For three years now I have been blessed with no schedule problems, always being to get the classes I needed when I wanted to take them, etc.

Well, this afternoon we were informed that one of the Poli Sci classes (that I need to graduate) was cancelled…leaving me with fewer units than necessary to be a full-time student, and leaving me unsure of how I am going to graduate in May.

The other classes that would fill this requirement are either A) full; B) not offered, or C) at the same time as other classes that I am taking to fulfill the requirements for my major.

I’m a little concerned!

Tomorrow I will be going to the head of the History/Poli Sci department to discuss this problem. I WILL be graduating in May, I just don’t know how right now. I will also be going to the Registrar to see what they can do for me.

Sigh…just what I need! 🙂

I also decided not to do Chamber Singers. I made callbacks, but I have realized that I really need to learn to say no. I tend to take on WAY too much, and consequently burn out. Not this year. So, I will not be going to New Zealand and Australia next summer, but really, that’s okay. I need to really study this year (I know, shocking) and I need to also have time to relax so that my stress level is lower and so that I can focus on other important things in my life.

Please pray for me about the class thing…I cannot even believe that it was cancelled. Hopefully the dept. chair will work with me…

“Even so, it is well with my soul.”

Imagine that you are given a place to live for a short time…

The person who gave it to you informs you that your stay will be very short, and that you need to be prepared to leave and go onto your new/permanent residence at a moment’s notice.

However, you have quite the decorating sense and you decide that the room “needs something.” You go and find this amazing painting at an art sale, and you go ahead and spend the $10,000 because “it fits so nicely.” You decorate the room lavishly, ignoring the advice of the person who gave you the room. With a new coat of paint, some wallpaper, new furniture, and a great deal of money invested, it really is quite the fashionable room now. You are comfortable.

And two days later, you are informed that your house is ready, and it’s time to move.

What about the time and money you invested? The hours you spent painting? What was the point?

Yet, don’t we all do the same thing? We are told repeatedly in the Gospel that this world is not our home…that He is going to prepare us a place…but we spend so much time and effort obtaining more “stuff” and making our lives here more comfortable…

And what’s the point?

This was part of the message that our university president gave today in chapel…and it was amazing because it put into words what I’ve been learning slowly all summer…

I think about how much money and time I spend on things that have no eternal value…I mean, really, as much as I want these “things” that would make life easier or more fun, isn’t there a better use of my money and time? Most likely, yes. And it has been convicting. Many changes are being made in my life in regards to money, and I am working on becoming a better steward of that which I have been given.

This earth is not our home…it’s merely where we live while we prepare for the life that God is preparing for us in Heaven…it’s a “pit stop” on route to our final destination…

Just something to ponder…

So, my job is two-fold: to assist patrons in their research endeavors, and to answer any other questions that come my way–which range from where the bathrooms are, or any question about anything on campus, to how to get to Pasadena pr . (no joke, I got asked directions to places like the Reagan Ranch, Santa Barbara, Magic Mountain, etc. this summer. It’s like the Reference Desk is really “Information Booth”, LOL).

Well, just a few minutes ago I got asked a question that was quite humorous to me. A young man came up and after I assisted him with whatever he was looking for, he asked:

“Are you married?”

LOL. “No.”

“Alright!”

Random? Yes. Odd? Very. Not exactly a “reference” question I’ve ever had experience with! 🙂

Whatever. It just made me laugh, because I’m definitely not looking to date anyone. He was just trying to be funny in front of his roommate, and I laughed as well.

It made me smile, though, and after the past two crazy days, it was needed. 🙂

Today is the first day of my last year of undergraduate study at Azusa Pacific University. And as I sat in my last “first chapel” of the year, I couldn’t help but reminisce…

Three years ago today (Sept. 8th), it was Monday of the first full week of classes…my first year in college…I was living in Engstrom Hall, “on my own” for the first time in my life. I had just changed my major from Vocal Performance to Political Science. I had basically NO idea what I wanted to do with my life, except that I wanted to be Governor of California someday.

I didn’t know that in three days the world would change drastically (Sept.11). I didn’t know that I would change so much over the next three years. There was a lot that I didn’t know…

But what I did know was that I had chosen the best school for me…I knew that I would have the opportunity for immense growth in many different areas of my life…and I knew that I would never be the same again.

I have set several goals for my senior year, and I have every intention of reaching these goals. I am NOT looking forward to all the reading and class-attending that must happen this year, but I know that it is necessary to prepare me for the rest of my life. I am ALMOST DONE!!

Just a few thoughts…I tend to be a bit sentimental at times. 🙂

First off, if anyone can figure out how to order back issues of TIME magazine, please let me know. I’ve been searching their site and using Google, to no avail. I really want to get my hands on about 10 copies of the August 30th issue!

My audition went fairly well this morning…problem is that the director informed me that the tour is from mid-June to mid-July, not May…SO, even if I make call-backs (I’ll know tomorrow), I can’t participate in the group because my first priority is youth ministry, and that is the time of summer when everything is happening. So I’m bummed, a bit, but really, when it comes down to it: Chamber Singers or youth ministry? There really is no choice in my mind.



Other than that, nothing exciting is happening. Life is getting crazy! Being a student supervisor now is going to increase my responsibilities at work, and I’m working about 20 hours per week this semester. It is exciting, though. I love having things to accomplish!



Back to trying to find last week’s issue of TIME…

So, I just found out that the article I have been waiting for (for 5 months) was in the August 30th issue of TIME MAGAZINE! And I am totally in the picture! It’s about young Conservatives in America, and it is in the exact center of the magazine. Pick up a copy if you can still find it! I’m going to get as many as I can! 🙂 WOW! I cannot believe this!

Life is back to “normal” here on campus…there are a few thousand students on campus again, bringing life back to the atmosphere that has been so quiet for the past 4 months. People are getting settled, buying books, taking care of business…and it feels great!

It is so awesome to be a senior…to know that I am almost done…that I have persevered and will soon be a graduate of APU…I am SO excited!

Classes start Wednesday, and I’m not all that excited about that part of being at school. But, I have motivation now to continue to work hard: I need to boost my GPA by .9 in order to graduate with latin honors, and since I want to go to seminary now, I need to have my GPA higher so that I will qualify for more scholarships. 🙂

Tomorrow I am auditioning for APU’s Chamber Singers group…I didn’t decide to do so until this weekend, for many reasons…but tomorrow morning I will be auditioning. The big draws for joining the group are these:

1–I miss singing in a group, and this group is the most difficult/elite group on campus…so IF I make it in, it will be an honor, and it will be a challenge–which I need in order to stay motivated to practice and all that jazz.

2–The May tour for this group is to New Zealand and Australia…enough said.

If the Lord wants me to be in this group, I know that the audition will go well. If He has something better for me, I know that He will show me that as well. All I can do is go prepared to the audition, and do my best. 🙂 I am not nervous, because I know that His Will will be done.

The Lord is continually changing me in intense ways, and I am so excited to see where His hand will lead me. Life is definitely busy right now–but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I forgot to mention that I still have 5 invitations for Google mail…I LOVE it! 1000 MB of storage says it all. If you want to try it, leave a comment and I’ll email you the invite.

(It’s a beta service right now, which is why they are having only a few people try it for now…it’s great!)

Huntington Beach

Posted by Hello

Beautiful red flowers at the Getty

Posted by Hello