere since everyone had to move out of their spring dorms. The lectures officially started Tuesday, so from Friday till then we had "pre-jobs" which basically meant that we readied the campus for the hoards of people who were due to arrive at some point on Tuesday. Friday afternoon I helped move extra mattresses into all the dorms. While each guy there could carry a mattress on his own, the girls teamed up to lift the mattresses over our heads and into the dorms. Saturday I helped set up class rooms for the lectures. Monday we helped the housing students get all the dorm rooms ready. This means making sure all the furniture is in the right spot, as well as lowering lofted or bunked beds. We went around to every single dorm. Tuesday all day I was at this very dorm, checking people in. I enjoyed it a lot. It was great to meet people get to know them a little. Wednesday started the work I was assigned to do in the first place, which is tapes. I guess they should really change the name to "CD's" since they don't actually use tapes anymore to record the lectures, but oh well. I was assigned to 3 rooms in the library. For the next 3 days, I had to make sure that the speaker in each room was set up with his mic and that everything was recording smoothly. Each day there were 4 sets of hour lectures in each room. I was determined to work 8 hours a day, so Wednesday evening when I realized I still needed to work another 2 hours, I headed over to childcare and helped out there. I was in the "6 months to 2 yrs" room, and loved it! That's definitely my favorite age! Thursday night I helped in the tapes booth actually sell tapes, as well as take orders. We worked till about 1am that night. Oh yea, and had to be back there the next day at 8am. It's not as bad as it seems though. It's great being stuffed into a dorm with a bunch of really awesome people, and though we're all a little tired, we get a lot of time to hang out and have fun. Last night we worked in the tapes booth till 12:30, and yes, this morning I had to be here at 5:45. But when I can leave here at 10:30, my day is only starting. After this job comes the "un-doing" of everything we did to set up the campus. I'm on mattress duty again....But this time taking all the extra mattresses out of the dorms. This week has been so much fun, and I've taken lots of pictures. I'll try to load them on my computer at some point today or tomorrow. I did actually get to sit in and listen to a few lectures, especially the ones in the library. Without a doubt, my favorite one was entitled "The chocolate side of Life." A woman spoke about life in terms oh chocolate. Who doesn't like that idea? The good times in life are milk chocolate: smooth, light, and sweet. The bad times in life are like bitter dark chocolate. She talked a lot about being positive, and looking towards the brighter side of things. A favorite quote was: "We all have a choice: either moan about the rain or be thankful for the umbrella." Another was: "Get all the milk chocolate out of life, and throw away the wrapper." Anyways I'll have to go back and listen to it again (I ordered the cd). I got a chance to see all the people from the Manhattan church, which was awesome. Summer session starts monday!!!

2006-04-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!!

This weekend has been so awesome so far! Lauren invited me to her house for Easter weekend, and we left campus Friday afternoon. We had dinner with her family that night, to celebrate her birthday which is on Tuesday. Saturday we slept in, and then went to her dad's office, and planned for Europe next year! It was so fun! and exciting! Then Lauren got her hair cut, and we met up with one of her friends and got manicures and pedicures. That night was "classy night" at this restaurant called bj's. It was a campus ministries event, and everyone got really dressed up! It was so fun!! I'll have pictures from it eventually, but my camera died. This morning we went to church and now we're just catching up on a little homework before we eat dinner. Lauren's parents left easter baskets for us this morning! It was the sweetest thing ever! Inside Lauren's mom put in a paper about who you are in Christ....and here was part of it....

You say: It's impossible
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: I can't figure things out
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: I'm not smart enough
God says: I give you wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30)

You say: I'm always worried and fustrated
God says: Cast all you cares on me (1 Peter 5:7)

You say: I feel alone
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

I loved it! This has been such a fun relaxing weekend...next week starts dead week, and then finals!!! The craziness is starting! Next week is going to be so much fun though, the last week is always sooo much fun!

2006-04-01T18:20:00.000-08:00

New thing I did today? Tennis! My friend Jackie and I played tennis today, and it was soo fun! I've played a little before, but I fell in love with it today! I think I'm going to try and invest in my own racket. We played for about 2 hours and I got a little sunburned! It was worth it though, sooo fun! Since then I've just been accomplishing....computer homework, religion homework, completing an international programs scholarship...and now I'm on to working on my accounting project. We have to analyze the financial statements of a major soda company. Our group had the Jones Soda company. We have to "obtain the most recent annual report from our publicly traded US company. Analyze 3 items on the income statement and balance sheet and discuss whether our company's performance is improving, deteriorating, or remaining the same over 2 years." We also have to compare our company's financial statements to another group's company (Hanson) and make a decision as to which company to invest in. I actually love my accounting class and find this project really interesting. I was reading over the footnotes on the statement and found out that Jones agreed to let Target sell their sodas but only in cans, not bottles, and only for 2 years to see how it goes. How cool is that???

2006-03-31T16:06:00.000-08:00

Wow it's been more than a month since I've written anything! Things have just been soo incredibly busy. But this week has been awesome despite the 2 majors tests I had to study for. It seems like everyday this week God has introduced me to something new and incredible. It started off on Monday. Monday nights is prayer and discipleship team, and we usually have a bible study or something like that. This time Josh (who is one of the two leaders of the group) announced that we were going to be doing something a little different. We were going to do foot washing. My initial reaction? Very surprised and a little scared. Oh course I've read about it before in the bible, and I've heard of different groups doing it, but I'd never experienced it myself. It was an amazing experience. It was incredibly humbling and made me realize the extent of the power in that action. It's one thing to read about Jesus washing his disciples feet, but anther thing entirely to actually have someone get down on their knees and wash your feet as well as getting on your own knees. I've never fully grasped what Jesus was showing his disciples, or what they must have been thinking/feeling while he was doing that. It was so cool!!! So that was Monday. Tuesday started off like every Tuesday does....Macroeconomics, religion class....And that's where it stopped being a normal Tuesday. As I walked back to my room from class, I stopped in the HAWC to get something to eat. That day there was a blood drive going on. Anyways, as I was buying something, a nurse from the blood drive had come in and realized that the HAWC didn't take credit cards, only our student ID cards, so I offered to buy her her coffee. I started chatting with her a little and bumped into one of my friends from my computer class while we were standing there. She asked us if we had given blood. We both said no. I don't have anything against giving blood, it's just a little scary. She encouraged us both to give blood and assured us that it only took about 10 minutes. My friend turned toward me and said "we should do it" hmmmm.....Give blood? Well, I actually wanted to, but was just being a little bit of a chicken. Our conversation went like this:

Chris: "I think we should do it"
Me: "Yea...We should...I've wanted to before...But I don't know..."
Chris: "I know....I've always been too freaked out to give blood."
Me: "yea...."
Chris: "I'll do it if you do it"
Me: "I'll do it if you do it"

Haha so we went back downstairs and signed up to give blood. We had to wait like 5 minutes. So I got called and a nurse asked me a series of questions, and then pricked my finger and took a sample to make sure I had enough iron in my blood. Then I went to another area where a bunch of people we sitting in these reclining chairs. Then they stuck my arm and for about 10 mins I waited till they had a pint of blood. I started getting a little nervous when they had to take the needle out, but it turned out okay, and I was fine after (except my arm hurt a little). So I gave blood!!! It was really really cool, and apparently I saved 3 lives! How cool is that???

Hmmmm let's see....oh Wednesday was pretty awesome too....My friend Jt and I went on a run/walk around Malibu for an hour and a half! We ran along pch till we hit a smaller road that led down to the street where the beach houses were on. It was a lot of fun, and it's sooo pretty running by the water. I started running this past week, just for fun, to actually exercise a little. It was fun to just to be outside! Yesterday I went to a career fair they had at my school. I signed up for it a while ago, and they had packets made up for us with business cards and everything. There were like 30 different companies there, waiting to talk to students about internships and jobs. I wasn't the only freshman there, but most of the jobs they had were for juniors and seniors. It was still fun to get to see what it was like and to meet the recruiters.

Today I just had classes and got a bunch of stuff done. Later tonight my friends and I are going out to dinner. Anyways so it was really cool starting each day wondering what exciting thing I'd do that day, and then today I realized that everyday should start off like that! Just think about it...What cool/exciting/interesting/amazing/awesome things did you experience today?

2006-02-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

PEPPERDINE VS. GONZAGA

Me, Lindsey & Erin (our RA)

Guess who was at our game?
Can you find them?
Yes there's three people you're looking for...
1. Kobe Bryant
2. Reggie Miller
3. David Duchovny
Okay David isn't actually in the picture above,
but Kobe and Reggie are.
Cool huh???

Yea okay, it's blurry.
BUT that's Kobe Bryant & his daughter.
Yep....rooting for the Waves.

We ended up losing the game....but it's really okay cuz the game was a lot of fun. Gonzaga is our biggest rival, and they're 5th in the nation. And we're not. We're like 20th or something when it comes to basketball. So really, being beaten by only 10 pts isn't too bad when you look at it that way. Oh and we got another t-shirt!!!

That was yesterday night. Today was a pretty good day. I took a religion test that I'd been studying for like crazy for the past 4 days. AND it went soooo well!!! Majorly exciting! That's one down and 2 to go....prayers would be most helpful right about now!!

Spring Break countdown............3 DAYS!!!

2006-02-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

I feel like the time between my blog posts is getting longer and longer! I blame it on school. Well and also on my laziness to just sit down and write. Actually maybe also on a lack of interesting stuff to write about. Don't get me wrong, the past few days have been really fun, but just nothing spectacularly exciting that I felt just had to be written down. Let's see...What has gone on in the past few days? Well...Friday night Jackie, Anna and I were going to have a girls night and go out to dinner and a movie, but then Jt and Zach decided that they wanted to take us all out somewhere and surprise us as to where, so we all piled into Jt's car and ended up at Claim Jumpers. I had never been there before, and let me tell you...it's delicious! After that we were all pretty tired so we just went back to campus. Later that night, Jt, Anna and I were hanging out in Jt's room and we had a dance party (pic).

Okay, I'll be honest....It was more like a rave. Haha it was really fun and we just danced around acting silly. Saturday my roomie and I did a lot of homework, and went to the men's volleyball game, which we won! This weekend is Homecoming weekend, and so there's been tons of stuff going on on campus all weekend. There was a basketball game in the evening, but we decided not to go because it was freezing out (odd) and raining (again, odd. It's rained about 4 times since August. We're not used to rain this year) I spent a good part of the night studying for a Religion test I have next week.

This morning we had breakfast together and then Jt, Lauren and I went to the University Church on campus. I'd been to it once or twice before, and I usually attend to Canejo Valley CoC, but today I wasn't able to get there so I decided to give the one on campus another try. Ken Durham, the minister, gave a really good sermon. It was called "A Profound Absence" dealing with Psalm 22. Psalm 22 starts off:

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent."

Ken Durham goes on to explain an amazing analogy: When his daughter was 2 years old he had to take her to the doctors office to get a set of shots. She was still young enough that she didn't know what was going to happen, and she was just happily sitting in his lap as they waited for the doctor to come in. She walks in with her arm behind her back, and Ken is fully aware of what's going to happen. He knows that she is going to be hurt by the shot, but it's for her own good. It's not to intentionally hurt her, but it will keep her healthy. He also knows that it has to happen even if he doesn't want her to be hurt. He asks the doctor if his daughter should sit on the table instead of his lap, and she replies no, that she's happy where she is. And so the doctor walks over and gives the little girl her shot. Ken's daughter starts crying and in shock looks up at her dad as if asking "Did you know she was going to do that? Why did she just do that? How could you let her do that to me?"

Jesus was the same way when he was on the cross. He cries out to God as it says in Psalm 22. It's as if Jesus is asking God the the same questions that Ken's daughter was. God knew what was going to happen. He knew that Jesus was going to have to die a painful death. He knew that Jesus was going to cry out to Him. But he also knew that he couldn't do anything in the moment...that was just how things had to happen. As Lauren, Jt and I walked back to our dorms we talked about the idea of not knowing things. That even as much as we know, we don't know everything; God's plan is just so big that there's no way for us to be aware of everything. It's a strange concept to think that while something terrible is going on, that someone else could know perfectly well what was going to happen, and even what was going to happen afterwards.

I loved Ken Durhams message so much, and for some reason it just struck me. I guess I've never really thought about things like that. Sometimes we call out to God, and get no answer. It feels like we're been forgotten, or maybe even ignored. But it's great to know that in times when we feel like God's not there, and when we feel like his silence means absence, that we are actually sitting on His lap. He's always right there next to us.

2006-02-07T19:53:00.000-08:00

This was the view this morning!
Amazing, huh?

I feel like this week has been going on forever! It's only Tuesday! I guess it's because in the past 4 school days I've had a test in every class I'm taking. I've just about had it with business. It's starting to drive me crazy! I go into computer class and we talk about finding the formulas to figure out the profits for a company. I go to accounting and we talk about balancing accounts for a company, and lots and lots of statements and assets and liabilities. I go to econ and we talk about profits and unemployment and taxes and revenue. I go to math class and we talk about sets, and how one set is a company and another sec is companies in a certain area, and we solve for the profits of the companies...AAAAAAHHHHH! I think if I walk into my religion class and we talk about business I'll cry. Does this seem like a change in major may be in order? Possibly. I like business, I really do, but I feel like I'm overdosing on it at the moment. So Friday I went to the career center and to onestop, and found a major that mixes things up a little bit. It's called "integrated marketing and communication." It's a mix of com classes, pr classes, advertising classes, as well as a few finance business classes. I can't declare it yet, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to handle strictly business classes for the next 3 years. One of my friends is an advertising major and he was telling me about his classes and they sound like fun! I just think it'd be more me to have a mix of stuff in my major...I like business, and I don't want to completely give it up, so this seems like a good mix. I like business a lot, and I am enjoying my classes, but I'd rather have business on a different end. I don't like the math end of it. I like the concepts, but not actually doing the math parts. hmmm maybe this new major would be perfect. I want to look into it a little more.

