The Bread Winners

Welcome back to sunny California. It might be sunny but sadly its not warm. 38 degrees anyone? brrrrrr.

I was on a run this morning and came across a sidewalk covered in ice, it was rather entertaining. (What surprises you more, the "run this morning" or the ice in California?) Yeah, I got up at 7:30AM to go for a run. It was cold. By the time I made it to choir at 9am I was actually wide awake and was having a great start to the day. I'm not saying I'm getting up that early every morning, but it wasn't a bad way to start the day.

I've been thrown headfirst back into classes, and I'm loving every moment of it. Except for personal finance . . . math is not my thing. Aside from that I am super excited about my classes.

I recently read an article in one of my history books about women as bread winners. Written in 1887 by Edward O'Donnell and entitled "Women as Bread Winners--The Error of the Age." Normally when I read my textbooks I go through and underline important things to remember, key points, and then move on. This article was different, it stuck with me. I was about through the second paragraph before I realized that I was basically underlining the entire article. It was an extremely interesting article about the women in the factories and what it was doing to family, society, and the men who where looking for jobs as well.

The role of women in the factory was at one point described as "an insidious assault upon the home; it is the knife of the assassin, aimed at the family circle." It is strange to see how much societies view point has changed. Women working is not shocking as it was during 1887 or World War II. Throughout the article the author seemed to dislike the idea of women taking over the men's job saying things like "employment of women in the various handicrafts must gradually unsex them, as it most assuredly is demoralizing them." and "The employer in the magnanimity of his generosity will give employment to the daughter, while her two brothers are weary because of their daily tramp in quest of work."

However, women needed the jobs, they needed to help support their families. The author ends with asking the question "Would you have women pursue lives of shame rather than work?" The introduction of women to the work force changed people's attitudes and views towards women, and I feel like that it changed for the better.

The Stuck Elevator

You know those movies where the hero kicks out the ceiling of the elevator and escapes? It's as made up as Santa Clause. There aren't actually escape hatches in elevators. Only "Emergency help" buttons.

Have you ever been hanging out with a large group of friends and then had a really bright idea that is actually really stupid? Basically, that's what happened today. It seemed like a really cool idea at the time, what other college can say they can fit most of their college in one elevator? Not many! Turns out, neither can Providence.

23 people. One glass elevator. 20 minutes. Turns out, even though there might not be a plaque that says "Caution: You Cannot Fit Everyone in One Elevator" there is a limit on how many people can fit in one elevator. (There probably will be a plaque put up in the next few weeks . . .you can thank us later.)

It got really hot in the tiny elevator really quickly. Jokes about the next breath being the last you where allowed to take, and no farts allowed abounded. As the glass began to fog up people played tick-tack-toe and wrote messages to the laughing, instagram-using hipsters in the parking garage that where staring at us. (While staring is rude, you can't really blame them. 23 good looking people in a glass elevator? What are the odds!) All of this reminded me of Cast's "The Lost Elevator"

As it turns out, while acting in "The Lost Elevator" we all did a poor job of showing just how stuffy and crowded an elevator is. (I am SO glad none us decided to take an "een fische!" along in that elevator.) For those of you who weren't at Combo night last year, I'm going to just say you missed out, sorry you don't understand what I was talking about. That really is to bad for you . . .it was a great night.

Of all the things that happened on that trip the elevator is definitely a highlight. It comes in a close second to the Korean BBQ lunch. I can say that I have at least accomplished something on my bucket list. "Get your college stuck in a glass elevator" I can cross that one off the list!!

I cannot even being to describe all what went on in those short 20 minutes with the amount of battery I have remaining on my computer, so I'm just going to leave this little bit of advice for you: TAKE THE STEPS.

Photo credit: Will G.
The elevator is WAY smaller then what it looks like in this picture. 

Needed: Peace

I don't know about you, but I cannot wait for Thanksgiving break. A little relaxing and de-stressing would be amazing right now. My plans for break? Day 1: Sleep. Day 2: Sleep. Day 3: See day 1 and 2.  (repeat until Monday after Thanksgiving)

This week is absolutely nuts. Everything is crammed into the final few days before break, with very little room for sleep. There is so much on my mind, my planner is full for this week, I have "sticky notes" with to-do lists all over my computer, and I'm trying to cram everything into the last three days here. And as I sit here typing I realize I have to pack for the week that I won't be on campus. 

I hate packing.

Although, as of two minutes ago, half of my stress just disappeared  That's right, my humanities paper is done and turned in. Now that's out of the way I can fous on my English paper. Oh joy. It is only Tuesday and all ready I am longing for the homework free weekend. After studying for BTS exam, writing the HUM paper, trying to write the English paper, multiple senior photo shoots, library work, visitor weekend, choir, piano, thinking about next semester, and all the other crazy stuff going on my brain is ready to explode.

And then it hit me. Standing in chapel making a mental list of what I would be doing every hour of the day tomorrow, it hit me.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

It had nothing to do with the actually chapel, but I could feel the stress become less and less. I realize that there is no way on earth I could possibly get through this week without prayer. All these burduns, all this stress, I want to replace it with peace that passes all understanding. Peace from God. 

Shalom

Thankful for: Soccer

Today I am thankful for Soccer. 

Mhm, yep. I play soccer now. Midnight soccer to be exact. Tonight I played for two hours, I'm surprised I managed to stay standing upright on the walk back to the dorms. My feet KILL right now. But, it a good way.

