So I’ve been been promising people for weeks that I am about to blog, and tonight Rebecca and Wendy (my roomies) and I had a dance party to High School Musical 2 and I got a piece of glass stuck in my foot, so I figured it was as good a time as ever to start, right? I basically was just waiting for a really excellent opener. And it was pretty amazing because I was attempting to bust a Corbin Bleu skip-it move, so at least I went down with pride. And no worries, we bandaged it up and continued the party into the wee hours of the morning.
I hope I’m allowed to still use my AIM blog. The pressure of thinking of a new blog title was too much for me, and I would love to work with AIM in the future, so why deal with switching back and forth? Besides, I’m still a missionary. I have a hope and an eternal and contagious joy with me that should shift the atmosphere wherever I am. Maybe that could have been my new blog title. AtmosphereShifter.blogspot.com? Maybe I’ll look into it.
Many of you have asked me, “How are your classes going?” which is a legitimate question, but in fact, the classes have yet to even begin. Since arriving in Pasadena almost 3 weeks ago, the girls of North Madison #4 have been settling into the SoCal life rather well by spending our days going to the beach, going to the only Chik-fil-A within 30 minutes of Pasadena, shopping (granted its usually at salvation army or going to target for something like carpet cleaner… oh and we may have spent 5 hours and eaten 2 meals at IKEA one day) and eating free orientation food. I’m not sure I want to have this life interrupted by studying.
But alas, we begin on Tuesday. Actually, orientation week has been really wonderful and has really made me excited for classes to begin. Its neat starting this time and knowing I won’t have to take any classes that aren’t at least in some way preparing me for what I’m passionate about. I mean, I’m sure you could try to argue that the frustrations of taking Calc at Wake was in some way preparing me for a life of ministry, but you know what I’m saying. And I’m pumped for my program’s cohort. Marriage & Family has about 55 people in it and I know we are going to feel like family so soon. We have almost all our classes together for the next two years, so I just know I’m about to undergo some major bonding. Plus its a whole group of people people, ya know? People who love people. Lots of warmth going around amongst us. You don’t usually expect grad schools to have comparable community life to undergrad, but I can’t even express how cared for I have felt in the almost 3 weeks I’ve been here (again-I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that we all want to be counselors). We’ve spent a good amount of time already with our professors (one of them had the whole group of 55 over to her house for dinner the other night) and, as the facilitator of our faculty panel remarked, “There’s not a dry bone in the bunch.” Their passion for the Gospel is so evident in everything they do and say. I just am so thankful to have the opportunity to study under these minds and hearts the next 2 years.
Tomorrow I’m trying a new church (that’s one way you can pray for me… I just want to find a solid church community that I really fit into). It’s a new Vineyard Church plant… you can see what you think at OasisPasadena.org. 
Enjoy the apartment pictures. You asked for them. Its not Crowne Polo (we had termites when we moved in and a doorbell hanging from a wire) but I think we’ve made it pretty cute with our Craigslist finds. I basically consider myself a professional furniture painter now. Oh and that trunk was seven dollars at salvation army. And the orange chair was twenty. Happy Happy 50% Off Fridays. What a gift.