Other than that, things have been okay, this past weekend was really fun. We watched a few movies, and just kind of relaxed. Oh and we watched the superbowl on tvo. I'm so glad tomorrow is Wednesday....No classes!!! Linz and I are going to go to the beach and do homework. Today it was about 80 degrease, and sooo beautiful out!!

2006-01-29T19:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a few days since I've posted anything...I can't seem to come up with anything to write about! It was a pretty normal week...classes and all that. Yesterday Linz and I spent the whole day working on homeowork....and then I babysat for a faculty member's daughter. It was really fun, and it was the first time I've got to babysit since I've been at school. I miss it! Hopefully my name will get around now, and more people will call me for babysitting! Actually, I have gotten calls before, but they dont live on campus so that's a little bit of a problem.

So let's see...church today, and then a few of us went out to California Pizza Kitchen...I had Thai pizza. Ever had thai pizza before? it's delicious!!! The rest of the day was pretty much a hanging out relaxing day, which was just wonderful. That's it for now!

2006-01-18T00:02:00.000-08:00

Sunday we went to the Gregory Colbert exhibition called "Ashes and Snow" in Santa Monica. It was really interesting! The picture on the top is one of my favorites. Here's a description from the exhibition: "Ashes and Snow is an ongoing project that weaves together photographic works, and film installations. Over the course of 14 years, Gregory Colbert has made more than 30 expeditions to India, Egypt, Myanmar, Tonga, Sri Lanka, and many others to photograph and film unscripted interactions between man and nature's living masterpieces." The second picture is a little hard to see, but it's where the exhibition is held. They stacked box cars on top of each other and made it into a huge room, and the lighting was really dim. The pictures were printed onto huge pieces of Chinese paper and they were all just hanging from the ceiling. I'm so glad one of my friends suggested that we go!

Monday night a huge group of us went out to a restaurant called C&O's. It's an Italian place, and it was delicious! We sat in the outside part, and the walls were painted to look like streets in Italy. At one point the waiters brough around lyrics to "That's Amore." On the sheet there were specific parts where you had to toast people.... the entire restaurant starts to sing, and the waiters come around and clinked glasses with everyone. It was so fun! And so good! And we brought back so much food!

2006-01-16T01:14:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics from the auto show....

Amazing cars!!! Also...here are a few pics from the volleyball game....

That's it for now....more tomorrow!

2006-01-14T01:24:00.000-08:00

Tonight was way fun! Actually, the whole day was fun! I only had two classes this morning because my math class was cancelled. After those two classes I had lunch with Jackie and a few other new freshman who are super nice, and then I brought my computer to the computer store because the wireless hadn't been working. To my surprise, I turn it on for the tech guy at the computer store, and it works perfectly fine! I had no idea what was wrong or how it fixed itself! In any case, it's great and I'm happy it's working again. Then a huge bunch of us decided to go to the movies, so we left in order to try to catch a 4pm showing, but we hit major traffic on the way there so we had to switch up our plans and we ended up eating dinner together at JohnneyRockets. Well, actually, JT, Lauren and I got Chinese food and brought it there to eat with everyone else. Afterwards, we went back to campus and everyone got Pepperdine-afied so we would be ready for the volleyball game against Stanford. It was a fun game and I had never been to a volleyball game before. We won! Another thing that was really cool was that my roommates brother is an announcer for our school tv show, and he was right in front of us broadcasting the whole time. way cool. After the game, all 10 of us loaded into 2 cars and we drove to DiddyReese and had delicious cookie-ice cream sandwiches. The best part? They only cost $1!! Then we cam back to campus and JT and I hung out in Laurens' room for a while. It was such a fun day, and a great start to a long weekend! Actually, it really isn't a long weekend for me because I have to work Monday!!!! At 8am, isn't that terrible?

2006-01-11T22:22:00.000-08:00

I'm officially half way into my first week of second semester. I'm still alive...that's good. Wednesday's are probably my favorite day because I have NO classes! Well, I have to go to convo in the morning and then every other week I have the International thing, but other than that, I'm free! It's great because I know I'll need the day to catch up on work from Tuesday's because I have 5 classes in one day! Tuesday's I attend every single one of my classes. Macroeconomics, Religion, Math for business, Accounting, and Computer for business. I don't think it'll be too bad, but just a lot of work all at once. I like all my classes so far.... Econ...it seems like it's going to be interesting, but it's way early in the morning unfortunately. Religion we're going to be studying the Old Testament, which is good because I've read most of it. Religion is my largest class, I think there are about 150 of us or so. The teacher is nice though, and we actually go to the same church, so I knew him before our first class. Math seems like I can deal with it. Right now we're reviewing derivatives from last semester, and then we're going on to probability, which I like a like. Accounting was really really interesting, and we've only had one class. Our teacher is funny and a little quirky, but she seems really smart. Two of the bits of wisdom she left us with on the first day were "Don't take your friends drugs," and "Don't drink on state campuses because they have real police officers." It was kind of funny. She has two teenage children, so we heard a few stories about them. She was a little intimidating. She kept saying that she's not such a hard teacher, but then went on to tell us about our homework (on the first day!!!) and said that it would be amazing if we were able to understand one of the problems. So today Linz, JT and I did the homework, and guess what? We're AMAZING! We were given a long list of assets, liabilities, and retained earnings of a movie company and we had to write a balance sheet. We got to the end, and we were off by a little, but all of a sudden we got it!!! It was really fun! I think accounting is going to be awesome. It's really the first taste of a business class I've had so far, and it's way fun. The last class is computer for business, and we're going to be learning excel. Eh, I'm sure it'll be interesting. Tonight I went to Wednesday night worship and it was really fun. The speaker talked about how we're all prisoners to so many things, but how Jesus died and because of that we're set free. It was really really interesting. Also, they told us about the Spring retreat, which is next weekend!!! I'm so excited for it! I didn't get to go to the fall one, and I can't wait for this one. Lauren is going to go too. The only problem is that it costs $85...so I'll have to see about that.

2006-01-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Fun! We've done so many fun things in the past few days! I think I'll go backwards starting with today...Lauren and I went to Malibu on a mission to buy our text books today. We figured we'd get a jump start on the masses buying their books tomorrow and get it out of the way today. We drove to Pdine and ended up on campus. We realized that we hadn't gotten a token from the guy at the booth and so we wouldn't be able to park near the bookstore, so we decided to go back and ask for one. We drove out of school and we were going to turn around and go back up the hill, but then we decided to just go to the little Malibu shopping center (country mart) and get a muffin because we were starting to get hungry.

So we drive there and park (inbetween like 3 porches) and walk to Malibu Kitchen. We called JT and Jackie to see if they wanted us to get them anything, and they told us they were on their way down to Coogies for lunch, but would join us at Malibu Kitchen. So we ended up having lunch there. A lady in the store offered us a job, and we all took applications. I think it would be so fun to work there. And...An added bonus...She told us that we would be able to eat there! Haha the less caff food the better! So after Malibu Kitchen we went to a store next door and we were about to head to another one, but Lauren and I decided that we should just make our way to the bookstore. So we drive back to campus and I see my friend Anthony near the steps and we say hi and all that and tell him we're going to the bookstore and he says "oh they just closed 5 minutes ago, it's already 4 o'clock!" We freaked out and went running down to the bookstore and indeed it was closed! It was so frustrating!!!! And someone walked by and told us they wouldn't be open until 7:45 am MONDAY! Ugh it was terrible. This is me and Lauren looking majorly bumed that the bookstore was closed! and then we got over it :)
SO after that fiasco, we went and sat in front of the chapel for a while looking at the water. We were soo frustrated but eventually it went away. We walked up to our dorms to see if our RA's were there so we could get out keys and get into our dorms early, and it worked! It was so fun being back in my room and I was able to get my camera cord which is why I finally can put up some pictures! After that we hung out in JT's room for a while, and tried to figure out what we were doing later on in the evening. We wanted to go out somewhere, but Lauren and I had to drive back to her house so we didn't want it to be too late. We decided to go to Thai Dishes again. Two friends of JT and Jackie came with us...we had a lot of fun and ate really delicious yummy food. Then we all went back to campus and hung out for a while and then Lauren and I drove back home.

Yesterday Lauren and I went to the Brazilian consulate for her dad.
That's the view from the consulate...isn't it amazine? You can see the Hollywood sign in the distance!
It took us about an hour to drive to Beverly Hills, where the consulate was located. Then after we finished that we met JT and Jackie at Pdine for lunch....we went to Thai Dishes....Yummmm, need I say more? Then we went back to Laurens house and later on at night we met back up with JT and Jackie and another new transfer freshman, Ryan. We met them at this Chinese restaurant and sat outside and talked for a while. Then we got coldstones! YUMM lol and then we went to Barns and Noble and stayed there for like 2 hours! This is us at coldstones....

Driving to pdine yesterday....I LOVE PCH!!!
Aren't the palm trees beautiful????

That's it for now...more tomorrow!

2006-01-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

I'm in california!!! It was 82 degreese when we landed! How A-mazing is that? The flight wasn't too bad, I sat next to a junior at USC. We talked thoughout the flight, it made the time go by faster. One of my bags weighed 62 pounds and they said that we'd have to pay an extra fee so we quickly moved some stuff into my other bag. Lauren and her dad picked me up and I couldn't get over how gorgeous the palm trees are at the airport! I miss home and New York a little, but I'm sure i'll have no problem adjusting! Lauren and I went to Target to pick up some stuff for our dorms and had lunch at In-N-Out. Now we're just hanging out a bit and I think we're going to see some of Lauren's friends later. That's it for now....laters!

2006-01-04T15:59:00.000-08:00

Wow it's been a while since I've written anything, I guess that just shows how busy I've been keeping myself. After Christmas I worked at Macys for a few more days....but this time in the junior section which was sooo fun! Everyone I worked with was really nice, and it was fun dealing with clothes all day. I also spent some time in the city...I hung out with Liza and we saw a few of our friends from our old school. New Years was fun...Liza and I had planned to go to Times square since we'd never been before, but we woke up in the morning and it was snowing like crazy so we decided against it. Instead we hung out at her house with our parents and we watched Skeleton Key and The Ring 2. I liked Skeleton Key a lot, it really made you think...but the Ring was just kind of stupid. We watched the ball drop on tv, and we could hear fireworks outside. It was a fun way to bring in 2006! 2006....how weird is that? It always takes me a while to get used to the new year. So I go to go to church and see everyone there. I did one of the readings at church and Stefen and Thomas did other parts of the service. Larry mentioned us, the college kids, and how we were back, it was fun being mentioned! I really liked the verses I read...I can't remember what they are now, but I'll post them later if I do. After church a big group of us went to lunch nearby and after that Damian and my mom and I went ice skating in Central Park. It was a lot of fun, I hadn't been in about 2 years I think, which is way too long to go without ice skating. Monday I went ice skating again, but with my cousin this time. She's really good at ice skating. Then i got to hang out with my family for a while. I went to Macys to visit everyone I worked with...I brought doughnuts to the ladies in the gift wrap section and said hi to everyone else. That night I hung out with Danielle. We went to applebees and hung out and it was a really fun night. Today I hung out with David....we were supposed to go ice skating, but the rink's only session was too early so we missed it because we went to the mall instead. We ended up going to the Olive Garden, which was really yummy. I had never been there before. We had fun listening to music both ways to the restaurant, but I couldn't get my music to work so we had to listen to David's ipod, and he needs more good music! We were joking around that he needs a playlist just for when I'm with him because his kind of music is more rock-ish because he plays the guitar, and I prefer music you can sing along with, so ill have to give him some music. We got into a really good discussion on the way back...About gender equality....Actually the lack of need of gender equality. I wrote my speech term paper on that topic....And I really do think that there isn't such a need for gender equality everywhere. Now I know some people will strongly disagree, but hey that's what I think. Now I'm headed out to see Liza one last time, and then tonight I have to pack! I always wait till the last minute it's terrible! I have a heap of stuff I need to fit into one huge bag.

2005-12-25T09:51:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2005-12-20T20:55:00.000-08:00

Wow the past few days have been so crazy! Seriously! Where to start....let's see....Monday, my mom and I went to the mall to finish up some shopping and we went to Macys and I asked if they might still need gift wrappers even though it was really close to christmas, and the lady was I don't think so but you can fill out an application anyways, so I started filling it out and she came over to me and asked if I could work really early or really late (aka macys opens at 7am and closes at 12am) and I said sure thing! So basically to sum it up, I got hired. The only problem was that I needed some paper work that was in the city. So my mom and I decided to go get them and we did that last night so I could start working today. What we didn't know would happen was that the MTA would decide to strike!!!! Talk about bad timing! We wake up in the morning and theres not a single train or bus running! We were listening to the classical station, and it was so dramatic... "Breaking News! The MTA Transit Strike 2005! da dum da dum da dum (dramatic music)" It was a little funny. People were required to have 4 people in their cars to go downtown, so many people were asking people on the street if they needed rides and so my mom and I stood outside for like 5 minutes and then someone drove by and we got a ride! It took 2 hours to get downtown, and most of the traffic was caused by people with fewer than 4 people in their cars who got turned away at different check points on the way downtown. It was a little surreal. I've never been a part of a strike this big before. Well, anyways to continue with my story, we got to Long Island and Macy's and I still had my job even though I was more than 3 hours late. I got shown around, given a name tag, and sent to work basically. But it was so fun! For hours I just gift wrapped! I absolutely LOVE gift wrapping, so this is beyond perfect. Also, it's kinda fun imagining people opening the gifts I wrapped, on Christmas morning. So thats what I did today!!!

2005-12-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

I'm Home! And it's great! It was fun to go to church this morning....I saw tons of people, and caught up with friends, and it was just great. Then I got to hang out with David, my next-door neighbor, and now my mom is making lunch/dinner. Could life get any better? Also, another major plus of college....no homework over Christmas break! It's the best! I was really happy that I hadn't forgotten anything, and then I realized that I didn't pack my camera cord! In other words I can only take as many pictures as can fit on my chip, and I won't be able to get them onto my computer till I get back to school! It's sad!

2005-12-13T00:25:00.000-08:00

No words could describe the beauty of a sunset. Pictures don't do it any justice. God is amazing.