Before I came to Providence, soccer was just a stupid sport where people chased a ball up and down the field and nothing really excited happened. (Sorry to you soccer fans if you feel insulted. My views have changed, no worries.) There is something about chasing the ball up and down the field at midnight that builds a stronger community of people. 

Another part of the midnight soccer is the fact that it forces me to run around, which makes me feel not guilty for all the halloween candy I've been eating. Can I help it if a bag of candy corn is only 89 cents?  

Playing soccer on the field has one draw back. My dorm room is covered in grass. The field gets super wet around midnight, huge muddy puddles right in your way. Tonight this huge bubble formed under the grass . . .it was so weird!! It looked like something was about to erupt out of the ground, and at the same time, part of me just wanted to run and jump on it to pop it. There really is no way to avoid getting your shoes covered in grass and mud, however, it is totally worth it in the end.

I feel like this is super short, and it is. But, after playing two hours of soccer I just want to collapse on my bed and fall asleep. Instead of an extra hour of sleep tonight, I got an extra hour of soccer. I'd say that's a pretty fair trade.

Due to the fact that Soccer is still new to me, I have almost no pictures of said sport. This is the only one. 

Thankful for: Chapel

It's November. Crazy isn't it? November means Daylight Savings Time, leaves changing colors, sweaters and jeans, boots, pumpkin pie, half-price candy corn, and Thanksgiving. I love the Fall!

This year is different. I'm not in Iowa where there are dead, smelly, wet leaves laying under piles of snow. I'm in California where there are palm trees un-willing to loose their leaves (thankfully!) and no snow. That being said, I want to start this month off being thankful for the main thing in my life right now: Providence.

Every day (depending on homework, obviously.) I want to post about one thing that I am thankful for here at college. Accompanied by a picture. You probably guessed that. I don't think I could do something like that with out some photos tossed in. : )

Today I am thankful for Chapels. Singing praise to our God with the students is amazing. There might not be hundreds of students, but listening to all of the students lifting their voices high unto the heavens is an amazing sound. I especially look forward to Tuesday night chapels every week. There is something about ending the first day of the school week praising God in chapel. It helps me to relax at the end of a normally super stressful day.

What are you thankful for today?

God's Glorious Creation

I just want to start by saying God is good. He is amazing. It's never been so plain to me before, He is in creation! Open your eyes and look. He's there.

Tonight I drove up a mountain, a windy, wet, mountain road, through clouds, fog, and rain to stare at stairs that weren't even visible. The intent was to watch the Orionid Meteor Shower on top of the mountain  but the weather did not want to cooperate. Regardless, that was a blast. The cold foggy night reminded me of home, right after one of those really pretty snowy day. It was amazing. My camera had a blast too. :)

Coming to Providence has opened my eyes to what is out there. The world isn't just one vast corn field to me anymore. There is so much more out there. God's creation is so amazingly beautiful I can't even describe it. My camera can't do it justice. Words can't tell of it. You need to see if for yourself to truly experience it.

I've been in California for over two months now. I'm looking back at everything I've done and am amazed at the beauty of everything. Overwhelmed by it. I have done so much more then I ever would have thought I could do. For example:

1. The Ocean
2. Hiking Eaton Canyon
3. The Getty
4. Exploring Hollywood
5. Exploring Pasadena
6. Exploring Los Angeles
7. Santa Monica Beach
8. Camping on the Beach in Malibu
9. Hiking in Malibu
10. Star gazing on the Beach
11. Sailing in Long Beach
12. Watching for Meteors on top of Mt. Wilson.

Monday I go to Hollywood again for the Avadah: Homeless in Hollywood.

Life is amazing people. Open your eyes to God's beautiful creation. It's astounding and superb. Step out of the corn field (which, I guess, is also pretty amazing) and look at the world. Every inch of this world was created by God. Upheld by God. Creation shouts God's name. There is a world out there to explore, open your eyes and explore it!

 I have some pretty sweet pics from tonight as well, but since it is almost 2 the morning and I have to get up to go to church . . .I shall load them on later!

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Beach Camping

And I'm back! I took a break for awhile because I decided that doing the writing and reading for these hard college classes was more important than blogging.

Okay. So, that's only partially the truth. But it makes me seem less lazy. 

Anyways. I went camping over reading break. It wasn't like camping in Paulina or Okoboji or Yankton. This was CAMPING. Spot-a-pots and all. This was camping on the beach. Ocean in front and mountains in back. 

After a 2 1/2 hour student senate meeting I was ready to get outside and enjoy God's creation. We drove along the beautiful coast on the PCH to Mugu point beach (or something like that) just outside of Malibu California. After setting up the 16 person tent and exploring the rocky beach, a couple of us decided to hike. As we trudged up a narrow, sandy path that basically went straight up the mountain, I was struck by just how beautiful the view was. You could see out over the ocean for miles. The sky and ocean blended together, there was no distinction between the two. 

After forging our own path and trying not to fall down the mountain side we made it safely back to camp. Hot, dusty, and a little scratched up. 

Later that night we sang songs around the campfire. It was an amazing experience. There is something awe-inspiring about singing about God's wonder and his amazing creation while staring at the Milky way and listening to the ocean waves crash against the rocks. Afterwards, we laid on the beach watching stars shoot across the milky way, listening to funny, some times embarrassing stories. 

View from the mountain 

Another view from atop the mountain

The Majestic Ocean

I spent the whole morning watching the waves and dolphins. It was amazing. Breathtaking. I can't wait to do it again! But for now, I need to finish the 5 loads of laundry and a Humanities paper. After the beach . . .that's just blah.

From Elizabeth, the Providence Rock!