She'd Be California...

So it just took a few more days to make me feel less homesick.

I participated in the California legend that is In-n-Out!
(Chick-fil-a and Steak-n-Shake still rule)


I got to spend the weekend at Oceanside and San Clemente seeing Ben :)
(And driving around in his red truck.. Usually that car isn't in use without slushies as well, but I guess I'll let it slide this time.)


Intervarsity people went linedancing and I got to go! Oh my gosh this place is amazing! Not to mention the people I get to hang with! Not only do they play country music nearly the entire time, we get to linedance. Just like WIL and just like Bear Trap. I loved it..


I went to my first, and probably only, CSUN basketball game!


Then last sunday after church we got to go on top this mountain and stargaze! But it was actually WAY cooler to see the San Fernando Valley from way up there. I went with fun people...


And I saw these pretty lights...



Well that's all for meow! This weekend has amazing potential as well.
Tonight I'm going to Roscoe's House of Chick and Waffles. Yes, you read correctly. House of Chicken and Waffles. Their specialty is fried chicken and waffles. I mean, y'all thought I was crazy for liking Waffle House right? It's about to get a whole lot more sketch. Bring it on.

Then tomorrow Ben is coming up here to get me and see CSUN and then we're off back to Camp Pendleton to hang :) Just so happens to be Valentine's Day on Monday and my birthday on Tuesday which just makes things so much better!

LA rocks,
Angela

"Made up my mind to make a new start...

Adventure or Homesick? I still can't decide!

Friday, January 21, 2011 I flew out of the 2 degree St. Charles, Missouri (I was probably complaining about) and over to the 70 degree Northridge, California.

68 more degrees and even more surprises.

The baggage claim is located outdoors. Why? It's not a risk for the state that always has sunshine!
We get in our rental care that has 0 country music stations. Why? Well, I'm not entirely sure about that... I think Cali is a bit crazy.
We drive past palm trees and beautiful houses. We get to a campus that looks EXACTLY like the pictures.
Yeah, there is a pool on campus. Multiple pools infact.

Don't forget we're in California. Yes, people do walk their miniature dogs on leashes, or carry them in bags, indoors.
Yes, I am the palest person to reside in the state of California.


These trees are located outside my library.


This beach is 30 mintues away from campus.


But this heart is left in Missouri. (Cheesy award goes to me)

The dorm has beach chairs on the balcony. (I think it's a requirement of living in Cali that I get at least 10 shades darker.) It is sunny from the minute I wake up to when I go to bed. (Okay its 'winter' here -only according to the calendar- so the sun goes down a bit earlier but oh well). And there are a lot of beautiful mountain scenes anywhere I go...


See? Mountains. Not row crops. (But I'm really missing the cornfields and vineyards MO is full of.)

Well for the first 48 hours Dad and I spent it gawking at the scenery and soaking up the sun.
The next 48 hours? I was ready to go back. Nice vaction but I'm done.

Now that it's almost been a week, I'm starting to remember why I wanted to do this in the first place.

I wanted to study abroad. Live in and experience a different culture. 'Abroad' soon became New York City and NYC became L.A. That turned into Northridge, CA. But I can say undoubtedly, I am living and experiencing an entirely different culture!

This post would be endless if I described the differences between here and home.
Out of all the 4 cities I've been to in California, Northridge has not won me over. San Clemente is winning. Santa Monica came close. Los Angeles was dirty. And Northridge, to me, means school.

Culture shock, jetlag, altitude adjustment, beginning of another semester, and climate change? Yeah. It's a bit much. And I wasn't expecting ANY negative reaction or the tiniest bit of homesickness.

Tomorrow equals week 1. Amazing. Hectic. Brand new.




...goin to California with an achin in my heart"
Angela

Winter Camp 2011

I realize it is a bit late.

2 weekends ago I went to Wisconsin and led a group of 7th grade girls!

So we've all heard something like "I hope you learned as much from me as I did from you". Well, it surprised me again to realize that you can learn a lot in any situation when you pause long enough to let the good Lord teach.

Last summer I led some 7th graders at Summer Camp. (Even saying "I led" feels out of place because until this past year I've never thought of myself as old enough or experienced enough to lead.) And I did it again for Winter Camp!

Also, working with other women who share a love for Junior or Senior High girls is a fun experience too!

Little by little I feel like I'm growing up and when I'm not expecting it I am learning a whole lot.


7th Grade Ladies


8th Grade Ladies I got to share a cabin with :)

Beautiful snow everywhere, and tons of hot chocolate and tea. Its like winter is even more perfect in Wisconsin. Don't worry, St. Charles, I still love you the most. :)

Pause,
Angela

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I love St. Charles so much they finally made a commercial for it!
Well, maybe not exactly how it happened. Historic St. Charles has a commercial, and now I like it even more.


Beautiful. Even better covered in snow!