2005-12-11T00:15:00.000-08:00

Wow the past few days have been really fun-filled! Friday was officially the last day of classes! So to celebrate that, a huge bunch of us went out to dinner at Marmalade. By huge I mean we walked in and said hi we're the really large reservation. The guy looked down and slowly said "The group of 32?" It was hilarious. So they led us outside, which didn't seem like such a good idea considering it was a little chilly outside, but they had these huge heater things, and it ended up being warmer out there than inside the restaurant! Marmalade is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to! Ben and I split this pasta dish. It had chicken and 3 types of mushrooms in white sauce. Yummm!!! After dinner we decided to get a group picture of all of us: Yup, that's a lot of people. So after dinner we went to go see Narnia! It was a wonderful movie, eventhough we stood on a line outside for 30mins till they let us in. Linz and Greg were supposed to meet us there, (Linz had gone out to dinner with a bunch of future Heidelbergers) but in the end, she couldn't make it, but Greg still came. So the movie was really good. I think it helped that I couldn't remember everything that was going to happen since it had been so long since I read the books. C.S. Lewis is an amazing author...this will probably sound crazy, but I only learned this year that he was a Christian author, and let me tell you, the movie was jam packed full of biblical references. It really made me want to reread the book. Today we went to the mall, and I finished shopping for my secret santa! We had lunch at the mall, and then Greg and I went to the Camerillo outlets. I had been wanting to go there for a while, but as it turns out, only a few of the store are really outlets, the rest of them are the same as the store in the mall. Then we saw Pride&Prejudice, which was such a cute movie!!! Then we went to In n Out (the best fries you'll ever eat, Californians know how to make fries). When Greg and I got back to campus, we hung out for a while....then Lauren came over and gave me an adorable notebook to keep all our quotes in! I love writing down all the funny quotes we come up with. Yep so that's where I am now. I'm a little worried that I havn't started studying for finals yet...but starting tomorrow I will. Tonight I seep, and tomorrow I study. I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to post again till Thursday....so here's the deal for the next 4 days....Sunday study, Monday study and work (no finals), Tuesday Speech final due, and Art final, Wednesday: French final, Thursday: Calc final and Seminar Final. So that's it for now...pray for me...I need prayers!!!

2005-12-09T00:34:00.000-08:00

Wanna know one reason why I love Pepperdine? Small classes. That picture above is my entire French252 class, with out teacher. Yes, go ahead, count us. 9, that's right. 9 students and myself made up the entire class. It was a great class, really fun. Today was our last class. It was kinda sad, that's why we took a picture!

Today was also my last speech. It was a little sad as well. I really liked the classes I took this semester, and I liked all the people in my classes too. Tonight was interesting, Linz and I went to Lauren's room and she ordered a pizza and JT came over and we just had the best time taking for about 2 hours. We laughed hysterically, and it was awesome!

2005-12-07T00:52:00.000-08:00

Things have been beyond busy lately. I'm just about to go to sleep....so this will be brief...Jimmy Eat World concert Sunday night was fun, a little too loud for me. Lauren and I left early. There was a crazy mosh pit but none of us felt like going in. Monday was just about as normal as you can get...my math group gave our presentation, and it was fabulously (we got 87 out of 80!!!!). Today was fun, but busy. Work, classes...I turned in a 6pg paper for Seminar, and a 40pg reflection journal. Went to the writing center....fixed up my art paper (due tomorrow). Got ready for the financial aid/admissions Christmas party...it turned out to be super fun! The food was delicious, and there was malibuYo for desert! Then I ran up to speech class. We watched this movie that was really sad, but very good. Then I met Lindsey and JT and we went to UM. It was very festive and people were able to make gingerbread houses and decorate cookies. It was really fun. Ross gave a really interesting talk about Christmas. Then we sang a few Christmas songs. UM had gone later than usual (10) so we left right after, and when I got back I fixed up my art paper. OOOO how could I forget??? The other majorly important thing that happened today.................I GOT MY ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH I might be going to Paris next semester!!!!!!!!!! Overall, today was wonderful. God has blessed my life so much it's crazy!!!!!!!!! This is a picture of us at UM tonight.
OO wow how could I forget? Monday had a special part to it too...the involvement team went out to dinner to this yummy Italian place for our last meeting....I think it was called Buca de Bepos....It was so good!
Okay that's it for now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-12-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

This morning we went to the Hollywood Church of Christ. It was me, Kurtis and Lauren. It took us about 40 minutes to get there, but it was definitly worth it! I saw Shea there! I havn't seen her in ages!!! I really liked the Hollywood Church, we'll probably go back at some point, but I think next weekend we're going to Canejo since it's the last Sunday before next semester. After church we got breakfast and then drove back to campus. I should probably be starting my seminar essay, but I feel I should talk about the amazingly fun day I had yesterday!

So yesterday, it was amazing, I got up at 11:45!! A beautiful long night of sleep. Well actually it was only 10 hours, but it was still pretty amazing. Then I wrote a french essy, then got breakfast around 2pm, and then JT and Lauren and I went to the museum on campus. I had to look at the Zelda Fitzgerald exhibition for art appreciation class. I chose "Times Square 1944."
I went back to my dorm afterwards and wrote an essay about it, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Right before Lauren left we all met up outside and picked names out of a hat, so we only have to buy one gift and not 4! Then around 7, Ben, JT, Linz and I went to the oaks mall to go Christmas shopping. We walked around together for a bit and then split up to go secret santa shopping. I had a hard time finding what I was looking for, and I ended up with something good, but I'm not fully happy with what I got my person. Hopefully we'll go again next weekend so I can spend more time looking. After we picked Lauren up and had dinner at Toppers, which is this really yummy pizza place. Then we went to Starburcks and sat and talked for a while....aren't we adorable?
Then we went back to campus and watched Elf. It was such a fun relaxing day!!

So now I think I'll get going with the essay I have to write.....tonight is the Jimmy Eat World concert!!!!!!!!

2005-12-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

Wow I can't believe that the last time I posted was for Thanksgiving! That seems like ages ago....It was only last week! Things have been soooo busy I don't know where to start! It was fun being home for a few days and being able to see all my family and a few friends. The flights were both a little awful, but only because they were at insanely early times in the morning. Being back at school was fun, my friends and I went out to a restaurant called Thai Dishes in Malibu on Sunday night. I had never had Thai food before, and it was delicious! The next few days are like a blur in my mind because I was working on a 10page paper that was due Thursday. Handing that in yesterday was a load off one shoulder....The other load that's still there is the math project that was supposed to be due today. Our group didn't end up going, so we have to present on Monday. Doesn't sound too difficult, right? Wrong. My group waited till the last minute to really start working on things, and we met up in the Hawc around 10:45 after the Christmas concert on Thursday Night (more on that later) and stayed there till around 12am. Then I went back to my room and worked on our powerpoint till 3. It was a little ridiculous. 5 hours later I got up for class and found out that we weren't even presenting till Monday. We have wonderful luck, don't we? So the Christmas concert was amazing!!! I went with Lindsey and JT. I actually was required to go for my art appreciation class, but I probably would have gone anyways. First the Seaver college chorale sang, and then the concert choir sang and the the orchestra played. All the songs were great, but the best ones were: Bidi Bom, Breath of Heaven, and Do you hear What I Hear. Sleigh Ride, which the orchestra played, was my favorite. They had sleigh bells and everything! At the end there was a sing-along, which was really fun. The only weird part was that for the first time in a long time, I was in the audience, instead of onstage. For my whole life I feel like I've always been part of the singing group at whatever school I was attending...This year however, it didn't quite work out. Well over all, the concert was great and I'm glad I went! Today was probably the most relaxed day I've had in 2 weeks...I went to calc, went to a meeting at the career center and then went to seminar class, then just hung out in my room with Lindsey, and semi worked and talked and we just had a fun afternoon. We even started making Christmas cards for our friends. It was just so fun....we had Christmas music on the whole time which just added to it I guess. At 8 we met up with Lauren and JT and went to the HAWC where they were having a Christmas dance/party. It was fun, very festive, but there weren't too many people there. We took a picture with Santa which is going to be send to my email eventually...I'll have to post it here when I receive it. After that we went to Jt's and watched Felicity (the movie!) and The Emperors New Groove. It was so fun to just watch movies and not think about work! Here's a picture from when we were at the HAWC: So today was a pretty great day. Tomorrow will be even better! Wanna know why? Because it's Saturday and I can sleep as long as I want to!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-11-24T17:39:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

I Really do love thanksgiving. I went to my families house and saw my cousins who I hadn't seen in months and it was so fun!!! The food was delicious! It's still freezing here. Tomorrow I might do the whole "black friday" shopping thing. I'm still deciding if I want to go...only because I really don't have any money to spend. So I went to google.com and I absolutely love when google switched the logo for hollidays. It's so cute! Anyways I loved the one they had for Thanksgiving...so I decided to post it here:

Yep, so that's about it for now, have a great thanksgiving everyone!!

2005-11-23T21:03:00.000-08:00

I'm home! Finally home! Yesterday went to UM and then watched Gilmore Girls. After that, Lauren Greg and I hung out...till about 4 am! Well Greg left around 2 and then I packed a little and then hung out with Lauren. Around 4 I went back to my room and packed untill 5:15 which is when I left to meet Tim who was taking me and Lindsey to the airport. We got there pretty quickly and I checked in easily. I got to my gate and had about 2 hours before my flight left. I sat down, set up my computer and watched part of Raise Your Voice. I got to ny around 7pm. I slept for most of the flight which was a little uncomfortable but good overall. When we were landing I looked out over the city and almost started crying...I was just so happy to be home and I realized how long it had been since I left. Anyways my mom and dad met me at the airport and we took the train out to Long Island. It was fun talking on the train, and I realized that I had seen my mom a few times in the 3 months that I had been gone, but not my dad. Anyways then we went to my grandpa's house and my mom and I hung out watching tv. We ate dinner, which was so delicious I can't even describle. Food out of a caff is wonderful. Food made by your mom is amazing. So that's about it for now, I'm super sleepy so I'll write more tomorrow! Have a Great Turkey Day Everyone!!!!!!!!

2005-11-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

This weekend was totally awesome!!!! So Friday I went to the Pepperdine vs. UConn basketball game. It was the first college bball game I've ever been to. It was so fun! I went with a group of girls from my dorm and we painted out faces with orange and blue stripes. We got there about 2 hours before the game started for a bbq and we got amazing seats right in the middle. The game was on espn!!! so cool! but we lost, which wasn't a surprise only because UConn is #2 in the nation. Our boys played pretty well considering that. The final score was 75-54 I think. The pic below is from before the game:

So on Saturday we got on a train and went to Calpoly for the weekend. Linz's friend Greg goes there and told us about a Relient K concert this weekend. It was really fun! We hung out and relaxed and then Saturday night went to the concert!!!

This is Greg, me and LinzUs before the concert
Me and Linz!!!!

So Sunday we got breakfast and then took a bus into downtown slo and walked around a bit. We went to this delicious little ice cream place....it was really cool because they charge by weight, not by what you order. So you put whatever kind of ice cream you want into a cup and then put as many topings as you want on it. it was so cool! Then we decided to go to a movie and we saw Walk The Line. It was a really good movie...then we had to walk back to calpoly because the last bus had already left. It was a fun walk back and it was really nice out. We hung out for a little bit and then met up with out sla, jenessa, who drove us back to pepperdine. it was such a fun weekend!!!!

Thanksgiving is in 3 days....I go home in 2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-11-16T23:00:00.000-08:00

I have 29 hours to learn 4 pages by heart. That's 19 hours minus 6 for sleeping tonight, minus 2 for work tomorrow, minus 3 more for classes tomorrow, minus another hour for work again...that leaves me at 7 hours. subtract an hour in the morning for eating breakfast and getting dressed, and an hour for dinner and that gives me 4 hours. okay I can do this. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

On a brighter note than my speech, Jt, Ben and Lauren just stopped by to say hi to me and linz since we've been in our room since about 5. It was fun to see them for 5 mins. And guess what??? We got tickets to Jimmy Eat World! They're playing here next month! How awesome? Each semester they get some well know band to come and perform here, and this semester is Jimmy Eat World. It should be awesome.

There's so much more to tell but so little time left (as you might be able to tell from my breakdown above) so it'll have to wait untill tomorrow. Or maybe Friday afternoon, considering that once I give this speech I'll have less than 24hours to study for a major calc test. sheesh i'm finally getting a taste of college.

2005-11-11T23:48:00.000-08:00

Tonight my friend JT and I went to the musical, Anything Goes. I loved it! I absolutely love musicals! I had never seen this one before, but my school chorus sang the song “Anything Goes” last year, so it seemed familiar. To be honest, I didn’t like the story line all that much, but the music was great (my other friend Ben is in the orchestra!) and the dancing was fabulous. The set was very impressive as well. Over all it was really good. After the musical Ben and JT left to go to Santa Barbara…they’re going to some political conference thing.

This afternoon two of Lindsey’s friends came to visit us because they had this Friday off because of veterans day. Well I guess they’re my friends too now, it’s just kind of funny because I know them through Lindsey. Anyway they came to my dorm and we surprised Lindsey at her job when she was leaving for the day. We went back to our room and we were explaining to them how we wanted to change our room….bunk the beds and move some of the furniture around. So one of the guys was like “let’s do it now!” So we went up to housing and got the pegs to hold the beds in place and they just moved our beds and bunked them and then moved all our furniture around for us. It’s really cool how we have our room set up now. Our beds are bunked on Lindsey’s side of the room. She’s on the top bunk, so the difference for her is just moving up higher. My desk is where her desk used to be since I’m on the bottom, and her desk is where my bed used to be. I’ve never slept on the bottom bunk before. At camp and stuff I’ve always been on the top, so this will be an experience.

2005-11-05T23:50:00.000-08:00

Indescribable by Chris Tomlin

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

God is amazing! Lauren and I went to a Chris Tomlin concert tonight. This is my favorite song he sings. I love all his music though. The entire concert was like a big worship service. The words to all his songs were on a screen so we could all sing along. In the middle of the concert there was a devo and a guy came out and talked about the vastness of the universe and the awesomeness of God. He said that our universe is so huge and that our galaxy is tiny in comparison. He said that our solar system is like placing a quarter somewhere in the entire of north america. We are so tiny in this world...in this solar system...in our universe. God created all the zillions of stars in the sky, and he knows each and every one of them by name. How amazing is that?? The song I have above is now my favorite song ever. The whole concert was so good I can hardly describe it. God is amazing!

