spring

This is my last full quarter at Fuller, and boy is it full. I'm taking more classes than ever, still working at the gym, and trying to maintain a social life on top of that. Luckily there are plenty of opportunities to spend time with friends.

I was able to get away for a few days for spring break. I headed up to San Francisco with some friends of mine. We were able to see the sights, including the Golden Gate Bridge.

While there, we also got tickets to see the San Francisco Ballet. This is a picture of City Hall from the lobby of the San Francisco Opera House.

Easter dinner was amazing! My friends and I got together for a potluck dinner. The food was so good - ham, green bean casserole, and sweet potatoes.

These girls mean so much to me. We all helped plan the dinner during one of our girls only nights. They have been my refuge this quarter.

A few weeks ago Fuller had a spring formal. It was so much fun getting dressed up and dancing the night away.

How could I not have fun with this group?

On Thursday nights we usually try to make it down to South Pasadena to the farmer's market. Along with the fresh local produce, there are numerous vendors that sell wonderful food. Dinner is always a treat.

done and done

Six down, two to go. Quarters that is. I just finished my winter quarter the other day. Don’t let the name fool you though. The temperature was up in the 90’s earlier this week. It was a relatively easy quarter, two real classes and then a distance learning class that will continue through next quarter. My classes continue to be interesting and challenging. While the insights I take away from each class may not necessarily align with the learning outcomes proposed by the professor, I still feel as though the classes are worth my time, energy, and money. With that in mind, I thought I would share the lessons I have taken away from my recently completed classes.

Statistics/Research Methods: I discovered that I still really like math, numbers, and formulas. Unfortunately we didn’t spend a whole lot of time on that in this class. I am even more confident now that at some point in my life I will do research on a particular topic, whether for further educational purposes or as part of my career. And finally I have mastered the art of reading and understanding journal articles. Too bad this skill is being fully realized now, at the end of my schooling.

Youth Outreach and Evangelism: I am more adamant now than ever that Chap Clark is an amazing professor, and I am so thankful that I have been able to take two classes from him. He is the reason I came to Fuller in the first place, and I have not been disappointed. This particular class was a bit of a struggle for me because I have never been comfortable with evangelism. Probably the most important thing I am taking away from this class is a greater appreciation for my mainline Protestant upbringing. Had it not been for the Methodist Church’s emphasis on loving and caring for others as opposed to conversion, I would not be the person I am today.

For those keeping track at home, I turned in all of my assignments on Monday of finals week, which means I have almost two full weeks off before spring quarter starts. There is a beach trip planned for tomorrow, and then I am heading up to the San Francisco Bay area with friends for the first few days of Spring Break. I will finish up my break back here in Pasadena, enjoying this amazing city that I normally cannot take full advantage of because of school.

the little things

“Woohoo Wendy, they’re palm trees. Yes we know you live in Southern California. You don’t have to keep rubbing it in.”

No, you’re just not looking closely enough. The palm trees weren’t the reason I took this picture. It is what’s behind the palm trees. Clouds.

I see these three palm trees everyday as I look out my back door. Against the clear blue sky they remind me how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place. But the last few days they have been placed before a different background, a very familiar and comfortable background.

Seeing the palm trees and clouds immediately reminded me of the summers growing up and the afternoon showers that would roll in everyday, making the streets and roofs rise with steam. It reminded me of all the times my family and I would sneak off to Galveston Island, just to get away for a while. It reminded me of that smell, the smell that you can never quite describe, but you know rain is on the way.

I miss these things.

no rest for the weary

Whew, what an exhausting few weeks I have had recently. You would think that the break between quarters would bring rest and relaxation, but no such luck for me. The two weeks I had in Texas for the holiday went by way too fast. There was a quick trip up to College Station and Austin to see friends, which always proves to be a great time. And then there was Christmas with the family complete with an eggplant casserole made just for me. I realized just how little time I get to spend with my family now when my cousin Kate and I figured we had not seen each other since last Christmas, a fact that almost seems impossible.

About the time I was beginning to get restless in Nederland and knew I would soon be returning to Pasadena, Dad got sick and had to go to the hospital. Just like that everything turned upside down, and I wanted to pull hard on the emergency break so that I could stay in Texas until he felt better. The call on the way to the airport saying he had been moved from the ICU into a regular room was of some comfort, but ultimately being so far away is never really easy, even now that he is back home.

New Year’s Eve in Pasadena was an exciting time with people camping out for the Rose Parade and ensuing festivities of the bowl game. Erika, Johnny P, and I woke up early New Year’s Day to stake out decent spots from which to view the parade. Having watched the Rose Parade on tv for so many years, actually seeing the giant floats glide down Colorado Boulevard right in front of me was a surreal experience. The rest of the day was spent resting and getting geared up for the new quarter, which quickly began the next day.

Even though I am already back in the swing of things, not everyone has gone back to school yet. This past weekend I enjoyed an extremely fun visit from an old roommate from college, Kat, and her sister, Sara. The girls made a stop through Pasadena on their way back to Texas after spending time with family in Northern California. We explored the sights of Southern California, including a trip to Malibu, Santa Monica, and Venice beach, as well as seeing the glittering lights of Hollywood Boulevard. Taking them to the airport yesterday officially marked the end of all break related activities.

I often find myself thinking about how quickly life is moving these days. I am so thankful for cameras and the fact that even when things seem to pass by in such a blur, I can always look back at my pictures and remember all of the good times.

i hate packing

Packing is just about my least favorite thing to do, second only to unpacking. It takes me a whole day to do what should take me less than an hour. Putting everything in my bag becomes this tedious process that I repeatedly attempt but do not actually complete until the very last minute. I have been this way for as long as I can remember, and I figure that if I haven’t grown out of it yet, I probably never will. At this point I no longer try to fight it, but rather accept it. All I know is that I will be in Texas tomorrow with whatever makes its way into my bag before I leave for the airport.