Since I've been home for Christmas vacation I've done aboslutely nothing and it has been AMAZING! However between our house being remodeled and some great people in town for a limited time, I've somehow stayed pretty busy.

Seeing a lot of my beautiful sisters and I am good with that!

Christmas Eve night traditions :)

And I've hung around with some adorable nephews that like to shout any and every thought.


Oh and I love this video. Watch it. Okay? :)



6 Days until it is 2011!
26 Days until I go to California! YAY
29 Days until school starts :/
51 Days until I'm 20
56 Days until LCpl Ben Bullock deploys - Pray! Pray! Pray! Everyone!


I'll post about ALL of those big events!
Angela

SANTA! I KNOW HIM!

Its that time of year again! I've watched...
-How the Grinch Stole Christmas
-White Christmas
-Elf
So far, so good!
Gettin into the Christmas spirit is the best thing about December until the 25th.
Coming attractions...
-Meet Me in St. Louis
-The Family Stone
-A Christmas Story
-Grinch, Grinch, Grinch and more Grinch
-Elf, Elf, ELf, and more Elf!
-Charlie Brown
-Frosty

We have Christmas candles, trees, decorations, and candy canes around the apartment and its wonderful. Hot chocolate, Christmas cookies, and holiday creamer for the coffee. Every little thing that is only appropriate in December makes me very happy :)

Also, December has been the month of good news!
I got my schedule for next semester at CSUN:
1. Photography
2. Dance
3. New Testament
4. Nutrition
5. Marriage & Family Relations
And finally got off the waitlist for a dorm! I officially have an apartment on campus at California State University Northridge! I can't tell if I'm more excited or nervous.


Paige had a great idea for us to puff paint sweatshirts for the Christmas party we had with Vine people.

And they looked supes cute!


And we dance the night away! Actually this is more of Garry just getting outta control and knocking Paige over haha but I couldn't leave it out.

Only 4 days until I move back to St. Charles.
3 Finals until my semester is technically over.
Only 13 days until Christmas.

Very Merry Christmas ahead,
Angela

Turkey Day!

November was grrreat! I've been having so much to do that time is going by way too fast! SO unlike last year when I had absolutely nothing to do all the time. Ha.


I went to a skate party as a 90's pop star! Which I totally wish I was a part of Jump5...


And then I went home for Thanksgiving! We ate and ate.
And put up our tree of course...


Sistas :)

Thankful for SO much,
Angela

Hoppy Hallow's Eve! In December...

Somehow my semester feels easy but at the same time I'm too busy to update.
So I'm going to break up these posts as if I did them at the right time.

I hope I never miss a Halloween at home! There is something about a pretty fall night with tons of candy and grillin hotdogs that makes me super happy. Being at college 3.5 hours away won't stop me from bein there.

The weekend before Halloween my family came down to see me too! We also celebrated Grampa's 80th birthday with his sis Evelyn down here in Springfield!


We went to the Nature Center and carved pumpkins


Happy 80th Gramps!


Daine gettin creative with his pumpkin..


And they came to see MSU campus


Then a week later I followed them all home!

To enjoy the Halloween bonfire with my family and the best neighbors ever!


And eat lots of food and candy!


Halloween is a tradition. A good one. And I love any kind of tradition! Especially when they're in St. Charles.

Boo!
Angela

Big Envelope Means 'She's in' - Little Envelope Means 'She needs to marry rich'

I got the big envelope!
I'm not actually a student at CSUN, I'm only studying there for one semester, So I'm not sure why they are giving me an acceptance letter because I didn't have to apply. Either way, its exciting! And I got the envelope :)



Ta-da!


Accepted,
Angela

Burn Us Up

This song is about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I love this story so much more now! Shane & Shane make it beautiful.

Daniel 3:16-18
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up"

I love that they BELIEVE God is able to deliver.
But even if he DOESN'T, they will burn.
We should want this same passion! Even if God does not answer my prayer, or rescue me in the way I want... He will rescue me in his ways.
So even if he doesn't save me from enemies' hands, I will still praise God and stay right where I am. Even if it is 'burning'.

Lyrics:

"There were three
Before the king
There were three who wouldn’t bow to him
For when you heard
The music play
And you were standing you would burn.
They looked at him and said…

Burn us up! Burn us up! Burn us up!
Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of
Your desire
We give up! We give up! We give up!
Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of
Your desire!
Won’t you throw us in the fire!

The king enraged
At what they said
Sent the three away to find their death
The palace stopped in unbelief
When the guilty raised their hands to sing
They looked to him and said…

You are able to deliver from the fire of affliction
It’s the declaration of my Lord
You’re not an image of gold
You’re the God of old
You have made us
Come and save us
We are Yours
But even if You don’t..."


Even if,
Angela

Safe

To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong he'll never let you go
oh you're not alone


You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms


Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone


These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me

These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free