2005-11-05T15:49:00.000-08:00

It kind of pains me to talk about this…but I think I have to write it down. Friday was the day we found out about international programs. My friends and I were so nervous all day. We kept checking out mailboxes even though we knew that the letters wouldn’t be there till 5. At 5 we got back from MalibuYo and passed a few people clutching envelopes…the letters were in!!! So we ran down to the Sandbar and walked towards our mailboxes. As we were walking there, I told my friends that if God wanted me to go then I would get in and if he didn’t then I wouldn’t get in and I would be happy either way. When we got to the Sandbar, I looked around I concluded that a small regular sized envelope meant you were waitlisted (judging by the people crying who were holding the small ones) and a large envelope meant you got accepted. I opened my mailbox and crouched down and see….a small envelope. Truthfully? I was crushed. For some reason I was sure that I was going to get in. I think I had my heart set on it more than I realized. Also maybe because I had already figured out my schedule to include German. I know I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to go or not, but I think I had figured in my head that I was going to go and had already dealt with that. I opened my letter and I was put on the waiting list. My first reaction was sheer disappointment. Why do I keep getting rejected from everything I try out for? This is the 4^th time here at Pepperdine that I’ve tried for something, and not gotten it. Both Lauren and JT got into the Florence program. My friend Ron and Tomi got into the Buenos Aires program. Skyler got into the Heidelberg program. Stefan and I got wait listed for Heidelberg. Ben got wait listed for Florence. Lindsey went on a retreat and didn’t want us to open her mail so we won’t know till Sunday. It was a major let down. And then I just thought… “wait what did I say when I was walking here? That I was going to take my acceptance as Gods decision.” I tried to think that so hard in my head. And for some reason I couldn’t remember why I wanted to stay in Malibu. Why didn’t I want the chance to go abroad for a year? Lauren and I got pizza and waited for her dad to pick us up and I was seriously trying to figure out why I had wanted to stay here so badly. Isn’t it funny how we want what we can’t have? Eventually I stopped feeling sad. I know my schedule will work out better if I don’t go away for a year, and I might even be able to have a contract finance major this way. Also, they included in my envelope a sheet about the possibility of a French program for a semester. That sounds just great now that I think about it more. A semester is what I was thinking originally. And if the program was only offered for one semester then I don’t have to worry about the group becoming close already or leaving in the middle. The only catch is that I would have to withdraw my Heidelberg application completely and reapply for France. I’m going to pray about it. I was remembering that I said that I was going to leave it up to God…this whole international program thing. And I’m going to keep it at that. I want to do what God has planned for me. If he doesn’t have Germany as part of that plan, well then I’d rather stay here instead of doing things my own way.

2005-11-03T22:00:00.000-08:00

Okay I was looking at the pictures i took today and it was the most amazing thing! Here's my day...in pictures...

This was the view this morning over the ocean as me and Linz walked to work. AMAZING! So Linz pulls out her pink bible and reads Genesis 1:2 --> "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." How cool?

This is us around noon....nothing shocking was going on, well except the fact that we're wearing the candy necklaces we got on Halloween!

This is what I saw when I came out of work. I was on the phone with my mom at the time and when I saw this huge sun setting into the mountains over the water I was like omigosh! It was so beautiful.

God created such a beautiful world! It amazes me to see the beauty of the sky in the morning and at night. God created such a beautiful earth for us to live on! How can people look at the sky like it was today and doubt God's existence?

2005-11-03T19:56:00.000-08:00

I gave my speech on chocolate tonight!!!!! Let's just say it was the best speech I've ever given! It was soo incredably fun to give the speech though....you see, for the past week I've been breathing speech. Literally. On Saturday I sat down at my desk to write my speech. I sat down at 12 and didn't get up till 9pm. Okay well i did get up once or twice: I did my laundry. Other than that it was 9 straight hours of chocolate information. I really liked my topic, maybe that's why this speech was so fun to write and memorize and deliver. Anyways so since then I practiced my speech like crazy. I made a powerpoint to go along with it. The power point was pretty good if I do say so myself. It had tons of delicious looking chocolate pictures and really cool effects. I memorized my speech like my life depended on it. I said it over and over again. It was with me every single place I went. I thought I was going to have to deliver it on Tuesday, but my name wasn't called so I had until today. I took up the oportunity and practiced even more. My roommate has heard my speech so much that when I was practicing with her and I forgot a line...she reminded me of what it was!!! Also all my coworkers never want to hear about chocolate ever again! People on campus must think I'm extremely odd because I would talk out loud where ever I was going. So it all came down to tonight's class. I was a little nervous about the fact that I was last in line to go tonight, but tried to just calm down. I prayed and asked God to help me deliver what I had been practicing, and to help me calm down! I reread my speech right before I went up. I set up my computer and opened my power point. I faced my class and began to speak "Chocolate! Chocolate is a special candy because it evokes a kind of response that not many other candies can..." For one brief moment I got stuck! So I calmly clicked to the next slide and remembered where I was. I can hardly describe the rest...I continued to talk....but I interacted with my audience and pointed to my powerpoint and laughed and put emotion into my speech. A great part was when I gave out cady. It made everyone really happy and made people smile, which was exctly my poiny!!!!!!!!! So I delievered the rest of the speech. As I got to the end, unfortunetly I forgot another sentence. It was a good one too: "Next time you get that urge for chocolate, don't avoid it! Indulge yourself!" O man I wish I had gotten that in! But it was still really good. I just felt so successful. This was by far the best speech I've given. I know it was because of all the hard work I put into it. It's just such a great feeling to know that you accomplished something. And you know the best part?? It was FUN!!!

I wanted to post some pictures my friends and I took at the beach last night: (we went to watch the sunset but were too late!!! oh and it was cloudy!!)

Linz, Lauren and I

The crew!

Pepperfine!

2005-10-31T22:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween!

Today is October 31st. It's fall. It's supposed to be chilly, and leaves are supposed to be falling. Not here at Pepperdine! Today was the weirdest Halloween I've ever had. Oh it was a lot of fun, but when I woke up this morning it was about 70 degrease and by the afternoon it was about 85! It hasn't exactly gotten cold here yet, but the past few days have been a little cool. Today it got super hot. It was really funny to see people in shorts and tank tops....today is Halloween!! So after classes and work, I went back to my room and as I walked into my dorm, a group of girls asked me to take their picture. They were dressed up as gypsies. They looked really cute. Anyways they told me that they were going trick-or-treating. Suddenly I was so inspired! I really wanted to go trick-or-treating too! So I ran up to my room and talked to Lindsey and we decided to just go! It was really spur of the moment and we had planned on just working on homework this evening, but we decided to figure out a costume and so...we ended up as Malibu work out barbies gone 80's. It was really fun. We got our friend Ben to go with us and we went trick-or-treating in Beverly Hills. How many people can saw they've done that? We only tick-or-treated for an hour or so, but now we have soo much candy!

2005-10-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

I’m extremely frustrated at the moment. I sat down at my computer almost 8 hours ago to write a speech for my speech class. It’s a persuasive speech. I decided to persuade my class that chocolate is good and that they should eat it (check out the yummy looking picture). Sounds kind of funny, but it’s true. Chocolate has antioxidants. Anyways, I got up this morning and went to get breakfast and then came back to my dorm and sat down and started typing. I’m still here. I spent a good part of the time coming up with my main points, central idea and all that good stuff. Once I finished that I outlined my speech. Then I started writing. I wrote up my entire outline, but unfortunately it’s not long enough. My speech has to be 8-10 minutes which equals about 5 pages double spaced. I know that doesn’t sound hard at all, especially when you have a topic like chocolate, but my teacher is a really tough grader and every word has to be perfect so it makes writing it very difficult. So basically I can’t start memorizing my speech until I finish writing it. And once I do finish it, I have to make a power point presentation to go along with it. Then I actually have to memorize the speech. Oh yea and then do the rest of my homework. So do you see my frustration? I know college isn’t supposed to be easy, but this isn’t supposed to be a super hard class! It’s speech!

So I had my 4year planning appointment with onestop this week. It was kind of shocking. We figured out that if I go to Heidelberg for both semesters and don’t do any summer school that it would be impossible for me to graduate on time. So then I started thinking that maybe I could go for one semester or maybe even not at all. If I do that then I would be able to take all my business classes and my senior year I would be able to relax a little and take fewer classes. So I was considering that, but then I was thinking about it and I’m not sure what it would be like to only go for a semester. If I were to go for the fall semester it would be hard to leave right in the middle. But if I were to go for the spring semester everyone would be friends already and they would have already traveled to places. I know going abroad is a great experience. I’ve heard sooo many people say that. I know it would be great, but part of my just wants to stay in Malibu next year. It would definitely make my class load easier. Plus I’m not sure if I want to learn German. We find out this Friday whether we got in or not. Can I say that a tiny part of me is hoping that I won’t get in? I know that’s terrible and if I didn’t get in I would probably be really sad, but it would make the decision for me. On the other hand though, it would probably be a lot of fun to be in Europe for a year and just be free to do whatever. And it would be possible to graduate on time because I figured out that if I do a little summer school that I could fit in all my classes perfectly. This summer I’m planning on taking English and a business class. In all obviousness I’m still really unsure about what I want for next year.

This Monday is Halloween. I don’t have any plans yet. Actually I don’t even have a costume. I think I’ll end up watching a scary movie with the involvement team.

Oh something really cool I can mention! Directly outside my window are two palm trees. They’re both different kinds but very pretty (I love any kind of palm tree). A few days ago I noticed that the palms were starting to fall off! It was really depressing because I thought they might not grow back for a while. I noticed that in the center of the tree a tall green stick was growing up. One day when I was looking out it struck me that it had sprouted a new palm branch! And sure enough a few days later it had opened and swooped down like the rest of the leaves. How cool is that???

I took this picture on the steps going up to the communication building last week. Isn't it beautiul? It struck me that I really am on the edge of the continent!

2005-10-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

Another weekend finally arrived! I love weekends. I mean who doesn’t really? But here at Pepperdine, I really love weekends. I love that Pepperdine gets deserted. It’s fun because it feels like we’re the only people on campus. My weeks are so busy and jam packed full of things to do and classes and work. Saturday’s are the day to sleep late and catch up on homework and everything else I didn’t have time to finish during the week. This past week was especially crazy. I had a speech midterm, and I studied like crazy. Our professor gave us the topic ahead of time and we were allowed to prepare what we were going to write. I spend so much time memorizing my outline, and key terms, and just everything because I really wanted to do well. So on the day of the test I managed to write 6 pages in the hour we were given. I’ll find out next week how I did. I also had a math test. It was our second one out of three, and I didn’t do so well on the first, so I studied extra hard. I think I did okay. I’ll also find out next week. Besides those two major things I had 2 quizzes and all my regular homework. And on top of all that I had to interview someone from the career center and write a story for the yearbook. I’m on the yearbook staff and our deadline was this week. So by the time Friday rolled around and I had just send in my story, I was extremely happy to just relax. A bunch of friends and I went to go see Elizabethtown. We also went out to eat. The movie was really sweet and it was about a flight attendant! I want to be a flight attendant for a while after I graduate. I think it would be so much fun!

So a major thing on my mind right now is if I should go to Heidelberg next year. On one hand I think it would be an amazing experience and a whole lot of fun, but on the other hand I don’t know if I really want to be away that long. And no, I don’t mean away from my family or friends, I mean away from Pepperdine. I can deal with being far away from home; it’s just that I actually really like my school and the location here in Malibu. So I’m stuck. I’ve kind of decided to leave it up to God. If I get into the program then I’ll go, and if not, then I’m meant to stay here. And I would be perfectly happy staying here. I would miss my roommate and all my other close friends because they all really want to go abroad, but I know I’d make new friends. But then, the opportunity to live in Germany would be so cool! It would be expensive though…and I wouldn’t be able to work, so it would just be spending all the money I save without making anymore.

Another thing I’m working on at the moment is trying to figure out my schedule for next semester. I want to try to keep my Wednesdays completely free, no classes, no work, nothing. Most people want Fridays off so that they can have a long weekend, but I figure that it would be better to have the week broken up a little. Two days of class, then a whole day to rest and catch up on work, and then two more days of classes. Then it would be Saturday again which is another day to catch up and then comes Sunday which is my day of rest. So that would work out perfectly…hopefully I’ll be able to do that!

This week I have so many appointments! I have a meeting with my major advisor and a 1 ½ hour appointment with Onestop to plan out my next three years at Pepperdine. Also I have an appointment with the career center to work on my resume and see about getting an internship this summer. Besides those I have two interviews for the yearbook. It should be okay though because I don’t have any major exams.

I really like our dorms small group. We’re reading a book called “When God writes your Love Story” and it’s really interesting. It’s about letting God run your love life and not trying to fix it yourself because God would do a much better job. That works for me.

2005-10-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

SAN FELIPE!!!!!!!!!

San Felipe was so much fun. I have no regrets now that I’ve been. We left around 10:00pm. There were 5 of us in the car: me, Ben, a sophomore named Sophie, and our two drivers: Kurtis and Tim. We caravanned with another car full of about 7 people. We set out on the road and we all talked for a while, but then we started to get sleepy (us in the back; not the drivers!) so we all drifted off a little bit. I woke up around 1:30am and everyone was asleep, except Kurtis, who was driving. We talked for a little bit; I felt bad that everyone was asleep! One of the rules was that there were always supposed to be two people awake at all time…but oh well! I found out that we were near the Mexican border, in a place called Calexico. Eventually the others woke up and we pulled over at a gas station and got out and stretched a little.

After our stop we continued to drive, and eventually got to the border. We passed through with no problems. What a difference it was in

Mexico

! I mean it was only 20 feet over the border line and you could see the difference. We drove through a city-ish area for a while and eventually got on a road that would take us all the way to San Felipe, where our camp was. I fell asleep again (Kurtis’ car was very comfortable), and the next time I woke up we were on a road with absolutely no lights and no other cars, except for us. It was pretty cool and you could see hundreds of stars.

