Hello!!!!
It feels like so much has happened since I have blogged last!!! Actually, so much HAS happened!!!
I am onto my 2/14 weeks of classes. It's amazing I'm already into the semester that much! Spring seems to be so much longer it is crazy that Fall is so short!
Living with Corinne couldn't be going better. Not only do I enjoy her as a person, but I really look up to her and respect her. I came to APU because of her. With her positive experience with Communications I switched my major. Cut my hair like hers ;) Basically I love her and wouldn't mind being her shadow :) I have the greatest conversations with her and really feel sharpened and uplifted spiritually by knowing her more. What wonderful qualities! Plus, she's fun :)
Classes are great! My first day I had my two easier classes so I was a little worried about not learning a ton, but since then those have picked up their pace and my other classes definitely will take up pleanty of my time! Here are the classes I'm taking:
-Spanish 102 at our neighbor community college (time consuming but not hard & very enjoyable. Love my professor!)
-Intro to Mass Communication (The easiest of the bunch)
-Intro to Communication Studies (Have a professor that demands perfection! Will spend more time on her work & studying her reading)
-Presentational Speaking (the only class I haven't had yet. Tuesday nights. Should be GREAT!)
-Interpersonal Communication Processes (My professor was excited about bumping this up to a 400 level class- just for kicks. Ha! So who knows how hard this will be! Seems intersting)
-Small Group Communication (easier)
-Church History (Will LOVE THIS CLASS!!! Sounds boring- I know. But I couldn't have a better professor for a history class!!!!)
And here are my odd jobs:
-2 days working in the Registrars office doing secretarial work
-3 mornings I am an alternate for working chapel
-2 days I babysit kids after school
-leading a discipleship group one night a week
So my load isn't too hard, it is just VERY time consuming!!! Luckily I switched some classes around so even though I wake up much earlier I get to have meal breaks before work. A much needed rest!
The reason I say this is I will need patience from all you lovely people this semester. I really try to be someone who pursues relationships and keeps tabs on people. But phone calls and long emails is really hard when I have such random times off. Weekends are my time to do homework so I am not always going to be super free. BUT I say this because I still want to keep my relationships just as close! I will just need some grace as I won't always be able to talk. Texting is always the easiest way to keep in touch in between calls. :)
Some things I would appreciate prayer for:
-Leading my "D Group" and really being intentional in how I lead, speak, and present myself as a woman of the Lord! Being a great and caring leader.
-Getting back into the WORD! Whether that is meditation on passages or reading chapters. I really need to be filling up since I feel like I'm pouring out.
-I'm starting to plan next summer's events. I'm trying to coordinate an overseas missions trip (location unknown) with Jeremy and possibly others, as well as figure out internship opportunities. I need to be actively seeking and actively listening to the Lord's promptings!!
Which leads me to the next one:
I really am not sure what I'd like to do post-college. But since I graduate next December those questions are on my mind more and more! Since South Africa I have realized a few things:
1) Although I would love being a wedding planner I probably wouldn't want to do that full time. Maybe as a hobby or a summer job when I'm not...
2) Teaching. Elementary school. Since teaching in the South African schools I have wanted to continue doing that. Now I don't know if that means I will actually become an elementary school teacher, but I have been encouraged in the past to do so and now I am wondering if those were all little seeds which is leading me to a possible job? Like I said, I'm prayerfully considering pursing that!
I don't mind being asked the tough questions. "Are you reading your Bible and spending intentional time with God? OTHER than when you walk from class to class?" is probably the one thing I'm trying to change the most right now.
So that's my life in a nutshell! I got to spend some great, quality time with my GREAT friend Kalie who is currently home in Arizona. She visited for a weekend with her awesome boyfriend Ryan and it was such a breath of fresh air. You know how good friends can do that... be that person that you miss but you don't realize until you see them again how much you actually DID miss them!
Jeremy and I are doing great. So so great!!! Next month we have our official year together. A little inaccurate considering we have been quite close for some time now, but that's the date we celebrate :) He really is the greatest guy. Family who haven't met him, I will make that happen soon! I could be mushy and go on and on but I'll spare you ;)
(Just saw a guy trip on carpet. Always an embarrassing thing- tripping alone! You just keep walking and pretend that was totally normal)
Oh! One more thing! Being back at APU has been great in another aspect: seeing friends from South Africa! It has been SO great reuniting, laughing over hilarious memories, and continuing our friendships. I can't help but smile in thinking of how many great people I have around here who are genuine, loving, amazing people.
I miss you family in Sacramento! I miss Evie and Chet SO Much! I honestly can not believe how quickly they have grown. Now I understand why older people always commented on how much "older I look! Like a young woman!" Because I DID change! To me it was nothing- to them it was amazing!
With love from the library at APU,
Paigey