After a total of about 7 hours we arrived at Camp Stivers at 5:15 in the morning. There were two people waiting up for us. As we unpacked they told us that we had to pick two people to wait us for the next set of cars coming. Ben and I offered to do so since we knew that our friend Lauren was in the next group. We didn’t have to wait long actually because within the time it took us to get our bags and pillows from the car to the cabins, the next group arrived. Finally we Lauren and I went to our cabin, laid out our sleeping bags and fell asleep.

We had to get up an hour and a half later. We all gathered in the main “dinning hall” and had breakfast of bagels and muffins and fruit. Then they told us what we would be doing for the day. They didn’t need the whole group at once to build the house, so about half of us stayed at the camp. Our job for the morning was to pack food into plastic bags to be distributed the next day. JT (a friend of mine, and a part of the very last group to get to San Felipe…they arrived at the camp at 6:30am!!) and I packed rice and beans and flour into bags. After that we just had a lot of free time. We started walking down the street just to see where it went, and it was basically a long dirt road leading to the main road eventually. It got rather hot so we went back to the camp. We heard that some people were driving into town and they offered us a ride. We gladly took them up on it. The main part of town sits right on the beautiful beach. We went to this little restaurant and had Mexican tacos for lunch. They were very good, and very unlike any kind of taco I’d ever had before. There were very good. After that we went to a little ice cream shop right next door and got ice pops. Then we walked down to the beach and put our toes in the water. Then it was time to drive back to the camp. When we got there they were serving lunches of sandwiches.

After lunch we offered to be on the water team and help bring water to the house builders. We drove to this water station in town where you can buy filtered water. We filled up about 4 huge containers and then brought those to the work site. I was in complete shock as we drove up. The site was pretty close to our camp, but it was a completely different world. There were a few houses in a huge field. You can’t really even call them houses because they were more like shacks, put together with off pieces of wooden crates and sheets. There were children without shoes playing in the dirt as we drove by. We got to the house was already about 5 bricks high! It was so cool to see people actually building a house! It was a really small house, but there were three doors and 3 huge windows. We passed out water and then went back to the camp.

We spent the rest of the afternoon sort of lounging around, and helping out where we could. That evening the plan was that everyone was going to drive to town for dinner. So we got a ride with someone to this cute little restaurant. The only thing that killed the Mexican atmosphere was the Yankees/Angels game on the TV on the wall! We ordered these delicious quesadilla things. After we finished eating, we drove back to the camp and had a devotional outside with our entire group. We sang songs and had a little bible study. When it was over we all went straight to sleep even though it was only 9:30!

The next morning I was determined to be part of the group that went to work on the house. I got up and got ready and was with one of the first groups to leave for the site. It took a while for the actual building to start because they had to make the cement. JT and I chose a wall on the side of the house that we would continue to build. We got a piece of wood and lined up to get a large glob of mortar. JT was one side of the wall and I was on the other. What we had to do was put the mortar on the bricks on the wall and then also on one side of the brick we were going to lay down. Then we would have to carefully place it down and make sure that it was aligned with the others. We continued to do this for four hours. It was such a relief to have people come around with cold cups of water. It gets really hot in Mexico. It was probably around 100 degrease. By the time we finally stopped I was exhausted and very hungry. We got a ride back to camp and ate lunch. Then we showered because everyone was really dusty and covered in dirt. Then we just relaxed a little bit. Some people went to go take naps. Kurtis and Tim and a few other people were going to the beach and asked if I wanted to go, so we all drove into town. The water was incredibly warm and we all just walked straight in-fully dressed. We swam a little and then got out and walked around the town for a little. By the time we got back into the car we were almost dry!!

Kurtis (since it was his car we came in) decided that we would go back Saturday night, so that we could get back to campus early. We decided to leave right after dinner. Dinner was a special treat because the Mexican women of the church were going to cook us dinner! It was absolutely delicious! We had tacos and guacamole and beans. It was really good! Right after we ate we said good bye to the people who were staying till Sunday and packed our stuff up. There were about 4 cars leaving at the same time as us. We drove off and surprisingly we were all wide awake. We talked for a lot of the way there and didn’t sleep that much. When we got to the Mexican border we were prepared to get out of the car and have the guards search the car, but they only asked for our IDs. We had a funny conversation with the guard in the booth. He asked us where we were from and we told him Pepperdine University and that we were on a mission trip. There were two cars that had gone before us and so he knew of what we were doing. Then he said (and he had this really strong southern accent, so it was really funny):

Man in booth: So Pepperdine is affiliated with the Church of Christ, right?

Us: Yes, it is

Man in booth: Humm…Church of Christ….that’s kind of like the Catholics, right?

Us (we all look at each other, kind of confused): sort of…

Man in booth: Yea, yea you both believe that baptism is like this renewal thing…and…(at this point he starts to say something and then I guess realizes that we’re still there and he shakes his head and says: “Oh just go on” and waves his hand to let us through).

Well it was pretty hilarious and we all cracked up as soon as we drove away. From there on it was easy driving, all the way back to Malibu. Kurtis and Tim dropped us off in front of our dorms (it was about 3:30 in the morning). I have to say that the entire trip made me so grateful for Pepperdine and The United Stares of America. I am still amazed that just 8 hours down from where I am right now there is so much poverty. It blows my mind a little. How can our world be that divided? We all live on the same huge piece of land, so why do Americans get to live the way we do and why do other people have to live in such poverty? It isn’t fair at all.
So that was my San Felipe adventure. It was pretty awesome.

This weekend was family weekend at Pepperdine and my mom flew here on Friday. We had a lot of fun over the weekend! We went on a hike yesterday up the Solstice Canyon. Last night there was a banquet, and the food was delicious! Today we went to Lauren's church: The Conejo Valley Church of Christ. I really like her church a lot, and hopefully I'll be able to go every weekend. Ben and his mom and JT and his parents went with us and we all went out to lunch afterwards at an Italian place. It was really yummy. There was a prayer in the bulletin that I really liked (it's very short):

Dear Lord, Your Will. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.

Anyways after church we went to this scholarship reception at the presidents house. It was really nice. Now I'm just catching up on a little homework before Sunday night chapel!!!

Me, JT, and Lauren at the president's house

2005-10-14T01:05:00.000-07:00

This is Katie, Richard and Me
They're my fabulous coworkeres at the finaid office!

Me and Lauren in Mexico

This is me and JT packing rice into bags

This is the whole group of us who went to
Santa Monica for our art appreciation class

I thought I would start off by just posting some pictures because I am way behind in posting lately! The first picture is me and my coworkers. I love my job. Well I have two actually, one is at the comm building at the student publications desk and the other is in financial aid. I like having two jobs because I get a change of things and I work 2 days in each place.
The next two pictures were from San Felipe, Mexico!!! I have to take sometime tomorrow to just write about my whole experience, but for now I'll just say it was totally awesome and I loved it.
The last picture was for Art Appreciation class. I might have explained this before, but every other week we have to go see art somewhere. This weeks was going to Santa Monica and seeing Carl Cheng's "Walk on LA". It was really cool actually, and after we looked at we went to third street and got milk shakes. It was a fun trip.

Tonight after speech class, JT and I went to the Pepperdine Orchestra performance. We met Lauren and Ben's mom there. They're so good! It was really fun to watch. After it was over we took ben out, and we went to the Santa Monica Pier and walked around and then we went to this really nice place and ordered hot chocolate and these huge chocolate chip cookies. It was really good. I still have a little work to accomplish, I'll update more later!

2005-10-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

This is Kari (my RA), Janessa (my SLA), Erin (my other RA) and me at convo today. We all ordered matching tee shirts for our dorm. It's got a lilly on the front because we're the white lillies from white house! After convo I helped take down all the convo chairs and that took quite a while because there were only 6 of us doing it. After that I studied with Christina for our Art Appreciation test. We had class and then I went to work. When I got back to my dorm I put my bag down and then went outside and unfortunetly the wind (it's been really windy here lately) shut my door and it locked! I got locked out of my dorm! I called public safety because my RA's were at class and no one had the master key to get into the rooms. Finally after about a half an hour a public safety guy came and opened my door. I tried to work on my next speech a little, but didn't get much accomplished. Then I went to wednesday night worship which was a lot of fun. When I got back to my dorm I had a little time to do work before Lindsey and Lauren got back and Ben and JT came over. Lindsey got her hair cut!!!! Check out the picture of us! She cut off about 8 inches! It looks super cute though! (check out the picture!). Now everyone is hanging out in our room So we're going to Mexico tomorrow! For a missions trip! I still can't get over it! I'll have to write more about that when I get a chance.

2005-10-01T23:42:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Los Angeles County Art Museum for Art Appreciation class. It was a fun trip, but I'm not crazy about art so it wasn't all that interesting (In the pic is me, Christina, and Thomas). One of the best things about our art trips is that we always bump into other people from our class since there are about 150 of us and we all have to visit the museum at some point in the week. When I got back, I tried to finish all my work because we decided that Sundays are going to be our Sabbath day, and we're not going to do any work at all, so that means we have to finish everything on Friday or Saturday. This Thursday in small group in our dorm we talked about the importance of having a sabbath and a day of rest. It's exactly what my mother has always told me. She always used to say Sunday is a day of rest and we shouldn't go shopping or do work and I never fully understood, but I do now. It makes sense.
This evening Lindsey borrowed her brother's car and we drove through the cannyon to Panda Express and had dinner! It was great because we were both starving and every single eating place on campus was closed. The most frustraiting thing at the moment is that my printer doesn't work! It got a paper jam and then I fixed it but now it just wont print!

2005-09-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

Convo today was by far the best one so far. Our speaker was Nick Vujicic. Here is the summary that they gave us before convo:

"Born without arms or legs Nick's birth seemed to all as a very tragic event. Overcoming depression and a severe disability seemed like an impossible obstacle. Through faith, scripture and perseverance Nick only overcame depression and his disability but now lives life beyond most people's wildest dreams. Nick speaks to thousands of people on how to overcome life's most difficult challenges and live life without LIMITS!"

I'll be honest, at first I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to this convo. I thought it might be somewhat typical, and I was supposed to go to a museum today, but yesterday night I found out that the LA Museum of Art is closed on Wednesdays. I realize now that this was definitely God telling me I need to go to convo. So this morning after work Linz and I went to convo. From the moment that nick was carried onto stage i was in shock. I knew that he didn't have arms or legs, but it really amazed me. He started to tell us about himself and then he showed us that he has a foot, and that he is able to do so many things. He graduated from college, and he can type 42 words per minute. He told us about his travels all over the world, and all the thousands of people he has spoken to. Then he read part of psalm 147:

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God,
How pleasant and fitting to praise him!
The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and might in power; his understanding has no limit.
The Lord sustains the humble bus casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.
He covers the sky with clouds;
He supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;
The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

This passage was so powerful to me, I was amazed. GOD IS AMAZING! Nick went on talking, saying that God loves us when we sing praises and when we live out a good life, but he loves us the most in our worst times when everything in our world is falling apart, and from the very bottom we can call out to God and know that he there for us and has UNFAILING love for us.

He then read Romans 8:28 -->

And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Sometimes things seem impossible, but God does evey thing for a reason and everything has a purpose. Nick said that he loves his life so much because he knows that God has a purpose for him. He also talked about not taking life for granted. Nick translated the verse above to "modern 2005 english" and came up with this: God knows exactly what he is doing. How true is that? If things are tough, don't worry! God knows what he's doing. When you're sad or feel lonely, don't hesitate to turn to God, He knows what he is doing! There is a reason things happen in a certain order in life. God has timing all figured out.

I think I take life for granted way too often. I love my family and my friends and my church and my school, but I'm not grateful enough. Hearing Nick speak and seeing him makes me feel so overwhelmed with how grateful I should be for everything in my life. And as I type this right now, I realize that I'm grateful for the hands God has given me! I'm grateful for my school and a chance to learn about everything. I'm grateful for my friends. I'm grateful for my mom and dad who are doing everything they can to send me here. This list could go on for a really long time.

Another thing I remember from Nick's speech is p.u.s.h. which is Pray Until Something Happens. How cool is that? God always answers prayers; I know this for a fact. Just to share a little story: yesterday I had a speech due at 6:00pm. I was writing my speech up until the last moment and unfortunatly this meant that I didn't really get a chance to practice it. So by the time 5:50 rolled around I was freaking out. The thought of skipping class briefly entered my mind, but I dismissed it because I'm not the type of person to skip a class just because something is due. So, with a look of terror on my face, I set off to hike up to the communication building. On the way there 3 people stopped me and asked is I was okay. As I climbed up the stairs I prayed for some sort of miracle. I asked God to give me a way to prepare more. I walked into class, and before I even get all the way into my seat, a classmate tells me that the speech is postponed till Thursday! I immediately started thanking God outloud! I know that God truly did answer my prayers. There isn't any other reason. But I'm well aware that God could have answered my prayer with a no, and I would have had to give my speech. So I love p.u.s.h. because it's just so true! Just pray until something happens. God is always there and is always listening to our prayers!

Nick finished up by saying that we are all created in God's image and we are all beautiful people. He knows what mean hateful comments can do to someone's self esteem and we should all know that we are great people created in God's image. His speech was powerful, and I am looking forward to hearing him speak again later this afternoon.

Thank you God for everything you have given and help me not to take things for granted! You have given me so much and I thank you for everything in my life. Help me to take the time to tell each person what they mean to me or how they affect me. Everything is possible with you God. Whenever life seems impossible, you are there Lord, right beside me, thank you! You are so wonderful God!

2005-09-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today is going to be a wonderful day! The sky is clear and beautiful and the air is chilly but perfect! yay for days that start off well!

2005-09-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

Today has been and up and down kinda day. It started off really well....it was beautiful this morning and warm out too! I was getting some papers ready for class and I got a pappercut. ouch. Well then I got breakfast with Lindsey. She had to go to class so she left and I tried to eat the rest of my breakfast. For some reason I just wasn't hungry. Believe me, that really unusual for me. Also my head was feeling kind of heavy and my nose was a little stuffed up. So I put 2 and 2 together and realized that I might be getting a little sick. Yesterday I spent the day with a few of my friends...And one of them was sick. So I thought I might have gotten whatever he had. My first class was Calc, and normally it's a pretty fun class, but today we got out tests back from last week. I wasn't sure how I did, but I didn't think I did as I did. I got a 68 on my first college test. Not only is that horrible, there are only 2 more tests in the semester so I'm going to have to work super hard for the next ones. Oh and the best part was, I got another papercut from my test. ugh. My next class was French. That's not a bad class, but we got an essay back and I got a B. By this point I was feeling like I really could be sick and so the class felt a lot longer than it was. After class I went straight to the ccb building. I bought a huge cup of orange juice because orange juice=healthy to me. I went into work, and guess what? i'm going to be writing an article for next weeks newspaper!!! How awesome is that? I'm so excited actually. So I finishing up my work, and surprisingly enough...I got another papercut!!!! Ahhh my hand are being completely abused today! So now I've finished all the work I have to do and so I can start on my homework, which is a wonderful thing. So basically today has had its ups and downs. I'm sure if I'm sick...I sure hope not. Maybe I'll go get another orange juice!

2005-09-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

This is me, Ben, Lindsey and JT at SixFlags Friday night

2005-09-19T23:41:00.000-07:00

So much has been going on in the past few days, I'll have to sit down and catch up, but for now I just wanted to post something that amazed me on Sunday. We were at Sunday nigh worship and people were sharing where God is in their lives and one girl stood up and she started off by saying that she was a new Christian and this was all new to her, and it might be old for everyone else. She started reading 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient, love is kind...and I smiled to myself because I love that passage. She went on to read something from John, that said God Is Love. So she put it together and came up with this:

God is patient, God is kind.
He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud.
He is not rude, he is not selfeeking, He is not easily angered.
God does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
God never fails.

How awsome is that??? I never ever put the two of those things together, but now I see how much sense it makes! Isn't God amazing???

2005-09-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

When I look out of my window I see 4 palm trees. This is always really exciting for me because I love palm trees. From our room we can also see the hills, and they're slowly loosing their color because it hasn't rained, but they're still beautiful. I had my second day of work today. I had to be there at 8:00am. Thats the earliest I've had to be somewhere in like 2 weeks (except for step forward day). It was cool though, because there weren't many people around, and all I had to do was finish up a mailing. I finished and then still had time to read a little before my shift ended and the next person came in. After work I checked my mail and got 2 letters and 3 boxes, it was really exciting! My mom sent me my pillow (i still can't believe I forgot it!) and a french book. I had breakfast and then went to calc class. After class I got sushi for lunch! Right before I left for school my friend, Liza, and I started getting sushi a lot, and now I love it and i'm so excited that my school cafe has it! Yester I went to this lecture about "Great moments in Pepperdine's History" and I learned a bunch of stuff about my school, one thing in particular that was really cool was that they used the call the cafe the "Pepper Diner" How cute is that? So we decided that that's what we were going to call if from now on. Right now I'm supposed to be working on a speech I have to give later on tonight at speech class. Humm maybe this is called procrastinating!!?!?!?

2005-09-12T01:04:00.000-07:00

I went to the beach this afternoon and read a few chapters of "Till we have Faces" by C.S. Lewis for my freshman seminar class. It was really fun to read on the beach. There were lots of birds though...there were three sitting down right next to us, it was so funny I had to take a picture. After the beach we came back and did homework for a little while and then Lauren and I went to eat dinner together. On our way to dinner the sunset was amazing (picture)!!!! After dinner we went to Sunday night worship, and it was soo fun! They sang really awsome songs, including The Joy of the Lord, Gotta Reason, and Step by Step. The speaker was a senior who is also an RA for Miller dorm. He told a story about when he went hiking and he got afraid of mountain lions and he started daying the 23rd psalm over and over in his head, and he was clutching a rock (to kill the mountain lion with) and then he realized that he wasn't really listening to what he was saying. He realized that if he truly believed that the Lord was his sheppherd then he didn't need the rock, so he put it down. He talked about how we have to full put our lives into God's hands. It was really cool, very inspiring, and very funny. I loved it and I really want to go again next week. After that we went to Jack-in-the-box with a few friends, and we got the food to go and ate it on the beach. It's still red tide, so the waves were glowing! It was soo cool! Then we came back and Lindey and I hung out in our room with a few friends. Ben came over to study because he said he couldn't study in his own room. Now we're probably going to go to sleep!!!

2005-09-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Step Forward Day. 1,400 Pepperdine students volunteered for the day and we all split up and went to different parts of LA. We met at the soccar field at 7:00am. Sean Astin (from the Lord of the Rings) came and spoke to us about volunteering. The we all spit into groups and got on yellow school busses. I signed up with my dorm, so everyone from White Hall went together. It took us about an hour to get to The Convent House in Hollywood (we saw the big sign!!!). When we got there, the woman in charge explained what The Covenent House actually is. It's a shelter for runaway and homeless youth ages 18-21. Youth can go there and spend the night if they need a place to stay, or live there and go through the program for up to 2 1/2 years. If they go through the whole program, they go to different workshops and develop life skills. Our group split up into different areas and we helped out wherever we were needed. My group went to the clinic and cleaned because they were going to have an inspection and everything needed to be super clean. After that we got a tour of the place by the man who runs the clinic. We only stayed 2 hours and then we had to go because our bus arrived. We plan to go back there and volunteer again, hopefully once a month. When we got back to campus there were hamgurgers for everyone. After that I went back to my dorm and did a little homework and studying. Then my friends, JT, Lauren, Ben, and Coleen and I drove to Beverly Hills and went to Rodeo Drive. It was so cool! We walked around and then went to an Italian place for dinner.

This morning we went to church at the Universtiy Church of Christ, and I liked it. It's a lot like the Manhattan Church of Christ. This afternoon I'm pretty sure the plan is to go study on the beach!

2005-09-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

Today was just an awsome day...nothin in particular, but it was just awsome. I took a calc quiz, turned in a French essy, spent a few hours doing homework, got dinner with a friend and went to speech class. It was just a really good day. I confirmed today that I do have my two jobs! Yay! And also, I'm definetly still working for the yearbook! Besides that I'm running for freshman president! How cool? I decided that my whole campaign would be pink...it really stands out! Plus it's my favorite color. So there are about 8 people running for president, including my friend, Stephan, from church. It's so exciting! I really want to win, but even I don't it's okay because I'm having so much fun just running. Anyone can go to the SGA (student government) meetings, so even if I don't win I think I'll still go to the meetings. We went to one this week, and it was really fun...they talked about the differnet things they're trying to get done on campus and it just was really cool. Most of my posters are pink...one of them is a huge aim box as you can see from the picture. The bottom pic is me and my friend jt (he's running for senator). So school is fun and I love it. That's about it for now! Oh, my rommie and I put up pictures all over our walls with our favorite bible verses on them...I'll take a picture and post it next time!!

2005-09-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

This is the view I see every morning when I go out the back door of my doorm. Amazing huh? It seriously amazes me every time I see it. This morning I was sitting there thinking about how beautiful everything is and how breathtaking it always is to me. God seriously created a gorgeous world for us to live in. And then I got to thinking that God made this beautiful place and he spent even more time making us and I was like wow. It's funny because I'm sure I've thought of it before, but for some reason it really stuck me this morning. I feel so blessed to be at Pepperdine. I was talking to a friend of mine from high school who is also in college right now. She just started there this week. She was telling me last night how she and her new "friends" were drinking and smoking and I really couldn't believe it. She's not normally that kind of person. And it just made me feel so greatful to be here at Pepperdine. I feel surounded by good people and I love it. I'm praying for my friend.

2005-09-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

This is a pic of Lauren, Linz and me at the beach a few days ago! I <3 malibu!

2005-09-05T17:18:00.000-07:00

We went to the beach today...it was really fun! We drove for about 20 minutes up the PCH and ended up at a nice beach. We stayed for about 3 hours. I had intended to read my art book for a while, but never ended up doing that (surprise, surprise!). I love the beach so much, it's absolutely beautiful. Now we're off to dinner...and then I have to do some calc hw with a classmate of mine.

2005-09-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

I'm at Peppedine! I've been here for over two weeks now! I absolutely love it here, I've yet to find something I don't love about my school. My roommate is beyond awsome, I love my classes, I found a job and we're going to the beach today! What's not to love? Overall though, I feel so incredably blessed right now!

My roommate (Lindsey) and I and a few other friends have been going to different church every Suday to find the one we like best. Last Sunday we went to Malibu Vinyard (where Lifehouse got started) and it was a pretty good church. It was a little different from what I'm used to, but it was still nice. Yesterday we went to Malibu Presbyterian. I liked it a lot, the worship part wasn't that great but the speaker was really good. He spoke about the "golden rule" in Matthew 7:12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this summs up the Law and the Prophets. He said something that I really hadn't ever specifically thought of: "Neither love of God nor love of neighbor exists apart from each other." I've always liked the verse from Matthew and I've always tried to think of that and live it, but the thing he said after I never really connected with that verse. So church was pretty cool. After that we went back to our dorm in hopes of getting some work done, but it wasn't happening so we eventually took out books down to the pool and we sat by the pool reading.

That evening we went to this thing called Axis. It's like this giant college youth group. It was in Simi Valley which is about 40 mins away from school. The worship was really fun and then the speaker gave a really interesting talk. The thing that really struck me was when he basically said that the thing that should set us apart from nonbelieves is an unexplainable joy we should all have in everything we do. And I was thinking...wow how true is that?? seriously! Well it was really fun, I think we're going to go every week! I'll definetly have to update some more! Bye for now!

2005-08-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

I spent the morning packing another box for school. This time it weighed 25.5 lbs! Anyway it's so wierd packing up stuff and envisioning it in my room. I've never had my own room before. I know I'll have a roommate, but it's still cool being able to decorate and stuff. I went shopping yesterday with my parents for dorm stuff. It was a lot of fun! I got plastic storage bins and a fan and a desk organizer and a haning shoe rack and a pink garbage can! What was really cool was that we got it all shipped from the store so we don't have to think about it again till we're at school.

My youth group is going on a road trip the day before I leave. I really wish I could go but unfortunetly my mom and I picked a flight right in the middle of the trip. They're going camping and white water rafting and paintballing in pa. It sounds like sooo much fun because for one, I just love trips with my youth group and two because in the 6 years that I've been a part of the group they've never done something like this before. We have gone on many awsome trips before, but this one seems different kinda because we've never camped out anywhere before. At first the idea of camping was kind of gross to me but when you think about it, its not so bad. It actually seems like fun and a good opportunity to bond and stuff. And yea I know that the reason I won't be there is because I'll be in california, but I still hate missing out on stuff like this.

I got an assignment for school about a month ago. It was to write an essay for my first seminar class. They sent us the book and everything. So obviously I havn't even started mine yet, but I figured I should get around to it, so I brought the book with me to Long Island. As we got off the train, some guy was handing out bottles of water. On it they said "A drink of cold water from us to you" and then there was the name of their church and times of the services. I didn't really think about it much, except that it sounded kind of weird, but hey whatever...a bottle of watter is a bottle of water! So we get home and I start to read my assignment and the chapter talks abot Mark and how if you do something for someone because they need it its one thing, but if you do the same thing for everyone its different. The exact example from the bible was to give a drink of water to everyone, not just the people who are thirsty. Ha! That's what it said on the bottle of water! So then it made sense! Neways I thought that was really cool.

2005-08-08T23:43:00.000-07:00

I leave in 11 days. I still havn't started packing yet. Tomorrow I might send out my first box! I know I should get going on all this stuff, but it's still so weird to have to pack up my stuff and move somewhere. I've never moved anywhere in my life.

Today I had an interesting day. The plan was to go to six flags with my friends (david, amanda, liza, and one of david's friends). Unfortunetly liza didn't end up going. Anyways, david picked us up at 8:00 and we left at 8:05 (he's very precise with time). We got all the way to New Jersy and it started to rain. When we got there and parked the people at the park told us that all the major rides were closed. We stood in front of the park debating if we should go in or not. By the time a 1/2 hour passed most of the rides had opened. All except for the 3 major best roller costers (nitro, kingda ka, and medusa). So we decided to save the $40 and go home. Amanda was upset and it made me feel bad. We stopped at a Starbucks on the way home. Then we dropped Amanda off and there were 3 of us left. we went to a mall upstate a little. I got jeans! I was so psyched. It's impossibly hard to find jeans ever cuz im tall n thin. neways I found 2 pairs! yay! it made my day. After that we dropped off davids friend and then David and I just hung out at his house. It was a fun day, a little dissapointing about 6flags, but fun overall.

I got sheets in the mail that I ordered. It's so sad and exciting all at the same time!

2005-08-05T16:23:00.001-07:00

The film festival went great yesterday.

I'm leaving 2 weeks from today.

It's too hot out.

Friday, July 29th

2005-07-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

It's been like a week since I've written anything and it seem like ages. This has been a totally full and crazy week. In the past 3 nights I've gotten 10 hours of sleep. Total. I'm sooo tired! It all started when I came back from Long Island. Well LI was awsome, we went to the beach again and it was a beautiful day and hot but not too hot and the waves were really high but it was really fun to be right in the middle of it all. Right after the beach my friend and I went back to her house and went swimming in her pool witch was so warm, it was just really fun. That night I came back to the city and went to visit one of my bestest friends who had just gotten home from 2 weeks in Spain. I got to her house late but we went to the super market anyways and stocked up on stove-tops stuffing, cookies, and rice pudding. Then we talked and talked and talked till about 3-something in the morning. I had to get up less than 4 hours later to pick up a little girl and bring her to her "fantastic gymnastics" camp at the 92nd street Y. Then I went back to my friends house and ate some more and then traveled back home to babysit for two 1 1/2 year old twins. After that I went back downtown and picked up the munchkin from camp and brought her home. After that I went back uptown yet again and babysat for 2 other kids. As if my day wasnt long enough, it goes on. I was walking up my block when a truck screeches to a stop and my friend and next-door neighbor, David, sticks his head out of the window and yells "I know you!" so basically we ended up going to a movie with one of his friends. We saw The Island. It was a really good movie (I had no clue what it was about before it started). So then we got something to eat and just drove around killing time. The next day was the same crazy babysitting thing. Then there was the weekly youth group meeting (David and Chris went too) and then we all went to central park for a while. After that me and David and Chris drove up state and went bowling. My first game was absolutely horrible (score like 50something) but the 3rd game I actually got 104. 104 is probably nothing to get excited over, but it was awsome for me!! Then we went back to Davids house and made rootbeer floats. I ended up going to sleep at some crazy hour in the morning and today had to get up really early again.
This morning my mom and I went down to the cingular store and got new cell phones! Actually my mom has never had a cell before so this is a huge major thing. Anyways we got awsome phones and its fun trying to figure out all the features and stuff. The best part is that now we have a family plan and we can actually stay in contact! I babysat for the afternoon and then came up town to babysit for my youth minister and his wife. On my way walking there I passed to younger girls selling lemonade. It reminded me so much of when I was younger and my friend David and i would set up a table outside of his building and sell lemonade too! So I bought a cup from them and it was actuall pretty good.
Today when I was on the train I bumped into a friend of mine fom school. She's going to be a junior next year. We talked for a little and agreed to hang out before I left in august. Right before I got off of the train she said "see you later college girl!" me...a college girl. seiously wierd thought. I mean when you hear that you think older person etc....am i realy that age? And it gets even weirder beacuse I was talking to someone online and they also said something about me being a college girl! arg weird. I really am totally excited for school but its just weird and im going to have to get used to this! Oh another cool thing! My roommate called me yesterday!! It was cool, she's really fun and it feels like we've been friends for a long time! So thats been my week. It's great to get a second to just sit and type.

my thursday

2005-07-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

Today was a pretty cool day...I started off by babysitting for a set of twins in my neightborhood. they are almost 2 years old and very cute. I looove twins. I used to wish that I was a twin myself. It would be soo cool to have someone who looks just like you and someone your age to do stuff with. It'd be awsome. After babysitting for 4 hours I went downtown to my youth group for our thursday meeting. We went to Mc.Donalds and ate and talked and planned our film festival a little. Then we went back to the church and hung out on the 4th floor playing baseball (kinda) and just having fun. Now I'm babysitting for my youth minister. So basically it's been a really fun day.

I talked to one of my friends this evening who just got back from the bahamas. How awsome right? Well he went there with his youth group on a mission trip. I would totally love to go on a mission trip there. anyways im probably going to go with him to his church tomorrow night and Ill get to hear all about his trip.

I'm watching insector gadget 2 right now. It's good, but not as good as the first one....but thats how it usually goes, right?

summer before college

2005-07-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

This is it...my last summer before college. I could dwell on the fact that I have 30 days before I have to pack up my life and move out to California, but I won't. My summer has been so great so far and maybe that's why I don't want to think about leaving. I can honestly say that this has been one of the best summer's I've ever had. I spend most of my days (and some evenings) babysitting. And yea, I love it. I'm really blessed because I'm able to say that I babysit for the sweetest group of kids on the planet. no joke. Besides my job I've been going to the beach with my mom and friends a lot. I love the beach. There's something about the water and waves that just seems so perfect (I'm really glad that I'm going to Pepperdine becacuse there is always a fabulous view of the beach). The past few times I've gone to Fire island in Long Island and it's my favorite beach. I got 3 killer sunburns. Im talking really bad---I looked like a burn victim for a few days. But it was totally worth it. I love just stretching out of the beach and falling sleep...it's so relaxing. And for the first time I went to this other beach (I can't remember the name) but it was so awsome. It was a really super hot day and it was incredibly hazy out. You could only see like 10 feet in front of you. So we got there and the water was sooooo warm! I'm talking florida-water. It was crazy. And the waves were perfect. And the whole beach was foggy....it was just so great. by far the best time I've ever had at the beach. Other than that I've been doing a lot of things with my youth group. We're having a film festival and it's tons of fun planning everything. So on top of all this, just had hanging out with friends and there's my summer.
It's actually kind of hard to see myself away at school. I feel like it's this huge jump or something. My friends from my high school were just ready to get to college from the moment we started our senior year, but I mostly kept saying that I was happy to stay in high school and I would gladly stay there another year and avoid the whole change in going to college. so with that mindset I feel like I'm wayyy to young to be going to college. but i guess im not.
I found out who my roommate is yesterday. Her name is Lindsey and she lives 40 mins away from campus. I can tell we're going to get along great and it's going to be fabulous. besides we both adore the color pink so decorating is going to be awsome.
This weekend my crazy plans include going to Long Island again :) and then babysitting. I live such a crazy fun life!
Oh I just remembered something else totally cool..for the 1st time I took the tram to Roosevelt Island! I was babysitting for someone and had to go pick them up over there. It was so awsome. Remember Spider Man? Yea that tram thing. It cost $2 to get there and $2 to get back but it was soo cool. And Roosevelt Island is adorable. It's like this tiny community. You can see both sides of the island cuz it's so small. But it was really cool to look over and see manhattan from there.
Oh another totally cool thing!!! I went to a rock concert! (yep me) Twisted Sister....it's this 80s group but it was totally awsome. I liked it so much I'm actually going to buy a rock cd! it was a really good concert and we even got backstage passes! (I have amazing friends) It was really fun and not something I woulld normally have gone to, but it was a great experience. the night ended with all of us at a dinner at 2 in the morning. it was so great.
Thats about it for now, but if anything else comes to my mind...ill be back!

I can never think of a good title!

2005-04-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

I always have problems comming up with a title! I don't have just one specific thing on my mind! My mind is full of stuff I want to write! One thing I'm super psyched about: I'm babysitting this Friday! I'm so happy! I love kids. But it gets better! This person lives in the building behind mine...as in I only have to go through our back yards (they're connected) to get to her building! How great is that? AND to top it all off the kids are 100% adorable & sweet & amazingly polite! It such a difference from the other 2 kids I sometimes pick up from school (think really really whinney). I just love kids, it makes me happy to play with them and be around them. Do you think I might have a possible major in early childhood education????

Now on to other things...the one that's constantly in my mind: COLLEGE! I have 17 days to make a decision of where I'm going to be next year! Oshbiggosh! I'm leaning a lot towards Pepperdine. At times I'm all for it, 100%. I'm getting a little tired of nyc and the weather. I love the warm weather and I adore the beach. I also want to just get out and experience life and make new friends and get to decorate my dorm. But then sometimes I just feel like such a chicken! It's soo far away. Honestly, at first when I thought about who I was leaving behind I thought about my mom, my family, Edwin, Liza, and everyone who goes along with the youth group. But as I think about it more and more it's kinda scary that amount of people i'd be leaving. My family...hello it's more than just my mom! I wouldn't get to see my uncle warren in long island or my grandpa! And my cousins! How am i supposed to be accross the country? And everyone from church! And today I went by my friend David's house. He lives right next-door to me and if I left I would hardly ever get to see him!!! Ugh I guess i'm just stressing. Where should I go to college? I really want to go to a christian school, and i want to be in the warm weather, but cali is so far away!

So I end with 2 questions:

1. What should I major in

2. Should I go to Pepperdine?

Happy days

2005-04-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

Someone asked if I was a court reporter today. It was kind of funny actually. I was in this office building getting cards from the businesses (for my boss) and a lawyer looked at me (I had a pen & notepad in my hand) and asked me if I was a court reporter. I assured him I wasn't but he didn't seem convinced. It was funny.
Today was a great day over all. I got to babysit 2 adorable 1-year-old twins this morning and their mom and I took them to the park. I absolutely love little kids. They're so lovable and cuddly. Then I saw Robots which is a really great movie! Now I'm starting on my homework: a 3-page English paper on William Wordsworth's poems, a Religion paper on who knows what and a 6-page Psychology paper (that counts for something like 1/2 of my final grade). Fun stuff huh???

I'm baaack!

2005-03-31T22:58:00.000-08:00

Today I was accused of never writing in my blog (Joe) and so I've decided to prove them wrong! Haha!
So what's been going on with me you might ask? Well I returned in one piece from my 10 day trip (with 130 girls from my school) from England and France! It was fabulous! I enjoyed every second of it. I've always wanted to go to England my whole life so it was amazing. I had a smashing good time! :) We spent most of our time touring in our coach on the motorway; one day the coach scratched a jam and boy was there trouble! The owner of the jam screamed at our driver (we saw this all through the windscreen) and we thought they were going to call the fuzz on him! If they did I'm sure he would have gotten pinched! It turned out alright though in the end. (How I love Briticisms!) We went all over London by way of the tube and saw all the famous sights --> the funny thing about this was that it turned out to be completely different than what I expected! Example: Big Ben. Big Ben isn't the Tower. The tower is called the London Tower and Big Ben is the bell inside! And the bridge isn't called the London Bridge! The "London Bridge" is in the US somewhere! I went on the London Eye (Tallest observation wheel in the world) and our Hotel was on the River Thames. I went to Covent Garden and Camden Market and Waterloo Station and the Royal Palace. It was great.We went to Oxford and saw some of the colleges. We saw the changing of the guard ---> there was a marching band and everyone goes running down the pavement with them. We went to Harrids and to the Tower of London. We even took one of those fabulous red-double-decker busses to Westminster Cathedral. A few of the underclassmen got together one day and went on a Harry Potter pilgrimage. That would have been fun to do. Oh well I guess I'll have to go back!
France was great too! I've been there before but I absolutely love it. I got to use my French and I got to bring my friends to this restaurant that serves mussels. We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and walked 1/2 way down! We took a "Bateau Mouch" ride down the Seine River at night. We saw the L'Arc de Triomphe and L'Opera. We went to the Louvre and I took a picture of the Mona Lisa. We took our bus to the countryside and went to Chartres and Chenonceau Castle.
The Flights there and back were great for the most part. They lost our luggage on our way there (it stayed in Frankfurt after we left after our layover) and on the way back it took Captain Logan only 2 tries to land the plane! Over all it was amazingly fun! I LOVE traveling and after college I plan to be a flight attendant so I can fly everywhere and see everywhere. Plus I loves taking off and landing so it seems like a good idea.

On that college note, I officially got accepted into every single college I applied to. Here's the List:
1. SUNY Stony Brook
2. SUNY Albany
3. SUNY New Paltz
4. Iona College
5. Manhattan College
6. Manhattanville College
7. Fordham University
8. St. John's University
9. Hofstra University
10. Abeline Christian University
11. Pepperdine University!

Haha now now I have to pick one. In a month. My mom and I realized that we have 29 days or so to see 11 colleges. So I have a hectic month of "college-hopping".
I'm hoping to eventually get some pictures on my blog...maybe Jason can tell me how :) ???
That's all for now...I'll have to write again so I don't get any more accusations of non-blogging.
Cherrio!

How much is too much?

2005-03-13T21:05:00.000-08:00

I'm so completely irritated! For the past 2 weekends, my friend and I have been planning to go prom dress shopping. Last weekend when I called her on Saturday she said she couldn't go because there was an emergency in her family and she had to babysit for her cousins. Okay fine, no problem...Things happen, you know? So a few times in the past week I asked her for the address of this place we were supposed to go to because I figured if I get a chance I'll go myself. Anyway, everytime I asked her she said she didn't know the address and she only knew how to get there if she was walking there. So we made plans for this Sunday. So after church I call her and this is what she says "oh I'm not going to try on any dresses because my dad wants me to get both my dresses in Florida next week. He knows this really cheap place." so I respond with "oh okay, that's fine...What time do you wanna meet up?" so then she actually says "Well, actually theres a lot of stuff I have to do today...I have to get my house cleaned and I really really have to go to barns and noble to get the answers to my AP exams. So maybe after I do that stuff we can meet up." At that point I couldn't take it so I just told her that she sounded way too busy and we probably shouldn't meet up so she could get everything done; I also said that I just didn't know the address of the place, and that was the problem. She asked me to hang on a second and she got out the card with the address and read it to me. WHAT?!?!?! Wait huh??? I was under the assumption that she didn't have the address...Isn't that why she could never give it to me???? I'm so annoyed!!!!!!!!!! The way I see it now: she only wanted to go dress shopping because she had to find one herself...Once she knew that she was getting one with her dad...Well she said forget it why am I going to waste my time. It's such crap. Basically she only wanted to do things when it was convieient and necessary for her. that's messed up. I wouldn't do that. If she needed a dress and I already had mine, I'd still go with her.

Changes

2005-03-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

People who know me well know that I'm not exactly fond of change. In fact, I hate it most of the time. It takes me a while to get used to things once they change. One of my favorite examples is going to Camp Hunt with my youth group one summer...I didn't want to get out of the van when we arrived and I was almost miserable for the first 2 days, but by the 7th day I loved and didn't want to get back into the van to go home! I'm well aware that we can't control certain things from changing. One example would be people. By that I mean...Us...Humans....My friends. Some of my closest friends in school are dealing with some major issues, and they seem to be drastically changing. But that's not where I was going with this topic today...Maybe another day I'll elaborate on that. Okay my mind is a little scattered so I'll get right to my point:
Today at Phat108 (my youth group) I realized just how much everyone has grown up. I'm shocked. No really, I am. Sometimes when you spend a lot of time with people you don't notice how much older they've gotten. When you see the same people a lot, you never really get to notice a difference in them because it's kind of like you're growing with them so what's to notice.
A bunch of youth group members have come back for spring break and in total there was a really big group tonight. At one point in the evening I just sat back and looked around at everyone. It was so strange. It was like looking at different people. I see some of them every week (like Melissa and damian and soeuraya) and some that I don't see that often (Thomas and lark) but overall, everyone changed.
-I'll start off with Chrisy...I knew she was a few years older than me...But helloooo she's graduating college this semester!?!?! When did she go through all four years? I'm so used to seeing the old youth group members come back for vacation but I never realized just how much time has passed.
-Next, Laura and Johnathan....I see them every Thursday. I haven't known them that long, but it feels like much longer because of all the fun we have (movie night!) but anyways I was thinking about how they were when they first came to phat108, and it's different now. They were both very quiet at first, but now they're not! Besides that they just look...Older.
-Lark...Okay he has an excuse for looking a little different because he's been away at school and so I don't see him that often. Regardless, he still looks older.
-Mel: yep definitely looks older. Remember the old Melissa? I sure do! She owned 1 pair of jeans (which she NEVER wore) and used to love the tom-boy-ish look. Now? All she wears is jeans, and her hair is getting longer, and she just looks older! Earrings? Lip gloss???? lookin like a girl more and more everyday!
-Thomas: he's also got an excuse for changing because he's been away at ACU, but when we were all talking today, i realized that he doesn't look like the same old Thomas, he looks like a college kid! I mean I know he is, but he never really looked it until now.
-As for Greg and Ella...Well not too different, but when you look at them you can see a change. Greg just looks a little older, and same with Ella.
-Damian and Soeuraya-well.. I can't think of a new word other than older. Not by a lot, but just like everyone else...You can definitely notice a change.
-Little Levi...Well duh. But seriously every week Levi gets bigger. This one you can definitely notice! Time flies!
-As for Jason and Allison and Sallie and Joe, they don't look older...(no worries!) but if you just think back to a time a few years ago, you'd definitely notice changes.

So I was pondering over all of this during phat108 and so yea we've changed. It makes me kind of sad. Wistful. we can't stop time from going by. I wouldn't really want to anyway, but it makes me aware that eventually I'll be going away and everyone will just keep on growing and changing. It's also kind of cool though. Did anyone else notice anything like this? If not, I suggest just taking time to really look at people and find out what you see.

Update on my colleges...I got into: Hofstra University, Manhattan College, and St. John's University!

Vacation ups and downs

2005-02-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

So this is the last day of my "winter vacation" because tomorrow the weekend starts and then it's school all over again. Well at least for 3 more weeks and then it's "spring vacation". The seasons come so fast! The week started off pretty bad but ended up okay. It's funny how sometimes things seem so bad but then some good things happen and it all kind of balances out. One of the major things that had me bummed out this was was the fact that I missed out on this job opportunity. Basically in the beginning of the year, a friend of mine got a good babysitting job...She had to pick up this girl from school, and walk her to an after school thing and then bring her home. I mean it's perfect when you think about it. You get $10 an hour for walking around and then waiting for this girl while she's in her afterschool thing. During the hour that she's there you have time to do whatever...and for me this would be an opportunity to start on my homework. So I talked to this friend of mine and asked her to ask around and see if any other parents needed help or whatnot. Well a few months go by and my friend didn't want her job anymore. I guess I didn't put 2 and 2 together quickly enough, but one day another friend of mine was getting this lady's number and now she has the job. For some reason this just blows my mind. My friend knew I was always talking about this job and saying how perfect it was. I guess I wasn't in the right place at the right time when the 1st friend gave the 2nd friend the info...but the more i think about it, the more I realize that if I was in friend #2's position...I would at least ask if I was still interested in the job. Ugh it just seems so annoying! Another annoying point: the 2nd friend of mine already has 2 jobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's really unfair. I know, I know...Life is unfair...I've heard it before. It's just so incredibly unfair. I know that yea we all need money...But f you already have 2 jobs..Why don't you just let other people get a chance? And the worst part of it is...This person is one of my closest friends. Ugh it just irritates me so much because now I feel like I can never talk about a job I want because then someone will scoop it up. I guess its partly my fault too...I just wasn't in the right spot or whatever...It's still annoying though.

The next bad thing was that I failed my road test. Sad but true. The DMV inspector was irritated with me and it seemed like he wanted me to fail on purpose (hey they get $60 extra by me failing). I was going down this street and he asked me to turn left, and I was doing everything right (blinker, etc...) and so a see a car far away down the street to my right and he's far away so I start to go and then the inspector slams on the brake and I guess while I was turning that guy sped up and tried to turn at the same time as me. Well we never would have hit and it was totally his fault, but he failed me anyways because of it. My instructor thinks I should call the DMV and complain about the inspector, but it's not worth it. It's very annoying because I can't help it if there are psycho drivers in New York, and one of them chose to show it off while I was having my road test. oh well..Life goes on.

Another dark part of my week...Well I was at barns and noble and I wanted to buy 2 really good books. So I thought about it and the total would come to about $20. I knew I had that amount, but it was to pay back a friend...So I thought in my head "well I could spend it now because I'll probably make it back by the end of the week." A second thought in my head was "haha you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch" and the third thought was "haha funny saying...it won't come true" So I bought the books thinking that I'll definitely be able to make the money back. Well, surprise surprise...I didn't make the money back and now that stupid saying is floating around my head mocking me. Always go for your second instinct.

So the week was looking pretty bleak until Thursday...I had sooooo much fun with Levi, Jason, and Damian while we were getting everything set up for the Phat108-Allison's Birthday Party. It was so much fun. I helped Jason while we got Levi to try out finger painting, and it was hilarious! After the party there was this cool Illumine service at my church which was a lot of fun too. It's funny how one great day can kind of make the rest of the horrible week go away.

So here it is..The end of the week...I'm broke, jobless, in debt, without a license and so some reason it doesn't seem too bad!

Valentines Day

2005-02-14T23:40:00.000-08:00

Happy valentines Day!

For the most part, I like Valentines Day. Yes it is a huge holiday thought up so businesses can make tons of money on a random day of the year by selling chocolate and candy, but in general it's okay by me. I love hearts so seeing them everywhere on this day doesn't bother me one bit. I also happen to like pink (fav color) so seeing it everywhere doesn't bother me either. Today we even got to dress down (no uniforms!) for the occasion. Our prom committee was selling "candy-grams" which was cute and meant that we were bombarded with candy all day long. So see, over all it's a pretty nice holiday. I gave a few of my friends cards today and on each one I wrote:

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
Always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I know this is one of the more "famous" verses from the bible, but if you really think about it...It's true. Basically we're supposed to love everyone right? Well we can do that by just being kind to someone. It gets harder when you try not to be easily angered or rude. So I honestly tried to do this today to everyone. I'll admit: it's kinda hard. I love the verse anyways.

One of my friends in school said something the other day is stuck in my mind...she was talking about some of the people in our school and she said basically "dont stab me in the back and then cozy up to me and say you love me". This is sooo true! Don't do things behind my back and then feed me all this bull and cozy up to me. It's gotta be one of the most annoying things in the world! I know this is a random thought but I had to get it out.

My 1/2 birthday is the on 16th...yippie 4 me

Edwin is officially a fully licensed driver!
My road test is next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ice Skating

2005-01-15T21:34:00.000-08:00

Isn't ice skating great? I love it. I also love watching it. It's on right now...the figure skating championship i think. It's so fun to watch. I'm at the Hay's house babysitting Sophia. She's asleep so here I am. ooo someone new is on. Sheesh, you try skating backwards accross the ice and then flipping and spinning. Talk about impressive. I love to actually skate too. I've only been once this season, but it was sooo much fun. I definety have to go again. When I was younger I was in an ice skating/skating club. Every week in the winter we would walk over to lasker rink and get lessons. I learned a lot actually. I was able to skate accross the ice and then crouch down and then put out one leg (I was on one foot!) and then grab my ice skate and spin around really fast. So cool. I havn't done it for a while, but I want to try. In the spring we would skate around central park doing all sorts of crazy things (jumping over curbs and stuff). I'm not a big sports person, but it was fun. Oh, another thing I'm into, football! Haha sounds crazy right? (YES). Anyways I actually only like playing xbox nfl, it's really fun. Since I've been playing that so much lately I actually had a clue as to what was going on when I saw a game on tv.

So last week was crazy-school related. I had 5 tests and a quiz in 3 days. It's almost the end of the quarter, but come on! So far though, it's been good! We allreay got the grades back for 3 of the tests. On my math test i got a 97! On French i got a 89, and on my government test 100! hahahaha it makes me happy! I might get exempted from the Gov and Religion. That would be awsome. That's all for now!!!!!

School again

2005-01-03T21:02:00.000-08:00

Here goes school again...today wasn't that bad considering it was the 1st Monday back. I have 4 test linned up for next week and I have 30 pages of gov to read along with a religion chapter, but hey no big deal. 2 weeks and 2 days left of this quarter. I'm aiming for 1st honors (fingers crossed). Vacation was great, I'll have to elaborate another time...I really should finish up my work and get some sleep. ooo good news: I got into SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Stony Brook!!!!! My dad was psyched about stony brook. He wants me to go there because he went there...well most of my family has gone there: my mom, her siblings: Uncle Doug, Uncle John, Auny Kerren; my dad and his siblings: Aunt Pam, and Uncle Warren. Okay now thats a lot of family in one college. Any pressure for me to go there? nah!

Life is unfair {at times}

2004-12-19T00:16:00.000-08:00

Life is so unfair sometimes. I know it's not always supposed to be fair but things are getting a little ridiculous. Sometimes I feel like there's no justice in the world. The people who do the wrong things always get away with it. They always come out on top! How is that fair? (Answer =NOT FAIR) Ugh! Here's what I mean:

This is what the wicked are like-

always carefree, they increase in wealth.

Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;

in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

All day long I have been plagued;

I have been punished every morning[...]

those who are far from you will perish;

you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

But as for me, it is good to be near God.

-Psalm 73

Why does the way of the wicked prosper?

Why do all the faithless live at ease?

You have planted them, and they have taken root;

they grow and bear fruit.

You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

Yet you know me, O Lord;

you see me and test my thoughts about you.

Drag them off like sheep to be butchered!

Set them apart for the day of slaughter!

How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered?

Because of those who live in it are wicked,

the animals and birds have perished.

Moreover, the people are saying:

"He will not see what happens to us."

-Jeremiah 12

So yea I'm really irritated with a few things. Other than that...Today was great! I had my school Glee Club concert and it went really well! Since I'm Ms. Presidenté I went early and bought 2 huge bouquets of flowers for our director, Mrs. Capece, and the pianist. I have to say that we sounds really good! I think my favorite song was "children, go where I send thee" It was so great! After I gave my family a tour of my school and then we brought them to 57th st and 34th st. After that my mom and I went Christmas shopping! Over all it was a great day!

By the way..

2004-12-18T21:19:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention....I got into SUNY Albany!!! Yay for me!!!

College 2

2004-12-13T23:08:00.000-08:00

more on the college situation....

Sarina got into SUNY Albany! yay for her! I'm so excited! This whole college thing is thrilling! I love it! I can't wait to find out where everyone is going! At the same time it kind of makes me sad because it seems so final...as in we can see our futures. It's fun finding out where everyone is going to be next year, but at the same time, it's sad because I'm realizing how we're all going to be separating from eachother.

on a different note...i did something really stupid last week. I gave someone a chance, and it blew up in my face. im so stupid. i dont learn anything. people dont get why i do it...i think it's cuz im too forgiving. who knows? in any case, that was the LAST time i do that again. I'd rather just keep my head under a textbook and not face anything.

College

2004-12-13T20:53:00.000-08:00

Exciting news of the day: I GOT INTO ACU!!!!!!!!! It's so exciting! It's my first acceptance letter! Here's how it went down: I was walking down my hall...I see a big envelope by my door...I walk over to it, and in huge letters it says "Enclosed is your acceptance to Abilene Christian University" (so much for the anticipation of opening it). So I open it and there is my letter! Along with a certificate in a frame of my acceptance (?!?! Must be a weird Texas thing)! I'm so excited! I actually feel like I'm heading towards college! It's such a rush!

Other than that things have been chaos in everyway possible (more on that later). Right now my top priority is my psychology project (think 20mins in front of the class enlightening everyone about schizophrenia) due tomorrow.

College 2

2004-12-13T19:50:00.000-08:00

Ira

2004-12-12T23:51:00.000-08:00

Im so completely worried about Joe and Laura and Ira! I'm so scared for them. I pray for them all the time but I'm still really worried. I think Joe and Laura are my favorite people at mcoc (besides the Isbell's).

*praying for a miracle*

Time

2004-12-12T23:40:00.000-08:00

So I've come to the conclusion that if I could invent any kind of machine it would be a time-freezer. Nothing permanent; just something to stop time for a little so people would catch up. [now believe me i know this is a weird thought, but hasnt everyone wished they could invent something like this at some point?]All day long I've just felt like I've been running after time. It started off with waking up after the time I should. I wasn't late; just not on time. So I got ready for church, but somehow managed to leave my house 45 mins late. After church I went xmas shopping on 34th st. Where did the time go? b4 I knew it, it was around 4:30 *mind you I had to be at a party at 4:00* so I rush home and get there around 5:30. Before I know it its 7:00 and IM still not at the party. So get myself out of my house and all the way to my friends xmas-chanuka-tree-lighting party (oh and by the way its right next-door to me). Before I know it 10:00 rolls around and IM realizing that I've yet to start my homework and study for my test tomorrow. By the time I actually leave its 10:30. So by the time I sit down with my books its about 10:45. So im sitting here (its 11:30 almost now) and im thinking where did all the time go? Seriously, where?I don't remember doing anything in particular all day (except church). So yea a time-machine is what I would like for xmas. Can anyone help me with that? I just need a few hours to study and do homework and get everything done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yea and college applications!!!!!!!!! And learning alllll my music for my concert on Saturday. oh boy.

humm and if a time-machine doesnt work out, I think a teleporter machine would be awesome. haha id definitely save some time there.

my first entry!!!!!!!!!!

2004-12-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

Well one of the main reasons I decided to sign up for this "blog" thing was so that I could actually see my name when I respond to anything on the heirforce site. But the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of this. Anyways, I'll try to keep it up...maybe somewhere inbetween my frenzy of college apps and pointless-tests ill be able to keep this updated.

Oh and by the way, major props go to jason. I absolutely LOVE the heirforce blogspot site! For the longest time I've wanted a site just for the youthgroup, and this is perfect. Plus its got pictures!!!!!!! Way to go Jason!

This is a kind of pathetic first entry, but hey I have school in about 6 hours, so I have an excuse!